The Gospel According to the Thief on the Cross

And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise (Lk. 23:43-44).

The thief on the cross is a polarizing figure. Some want to overlook his supposed last-minute faith. Others want to claim his salvation as reasoning for delaying their faith in Christ until their dying moment. What can we learn from the thief on the cross? If we are willing to look closer at this event, we will see that this man’s faith, and Christ’s salvation shine the brightest in the darkest moment in history.

This is the Gospel According to the Thief on the Cross.

The Son of God Condemned

The most crucial event in all of history was the crucifixion of Jesus Christ at Calvary. Old Testament prophets foretold of the Son of God’s death (Isa. 53:2-12; Dan. 9:26; Zech. 13:6). One important detail is often overlooked in the prophecy of Christ’s crucifixion, that is He was not crucified alone. Isaiah said, “and he was numbered with the transgressors” (Isa. 53:12). Two thieves hung to Jesus’ right and left, which Mark connected to Isaiah’s prophecy (Mk. 15:27-28). Unlike these two individuals, Jesus was not crucified for committing a crime.

Crucifixion was a Roman method of judgment to intimidate others from committing crimes against Roman law. Jesus wasn’t killed for doing wrong, He was killed for doing good. Jesus healed lepers of their debilitating disease. Jesus opened the eyes of the blind, and opened the ears of the deaf. He caused the lame to walk, and withered hands to open. Jesus loosed the tongue of the mute, and set free the demoniac. Perhaps His greatest miracle was bringing the dead back to life. These mighty works of God were not the reason why the Son of Man was being crucified.

The reason Jesus was being crucified was due to the fact that He claimed He could forgive sins. When Jesus told the lame man he was forgiven of his sins, the religious rulers called it blasphemy, only God could forgive sins (Mt. 9:1-6; Mk. 2:1-10; Luke 5:17-24). When they could find no witnesses to testify of Jesus committing any crimes, they falsely accused Him of blasphemy (Mk. 14:55-64). Jesus’ claims to being the Son of God who forgives sins, and who can defeat death, led to his condemnation.

The claims of Jesus to forgive sins and save others were used to taunt Jesus as He was crucified, “He saved others, himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God” (Mt. 27:42-43). The irony of the whole scene is that He was being mocked for not being able to save Himself, yet He saved others, including the thief on the cross, by not saving Himself!

Forgiveness of sins and salvation was what brought Jesus to that dreadful cross. The religious leaders thought they were ridding themselves of a man who professed His ability to forgive sins, but in reality they led Him to the very place that would bring forgiveness and salvation to the whole world. Jesus said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” This he said, signifying what death he should die (John 12:32-33).

Jesus is recorded to have said seven things while He was crucified. The first of those seven statements was, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Lk. 23:34). Even while He was suffering the cruelest of deaths, He still had the desire to forgive. While others would have reviled their accusers and executioners, Jesus chose to forgive. They were ignorantly crucifying the Son of God, and ignorantly executing God’s plan to forgive humanity’s sins. What a paradox of events!

The Thieves Condemned

Matthew and Luke state that two malefactors were crucified with Christ. The Greek word used for malefactor in Luke 23:39 means “someone who does evil deliberately; especially someone who deserves to be punished for their acts,” or “good-for-nothing.” Mark calls them thieves, and the word he employed meant, “a rebel probably known for pillaging and looting.” Bible commentator, Warren Wiersbe, commented, “The Greek word means ‘one who uses violence to rob openly.’” The Pulpit Commentary presumes that these two men were companions of Barabbas, who was a robber, insurrection, and was a murderer (Jn. 18:40; Mk. 15:7). Barabbas and others had started an insurrection, and robbery and murder took place. If these two were apart of this, then we can suppose that Rome would not put up with such anarchy. e can conclude that these two men were deliberate criminals. Whatever their method, the judgment for their crimes was death by crucifixion. They had taken possessions that weren’t their own, and perhaps they used violence or force to take it.

There were several significant people present at Christ’s crucifixion. Mary the mother of Jesus, the apostle John, the Pharisees, the centurions, and the various onlookers. There were none who were closer than these two thieves experiencing the same awful execution as Jesus.

Matthew said that these two thieves reviled Jesus just as everyone else had done (Mt. 27:44).

Jesus was crucified about nine o’clock in the morning and stayed on the cross until three in the afternoon. From noon until three there was darkness over all of the land (Mk. 15:25, 33). But right before the darkness set, there was an exchange between the thieves and Jesus.

The Unbelieving Thief

And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us (Luke 23:39).

