On Good Friday we remember how Jesus was crucified between two thieves. He was given a number like a crook, but even this was predicted 700 years before by the prophet Isaiah who wrote, “He was numbered with the transgressors.” [ Isaiah 53:12 ] Between His death and resurrection about 24 prophecies were fulfilled! All was under God’s control! Man was doing his worst but God was giving His Best in order to make our forgiveness possible.

At first both the thieves insulted Jesus but then suddenly one was pricked by his conscience. God’s light had shone into his soul and revealed the dirt of his wickedness. He also saw that Jesus was sinless and that He was the King of the kingdom beyond the grave! This enlightened crook now said to his colleague, “Do you not even fear God? We deserve what we are getting but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Probably both these crooks had boasted that they feared nobody but now one of them began to fear God! The Bible says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” [ Psalm 111:10 ] For the first and last time in his life this man prayed! It was a short, humble, sincere prayer, “Lord remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” Immediately Jesus replied, “Assuredly I say to you, Today you will be with Me in paradise.”

A Church poster read, ‘Wanted! Crooks for the Good Shepherd!’ Jesus is the Good Shepherd who paid the price with His own blood, for this crook’s redemption. The crook’s crooked heart was straightened out and he went to heaven! Like all of us he didn’t deserve it but if the hymn ‘Amazing Grace – that saved a wretch like me’ had been composed, that crook would have sung it with all his heart! [ Matthew 27:38, Mark 15:27-28, Luke 23:34-47 and John 19:18 ]