1486. The Attitude of Christ Toward the Criminal

The Attitude of Christ Toward the Criminal

"Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with Me in Paradise" (Luk_23:43).

We now come to a class who are not only outcasts, but criminals. They are people against whom the strong arm of the law has taken a stand. Does it seem possible that after the law has tried and condemned a thief, a murderer, a bandit, a highwayman, a man who sums up everything that is vile and loathsome; a man who has been justly tried and found guilty; a man who is suffering the ignominious death of crucifixion, and receiving the due rewards of his deeds–is it possible that Christ the Holy Son of God will pardon and justify such an one?

This is not only possible but it is true.

1. The dying thief. The thief was a self-confessed robber and malefactor. He plainly told the thief who was being crucified with him, that they both were guilty, receiving the due rewards of their deeds. Then, he turned toward the Christ, and said, "Remember me when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom." Without a moment's hesitancy, the Lord replied, "To day shalt thou be with Me in Paradise."

Oh, what a change! From the life of a highwayman, living precariously in the fastnesses of the woods and the hills, to the life of a saint dwelling in Paradise.

Oh, what a change! A man stained with the blood of his fellows, covered with the robes of crime, dying for his sins, now washed from every stain, robed in garments of righteousness, and living forever with Christ.

Let us not dare to think that the Lord Jesus has prepared Heaven as a rendezvous and safe retreat for criminals. This is not true.

We do know, however, that the Lord Jesus died upon Calvary's Cross to save the vilest of the vile. None have gone so far in sin but that the Blood of Christ can make them clean.

2. Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was quite as much a robber as the dying thief. The chief difference in the two men lay in the fact that Zacchaeus legalized his robberies, and the dying thief was openly and rebelliously a thief. Yet the Lord said to Zacchaeus, "Come down; for to day I must abide at thy house." From that hour Zacchaeus was a changed man. He quickly said: "Half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold."

Christ said to the thief, "To day shalt thou be with Me in Paradise." To Zacchaeus He said, "This day is salvation come to this house."

Bless God, there is salvation for the criminal.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR