{"id":2057,"date":"2023-04-07T00:01:39","date_gmt":"2023-04-07T05:01:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.championforest.org\/devotionals\/?p=2057"},"modified":"2025-03-26T17:08:02","modified_gmt":"2025-03-26T22:08:02","slug":"4-7-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.championforest.org\/devotionals\/4-7-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"The Penitent Thief | Day Six"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"mb-0 wp-block-heading\">Day 6: The Penitent Thief<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>Devotional by Jeremy Hamblen<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Read Luke 23:32-43<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"aligncenter wp-block-ugb-container ugb-container ugb-b058165 ugb-container--v2 ugb-container--design-basic ugb-main-block\"><style>.ugb-b058165-wrapper.ugb-container__wrapper{border-radius:12px !important;background-color:rgba(240,240,240,1) !important}.ugb-b058165-wrapper.ugb-container__wrapper:before{background-color:#f0f0f0 !important}.ugb-b058165-content-wrapper > h1,.ugb-b058165-content-wrapper > h2,.ugb-b058165-content-wrapper > h3,.ugb-b058165-content-wrapper > h4,.ugb-b058165-content-wrapper > h5,.ugb-b058165-content-wrapper > h6{color:#222222}.ugb-b058165-content-wrapper > p,.ugb-b058165-content-wrapper > ol li,.ugb-b058165-content-wrapper > ul li{color:#222222}@media screen and (min-width:768px){.ugb-b058165-content-wrapper.ugb-container__content-wrapper{width:100% !important}}<\/style><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-container__wrapper ugb-b058165-wrapper ugb--shadow-3\"><div class=\"ugb-container__side\"><div class=\"ugb-container__content-wrapper ugb-b058165-content-wrapper\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Luke 23:32-43<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><sup>32 <\/sup><\/strong>\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bTwo others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.&nbsp; <strong><sup>33<\/sup><\/strong>And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. <strong><sup>34<\/sup><\/strong>And Jesus said, \u201cFather, forgive them, for they know not what they do.\u201d And they cast lots to divide his garments. <strong><sup>35<\/sup><\/strong>And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, \u201cHe saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!\u201d <strong><sup>36<\/sup><\/strong>The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine <strong><sup>37<\/sup><\/strong>and saying, \u201cIf you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!\u201d <strong><sup>38 <\/sup><\/strong>There was also an inscription over him, \u201cThis is the King of the Jews.\u201d<strong><sup>39 <\/sup><\/strong>One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, \u201cAre you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!\u201d <strong><sup>40 <\/sup><\/strong>But the other rebuked him, saying, \u201cDo you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? <strong><sup>41 <\/sup><\/strong>And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.\u201d <strong><sup>42 <\/sup><\/strong>And he said, \u201cJesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.\u201d <strong><sup>43 <\/sup><\/strong>And he said to him, \u201cTruly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f2f2f2;font-size:12px\">Scripture quotations are from the ESV\u00ae Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version\u00ae), copyright \u00a9 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Devotional<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If there\u2019s one thing we know in Houston, it\u2019s disaster. Hurricanes, floods, ice storms, and heatwaves &#8211; each season comes with its own slot on the roulette wheel of catastrophe. If you\u2019ve ever done relief work in these situations, you know there\u2019s an uncomfortable strangeness to the frozen nature of time at ground zero: people still in the clothes they wore to bed, dishes in the sink, and personal effects indiscriminately strewn about. Still, no one apologizes for the mess, and no one makes mention of it &#8211; it\u2019s just the nature of rescue. When disaster strikes, we come just as we are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The thieves on the cross were headed for disaster. Like Jesus, these violent robbers had been beaten, nailed to a wooden beam, and hung in public humiliation. This was only the beginning of their slow march towards a protracted death by asphyxiation &#8211; the real cruelty of the infamous Roman crucifixion. Staring down the inevitable outcome of their just desserts, each breath shallower than the last, one of the thieves noticed&#8230;something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Man on the middle cross had stuck out since sunrise. His demeanor was different, the measure of brutality He received was different, and the case against Him especially seemed different. But here He was, <em>praying <\/em>for their forgiveness, even as the abuse continued to pile up. It was then, suddenly, miraculously, that one thief turned penitent, proclaiming the innocence of Jesus, admitting his own guilt, and calling out the guilt of others. Naked and ashamed before the perfect Lamb, with nothing to bring and no time to make right, his unvarnished request was his profession of faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He came just as he was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s easy to try and add to the Gospel because God calls us to so much more, but it all starts and ends with faith. We don\u2019t need to try to clean ourselves before collapsing into His mercy because it is only by His mercy that we are cleansed, and it is offered to us on mercifully simple terms: grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. That\u2019s all the penitent thief needed on the cross, and because of the cross, that\u2019s all Christ requires of us, no matter how far we are, and no matter how late we feel. All we have to do is come, just as we are.