(Luke 23:39-41 NIV) One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 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.”

We don’t even know his name.  All we know for sure is that he was a thief and that he has been in heaven for two thousand years with Jesus!  He also understood justice from God’s perspective, for as he was being crucified for merely being a thief – he stated, “we are getting what our deeds deserve.”

To be crucified, executed for stealing – is that justice?  From our perspective, we would consider that an atrocity! 

You see, I can always make myself look better by choosing who I compare myself to.  There’s always somebody doing worse.  But hang around the cross of Christ awhile and observe what the thief saw.  He saw the hated Roman soldiers, his executioners, cruel and mocking.  He saw the malice and darkness in the Pharisees, Sadducees and priests who were acting just like the Romans!  He saw the demonic delight in the common people, as they found a hideous pleasure in these execution proceedings. He himself had mocked Jesus initially – the diversion of the pain he inflicted on Jesus seemed to lessen his own.

But this Jesus didn’t respond in kind.

The thief heard Jesus cry out for the forgiveness of those crucifying him.  He saw the inner resolve, purity and strength of character that was manifested by Jesus’ lack of retaliation.  He saw something displayed on that cross that he had never seen in any man.  He looked into His eyes and saw a purity, goodness, and raw love that he had never seen or experienced in his entire life.

In the contrast of the light and beauty of Jesus’ soul, he saw the total depravity and wickedness of his own – and he decided to go for broke!  He would thrust himself totally on the mercy of this person.  He would place his eternal destiny in that man’s goodness, rather than trusting in his own efforts to be good. 

(Luke 23:42-43 NIV) Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

He has been rejoicing in that one good choice for two thousand years now!