One of the thieves continued to mock Jesus. “If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.” This thief only wanted to be saved from his current predicament. He only had temporal saving in mind. He didn’t want Jesus to forgive his sins, He just wanted Jesus to get him off of the cross.

Certainly, the pain and suffering of that moment were excruciating, and he needed relief. But his soul was in far worse condition. This is a common problem with modern people. They look at their current condition and want relief from it. They don’t take into account the condition of their soul. They would rather be saved from their disease, pain, addiction, or plight, than be saved from their sin. Sin, in their opinion, is not their problem, the cross is.

Jesus said, if we are going to follow Him, then we are to deny ourselves, and take up our cross (Lk. 9:23). Some want Jesus, they don’t want the cross. They want the benefits of Him being the Christ, but not the requirements of Him being Lord.

The unbelieving thief said, “save thyself and us.” Jesus didn’t come to save Himself. While Jesus fasted for forty days and night and was tempted of the devil in the wilderness, He didn’t turn the stones to bread; He didn’t jump off the pinnacle of the Temple only to have angels catch him; nor did He bow down to the devil in an attempt to bypass the cross (Mt. 4:1-11). Jesus wasn’t going to come down from the cross, for it was the cross that would save the world from their sins.

The Believing Thief

Now, something happened within the other thief who also was hanging on a cross. He previously had reviled and mocked Jesus for a moment. But something happened to him. 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. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom” (Luke 23:40–42).

Before we can expound upon this thief’s rebuke and request, we need to take into consideration the moment in which this moment of faith is taking place.

This takes place right as darkness is descending upon the earth. Mary and other women are weeping. The Apostle John is comforting Jesus’ mother. No other apostles or disciples are there. The religious elite are mocking and reviling Christ. The centurions are gambling at the foot of the cross. There are no miracles taking place. The lame aren’t walking and rejoicing. Blind eyes and deaf ears aren’t being open. Water isn’t being turned into wine. Fishes and loaves aren’t being multiplied. Lepers aren’t being cleansed. The multitudes who heard Jesus preach, and work miracles aren’t present. Where are the witnesses of His saving power? Where is the woman caught in adultery who had been forgiven? Where is the lame man who was forgiven? They are nowhere to be found. This isn’t a revival meeting, crusade, or testimony service.

This whole scene doesn’t depict any faith building. If anything, faith is being depleted. The disciples’ faith had been wrecked, for they trusted that Jesus was the one who was to redeem Israel (Lk. 24:21). None of them, but John, had come to observe their Lord’s death. Their faith is dashed in pieces. How could anyone believe that Jesus was the Savior, the forgiver of sins? The crowds chanted their unbelief, with cruel insults for Jesus to come down from the cross. The crowds wanted Jesus to die, not save anyone. And granted, it doesn’t look like Jesus is capable of doing anything supernatural. It looks as if death is the only task Jesus is capable of performing.

Here is the supposed King of the Jews hanging on a cross, dying the same death as two thieves. Jesus is a bloody mess. He was beaten, scourged, and a crown of thorns placed on His head. He is stripped down and humiliated. This man is suffering with the same agony as these two thieves. How can this Man save anyone, if He can’t even save Himself? This spectacle doesn’t scream faith. If anything faith is whimpering.

But the thief on the cross? He has a first-hand view of Jesus on cross. He is so close he can hear Jesus utter, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” The thief can see the wounds on His back. He can see the crown of thorns tearing into his scalp. He can barely make out the superscription written above Christ’s head that is written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, “This is the King of the Jews.” And many want to discount this thief’s faith. In doing so they have to overlook all of the obstacles for this man to have faith in Christ.

Fearing God

“This thief rebuked his fellow criminal, Dost not thou fear God, seeing that thou art in the same condemnation? (Lk. 23:40)'”

Fear God? How many times had this thief’s parents taught him about fearing God? There’s a great possibility that this man was a Jew, for the Romans didn’t treat their own in this way. How many times had this man heard about the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge? Fearing God might have kept these two men from the condemnation they were experiencing. Then again, fearing God, more than fearing man, will bring condemnation from governing authorities. Jesus did not fear man, He feared God (Mt. 22:16).

The Guilty

“seeing thou art in the same condemnation? We we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss” (Lk. 23:40b-41).

The thief recognized that he and the other criminal were getting what they deserved. They deserved the punishment for their crimes. Most criminals who are being punished would say, “I’m innocent,” or “I don’t belong here.” This doesn’t sound like most criminals.

