Two Criminals, One Savior—Which Criminal Are You?

Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 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.”

Source: https://pinsoflight.net/entry-and-exit/

Jesus straight up saves criminals

and gives them the greatest assurance possible for their salvation. And he does the same for anyone who comes to Him. No matter where you or I fall on the good to bad spectrum, we all need Jesus to wash away our sins and give us His tender words of assurance that when we die we will be with Him in paradise.

Which criminal are you?

The two criminals crucified on either side of Jesus is a succinct picture of the entirety of humanity. Here is Jesus, the redeemer of mankind, dying on a cross, and we have to choose. Do we respond like the one criminal that rejected Jesus until his dying breath or do we respond like the other criminal that asked Jesus to remember him?

What kingdom?

What kingdom is this criminal talking about? Both criminals and Jesus are going to die on their crosses. How in the world can this criminal be talking about Jesus entering into His kingdom? We’ll never know the depths of the criminal’s faith or conversion at that moment. It’s possible something clicked and all the expectations of the Jewish Messiah suddenly made sense and he could clearly see it was Jesus and therefore something has to happen for the scriptures declare the Messiah will rule and reign. But Jesus is dying and things don’t look good. So the criminal asks, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Blessed assurance

Jesus in turn gives the criminal the ultimate assurance of salvation. Jesus Himself declares that the criminal will be with Him in Paradise. To the Jew, they understood Paradise to mean the spiritual paradise of the afterlife. Not purgatory, not hell, but paradise, and most importantly with Him.

This same assurance is given to everyone that truly believes and follows Jesus with whole x devotion. 2 Corinthians 5:8 reads, “…we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.” And the Bible tells us that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, see Luke 22:69. When a true follower of Jesus dies, they are instantly ushered into God’s presence.

These words of Jesus have strengthened believers for 2,000 years, let them also comfort you. Let them cast out all fear of death. Run the race, have no fear, there is nothing the world can do to change your final destination with Jesus. To be absent from the body is to be present with the LORD. Praise the name of Jesus, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.