One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23.39 – 43, NIV)

“Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” That required a lot of faith. That a man dying on a cross would be coming into a kingdom. And that a criminal dying on a cross would be able to come into it with him.

The criminal believed:

• In the true identity of Jesus
• In life after death
• That his performance (or lack of it) had nothing to do with his eligibility for Jesus’ kingdom

The criminal’s faith is a bright spot in this sordid tale of Jesus’ execution, and it’s recorded only by Luke. As I write, I’m reminded of flowers we had in the front yard of another house in Colorado. They often would bloom before the last spring snowfall, and you’d see something like this picture. Flowers in the snow. The promise of spring in what appears to be winter.

Even as he dies, Jesus imparts life…to a criminal!

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. (John 12.24, ESV)

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” (John 12.32, ESV)