By Evangelist Daniel Kolenda
Whoever comes to me
I always say that Easter is the single most significant event in human history – the resurrection from the dead – because, as the Apostle Paul tells us, if Christ was not raised, then our faith is in vain, and we are still in our sins. However, if there is a close second to that most significant moment in history, it would be Good Friday, the day we celebrate the death of our Lord Jesus Christ.
As we reflect on the death of Christ, I cannot help but see the Gospel in its purest form. Even if I could focus on another topic, I would not consider any subject more worthy of this occasion. So, let’s have a look at Luke’s account of the crucifixion (Luke 23:32-43):
Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
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.” The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegarand said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
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.”
I want to focus on one particular part of this story – the thief on the cross. It may seem odd to highlight another person during the death of Jesus, but I believe you will see the profound truth in this. Let me also share another verse, John 6:37, which will serve as our theme: "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out."
What an amazing thought – that those who come to Jesus will never be turned away for any reason. No sin, no past, no failure can disqualify those who come to Him. On the other hand, if you don't come to Jesus, there is nothing you can do which would gain you one ounce of merit. I love what Steve Hill used to say to the people in the Brownsville revival. He would say going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to McDonald's makes you a hamburger. He would say you can go to hell with baptismal waters on your face or a communion wafer in your hand. It doesn't matter how much money you put in the offering, doesn't matter how much you fast, doesn't matter how much you pray, if you don't come to Jesus. There is no other way to be saved.
Jesus simply receives us
Years ago, I applied for a life insurance policy. The process was long and tedious – filled with paperwork, medical history, and personal information. The insurance company had to assess the risk before accepting me. But when we come to Jesus, He does not do a risk assessment. He does not ask about our history, examine our failures, or determine if we are profitable for His kingdom. He simply receives us.
Look at the prodigal son. When he returned home, he wanted to confess what he had done, how he had gone into a far county and wasted his money on reckless living. But the father wasn’t interested in any of that. He asked no questions – he just threw his arms around his son. That is the heart of Jesus. He is not calculating losses because He already bore the loss for us. He was willing to be the loser on the cross so that He could win us.
The thief had nothing to offer
Now, let’s return to the thief on the cross. There is perhaps no one in Scripture more helpless than this man. His hands were nailed down – he could do nothing for Jesus. His feet were nailed down – he could not kneel in worship. He had only hours left to live – he could not dedicate his future to God. He had absolutely nothing to offer. And yet, Jesus accepted him.
Imagine the thief’s life. He was a criminal, condemned for his wrongdoing. The Romans reserved crucifixion for the lowest of criminals - outcasts who were beyond redemption in the eyes of society. He had likely lived a life of crime, abuse, and hardship. The night before his execution must have been filled with terror. He knew that his fate was sealed, that his punishment was just, and that death was imminent. Yet, in his final moments, he encountered Jesus.
At first, both criminals mocked Jesus. But as the hours passed, something changed in one of them. As he watched Jesus suffer, he saw something different. He saw innocence. He saw grace. And in that moment, he cried out, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
What an incredible act of faith! He had no way to prove himself. He could not earn salvation. He simply believed. And Jesus, in His infinite mercy, responded, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise."
He will never cast us out
This thief – this hopeless, broken man – was saved in an instant. Why? Because he came to Jesus. He was not turned away. And that same promise holds true for us today. If we come to Jesus, no matter who we are or what we have done, He will never cast us out.
So today, I ask you: Have you come to Jesus? Have you placed your trust in Him? If a dying thief, in his final moments, could receive grace, so can you. Do not wait. Come to Him now, and you will not be turned away.
But here's the reality: the very fact that he was asking Jesus to remember him means that something fundamental had changed inside of him. Do you remember what Jesus said? "All that the Father gives to me will come to me, and if anyone comes to me, I will never cast him out."
So the very fact that this man came to Jesus, even though he couldn't move – he came with his words, with his heart, and with his faith – was a sign that God had done a work in that man's heart. He said, "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
Jesus doesn’t respond with rebuke but with a gentle and wonderful promise. He says, "Today, you will be with me in Paradise." Think about how amazing that promise is: "Today. With me. In Paradise." Even the most holy saint would be thrilled to hear a promise like that, yet these words are spoken to one of the worst sinners. But here again, Jesus had said that he would never refuse anyone who came to him.
