THE TWO THIEVES
Here were two men equally near the Savior,—at the same time, and in the same circumstances. Let us stand at one side of the center cross, and ask this thief, "What think ye of Christ?”
His reply is this—He is not the true Christ at all; if he was, He would save Himself and us. Now here we have the skeptic, the unbeliever, the infidel, the man who speaks of Christ with an "If." He has no real faith, and consequently he has no right thought about himself or about Christ; his soul is filled with darkness and unbelief.
But let us proceed to the other side of the center cross, and ask the same question of the other thief. What a different answer we get.
Faith has entered his heart, light has shone into his soul, and in that light he has seen his own vileness and guilt. Let us ask, then, penitent thief, "What think you of Christ?" He says in effect, I am here because I deserve it; but the One who hangs by my side is here, though He does not deserve it, for He has done nothing amiss.
It was the darkest moment in the whole history of the world. All had conspired against Christ— religious men, politicians, godless men, heartless mockers and infidels; all were agreed for once in relentless hatred to Christ. Here were chief priests, scribes, Roman soldiers, passers by, all heaping indignities on the Son of God; and the only voice lifted on behalf of the blessed Savior at that moment came from a most unexpected quarter. The voice of the penitent thief rings out clear and distinct, "This man hath done nothing amiss.”
If he had a low estimate of himself, he had a high estimate of Christ. For him, He is a King, and coming into a kingdom, and he wants to be remembered then.
Could the Lord turn a deaf ear to such a request? No, bless His name, He never does so! His answer is complete, and full of blessing for every troubled soul; it is, in effect, you will not have to wait for the kingdom; this very day you will be with Me in Paradise.
The thief repented, he believed, he was saved on the spot, and he had the assurance of it from the lips of the Savior.