Isaiah 53:9: “And they made His grave with the wicked— / But with the rich at His death, / Because He had done no violence, / Nor was any deceit in His mouth.”

September 16th, 2024 by Pastor Ed in devotional

Isaiah tells us that it was no accident that Jesus was placed on a cross between 2 thieves. He told us through His prophet, 740 years before the event took place, exactly what He had planned for that day. This encourages us to know that this was part of God’s prearranged plan to rescue humanity from eternal separation. We believe God arranged it that way because He wanted to show us, down through the ages, the choices people make in salvation. Luke 23 records the conversation between Jesus and the 2 men who were equally close to death and equally close to salvation.

They were both dying but one chose to die a believer and the other an unbeliever, separated from God for eternity. This historical event is one of the greatest stories of love and hope and grace that has ever been written in human history. One man died in his sin and went to hell. The other man died to his sin and went to paradise. Focus on the repentant thief a moment and be encouraged. That thief hanging on a cross had made a mess of his life. He had stolen and plundered his life away, but suddenly, at the very end, he stole paradise. He picked the lock to the gate of heaven with the key of repentance.

There is an old legend that names the two thieves as Titus and Dumacus. The legend says that long before they were crucified, they had waylaid Joseph and Mary, who were fleeing to Egypt with the infant Jesus, to rob them. Dumacus wanted to destroy Joseph, Mary, and the child; but Titus was drawn to something in the child that he could not quite put his finger on, but he knew the feeling he had was from God. So he persuaded his companion to spare their lives, and addressing the child, said, “Blessed child, if the day should ever come when I need mercy, on that day please remember this deed.” Of course this story is only a legend and not true, but it does point to the fact that the thief received both mercy and grace on the cross that day because he repented and called on the Lord.

“LORD, we call on You again this day to guide us along every path we take, and use us to show Your grace to others.”