And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
On the cross at Calvary Jesus hung between two condemned criminals, and one who had at first joined in mocking Him repented and asked Him as Lord to remember him when He entered His kingdom. His plea confessed his own just guilt while declaring Jesus innocent, and trusted Him as King, Messiah and Redeemer despite His present suffering and apparent defeat. Though in intense agony and unable to move, Jesus heard him at once and promised him a place with Him in paradise, revealing undiminished divine power to forgive sin even in His humiliation. His conversion shows that even the vilest sinner at the close of a sin-polluted life can receive pardon and peace through Christ's blood when repentance is genuine and faith is intelligent. Yet no one should presume upon a deathbed change, for light neglected deepens darkness, and salvation requires humbling self, looking to Jesus lifted up, and trusting His mercy.
Calvary's Cross Setting
Luke 23:42 belongs to the crucifixion at the place called Calvary outside the gate of Jerusalem where felons and murderers were executed. There Christ suffered without the gate that He might sanctify the people with His own blood. He stood there as substitute for Adam and Eve banished from Eden for transgression of the law of God, redeeming from the curse of the law by being made a curse.
Jesus was led from the judgment-hall to Calvary after news of His condemnation spread throughout Jerusalem. A vast multitude of people of all classes and all ranks flocked toward the place of crucifixion. Disciples and believers from the city and the surrounding region joined the throng following Him, because the priests and rulers were bound by a promise not to molest His followers if He Himself was delivered to them.
He hung on the central cross between the two thieves, with Jesus in the midst. That position placed His cross in the midst of a world lying in sin. The inscription over the central cross declared Him Jesus the King of the Jews.
A spellbound mixed multitude looked on with varied feelings, and some said His Messiahship was now ended forever. His disciples were too astonished and broken-hearted and discouraged to speak a word of faith, though He heard all that was said about Him and listened for it from them. They had witnessed Him in whom their hopes of eternal life were centered in the hands of wicked men, with His own nation clamoring for His blood. Herod and soldiers plaited the crown of thorns for His brow, clad Him in the purple robe and mocked Him and struck Him with the reed placed in His hand. He was scourged as the worst of criminals while the murderous Barabbas was chosen in place of their beloved Teacher whom they thought was to take His place on David's throne, then lifted up on the cross and dying as a malefactor, a sight that tried their faith and made their hope and courage fail.
The repentant thief addressed Jesus as Lord, and his words arrested the bystanders' attention. They quieted their angry quarrelling and made them wait to hear Jesus' response.
The petition of the dying thief and Jesus' answer, together with His prayer for His murderers, spoke with powerful distinctness to the heart of Nicodemus. With the final conquering cry and the reeling earth, darkened heavens, rent veil, and broken rocks, they settled his faith forever. The criminal's confession was one of three declarations of faith made on the day Jesus died, alongside the centurion's confession and the faith of the man who carried Jesus' cross. He was the one person who confessed Jesus' mission after three and a half years of labor.
Dying Thief's Prayer
The speaker is one of the two men crucified beside Jesus, the second thief who at first joined in railing against Him and then repented, while the other continued to mock. He prayed directly to Christ Himself, addressing Him as Lord and asking to be remembered when He should come into His kingdom. His reliance was upon Christ alone and not upon any human relationship, and his prayer was answered with the promise of being with Christ in Paradise.
His request to be remembered expresses faith in Jesus as King, Son of God, Messiah, Redeemer, and the Lamb of God who takes away sin, with desire for a part in that kingdom and trust in its future coming. Though Jesus was then suffering and dying in humiliation and apparent defeat on the cross, taunted by those around Him, the thief looked to Him as King whose kingdom would come and sought a place in it. While the leading Jews rejected Him and even His disciples doubted, and while the multitude mocked, the penitent thief acknowledged Him in His humiliation and was accepted and pardoned.
