(3) Disciple & the Thief on the Cross

THIEF on the CROSS and the DISCIPLE of Christ


We often hear discussions concerning the grace extended to the thief on the cross. This discussion usually compares the thief’s forgiveness and the grace extended to him with modern day sinners (or saints). This comparison is as valid as comparing proverbial apples to oranges.

WHY IS THE COMPARISON NOT VALID?

First: The thief lived and died during the covenant known as the Old Testament. Definition of Old and New Testaments is in Hebrews 9:16-17. The death of the Testator had to have taken place. Jesus’ new Kingdom was not yet established. He had not arisen to take the thrown of His Kingdom yet. He did 40 days after his bodily resurrection. He ascended to the right hand of God and took on Lordship of the Kingdom (Acts 2).

Nothing about Christ’s New Covenant applied to the thief. Comparing our salvation with that of the thief would be like comparing our death to:

(1) Lazarus in Luke 16 who went to Abraham’s bosom. New Covenant Christians go to be with Christ (Philippians 1:23)

(2) Lazarus in John 11 who died and was resurrection on the 4th day. Events like this were only valid while Christ walked the earth in the flesh.

(3) Christ could forgive sins while in the flesh. ( Mark 2:5; Luke 5:20; 7:48) This is not the way New Testament Christian’s sins are forgiven (Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16, 1 John 1:7)

Second: Because we live under the New Covenant, if we accept Christ as Lord, then we become his slaves (doulos). The word “Lord” in Greek is “Kurios” meaning “owner” or “master”. The word “doulos” is often translated in the New Testament as “servant”, but the best translation is “slave”.

"You can't call Jesus Lord without declaring yourself His slave" ("Not a Fan" p. 151)  More about that later….

Third: Unlike the thief, if we become a follower of Christ, we agree to die daily:

(1) “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” Galatians 2:20

(2) “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” Galatians 5:24

(3) “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God” Colossians 3:3

(4) “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” Luke 9:23

(5) “Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him”. Romans 6:4, 8.

(6) “Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world….” Colossians 2:20

As followers of Christ, unlike the thief, we give up our rights, our will, our possessions, our desires in order to follow Him unconditionally without reservations. We give up the right to say, “That’s enough”, or “I’m tired”. We are His slaves (bond servant = one who puts themselves into slavery voluntarily to better their circumstances).

HISTORICAL NOTE ABOUT WHO THAT THIEF WAS

The Greek word “thief” is “lestes”. In a historical context, these folks were often Zealots, who worked diligently for the cause of Israel. To free Israel from the Roman yoke often led them to steal from rich Jews who made their fortunes from collaborating with the Romans. Rich Jews who were Roman sympathizers were hated by Zealots. To support their cause, they would often steal from these Jews and give the money to support their political agenda. Thus, those who stole for the cause to gain their own government and their own king were hung on a Roman cross as “lestes” to suppress their rebellion. The cross was meant to demean them and to prove in a public forum that their cause would be crushed by Rome. A regular thief would not have been treated this way.

(http://www.studylight.org/lex/grk/view.cgi?number=3027)

THE IRONY:

(1) This Zeolot had to die to find the very King he was looking for. Jesus was the King that Israel should have recognized. We have to die to find that very same King.
(2) The Romans mocked the idea that these lestes were looking for a new King and Kingdom. They mockingly made the sign, "Jesus the King of the Jews." Through their ignorance, they proclaimed the truth.

No one quite understood at the moment of crucifixion what irony was playing out in that event

The “Robin Hood” effect, steal from the rich to give to the poor, is older than our English stories. Zealots were poor because they did not approve of profit through collaboration with Rome. Zealots were looking to re-establish the Kingdom of Israel. Zealots were often very good-meaning people with a “worthy” cause in “their own eyes”.

THE THIEF WHO WAS SAVED: This “thief” or “lestes” that accepted the “worthy” cause of stealing from rich Jewish traitors probably had a very good, yet misguided heart. He was sensitive to a “worthy cause" like the innocence of Jesus. He knew that Jesus had nothing to do with his Zealot compadres and was therefore innocent. He also recognized through his good heart, the majesty of Jesus.

WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER THIEF?

THE THIEF WHO WAS LOST: Josephus records some unattractive facts about some of these lestes. He describes how rich Jews would swallow their gold and these thieves would slit their throats for the treasure. Many Zealots were just plan greedy and evil. Perhaps this was the nature of the other thief.



HISTORICAL CONTEXT MUST BE USED TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE WORD