The Gracious Juxtaposition of a Sinner Hanging With Jesus
There are religious men who make salvation as complex as possible. Providentially, much of their bad theology is discarded outside of the camp, by virtue of the two crucified thieves, in the story of the passion of the Christ. The historical scene is recorded in: Matthew 27:38–44; Mark 15:27–28; Luke 23:29–43; Jn 19:18.
All four Gospel accounts of Jesus’ crucifixion include references to the two robbers crucified with our Savior. Our task is to learn some important truths about salvation from these two men, literally, hanging with Jesus.
We begin with two brief accounts from John and Mark. There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between (Jn 19:18). They crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left. 28 [And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with transgressors (Mk 15:27–28).”] Although some manuscripts do not have verse 28 in them, the statement is certainly true.
These two men were common criminals. They are just like every one of us. Time and chance happen to everyone, and once in awhile a person is caught in sin. Some sins are troublesome enough to society to warrant civil action. We must hang our hats with these men because, as you will see, they represent us all. Was it catawampus for these two men to harbor hostility toward Jesus?
Matthew records, “At that time two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. 39 And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, ‘You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.’ 41 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, 42 ‘He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. 43 He trusts in God; let God rescue Him now, if He delights in Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ 44 The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words (Mt 27:38–44).”
Most crucifixions would be lonely affairs, a few family members and maybe the victims of the criminal’s action; but this particular crucifixion was a Passover week spectacle. We must keep in mind, the perspective of both criminals. They were watching, listening, and feeling everything. They may have known of Jesus during the previous couple years, but now in their time of agony, He was right beside them. There are some other things they would have witnessed.
First, they knew what the sign over Him read, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” Second, they heard the mocking voices with references to His title, “Son of God,” and actions, “He saved others.” Third, they heard Jesus praying for forgiveness for God’s elect in the crowd. Fourth, they were hanging in shame.
Something miraculous occurred as the noon sunshine was turning to darkness and before the earthquake. Dr. Luke records the miracle, “One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” 40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!”43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise (Lk 23:39–43).”
Something miraculous happened to one of the criminals. The miracle did not happen to the other criminal, but just to the one. His abusive rhetoric toward Jesus changed. While the other thief continued his barrage of demands, this man was transformed. How do we know a transformation occurred? Matthew 27:44 notes that the robbers were hurling the same abuse at Jesus as the chief priests, scribes, elders of the people, and those passing by. Luke 23:39 confirms the continued slander from one, but not both of the thieves.
What was this radical juxtaposition? How did this sudden transformation occur? The transformed thief was saved by God. What is beautiful about this event is the absolute void of catalysts for his conversion. One moment he was grumbling and murmuring against Jesus, and the next moment, his rhetoric completely changed. This is the sound of salvation.
God saved him (Titus 3:5). The Holy Spirit came upon this man, by the decree of God before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4–5). The Holy Spirit came to indwell this thief (Rom 8:9, 11), by the grace of the God/Man hanging on the wooden post next to him. The miracle is called, “regeneration.” Jesus performed spiritual heart surgery on him, “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh (Ezek 36:26).” In His moment of utmost weakness, Jesus was mighty to save (Is 43:1).
This saved thief was never baptized, so we know baptism does not save a person. He never enjoyed a gathering of God’s people at church, so church membership did not save him. His transformation clearly occurred prior to his request for Jesus to remember him in His kingdom (Lk 23:42). This is observed in two statements uttered by the saved man before he addressed Jesus.
The saved thief first rebuked the unsaved thief, “Do you not fear God (Lk 23:40)?” That sounds like something a Christian would say! He also acknowledged their mutual plight. The same sentence of condemnation was upon them all. Death was as imminent as humanly possible. This is the error of so many people. They, like the rich fool, do not live as if their soul might be required of them, tonight (Lk 12:20). This was not a problem for the three men. One was aware of His suffering, but He was also aware of His destination after death. Paradise was waiting for Jesus. There was room there for one other, who did not deserve it.
Instead of being self-righteous, the saved thief confessed his own just condemnation (Lk 23:41). This is true Christianity. Christians rightly point out sin in the world (Eph 5:11), even sin in others (1 Thess 2:16), but they always include themselves as guilty sinners. The great apostle claimed to be, “chief of sinners (1 Tim 1:15).”
Mercy is undeserving. Grace humbles. A true Christian is not ashamed to confess his being totally depraved before the rush of grace that brought him faith. He also is not ashamed to claim his new right standing was not earned. The saved thief received imputed righteousness from Jesus. He was at the Cross, literally, being justified by faith in the blood of the One falling to the ground next to him (Rom 3:24, 28; 5:9). The man hanging on the tree did not preach perfectionism. He was still a sinner, now saved by grace (Eph 2:8–9).
