We Are All the Thief on the Cross
The Cross Was Meant for Us—But Mercy Hung There Instead
Welcome friend,
I’m Mark, and this space is for the wanderers, the worn out, and the ones still wrestling with God at 2 a.m. I don’t have all the answers, but I know the One who does—and I’m learning to trust Him more.
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There were three crosses on Calvary that day. One belonged to Jesus. The other two belonged to men who had spent their lives running from truth, from justice, from God. Criminals, rebels, thieves.
One of them died the way he lived—hard-hearted, angry, blind to the truth that hung just feet away from him.
But the other?
The other saw clearly for the first time in his life.
The Moment Everything Changed
He had nothing to offer. No good deeds to boast in. No time to turn his life around. His hands were nailed down—he couldn’t lift a finger for God even if he wanted to. And still, Jesus gave him everything.
That thief cried out, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom” (Luke 23:42). And with breath that scraped through agony, Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).
That man? He is us.
We Are That Thief
We are the ones who have broken God’s laws. We are the ones with nothing to offer. Every single one of us is hanging next to Jesus, condemned and in need of mercy.
You don’t have to be a career criminal to be that thief. You could be the mom who screams behind closed doors. The man who can’t stop watching what he shouldn’t. The teen who pretends to have it all together while quietly falling apart.
We’ve all sinned. We’ve all earned that cross.
And still—Jesus took our punishment.
Mercy in the Middle
In the middle of pain, betrayal, humiliation, and slow death, Jesus didn’t spit curses like the others. He didn’t defend Himself or beg to be rescued. He gave mercy. He bore our sins in His body on that cross (1 Peter 2:24). He died the death we earned so we could live the life we don’t deserve. And just like the thief, we’re offered paradise—not because of anything we do, but because of everything He already did.
Grip That Trust Like Your Life Depends on It—Because It Does
The thief had one shot. One moment of clarity. And he clung to it with everything he had left. Not his hands—they were bound. But his heart, his voice, his mustard-seed faith. That’s what saving faith looks like. It’s not about having perfect theology or a long list of spiritual achievements. It’s about looking at Jesus and saying, “I trust You. I believe You are who You say You are. Remember me.” Grip that trust. Cling to Jesus like the thief did—desperate, honest, and fully surrendered.
You Can’t Earn This
You can’t clean yourself up enough to be worthy. You can’t perform your way into heaven. The thief couldn’t, and neither can you.
That’s the scandal of grace. That Jesus would take the guilty, the broken, the messed up—and call them His.
Romans 5:8 says, “But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Don’t Wait for a Better Moment
The thief didn’t wait until his life was back on track. He didn’t wait until he “felt ready.” He spoke up in his worst moment—and Jesus answered.
And Jesus is still answering.
He’s still saving thieves. Still welcoming rebels into paradise. Still offering forgiveness to those who don’t deserve it.
That means there’s hope for you. Right now. Just as you are.
Call to Repentance
If you’ve been trying to earn your way into heaven, it’s time to stop striving and start surrendering. Today can be the day everything changes. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 6:2, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Don’t wait for a better moment. Turn from your sin, believe in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross, and receive the gift of eternal life. He is calling—respond to Him today.
Call to Action
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