June 27 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

It is not by chance that our Lord Jesus is crucified between two thieves. At Golgotha two other crosses are erected to display God’s sovereign work of election. The two criminals who are crucified with Christ are probably not pagans but members of God’s covenant people. They are sons of Abraham to whom the promises of God had been revealed. Both of these men do not deserve anything but eternal condemnation. Nevertheless, by God’s sovereign design, the one criminal is chosen to salvation.

At first, both criminals use their dying strength to join in the taunting of those who ridicule and mock Christ (Mt 27:44; Mk 15:32). Yet as the hours of agony pass, one of them is changed by the Holy Spirit. His taunting turns to silence and his silence to repentance. The repentant thief confesses his own guilt and Christ’s perfect innocence by rebuking his partner in crime, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” (23:40-41) The repentant thief confesses his own unworthiness. His only hope is in Jesus.

The repentant criminal who stole is saved from eternal damnation by Him who purchased him. His eyes are opened to the fact that Jesus’ death is meant to atone for his sin, too. The penitent thief is not saved on the basis of his good works. He may have committed worse and more odious crimes than the other thief. What happens to this man is the fruit of Christ’s saving work. This criminal is brought to the realization that the only place where he can find peace of mind is with Jesus. “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” “Remember me!” His cry for mercy echoes the cry of the publican of Luke 18:13, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!”

The scene at the cross displays in vivid colours the doctrines of justification by faith alone and unconditional election. The criminal can only be received into the kingdom of God through the merit of Christ. The criminal is brought to faith by the mercy and love of God. Let us thank the Lord for the mystery of our religion: a criminal is saved through the blood of His dying Saviour.