Lessons from a criminal
Tomorrow is known as “Good Friday”. It seems strange to call the remembrance of an innocent man’s murder anything close to “good”… but that’s what we often see when God steps into our lives – what we assume doesn’t always match up with reality.
Jesus was wrongfully arrested, tried in a kangaroo court, and then used as a political pawn before being sentenced to death on a cross…all despite being innocent. That certainly doesn’t seem “good”, either. Crucifixion was one of the most barbaric ways to die, as the victim bleeds out, slowly suffocating as their strength fails while the hours, and even days, drag on. The Romans perfected the process to exact as much pain and suffering as possible. Over a 500-year span, it is estimated that Rome crucified somewhere between hundreds of thousands to as many as two million people. That doesn’t sound “good” at all.
Yet, we still call the day Jesus was crucified “Good Friday”. However, Jesus wasn’t the only person nailed to a cross that day. Let’s take a look at Luke’s account:
Luke 23:32-42
Two others – criminals – were also led away to be executed with Him. When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided His clothes and cast lots.
The people stood watching, even the leaders were scoffing: “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked Him. They came offering Him sour wine and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!”
An inscription was above Him: This is the King of the Jews.
Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at Him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save Yourself and us!”
But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment? We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
The Jewish nation looked forward to the day when the Messiah would arrive, rescue the nation from their oppressors, and set up the kingdom which God had promised for centuries. This future resurrection/redemption is likely what the criminal was referring to. Because of this, the criminal who had just put his faith in Jesus, believing that He was the promised Messiah, was probably surprised by what Jesus said to him next:
Luke 23:43
And He said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise.”
When would this criminal see Jesus again? When would he receive eternal life from Jesus? Today.
Jesus’ gift of eternal life, for all who believe in Him, isn’t an IOU that will be fulfilled at some point in the future. No, when we believe in Jesus, He gives us eternal life today. Right now. Not something to earn, not something to prove. It’s His gift to you, and we can receive it because of His death on the cross.
He paid the penalty for our selfish, sinful lives – and because of that we are able to live the life we were initially created to live out.
John 10:10
A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.
The Greek word for may have is a present tense verb. Jesus meant that we can have an abundant life right now, just like the criminal received. All we have to do is believe that Jesus is who He says He is – the Messiah, the Savior sent by God – just like the criminal did.
And if Jesus considers a criminal who has been condemned to die as someone worth saving, then His offer is good for any of us, too. That is good news for us. That’s why it’s called “Good Friday”.
Keep Pressing,
Ken