S T A T I O N 6
THE REPENTANT THIEF
Read
LUKE 23:38-43
38 There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS
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.”
Reflect
Like the thieves next to Jesus, we’re all headed for the grave. In Luke’s account, one thief close to death looks upon Jesus and mocks him. But the other, in a desperate, sincere plea, asks Jesus to remember him.
This criminal had no time to repay his neighbor, forgive his brother, or offer repayment for his debt that warranted a death sentence. He had no time to “make it right.” The only thing this man had left to grasp on to is a chance at the faithful mercy of the Man hanging on the cross next to him.
Sin spoke over his life, “You’re mine. I own you.”
But Jesus told him, “Truly, I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
That’s all you have to hang on to, too – The boundless, loving kindness of a King who suffered in your place. Jesus offers you the same deep mercy he offered the man next to him. It’s not conditional. It doesn’t require you’re cleaned up before you come to him. Jesus calls you away from who you’ve been and who the world says you are, and offers to tell you who you truly are:
Deeply loved, no matter what.
Respond
Watch the spoken word piece below. Use your own phone and headphones, or use the iPad and headphones provided.
Then, think of something you’ve been hanging on to that you need to let go of. Write it on a stone, drop it in the bowl, and offer it to Jesus, who died so you might live in the freedom of knowing you’re greatly loved by him.