Daily Accepted, Transformed, and Compelled by God's Love
The Thief
I had not intended to walk this path. I had planned to become a doctor like my father; but careless ways made me take an easier path. Step by step I had gone down the wild trail, letting worldly friends pull me along. Now I hung on the cross, the large spikes in my wrists and feet slowly tearing away at my flesh. Pain racked my body and I felt myself passing into the blackness that was consuming me; the blackness that would at last free me from this terrible pain and my guilt-filled memories. Still, I fought to stay awake. The weight of my body hanging from outstretched arms was compressing my chest, making breathing difficult, slowly suffocating me. My breath came in labored gasps. In desperation I forced myself to push up, thus allowing for better breathing, allowing me to be able to take deeper breaths but at the same time making the pain shoot like daggers of fire through my feet and up my legs. In anger I fought to free myself though I knew this was impossible. I cursed and swore at myself, then at my partner who was yelling his curses, and even at the One who hung silently between my fellow thief and me.
"This is not fair!" I cried out in pain. "Barabbas was the one who led me down this path. There were many times I tried to stop him from doing some hateful deed. Sometimes I succeeded in stopping him from killing some innocent person, but most times I failed. I tried to leave his group one time but he beat me and threatened to kill me if I left. Now you," and I looked at the priests and Jewish rulers, "you started this riot. You got this mob to follow your wishes and now you let this murderer, the greatest thief, and the cruelest man alive go free. You are a stupid lot. You heap many hard laws on us but you yourselves find ways to get out of keeping your own laws. You make your own traditions of more importance then those found in the Holy Scriptures, the Scriptures you claim to uphold but really trample under your feet. It was you who told me that I could give money to you, thus freeing me from caring for my parents. It was you who really taught me to cheat, steal and rob. Haven't you been robbing and stealing from the poor people, the ones you claim to care for? What a different place this might be if you really did God's commands and not followed the wicked one. Look at you, your hearts full of hatred. You despise my companion and me but you are more despised then we.
“Ouch," I shouted as a Roman guard slapped me across my thigh. "Do you feel better after striking a man you have nailed to a cross, a man who can only move his mouth, a man who is telling you the truth? Go ahead and strike me again. Maybe I will find peace sooner that way. But what about you? Will you find peace?"
Looking around, I saw many people hanging their heads in shame. Then my partner started cursing the Man hanging on the tree between us. "If you are the Christ, if you are the Lord, then why don't you save yourself and us too? Use your power to free yourself and to set us free. Call down curses from your Father and destroy these wicked people. Can't you do it? Where is your power now?" He looked with scorn on the quiet Person hanging beside him. His heart was hard with crime and hatred. Though pain was consuming his whole being, he did not see the One near him for his mind was blocked from the truth. Too long he had turned away and now it was too late for him.
For a few minutes the noise of cursing and talk fell silent. Then a soft, kind but weak voice said, "I thirst!" But no one offered him a drink of cool water.
Just moments before, as the Roman soldiers were pounding the cruel spikes into His wrists and into His feet this same Voice had called out, not in anger or hatred but in sympathy. "Father, oh my Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing. They do not know!" He had not resisted the soldiers but had lain down on the cross, and extending his arms, had not uttered a sound as the cruel spikes were driven in. Just like what was written years before in the Book of Isaiah, for here the prophet had written, "and like a lamb taken to slaughter, he opened not his mouth."
Now, in this short pause in the rabble, I knew! In quick succession came to me earlier scenes, flashing through my thoughts, over-ruling my pain. I remembered the times I had stood on the edge of the crowd and heard the Teacher speaking to the people. How my heart longed to come to Him, to kneel at the Teacher's feet, but I could not. I had known that this Teacher was not like the Jewish rulers and priests and I knew He must be the Messiah. Once, I started to press through the crowd to see the Teacher, but I was stopped by a friend and had not resisted this pull to remain in the outskirts, away from the only One who could help me. There was the time the Teacher had looked straight at me, our eyes locking for an instant until I turned away. That was the last time I had seen the Teacher until today in Pilot's judgment hall. Then came to my mind the stories I heard while sitting at my mother's knee, while she explained why a lamb had to be slain. She had explained that one day The Lamb would be slain for all mankind, to save them, and like a strong beacon the truth flashed into my inner soul, at last finding a welcoming oasis. This is the Lamb! My heart was smote and I knew what I had to do. Time was short; I had no time to waste. Now was the time.
"Stop," I shouted at the other thief. "You and I are getting what we deserve. We are guilty, and you know that. But how can you speak so to this One Who has done nothing deserving this cruel treatment? Can't you see that this One is different? Can't you see who He really is?"
Slowly I turned my head towards the center cross. Even turning my head caused me more pain, but I had to do it. I felt like a hand was pulling me towards this third cross and I willingly went in my mind. I could not move or kneel before this Man but my heart flew out to Him seeking help and forgiveness.
"Jesus. My Lord! Please remember me when you come into your Glory!" There, I had said it. It was out at last and my heart felt lighter with hope starting to fill me. But what right did I have for hope? I was a thief and a murderer. I was guilty. But my thoughts were stopped by a gentle soft voice floating across to me and to many who would come after me.
"Oh yes. I will, I tell you this today. Today you have the assurance that on that day you will be with Me in glory!" The Teacher had a smile on His face and even with his severe pain, the pain he carried for us, His eyes shone brightly as He looked at me. "I have longed for you to come. Yes. You will be with me in my glorious home."
My heart leaped inside me with joy. The Lamb had understood and I had been forgiven! There really was hope and my heart sang silently even with my severe pain. On a cross beside me another One knew that His life had not been in vain. He knew that His death would draw many souls home at last, and His heart was satisfied. One man in this vast throng of screaming and cursing people, one man had seen God and this was joy to the Teacher. His life was not spent in vain!