A Criminal On a Cross

When Christ our Lord was crucified,
A criminal on a cross next to Him cried out,
“Lord, when once again in Your kingdom, You abide,
Please remember me who as of yet stands without.”

Though Jesus hung suffering in agony,
Gasping for air on the beam,
Showing love and grace none could imagine He,
Spoke to this dying man words of hope supreme.

“Today you will be with Me in paradise.”
Imagine hearing that sweet, blessed word.
As for his crime, on the cross, he paid the price,
No greater message could this man have heard.

In this man we see magnificent faith,
For as he saw Jesus nailed to a tree,
He recalled the words he’d heard Jesus saith,
And believed that in Christ he could be free.

As others looked on and mocked,
He gazed at Christ crucified and marveled.
He believed, in the tomb, Jesus would not be locked,
But that, into His kingdom, soon He’d be marshalled.

And like the sinner who beat his chest,
Crying, “God have mercy on me!”,
Our blessed Redeemer heard his request,
Saying, “You will live again; I guarantee.”

What this dear brother exemplifies,
Is that it is by grace, through faith alone,
Our loving God, eternal life, supplies;
To the repentant His grace is shown.

As we admire the faith of this man,
Who is alive and well in Heaven today,
Let’s gaze on Christ Whose arms did span,
The width of the cross to, for our sin, pay.

Our Lord did not consider it loss,
To suffer and die for our sin and shame.
He was exalted in glory upon that rugged cross;
Though He knew no sin, our sin, He became.

As the ground below, with His blood, became red,
His heart overflowed with love for this man and us.
The same promise of hope which, to this man, He said,
Is offered to all who call to Jesus.

All who repent of sin and in Christ believe,
Will be raised to life with Him in paradise.
All who call on Him, He will gladly receive;
For this reason He paid our ransom price.