Powerful stories don't just inspire you, or captivate you. Inspiring stories invite you into the story.

Throughout our new series, "The Stories of Your Life", we are looking at the pages of Holy Week. But instead of simply reading the story, we are entering into the greatest story in human history. This is your story. This is my story.

Each week we will look at a glimpse through the eyes of one character along the journey.
What can we learn?
What can we apply to our lives right now?
How is this story from thousands of years ago still alive today?

Today we consider the thief on the cross.

-We don't really know his crimes, except to know that they were considered worthy of the death penalty.
-But what we do know is remarkable: it's quite possible that no one in history had done so little and received so much.

Can it be that a simple gesture of belief after a lifetime of sin can result in immediate salvation? The short answer to that question is, yes.

“Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise"

-Jesus is pointing to something that's coming and not just what's happening here on the cross. Jesus is pointing to resurrection.
-The resurrection of Easter marked such a victory that it overcame the power of all sin.

These criminals represent us.

-Jesus was the only innocent one on the hill that day. More than that, He's the only truly innocent one who ever lived.
-We were all born as sinners, and sin in our lives leads to death (Romans 6:23).
-The criminals were similar in many ways: they deserved what they were getting, they both acknowledge who Jesus is. It is how they respond that makes the difference.

"It was another shocking reminder that grace does not depend on what we have done for God but rather what God has done for us. Ask people what they must do to get to heaven and most reply, 'Be good.' Jesus’ stories contradict that answer. All we must do is cry, 'HELP!'
God welcomes home anyone who will have him and, in fact, has made the first move already."
-Phillip Yancey

It's quite possible that no one in history had done so little and received so much.
I’m not talking about the thief on the cross, I’m talking about me.

Verses for further study/reflection:
Matthew 27:38-44
Romans 10:8-10
Isaiah 64:6
Ephesians 2:8
Matthew 20:1-16