We have considered “last things” in the last two blogs—Jesus’ last prayers with his disciples and his last healing in the Garden of Gethsemane, even while enduring the agony of knowing what was to come. Today we consider his last offer of salvation, given to a thief hanging on a cross.

All four Gospels mention the two on the crosses beside Jesus. Matthew and Mark call the men “robbers.” Luke calls them “criminals.” All references refer to these two hanging on crosses, one on the right side of Jesus and the other on the left.

Jesus has suffered slapping and spitting from the Jewish elders, a crown of thorns thrust on his head by the Roman soldiers, hatefilled shouts of “Crucity him” from his fellow Jews, and multiple lashes of the sharp-ended whip on his back. All this even before the cross.

And now, nails driven into his hands as he hangs on a cross, his face bloody from the crown of thorns, his mutilated back stinging every time it touches the wood, not to mention cruel, degrading words yelled at him from the crowd and the religious leaders.

One criminal joins in with the crowd hurling insults. Luke quotes this thief saying, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” Sounds like a last ditch effort.

However, the other criminal seems to know Jesus in a different way. Perhaps he had heard Jesus speak in parables, understood his teachings, saw him heal, or had considered Jesus’ offer to believe. He rebuked the other thief, “Don’t you fear God 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.”

Simple though this man may be, perhaps lacking in education, obviously struggling to make ends meet and driven to stealing, still he has a sense of who Jesus is. He honors him and asks to be received.

Jesus is near death at this point, but he is still aware of the needs of others. He turns to the man and gives his last assurance of salvation. “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Thankfully, he offers that same assurance to us if we come to him in faith.

A glorious Easter to all,

~ Joyce ~