What the Easter story tells us about the God who welcomes even the worst of us.
Every Easter, we celebrate the victory of the empty tomb. But sometimes, we miss the beauty of the cross itself—specifically, the story of the two thieves hanging beside Jesus. One rejected Him. The other, in his final breath, asked for mercy. And Jesus gave it freely.
It’s a moment that breaks our boxes of religion, justice, and fairness. Because in that moment, grace won.
THE SCENE ON GOLGOTHA (Calvary)
Two criminals. One Savior. All three dying.
Luke 23:39-43 paints the scene. One thief mocks:
“Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
The other rebukes him:
“We are punished justly… but this man has done nothing wrong.”
Then he turns to Jesus with a desperate, humble plea:
“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
And Jesus, with love in His eyes, responds:
“Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
THE OFFENSE OF GRACE
Let’s be honest—this story bothers people.
Why? Because it’s unfair. That man didn’t earn heaven.
But that’s the gospel. If we could earn it, Jesus wouldn’t have needed to die.
The cross levels the playing field. There are no “better sinners.” There’s just those who say yes to grace… and those who don’t.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU
Maybe you’ve felt too far gone. Like you’ve wasted too many years or made too many mistakes.
Here’s the good news:
- You are never beyond the reach of Jesus.
- Your moment of surrender might be all it takes.
- He’s not keeping score—He’s offering salvation.
EASTER IS FOR THE HOPELESS
If the thief could make it, so can you. So can your loved one. So can the person you’ve given up on.
Easter is for the hopeless. The forgotten. The guilty.
Because Jesus didn’t just rise from the dead—He rose with the keys to heaven in His hands, ready to unlock the door for anyone who asks.
From my family to yours, we wish you a blessed Easter. x
