One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
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.”
Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:39-43
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.”
Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:39-43
Jesus was surrounded by sinners when He was being crucified. One of the criminals, being crucified with Jesus, “hurled insults” at Him, calling for Jesus to physically save Himself and them from the cross. Even though Jesus was in great pain and agony, He did not retaliate when this man was insulting Him. This criminal was blinded to the truth of Who Jesus was, and to the truth of His true need to be saved spiritually, not physically.
The other criminal who was being crucified with Jesus saw the truth. He saw Jesus as His Savior. He accepted the truth that Jesus was the Son of God, and asked Jesus to remember Him. Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise.” Jesus listened and spoke love and life into this man’s heart, even in the middle of His great suffering.
As Jesus was hanging on the cross in great pain and agony, He was setting another impossible example for us to follow when we are relying on our own strength. When we are in pain, and when we are suffering, our natural tendency is to hide away, lash out, or complain. Reaching out and showing kindness and love to those around us does not come naturally when we are suffering. However, because we are surrounded by people who desperately need to see, hear, and feel Jesus’ love through us, even in the middle of our pain and suffering, Jesus is calling us to be patient and to reach out in kindness and love to those around us. Jesus calls us to crucify our own wants and desires so that the people surrounding us may see Who He really is and believe in Him as their Savior.
Today’s Verses
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
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.”
Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:39-43
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.”
Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:39-43
Scripture Inspired Prayer
Oh Jesus, thank You for setting such a powerful example for me to follow as You were hanging there, dying on that cruel cross. Please enable me, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to reach out with Your kindness and love during my pain and suffering. Remind me of the example You set for me to follow in today’s verses. Empower me to be kind and show Your love to all of the people surrounding me.
