But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
- Luke 23:40-43 ESV
The thief had no time. He had no time for a compelling testimony nor any place to share it if he did. He had no baptism, for he was not given the opportunity. All he had was faith, conviction, and sincerity. In the words of Pastor Damon Thompson, “The cross beckons the man who is sick of himself.” And that’s exactly what it is. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28 ESV)
In that moment, that thief on that cross was possibly the most heavily laden heart of all, for, as he was hanged beside the Most High Himself, he did the ultimate act of faith: he took accountability. He knew he deserved that cross on which he was nailed; he knew he deserved those piercings in his wrists; he knew he deserved the blood he was to spill. This is illustrated in the preliminary verses (Luke 23:40-41 ESV), where he rebukes the other thief for mocking Christ. He differs from the other thief in that he knows his life deserves this end. His sin weighs heavily upon his heart. It disturbs him.
But it is the nature of God to comfort the disturbed and to disturb the comfortable.
The weight of sin is great, but the call of Christ is freedom and forgiveness. This thief enacted the message spoken throughout all of Jesus’ earthly ministry: to repent. In the Common Greek, it is μετάνοια (metanoia). This word appears 27 times in the New Testament. It is a verb, which quite literally translates to “to change one’s mind.” That was all the thief had to offer. All he had was the sincere admittance that he had lived a sinful life and that he wanted to live it no more. It was the small but honest repentance of this nameless criminal that was enough to save his soul.
An honest heart, an admittance of sin, and a desire to live that way no more.
Cling to Him. Take heart, for He has overcome the world. (John 16:33) And Christ did what He did to give you the same saving grace that He gave that thief. In other sermons, it might be made of that thief as a metaphor for you and me. But my message today is this:
Believe in Him, repent, and be forgiven. For He is truth, and He shall set you free. (John 8:32)
To Him be the power, the glory, and the kingdom forever.
So be it and let it be.
Amen.