Two Men/Two Responses to Christ

In Luke 23.40-42, this morning, where we see two responses to Christ as men stare into eternity, a response we see again and again to the good news in both the Scriptures and history. On the one hand we see a man (a thief) who is interested in nothing more than a miraculous trip off of the cross so he can continue with what he was doing (being a thief). On the other hand, we see one of the greatest examples of faith in history. The second thief who speaks knows that he will die on this day. He knows that Christ is going to die and that the other thief is going to die as well. He rebukes his fellow thief because he understands that both of them are dying justly. They are guilty and deserve it. Even though he has presumably never met Christ, as he watches Christ's response he recognizes that Christ did not deserve to die.

Then come the words of great faith “But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”” (Luke 23:40-42 ESV) They are nailed to three crosses, to all appearances the Roman soldiers and the Jewish rulers have won the day because they will live and the three condemned men will not, and yet he calls for Christ to remember him when you come to your kingdom! Amazing faith. Faith that Christ acknowledges because he promises that Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.

The thief emphasizes the word we, when he says we indeed justly, and he also emphasizes worthy when he says (my translation) worthy we are to receive (death). He makes a contrast between he and the other thief, and Christ. They deserve death. Christ does not. For Christ do die is as he puts it out of place or absurd is the meaning of the word that he uses. For them to die is acceptable; for Christ to die is absurd.

Calvin: I know not that, since the creation of the world, there ever was a more remarkable and striking example of faith; and so much the greater admiration is due to the grace of the Holy Spirit, of which it affords so magnificent a display.