The thief has come to the realization that he is getting what he deserved. When we realize we are guilty of our sins, that’s the first step towards repentance. I don’t know what that thief seen, but whatever got his attention on Jesus, he recognized that we was guilty. Oh, if we would see our guilt as sinners. If we would see our need for more than just getting off the cross, and see the need for our hearts corrected and cleansed. I can hear the psalmist saying, “For I acknowledge my transgressions: And my sin is ever before me” (Ps. 51:3).

The Innocent

“but this man hath done nothing amiss” (Lk. 23:41).

Again, this thief doesn’t seem to have a theological education, or have been part of the religious elite. But he had a revelation of that Jesus, though innocent, was being condemned. Multiple times Scripture declares that Jesus was without sin:

  • He was undefiled, and separate from sinners (Heb. 7:26)
  • He knew no sin (2 Cor. 5:21)
  • He is the Holy One (Mk. 1:24; Lk. 4:34)
  • Pilate said there was no fault in Him (Lk. 23:14,22)
  • Herod said He was innocent (Lk. 23:15)
  • The centurion will say that Jesus was innocent (Lk. 23:47)

In a life that spanned three decades, Jesus never entertained a thought, never spoke a word, and never carried out an action that was polluted by sinful motives. He was the spotless Lamb of God come to take away the sins of the world.

Jesus was innocent, but He was taking the place of the guilty. There hung two men next to Him who were guilty, and Jesus was innocent. He never stole, never robbed, never mocked, never lied, never killed, and never harmed, but He was hanging on the cross for those present at Calvary who were guilty of such.

Jesus, Lord

“And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom” (Lk. 23:42).

Once he had rebuked the unbelieving thief, he addresses Jesus. We should first notice that he calls Jesus “Lord.” Lord is the Greek word “kurios” meaning “master” or “owner.” The unbelieving thief called Jesus “Christ” meaning the “anointed one.” This man calls Jesus “Lord.” To call Jesus Lord is to put yourself under Him. You recognize His authority, your role as servant.

Brothers, and sisters, if you were hanging on a cross, and likewise the man next you was hanging on a cross, I’m not sure you could see yourself as His servant. When you get a revelation of who Jesus is, you see that He is Lord of all. Again, this is great faith, not some faith to be overlooked and dismissed.

Remember Me

“And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom” (Lk. 23:42).

Remember me! What an amazing prayer.

  • Remember me, a thief
  • Remember me, a murderer
  • Remember me, a liar
  • Remember me, an instigator
  • Remember me, an insurrectionist
  • Remember me, a cheater
  • Remember me, a criminal
  • Remember me, a sinner

Remember me. Remember you came to save people like me. Remember you came to save and forgive sinners. Remember me. Remember your mission.

  • Don’t remember my sins.
  • Don’t remember my faults.
  • Don’t remember my failures.
  • Don’t remember my mistakes.
  • Don’t remember my transgressions.
  • Don’t remember my iniquity.

 

  • The Lord remembered Noah during the flood (Gen. 8:1).
  • The Lord remembered Abraham (Gen. 19:29).
  • The Lord remembered Sarah’s promise (Gen. 21:1)
  • The Lord remembered Rachel’s barrenness (Gen. 30:22)
  • The Lord remember His covenant with Israel (Exo. 2:24).
  • The Lord remembered Hannah’s prayer (1 Sam. 1:19).
  • The Lord remembered Cornelius’ prayers (Acts 10:31).

The Lord remembers His people, His covenant, and His promises. When the Bible says that “God remembered” it doesn’t mean He’s got a short memory and has forgotten. This implies God’s faithfulness and steadfastness. God never forgets, and certainly wasn’t going to forget this dying thief’s faith. You can rest assured, beloved, that God remembers you too. He’s not forgotten where you are or what you’re going through.

When Thou Comest into Your Kingdom

“when thou comest into thy kingdom” (Lk. 23:42).

If we aren’t careful when it comes to reading and studying the Bible we will miss some important details. The unbelieving thief said, “If thou be the Christ.” The other thief said, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” There’s a difference between “if” and “when.” “If” speaks of doubt. On the other hand, “when” speaks of faith!

A dying thief realized that Jesus was Lord, and He had a Kingdom. He knew this innocent man was going to be somewhere else once He died, and he wanted to be with Him. Here is a thief not fit to live on the earth, and yet He wants to be with Jesus in His Kingdom.

No theological education, no one preaching or teaching him about the after-life, and yet he knows what Paul would understand several years later, “Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:6-8).

An Answered Prayer

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

Here, at Calvary, prayer is answered. Jesus didn’t answer then cynical requests of the religious leaders, or the mocking crowds. But He did answer the prayer of a dying sinner, “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

The Jewish leaders wanted Jesus dead because He claimed He could forgive sins. And here at Calvary Jesus continued to do what He claimed. What kind of people can Jesus forgive? He can forgive a woman caught in adultery, and forgive a lame man. But He can also forgive the man dying on a cross condemned for stealing. That thief went from a Roman cross to a heavenly abode.

