Savior in the Middle-Luke 23:32–43

Key Verse 42-43

“Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Happy Easter! Today, we’re looking at a powerful moment—the day Jesus was crucified. Right next to Him, two criminals were also hanging on crosses. Both were in deep pain. Both were facing the end of their lives. And both were just a few feet away from the Savior of the world. Same pain. Same situation. Same distance from Jesus. But their reactions couldn’t have been more different. One mocked Him. The other worshiped. Pain has the power to either close us off—or crack us wide open to grace.

As we hear this passage, may we see Jesus—right there with us, in the middle of it all, sharing in our pain. Offering us Himself. Offering us hope and peace. Above all else, may God help us respond well in our own times of suffering.

First, Criminal One: Blind in His Pain

Look at Luke 23:39 “One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: ‘Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’”

One of the criminals hanging next to Jesus wasn’t having it. He was angry—bitter. And there he was, right next to the Son of God, and what does he do? He starts throwing insults at Him. Like, “Oh, so you’re the Messiah, huh? Why don’t you save yourself—and us while you’re at it?”
Totally disrespectful. Full of sarcasm and rage. Even in his final moments, with death literally around the corner, he wouldn’t humble himself. He had the chance—Jesus was right there. He could’ve asked for mercy, for help… but instead, he used his last breaths to mock the only one who could actually save him. Why would someone do that? Why harden your heart even in your last moments?

We don’t know this guy’s full story. At one point, he was just a baby—innocent, full of potential, like all of us. But somewhere along the way, life happened. Hard things. Painful things. Somewhere along the line, his heart grew hard. Maybe it was bullying, negligent parents, maybe injustice, maybe just years of feeling powerless under Roman rule. We’re not told exactly what he did—but it must’ve been serious. Serious enough to end up on a cross. In the movie Amish Grace, one of the elders said, “Hate is a very big, very hungry thing… with lots of sharp teeth. It will eat up your whole heart, and leave no room left for love.” And that’s what we see in this man. No room left. No space to look inward… to face the brokenness, the sin, the stuff that weighs heavy—guilt, anger, shame, the things that tear at our relationships. He was too full of hate to see the grace that was hanging right next to him. All he wanted was a way out of his mess.

That thief didn’t want Jesus as Lord—he just wanted a quick fix. He wasn’t looking for a real relationship with Jesus, just a rescue when things got rough. He didn’t see himself as part of the problem — he saw Jesus as the problem. He knew Jesus had the power to take away his pain, but when Jesus didn’t show up the way he expected, he got mad. Like, “If you’re really who you say you are, fix this now.”

This guy honestly reminds me of a lot of celebrities who say they’re Christian. You know the type — they love the whole feel-good version of faith. It’s all about the good vibes: positive emotions, happiness, comfort… but not so much about things like repentance, sacrifice, or actually dealing with your flaws. There’s that quote — “The truth will set you free, but first it’ll make you miserable.” That hits hard. Because real peace? It usually comes after some serious self-reflection and a painful look at your own mess.

I remember reading about this one celebrity who confessed his faith in Jesus. He even dedicated a whole album to Him and was leading these huge music revival events. But then things got real — Jesus started convicting him about deeper stuff: lust, greed, pride. And instead of leaning in, he backed off. He didn’t want to change. He ended up drifting even further away. Lately, he’s even said he has “issues with Jesus.” Honestly? Sounds a lot like this criminal — loving the surface-level light, but not ready for the heat that actually changes you.

Second, Second Criminal: Eyes Opened in Agony

Then we hear from the other thief—the one who, though equally broken, sees something more. “Don’t you fear God,” he rebukes the first, “since we are under the same sentence? We are punished justly… but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’” (vv. 40–42). This is one of the most profound moments in Scripture.

The other criminal—the one on the other side of Jesus—was in the exact same situation. He was in agony. Just like the first guy, he was hanging on a cross, in pain, humiliated, exposed. He was just as close to Jesus physically.

Instead of lashing out, he rebukes the other criminal and teaches him the Bible! He said, “Don’t you fear God?” He didn’t see just another broken man on a cross. He saw the Creator of the heavens and the earth next him. He did not see a failure, but a Savior. Where others saw weakness, he saw divine strength. Where others saw darkness, he saw the door to a Kingdom.

He also had moral clarity. He says “We’re getting what we deserve.” In that moment, he shows what the Bible calls contrition. It’s this deep, crushing awareness that we’re broken—that our sin isn’t just a mistake, it’s weighty, and it crushes us. He knew he was guilty. He knew he needed mercy. And then, in the middle of all the pain, the shouting, the chaos—he turns his head, looks at Jesus, and says just three simple words: “Jesus, Remember me.” No long speech, no blaming others, no justification of the good things he had done. Simply, I’m a wretch sinner, please remember me.

Look at verse 42, “Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” This man would be the first to enter God’s presence along with Jesus. We too can experience paradise in this dark world when we simply come to Jesus acknowledging our wretchedness and depending on his mercy and grace.

Third, Jesus: The Cross in the Middle

Look at verse 35-37 “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.”

What they didn’t realize was this: Jesus not saving Himself was actually the whole point. That was God’s plan to save them. Let me say that again—Jesus choosing not to save Himself was exactly how God was saving us.

