Holy Week, Maundy Thursday, April 6 – Bystanders on the Way to the Cross

One of the criminals hanging alongside cursed him: “Some Messiah you are! Save yourself! Save us!” But the other one made him shut up: “Have you no fear of God? You’re getting the same as him. We deserve this, but not him—he did nothing to deserve this.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom.” He said, “Don’t worry, I will. Today you will join me in paradise.” (Luke 23: 39 - 43 The Message Bible)        

Maybe, if I had been a Gospel writer, I might have been tempted to leave the two thieves out of the story altogether; let Jesus have the centre stage all to himself. After all, isn’t he the most important character in this painful drama? Isn’t that what Paul is meaning when he wrote: “I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did—Jesus crucified.” (1 Corinthians 1: 2, TMB)

                Yet all the Gospels relate the fact that there were two others who met the same fate as Jesus on Good Friday, although only Luke’s Gospel gives us some deeper insight into these two thieves. They are more than just bystanders, in large degree. They are more than only incidental participants.  They have flesh and bone. They give us some fresh context to understand Jesus’ Crucifixion, even if three of the Gospels make them not much more than a footnote.

                Jesus is crucified for all humankind between two examples of our humanity. One of the bandits is a bitter cynic, scoffing at the whole idea of Messiahship. Fat lot of good it was doing him or Jesus. In his eyes, Jesus was no better than himself, just another victim, just another poor sap who was condemned by Roman justice or lack thereof, depending on how one saw it. Jesus was a failed Messiah. All talk; no action. Jesus was going to die just like he was dying. It was put or shut time. Save yourself! Save us!

                But the other thief senses something more is at play. His dire predicament and subsequent request, even if a foxhole conversion to some degree, has him thinking, hoping, praying that Jesus is more than another victim. He seeks connection with Jesus. He appeals to Jesus’ compassion and asks for Jesus’ blessing and inclusion, even under these most terrible of circumstances. He clings to a shred of hope. He fights for the only dignity and the only possibility which he has left, the Love of God and a place in the heart of that Love.  “Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom.”

                Two humanities. One is scornful, derisive, disbelieving, pessimistic, dismissive, unimpressed and unconvinced about anything Jesus is or might be. Who could really blame him? The other is hopeful, open-minded, open hearted, self-aware of his guilt, who has nothing to lose and everything to gain by putting his faith in Jesus.

                Of course, then, the Gospels writers needed to tell us that there were two others who died the same deaths like Jesus on Good Friday. It confirms and emphasizes the very purpose of Jesus’ Crucifixion, that that he died for sinners, all sinners. Not everyone understands or gets it but blessed are those who do.

                “The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:8, New Living Translation)

                One thief got it. The other didn’t.

                One thief died with hope and anticipation. The other thief died in hopelessness and despair.

                One thief died in a leap of faith and found redemption. One thief died in desperation and anger.

                It was never too late for one thief. It was never going to happen for the other.

                Two humanities with Jesus in the middle.

                Which side of Jesus are you on?

                “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 NLT)

Dale