As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then

“‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”
    and to the hills, “Cover us!”’

31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”

36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (NIV)

As we come to read Luke’s account of Jesus’ crucifixion, we find that his descriptions are simple, matter of fact. They are sparse in terms of graphic detail. He focuses on personal interactions and responses.

I note that Jesus is central. The entire world is either side of that middle Cross, rejecting or accepting. On which side are you?

Again, we have the assertion of Jesus’ innocence (40).

Again, we note the emphasis on one (43). We witness the saving of one lost sheep. In what looked like defeat there was victory. He came to seek and to save that which was lost, and He succeeded! If anything shows that salvation is by faith and not by works, this does. The ”criminal” had no time to earn anything. He was ‘a debtor to mercy alone.’ As are we all. We are all ‘criminals’ before God’s law, but the Kingdom of God is open to everyone who will sincerely repent and believe.

By the way, there is irony in verse 39. In order to save others, He could not save Himself.

‘There was no other good enough…’

‘The signs of renewal, wrought in the heart of the penitent thief, showed the sure work of the Holy Spirit. These were the fear of God, the sense of justice in His suffering, the confession of evil deeds, the recognition of our Lord’s sinlessness and dignity, and the anticipation of His coming Kingdom. We may begin a day under the dull skies of earth and close it where there is no need of sun or moon.’ F.B.Meyer