The Best Short Story Ever Told
“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God since we are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Luke 23:39-41
When I read a book, I read the last chapter first since I can’t wait to see how it ends. I like short stories best. This is the best one ever told.
A criminal walking to his execution in the morning, is found in Paradise later that afternoon. See him on the road with two other men, carrying the crosses they will die on later. There’s no hope for escape or pardon.
I marvel at what comes next. Both robbers being crucified, heaping insults on Jesus, along with the crowd, saying, “If he’s the king of Israel, let him come down from the cross and we’ll believe in him.”
They both desired self-preservation at any cost and dishonored His Son as He suffered. These men were not candidates for God’s mercy. But it was God’s will that He be numbered with sinners as He poured out His life to death for them.
When a man’s heart changes, the Spirit is there. Just hours before he died, one thief saw his coming execution as justice for his crimes. He found forgiveness from God.
What about you? Are you at the end of the road? Are you ready to admit your guilt to God? You don’t have the ability? You’re not alone. You see when we were still powerless Jesus died for the ungodly.
The thief saw his King die next to him. When the soldier came to break his legs, he remembered His dying promise, “Today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