There were Pharisees, doctors of the law, and good, religious, law-abiding citizens who came under judgment because they wouldn't come to Jesus. And then you have this thief hanging on a cross who receives a total pardon because he did one good thing in his entire life – he came to Jesus. Isn't that amazing?
Predestined for salvation?
Now, there's a debate that has been raging for a long time about the meaning of some verses in John chapter 6, where Jesus says, "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out." Some say that those who come to Jesus are part of a special group – the elect – predestined for salvation. They believe that God draws them irresistibly, and those whom He does not draw cannot come at all. They base this on verses like John 6:37, John 6:44 (“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him”), and John 6:65 (“No one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father”).
But then there are many other texts, even within John 6, that seem to tell us something else:
- Verse 35: "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst."
- Verse 40: "This is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life."
- Verse 47: "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life."
- Verse 51: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever."
- Verse 54: "Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life."
- Verse 58: "This is the bread that came down from heaven. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever."
So who’s right? Who’s wrong? Well, I’m not going to get into that debate right now. But here’s the important point: it actually doesn’t matter which of those perspectives is ‘right’. At the end of the day, the result is the same! Jesus said, "If anyone comes to me, I will never cast them away." So, are those who come to him predestined? Are they being irresistibly drawn? Could they choose not to come? Did God have a reason for choosing them, or is it completely arbitrary? Either way, the point remains: if you come to Him, He won’t resist you.
The desire for God is a gift from God
Even more importantly, the very desire you have to come to Him is something He has initiated inside of you. You wouldn’t even have the desire to come if He weren’t drawing you. If you have the desire to come to Jesus, here’s the good news – that desire is a gift from God. It’s certainly not something your sinful flesh has inspired, and it’s certainly not the devil creating that desire within you. If you have the desire to come to God, that desire itself is a gift from Him. And there’s no way God would draw you to Himself and then send you away. That desire is a kind of guarantee that when you do come to Him, He will receive you. Isn’t that wonderful?
In fact, if there’s any doubt, listen to what Jesus said in John 12:32: "When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself." Read that again and let it sink in!
So let me ask you today – what excuse do you have for not coming to Jesus? Have you sinned more than that criminal who was worthy of the most severe punishment in Roman law? Do you have less to offer Jesus than a man whose hands and feet were nailed down, with only a few breaths left? Do you think He is angrier with you than He was with a man hurling vulgar profanities at him as He was being tortured?
Our greatest need in life is to come to Jesus
We need to come to Him more than we need to be holy. We need to come to Him more than we need to start doing the right things and stop doing the wrong things. We need to come to Him more than we need to go to church. We need to come to Him more than we need to read our Bibles or practice all the spiritual disciplines.
For believers, sometimes after we’ve blown it, we go through a period of sulking and wallowing in shame. We don’t feel worthy. We feel like hypocrites if we worship, pray, witness, say something spiritual, or act confident. And the devil sends us running away like a puppy with its tail between its legs. We go off like Adam and Eve, hiding from the presence of God. But here’s the reality. Jesus makes a promise: "If you come to me today, I will not refuse you under any circumstances."
He chose not to save Himself – for you!
It is not only an invitation; it is a requirement that we come to him. Religion causes us to hide from Him, but Jesus welcomes us to run to Him when we’ve sinned. If you feel the slightest tug from the Holy Spirit today, maybe you’re away from the Lord – like the prodigal son who ran away from his father’s house and wasted his life – and Jesus is calling you home. This week, as we celebrate His death on the cross, can I tell you why He died? He died for you. If you had been the only person who ever lived, He still would have died to save you. That’s how much He loves you.
When I was reading through the story of the crucifixion in the four Gospels, something jumped out at me. In every account, it mentions one particular insult hurled at Jesus: "He saved others, but he cannot save himself." Do you know why He could not save himself? Because He was there to save others. If He had saved himself, He could not have saved that thief on the cross. If He had saved himself, He could not have saved you. It was because He did not save Himself that you can be saved.
Jesus is calling. Will you come?
