Luke 23:38-42: a reflection

38An inscription was also written over him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 39One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!” 40But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Don’t you even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42He said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

As Jesus hangs on the cross between two criminals, one of them turns to him in his final hour. He first rebukes the other criminal who is mocking Jesus, acknowledging his own guilt honestly: We indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong. And then he turns to Jesus with a simple, trusting plea: Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom. In his last hour, condemned and dying, he turns to Christ in faith; and Jesus receives him.

Notice the elements of this dying man's turning to Christ. He acknowledged his own guilt honestly, we are justly condemned; he recognized Jesus' innocence, this man has done nothing wrong; and he turned to Jesus in trust, remember me when you come into your kingdom. He had nothing to offer, no time to make amends, no works to show; he simply turned to Christ in faith at the last. And that turning, even in his final hour, was received; Christ did not turn him away. It was not too late, even then, to turn to Christ and be received.

That is a great encouragement, for it shows that it is never too late to turn to Christ, and that he receives those who come to him in simple faith. The dying thief had no time and no works; he simply turned to Christ, acknowledging his guilt and trusting in him, and was received. However late the hour, however little we have to offer, Christ receives those who turn to him in faith. Do not imagine it is too late to turn to Christ, or that you must bring some worthiness of your own; the dying thief turned to him at the last, with nothing but faith, and was received. Turn to Christ in simple trust, acknowledging your need as the thief acknowledged his guilt, and trust that he receives those who come to him, however late the hour and however empty their hands, as he received the dying thief who simply said, Lord, remember me.

Lord Jesus, as you hung on the cross between two criminals, one of them turned to you in his final hour. He rebuked the other who was mocking you, acknowledging his own guilt honestly: we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong. And then he turned to you with a simple, trusting plea: Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom. In his last hour, condemned and dying, he turned to you in faith; and you received him. Show me the elements of his turning to you. He acknowledged his own guilt honestly; he recognized your innocence; and he turned to you in trust. He had nothing to offer, no time to make amends, no works to show; he simply turned to you in faith at the last. And that turning was received; you did not turn him away. It was not too late, even then. That is a great encouragement, for it shows that it is never too late to turn to you, and that you receive those who come in simple faith. The dying thief had no time and no works; he simply turned to you, and was received. However late the hour, however little I have to offer, you receive those who turn to you in faith. Keep me from imagining it is too late to turn to you, or that I must bring some worthiness of my own; the dying thief turned to you at the last, with nothing but faith, and was received. Help me turn to you in simple trust, Lord, acknowledging my need, and trust that you receive those who come to you, however empty their hands.