The Scandal of the Cross (Luke 23:39-43)
Main Idea of Luke’s Gospel:
To present Jesus as the fullfillment of God’s promises to Israel and the compassionate Savior, emphasizing his ministry to the marginalized and his journey to the cross as the ultimate expression of God’s love and the means of salvation for all who believe.
Questions to Consider:
What contrasting responses do we see from the two criminals crucified alongside Jesus? What does each response reveal about their understanding (or lack thereof) of Jesus and their own situation?
What is the significance of the second criminal’s rebuke of the first? What does his statement “Don’t you even fear God?” imply in this context?
How does the second criminal acknowledge his own guilt and affirm Jesus’ innocence? What is the importance of this confession?
What does the second criminal’s plea, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom,” reveal about a dawning faith or hope in Jesus, especially considering his utterly helpless state?
What is the significance of Jesus’ immediate and unconditional response, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise”? What does this tell us about Jesus’ authority and the nature of salvation, particularly in light of the thief’s inability to perform any traditional acts of faith?
How does this passage illustrate the core themes of grace, repentance, and faith?
The Text:
Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment? We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
And he said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
– Luke 23:39-43 (CSB)
Observations:
Verse 39: One of the crucified criminals mocks Jesus, challenging his messianic identity and demanding a self-serving miracle. His focus is on immediate physical deliverance.
Verses 40-41: The second criminal rebukes the first, appealing to a sense of divine accountability (“Don’t you even fear God?”). He acknowledges the justice of their own punishment while unequivocally affirming Jesus’ innocence (“this man has done nothing wrong”).
Verse 42: This criminal directs a plea to Jesus, addressing him by name and expressing a belief in his future reign (“remember me when you come into your kingdom”). Strikingly, this plea comes from a man utterly incapable of any outward religious action.
Verse 43: Jesus responds with a profound declaration, assuring the man of his immediate presence with him in “paradise” (“Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise”). Notably, this unconditional promise is given to someone utterly incapable of any subsequent good works, baptism, or adherence to religious practices, highlighting the singular importance of faith in receiving God’s grace.
Interpretation:
Two Responses to the Suffering Savior (v. 39-41): This passage starkly contrasts two individuals facing the same excruciating circumstances alongside Jesus. The first criminal embodies the spirit of unbelief and self-preservation. His taunt reveals a misunderstanding of Jesus’ mission, seeking earthly escape rather than grasping the deeper purpose of the cross. As D. A. Carson, in his broader writings on the Gospels and the person of Christ, often highlights, such a demand for a sign misses the true nature of Jesus’ Messianic work, which culminates in sacrificial love.
In stark opposition, the second criminal demonstrates a dawning recognition of divine justice and Jesus’ unique righteousness. His rebuke speaks to a sense of accountability before a holy God. His confession is a powerful acknowledgment of his own sinfulness and a profound affirmation of Jesus’ innocence.
A Plea of Faith and a Promise of Paradise Grounded in Grace (v. 42-43): The second criminal’s plea, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom,” is a remarkable expression of faith, especially considering his utterly helpless state. Unlike anyone who might come to faith today, this man had no opportunity for outward expressions of devotion. His faith, born in the shadow of death and likely with very little theological understanding, was purely a desperate reliance on the mercy of the One hanging next to him.
Jesus’ immediate and unconditional response, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise,” is a powerful declaration of his sovereign grace in action. This promise to the repentant thief is utterly unearned and underscores the fundamental truth that salvation is a gift of God, received through faith alone, and not by any human effort or merit. As A. Blake White eloquently states in his theological explorations of grace, “Grace is not simply divine assistance given to those who strive; it is God’s unmerited favor, freely bestowed upon the undeserving.” This passage beautifully illustrates that definition. The thief, utterly undeserving and incapable of anything, receives the fullness of God’s favor through his simple act of faith.
Consider the thief’s utter inability to perform any act. He couldn’t be baptized, perform good deeds, follow a set of rules, or even demonstrate a prolonged period of faithfulness. His salvation hinges solely on his desperate, last-minute plea of faith and Jesus’ gracious response. This resonates with the core of biblical theology, as often articulated by D. A. Carson, that salvation is God’s initiative, received through faith.
