Picture the scene from today’s gospel. The hill is known as “The Skull.” It is a place defined by dust, agony, and shame. Three men hang on crosses, suspended in suffering. Yet, in the middle of this bleak picture, we hear conversations that reveal everything we need to know about the human condition and the heart of God.
In this narrative, four distinct voices emerge.
1. The Voice of the World
The first clamour comes from the crowd, the religious leaders, and the soldiers. They mocked Him, sneering, “You claim to be the King of the Jews? Prove it. Save yourself.” To them, the idea that a man from God could die such a shameful death was absurd. Regardless of what Jesus had done over the past three years, to them, He now looked like a complete fraud.
The second voice joins in from the criminal hanging to Jesus’s left. He echoes the crowd: “If you are the Messiah, save yourself—and us!”
These voices represent the perspective of the world. They likely believed that if Jesus truly had power, He would use it to escape pain and serve Himself. To them, power means dominance and control. They wanted a King who would offer a quick fix to their immediate problems.
Because Jesus remained on the cross—bleeding and vulnerable—they rejected Him. They missed the truth entirely: He wasn’t staying on the cross because He couldn’t save Himself; He was staying there because He wanted to save them.
2. The Voice of Humble Faith
Then, we hear a third voice from the criminal on the right. Initially, he likely saw what everyone else saw: a dying, hopeless man. But something shifted in his heart. He looked at Jesus and saw a glimpse of the Divine.
He rebuked the first criminal, saying, “Stop. We are getting exactly what we deserve. But this man… He has done nothing wrong.” Turning to Jesus, he simply asked, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”
This is the voice of naked faith. This man had wasted his life. With his hands nailed down, he had no second chance to fix his mistakes or live differently. All he could offer was a plea for mercy. Yet, even he expected a future fix—waiting for Jesus to return as a King to finally sort out his miserable life.
3. The Voice of Grace
Finally, amidst the mockery, pain, and confusion, the fourth voice speaks. It is the voice of Jesus. He does not promise a distant future; He offers immediate hope.
“Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
This promise wasn’t just for the dying thief; it is for all of us who believe that death is not a wall, but a door to a greater life.
Jesus speaks of “Paradise.” It is a word that confuses us because none of us have been there. But perhaps we don’t need to know the coordinates of heaven. We lack the power to get there on our own anyway. All we really need is someone who came from that place and knows how to bring us home.
The Guide on the Mountain
Think of life as climbing a towering, treacherous mountain. Imagine we are on this climb with a Guide who has promised to lead us safely to the summit.
Suddenly, a fierce storm strikes. Heavy snow blinds us, and we lose our sense of direction. Panic sets in. People begin to argue.
Some shout, “We must turn back!”
Others regret ever starting the journey.
Some just want to freeze where they are and wait for rescue.
But amidst the fearful shouting, one person speaks up: “No. Stop the nonsense. I trust this Guide. He is the best in the world. He knows the path, and He will get us to the top. We just need to keep following Him.”
Life often feels like that storm. We face winds of pain, confusion, and fear. Like the people at the foot of the cross, we may feel like giving up or wondering if God has forgotten us.
Jesus is the ultimate Mountain Guide. He isn’t guessing the route; He knows the destination because it is His home. He didn’t say, “I might know a way.” He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” He didn’t say, “I can help you avoid death.” He said, “I am the resurrection.”
The criminal on the cross realised this at the very last moment. While the storm of death swirled around him, he looked at Jesus and saw the true Guide—the only one who could lead him from a cross into Paradise.
In John 14, Jesus gave a beautiful promise: “I go and prepare a place for you… that you also may be where I am.” Note that He said a place. It is not a metaphor, a vision, or a theology. It is a real place to live.
When Jesus died on the cross, He wasn’t losing. He was clearing the path. He was preparing our place.
The good news is that no matter how far off course you have drifted, or how late in the day it is, Jesus’s response to trust is always the same. He is ready to forgive. He is prepared to welcome you home.
Today, we are all on the mountain. The visibility might be poor, and the road hard. You have a choice. You can listen to the voices of fear that scream, “Turn back! It’s hopeless!” Or, you can look at Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life, and say, “I trust the Guide.”
Who will you listen to? The noise of the storm, or the voice of the Good Shepherd?
He is the only way to the Father. So, let us stop staring at the storm and start looking at our Guide. Let us hold onto Him and say, “Jesus, I trust You. Lead me home.”