The Lesson of the Dying Thief

As Jesus hung on the cross dying, two “robbers” were crucified right along side of him. They weren’t really robbers in the sense that we think of robbers. They killed as well as robbed and today would have been in SuperMax because they were also revolutionaries against the State. They both mocked Jesus at the beginning. As time passed one had a change of heart. Oddly enough, this non-religious, non-righteous Jew had more faith and insight into what was going on that day than any of the religious leaders or even the disciples of Jesus. He recognized several things in the fading minutes of his life. One, unlike the religious leaders of his day, he recognized that Jesus was the Christ, the Jewish Messiah. Two, he recognized that Jesus was not dying for any sins that Jesus had committed and remembered that Messiah was to die for the sins of others. Also unlike the religious leaders of that day, he realized that Jesus was God with the power to forgive. Unlike the disciples, he understood that if Messiah was dying on the cross then a resurrection must happen because Messiah was to rule over all the earth on the throne of David. The man asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus came into His Kingdom. And what did Jesus do-He loved him and forgave him. He didn’t chastise the robber for failing to keep the Mosaic Law, for failing to believe in and honor God. He didn’t even chastise the man for breaking earthly law and ending up on a cross (which according to Jewish law made the man cursed.) He told the man-“Today you will be with me in Paradise”. The man didn’t have to wait until the Messianic Kingdom to be remembered by God, God would remember the man THAT day and the man would not go to hell but to Paradise. Then, when Messiah ruled from the throne of David, the man would enjoy the blessings of the Messianic Kingdom. The unworthy, murdering thief was forgiven at literally in the last moments of his life on earth, by Jesus, because of the man’s faith and God’s grace. Not only was he forgiven, he was welcomed with joy and love. God doesn’t care when we come to Him or what past baggage we bring, He is waiting with love and forgiveness even in our last moments of life. (Although waiting until the last moment could be quite risky).

I would venture to say that none of us are as bad as the thief, but none of us are worthy either-not even the deacons, the elders, or Pastor Ben-except for the grace of God. God’s unmerited favor is for everyone. He loves us with an everlasting love. The Bible says that God planned a way for redemption and salvation before the world was even created. However, we must actually do something with this grace-we have to accept it. We have to admit that we that we need forgiveness of our sins and believe that Christ died, was buried and rose again so that we could be restored to fellowship with God and our sins forgiven. God is waiting to give each of us His peace and His comfort while we live and then a home with Him for eternity.