Application:
Examine Your Own Response to Jesus: Like the two criminals, we are all confronted with the reality of Jesus. Do we approach him with demands for earthly comfort and signs, or with a humble recognition of our sin and his righteousness?
Acknowledge Your Need for God’s Grace: The repentant thief understood his just condemnation. We too must acknowledge our sinfulness and our complete dependence on God’s mercy, which is found in Jesus Christ.
Embrace Faith in Jesus’ Reign: The thief’s plea looked beyond the cross to Jesus’ future kingdom. Our faith should also extend beyond the present to the eternal reign of Christ.
Find Assurance in Jesus’ Promise: Jesus’ words to the thief offer profound assurance of immediate and eternal life for those who trust in him, regardless of their limitations or lack of opportunity for outward religious expression or good works.
Recognize the Scandalous Nature of Grace: Salvation came to a convicted criminal in his final moments, not through works, baptism, rule-keeping, or any outward display, but through a simple plea of faith. This underscores the scandalous nature of God’s grace, available to all who call upon Jesus, no matter their circumstances or inability to perform religious acts or good works.
Connection to the Main Idea:
This passage powerfully illustrates Luke’s portrayal of Jesus as the compassionate Savior. Even in his own suffering, Jesus extends grace and the promise of salvation to a repentant sinner who had absolutely nothing to offer but his faith. This encounter on the cross highlights Jesus’ ministry to the marginalized – even a condemned criminal – and underscores that salvation is found through faith in him, not through any human merit or religious performance. The promise of paradise reveals the ultimate destination of those who trust in Jesus, a key aspect of the salvation He offers freely.
How Does This Text Point to Christ?
Jesus is the Object of Insult and Faith: He is both mocked and believed in, revealing the divided responses to his identity.
Jesus is Declared Innocent: Even by a criminal, Jesus’ sinlessness is affirmed, highlighting his unique character.
Jesus Possesses Kingdom Authority: The thief’s plea acknowledges Jesus’ future reign, even as he hangs on a cross.
Jesus Offers Immediate and Complete Salvation: His promise of being in paradise “today” demonstrates his power over death and his ability to grant eternal life based solely on faith, not works.
Jesus is the Gateway to Paradise: Christ as the object of our faith is the key to entering God’s presence after death, regardless of earthly limitations.
Summary:
Luke 23:39-43 presents a poignant scene of contrasting responses to Jesus on the cross. One criminal rejects him with scorn, focused on earthly deliverance. The other, recognizing his own guilt and Jesus’ innocence, pleads for remembrance in his kingdom. Jesus’ gracious response promises immediate forgiveness and entry into paradise, illustrating the power of faith and the immediacy of salvation offered by the suffering Savior, even to one who was utterly incapable of any outward religious act or good works. This passage underscores the themes of repentance, faith, grace, and the ultimate authority of Jesus Christ.
Be Intentional:
Reflect on which of the two criminals your own heart most closely resembles in its attitude towards Jesus.
Consider the areas in your life where you might be relying on your own efforts or religious practices rather than solely on the grace of God through faith in Christ.
Take heart in the story of the repentant thief, knowing that no matter your past or present limitations, God’s grace is sufficient when you place your trust in Christ.
Intentionally bring your own needs and hopes before Jesus, trusting in his promise of eternal life, not in your ability to earn it through any action.
Ask Yourself:
Have I truly acknowledged my own sinfulness and my complete dependence on Jesus’ saving grace, understanding that nothing I can do can earn it?
Do I believe that salvation is a free gift from God, received through faith alone in Christ, apart from any works or religious rituals I might perform?
How does the story of the thief on the cross challenge any tendency I might have to think that my good deeds or religious activity contribute to my salvation?
Do I place stumbling blocks before others when presenting the Gospel?
Bibliography:
Carson, D. A. The Gospel According to John. Eerdmans, 1991.
Moo, Douglas J. Romans. The NIV Application Commentary. Zondervan, 2000.
Schreiner, Thomas R. Romans. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Baker Academic, 1998.
White, A. Blake. Galatians: A Theological Interpretation. Baylor University Press, 2014.
