Full Reading: Luke 22:68-23:49
Selective Reading: Luke 23:32-43
When I was in high school, I wrote a short narrative, imagining the backstory of the thief who was crucified next to Jesus. I called it “A Sinner’s Prayer.” It was a fictionalized account of what led this thief to a saving knowledge of Jesus. Had he heard Jesus teach about the Kingdom? Had he witnessed Jesus healing the sick? Of all the stories in Luke’s Gospel, this is the one that sticks with me the most.
We can try to imagine what this thief had heard about Jesus, what he knew about the prophecies, or even what he did to end up on his own cross, but the lack of information actually highlights what is most important about his story: there was nothing special about him.
Here he is, hanging on the cross next to Jesus, sentenced for a crime worthy of capital punishment, joining with everyone else in mocking Jesus. But at some point, something happens in his heart that changed everything.
He rebuked the other thief, “Do you not fear God?” He admitted his own guilt while defending the innocence of Jesus, “...we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then, he calls out to Jesus, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
We could scrutinize this 'sinner's prayer’ for its lack of complexity, but no one could take away the response he received from Christ, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The repentant thief represents just how remarkable the saving work of Jesus truly is. He had done nothing to deserve the grace of God and there was nothing that he could have done to redeem himself from that point. This is the ultimate deathbed confession.
We are all familiar with the age-old scenario posed to would-be followers of Christ, “What would you say at the gates of heaven in order to gain admittance?” The thief on the cross had no defense. He couldn’t point to his good works. He couldn’t even point to his understanding of Jesus' work. All he could say was that he followed Jesus to heaven. That is enough
Adam Miller is the President and host of Songtime Radio and serves as the pastor of South Chatham Community Church.
You can hear his teaching on our daily broadcast on the radio or online, watch his preaching live on Facebook, and read his articles on our website.
