The Two Criminals at Jesus’ Execution

This wasn’t an ordinary execution. Jesus was well known in the area, so his death stirred a crowd. There were those there to cheer and others to mourn. What do you think went through the minds of the two criminals who saw the crowd’s reaction?

Honestly I think they were in too much pain to really care about the people and Jesus. But I do think the criminals heard the crowd that reflected their own pain:

One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”

(Lk. 23:39–41)

The criminal who mocked Jesus had given up on salvation. Maybe he didn’t even believe in heaven or was completely resigned to hell. His final words still reflected his desire to live life on earth.

The criminal who believed in Jesus didn’t care that the crowd wanted Jesus killed. I doubt he noticed how many people were there. He just wanted to save himself, and at that point in time, was willing to believe and do anything that would guarantee his salvation.

Similarly, when our situations push us to our limits as these men were, what’s buried deep inside crawls out. We either get angry at God or we give things up to Him.

We can either try to continue fighting for control over our lives or admit that He knows best and relinquish our hold on our lives to Him. Only then can we be saved from ourselves.

And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” (Lk. 23:42-43)