He confessed his own guilt and just condemnation, owning that he received the due reward of his deeds, while declaring that Jesus had done nothing amiss and suffered unjustly as a criminal even unto death. Though suffering justly for his own crimes, he was far less guilty than those who condemned and executed Him, who were guilty of far more heinous crimes in demanding the death of the Son of God. He was not at first a hardened criminal but one led astray by evil associations, who had seen and heard Jesus and been convicted by His teaching, then turned away by priests and rulers, stifled conviction and sank deeper into sin until arrested, tried and condemned to die. In the judgment-hall and on the way to Calvary he heard Pilate declare no fault in Jesus and marked His Godlike bearing and pitying forgiveness of His tormentors. On the cross he recalled reports he had heard of Jesus of Nazareth healing the sick and those suffering grievous maladies and pardoning transgression and sin, the words of weeping believing followers, passers-by defending Jesus and repeating His words and works and His title, and the inscription over the central cross calling Him King of the Jews, which he believed.
The Holy Spirit illuminated his mind until the chain of evidence joined together, so that in Jesus bruised, mocked and hanging he saw the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world and his only hope of salvation. Amazed at the hardheartedness of men who would not see and acknowledge Him, he rebuked his fellow criminal for not fearing God under the same condemnation. With hope mingled with anguish and with no question, doubt or reproach, he as a helpless dying soul in intense agony cast himself upon the dying Saviour. His prayer was offered in faith, patience, contrition and earnestness, with full realization that Jesus could save him, with consciousness of his own sinfulness and that without Jesus he would be eternally lost, and with entire dependence on the mercy of the dying Saviour, expressing hope and trust and love. Its words and tones stood apart from all voices around the cross as a note of faith that reached Christ, coming as sweetest music, a reviving cordial and soothing balm amid blasphemy and enmity, testifying to Christ's power to forgive sins even while dying and to be repeated to earth's remotest bounds.
Suffering Saviour's Response
In intense agony of mind and body, bruised and mocked with nails through hands and feet so He could not reach out, Jesus heard the dying appeal at once and answered with the promise of paradise, thinking only of others and showing a love stronger than death. The answer came that very day while He hung suffering and condemned and abused, pardoning the repentant sinner even in dying agony. The word today marks the time the promise was spoken in present humiliation on the cross. It belongs with I say rather than with shalt be, with the comma after today. He did not promise a transfer to paradise that day, for He died and lay in the tomb and did not ascend to the Father until three days afterward.
He could not come down from the cross to prove He was the Son of God, for that would break His plan and covenant agreement to become substitute and surety and propitiation for a guilty world. As the world's Redeemer and the propitiation for the sins of the whole world, He alone was free to undertake the suretyship of the criminal and speak forgiveness that meant much to the dying man. While His humanity suffered the hatred and revenge of His enemies, His divinity was at work. The answer proves that before receiving His coronation, in suffering humanity, His nailed hands were not shortened or weakened that He cannot save and His ear was not heavy that it cannot hear, but divinity flashed through humanity with undiminished power as sin-pardoning Saviour to forgive transgression and save to the uttermost. It was the same power as when He healed the sick and raised the dead, now asserted even in the agonies of death as His right to forgive sin.
He exercised kingly power and divine prerogatives not by descending from the cross but by bestowing the most precious gift, revealing Godhead and redeeming and life-giving power in death. The believer who receives Him and believes on Him in His humiliation will have life with Him in the paradise of God when raised from the dead with those who believe He is the resurrection and the life. Christ honored that faith by promising a place with Him in paradise, so the repentant sinner need not wait until the coronation. The prayer brought one gleam of comfort amid bitter loneliness, blasphemy and enmity. It stood apart from all voices around the cross as a note of faith, sweetest music to Christ, a reviving cordial and soothing balm in earnest tones of consciousness of sinfulness and entire dependence on the mercy of the dying Saviour, expressing hope and trust and love, and it made a unique impression on the spectators.
The glad note of redemption and salvation glorified God through His Son and kindled a light to shine to earth's remotest bounds. The answer was a rebuke to the crucifiers and the heedless mob, for while deceived religious zealots closed the door of hope and paradise to themselves, the Sin-pardoner opened the door for the entrance of the thief. The exchange displayed Christ's rebuking of Satan's power and sounded the death-knell of Satan's hope of overcoming Christ or those who believe in Him. Though Satan with his synagogue and with priests and rulers and principalities and powers united to humiliate the Maker of the world and lay His claim as King in the dust, and wrestled to cause Him to sin and failed, Satan hearing the promise knew his case was lost and without hope of victory.
