Thursday Evening Devotion
Luke 23:39-43
39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Reflection
One criminal mocks and rails, ridiculing Jesus, "Save us and yourself if you are the Christ." Like many people, he wants God to lift him from his situation. He really doesn't care about Christ. He only cares about getting off this cross and escaping death. The other criminal, however, sees Jesus. He recognizes the justice of his punishment and the injustice of Christ’s punishment. He is the guilty one; Christ, the innocent one. He then makes an amazing request, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
Oftentimes we want God to act to placate our situation. We just want God to fix it. Jesus is not the fix-it man. He is our redeemer from sin and death. The second thief saw Christ for who He was and with his dying breath asked to be received into His kingdom. Christ, in agony on the cross, promises this man life with Him. Death where is your sting? (1 Cor 15:55)
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we deserve your condemnation, but in your mercy, you have forgiven us by the blood of Your Son Jesus Christ. We confess your lordship over our life and pray you would receive us into your eternal kingdom. In your name we pray. Amen.
CLICK HERE for the words to the song.
Artwork: The Place of Execution by Fyodor Bronnikov, Christ and the Thief by Nikolai Ge, and The Good Thief (Saint Dismas)