Ep. 138: Others at the Cross

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MATTHEW 27:44, MARK 15:32, LUKE 23:39-43

The thieves on the cross joined in the derision of the Sanhedrists and the people. Perhaps they felt that any sympathy or possible alleviation of their sufferings might best be achieved by joining in the scorn of the leaders? But Luke also records a vital difference between the two ‘robbers’ on the cross. The impenitent thief takes up the jeer of the Sanhedrists: ‘Are you not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!’ The utterance of the ‘penitent’ thief was to criticise his comrade. In that terrible hour, amidst the tortures of slow death, did not the fear of God creep over him, at least so far as to prevent his joining in the vile jeers of those who insulted the dying agonies of the Sufferer?

This man did feel the ‘fear’ of God and now learned the new lesson in which the fear of God was truly the beginning of wisdom. And, once he gave place to this moral element and under the fear of God corrected his comrade, this new moral decision became to him, as so often, the beginning of spiritual life. Rapidly he now passed into the light, and onwards and upwards: ‘Lord, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom!’ The response? ‘Amen, I say to you - Today with Me shall you be in the Paradise.’ This was the Second Utterance from the Cross.

This is an extract from the book, Jesus : Life and Times, available for £12 here (Finalist for Academic Book of the year at 2023 CRT awards)

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