A Dying Man’s Faith

Now, I want to take a closer look at this man’s faith and forgiveness. I’ve previously stated that some want to take this man right out of heaven. They would like to steal from him, just as he had stole from others. Their thoughts, though faulty, are that of course he asked for forgiveness, he was dying on a cross. But I think we’ve already seen that this thief exercised more faith than just about anybody else in Gospel accounts.

Others want to use this man as an excuse for their delay in believing in Jesus Christ. They believe they can live anyway that they want and believe and ask for forgiveness on their death bed.

But no one is promised a death bed salvation. The woman who dies in a car wreck doesn’t get a deathbed. The man who dies of an overdose doesn’t get a deathbed. The lady who dies from a brain aneurism doesn’t get a deathbed. The young man who dies from a heart attack doesn’t get a deathbed. Life is a vapor, and you are not promised tomorrow, and you are not promised a perfect ending. But you have the opportunity to believe at this moment.

Others point to this man’s salvation drawing attention that he was neither baptized, nor received the Holy Ghost. And such details are true. But that doesn’t mean that you don’t have to be baptized or receive the Holy Ghost.

You see Jesus was alive on the cross when He granted that man forgiveness and promised him paradise. Jesus wouldn’t die for another three hours (Lk. 23:44). The New Covenant/Testament cannot be inaugurated until the death of the testator.

“And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood” (Hebrews 9:15–18).

This man believed and was saved. But once Christ died the New Covenant had been initiated. And the New Covenant has certain requirements. Yes, faith is essential to salvation. We must believe that Jesus is the Son of God, or else we will die in our sins (Jn 8:24). Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6). We must have the kind of faith that this thief had. His faith overcame every obstacle to believe in Jesus for salvation. We are without excuse when it comes to believing. We don’t have any the obstacles that he had, and yet he believed.

Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins (Heb. 9:22). Jesus’ death granted us access to forgiveness. This man seen first hand the blood that would wash away the sins of the world. If we confess our sins, or acknowledge our guilt like the thief, we will be cleansed fro our unrighteousness (1 Jn. 1:9).

Once Jesus had died on the cross, they buried Him in a borrowed tomb. Paul says it like this:

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin” (Romans 6:1–6).

And again Paul says:

“In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead” (Colossians 2:11–12).

Once we are crucified with Christ in repentance, we are buried with Him in baptism. Baptism signifies our burial with Christ, but it also signifies our cleansing from sin:

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38; cf. Acts 8:15-17; 10:44-48; 22:16).

Jesus didn’t stay in the tomb that He was buried in. Three days later He rose from the dead conquering death and sin. If the very same power that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us, shall also quicken our mortal bodies (Rom. 8:11). Paul said “if the Spirit of Him dwells in you.” This is not to be presumed. Earlier in Romans eight he says, “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be tat the Spirit of dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His” (Rom. 8:9). We must have the Holy Spirit dwelling in our hearts if we are going to be resurrected to new life here on earth, and quickened to be in Paradise with Christ (Acts 2:38; 8:15-17; 10:44-48).

Conclusion

Finally, I like to think there is some irony in this story. Here is a man condemned to die for stealing, and possibly killing. Jesus is condemned to death for claiming to forgive sins freely. A thief takes by force, or by cunning. The thief cannot steal salvation, he cannot take it by force, or by cunning. Salvation is the free gift of God. The argument goes that you cannot pay nor work for salvation (Eph. 2:5-8). Not many argue that you can steal salvation. But some want to believe they can obtain it by cunning.

Jesus gave a parable of a wedding feast in Matthew 22. Many guests were invited to the wedding. But there was a man who was at wedding without the proper wedding garment. The king had given provision for the guests to be properly attired. The king asked the man, “Friend, how cadets thou in hither not having a wedding garment” (Mt. 22:12a)? Had the man given a proper reason for not being in the proper attire, I’m sure the king would have been reasonable and given him what was needed. But instead the man was speechless (Mt. 22:12b). He was unable to offer the feeblest excuse. He had been presumptuous, thinking he come to the king’s feast on his own terms. The king had the presumptuous man thrown into outer darkness.

If you think you are going to enter the Kingdom of Heaven on your own terms, then you will be sadly mistaken. You have been given everything you need to obtain forgiveness and salvation.

Some think the thief believed because it was his last opportunity to believe. But in reality it was his only opportunity to believe. So what would keep you from believing at this opportunity?

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