Lent Reflection, Day 35, April 10

One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Luke 23:39-43

Additional Reading: Luke 22:39-53

This man has done nothing wrong.

Here he is, on the middle cross, this “Messiah:” this is what they do to failed Messiahs. And the purpose of crucifying him between two thieves was to say – that’s the sort of man he is! Actually, calling them “thieves” as we normally do confuses the matter. The word was actually much stronger than that in the Greco-Roman culture, applying mostly to radical Jews attempting to rid Palestine of Roman rule … murderers, zealots, terrorists. The Romans didn’t crucify burglars or handbag snatchers. They did crucify revolutionaries.

It’s been the story of his life. Just the night before, Jesus had said it of himself (quoting from Isaiah 53), he was “numbered with the transgressors.” Throughout the gospel accounts of Jesus’ life, look and see where he is … always in the middle of a disreputable, disrespected crew.

But what happens here on the cross? The dying thief recognizes it: This man has done nothing wrong. He is with us; he looks outwardly as though he’s cursed, like us, unclean, like us. But something strange is going on. Jesus on the cross is … Jesus the coming King. And Jesus on the cross is Jesus the saving King … “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

All those closest to him at the time, those around him as he carried the cross to his death – they didn’t get it. We think about the events of Holy Week and we don’t always understand. But here is this rebel, of all people, who sees the innocent King coming in his kingdom – ruling victoriously from the cross over sin and death.

It’s the meaning of the Kingdom that we’re trying to get at each and every day, as a community of Jesus’ followers. But for now, right here in this moment, let us remember Jesus’ identification with those who, like ourselves, were only too aware of their sin, their failure, their lack of wholeness and cleanness, and let us hold that identification before our minds in grateful and humble prayer. Let this be our common prayer, our common mind entering into this “Holy Week.”

Prayer: Kind Father, we thank you that on the cross Jesus became one with us in our sin, so that we might, despite that sin, share the life of your Kingdom. Enable us, we pray, to be truly grateful, and to live not as unforgiven sinners, despairing in our own weakness, but as your forgiven sons and daughters, rejoicing in your power to save and cleanse and give life: to the glory of your great and holy name. Amen.