The crowd of people stood, watching.
Authorities (mocking Jesus): So He was supposed to rescue others, was He? He was supposed to be God’s Anointed, the Liberating King? Let’s see Him start by liberating Himself!
The soldiers joined in the mockery. First, they pretended to offer Him a soothing drink—but it was sour wine.
Soldiers: Hey, if You’re the King of the Jews, why don’t You free Yourself!
Even the inscription they placed over Him was intended to mock Him—“This is the King of the Jews!” [This was written in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew.]
One of the criminals joined in the cruel talk.
Cynical Criminal: You’re supposed to be the Anointed One, right? Well—do it! Rescue Yourself and us!
But the other criminal told him to be quiet.
Believing Criminal: Don’t you have any fear of God at all? You’re getting the same death sentence He is! We’re getting what we deserve since we’ve committed crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong at all! (turning to Jesus) Jesus, when You come into Your kingdom, please remember me.
Jesus: I promise you that this very day you will be with Me in paradise.

Luke 23:35-43 The Voice (VOICE) Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

Yesterday was Good Friday. It was a day designated to remember that one dark day some 2,000 years ago during a Passover where The Son of God roam the earth with a purpose that was thousands of years in the making.

These authorities see themselves as the crusaders of God. Yet, they are so inlined with God that they missed the very person from God they have been waiting for, went to war with that person at all cost, conspired with their enemy to kill the person. Why? "God will never send us a person that does not meet the standard we have set to deem that person to be righteous.

Here we are, reading about two people who have committed crimes that earn them the privilege of being nailed to two pieces of wood butt naked for the world to see. They were nailed to the two sides of a Man named Jesus, who, unlike them, has been found to be innocent by, not one, but two government officials.

One of them decided to mock Jesus just like almost everyone around them are doing. The other, was, albeit a little late, resent what he has done, rebuked the idiotic fellow criminal, and pleaded mercy from the only person that matters.

Here, God is letting us know, it is not that we have to live a righteous life for x amount of time before we are "good enough". It is not that we have to follow a set of rules or law to be "good enough". It is our relationship with God that makes that determination. It does not matter who you are, unless you come to term with your sins, repent, and desire to have a relationship with God, nothing you do matters.

You are not perfect? Perfect. Recognizing the fact that you are not perfect and He is AND wants to be with God is what it takes to become one of the righteous of God. What about you?