Called 4 Jesus

The Decision of Two Thieves
Luke 23:39-43

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?
41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

The scene at Calvary 2,000 years ago is mirrored in our world today. It represents the ultimate human decision: to accept or deny Christ. This is the eternal battle between good and evil waged within the human heart.

On one side, the evil within us hurls insults at Christ and demands proof, echoing the cynicism of the Pharisees. Like the first criminal, we often demand that Jesus “prove” He is the Messiah by fixing our immediate circumstances. We forget that we are never in a position to challenge Him. As people who are spiritually dying, our only rightful place is one of humility, yet pride often drives us to say the unthinkable: “Prove it to me, Jesus.”

As C.H. Spurgeon wrote in The Soul Winner:

“Men need to be told that, except divine grace shall bring them out of their enmity to God, they must eternally perish… they must be reminded of the sovereignty of God, that He is not obliged to bring them out of this state, that He would be right and just if He left them in such a condition.”

I am deeply grateful that Jesus did not take offense at my own past behavior or my lack of gratitude. He looked past my attitude to offer forgiveness.

The Power of “Remember Me”

When the second thief said, “Jesus, remember me,” what was he truly asking? This “glimmer of hope” sparked a conversation that every human must eventually have (Romans 10:9-10). Was this man simply delusional with pain, or did he finally see the Truth?

In his final moments, the thief (we are the thief) realized what Paul would later write: “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). He recognized that Jesus was his only hope.

His request was not a casual one. He wasn’t saying, “Jesus, if you have a passing thought, think of me.” It was a desperate plea: “Jesus, you are my last hope! Do not forget me! Save me from myself!”

The Response of Grace

Jesus’ reaction was immediate and profound. He listened, He heard, and He did not judge. He didn’t offer “pointless advice” to a dying man, nor did He reprimand him for a life of sin.

Jesus began His answer with the word “Truly.” In the original Greek, this carries a weight of absolute certainty:

Ontos: In fact; really.

Alithos: Amen; so let it be.

Eilikrina: Sincerely; honestly; seriously.

Jesus was giving tangible hope to a hopeless man. That same paradise is still available today to anyone who asks. As Numbers 23:19 reminds us, God is not a man that He should lie.

A Personal Connection

Interestingly, the thief called Jesus by His name. In those times, it was rare to address a teacher by their given name; it suggests a level of personal awareness. This man wasn’t a stranger to the Gospel; he had likely been exposed to Jesus and His message before.

I remember a professor in theology school saying, “There is no sign on a person’s forehead that says ‘Do not evangelize.’ We must speak about Jesus to everyone, even those who seem hopeless.” I relate to this deeply because I once thought I was too far gone for Jesus to want me.

The Urgency of Now

Hebrews 1:1-2 tells us:

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets… but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son…”

The author of Hebrews spoke of the “last days” 2,000 years ago. Now, in 2026, we still hear that we are in the end times. The difference is that the “last days” describes a season of preparation. Whether Jesus returns tomorrow or years from now, the guarantee remains: You will never regret repenting and accepting Christ.

How wonderful it is that the Heir of all things—the Creator of the universe—remembers us. As 2 Corinthians 6:2b says, “Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”

A Prayer of Salvation

If you are ready to make that choice today, pray this with me:

“Dear God, I know that I’m a sinner. I believe that Jesus, Your Son, died on the cross for my sins and rose on the third day. I now repent of my sins and personally invite Jesus and the Holy Spirit into my life. Thank you for cleansing my heart and hearing my prayer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Welcome to the family of God! Your next step is to get connected to a local, Bible-teaching church (I highly recommend Calvary Chapel) and begin reading your Bible every day.

God bless you!