Pardon for Vilest Sinners
The dying criminal recognized Jesus as Lord while condemned and dying on the cross, seeing the Messiah and Son of God where the religious leaders rejected Him and even the disciples doubted Him. Pressed by conviction that there is a God to fear and a future to tremble at, at the close of a sin-polluted life he cast his helpless soul upon the Saviour and found peace, comfort, acceptance with God, and pardon and salvation through Christ's merits and blood. His conversion came at the last moment and at the eleventh hour, through clear spiritual insight and intelligent faith, showing that even the vilest sinner can be saved when repentance is genuine and informed by faith. It is never too late for Christ to hear words of repentance, for He answered quickly with love, compassion, sympathy and power with the promise of Paradise.
Though dying and burdened by sins, the thief turned in faith and entrusted himself to the Saviour as the Lamb of God who takes away sin, with hope mingled with anguish. He recalled all he had heard of Jesus healing the sick and pardoning sin, the words of believing weeping followers, the title above the Saviour's head, and passers-by repeating His words and works, until the Holy Spirit illuminated his mind and the chain of evidence joined together. In Jesus bruised, mocked and hanging on the cross he saw the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. Christ remained the sinner's Friend and Saviour to the end of His earthly mission, and He has pledged to save unto eternal life all who repent and trust the merits of the Lamb.
To be with Christ in His kingdom a person must humble self before God, look to Jesus lifted up and believe, as those who looked on the uplifted brazen serpent in the wilderness lived. Without shedding of blood no one can be saved, while keeping on exalting self in self-estimation shuts a person out as one who would lead others astray. The One who heard and answered is the Son of the Highest exalted above all others in the heavenly courts, whose hands were nailed to the cross and who was mocked and derided by those who would not receive Him. The word today marks the time the promise was spoken while hanging on the cross, with assurance even there that the thief would be with Christ in Paradise.
Even a poor, trembling, tempted sinner, however weak or guilty and unable to save self, may grasp by faith the salvation offered through God's gift of His Son and receive everlasting life in the kingdom of glory. The Lord accepts all who receive and believe in Christ, and He could enter into sympathy with people in temptation and save those who turn to Him, trusting His power to save them and give them victory. The thief who had first railed against Jesus repented while Jesus was suffering on the cross, and Christ's pardon of him while giving His life for the sins of the world shows His saving mercy toward guilty people who cannot save themselves.
His faith testified that Jesus was no impostor but remained true to His character and mission through the end of His earthly life. Though in all other eyes He appeared conquered, with Satan and evil angels and priests and rulers triumphing and His own disciples failing in faith, He was acknowledged as Conqueror and to the last remained a sin-pardoner. While a spellbound mixed multitude looked on with varied feelings, some saying His Messiahship was now ended forever, Jesus heard all that was said and listened for a word of faith from His disciples, but they were too astonished and broken-hearted and discouraged to speak. As the Star of Bethlehem was about to sink into oblivion at deepest midnight, the faith of a dying sinner shone with distinct brightness amid the moral darkness as he laid hold upon a dying Saviour.
The man was not at first a hardened criminal but one led astray by evil associations, less guilty than many reviling Jesus. He had seen and heard Jesus and been convicted by His teaching but had been turned away by priests and rulers, stifled conviction and sank deeper into sin until arrested, tried and condemned to die. In the judgment-hall and on the way to Calvary he heard Pilate declare no fault in Jesus and marked His Godlike bearing and pitying forgiveness of His tormentors. On the cross he saw religionists scorn and wag their heads, heard his fellow criminal mock, heard passers-by defending Jesus, repeating His words and telling His works, until conviction returned that this is the Christ. He rebuked his companion for not fearing God under the same condemnation, and owned that they suffered justly for their deeds while Jesus had done nothing amiss, with no question, doubt or reproach.
