Luke 23:39-43 (NLT)
One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”
But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn't done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”
And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Other than Jesus, one of the most enduring people in the Gospels to those of us in recovery is the penitent criminal hanging next to Christ on the cross. What we find here in this brief, but powerful passage is a man, much like us, who squandered years in sin and criminal activity. While the exact nature of his wrongs aren't recorded, we can assume it was bad if he was being crucified for it. User. Addict. Alcoholic. Murderer. His lifestyle had taken everything from him- family, friends, and now, his life. He had wasted all his years and was now poised to waste his final moment.
Then he had finally seen and heard and hurt enough. He watched in wonder as Jesus willingly laid down his life for an unexplainable love. He heard Jesus ask the Father to forgive those who were violently lashing out at him. And something within him snapped. He had had enough of his sin and the damage done. The nameless criminal couldn't say much, so he simply uttered the words, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
As he did so, we not only witness Jesus' gracious reply, but a prevailing principle in the Scripture. We see Jesus do what the dying, desperate man could not do for himself. He had taken all the wasted years and restored his life in a matter of seconds. In the time span of a statement, Jesus brought more love, forgiveness, and peace than the man struggled for in years.
Nolan’s first Bible study at the shelter was a memorable one. Despite his feverish shaking from the withdrawals, he, like the hurting man next to Jesus, poured his broken heart out. And during his share time, he continually mentioned the gnawing pain of wasting 28 years in addiction. It weighed on him so heavily that it very well could have derailed his recovery. He found the strength, however, to cry out to God in desperation and his life, like that of the nameless man, was forever changed.
Discussion Questions:
1. Have you had an experience similar to that of the man on the cross?
2. What was the man’s breaking point? What was your breaking point?
3. How does the following statement make you feel: Jesus can do more for you in seconds than you could do for yourself in years.
