The Faith of the Thief on the Cross

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:39-43

Hanging on crosses at Jesus' right and left hand are two criminals. Based on scripture we don’t know exactly what they did merely that they were criminals. Matthew and Mark don’t go into as much detail as Dr. Luke. They just referred to these two as robbers. Other translation calls them revolutionaries and King James Version calls them simply - thieves. Whatever, they were criminals.

One of these bad dudes, dying on a cross on one side of Jesus, now takes up the cat-calling begun by the soldiers, "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" The thief is making fun of Jesus' seemingly inability to do anything despite the exalted title of "Christ/Messiah" that has been used concerning him. Where is this talk of "Messiah" now? he sneers. You're dying just like us. Death is the great equalizer.

But the other criminal rebuked him. 'Don't you fear God,' he said, 'since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.'

The second criminal must have had some type of faith, for he asks, "Don't you fear God?" To stand by and participate in such an unrighteous act as to execute an innocent man is a terrible, sinful act, and the second criminal refuses to desert his sense of right and wrong.

Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.'

By any measure, this statement is astounding! Jesus' disciples have fled or, at best, hanging around the edge of the crowd hoping they are not recognized. Their hope is gone as their leader is crucified. Their hopelessness is also echoed by the men on the road to Emmaus, "... they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel" (Luke 24:20-21).

But here on the cross to one side, a fellow condemned man, dying, looks across and sees not another dying man, but the Messiah himself. Somehow, he understands that Jesus is not an impostor, and that he will still receive the Kingdom that belongs to the Messiah.

How can this quality of faith exist at such a dark time? Already the darkness is falling over the whole land, and yet a dying thief believes.

Did he confess his sins? Yes. "We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve" (23:41). Does he repent? Not verbally, but we would think so. His repentance and hope prompt his plea for mercy, "Remember me...."

This thief would never be baptized, make restitution, attend church, take communion, sing a hymn or give an offering. He had nothing to offer Christ, no way to pay Him back. But you know what, neither do we.

The thief on the cross believes; his prayer to Jesus is bursting with faith. He has more faith that day than any other human observing this gruesome scene.

So how about deathbed conversions?

The example of the thief on the cross is often used as the example of deathbed conversions. And so it is. This thief could have had some sort of contact with Jesus – many heard Him speak. We certainly don’t know for sure. He may have come to some sort of faith there. And so have many who repent and confess Christ on their deathbeds. The difference between "some sort of faith" and "saving faith" is true repentance and the commitment to a relationship with Christ that repentance implies.

It is possible, I believe, to be saved at one's deathbed. But too many people say, "I'll follow Christ later. But now I want to have fun." And some of them don't get a chance to repent on their deathbeds. Some of them are taken in accidents or from heart attacks, and never have a chance to repent at the end of their days.

Okay, now back to the thief on the cross: "Jesus answered him, 'I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.' "

What a wonderful promise Jesus gives the believing thief: with Christ in paradise!

We know what an encouragement the account of the Thief on the Cross has been to Christians down through the ages. But how about Jesus, dying on the cross? What did it mean to him?

Maybe the Father blessed his Son with this strange companion during his last hours -- a believer, and a very strong believer at that. Jesus had often “fussed” at the unbelief he saw around him. His disciples themselves sometimes exhibit "little faith" (Luke 12:28) Remember the storm when the apostles were so scared? (Matthew 8:26) When Peter started to sink? (Matthew 14:31). When they were worried about feeding the crowd? (Matthew 16:8) When they couldn’t cast out demons? (Luke17:20). Each time Jesus commented about their “little faith”.

Jerusalem as a whole didn’t “recognize the time of God's coming...." (Luke 19:44). But occasionally, Jesus encounters someone with great faith. A Roman centurion tells him that he doesn't need to physically come to heal his servant; all he had to do was speak the word and he has authority to have it accomplished (Luke 7:2-10). Jesus is amazed at the man: "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel" (Luke 7:9).

If you've ever taught, you know how encouraging it is for a teacher to have a student who grasps what you are trying to communicate. Many may fail to understand your point but if least one understands, this brings great satisfaction. The centurion is one of those prize pupils; the thief on the cross is another. Neither of them is acceptable to the Jewish religious leaders -- one a Gentile, the other a criminal. But both have great faith, and both, surely, bring joy to Jesus' heart.

Jesus is forsaken, in a sense, even by the Father (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34; quoting Psalm 22:1) as he takes on the sins of all of humanity - past, present and future - and takes on himself the wrath and punishment of God that saves us from it(Isaiah 53:5). But he does not die alone. The Father gives him a believer to be with him. A believer with mighty faith. A believer who can look past the raw wood and nails and blood to the heavenly kingdom that Jesus will inherit. And he is a believer who wants "in." Jesus answers him as his life on earth is ending, "Yes, you'll be with me there -- today in paradise. We'll go together, you and me."

Is God sending all humanity this message?

Believe in Me. I love you no matter what you have done.

What a promise! What a privilege!

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The Faith of the Thief on the Cross

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:39-43

Hanging on crosses at Jesus' right and left hand are two criminals. Based on scripture we don’t know exactly what they did merely that they were criminals. Matthew and Mark don’t go into as much detail as Dr. Luke. They just referred to these two as robbers. Other translation calls them revolutionaries and King James Version calls them simply - thieves. Whatever, they were criminals.

One of these bad dudes, dying on a cross on one side of Jesus, now takes up the cat-calling begun by the soldiers, "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" The thief is making fun of Jesus' seemingly inability to do anything despite the exalted title of "Christ/Messiah" that has been used concerning him. Where is this talk of "Messiah" now? he sneers. You're dying just like us. Death is the great equalizer.