Next, the saved thief defended the innocence of Jesus Christ (Lk 23:41). The doctrine of the impeccable Christ is essential to the Christian faith. Jesus did not sin because He could not sin (Heb 4:15; 7:26). This is because He was God enfleshed (Jn 1:14). Theological knowledge does not save a man, either.
There was no time for the saved thief to get much of his theology right. One moment this thief evaluated Jesus in the same way he viewed himself. His conversion brought the exact opposite judgment of truth. Jesus was not like this thief, and the thief now knew this fact. The only possible answer to explain this juxtaposition was a new knowledge of Christ, afforded by the mind of Christ, brought by the Holy Spirit.
“I have decided to follow Jesus,” or “I chose Christ” simply does not work in this situation. All glory and honor in salvation is given to God, who saved this thief in the twinkling of an eye. It was predestined (Rom 8:29–30; Eph 1:4–5). It was a gracious and glorious invasion of a very wicked human heart by the Spirit of God. The vile nature of this man’s heart was obvious just minutes beforehand.
This thief was born again of God’s Spirit (Jn 3:1–8; 1 Pet 1:3), not of his own free will, nor because of his blood line, nor because he was good in any way (Jn 1:12–13; Rom 9:16). He received salvation purely because God intended to save him (2 Thess 2:13). This, of course, is also for our benefit, if we have eyes to see and understand that salvation belongs to God (Ps 3:8; Jon 2:9; Rev 19:1).
After his conversion, the saved thief made his plea to Jesus. That which occupied his new heart, was now manifesting on his parched lips. He called upon the name of the Lord because that is what Christians do (Joel 2:32; Rom 10:13). “Jesus” was a curse word just minutes before, and now it was the sweetest name this man knew by faith.
“Remember me” is the cry of one forsaken, who is acting in faith. The forsaken are forgotten. Think of how men love their names. They build businesses and put their name on everything. They build towers to exalt their names in the heavens (Gen 11). They trust in the power of their own names. They want a legacy for their names.
When a man is converted, his own name means nothing. The world told him to promote himself and guard his reputation. Now he claims, “There is salvation in no other name than the name, Jesus (Acts 4:12).” Jesus Christ’s name is above every other name (Phil 2:9). On the verge of being eternally forsaken, Jesus says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you (Heb 13:5).” Do you trust in Jesus’ name?
“When you come into your kingdom,” acknowledges the truth clearly inscribed above the man in the middle. Jesus is King (1 Tim 6:15; Rev 19:16). One man bows his head and humbles his words, and the other curses the King of kings in a tragic display of human pride.
“It is finished,” is the victory cry of the Victor (Jn 19:30). “It is finished” is the answer to the man with a simple request. “Remember me,” is met with “already done.”
How close are these thieves to their eternal homes? Jesus said to him, “Today…(Lk 23:43).” “Today” is the only day in eternity. We live in the eternal now each day of our lives. On the day of one’s death, it is a simple disrobing of time. When a person perishes, eternity is her new conscious reality. It is not as if people are not conscious of eternity while they are living in time, but the devil distracts them from eternal consciousness. The preacher is sent to wake them up, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
Is one’s crucifixion enough to wake someone up to their eternal plight? No, the unsaved thief was not awakened. Not even his cursed position on a tree could jolt him to repentance. Not even his vicinity to the Holy One could stimulate his reasoning. While the people were mocking Jesus, the Arminian is yelling at the unregenerate thief, “just decide!” or “just choose!”
The Arminian error never grasps the meaning of, “dead” as in, “dead in your trespasses and sins (Eph 2:1).” The spiritually dead man, dying a grueling, elongated suffocation on a cross will never choose Christ. This is the message of Calvary and the spiritual rebirth. It is by grace that one is saved (Eph 2:8–9), and it is the absence of mercy that one remains condemned (Jn 3:18; Rom 9:15, 18). God chose one man for salvation, and not the other, as it was with Jacob and Esau (Rom 9:13).
“You will be with Me in Paradise,” is the destination of Jesus and His redeemed people. What is the Christian hope when we die? It is to be with Jesus (Phil 1:23). There is nothing else. Paradise is being with Jesus. Many live in the squalor of this world with Jesus. They already know what heaven is about.
Ask the poor to give up their life in this world, and they are happy to do it in an instant. Ask the rich to give up their life in this world, and they walk away sad, for their lives consist of their many possessions (Lk 18:18–30). What does Paradise mean to those on earth without it? It means nothing. To those who have Paradise in their hearts on earth, it is everything. Paul wrote, “…and to die is gain (Phil 1:21b),” and “…having the desire to depart to be with Christ, for that is very much better (Phil 1:23b).
Every person is represented by these two criminals on either side of Jesus. All have a resume of sin and iniquity, but our God saves. He is mighty to save. His choice is made. His will be done. His name is exalted. Though the earth was dark as night, in the twinkling of an eye, His glory shone in one man’s heart, even in his darkest hour. Are you hanging with Jesus?
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
March 22, 2021
