The Others

Last Sunday’s sermon used Luke 23:32-43, and I’ll be using these verses for future blogs, but today I have 39-43 on my mind.

And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

How many times have we used that logic:  “If there is a God, He would …,” and (of course) what He would do benefits us.  He would provide what we wanted – not necessarily what we needed, but our wishes. It might be detrimental for us, but it’s what we want, at that time.

We use similar logic to determine God doesn’t exist: “If there were a God, this would not have happened!”  ‘This’ being something that happened that caused us pain, perhaps even physical damage.  Maybe not to us, but to someone we loved.

We seek signs.  We’re not the first to do so:

And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. (Luke 11:29 KJV)

That very important sign – three days in the tomb. Then, resurrection!!

Others accept reality without signs.  I know that sounds odd when speaking of spiritual faith, but the second malefactor did face reality:

But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

This man faced his sinful life and confessed he deserved condemnation.  He knew the sentence was just, based on his own deeds, his own actions.  He earned his place on a cross.  He recognized Jesus was different – a man who did not belong with them. One who, just a few verses earlier, forgave those who did not know what they were doing.

Then the malefactor, the dying thief on the cross, accepted Jesus for what he saw, for what He was.  The Messiah.  The One sent of and by God to accomplish His will.  This dying thief could see the kingdom, and asked to be remembered when Christ rules.

And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. (Luke 23:39-42 KJV)

If the story ended there it would still be an example of how the gospel is received today.  Some believe Jesus is the Messiah, others do not. There are different paths followed from that decision.  The thief who asked nothing more than to be remembered received a most awesome promise.  From a man dying on a cross with him came the promise:

And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43 KJV)

“To day.” Not, “When I return.” Not, “When the kingdom comes.” Not, “Your sins are too great.” None of those possible answers, but verily, the Greek ἀμήν, amen, “firm, trustworthy, surely” you will be with me, in paradise.

That is what I expect.