Good Friday 2026

Two Criminals

Two criminals sit in a prison cell. Their sentence has been set.

They have sufficiently upset their Roman rulers enough to get the worst punishment possible. They’re going to die, but it’s not the death that’s the worst part. It’s the agony. It’s the humilition. They’re going to be crucified. A punishment designed to be so cruel, and reserved for non-Roman citizens who’ve particularly rebellious against the Roman empire.

These two criminals are aware that a third person also has the same sentence and will be hung on the same day. Someone they call Barrabas.

They’d heard about this Barrabas. There had been this big insurrection in the city recently. Barrabas was right there in the centre of it all, and he was seen killing someone. Well, his fate was clear - if anyone was going to be crucified, it was him.

These two criminals however, they felt they were a bit hard done by. Yes, they could concede that they had fallen foul of the Roman empire. They had done things that looked less than favourably on them, but in their minds they felt justified in what they did.

Yet their fate awaited them. And it was excruitiating just sitting there, knowing at some point, they’d take you away, and their lives would end in some of the worst ways to die.

Arrest of Jesus

Now, while they might be locked away from the rest of society at this point, they had certainly heard rumours of this miracle worker that had been spending most of his time up around the Sea of Galilee. The name of Jesus was being spoken about everywhere.

But these criminals had not thought about him too much, because he was out and about, while they were not locked in a cell.

Little did they know, this miracle worker was about to enter their world in a way they least expect.

These criminals weren’t aware, but on the Thursday night, not far from where they were being locked up, Jesus the miracle worker was having a final meal with his closest disciples.

Jesus might have even walked past their cell block as he led his disciples out into the Garden of Gethsemane.

They didn’t know what was about to happen, but Jesus did. Jesus begged his Father, God, to take the cup away - the cup that represented the pain and horror he was about to face.

I wonder whether the criminals would have woken when a group of religious leaders walked past their cell, being led by one of the miracle workers disciples, Judas.

The betrayal was about to happen, and it would be long before Jesus was back in the city, this time without the disciples, but instead by a group of angry religious leaders.

The criminal would have struggled to sleep that night with the noise of the crowd outside. They still weren’t aware that it was the one they called Jesus the miracle worker who was at the centre of all of the commotion.

Barrabas

But then something unexpected happened. By now the sun had come up, and after all the commotion that they’ve heard, suddenly there’s movement in their cell block.

But the official are not coming for these two criminals, they’re going to the cell near them, the one that is holding Barrabas - the one that even they recognise had gone too far when he murdered someone.

The criminals strained to listen as they heard the crowd yelling. They soon realised that they were yelling, release Barrabas and curcify Jesus.

Surely that couldn’t be right. Before they had been behind bars, they knew how much people adored Jesus the miracle worker. Barrabas on the other hand was clearly a murderer.

To their surprise, Barrabas had become a free man. Allowed to walk, just like that.

The two criminals wondered - could they possibly go free? If Barrabas was allowed to walk, then why not them.

Crucifixion

Then, the officials came back. This time they came for their cells.

Was this their freedom?

Well, no. They were roughly forced out into the open.

At this point, they see Jesus - and they were horrified.

The body of Jesus was torn to shreds. It’s not that these criminals were not familiar with lots of blood. But how does this happen to someone who is so adored? How does this happen to someone who has brought so much good into this world.

Well, they face some rough treatment of their own, but the truth is, not many people pay much atttention to them. The crowds are most intent on seeing what is happening with Jesus.

The time eventually comes for them to move outside the city walls, and up to the place they call the skull - Golgotha.

It is absolutely agony.

As they go up, there were women who were wailing. It was all for Jesus.

They reach the point where it’s all going to end.

It’s here that they are laid down on top of the cross that will be the death of each of them.

Jesus they place in the middle. The two criminals on either side.

The cross in the middle had a special sign on it. It read: This is the King of the Jews.

While these criminals don’t realise is that they are about to be right at the centre of the most important event to ever take place on this planet, with only the exception of the the event that will take place on Sunday.

The criminals can now hear what Jesus is saying.

As they were all being nailed to their own cross, they heard Jesus say: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”.

They watched then as the soldiers gambled for the discarded clothes of Jesus.

They heard the sneers of the crowd who were taunting Jesus. They were saying: “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One”.

Even one of the soliders said “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself”.

Response of the criminals

Now, I’ve been following the perspective of the criminals because we’re about to see the two very different ways in which they respond to what is happening to Jesus.

