Wednesday, February 20, 2008 - Lent 3 Luke 23:35-43

We continue our Lenten discussion of the seven statements of Christ on the cross and their connection with the seven petitions of the Lord’s Prayer with Jesus’ words to the thief. Unlike what we saw last week in Jesus’ first words from the cross, Jesus’ second statement from the cross is not a prayer, but is really an answer to a prayer – in a double sense. Not only does Jesus answer the prayer of the penitent thief, but the salvation of the penitent thief is an answer to Jesus’ prayer which we heard last week, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

What was behind the prayer of the penitent thief? When he said, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom,” did he really expect Jesus to promise him a place in Paradise? Perhaps we should take his words at face value. “Please don’t forget about me.”

If that is all the penitent thief dared to hope for, then this story would be another illustration of the fact that, as St. Paul says, our God “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” [Eph. 3:20].

By the power of the Holy Spirit, this criminal came to believe God’s Word, which moved him to lead a godly life (albeit for a very brief time) before Jesus ushered him into eternal joy. How did this work? We take for granted that this criminal heard Jesus pray, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” While Jesus was praying to His Father, He was also preaching to the thieves.

They were, after all, a captive audience for Christ’s words, and Matthew’s Gospel tells us that initially both thieves had joined in the mocking of Jesus [Mt. 27:44]. One of them was moved to repent; the other evidently did not repent.

And this one thief did lead a godly life – albeit briefly. Notice all the good works he did while he was dying: 1) He rebuked the other thief, “Don’t you fear God.” 2) He confessed his sin, “We are getting what we deserve.” 3) He defended Jesus, “This man has done nothing wrong.” 4) He prayed to Jesus, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 5) He recognized Jesus as a king, even though He was crowned with thorns. Jesus’ royal identity is only evident to the eyes of faith.

In the second petition of the Lord’s Prayer, we pray, “Thy kingdom come.” Luther says in his Catechism, “The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also.”

Is this not the prayer of the thief? “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” His new-found faith convinced him that Jesus was going to enter and rule over the kingdom of God. So he prayed that the kingdom may come to him also.

The example of the thief is certainly one to emulate. He confessed his own sin, admonished the sin of others, defended Jesus when others were ridiculing Him, prayed, and was a man of faith – albeit for a very short period of his life.

Far too often, it is the previous part of the thief’s life that is emulated. The sinful nature moves us to ignore God and do as we please with the vain hope that a deathbed conversion will be for us also. We do not know the hour or day the Lord will demand our life from us. What a joy it is to know that no matter what day or hour that summons arrives, we have the sure hope that we too will hear Jesus say, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” Amen.

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