 |
| The Dying Thief {Luke 23} |
By Lisa Thayer
There
were two criminals crucified together with our Lord, one on His right and one
on His left. Remember when James and
John asked Jesus for the places of honor next to Him in His Kingdom and Jesus
told them they did not know what they were asking for? (Mark 10:35-39) This is the inauguration of the Kingdom. At Jesus’ death, the places on His right and
His left were dying men. We are those
dying thieves. What is it we try to
steal from God? Are we willing to die on
the way to the Kingdom?
Whether we have 6 hours or 60 years with Christ, we all need forgiveness. How is it that one man converted and the
other didn’t? Why is it that one person
can hear a sermon and go out and live in complete indifference, and another go
home to pray and seek Christ? Why is the
Gospel hidden to one and revealed to another?
There
are so many people who say they want to live their lives their way and they’ll
have time for religion when they are older.
Have you heard that? Have you
said that? But right here on the crosses
we see the well-defined evidences of repentance which were said before he
died. This man was saved at the hour of
death.
1. He repented of
his sin. “Do you not fear God?” (v. 40)
2. He admitted his
own sin. “We are punished justly, for we
are getting what our deeds deserve.” (v. 41a)
3. He confesses
Christ’s innocence. “This man has done
nothing wrong.” (v. 41b)
4. He makes a step
of faith in Christ’s power and will to save him. He turned to Jesus and said, “Jesus, remember
me when you come into your Kingdom.” (v.
42)
This
man acts in complete humility. He shares
not a single act or event in his life.
All he requested of Christ was to be remembered.
Be
aware of repentance without evidence.
Many people believe they will be saved at the hour of death because this
thief was saved. Remember the other
thief – he never repented. He never
confessed his own sin, nor confessed Christ’s innocence. And he never placed his trust in Christ to
bring him into His Kingdom.
The
thief was a wicked sinner, at the point of death, he had nothing in his past
life to offer, and clearly nothing in his present situation, but a humble
prayer. This my friends, is the mercy of
our Lord. Salvation is of grace. This
dying thief was nailed to the cross. He
was never baptized. He never belonged to
a church. He never received the Lord’s
Supper. But he repented and believed, and therefore he was saved.
Christ
NEVER changes. The way to salvation is
always one and the same. When we turn to
Christ for forgiveness, Christ saves us because of our faith, not any
deed. This dying thief had more faith
than the rest of Jesus’ followers put together.
Although the disciples loved Jesus, their hope for the kingdom were
shattered. Most of them had gone into
hiding. As one of His followers sadly
said two days later, “We had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem
Israel” (v. 24:21). But this criminal
looked at the Man who was dying next to him and said, “Jesus, remember me when
you come into your kingdom.” By all
appearances, the kingdom was finished.
How inspiring is the faith of this one man who alone saw beyond the
present shame to the coming glory!