The Repentant Thief

Nov 3 – Luke 23:39-40 – The repentant thief

                This is such a powerful account.  On each side of Jesus is a thief.  One is cursing him and the other defending Jesus.  While hanging on the cross this man realized that Jesus was being unfairly crucified.  He told the mocking thief to being quiet.  On that cross, looking into those eyes of love this man realized that Jesus was truly the Messiah.  He asked Jesus to remember Him when He came into His Kingdom.  This is such a tremendous testimony.  Here you have a man about to pay for his crimes by death and in the last moments of his life he repents turns to Christ and hears these famous, “Today you shall be with me in paradise.”  It does not matter what the sentence structure of our statement of faith it is that fact you make the statement.  This man’s was, “Remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”  This man would Jesus first person coming into the new Kingdom.  What a privilege for a man who only hours before was condemned to death both physically and spiritually.  Now he is the first of the new Kingdom of God.  One mark with righteousness, peace and joy.  He was the first, don’t you be the last.