Luke 23:39-43
One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
More often than not, the choices before us are not crystal clear. There are complex factors that we need to consider, pros and cons to calculate, various angels that need to be investigated. But every once in a while the contrast between options is stark and the choice unambiguously clear.
In this scene – of the best known from the passion story – Luke invites us to a choice that is just that clear. While all the gospels describe Jesus’ death as taking place with two criminals, only Luke gives them voice. And in describing the scene this way, Luke, it would seem, invites us to entertain two options as different as night and day.
The first is to remain stuck in a self-centered world where all that matters is what you can get out of any given situation. Perhaps that’s not entirely fair, in this case, as the thief who first engages Jesus is in dire straights, desperate for an escape from the cruel punishment and death he is enduring. At the same time, he doesn’t merely “engage” Jesus or even beg him for release. Rather, like the religious leaders and soldiers Luke has already described, he derides Jesus, perhaps shouting his request as a challenge colored by a measure of contempt mingled with desperation.
Which is where the second option comes into play. The second thief rebukes the first, reminding him that they both are there for just cause, whereas Jesus is there unjustly. Then, voicing his faith directly to Jesus, he asks not to be saved but only remembered, testifying to his confidence that Jesus is, indeed, messiah and king. To which Jesus famously replies with words of affirmation and promise.
Two characters that portray two clear choices: disbelief and derision or faith and confidence. It is, Luke seems to imply, just that clear… and up to you to choose.
Prayer: Dear God, faith itself is a gift and so we ask that you bless us with the sight to look at Jesus’ form on the cross and see in it your intention and action to save the world you love so much. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Post image: Nikolai Ge, “Christ and the Thief,” 1893
Years ago I read a (pithy) comment from a British theologian: Two thieves were crucified with him. One was saved, that no one need despair; but only one, that no one dare presume.
Thank you, David.