The dying Redeemer saw the thief as far less guilty than the ones who had condemned Him to death, far less guilty than the priests, scribes and rulers who had taken an active part in demanding the death of the Son of God, though the thief suffered justly for his own crimes while his judges were guilty of far more heinous crimes. Christ's divinity was at work while His humanity suffered the hatred and revenge of a God-hating people because He had acknowledged Himself the Son of God, and He alone could respond to the poor suffering thief and alone was free to undertake the suretyship of the guilty criminal. Amid the indignities and under Satan's temptations He pitied and forgave one ensnared by the enemy, seeing that forgiveness was with him. His petition gave Christ one gleam of comfort in bitter loneliness on the cross, and Christ gave him peace and assurance with the promise of being with Him in Paradise, showing tender consideration for all who look in faith to Him.
Warning and Witness Today
Enlightenment and repentance at the last moment may be accepted when repentance is genuine and informed by intelligent faith, yet no one should neglect present opportunities or presume on a deathbed conversion. The thief waited until the last moment to turn, for until then he had no light, and those who have been shown duty in the Word of God should serve God wholeheartedly now rather than delay responding. Neglected light deepens darkness and may lead to hopeless deception. The scene displays Christ's meekness and lowliness under opposition and calls His followers to bear shame and reproach for Him. His humiliation, agony, and death are the measure against which the self-denial asked of His followers is small.
Christ has pledged Christians to deal with tempted, tried sinners with the same pity and compassion He showed. The loving compassion shown to that sinful soul shows the tender consideration the Lord has for all who look in faith to Him, trusting His power to save them and give them victory. Because the thief called upon Christ in his peril and was heard, there is hope that others who perished in distress, such as those lost at sea, may also have called upon God before they perished and received response. As Jesus saved the thief on the cross, so Judas could also have been saved and freely forgiven if he had yielded to Jesus, confessed his betrayal, and honored his Lord.
The thief's appeal expresses faith in Christ's coming kingdom despite taunts, acknowledging his own guilt while recognizing that Jesus did not deserve crucifixion and receiving Him as the Christ. Even while suffering on the cross amid indignities, Jesus could impress a sinner with hope in His kingdom, and His promise of a place with Him there shows He can save even while suffering, for God loves the sinner. His answer in the midst of His own suffering brought peace to the thief's heart and gave comfort through assurance of being with Him in Paradise.
On the cross at Calvary Jesus hung between two condemned criminals, and one who had at first joined in mocking Him repented and asked Him as Lord to remember him when He entered His kingdom. His plea confessed his own just guilt while declaring Jesus innocent, and trusted Him as King, Messiah and Redeemer despite His present suffering and apparent defeat. Though in intense agony and unable to move, Jesus heard him at once and promised him a place with Him in paradise, revealing undiminished divine power to forgive sin even in His humiliation. His conversion shows that even the vilest sinner at the close of a sin-polluted life can receive pardon and peace through Christ's blood when repentance is genuine and faith is intelligent. Yet no one should presume upon a deathbed change, for light neglected deepens darkness, and salvation requires humbling self, looking to Jesus lifted up, and trusting His mercy.
Calvary's Cross Setting
Luke 23:42 belongs to the crucifixion at the place called Calvary outside the gate of Jerusalem where felons and murderers were executed. There Christ suffered without the gate that He might sanctify the people with His own blood. He stood there as substitute for Adam and Eve banished from Eden for transgression of the law of God, redeeming from the curse of the law by being made a curse.
Jesus was led from the judgment-hall to Calvary after news of His condemnation spread throughout Jerusalem. A vast multitude of people of all classes and all ranks flocked toward the place of crucifixion. Disciples and believers from the city and the surrounding region joined the throng following Him, because the priests and rulers were bound by a promise not to molest His followers if He Himself was delivered to them.
He hung on the central cross between the two thieves, with Jesus in the midst. That position placed His cross in the midst of a world lying in sin. The inscription over the central cross declared Him Jesus the King of the Jews.
A spellbound mixed multitude looked on with varied feelings, and some said His Messiahship was now ended forever. His disciples were too astonished and broken-hearted and discouraged to speak a word of faith, though He heard all that was said about Him and listened for it from them. They had witnessed Him in whom their hopes of eternal life were centered in the hands of wicked men, with His own nation clamoring for His blood. Herod and soldiers plaited the crown of thorns for His brow, clad Him in the purple robe and mocked Him and struck Him with the reed placed in His hand. He was scourged as the worst of criminals while the murderous Barabbas was chosen in place of their beloved Teacher whom they thought was to take His place on David's throne, then lifted up on the cross and dying as a malefactor, a sight that tried their faith and made their hope and courage fail.
