The Thief on the Cross Got Paradise: Why Jesus Still Puts Broken Lives Back Together
Pastor Jentezen Franklin reveals how the cross still restores what sin has broken, through the powerful story of the thief who received paradise.
How the Cross of Christ Still Restores Broken Lives Today
Pastor Jentezen Franklin, senior pastor of Free Chapel and New York Times bestselling author, has reminded believers of the enduring power of the cross in a new message published on March 24, 2026.
Franklin, whose television program Kingdom Connection broadcasts worldwide, centered his message on the account of the thief crucified alongside Jesus, drawing powerful parallels to the brokenness people face today.
The cross is where everything broken in humanity meets the restoring power of God.
Franklin wrote those words as the foundation of his message, emphasizing that what happened at Calvary was not metaphorical or symbolic.
This was not symbolic suffering. This was real agony, endured for us.
The pastor highlighted the moment when the thief on the cross turned to Jesus and made his plea: "Remember me when You come into Your kingdom." Jesus responded with the promise: "Today you will be with Me in paradise."
Franklin explained that the word "remember" carries a deeper meaning than simple recollection. It means to restore, to put back together what has been separated. Through Christ's sacrifice, the separation of His blood from His body, humanity gains the ability to be "remembered" and restored.
What sin dismembered, He came to restore.
The message concluded with a declaration of hope for every believer struggling with brokenness in their lives.
Broken things do not have to stay broken.
Franklin urged Christians to approach communion not as mere ritual but as a powerful act of remembrance where God actively puts broken lives back together through faith in the finished work of the cross.
The Power of the Cross: Why Jesus Still Remembers and Restores the Broken
Franklin's message resonates at a time when millions around the world are searching for hope amid personal and societal brokenness. The account of the thief on the cross remains one of the most powerful demonstrations of grace in all of Scripture, showing that no life is too far gone to be restored by Christ.
The Crusader's Opinion
This is the Gospel stripped bare: a dying criminal, moments from eternity, calls out to Jesus and receives paradise. No baptism certificate. No church membership card. No lifetime of good works. Just raw, desperate faith meeting infinite grace. That is the power of the cross, and it has not diminished one fraction since the day Christ was nailed to it. In a world drowning in self help books and empty motivational slogans, the truth remains unchanged. You cannot fix yourself. Only the blood of Jesus can put the shattered pieces of a human soul back together. Every attempt to replace this truth with worldly wisdom is a lie straight from the pit of hell.
Take Action
- Share this message with someone in your life who is struggling with brokenness or hopelessness. Sometimes one conversation pointing someone to the cross changes everything.
- Take communion this week with intentionality. Ask God to "remember" you, to restore what sin has dismembered in your life, your family, and your community.
- Watch Pastor Jentezen Franklin's Kingdom Connection broadcast for more teaching on the restoring power of God: www.jentezenfranklin.org
- Support persecuted Christians who cling to the cross under threat of death. Give to www.TheShepherdsShield.org or Open Doors USA.
- Visit Free Chapel online or in person to hear more about the power of the cross and connect with a faith community.
