The Honest Thief

We have much to learn from one of the most famous death-row inmates in history.

As I am reading the account of the events leading up to the death of Jesus, I have found myself drawn to what some may call the supporting players.  In my last post, I focused on Judas and Pilate and how their selfish choices ultimately led to their own demise.  In this post, I will focus on a person whose choices resulted in a much more positive outcome, the thief on the cross.  Now as you may know, there were actually two thieves on crosses in this story.  However one of them has gained the title of the thief on the cross because of his brief, yet all-important conversation he had with Jesus.

White gives a brief character sketch of him in this chapter.  Turns out he wasn't as bad as some may think.

"This man was not a hardened criminal; he had been led astray by evil associations, but he was less guilty than many of those who stood beside the cross reviling the Saviour. He had seen and heard Jesus, and had been convicted by His teaching, but he had been turned away from Him by the priests and rulers. Seeking to stifle conviction, he had plunged deeper and deeper into sin, until he was arrested, tried as a criminal, and condemned to die on the cross."  pg. 749

Before reading this passage, I had no idea that this man had had any prior contact with Jesus.  This brings to mind an important point, the concept of a spontaneous turning to Christ is somewhat of a myth.  The Holy Spirit works on people's hearts long before many people (even, in some cases, the person themselves) realizes it.  God is constantly drawing people to Him.  It is simply our part not to resist Him.

It is amazing the clarity of thought many people have when they think or know that their death is imminent.  This clarity of thought is in many cases a last-ditch effort by the Holy Spirit to get the person to make that all-important choice.

"The Holy Spirit illuminates his mind, and little by little the chain of evidence is joined together. In Jesus, bruised, mocked, and hanging upon the cross, he sees the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. Hope is mingled with anguish in his voice as the helpless, dying soul casts himself upon a dying Saviour. 'Lord, remember me,' he cries, 'when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.'"  pg. 750

A key thought to bring out at this point in the story is that this thief was the only one to acknowledge Jesus as Lord while He is hanging on the cross.

"Many were ready to call Him Lord when He wrought miracles, and after He had risen from the grave; but none acknowledged Him as He hung dying upon the cross save the penitent thief who was saved at the eleventh hour." pg 751

Not the bystanders, not His disciples, not even His own mother acknowledged that fact.  They all had their doubts, save this condemned criminal.  Now a unusual hush came over the crowd.

"The bystanders caught the words as the thief called Jesus Lord. The tone of the repentant man arrested their attention. Those who at the foot of the cross had been quarreling over Christ's garments, and casting lots upon His vesture, stopped to listen. Their angry tones were hushed. With bated breath they looked upon Christ, and waited for the response from those dying lips."  Ibid

What follows is undoubtedly the most powerful paragraph in the chapter.

"As He spoke the words of promise, the dark cloud that seemed to enshroud the cross was pierced by a bright and living light. To the penitent thief came the perfect peace of acceptance with God. Christ in His humiliation was glorified. He who in all other eyes appeared to be conquered was a Conqueror. He was acknowledged as the Sin Bearer. Men may exercise power over His human body. They may pierce the holy temples with the crown of thorns. They may strip from Him His raiment, and quarrel over its division. But they cannot rob Him of His power to forgive sins. In dying He bears testimony to His own divinity and to the glory of the Father. His ear is not heavy that it cannot hear, neither His arm shortened that it cannot save. It is His royal right to save unto the uttermost all who come unto God by Him."  Ibid

That "all" includes you and me.