The repentant thief addressed Jesus as Lord, and his words arrested the bystanders' attention. They quieted their angry quarrelling and made them wait to hear Jesus' response.
The petition of the dying thief and Jesus' answer, together with His prayer for His murderers, spoke with powerful distinctness to the heart of Nicodemus. With the final conquering cry and the reeling earth, darkened heavens, rent veil, and broken rocks, they settled his faith forever. The criminal's confession was one of three declarations of faith made on the day Jesus died, alongside the centurion's confession and the faith of the man who carried Jesus' cross. He was the one person who confessed Jesus' mission after three and a half years of labor.
Dying Thief's Prayer
The speaker is one of the two men crucified beside Jesus, the second thief who at first joined in railing against Him and then repented, while the other continued to mock.
He prayed directly to Christ Himself, addressing Him as Lord and asking to be remembered when He should come into His kingdom.
His reliance was upon Christ alone and not upon any human relationship, and his prayer was answered with the promise of being with Christ in Paradise.
His request to be remembered expresses faith in Jesus as King, Son of God, Messiah, Redeemer, and the Lamb of God who takes away sin, with desire for a part in that kingdom and trust in its future coming.
Though Jesus was then suffering and dying in humiliation and apparent defeat on the cross, taunted by those around Him, the thief looked to Him as King whose kingdom would come and sought a place in it.
While the leading Jews rejected Him and even His disciples doubted, and while the multitude mocked, the penitent thief acknowledged Him in His humiliation and was accepted and pardoned.
He confessed his own guilt and just condemnation, owning that he received the due reward of his deeds, while declaring that Jesus had done nothing amiss and suffered unjustly as a criminal even unto death.
Though suffering justly for his own crimes, he was far less guilty than those who condemned and executed Him, who were guilty of far more heinous crimes in demanding the death of the Son of God.
He was not at first a hardened criminal but one led astray by evil associations, who had seen and heard Jesus and been convicted by His teaching, then turned away by priests and rulers, stifled conviction and sank deeper into sin until arrested, tried and condemned to die.
In the judgment-hall and on the way to Calvary he heard Pilate declare no fault in Jesus and marked His Godlike bearing and pitying forgiveness of His tormentors.
On the cross he recalled reports he had heard of Jesus of Nazareth healing the sick and those suffering grievous maladies and pardoning transgression and sin, the words of weeping believing followers, passers-by defending Jesus and repeating His words and works and His title, and the inscription over the central cross calling Him King of the Jews, which he believed.
The Holy Spirit illuminated his mind until the chain of evidence joined together, so that in Jesus bruised, mocked and hanging he saw the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world and his only hope of salvation.
Amazed at the hardheartedness of men who would not see and acknowledge Him, he rebuked his fellow criminal for not fearing God under the same condemnation.
With hope mingled with anguish and with no question, doubt or reproach, he as a helpless dying soul in intense agony cast himself upon the dying Saviour.
His prayer was offered in faith, patience, contrition and earnestness, with full realization that Jesus could save him, with consciousness of his own sinfulness and that without Jesus he would be eternally lost, and with entire dependence on the mercy of the dying Saviour, expressing hope and trust and love.
Its words and tones stood apart from all voices around the cross as a note of faith that reached Christ, coming as sweetest music, a reviving cordial and soothing balm amid blasphemy and enmity, testifying to Christ's power to forgive sins even while dying and to be repeated to earth's remotest bounds.
Suffering Saviour's Response
In intense agony of mind and body, bruised and mocked with nails through hands and feet so He could not reach out, Jesus heard the dying appeal at once and answered with the promise of paradise, thinking only of others and showing a love stronger than death. The answer came that very day while He hung suffering and condemned and abused, pardoning the repentant sinner even in dying agony. The word today marks the time the promise was spoken in present humiliation on the cross. It belongs with I say rather than with shalt be, with the comma after today. He did not promise a transfer to paradise that day, for He died and lay in the tomb and did not ascend to the Father until three days afterward.
