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 In
Verse 42, one of the two says, “Jesus, remember me when you come
into your kingdom.” What’s he asking for? The short answer,
forgiveness. For how is he ever going to get into the kingdom if he
is not forgiven? Did he know that the Old Testament said, “who is a
parting God like you?” Probably. Maybe.
Did he know that it is God’s very nature to forgive? And if he knew
anything about the Old Testament he knew that.
Did he know what his basic need was? Yes, he had nothing and had
nothing to commit himself. He needed to be forgiven.
And why being in intense pain on the cruel cross would he think of
this need? It’s most likely because he had just heard Jesus say to
God, “Father, forgive them.” He knew enough about God to know God is
a forgiving God and now he is clear on who Jesus is as the Messiah
of God, the Christ of God, the promise of God, the promised King,
the promised Messiah, and he hears Him ask the Father to give
forgiveness to the people who were there blaspheming Him, and now he
is asking to be one of the recipients.
He knows what he needs. This is all about forgiveness by grace and
mercy.
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You see, when the spirit of God does the work of
conversion, turning on the light, the first thing the light reveals
is the wrath of God.
The second thing the light reveals is the guilt of
sin.
The third thing the light reveals is the glory of Christ and the
hope of forgiveness.
Is there forgiveness for a thief? This prayer for forgiveness was
stunning because Christ was asking His Father to forgive the people
who were committing the worse crime that has ever been committed.
They were killing the Son of God and they were doing it with glee,
sarcasm, sneering and scorn. As he concludes, if there is
forgiveness, if there’s grace, if there’s mercy available from God
to people who are doing this, maybe there can be grace, mercy and
forgiveness for a criminal. Maybe he could be one of those to
receive that forgiveness.
Thief on the cross sought and received forgiveness.
How about you? |
