What could he possibly do?

Luke 23:42-43

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As Jesus was on the cross, one of the criminals dying next to him, who just moments before had been mocking and ridiculing him, had a change of heart. The Holy Spirit worked repentance in this man’s heart. And He turns to Jesus and he says to Jesus.

Remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus said to him, “Amen I tell you: today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43 EHV)

This is perhaps one of the clearest sections in all of the scripture that emphasizes to us that our salvation has nothing to do with what we do or that it’s something that we have to earn. What could this man have possibly done to earn his salvation? He was nailed to a cross. There was nothing that he could possibly do other than just have a change of heart. A change of heart. That’s all that matters. Putting your hope and trust in Jesus. And Jesus is willing then to say, you are forgiven. You will be with me in heaven.

Sometimes we hear this man described as a thief on the cross, as maybe his crimes weren’t all that serious, as maybe he was guilty of some light burglary. This man was an evil man. By his own admission, just moments before, he said, we deserve what we’re getting here in this gruesome, torturous death on a cross. There were perhaps people there at the foot of the cross that were happy to see this criminal being put to death. And yet consider the incredible grace of God that he’s willing to forgive this evil, wicked man.

Sometimes this offends people. This is frustrating to some people. How could God be willing to forgive such a wicked sinner as this? But I wouldn’t look at it that way. Instead, we should look at how God is willing to forgive even the worst sinners as something to celebrate. Here is an individual who at one point was a champion of hell, whose acts were being celebrated by all the hordes of hell and by the devil himself. And yet, what does God do? God takes this former champion and he turns him so that this evil person now becomes an apostate. He’s a traitor to hell. And he now becomes one of God’s saints, not because of anything He has done, but because of what God does. Because God is willing to forgive this individual who puts his faith and trust in Christ.

That’s something for us to celebrate. Something for us to rejoice in. Something for us to see is also what happens for us. We’re guilty of sin. We’re guilty of evil. And yet, what has God done? He pulls us from hell. He forgives us through the work of our Savior, Jesus, through Jesus life, his death, his resurrection from the grave. We now stand before God with our sins forgiven. He calls us His saints. And what Jesus says to that thief on the cross, a criminal on the cross, he says to you. You will be with me in paradise. Maybe not today, but it doesn’t matter, we’re ready for any day that he decides to call us to be with him. This is the confidence that we have in the grace and the forgiveness of God.

Thank you, Lord, for giving us your tremendous grace so that even though we have sinned and done evil in your eyes, you are willing to forgive us. For Jesus sake. Amen. God’s peace be with you.