He could not come down from the cross to prove He was the Son of God, for that would break His plan and covenant agreement to become substitute and surety and propitiation for a guilty world. As the world's Redeemer and the propitiation for the sins of the whole world, He alone was free to undertake the suretyship of the criminal and speak forgiveness that meant much to the dying man. While His humanity suffered the hatred and revenge of His enemies, His divinity was at work. The answer proves that before receiving His coronation, in suffering humanity, His nailed hands were not shortened or weakened that He cannot save and His ear was not heavy that it cannot hear, but divinity flashed through humanity with undiminished power as sin-pardoning Saviour to forgive transgression and save to the uttermost. It was the same power as when He healed the sick and raised the dead, now asserted even in the agonies of death as His right to forgive sin.
He exercised kingly power and divine prerogatives not by descending from the cross but by bestowing the most precious gift, revealing Godhead and redeeming and life-giving power in death. The believer who receives Him and believes on Him in His humiliation will have life with Him in the paradise of God when raised from the dead with those who believe He is the resurrection and the life. Christ honored that faith by promising a place with Him in paradise, so the repentant sinner need not wait until the coronation. The prayer brought one gleam of comfort amid bitter loneliness, blasphemy and enmity. It stood apart from all voices around the cross as a note of faith, sweetest music to Christ, a reviving cordial and soothing balm in earnest tones of consciousness of sinfulness and entire dependence on the mercy of the dying Saviour, expressing hope and trust and love, and it made a unique impression on the spectators.
The glad note of redemption and salvation glorified God through His Son and kindled a light to shine to earth's remotest bounds. The answer was a rebuke to the crucifiers and the heedless mob, for while deceived religious zealots closed the door of hope and paradise to themselves, the Sin-pardoner opened the door for the entrance of the thief. The exchange displayed Christ's rebuking of Satan's power and sounded the death-knell of Satan's hope of overcoming Christ or those who believe in Him. Though Satan with his synagogue and with priests and rulers and principalities and powers united to humiliate the Maker of the world and lay His claim as King in the dust, and wrestled to cause Him to sin and failed, Satan hearing the promise knew his case was lost and without hope of victory.
Pardon for Vilest Sinners
The dying criminal recognized Jesus as Lord while condemned and dying on the cross, seeing the Messiah and Son of God where the religious leaders rejected Him and even the disciples doubted Him. Pressed by conviction that there is a God to fear and a future to tremble at, at the close of a sin-polluted life he cast his helpless soul upon the Saviour and found peace, comfort, acceptance with God, and pardon and salvation through Christ's merits and blood. His conversion came at the last moment and at the eleventh hour, through clear spiritual insight and intelligent faith, showing that even the vilest sinner can be saved when repentance is genuine and informed by faith. It is never too late for Christ to hear words of repentance, for He answered quickly with love, compassion, sympathy and power with the promise of Paradise.
Though dying and burdened by sins, the thief turned in faith and entrusted himself to the Saviour as the Lamb of God who takes away sin, with hope mingled with anguish. He recalled all he had heard of Jesus healing the sick and pardoning sin, the words of believing weeping followers, the title above the Saviour's head, and passers-by repeating His words and works, until the Holy Spirit illuminated his mind and the chain of evidence joined together. In Jesus bruised, mocked and hanging on the cross he saw the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. Christ remained the sinner's Friend and Saviour to the end of His earthly mission, and He has pledged to save unto eternal life all who repent and trust the merits of the Lamb.
To be with Christ in His kingdom a person must humble self before God, look to Jesus lifted up and believe, as those who looked on the uplifted brazen serpent in the wilderness lived. Without shedding of blood no one can be saved, while keeping on exalting self in self-estimation shuts a person out as one who would lead others astray. The One who heard and answered is the Son of the Highest exalted above all others in the heavenly courts, whose hands were nailed to the cross and who was mocked and derided by those who would not receive Him. The word today marks the time the promise was spoken while hanging on the cross, with assurance even there that the thief would be with Christ in Paradise.
