The thief saw the sign over the cross, which was a sermon in itself: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” And through it all the Holy Spirit led him to recognize and to believe in Jesus of Nazareth as the King of the Jews, the promised Messiah, Son of God and long-awaited Savior-King, who had come in the fullness of time to die for the sins of the world. And in such God-given faith, he asked Jesus to remember him when he was in his kingdom. He said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
How did the Savior respond to the criminals plea? Just as we would expect a merciful Savior to respond. He heard him and gave him even more than he asked for. He had asked to be remembered and Jesus assured him: “Today you will be with me in paradise.”