Marcus was a convicted criminal on death row. He had previously apologized to the family of the teenager he raped and murdered. Now, just before he was executed by lethal injection, he said, “I’m going home to be with Jesus.” Apparently, during his time in prison he had received Jesus as his Savior. His words remind me of a certain criminal who died next to Jesus 2,000 years ago.
As Christ suffered on the cross, two convicted criminals who deserved to die for their crimes were to his left and right—also being crucified (Matthew 27:44). Unlike the two, Jesus displayed no bitterness. There was no cursing. He even asked God to forgive those who had put Him on the cross (Luke 23:34).
The two criminals ridiculed Him (Matthew 27:44). But suddenly one of them changed his attitude. He realized that the man on the center cross was not an ordinary man.
In what would become one of the most dramatic conversion stories in the Bible, the criminal believed in Jesus just a few hours before he died. Knowing that he would soon meet God and need to give account for all the evil he had done (Hebrews 9:27), he cried out, “Don’t you fear God?” (Luke 23:40). He then admitted his guilt and sin. Seeing the sign above Jesus’ head, “This is the King of the Jews” (Luke 23:38), he believed that Jesus was indeed “God’s Messiah, the Chosen One” (Luke 23:35).
Looking to Christ, he cried out, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” He assured him, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:42-43). Even as the Savior was dying on the cross, He gave life to a criminal.
Like Marcus, the criminal on the cross could say with confidence, “I’m going home to be with Jesus.” When we believe in Him and receive His gift of salvation, we too can have that hope and confidence!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 2 Samuel 5:1-12
More:
Read John 14:1-4 and John 17:24 for Jesus’ assurance that we will be with Him when we die.
Next:
How does the story of the criminal on the cross encourage you? How can we know for sure that we will one day go home to be with Jesus?
Gary Shultz on April 3, 2015 at 6:14 am
This account certainly gives hope. It also shows the power of Christ to remain for us until righteousness through sacrifice was complete. We also have paradise if we humbly admit our condition and accept the substitution Christ made for us.
Mike Wittmer on April 3, 2015 at 12:50 pm
It is never too late. Jesus can catch a lost sinner right at the moment of death, as He did with this criminal. Praise God!
daisymarygoldr on April 3, 2015 at 4:36 pm
Interestingly, both criminals were, crucified with Christ. Both conversed with Christ. One criminal said “save yourself and us” but his prayer was never answered.
He represents all self-righteous that rant, “if you are God, then why allow innocent people to suffer and die?” Railing robbers hope for this life only and have the mindset: “Save me now from this sickness, scarcity, and suffering”. God’s response to such people and their prayers is—dead silence.
The second criminal did not ask to be saved but acknowledged himself as deserving death for his crime. What candid confession and conversion of the repentant robber! When he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom,” the Lord immediately responded to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
So—now that we have the assurance of salvation, what next? Let us go egg hunting. No. Since we know that our old sinful selves are crucified with Christ, we must no longer live in sin but give ourselves completely to God, for once we were dead, but now we have new life. So let us use our whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Romans 6:13
Paul speaks of being chained like a criminal for preaching the good news of Christ. Today, are we experiencing similar suffering as we endlessly preach Christ and His cross to the world? Or are we entertaining each other with passion plays and pageants?
The Apostle was willing to endure anything… if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen. He exhorts Timothy and all of us today, to endure suffering as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. This is a trustworthy saying: if we die with Him, we will also live with Him. 2 Timothy 2:11
Winn Collier on April 4, 2015 at 8:29 pm
God’s love extends to everyone – good, good news.