CHRIST’S PROMISE TO THE THIEF.
By G.
PEOPLE who cite the case of the thief who was converted on the cross as a proof of natural immortality, base their theory on a very flimsy foundation. 1. There is no evidence that the thief died on the same day on which Christ died. When Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus on the evening of the day on which He was crucified, “Pilate marveled if He were already dead.” It was a matter of so much surprise to the governor that he called for the centurion to inquire if it were really true. It was not customary for victims of crucifixion to die under two or three days. 2. Jesus had died of a broken heart, as is shown by His piercing cry on realizing that His Father’s face was hidden from Him; and by the testimony of the blood and water which gushed out when His side was pierced by the officer’s spear. 3. The two malefactors were not dead. The Jews had asked that the legs of the crucified men might be broken, and that they be removed. They were hanging in a very public place, and the Jews did not desire the spectacle on that “high” Sabbath day. If it had been desired to have the victims killed outright, a more effectual means would have been taken. Breaking their legs would not cause death that day, and not necessarily at all; but it would prevent the possibility of escape. A recent instance of crucifixion in China is reported in the papers. The victim had committed so many murders that the ordinary method of execution by beheading was deemed too lenient, and it was decided to crucify him. The account says he was nailed through the feet and hands to a wooden cross, and placed on a bridge as a warning to malefactors; and that he lingered for three days before death ended his sufferings. 4. Inasmuch as there is hardly a probability that the two crucified with Christ died on the same day that He died, the argument that the thief’s spirit went to heaven that day with the spirit of Christ has absolutely no support from any interpretation that may be given to the record. Besides, Christ’s own declaration on the morning of the resurrection, that He had not yet ascended to His Father, is positive proof that He had not accompanied the crucified thief to Paradise, which is in heaven. See Rev. 21: 2; 22: 1, 2. Therefore it is clear that when Jesus said to the thief, “I say unto thee to-day thou shalt be with Me in Paradise,” He was announcing on that day what should be hereafter. A similar expression is found in Deut. 30:18: “I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.” These facts make it evident that the punctuation (which is a modern invention) in most versions of Luke 23:43 gives a wrong impression. The comma should be after “to-day” instead of after “thee,” making the passage read, “Verily I say unto thee to-day, Thou shalt be with Me in Paradise.” This agrees with the converted man’s request, “Lord, remember me when Thou comest in Thy kingdom,” and is a promise to that effect made on that very day. All the faithful will be remembered when Christ comes in His Kingdom. See Matt. 25:31-34; John 14:1-3. This is also in harmony with all the Scripture teaching concerning the state of the dead and the reward of the righteous. See Job 14: 7-15; 19: 23-27; Ps. 146: 3, 4; Eccl. 9: 5, 6; 1 Thess. 4: 13-18.