Humbled Servant On The Cross
How can a thief on a cross go from mocking and jeering to being promised
a place in paradise with Jesus? How can someone change so quickly? So
many things happened on that cross. It’s hard to believe there could be such a
change in one of the thieves, but there was. Have you ever met anyone that has
been so changed by God?
Crucifixion was intended to be a gruesome spectacle: the most painful and
humiliating death imaginable used to punish slaves, pirates, and enemies of the
state. It was against the law to crucify a Roman citizen. In our Scripture of Luke
23:35-43, Jesus is on the cross with two thieves. These two thieves were sup-
posed to be with their notorious boss, Barabbas, but Jesus took his place by the
people’s choice. They had stolen, killed, and hurt many people.
Luke 23:35 says the people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at
Him. They said, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is God’s Messiah,
the Chosen One.” They said He saved others, so they understood that Jesus had
done miracles and had saved people’s lives in His ministry. Yet they wanted
Him crucified. I mean, everyone was mocking Jesus, as it says in Matthew
27:41. In the same way, the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders
mocked Him. As well as the thieves next to Him. Only Matthew talks about the
two thieves mocking Jesus. Because in Luke 23:40-43 he talks about the one
thief rebuking the other. 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.”
Why did that thief go from mocking Jesus to defending Him? What
changed for him? Was it all he heard while the others were mocking and jeering
at Jesus? It all happened while he was on the cross. He didn’t have days or
months to talk to a priest, the Bible wasn’t written yet, and there was no bap-
tism, no special church service. But something in this man changed to make
him realize who Jesus was.
Let’s go back to Matthew 16:15-17 where Jesus asked the disciples who do
people say I am, “But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus
replied, “Blessed are you, Simon Son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you
by man, but by my Father in heaven.
In the same way, the man on the cross says who Jesus is. These things were
not revealed to him by man; it was by our Father in heaven. When this man
humbled himself, defended Jesus, and said we are getting what we deserve, He
is not guilty. His heart, at the moment, was open to God. When we humble
ourselves to the Lord, many things can be revealed to us; it’s a connection of
understanding beyond any imagination. And when he did that, Jesus accepted
him for it. The thief humbly says to Jesus in Luke 23:42, “Jesus, remember me
when You come into Your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you,
today you will be with me in paradise.”
Jesus accepted him right there. Jesus saw his heart at that moment and
knew God was with him through this man. He was saying things that only
someone touched by God would say. Like it says in James 4:10 Humble your-
selves before the Lord, and He will exalt you. Whether you are a thief on a
cross or someone searching for answers today. We must humble ourselves to
open our hearts so God can come in and change our lives forever. Then we, too,
someday, will be with Jesus in paradise.
Why did that thief go from mocking Jesus to defending Him? What
changed for him? Was it all he heard while the others were mocking and jeering
at Jesus?. It all happened while he was on the cross. He didn’t have days or
months to talk to a priest, the Bible wasn’t written yet, and there was no bap-
tism, no special church service. But something in this man changed to make
him realize who Jesus was.
Let’s go back to Matthew 16:15-17 where Jesus asked the disciples who do
people say I am, “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus
replied, “Blessed are you, Simon Son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you
by man, but by my Father in heaven.
In the same way, the man on the cross says who Jesus is. These things were
not revealed to him by man; it was by our Father in heaven. When this man
humbled himself, defended Jesus, and said we are getting what we deserve, he
is not guilty. His heart, at the moment, was open to God. When we humble
ourselves to the Lord, many things can be revealed to us; it’s a connection of
understanding beyond any imagination. And when he did that, Jesus accepted
him for it. The thief humbly says to Jesus in Luke 23:42, “Jesus, remember me
when You come into Your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you,
today you will be with Me in paradise.”
Jesus accepted him right there. Jesus saw his heart at that moment and knew
God was with Him through this man. He was saying things that only someone
touched by God would say. Like it says in James 4:10 Humble yourselves be-
fore the Lord, and He will exalt you. Whether you are a thief on a cross or
someone searching for answers today, we must humble ourselves to open our
hearts so God can come in and change our lives forever. Then we, too, some-
day, will be with Jesus in paradise.