“The Thief Who Called Out To Christ” (Ready to Worship S8E10)

November 30, 2018

Ready to Worship Season 8, Episode 10 for Friday, November 30, 2018

This season on Ready to Worship, we are examining the cross to prepare our minds for worship. Sit with me for a moment at the foot of the cross.

Had he heard Christ teach? Had he seen a miracle? Had he walked with Him? Had He talked with Him? We don’t know any of these things. All that we know is that in his final hours on earth, one of the thieves that was crucified with Christ expressed faith in Him. He expressed faith in the innocence of Christ. He acknowledged that Christ had done “nothing amiss” (Lk. 23:41). He expressed faith in the love of Christ. He asked Jesús to remember him or to have mercy on him (Lk. 23:42). Finally, he expressed faith in the kingdom of Christ. He asked Jesús to remember him when He came into His kingdom (Lk. 23:42). As amazing as this man’s faith was, it is even more amazing because of where and when it took place. Just imagine what the thief could see, if he could see anything. Christ was bloody, battered, and bruised. He was stripped and had spittle running down his face. The sign, King of the Jews, mocked him from above, sinners mocked him from below, and the men hanging on either side of Him, of which this man was one, did the same. Truly, there was no beauty that this man should have desired Him; and yet, he did (Isa. 53:1-2). He saw Christ at His worst, and was still drawn to Him (John 12:32). He saw Christ at His weakest, and still reached out to Him. When others turned away from Christ (Isa. 53:3), he turned towards Him. When others saw foolishness and weakness, he saw the wisdom of God and the power of God (1 Cor. 1:22-25).

As we get ready to worship this week, let’s focus on the man on the center cross. At His worst, He is still desirable. At His weakest, He can still save.