Those who went to Jesus, though they came from different backgrounds, had one thing in common. They felt that something was lacking in their lives. They yearned for something more than they had.
Without exception, they all received what they sought – peace in their hearts.
Nicodemus was a highly educated person. The centurion had a great power and authority. The leper and the sinful woman at Jacob’s well were considered rejects of society. Zacchaeus was a corrupt government official.
Think about the penitent thief who was crucified with Jesus at Calvary. At his death’s door, he received God’s forgiveness. By the world’s standards, his life had been a complete failure. He committed one crime after another. He was in his final stage of a failed life. He reached the bottom. He received the death penalty (Luke 23: 34-43).
At first, the repentant thief mocked Jesus. But later, he changed his mind. As he observed Jesus, he wondered who this Jesus was. He thought it was strange that Jesus was not angry, though He had been mocked, beaten, crowned with thorns and spat upon. There was no anger in Jesus’ eyes – only tears.
The repentant thief began to wonder how Jesus could remain so calm in spite of all the cruelty He endured. Then he heard Jesus say “Father, forgive them. ...”
“Why do they want Jesus dead?” the thief asked himself. His curiosity made him temporarily forgot the pain in his own body and the nails in his own hands.
The repentant thief began to feel a peculiar warmth in his heart. He began to care about this peaceful Jesus.
He saw soldiers throw dice to gamble on Jesus’ bloodstained robe. He saw the sign above Jesus’ head which read “The king of the Jews.” He heard the soldiers mock Jesus.
The repentant thief asked himself “If Jesus is crazy, why don’t they just leave Him alone? If they have nothing to fear, why kill him? They would kill a king only if he has a kingdom.”
At the same time, the criminal on the other side of Jesus also observed Jesus. But he saw Jesus from a different perspective, through the lens of cynicism.
“So you are the Messiah, are you?” this criminal shouted at Jesus. “Prove it. Save yourself and us!”
It is a mystery, isn’t it? Two criminals both received the death penalty. Both criminals saw and heard the same Jesus. At first, both mocked Jesus. One changed his mind. The other remained cynical.
The same thing happened with Peter and Judas. Both were disciples of Jesus. Both saw what Jesus did and heard what Jesus said. Both betrayed Jesus. Peter repented and became the first pope. Judas hung himself on a tree.
“Don’t you fear God?” the repentant thief asked the cynic. A few minutes earlier, the same lips had cursed Jesus. Now they were defending Jesus.
Everyone at the foot of the cross looked at the penitent thief. No one could believe that he would care for anybody. He had always been a bully. He had always been a brat.
But now that he was about to die, he spoke on God’s behalf. Where were those who were expected to defend Jesus? Peter and the other disciples abandoned Him. They all ran and hid, except John. Jesus’ countrymen demanded Jesus’ death.
“Don’t you ever fear God now that you are dying?” the penitent thief asked the cynic. “We deserve to die for our deeds, but Jesus has done nothing wrong.”
Jesus turned to look at the penitent thief, who offered a final act of love while Jesus was still alive. Jesus was the penitent thief’s last hope.
The penitent thief asked Jesus, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom (Luke 24:42). The penitent thief did not make excuses. He just desperately asked for help.
At this point, Jesus performed the greatest miracle on the cross at Calvary on that Friday afternoon – greater than the darkening of the sun and the earthquake.
Jesus performed the miracle of forgiveness. The bloodstained Savior received a criminal with these words: “Today you will be with Me in paradise.” A few seconds earlier, the repentant thief was a beggar at the king’s palace door, hoping the king would give him a few crumbs. Suddenly he was given the whole loaf of forgiveness. That’s the meaning of grace.