The Passion - Easter DevotionalIhe Atụ

"The Thief" Devotional - The Passion

“Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.” (Luke 23:32-34, NIV)

Jesus wasn’t the only one put to death that day. Two other men were crucified as well. The New International Version in Matthew calls them “rebels.” The two who flanked Jesus on either side were, indeed, criminals. Guilty, they both stood in stark contrast to a blameless Jesus. Yet, their individual responses to Jesus were completely different.

Verse 39 in Luke 23 says, “One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: ‘Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’” This scene recalls the time when Satan was tempting Jesus, taunting Him, asking Him to do things on the enemy’s terms. In that instance and in this one, we quickly learn that God will not be mocked. The naysayers don’t get the final word.

The second man hanging beside Him takes a different approach. The story continues in Luke 23: “But the other criminal rebuked him. ‘Don’t you fear God,’ he said, ‘since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’” (v. 40-42)

The second man recognized Jesus for who He was—the perfect, sinless Savior of the world. He also recognized himself for who he was in that moment—a sinful human. Though Scripture never specifies what he had been found guilty of, the man owned it. He admitted his sin, and he asked Jesus to forgive him. 

“Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.’” (Luke 23:43)

So, who are you in this story? Are you the man who mocks Jesus, daring to ask Him to prove His power and authority? Or are you the other man? The man who owns up to his wrongs and asks Jesus for forgiveness.

Truth be told, there’s a little bit of each of these men in all of us, isn’t there?