Rick Lee James and Phil Keaggy sing about the two thieves crucified with Jesus, exploring how God's forgiveness extends to everyone from slave owners to liars. The song questions divine judgment while affirming that heaven is full of people once labeled criminals, calling listeners to drop their weapons and grab a cross of their own.
Chapters
They each had a cross next to Jesus, condemned by Rome for their crimes. Two guilty men mocking the innocent one, all three of them sentenced to die.
But Jesus engaged his His accusers by praying forgiveness for them.
One thief breathed the promise of paradise 'cause the Savior said he could come in. Heaven is full of criminals, lunatics, liars, and thieves. If Jesus forgives all manner of them, then maybe But there's still hope for me.
Christ welcomed that thief into glory. I bet he welcomed them both.
'Cause he welcomes the ones everybody condemns, that we are so quick to disown. Yeah, sometimes I question God's judgment. To see the people he calls. But if he welcomes the worst and the last and the least, then I guess there's room for us all. Heaven is full of criminals, the humans we try to ignore. If Jesus forgives all manner of them, then I bet there's room for some more.
Cheaters and stoners and racist slave owners. Swindlers and users and hustlers and losers. Scammers and grifters and tacky regifters. Backstabbing liars and election deniers.
Yet Jesus keeps calling the ones who have fallen. The guilty, the wounded, the foul and abused. Crucified. All without sin, who would throw the first stone? He says drop your weapons, grab a cross of your own. You think God won't love you 'cause you're undeserving? Well, welcome to Earth, son, our hands are all dirty. What makes you less worthy than everyone else? You're loved as you are, in spite of yourself. Even preachers and gossips who whisper in pews, and Sunday school saints who know all the rules are welcome to come and to feast with the sun, 'cause God's mercy makes room for every last one.
But there are no perfect people allowed.
Heaven is full of criminals, lunatics, liars, and and thieves. If Jesus forgives all manner of them, maybe there's still hope for me. Heaven is full of criminals, the humans we try to ignore. If Jesus forgives all manner of them, then I bet there's room for some more.
