An encounter with Jesus

The Thief on the Cross

Q: Who was The Thief on the Cross in the Bible?

A dying criminal who turned to Jesus at the last hour. Two criminals were crucified beside Jesus. One mocked Him. The other, in his final hours, saw something, and said, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. He had nothing left to give, no

A dying criminal who turned to Jesus at the last hour

Read the chapter: Luke 23

“And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.”

What they wanted

Two criminals were crucified beside Jesus. One mocked Him. The other, in his final hours, saw something, and said, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. He had nothing left to give, no time to change his life, no good works to offer. Only a dying request.

What Jesus did

Jesus answers immediately: Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. No probation, no list of conditions, no time to prove himself. Grace reaches a guilty man in his last breath.

What changed

A criminal who deserved his cross entered paradise that very day, on the strength of turning to Jesus at the end. It is the most concentrated picture of grace in the Gospels: salvation given to someone who could offer nothing but his need.

For you if you feel it is too late for you, that you have run out of time. If you feel it is too late, that you have wasted your chance, the thief is for you. There is no such thing as too late while you can still turn to Him. He hears the last-hour prayer.

Jesus, remember me. I have nothing to offer but my need. Thank You that it is not too late to turn to You. Amen.

He still meets people like this

Every one of these people met Jesus as they were, not as they should have been. He has not changed. You can meet Him now.

Begin with Jesus · Ask someone to pray with you · The questions He asks

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