God’s plan to not save Jesus—it honestly seems confusing, even a little upside down. It doesn’t make sense at first glance. It’s like God’s playing some kind of multi-dimensional chess game. Jesus’ crucifixion looked like a bad move—like the enemy is about to win. It probably looked like a checkmate moment… like evil had the upper hand. But what no one realized was—it was all part of the plan. Acts 2:23, 24 puts it this way: “This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” It wasn’t an accident. It wasn’t a mistake. It was intentional. God knew exactly what He was doing. The crucifixion and resurrection were a checkmate move to sin and death.

Pastor John Piper once said that the cross is where God’s judgment on sin and his ultimate love come together—and that really hits deep. Think about it: on the cross, Jesus took on the full force of human sin—past, present, and future. It was like a tsunami of guilt and brokenness crashing down on Him. Every sinful thought, every wrong word, every messed-up action… it all landed on Jesus.

In Matthew 27:46, Jesus cries out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” That moment shows just how heavy the weight of our sin really was. For the first time, Jesus felt the full separation that sin causes between us and God. God’s judgment for all sin, didn’t fall on us. It fell on Him. Jesus stood in our place. He took what we deserved, so we could receive what we never could earn: grace and love.

Not only was God’s judgment displayed on cross, God’s love shone brightly on the cross. Way back in Isaiah 53, it was all laid out. It says Jesus was like a lamb being led to the slaughter. He carried our pain, took on our suffering. And even though people thought He was being punished by God, the truth was—He was pierced because of our sins. He was crushed for our wrongs. The punishment He took? That’s what brought us peace. And by His wounds, we’re the ones who get to be healed.

When we know that Jesus took the punishment that we full deserve and aware of his love for us, we can live with joy. Sometimes, we just don’t know what God is up to. Life can be tough. We go through struggles, and we ask God to fix it, to step in—but it feels like He’s quiet. Like He’s not hearing our prayers.

But Jesus is in the middle of it all. But even in those moments, one thing is always true: God loves us. Paul put it beautifully in Romans 8:32 “He who didn’t spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?”

Think of it like this: it’s Christmas morning, and a kid opens up the best gift ever—like the thing they were dreaming of. Even if they also get some socks from the dollar store, they’re still thrilled, because they got the gift that mattered most. For us as Christians, that ultimate gift is Jesus. And when you’ve received Him, everything else—no matter how small or uncertain—starts to fade in comparison.

In 1944, Corrie ten Boom and her sister Betsie were sent to a concentration camp for helping Jews during World War II. The barracks they ended up in were overcrowded, filthy, and crawling with fleas. Corrie was miserable, completely disgusted by the horrible conditions. But Betsie kept encouraging her to trust God and to give thanks — no matter what. Their reactions were a lot like the two criminals who were crucified beside Jesus: one full of anger, the other full of faith. Later, they discovered something incredible. Because the barracks were so infested with fleas, the guards refused to come inside. What had first seemed like a curse turned out to be a blessing. Their flea-ridden barracks became a sacred place where they could hold Bible studies, worship freely, and offer hope to the other women. Corrie would later share this story as a powerful reminder that even in the darkest, most hopeless places, God’s providence can still shine through.

At the end of the day, we’re all a bit like those two criminals on the cross. Sometimes, we’re bitter, angry, and full of questions. Other times, we’re humbled, broken, and asking for mercy. And right there in the middle — between it all — is Jesus. He’s not just watching our pain from a distance. He’s in it with us. He gets it — the frustration, the anger, the desperation. He hears our cries, and He never turns away. We’ve all got our own crosses to carry — school stress, work drama, family struggles, health battles, past wounds, spiritual weight… Sometimes, it feels like too much to handle.

But Jesus is right there — in the middle of our mess. He understands every burden we carry. He prays for us, He forgives us, and He plants hope deep in our hearts — the kind of hope that whispers, “You’re not alone. Paradise is coming.” It’s like that Footprints in the Sand poem — when the journey begins, there were two sets of footprints, but when it was hardest, there was only one set of footprints, it wasn’t because God left. It was because He was carrying us. Jesus is in the middle of it all. Always.

So may God open our eyes to see Him — the one who took our place on the cross. The one who didn’t save Himself so He could save us. And may we catch even a small glimpse of the kingdom of God when we put our faith in Him.

Bible Study Questions

1. Look at verse 23:35, Why didn’t Jesus save himself from the cross? Why was it necessary that Jesus not save himself (Isaiah 53:5, John 1:29, Hebrews 9:22) How was crucifixion a victory for all mankind (Acts 2:23, 1 Corin 15:26)?

2. Look at verse 23:39, why do you think this man responded to Jesus with insults? How is his insult similar to Matthew 4:6? How did he see Jesus? How is he similar to Cain (Genesis 4:9)? What causes a person to become so harden even in agonizing pain?

3. Look at Luke 23:40–41 (NIV) What’s different about this man’s perspective? How did Jesus statement in verse 34 help him have the right attitude towards Christ? What does it mean to fear God? How did he see his sentence on the cross? How did he see Jesus? Can you think of a time pain helped you see God more clearly like this criminal?

4. Look at Luke 23:42–43, how does real faith look like in the middle of suffering? What does this simple request teach us about salvation and grace? How does Jesus’ response show His heart for the broken?

5. What does Matt 27:46 reveal about Jesus’ suffering on the cross? On the cross, how did Jesus see the crowd, the soldiers and both criminals (23:34, Romans 5:8)? Practically, when you’re in pain, are you more likely to blame or to believe? How does this verse challenge your view of Jesus in difficult moments?