“Save Yourself”: Jesus Mocked on the Cross, the Two Thieves, and the Kindness That Leads to Repentance (Luke 23:35–41)

When we think of the crucifixion, we usually picture the physical suffering—nails, blood, scourging, and agony. But the Gospels repeatedly draw our attention to something else, too: the cruelty of words. Jesus didn’t only endure pain in His body; He endured humiliation, rejection, and hatred poured out through mockery. Even the old saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” collapses under the weight of Scripture. The Bible says words can cut like blades and burn like fire: Proverbs 12:18 says, “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts…” Psalm 57:4 describes enemies whose “tongues [are] sharp swords.” Psalm 64:3 says they “aim bitter words like arrows.” James 3:5–6 warns that the tongue can be like a fire that sets an entire forest ablaze. That’s why the insults hurled at Christ on the cross matter so much. They reveal what people wanted from Jesus—and what Jesus refused to do in order to save us. https://youtu.be/IMc48egK2pk Table of contentsJesus Mocked: “Save Yourself”Lesson One: Jesus Didn’t Save Himself So He Could Save UsLesson Two: Jesus Is God’s King, Not Man’sTwo Criminals, Two ResponsesLesson Three: Saving Faith Shows ItselfDid both thieves mock Jesus—or did one believe?Lesson Four: God’s Kindness Leads Us to RepentanceWhy God’s Kindness Produces RepentanceConclusion: Don’t Only Focus on Your Sin—Focus on Christ Jesus Mocked: “Save Yourself” Luke records a chilling scene: people watching, leaders scoffing, soldiers ridiculing, and one criminal joining the chorus. In verse 35, the rulers said, “He saved others; let him save himself.” In verse 37, the soldiers said, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” And in verse 39, one of the criminals even said: “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” The rulers said, “He saved others,” which is an unintended admission: they could not deny His miracles—healings, deliverance, even raising the dead. So they twisted the truth into a challenge: “If He has saving power, let Him use it on Himself.” The soldiers added their own mockery, offering sour wine not as mercy but as humiliation—dangling relief in front of a suffering Man they despised. And beneath all of it is a familiar temptation Jesus faced repeatedly: “Prove Yourself.” Matthew 12:38 — “Some of the scribes and Pharisees” (“Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.”) Matthew 16:1 — “The Pharisees and Sadducees” (asked Him “to show them a sign from heaven.”) John 2:18 — “The Jews” (after the temple cleansing: “What sign do you show us…?”) John 6:30 — The crowd (after the feeding of the 5,000: “What sign do you do, that we may see and believe you?”) From the wilderness to His public ministry to the cross, the demand remained: “Show us. Prove it. Save Yourself.” Lesson One: Jesus Didn’t Save Himself So He Could Save Us Here is the heart of the passage: Jesus refused to save Himself because He came to save sinners. If Christ had stepped down from the cross, our debt would remain unpaid. On that cross, He was bearing wrath, accomplishing redemption, fulfilling prophecy, and completing the sacrifice. His staying was not weakness—it was obedience and love. Jesus could have ended it instantly. He could have silenced every mouth. But He stayed: to obey the Father to save those the Father had given Him And even the mockery itself fulfilled Scripture: In Isaiah 53:3–6 God says about His Son that He would be “despised and rejected.” In Psalm 22:7–8 Jesus says through David, “All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads… ‘He trusts in the LORD; let Him deliver him.’” They mocked Him because they didn’t believe He was the Messiah—yet their very mockery unwittingly testified that He is. Lesson Two: Jesus Is God’s King, Not Man’s Luke includes another irony: Luke 23:38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” In Roman crucifixion, the inscription announced the “crime” and warned the crowd: This is what happens when you defy Rome. It was meant to shame the victim and intimidate observers. But over Jesus, the sign that was meant as ridicule proclaimed the truth: “This is the King of the Jews.” Watch the flow: Leaders: “Save Yourself.” Soldiers: “If You are the King… save Yourself.” Then God’s providential declaration above His head: This is the King. All along, people staged a wicked parody of royalty—robe, crown, scepter, mock homage—yet none of it changed reality. The cross, in one sense, became His throne, because the King was accomplishing His victory through suffering. Two Criminals, Two Responses Luke shows two men suffering the same sentence, seeing the same Jesus, responding in opposite ways. Luke 23:39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” The first criminal wanted relief, not mercy: “Save yourself and us.” No confession. No fear of God. No concern for righteousness—just an urgent demand for comfort. The second criminal is different. He rebukes the first, fears God, admits guilt, and defends Christ’s innocence. And that leads us to a crucial clarification many people miss when they talk about the thief on the cross. Lesson Three: Saving Faith Shows Itself Yes, we are saved by grace through faith apart from works: Ephesians 2:8–9 By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Titus 3:5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness. Romans 3:28 we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. But the faith that saves is never alone. Scripture also teaches: James 2:17 Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead…26 faith apart from works is dead. So while the thief had no opportunity for baptism, restitution, church membership, or long-term discipleship, there is still real evidence of repentance and faith: He rebuked the other thief instead of joining the mockery. He feared God (“Do you not fear God…?”). He confessed sin without excuses. He acknowledged judgment as deserved (“due reward”). He defended Christ’s innocence when nearly everyone else reviled Him. His hands were nailed, but something deeper happened first: his pride was crucified. Did both thieves mock Jesus—or did one believe? Matthew and Mark say the thieves reviled Jesus: Matthew 27:44 The robbers who were crucified with [Jesus]also reviled him in the same way. Mark 15:31 The chief priests with the scribes mocked [Jesus]…32 “Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him. Luke says one thief rebuked the other and defended Jesus. The answer is simple: both mocked Jesus at first, and then one repented. The Gospels aren’t contradicting each other; they’re showing the change that happened on the cross. Lesson Four: God’s Kindness Leads Us to Repentance So what changed the thief? Not miracles. Not signs from heaven. Not a spectacle of power. Luke records one early word from Jesus that the criminals would have heard: Luke 23:34 “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” While others mocked, tested, and dared Him to “prove Himself,” Jesus prayed for His enemies: “Father, forgive them.” That contrast—hatred answered with mercy—broke a hard heart. And Scripture tells us exactly how this works: Romans 2:4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? Why God’s Kindness Produces Repentance God’s kindness gives sinners hope that repentance won’t be met with rejection—but with mercy. The prodigal son is a perfect picture of this: the son remembers his father’s goodness and that kindness gives him the courage to go home and confess. Luke 15:17 “When he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. It also explains why many people remain trapped in fear: they believe their past is too filthy, their sins too many, their record too shameful. What do they need to see? Not first their sin—but God’s kindness in Christ. God’s kindness does not excuse sin; it invites confession. It doesn’t minimize guilt; it creates hope for forgiveness. Conclusion: Don’t Only Focus on Your Sin—Focus on Christ On the cross, the thief didn’t get a miracle. He didn’t receive a sign. He heard something better: a Savior praying mercy over enemies. So if you ever doubt God’s willingness to forgive you, don’t only stare at your failures—look at Christ and remember His heart. Fear God. Stop making excuses. Confess your sin. Look to Jesus for mercy—because the same kindness that saved the thief is the kindness that can save anyone.