“And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.”
(Luke 23:42)
Christ was often found in the company of sinners, and the day He was crucified was no different. On Calvary’s hill Christ was flanked by two criminals – one on each side – paying for their crimes to society with their life. The one to His left was oblivious to the truth that God’s grand plan of redemption was being carried out right before His eyes, for He chose to spend His final dying breaths in concert with the crowd below him taunting and reviling and challenging the Lord to come down off the cross and save them all from this gruesome death.
But the response of the criminal on his right side was altogether different. Because within a few moments of encountering the Lord, the spiritual eyes of this man were opened by the Holy Spirit, allowing him to see the mutilated form hanging beside him as the innocent Lamb of God. As a result, in an instant he was transformed from reviler to repentant believer. How wonderful in his humility and fearless faith does this sinner not only proclaim the state of his own condition but that of the Savior’s as well when he says, “we deserve to die, but this man has done nothing wrong!” (Luke 23:41).
This thief knew his punishment of death was well deserved. But in truth, we all deserve to die, because as Paul reminds us, “we all have sinned” (Romans 3:23) and “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). So instead of mimicking the request of the other thief, he humbly asks, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom” (v. 42). Because once his eyes of faith were opened, he knew this man hanging beside him was truly the King, the Messiah.
Prayer can mercy’s door unlock;
Open, Lord, to us that knock!
Us the heirs of glory seal,
With thy benediction fill:
Holy Spirit, make us his,
Visit ev’ry soul in peace;
Give our vanquish’d hearts to say,
Love divine has won the day![1]
An interesting note is that the thief’s request to be remembered by Christ came at the same time the Son of God was forsaken by His Father (Matthew 27:46). And yet through his spiritual eyes, he saw beyond Christ’s present misery to his ultimate glory when so many others could see nothing but a mutilated form of humanity.
What amazing mercy from the Savior! For even while Christ begs for water, He is rewarding this thief with heaven, though it is his first request and uttered with his last gasp of breath. He forever frees him at that very moment from the grip of eternal death and secures passage for him into the glories of eternal life. To this despicable soul who deserved the full measure of society’s worst punishment for his crimes, Christ grants full access to heaven to be with Him and the Father forever. In so narrow a compass as the hour of death He bestows so great a salvation on this thief who, that very day, was welcomed into Paradise with God.
Contemplations:
- Timely repentance. Even though You saved this thief at his dying gasp, Lord, I confess presuming on Your mercy by delaying repentance. His success is no security for me, though. For he did not even know You until then. Forgive my procrastination and stir in me an urgency to seek You now, before night comes (John 9:4).
- Saved from death. You saved this thief from eternal death in his last dying moments, Lord, but I confess treating Your grace as license for delayed repentance. Awaken diligence in me to seek You early.
- Never too late. It is never too late for true repentance, Lord, but late repentance is seldom true. I confess spending more of my youth on selfish pursuits, planning to seek You more diligently when I’m old. Forgive such folly, Lord, and help me, like David, seek You early (Psalm 63:1), remembering that You require the first fruits (Exodus 23) and reject the blemished (Leviticus 23).
- Wise counsel. Help me not confuse the stamina of youth with wise living, knowing You require of me the first fruits of my life. Forgive me for times I’ve failed You, Lord and renew my resolution to hear and obey now instead of later (Hebrews 3:7).
Prayer (thanksgiving)
O gracious God, You are the merciful Father whose timing in salvation is perfect and whose grace knows no bounds. I give You thanks for the momentous faith of the thief on the cross, who in his dying moments recognized Christ as King and pleaded, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom” (Luke 23:42). Your Spirit opened his eyes amid agony, transforming reviler to believer. I praise You for this display of sovereign power.
I thank You for Christ’s mercy, granting paradise to that thief that day (Luke 23:43), saving him from eternal death (Matthew 27:46). Your love triumphed, welcoming a criminal into glory, fulfilling “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23) yet offering life (Romans 6:23). I bless You for weaving together the Spirit’s calling, justification, sanctification, and glorification all inside death’s hour, such that salvation could be instantly bestowed.
Lord, I am grateful for faith seeing beyond misery to glory. Thank You for hope that no moment in which Your Spirit is drawing and convicting is too late.
I praise You for prophecy fulfilled in that You were numbered with transgressors (Isaiah 53:12). Thank You for Your kingdom authority at the highest point of Your physical weakness. Though the cross was shame’s tool for You, it was paradise’s gate for this thief.
Lord, thank You for saving us from death’s grip and securing eternal life. Your grace is boundless, reaching beyond all iniquity. I praise You as well for immediate glorification for this thief. In this I see salvation by faith alone for this is all the thief had to offer.
Bless You for Christ’s example, showing mercy in His misery and love in His moment of being forsaken by the Father. Thank You for hope amid despair and faith’s power sufficient to transform life’s last breath.
All glory to You, God of salvation, whose mercy triumphs. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Further Scripture references for Luke 23:42
Psalm 106:4, Isa. 9:6-7, Matt. 19:28, Matt. 28:18.
[1] Augustus M. Toplady, The Works of Augustus M. Toplady, vol. 6 (London; Edinburgh: William Baynes and Son; H. S. Baynes, 1825), 332.
