The Thief on the Cross “Remember Me”

He was one of the most anonymous people in Scripture. All we know is that the “malefactor” (as the Authorized Version calls him) was one of two thieves who were crucified alongside Jesus on a dark Friday some 2,000 years ago.

We don’t know his name. We don’t know where in Palestine he came from. We know nothing of his education, his family, or even his career—if he even had one. We just know he was a thief the Romans wanted dead before sundown.

Initially, both of the thieves being crucified had mocked Jesus. The chief priests chided, “If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God’” (Matthew 27:42, 43). But in the very next verse, we read, “Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing” (verse 44).

Did you catch that? Both robbers mocked, both reviled. Until … one malefactor, who we know so little about, did a 180-degree turnaround. Hearing his compatriot demand that Jesus prove His divinity by saving them together, the now-penitent thief said: “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” (Luke 23:40, 41).

Some have suggested that when this thief heard Jesus say, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34 KJV), this man was convicted of his own sin—and his personal need for a Savior. The Bible doesn’t give us a reason for the thief’s repentance, just the word that he did. And for Jesus, that was enough!

As Luke recorded it: “Then he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.’” And on that very day, Jesus assured him, “You will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:42, 43).

Salvation! In a sentence! What hope that should give us all!

Reflect: Do you know of people who experienced a “180-degree turnaround” in their view of God and Jesus? Were you such a person? The Lord allows U-turns!

Key Bible Texts

And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. (Luke 23:42 KJV)