Luke 23:42 Commentary and Bible Study

‘Remember me’ – there is so much in those words. ‘Lord, you will pass on from this place to take your throne in heaven as the King of the Jews, the King of glory. Remember that one who died next to you, who appealed to your life-giving power in the very last moments of his agony. I am nothing and you could so easily put me far out of mind, when you are gone from here, but please do not do that. Though I am nothing and have no right to expect anything from you, it is everything to me that you do not forget me, but that you take up my life and bring me to heaven to be with you. You alone can do that. By your will I can have life and be delivered from death. I have nothing left in this world, and I fix all my hope on your mercy. You deal with individuals; you deal with sinners like me. Remember me when you are far beyond the horrors of this world, and make me one of your people. Pardon me; wash away my sin.’This thief understood that Christ has a kingdom. That kingdom was not in this world but was in the world to which they were going. He looks towards Christ and he says, ‘Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.’ He knows that this is the Lord. He knows he is going to heaven. He knows he is the God of all the earth. He must even be grasping that he is dying there to bear the punishment for sin. But he doesn't know how to pray; he has never prayed. All he can say is, ‘Lord, remember me’, and that is received by Christ as a perfectly adequate prayer from a man who is pleading to be helped. Nothing was more important to him now than to secure favour with the one beside him. This was indeed the Son of God, the Saviour of the world and the thief turned to him with all his heart, 'Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.' It was more important to him to be accepted by the one dying next to him, than with the greatest of earthly kings. He was beyond the reach of the world to hurt him and free to trust in the Lord. ‘Lord, remember me.’ He can't use any more elaborate words than that. He can't say or can't bring himself to say anything grand. It's as though he asks the question in the humblest way he can. The faith which he showed is remarkable for its purity. He was ready to believe in Christ at the most surprising of moments. His faith had so much work to do and so little to help it. Though Christ's divine glory was hidden from the eyes of men throughout the time of his life on earth, it was never more obscure than when he came to the climax of his earthly work. Even his disciples who had been with him for three years did not understand why he had to die. Peter had tried to oppose his arrest by force and when Christ was taken, and the rest had scattered believing that all was lost. If this thief had believed in the Lord when he had been performing public miracles it would have been less surprising. But the Lord did no miracles at the time of the crucifixion. He appeared to have been overcome, helpless to resist. Who would have understood at that time, that Christ was deliberately allowing himself to be put to death in order that he might break the power of death for ever and rise again. Yet the thief was ready to trust one who was dying. Unbelief would have said, 'How can I put my trust in a man who cannot even save himself'. But the thief in humility believed that he who was dying beside him was the King of heaven, God himself. What is more, he knew that he also was going to die. He did not ask to be delivered from death, but trusted in Christ to exercise his power in the world to come despite seeing no sign of that power in this world. Many find themselves only able to believe in a God who will benefit them in this life. For them, Christianity is worthless unless it brings them an advantage now.The dying thief teaches us other lessons about faith as well. What was the difference between this thief and the other? Both had spent their lives in evil ways. Both had finally come face to face with human justice. Both had reviled Christ. And yet Christ said to this thief, 'Verily I say unto thee, to day shalt thou be with me in paradise'. He heard these words from the only one from whom it mattered. That promise was more precious to him than anything else that he had in the world. It was the one thing which he could take with him into the next world.The unbeliever if he has any religion at all is convinced that it must be a matter of what he does. But the thief had no time now to start doing works of righteousness. None of us can make amends for our past sins. They are sealed into the past. Besides which, we owe God a perfect obedience all the time - nothing less. Even if we could reach that standard from today onwards – which we cannot – how could we make up for what we have done in the past?