And Did Open His Heart

King Jesus, crucified between two criminals —

From Luke’s biography of our Messiah, we read the story a man who did open his heart to the King, as both of them died, so that he might live:

Two others — criminals — were also led away to be executed with Jesus. When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.”, And they divided his clothes and cast lots.

The people stood watching, and even the leaders were scoffing: “He saved others; let him save himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him. They came offering him sour wine and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!”

An inscription was above him: This Is the King of the Jews.

Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment? We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom.”

And he said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

— Luke 23:32-43, Christian Standard Bible

When Martin Luther read this account, he pressed into all that was happening in this interaction between two men, each on their own cross.

One hung there because — in his own words — he deserved it for the wrong things he had done. The other hung there because — in his own words — he was doing it for the joy set before him, he was doing it in accordance with the will and the plan of his Father, he was doing it to bring rescue and reconciliation to all those who would believe in him. And that rescue would begin with the cross-borne Christ saving the cross-borne criminal.

And as Luther listened to the converting conversation, he saw a pathway for his own confession to and confidence in Jesus:

I pray you heartily to look upon me with the eyes of your mercy, as you did look upon the evildoer, who was hanged upon the cross beside you, and did open his heart that he confessed his sins; and he was mightily afraid of them, but yet despaired not, but confessed and desired your grace and mercy which you gave to him willing and plentifully...

Therefore, dear God and merciful Father,
will I strengthen myself so much and more,
and doubt nothing thereof.

Amen.

Dear reader, don’t miss the power of what we see at Calvary, and what we learn from Luther’s observation thereof. It is a reasonable thing to be afraid of our sins — they’re dangerous and damning. And yet, we must not despair due to our sins, but instead, confess them, bringing them to Jesus, confident of the grace and mercy which he gives to us “willingly and plentifully.” We must strengthen ourselves in this truth, “and doubt nothing thereof.”

Lest we doubt this is so, hear it from another man, himself a King, who experienced the mercy and grace of God:

Psalm 32:5 —

Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not conceal my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to Yahweh”
and you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Selah