You see, in some ways, we’re like these criminals. We might not have sinned in a similar way that they did - we probably haven’t made any Roman officials cranky. But yet, when we’re honest and start to reflect on have we have acted, we start to remember how much we have turned our back on God and how much we’ve harmed those around us.

But let’s first look at the two responses we see.

The first of criminal has just heard the taunts of the crowd and soldiers, where they mockingly suggest Jesus could save himself.

Well this criminal has heard the stories of the miracles. And he thinks - you know what, this is so unfair that I’m here. I should be let free.

And so he cries out: Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

His coming from the attitude that he deserves to be free. He sees Jesus as the miracle worker who should be doing his thing for himself.

The other criminal has somehow gained a very different perspective.

He’s heard how the other criminal spoke, and he needs a rebuke.

“Don’t you fear God!” he starts. You know, the bible tells us that wisdom starts with the fear of the Lord. It’s when we recognise who God is and all he has done, that we start to put things in their propoer perspective.

This second criminal see clearly. He states: “We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve.”

As much as this criminal hates that things have come to this, he recognises that he broke a law, the consequence of which is this cross, and so this is where he belongs.

But he also has the wisdom to know that Jesus, the one between them, is there as a completely innocent man. He’s done nothing wrong.

And so this man doesn’t ask to be miraculously taken down. He asks for something very different. He says to Jesus: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom”.

Now, that statement would take remarkable wisdom.He started to recognise that Jesus is operating in a different paradigm. One where death itself is no barrier.

He knows that it is only going to be a short time and they will be three corpses hanging from three pieces of wood, but yet death is not going to be the end. He seems to recognise that there is a different kind of kingdom waiting for Jesus as well, a kingdom that this second criminal wants to be a part of.

He doesn’t assume his place. All he does is simply ask that Jesus remembers him.

The answer Jesus then gives is an answer that should fill all of us with hope.

Jesus says: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise”

This person was not destined to paraside because he was good - he clearly wasn’t. He’d acted in such a way that warranted death of a cross. But he had called on the name of the Lord. He’s recognised his own guilt. He’s humbled himself.

Contrast this with the first criminal who thought he deserved saving.He’d miss the whole idea of what Jesus was doing.

Which one are you?

This morning, I want to challenge you to think: which of these criminals is you?

Are you the one that thinks that Jesus should just bail you out, because after all, your a pretty decent person and you don’t really deserve all this rubbish that is happening to you?

Or are you the one that recognises, as much as I hate the rubbish that is happening to me, this is actually what I deserve: Jesus please remember me!

Which one you are makes a huge difference.

If you are like the first criminal, we set up a block that stops us accepting what Jesus has done. You see our own self-righteousness blinds us from what God is doing. If we think we are righteous on our own, then we don’t think we really need God’s forgiveness.

It is actually one fo the really big lies of the devil. He tries to convince you that you can do it on your own. But it sets you on the wrong path - one that leads to destruction.

The other criminal is the path of humility. It’s the path of truth. It’s the path that leads us to Jesus.

And here’s the thing… it doesn’t mean there won’t be pain in this life time. Certainly that thief on the cross suffered huge pain after this. Just like Jesus he would have struggled for every breath until finally he gave up his life. But for the second criminal, he didn’t really give up his life, he only lost this earthly body. He actually gained a heavenly welcome where he can spend eternity with Jesus.

The death of Jesus

Jesus did die on this incredible day.

It was about the middle of the day, and suddenly a darkness comes over the whole land.

At that moment, back in the temple, something very significant happened - something that could only happen by divine intervention. The curtain that separated the most holy place torn in two, but did so from top to bottom.

Jesus then cries out: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit”. And at this he breathed his last.

This death provided the gateway for the second criminal to get to heaven, but it was so decisive that it was effective for all humanity for all time.

That means that for you and I living 2000 odd years later, we too can be like that second criminal and call on the name of Jesus, and we too can spend eternity with him.

Conclusion

The story does not end here - the story will continue on Easter Sunday.

But for now, I just want you to know that you have a choice. You can continue to hide behind your own self-righteousness and wonder why everything is crumbling around you… or you can recognise that punishment is what you deserve, and call on the name of Jesus.

The cross means that the punishment you deserve will be considered gone when you call on the name of Jesus.

If you are here today, and you want to be made right before God, then choose the way of humility. I’d encourage you to speak with myself, or another strong Christian, because it is the greatest decision you will ever make.

Let me pray...