The Other Criminal

By Shirley Mitchell

“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: ‘Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!’

But the other criminal rebuked him. ‘Don't you fear God,’ he said, ‘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.’

Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’

Jesus answered him, ‘I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.’ ”

Luke 23:39-43

Jesus was crucified with two thieves fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 53:12, “He was numbered with the transgressors.” Jesus died with the criminals and was counted as one of them. He was identified and regarded as a criminal. Scripture does not tell us these criminals’ specific crimes, but Mark 15:27 describes them as robbers. It merely tells us about their last day on earth and leaves us to wonder about their lives before this day.

Just like Jesus, both criminals carried their crosses on their backs from the prison through Jerusalem streets to the hill called Golgotha. Just like Jesus, both men were in a horrible state of torment. Both the condemned men saw how the crowd snarled at Jesus, threw rocks at Him, and spat at Him. Unlike Jesus, they took the wine mingled with myrrh offered by the soldiers to deaden some of the pain of crucifixion.

In only four recorded verses in God’s Holy Word, we see that one of the two thieves was different from the other. Scripture simply calls him “the other criminal.” He saw no fear in Jesus’ face and no accusation. He could feel Jesus’ sorrow.

He saw the soldiers’ cruelty that took the spirit of Jesus’ followers. He saw the religious leaders with their arms folded. He heard the rulers sneering at Jesus, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One” (Luke 23:35). He heard the soldiers mocking Him and saying, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself” (Luke 23:36). He heard the women weeping at a distance in an eerie tone. When he heard the other thief join in hurling insults by saying, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us,” he could no longer keep silent. Although he, too, was struggling for every breath, he rebuked the insulting criminal. He knew that both of them were getting exactly what they deserved for the crimes they had committed. He knew that Jesus had done nothing wrong. He saw the injustice. Jesus had never spoken one word that was untrue nor had He ever hurt anyone like they had.

Then gasping for more breath to get out the words of faith that saved his life as he was dying, he declared words of faith in Jesus. I find it very interesting that the darkness had not yet come over the land when the thief professes his belief in Jesus. The Roman centurion had not declared yet, “Surely, this was the Son of God.” Jesus had not yet risen from the grave. There were still extraordinary things to behold; yet, from what he had seen, it was enough for the thief to believe in Jesus.

He also believed in Jesus when it appeared to others that Jesus was helpless to save Himself and completely unable to save another. He turned to someone whose hair was matted with blood and beard was ripped out by its roots. His body and face were beaten until unrecognizable. At the apparent worst moment of Jesus’ entire time on this planet, when He was dying and not looking like the promised Messiah, this robber said to Jesus in humility and belief “remember me.”

The thief only gives us one clue in his words as to what was at the root of why he was able to believe in Jesus. Remember his first words to the unrepentant thief. He wondered why he was lashing out to Jesus and rebuked him by saying, “Don’t you fear God.” There it is. There is the difference between the two men. This one feared GOD! He had not faced the final Judge yet. He was afraid to stand before the Holy God.

Because of his faith in Jesus at his dying breath, this “other criminal” is in heaven today with God! He didn’t have to perform a single good deed to inherit eternal life. He simply is there because he believed that Jesus was the King. He would come with Jesus into that kingdom that very day! Oh, precious one, we don’t have to strive to get to heaven on our own power or our own works. We simply have to believe that Jesus is the KING! May His kingdom come on earth! Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Pray with me: Oh, God, You are the God of Grace. It doesn’t matter how sinful we have been, if we come to You in faith of who Jesus is and entrust our lives to You, then You accept us into Your kingdom. You throw Your arms open to us and usher us into the kingdom. Praise You!

Thank You for this criminal who knew that Jesus was not like them. Help me to have his courageous faith. Help me to defy those who stand against You. Help me to have a healthy fear of You and remember that You are the final Judge that one day we will all stand before You. It’s in the Name above all names, in Jesus’ Name, Yeshua’s Name, I pray. Amen.