Exceeding Abundantly Faithful – Luke 23

“The dying thief” , so William Cowper’s (1731-1800) powerful, well-known hymn reminds us, “Rejoiced to see that fountain in his day…” When we read of that man, dying there beside our Lord, we understand his words of desperation, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom” The prayer of a dying sinner to a dying Saviour.

“Remember me.” Was that all he asked, just to be somehow remembered? A simple request, really, not presuming to ask for more, but in his desperate hour and acknowledging Jesus was-is Lord; he asked simply to be remembered. It means to be held in mind. As if he said, “Lord-for I acknowledge you alone are Lord- keep me in mind when your enter into your kingdom. For surely, ” (he gathered as he scanned the crowd of angry, spitting, cursing, Roman citizens beneath them,) “surely, this is not your kingdom”.

What perception the thief had. He observed that Christ was now in the depths of disgrace, that all but one of his disciples had fled, leaving our Lord’s mother, her sister and the ever faithful Mary Magdalene to watch him die alone. He understood that Christ was rejected and reviled by his own people and forsaken by his Father. The thief heard the railing, the blasphemy and took note of the soldiers gambling over Christ’s garments; and yet, he also observed Christ. He heard his Words, “Father, forgive them…” He watched our Lord’s demeanor and saw that, in spite of the hatefulness whirling all around him, Christ remained constant, loving, compassionate and merciful. This malefactor strongly reprimanded the other thief; “Does not thou fear God…? We are hanging here and rightly so! (Truly repentant people acknowledge the justice of God in the punishment of all their sin) But this man crucified between us, has done nothing worthy of death! It was then the repentant thief turned to Christ i faith and hope, perceiving his boundless compassion, and in recognition of his own condemnation asked to be remembered by him. The words were exhaled with the remaining sighs of his life, but what a moment of illumination for us as we read of this exchange! For it teaches us that while there is life, as much as there is breath left in a soul-because of what Jesus promised him-we know there is always hope. Until the last.

Nevertheless, the distinction in this entire exchange is found in the answer Christ gave. For, as those of us who have experienced the riches of his grace toward his children know full well, he is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think. And yes, that extends even to those who are only moments old in Christ. The thief asked to be remembered. However, our Lord turned and answered, “Verily I say unto thee, to day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Christ promised him something significantly greater. Considerably better. Abundantly exceeding the thief’s touching plea. I’ll do so much more than that, for later this day, you and I will be reunited in Paradise! Much more than the Garden of Eden’s earthly paradise, but a paradise of heaven.

Moments after this Christ bowed his head and died, nailing our sins to the cross. But the pair of thieves were yet alive. I would like to think, that even over the dissonance of the howling Judean winds kicking up as all creation groaned under the weight of the death of its Creator, and indeed, as the earth quaked beneath him, that the converted thief heard the centurion standing nearby glorify God by proclaiming, “Truly, this man was the son of God.” When the final scenes and sounds of this world faded from the thief’s conscious awareness and he seized his final breath, he opened his eyes in a place you and I can only imagine as to its grandness and beauty.

As the sky grew black and the spectators quickly left the scene of the crucifixion, a good man hurried to Pilate to beg for Christ’s body. Pilate, having previously washed his hand of anything to do with our Lord, quickly gave his consent. Joseph of Arimathaea lovingly wrapped the body of Christ in linen and placed it in a new sepulcher where never man before was laid; but it was not to be a permanent resting place. The tomb was to be borrowed for three days and three nights. When Christ resurrected, we read that many of the souls who slept in Christ resurrected as well. But this did not include the man on the cross who turned in Christ in repentance and faith, for he was already in his heavenly home.

I wonder when some struggle in coming to Christ, why they would ever have a notion that he would not save them. All one has to do is read and mediate upon his moving exchange, when our Saviour, though in his darkest hour, drew the dying sinner to himself, opened up his understanding, and saved his soul. I would expect one would then have such confidence in Christ as to ultimately agree with the author of the hymn with which I began this article “…and there may I, though vile as he, was all my sins away.” Thus to blend their voices in the song the saints have sung for centuries and rejoice evermore.

Thank you for reading –

Liz