[mfblume]

During the crucifixion, there is something that the rulers said as they challenged Jesus that was mirrored by the impenitent thief: If Jesus was the Christ He should save himself.

What is interesting is that they associated salvation with the Messiah/Christ. But it was a salvation from the death of the cross. Now, isn't that quite telling?!

The soldiers, being secular in occupation and not emphasizing spiritual issues, did not refer to Jesus as Christ, but as alleged King of the Jews. And their thoughts of a King did indeed involve salvation as well. Jesus should save Himself from death if he is King of Jews.

The impenitent thief repeated the mockery of the rulers and claimed that if Jesus was Christ, then salvation of Himself and the thieves with Him should occur.

Only the penitent thief had it right. While the rulers and soldiers and impenitent thief associated salvation of the Messiah and King of Israel with salvation from the death of the cross, the penitent thief accepted the death of the cross. He knew he deserved death, and knew Jesus was innocent.

But what really excited me was that all the doubters could not comprehend a Kingdom being claimed by Jesus in light of His dying on the cross, as though they asked, "How can He claim to save and have a kingdom if He is dying and has never yet sat on a throne?" If he was going to have salvation or a kingdom, the last thing on his plate would be this death of the cross. And the PENITENT THIEF still believed in His kingdom even when he saw Jesus dying, and knew they would both die that day. He therefore asked Jesus to remember him when He comes into His Kingdom! He was able to see beyond the death of the cross and still believe Jesus indeed had a Kingdom and was both King and Messiah!

However much that penitent thief lack in spiritual awareness of Jesus, he had the basics correct! Jesus was innocent (like the sacrifice required for sin). The thief knew he deserved death, making no attempt to avoid it. In fact the penitent thief was so shocked that the impenitent thief had no fear of God in mocking things spiritual while he was ready to die himself and face His Creator!