| GOOD FRIDAY Meditation | With The Two Thieves on The Cross |
| Luke 23: 39–43 |
39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at Him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!”
There are multiple ways in which man is trying to save himself. Ever since our forefather Adam wanted to be his own lord and saviour, we have been looking to save ourselves perpetually. Like this criminal it’s easy to rail at God saying, “If you are really the son of God, save yourself and us.” Many of us want to be saved from our temporal sufferings and problems, but our sins can blind us to our deeper need of saving grace.
All throughout the years, many people have asked: “Why is there so much suffering in a world with a good God?” But very few have paused long enough to consider: Why does God allow so much good to happen to people who sin against Him? Why is there so much good happening to a sinful world ? If God is holy why would He allow so much good to happen to people who constantly fail to meet His standards?
40. But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41. And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42. And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The other criminal rebuked the one who railed at Jesus, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?” He realizes that he is under the same sentence of condemnation! And he says, “we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds.” In other words, we are receiving exactly what we deserve. God does not owe us something better than this! There is no room for self-justification because everything we’ve done we’re directly sinning against a holy God. We have prefered other things which are not God as though they are God. And we are receiving the due reward of our deeds. “But this man [Jesus] has done nothing wrong,” he says.
Yet, here Jesus is condemned among common criminals. Instead of cursing the Romans and insulting Jesus, the other criminal says: “Jesus, I don’t deserve to be rescued from these troubles and sufferings. I deserve this rightly. But you don’t. Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. All I ask is that you remember me. Will you remember me? That’s all I ask, Jesus.” And Jesus says to him, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus’ response is grace-based, not merit-based.
He says, “Today,” not tomorrow, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” He does not say: “After you’ve done everything I’ve asked you, you will be with me in paradise” No. “Today, today, you will be with me.” This thief has done nothing to deserve to be with Jesus in paradise. Yet that is the promise of the Saviour! None of us could do what Jesus asks of us. We fail at forgiving others. We could never love our enemies in our own strength. But Jesus did what we could never do. He received the just condemnation for our sins, in order that we might be fully forgiven.
The greatest injustice was suffered by Jesus on the cross, for us. In fact, verses 44 to 46 describe Jesus’ darkest hour. God’s judgment came upon Jesus in order that we might receive forgiveness for our sins. Jesus received what He did not deserve in order that we might receive what we did not deserve. Jesus came to take away the eternal suffering we should have experienced. He died the death we deserved on the cross, in order that we might live with Him in eternity.
The greatest of the Kings laid down His life for His people. Instead of using His power to respond in anger and violence, He forgave His enemies. Instead of crushing His enemies, He gave His life for them. Instead of scoffing, He prayed for the forgiveness of even those who crucified Him. Nothing more is said of the other thief. He did not enter paradise, because he received what he deserved. To the other one, however, Jesus says to him: “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” Paradise that was lost after Adam’s fall is paradise restored in Jesus. There was no place as lush green, colorful, rich in food and life-giving as the garden in Eden– this is the paradise which God made. And at the center of that paradise is Jesus. “Today you will be with Me”- Jesus says.
With each passing day and age, death is getting closer and closer. The question is not if we will die but when we will die. The two thieves had their chances to be right with God. One responded with anger and insults. The other asked Jesus to remember Him and he received grace. What is your response going to be today? Will you say with the other thief, “Jesus remember me in your kingdom.” “Jesus renew me.” “Jesus forgive me.” “Jesus restore me.” When you do that, you’ll find He’s always been waiting and granting grace. There’s paradise, and there’s Jesus waiting.
©This is a sermon excerpt edited which was preached on Good Friday years ago by pastor Joey Zorina.