Faith

One criminal mocked Jesus while dying next to him. But another criminal was awakened:

“One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, ‘Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!’ But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.’ And he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ And he said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.’” (Luke 23:39–43 ESV)

Here's what’s true of the second criminal’s faith:

1. His faith was unashamed. He saw Jesus at his worst: blood caked in his beard, face puffy from the blows to the head, naked, mocked, scorned, rejected. But the criminal wasn’t rejecting Jesus. He was believing. He was unscandalized. Whatever anyone else thought of Jesus didn’t matter. He was unashamed.

2. His faith was without sight. He didn’t know the whole story. He didn’t know the Christmas story, with the angels, the shepherds, the virgin birth. He didn’t know each and every healing story. He didn’t know the Sermon on the Mount perhaps or the parables of the Prodigal Son or Good Samaritan. He didn’t know about the Legion of demons cast out of a man or the Sea of Galilee’s storm calmed. He certainly didn’t know about the emptying of the tomb on the coming Sunday. He didn’t know about the resurrection of Jesus! He just knew enough to turn to Jesus.

3. His faith was simple. He didn’t know all the “right words.” He didn’t know the exact prayer. He didn’t use all the theological terminology that I cherish. He didn’t explain the doctrine of penal substitutionary atonement that I wholeheartedly espouse from the book of Romans. He simply acknowledged his own guilt and Jesus’ holiness, then acknowledged Jesus as his Savior and King. And so, he simply asked to be saved.

4. His faith was his very last chance, his very last hope. With only hours to live, he had to be sure to get it right at the end. He knew that he and his fellow were about to face the judgment of the almighty God their Maker. He knew they would see God and have to give an account for their lives. He knew they would come up short on their own. So with his minutes running out, he threw all his hope onto Jesus. Specifically, he put all his hope into the mercy and grace of Jesus. “Just remember me please.” No promises. Just faith alone in Christ alone by grace alone.

Jesus is always ready to save. The word translated “Truly” is the Greek word amen. The man asked for salvation, and Jesus said, “Amen.” Jesus said yes. You can ask too.