Grace in the Final Hour — December 8 [Description]Passage Overview: Luke 23:39-43In this scene during Jesus’ crucifixion, two criminals are hanging on crosses beside Him. One of them mocks Jesus, demanding a miracle to save them all. But the other rebukes the mocker, acknowledging his own guilt and affirming Jesus’ innocence. He then turns to Jesus with a humble plea: “Remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”Jesus responds with an incredible promise:“Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”This moment captures a powerful picture of repentance, mercy, and immediate salvation, showing that even in a person’s final moments, faith in Christ is enough to secure eternal life. It contrasts rejection vs. belief, and reveals Jesus’ heart for the repentant—no matter how late the hour.Overview of the Passage:This passage recounts the final moments of Jesus’ life on the cross, focusing especially on His interaction with the penitent thief crucified beside Him. Once full of despair, the thief is moved by what he sees and hears: the sign above Jesus’ head, the crowd’s mixed reactions, and the undeniable power and peace radiating from the dying Christ. Enlightened by the Holy Spirit, the thief recognizes Jesus as the Messiah and pleads to be remembered. Jesus responds with a promise of eternal life, even in that moment of apparent defeat.The passage highlights that, even in His agony, Jesus remains full of compassion and divine authority—offering forgiveness, acknowledging faith, caring for His grieving mother, and shining light into the darkest hour of human history. It reveals the ultimate victory of love and redemption in the face of suffering, and the unmatched power of grace to reach any heart, even at the last moment.

Bible discovery

Luke 23:39-43365D 342.1

39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, ^{[j]NU Are You not the Christ? Save} “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”365D 342.2

40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?365D 342.3

41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.”365D 342.4

42 Then he said ^{[k]NU “Jesus, remember me} to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”365D 342.5

43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”365D 342.6

Spirit of Prophecy Reading

The Desire of Ages pp.750-752:365D 342.7

There is no question now. There are no doubts, no reproaches. When condemned for his crime, the thief had become hopeless and despairing; but strange, tender thoughts now spring up. He calls to mind all he has heard of Jesus, how He has healed the sick and pardoned sin. He has heard the words of those who believed in Jesus and followed Him weeping. He has seen and read the title above the Saviour’s head. He has heard the passers-by repeat it, some with grieved, quivering lips, others with jesting and mockery. The Holy Spirit illuminates his mind, and little by little the chain of evidence is joined together. In Jesus, bruised, mocked, and hanging upon the cross, he sees the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. Hope is mingled with anguish in his voice as the helpless, dying soul casts himself upon a dying Saviour. “Lord, remember me,” he cries, “when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.”365D 342.8

Quickly the answer came. Soft and melodious the tone, full of love, compassion, and power the words: Verily I say unto thee today, Thou shalt be with Me in paradise.365D 342.9

For long hours of agony, reviling and mockery have fallen upon the ears of Jesus. As He hangs upon the cross, there floats up to Him still the sound of jeers and curses. With longing heart He has listened for some expression of faith from His disciples. He has heard only the mournful words, “We trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel.” How grateful then to the Saviour was the utterance of faith and love from the dying thief! While the leading Jews deny Him, and even the disciples doubt His divinity, the poor thief, upon the brink of eternity, calls Jesus Lord. Many were ready to call Him Lord when He wrought miracles, and after He had risen from the grave; but none acknowledged Him as He hung dying upon the cross save the penitent thief who was saved at the eleventh hour.365D 342.10

With amazement the angels beheld the infinite love of Jesus, who, suffering the most intense agony of mind and body, thought only of others, and encouraged the penitent soul to believe. In His humiliation He as a prophet had addressed the daughters of Jerusalem; as priest and advocate He had pleaded with the Father to forgive His murderers; as a loving Saviour He had forgiven the sins of the penitent thief.365D 342.11

As the eyes of Jesus wandered over the multitude about Him, one figure arrested His attention. At the foot of the cross stood His mother, supported by the disciple John. She could not endure to remain away from her Son; and John, knowing that the end was near, had brought her again to the cross. In His dying hour, Christ remembered His mother. Looking into her grief-stricken face and then upon John, He said to her, “Woman, behold thy son!” then to John, “Behold thy mother!” John understood Christ’s words, and accepted the trust. He at once took Mary to his home, and from that hour cared for her tenderly. O pitiful, loving Saviour; amid all His physical pain and mental anguish, He had a thoughtful care for His mother! He had no money with which to provide for her comfort; but He was enshrined in the heart of John, and He gave His mother to him as a precious legacy. Thus He provided for her that which she most needed,—the tender sympathy of one who loved her because she loved Jesus. And in receiving her as a sacred trust, John was receiving a great blessing. She was a constant reminder of his beloved Master.365D 342.12

The perfect example of Christ’s filial love shines forth with undimmed luster from the mist of ages. For nearly thirty years Jesus by His daily toil had helped bear the burdens of the home. And now, even in His last agony, He remembers to provide for His sorrowing, widowed mother. The same spirit will be seen in every disciple of our Lord. Those who follow Christ will feel that it is a part of their religion to respect and provide for their parents. From the heart where His love is cherished, father and mother will never fail of receiving thoughtful care and tender sympathy.365D 342.13

And now the Lord of glory was dying, a ransom for the race. In yielding up His precious life, Christ was not upheld by triumphant joy. All was oppressive gloom. It was not the dread of death that weighed upon Him. It was not the pain and ignominy of the cross that caused His inexpressible agony. Christ was the prince of sufferers; but His suffering was from a sense of the malignity of sin, a knowledge that through familiarity with evil, man had become blinded to its enormity. Christ saw how deep is the hold of sin upon the human heart, how few would be willing to break from its power. He knew that without help from God, humanity must perish, and He saw multitudes perishing within reach of abundant help.365D 342.14