Have you ever feared it’s too late for you or a loved one to receive forgiveness? Worried that your sins are too great for Jesus to forgive? That you’ll never hear Him say, “You shall be with Me in Paradise”?
Let me introduce you to a man who had no reason to hope he’d find forgiveness much less salvation. He was a condemned criminal near death, hanging on the cross next to Jesus.
Two Criminals. One Truth. Two Fates
Two criminals hung on either side of Jesus. Along with the mockers in the crowd, they both spewed hate and insults onto Jesus.
“Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
But one of the men stopped hurling insults. He’d been watching Jesus. Something changed inside him. He suddenly saw Jesus for who He really is—the King of kings, whose kingdom is not of this world.
And he understood the truth about himself—he was a sinner deserving of death.
The second man stopped mocking Jesus and rebuked the criminal hanging on the other side of Jesus, “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” (Luke 23:40–41).
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (v. 42).
How did Jesus respond to this condemned man’s simple statements of understanding and faith?
He said, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).
From hopeless to assured in an instant.
From condemned to redeemed.
Salvation came that day.
As long as there’s breath, it’s never too late.
11th Hour Salvation
Earlier in Jesus’ ministry, he told a parable of a landowner and his vineyard workers in Matthew 20:1–16.
It was harvest time, and the landowner’s crops needed to be brought in quickly. He needed more workers. So, he went out early in the morning to hire more men for his vineyard.
“After agreeing with the workers on one denarius, he sent them into the vineyard for the day” (vs. 2).
Again at about noon, 3:00, and 5:00 pm, the landowner hired more workers (vs. 3–7).
At the end of the day, they lined up to receive their pay, starting with the last. Each received one denarius.
When the men hired first received the same amount—one denarius—they complained.
“These last men put în one hour, and you made them equal to us who bore the burden of the day’s work and the burning heat” (vs 12).
The landowner replied to them, “Friend, I’m doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me on one denarius? Take what’s yours and go. I want to give this last man the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with what is mine? Are you jealous because I’m generous?” (v. 13–16).
In grace and mercy Christ saves even in the 11th hour. He pours out grace on those who’ve spent their entire lives ignoring Jesus. Living independent of Him. Mocking Him like the man on the cross.
Salvation is a Gift of God
“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.”
—Ephesians 2:8–9
By God’s amazing grace, through faith in Christ alone, the man on the cross received his salvation.
There’s no doubt his salvation was a gift from God, and not from works. He was a man truly in his last hour. He had less time than the vineyard workers. Breaths away from the end. But Christ saved him.
“We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong. — Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
“Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
What Will Our Story Be?
The two criminals had similar stories, but in the end, one trusted in Jesus and received an eternal reward he didn’t deserve. It was a gracious gift.
All paths do not lead to the same end.
One leads to life and the Lord’s eternal kingdom by grace through faith in Christ alone.
The other leads to death and eternal separation.
What will our story be?
Have we seen our hopeless condition? Our sins may be different, but we’re as guilty of sin as the two men on either side of Jesus.
Do we recognize Jesus as He truly is? As the King of kings and Lord of lords? And the only Savior of our souls?
Trust Him today. And bow and worship Him because one day you will be with Him in Paradise.
We’ll be with Him for one reason alone—the Man on the middle cross said we can come.
“Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise”.
Luke 23:43
If you missed my other posts in this series, The Power of Jesus’ Last 7 Words, read them here.
The Man on the Middle Cross Said I Can Come
This powerful message about Jesus and the Man on the middle cross by Alistair Begg will be the most important 3:52 minutes you’ve spent in a long time!
Don’t miss what he said near the beginning:
“If you were to die tonight and were gaining entry into heaven, what would you say? If you answer that—and I answer it—in the first person, we’ve immediately gone wrong.
“‘Because I . . . Because I believed. . . . Because I have faith . . . Because I am this . . . Because I am continuing . . . ‘
“Loved ones, the only proper answer is in the third person. ‘Because He . . . ‘
“Think about the thief on the cross . . . “
(This clip was taken from his sermon “The Power and Message of the Cross” preached on November 20, 2019.)
Revive Our Hearts — Last Words Easter series:
2. Last Words: “Truly I Tell You, Today You Will Be With Me in Paradise.”
Too often we pass by Christ’s words to the dying thief on the cross as if they are nothing more than a temporary respite to pull us away from the shock of the main action—a quick breath before we turn our attention to the agonizing last minutes of our Savior’s life.
Yet, Jesus’ statement to the thief is much more than that. Linger there with me for a few moments. Keep reading…
1. Last Words: “Father, Forgive Them, Because They Do Not Know What They Are Doing.”
