Good Friday: The Thief

Happy Good Friday! A Good Friday, indeed.

I know, I’m blogging twice in one day. WHAT? Crazy.

This song and this passage have been on my heart this week, and I felt called to share it with you. (You being whoever wants to read it / hear it / see it).

The following passage of scripture, along with the song “Thief” by Third Day (shared below), are two of the things that really convicted me when I first came into my faith.

The image of this criminal, this thief, right next to Jesus on the cross, is so powerful. This thief who doubted for so long, was a sinner, a criminal – yet at the end of his life, he looks over and sees the King facing the same fate as he. He asks for Jesus’ forgiveness. And what does Jesus do? He offers him salvation and paints a beautiful picture of Salvation. “You will be with Me in paradise.”

Sometimes I feel like the thief.

Amazing. Amazing Love. Amazing forgiveness. No matter what we’ve done in our lives, He loves us for who we are. Not for what we’ve done. That’s amazing. I can only hope / pray / and strive to give that kind of love to people in my life.

32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”[c] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”

36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

38 There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[d]”

43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:32-43 (NIV)

Lyrics for “Thief” by Third Day

I am a thief, I am a murderer
Walking up this lonely hill
What have I done? I don’t remember
No one knows just how I feel
and I know that my time is coming soon.
It’s been so long. Oh, such a long time
Since I’ve lived with peace and rest
Now I am here, my destination
guess things work for the best
and I know that my time is coming soon
Who is this man? This man beside me

They call the King of the Jews
They don’t believe that He’s the Messiah
But, somehow I know it’s true.
And they laugh at Him in mockery,
and beat Him till he bleeds
They nail Him to the rugged cross,
and raise Him, they raise Him up next to me
My time has come, I’m slowly fading
I deserve what I receive

Jesus when You are in Your kingdom
Could You please remember me
and He looks at me still holding on
the tears fall from His eyes
He says I tell the truth
Today, you will live with Me in paradise
and I know that my time is coming soon
and I know paradise is coming soon.

Happy Good Friday!