Part Three: What the Thief Did Have – A Final Breath of Faith Directed Toward the Savior

With nothing left but a dying breath, the thief turned to Jesus—and that simple act of faith was enough for eternity.

The thief on the cross had no good works to offer, no rituals to cling to, and no time left to change his past. But in his final moments, he did have something—something that mattered more than everything he lacked. He had a dying breath, and with it he turned toward Jesus.

Faith in a Crucified King

From the world’s perspective, Jesus looked powerless. Beaten, mocked, and nailed to the same kind of cross, He appeared no different than the criminals beside Him. Yet somehow, the thief saw past the blood and the agony. He saw a King.

“Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom” (Luke 23:42).

That short plea is one of the most extraordinary confessions of faith in the Bible. While the crowds jeered, while even the other thief mocked, this man declared what few could see: the man dying beside him was not defeated. He was a Savior with a kingdom.

Faith That Doesn’t Need Ceremony

The thief’s faith wasn’t wrapped in ritual. He didn’t whisper a sinner’s prayer. He didn’t walk an aisle or sign a card. He simply looked to Jesus in trust. Romans 10:9 says,

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” 

That’s exactly what the thief did—confessing Jesus as Lord and believing He was more than a victim of Rome.

In that moment, faith—raw, desperate, unpolished—was enough.

Faith That Doesn’t Need Strength

We often think faith must be big, bold, or full of passion. But Jesus said faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains (Matthew 17:20). The thief’s faith wasn’t strong in the sense of confidence or clarity—it was strong because it was rightly placed.

He didn’t place it in himself, in religion, or in the crowd’s opinion. He placed it in Jesus. Even a dying whisper, when directed toward Christ, becomes saving faith.

Faith That Receives a Promise

And then comes one of the most beautiful responses in Scripture:

“Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).

Notice what Jesus didn’t say. He didn’t say, “You need to prove yourself first.” He didn’t say, “You’re too late.” He didn’t even say, “Someday, maybe, if you measure up.” He gave an immediate, personal, guaranteed promise: today you will be with me.

That’s the power of faith—it receives what only Jesus can give.

Faith That Points Us Home

For us, the thief’s story is a reminder that salvation doesn’t come through the strength of our grip on Jesus but through the strength of His grip on us. The thief’s hands were nailed down, but Jesus’ hands were stretched out to embrace him forever.

No matter how weak your faith feels, no matter how late in the game it seems, what matters most is not the size of your belief but the Savior in whom you place it.

Closing Thought: The thief didn’t have much. But he had enough. A final breath of faith, spoken toward Jesus, was enough to open the gates of paradise. That same promise still stands for us today.