Even a poor, trembling, tempted sinner, however weak or guilty and unable to save self, may grasp by faith the salvation offered through God's gift of His Son and receive everlasting life in the kingdom of glory. The Lord accepts all who receive and believe in Christ, and He could enter into sympathy with people in temptation and save those who turn to Him, trusting His power to save them and give them victory. The thief who had first railed against Jesus repented while Jesus was suffering on the cross, and Christ's pardon of him while giving His life for the sins of the world shows His saving mercy toward guilty people who cannot save themselves.
His faith testified that Jesus was no impostor but remained true to His character and mission through the end of His earthly life. Though in all other eyes He appeared conquered, with Satan and evil angels and priests and rulers triumphing and His own disciples failing in faith, He was acknowledged as Conqueror and to the last remained a sin-pardoner. While a spellbound mixed multitude looked on with varied feelings, some saying His Messiahship was now ended forever, Jesus heard all that was said and listened for a word of faith from His disciples, but they were too astonished and broken-hearted and discouraged to speak. As the Star of Bethlehem was about to sink into oblivion at deepest midnight, the faith of a dying sinner shone with distinct brightness amid the moral darkness as he laid hold upon a dying Saviour.
The man was not at first a hardened criminal but one led astray by evil associations, less guilty than many reviling Jesus. He had seen and heard Jesus and been convicted by His teaching but had been turned away by priests and rulers, stifled conviction and sank deeper into sin until arrested, tried and condemned to die. In the judgment-hall and on the way to Calvary he heard Pilate declare no fault in Jesus and marked His Godlike bearing and pitying forgiveness of His tormentors. On the cross he saw religionists scorn and wag their heads, heard his fellow criminal mock, heard passers-by defending Jesus, repeating His words and telling His works, until conviction returned that this is the Christ. He rebuked his companion for not fearing God under the same condemnation, and owned that they suffered justly for their deeds while Jesus had done nothing amiss, with no question, doubt or reproach.
The dying Redeemer saw the thief as far less guilty than the ones who had condemned Him to death, far less guilty than the priests, scribes and rulers who had taken an active part in demanding the death of the Son of God, though the thief suffered justly for his own crimes while his judges were guilty of far more heinous crimes. Christ's divinity was at work while His humanity suffered the hatred and revenge of a God-hating people because He had acknowledged Himself the Son of God, and He alone could respond to the poor suffering thief and alone was free to undertake the suretyship of the guilty criminal. Amid the indignities and under Satan's temptations He pitied and forgave one ensnared by the enemy, seeing that forgiveness was with him. His petition gave Christ one gleam of comfort in bitter loneliness on the cross, and Christ gave him peace and assurance with the promise of being with Him in Paradise, showing tender consideration for all who look in faith to Him.
Warning and Witness Today
Enlightenment and repentance at the last moment may be accepted when repentance is genuine and informed by intelligent faith, yet no one should neglect present opportunities or presume on a deathbed conversion. The thief waited until the last moment to turn, for until then he had no light, and those who have been shown duty in the Word of God should serve God wholeheartedly now rather than delay responding. Neglected light deepens darkness and may lead to hopeless deception. The scene displays Christ's meekness and lowliness under opposition and calls His followers to bear shame and reproach for Him. His humiliation, agony, and death are the measure against which the self-denial asked of His followers is small.
Christ has pledged Christians to deal with tempted, tried sinners with the same pity and compassion He showed. The loving compassion shown to that sinful soul shows the tender consideration the Lord has for all who look in faith to Him, trusting His power to save them and give them victory. Because the thief called upon Christ in his peril and was heard, there is hope that others who perished in distress, such as those lost at sea, may also have called upon God before they perished and received response. As Jesus saved the thief on the cross, so Judas could also have been saved and freely forgiven if he had yielded to Jesus, confessed his betrayal, and honored his Lord.
The thief's appeal expresses faith in Christ's coming kingdom despite taunts, acknowledging his own guilt while recognizing that Jesus did not deserve crucifixion and receiving Him as the Christ. Even while suffering on the cross amid indignities, Jesus could impress a sinner with hope in His kingdom, and His promise of a place with Him there shows He can save even while suffering, for God loves the sinner. His answer in the midst of His own suffering brought peace to the thief's heart and gave comfort through assurance of being with Him in Paradise.