What did the thief do to make him worthy of Jesus saying “Today, thou shalt be with me in paradise.”
He didn’t have anything to give Jesus.
He couldn’t get baptized.
He didn’t have theological jargon.
The only thing this man had was faith in the man on the middle cross. He knew that the one there was totally different from everyone else. He turned to Jesus alone for salvation and Jesus alone was enough.
Friends, this is all that matters still. The second saying of Jesus points us to the sufficient, free grace of our Savior. The thief on the cross reminds us that our salvation is not about us. It’s about Jesus! He got in because Jesus received him. He got in because Jesus died for him. He got in because Jesus would bring him in. This is the only way we get in as well.
