Read: Luke 23:32-49

There were also others, two criminals, led with him to be put to death. When they arrived at the place called “The Skull,” they crucified him there along with the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left.

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”

They divided his garments among themselves and cast lots. The people stood watching. The rulers with them also scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if this is the Christ of God, his chosen one!” The soldiers also mocked him by coming up to him and offering vinegar, and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”

An inscription was also inscribed above him in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew letters: “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!” But the other responded and rebuked him, saying, “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same judgment? For we are justly convicted and receive the proper punishment for our actions, but this man has done nothing wrong.” He then said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness spread across the whole land until the ninth hour. The sun was obscured, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. Jesus, crying out loudly, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” Having spoken this, he breathed his last.

When the centurion saw what had been done, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous man.” All the crowds that had gathered to see this, when they saw the things that were done, returned home beating their chests. All his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance, watching these events.

Explanation

At the cross, rejection, suffering, and mercy intersect. Jesus is crucified among criminals but responds not with condemnation, rather with forgiveness and reassurance. One mocks, another believes—showing that the same moment can harden or soften the heart.

As darkness falls and the temple veil is torn, the real meaning becomes clear: access to God is gained through His sacrifice. What seems like defeat is, in fact, the crucial act of redemption. The cross reveals both the extent of human sin and the greater depth of divine grace.

A question for today

What is God showing me about the cost of my salvation?

A sentence to take into the day

Jesus stood in my place. His death achieves what I could never accomplish on my own.

One thing to do today

Take a moment today to reflect on the cross and respond with gratitude and surrender.