One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." Luke 23:39–43 (RSV)
In all of Scripture, there is no greater faith than this unknown criminal. Jesus is not preaching a powerful sermon. He is performing no wonder of healing or casting out demons. Jesus' touch is not restoring life to a dead child. Jesus is dying on the cross.
The criminal, repenting of his folly, asks not to be rescued from his punishment. He does not demand that Jesus come down from the cross. He is staring death in the face as the outcome of his sin.
In his last hours of life, the Holy Spirit blesses him to see his sin and repent. It is in repentance that he can see Jesus' suffering death as the only hope there is. Repentance asks to be remembered, not forgotten by God as the fullness of the Kingdom comes.
Our Father does remember us. We are joined to Jesus' dying and rising in our baptism. Like our brother dying next to Jesus, we have the gift of the Holy Spirit who grants us the blessings of confession and repentance. He creates faith to trust the promise of Jesus from the cross. And the confidence in our life in the Kingdom.