When you scan the family photo of Jesus, you see a number of people with different stories. But do you know one thing that unites everyone? None had anything to offer God. He didn’t need anything from any of them. God doesn’t approach salvation like a business recruiter, looking for a person with a particular skill set who would be an asset to the company. On the contrary, God saves people despite the fact that they have nothing to give him.

There are a couple of reasons for this. First, God is God; he needs nothing and no one. He alone is independent, self-sufficient, and eternally happy. Everything that exists needs God, but God needs nothing (Acts 17:24–25). The second reason relates to the nature of grace. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Grace, by definition, is a gift.

It’s not like splitting the tab at lunch, where Jesus pays for some, and you take care of the rest. Grace has nothing to do with works, “otherwise grace would no longer be grace” (Rom. 11:6). Salvation is all of grace.

This is the invitation of grace throughout the Bible. The God who has everything invites us who have nothing to come and find our all in him. The thirsty may come and drink freely. The hungry may eat their fill (Isa. 55:1). The poor may freely come to this banquet of grace. Jesus offers himself to people who have nothing. He alone is the food and drink of eternal life (John 6:52–58). He is the source of living water, the bread of life, and the vintner of the new wine.

Having nothing may seem like a liability. But actually, in the economy of grace, it’s an asset. Having nothing qualifies you to receive everything you would ever need. Imagine that.

The Thief on the Cross

Jesus was crucified between two criminals (Luke 23:33). They are also called “two robbers” (Mark 15:27). They were likely more than simple thieves—probably insurrectionists or possibly even murderers involved in Barabbas’s rebellion (Mark 15:7). Mark’s Gospel tells us that both criminals “reviled him” (Mark 15:32). Amid their own torturous execution and with their dying breaths, these criminals, eager for some approval from the crowd and relief from their desperate condition, heaped insults on Jesus. What a dreadful sight.

But something happened. At some point after hurling insults at Jesus, one of the criminals had a change of heart. While one criminal continued to rail at Jesus, the other fell silent. The duet became a solo. What happened?

Apparently, in the span of time that he was on the cross, the thief’s eyes were opened. For the first time, he saw himself rightly. But he also saw Jesus rightly. Responding to the other criminal’s hateful insults, he rebuked him and defended Jesus: “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” (Luke 23:40–41).

Suddenly, this hardened criminal feared God. He saw his sin and knew that he deserved judgment. Moreover, he saw Jesus and knew that he was different. Unlike him and his companion, Jesus wasn’t guilty of anything. What a blessed conclusion!

He fixed his gaze on the man in the middle and said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42). He had come to grips with his sin, saw Jesus as the true King, and wanted to join Jesus in his kingdom. He even defended Jesus like part of his family. What a remarkable change!

In this moment of agony with the shadow of death looming, how fitting and ironic that the dying Savior would grant life to someone who had nothing to give him. Christ made a friend by conversion. Even more than a friend, Christ had a new brother. Christ answered this prayer of faith from the dying thief, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise” (22:43).

Empty Hands and Full Hearts

This story is characteristic of all who come to trust in Jesus. Christians aren’t impressive to the world around us, and neither should we be to ourselves. The reality is this: we know we’re poor and have nothing.

But we are loved. Having nothing and with no way to please God, we receive everything through Christ. Look again at the dying thief, collapsing in faith on Christ and receiving an assurance of pardon and life everlasting. Christ is delighted to fill his heart with the joy of acceptance. This is one of the reasons God sends the Holy Spirit to us. In doing so, he pours out the love of God in our hearts (see Rom. 5:5).

Far from being ashamed of those who have nothing, God delights to make known how much he loves us and that he only has thoughts of kindness toward us. When we scan that family photo of Jesus, we see empty hands and full hearts. What inexpressible mercy indeed!