Luke 23:32-43 (ESV)

³² Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. ³³ And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. ³⁴ And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. ³⁵ And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” ³⁶ The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine ³⁷ and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” ³⁸ There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” ³⁹ One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” ⁴⁰ But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? ⁴¹ And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴² And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” ⁴³ And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Jesus did not die alone. Two criminals were executed with him. Although Jesus had been severely beaten and was in utter agony, he still thought about others. He asked God to forgive his enemies, since they did not know what they were doing. It wasn’t that the religious leaders didn’t have enough signs, but they were blind to Jesus’ identity because of their false expectations for the King of the Jews. The rulers admitted that Jesus saved others. They taunted him with “He saved others; let him save himself.” Jesus hung on the cross, the lowest a human could go. In their minds, no way could this be the Messiah. The Roman soldiers mocked Jesus too, while they gambled for his clothing. Like the religious leaders, the soldiers jeered, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” Even one of the men crucified with Jesus ridiculed him, also mocking, “Save yourself!” So the religious leaders, the Roman soldiers, and the crucified criminal next to Jesus all mocked him because he “couldn’t” save himself. But the other criminal spoke a different message. He rebuked the criminal who mocked Jesus, asking him what he was doing. Jesus was innocent, and his punishment was unjust. They got what they deserved, but not Jesus.

Then the believing criminal asked if Jesus would remember him when Jesus was exalted as the King of the Jews. Jesus let him know that he wouldn’t have to wait until the kingdom of God was fully established, because that very day they would be in Paradise together. In Jewish thought, Paradise was the home of the righteous in heaven. The criminal would be in heaven shortly. Death is merely a passageway to a place more amazing than one could ever imagine. The religious leaders, the soldiers, and one criminal mocked Jesus for his inability to save, yet he did save! Jesus saved a man right then and there on the cross. When one honestly turns to Christ in repentance and faith, she is immediately delivered from death to life. What a compassionate Savior we have! Even into his final moments, Jesus focused on others and not himself. May we follow the example Jesus left for us as we also love, serve, and know that God is in control of all the details along the way.