One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at Jesus saying, aren't you the Messiah

Save yourself and save us

But the other criminal rebuked him

Don't you fear God

We are punished justly for we're getting what we deserve

But this man, he's done nothing wrong

Then he turned and said to Jesus, remember me

When you come into your kingdom, Jesus answered him Truly, I tell you today, you will be with me in paradise

Those are some of my favorite verses in all of the New Testament, and I think they should be some of your favorite verses too

Here's why, because I think that's the most simple and clear picture we have of the free grace of God

The good thief had nothing to give to God

No church attendance, no church membership, no baptism, no communion, no tithing, no mission trips, no prayer meetings, no Bible studies, no time to go and make right all the wrongs

He had committed no time to figure out how to nuance some of the doctrines of the Christian faith, like justification by faith and the inerrancy of scriptures

No time to grow in holiness and sanctification, no time to impress anyone with anything

He had nothing to give to God

He is just a naked, dying, sinful man who can't even fold his hands to pray

But against all odds, that man walks into heaven in the same hour as Jesus

He walks into the kingdom of God with the king of kings

I heard a pastor recently explain this story and what it could have been like

Now, I don't think it actually happened this way, but he says, just imagine what it would've been like for that thief to enter in to heaven

Suppose there are angels there greeting him, saying, now who are you and how did you get here

And he says, I don't know exactly how I got here

And I say, well, are you a Christian

Well, what's a Christian

Do you believe in salvation by grace alone through faith alone

Well, I'm not sure well, do you at least believe in the full deity and humanity of Christ

I'm not even sure what that means

Frustrated the angels finally say, well then on what basis are you here

And so the best that he could come up with is this

He says, the man on the middle cross said, I could come

And that's the only answer anybody ever needs

The man on the middle cross said, I could come

Jesus didn't die alone

He died next to a brother

He died next to a Christian, and the last day of that man's life turned out to be the best day of his life