Today is the Day!

Luke 23: 39 – 43 NKJV

39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”

40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

It was at Golgotha, when Jesus was nailed to the cross along with the other two thieves. That was the last conversation Jesus had with the public before his departure as a human from this earth.

The first thief on the cross mocked at Jesus saying if He was the Christ, then to save Himself and others too. The second thief on the cross in turn corrected his friend and asked Jesus to remember him in His Kingdom. Let us dig deeper to see what was the difference between them. Let us see in three different areas namely

1. The time and place

2. The motive or intention

3. The faith

The time and place – it didn’t matter to both the thieves. They were at the verge of their death.

The first thief on the cross reached out to Jesus first. It is commendable that he reached out to Jesus first. But, was his motive right? No, he blasphemed Jesus. His intention was to mock Jesus. Moreover, his heart was filled with disbelief and doubt as he asked Jesus, “IF He was the Christ”.

The second thief on the cross rebuked the other thief immediately and pointed three things:

1. He reminded him of the Godly fear he should have possessed.

2. The second thief accepted that they were sinners according to the Law and the punishment for their deeds was just; but, Jesus was punished like them for no reason at all. Here, the second thief recognized the truth in Jesus and also confessed that they were sinners.

3. Lastly, he reached out to Jesus in faith. Though he reached after the first thief, his motive was right. He asked Jesus to remember him in His Kingdom. This thief recognized that Jesus was the Messiah and the Son of God who had come for their salvation. In reply, Jesus assured the thief that he would be with Jesus in the Paradise.

Imagine the scene: a public spectacle, mocked and scourged, under tremendous pain and blood all around. They were at the point of death. Even at the last moment of their life, the heart of the thieves on the cross reached out to Jesus. Though the first one could claim to have reached out to Jesus first, his motive was not right and his heart was filled with doubt and disbelief. It shows the lack of faith in Jesus though he recognized Jesus as the Messiah. But, the second thief reached out in complete faith and trust in Him as the Messiah and claimed his salvation at the threshold of death.

Luke 23:39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”

Likewise, in these last days, the message of the gospel will be received or rejected. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 2 that God, through us diffuses the aroma of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among the believers as well as the unbelievers. Ah! But to one group we are the aroma of life leading to life while to the other the aroma of death leading to death. The aroma is of Christ but it is not received the same way by all. The first thief on the cross blasphemed Jesus and lead himself to eternal death; yet the other thief chose life and realised that while he was paying the price for his crimes, Jesus was paying even though He did no wrong! This is THE Lamb that was taking away the sins. This thief on the cross understood and received the grace of God in the face of the unfairness of the gospel!

Luke 23:40-41

But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

My friends, the gospel is unfair. It does not look to see if you are worthy of being saved. If that was the case, none would be ever saved. That is why it is called the gospel – too good to believe news! Too good that God would forgive our sins and give us life (where we are right now) because He sees the face of Jesus Christ in each one of us. Jesus saw humanity from the cross and saw the worth in man...even the thief.

If that is you today, take the leap of faith and experience the everlasting fountain of life starting now in Christ Jesus. God did not want His paradise without you ... and that is why He sent His Son for you!