The Thief on the Cross

The story of the thief who was crucified with Jesus is one of the most moving in the gospels. But to appreciate it we need to see it from Jesus' perspective as well as that of the thief. We can identify with the thief; can we identify with Jesus? He was condemned as a criminal, and our situation as sinners is the same - the just sentence of God's law. His salvation came from the Person beside him. in Jesus' presence our heart is changed. Admission of guilt is followed by sorrow for attacking Christ and prayer for blessing. The answer is astonishing. For Jesus, this was a pain shared, for he too experienced the sense of guilt and the fear; indeed, he experienced what only the inhabitants of hell feel - damnation. It was also a prayer heard, the very prayer he had been waiting for. And authority is given to him to forgive sin, and he declares it to believers in the gospel just as he did to the thief from the cross. There was also joy. That was his purpose in going to the cross, to save sinners. This was the first of millions. And today, 'there is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents'.