Luke 23:33-43  33 Finally, they came to a place called The Skull. All three were crucified there– Jesus on the center cross, and the two criminals on either side.  34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive these people, because they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.  35 The crowd watched, and the leaders laughed and scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Chosen One, the Messiah.”  36 The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine.  37 They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”  38 A signboard was nailed to the cross above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.”  39 One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself– and us, too, while you’re at it!”  40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you are dying?  41 We deserve to die for our evil deeds, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.”  42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”  43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

It takes great faith to believe in Jesus on the cross.  How else would one believe that Jesus was going to come into His kingdom?  In the darkest of days, the one criminal saw beyond life and into the blessing of God.  In our darkest days, may we have the strength of faith to trust that God will have victory even when it seems hopeless!