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u201cJust as I am, Thou wilt receive,&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>Because Thy promise I believe,&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>O Lamb of God, I come, I come!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Questions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1. Anyone can make a promise, but Jesus\u2019 words, \u201cTruly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise,\u201d carried significant meaning because of His authority. In fact, His authority was a primary reason He was on the cross (He taught as one with authority, acted as one with authority, and claimed to be a King). How can Christ\u2019s authority over our lives and our world bring us comfort and joy?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"2\"><li>Many people try to use the story of the penitent thief as a reason they can \u201cbeat the system\u201d by waiting until their deathbed to repent and turn to Jesus. What would you say to someone to caution them against this outlook?<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li><li>The penitent thief was Jesus\u2019 last companion on earth, crucified together at a conversational distance. The thief defended Him in His presence, and then petitioned His forgiveness directly. Jesus responded in kind. Even in that brief and final encounter, the thief\u2019s rescue was about a relationship &#8211; just between the two of them. What can this tell us about the importance of our relationship with Jesus in our everyday lives?<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Watch This<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Enjoy<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/C-mGoIqBvTM\"> this extremely uplifting Gospel presentation<\/a> by folksy-Scottish preacher Alistair Begg who imagines the scene in Heaven upon the entry of the penitent thief.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Man on the Middle Cross || Powerful Gospel Illustration || Alistair Begg\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/C-mGoIqBvTM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ugb-divider ugb-divider ugb-f0575d6 ugb-divider--v2 ugb-divider--design-basic ugb-main-block\"><style>.ugb-f0575d6 hr.ugb-divider__hr{background-color:#dddddd !important;height:1px !important;width:50% !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important}.ugb-f0575d6 .ugb-inner-block{text-align:center}<\/style><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><hr class=\"ugb-divider__hr\"\/><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Day 6: The Penitent Thief Devotional by Jeremy Hamblen Read Luke 23:32-43 Luke 23:32-43 32 \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bTwo others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.&nbsp; 33And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.championforest.org\/devotionals\/4-7-2023\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">The Penitent Thief | Day Six<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1996,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,8],"tags":[29],"class_list":["post-2057","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-devotional","category-holy-week","tag-holy-week-2023"],"featured_image_urls_v2":{"full":["https:\/\/www.championforest.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/alicia-quan-kBybHJ3CEWI-unsplash-scaled.jpg",2560,1920,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.championforest.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/alicia-quan-kBybHJ3CEWI-unsplash-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.championforest.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/alicia-quan-kBybHJ3CEWI-unsplash-300x225.jpg",300,225,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.championforest.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/alicia-quan-kBybHJ3CEWI-unsplash-768x576.jpg",768,576,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.championforest.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/alicia-quan-kBybHJ3CEWI-unsplash-1024x768.jpg",900,675,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.championforest.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/alicia-quan-kBybHJ3CEWI-unsplash-1536x1152.jpg",1536,1152,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.championforest.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/alicia-quan-kBybHJ3CEWI-unsplash-2048x1536.jpg",2048,1536,true],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.championforest.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/alicia-quan-kBybHJ3CEWI-unsplash-2000x1500.jpg",2000,1500,true]},"post_excerpt_stackable_v2":"<p>Day 6: The Penitent Thief Devotional by Jeremy Hamblen Read Luke 23:32-43 Luke 23:32-43 32 \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bTwo others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.&nbsp; 33And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34And Jesus said, \u201cFather, forgive them, for they know not what they do.\u201d And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, \u201cHe saved others; let him save himself, if&hellip;<\/p>\n","category_list_v2":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.championforest.org\/devotionals\/category\/devotional\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Devotional<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.championforest.org\/devotionals\/category\/holy-week\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Holy Week 2023<\/a>","author_info_v2":{"name":"Champion Forest","url":"https:\/\/www.championforest.org\/devotionals\/author\/cfbcms_admin\/"},"comments_num_v2":"22 comments","yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Penitent Thief | Day Six - Devotionals<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Daily devotionals with Champion Forest Baptist Church. 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