Jesus, the Cross, A Thief, and Forgiveness (Part 2 of 2) by Ney Reiber
The fourth principle, despite the assumptions made about the thief not being baptized, is that it is more reasonable to believe that the thief had been baptized than to believe that he had not been baptized.
Let's read the account again, and then examine what it really does contain.
And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, "If thou be Christ, save thyself and us." But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:39-43)
1. In verse 41, the thief declared "...this man hath done nothing amiss." He knew Jesus was without sin or guilt. How did he know that? Only by knowing Jesus earlier could he have known that!
2. In verse 42, "...And he said unto Jesus, Lord..." He called Jesus "Lord." Why would he call someone who was dying on a cross Lord? He had to have known Jesus before they were nailed to those crosses!
3. Again, in verse 42, "...remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." He asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus came into his kingdom. How did he know that Jesus was going to come into a kingdom? He could only have known that if he had been a disciple of Jesus' prior to being on the cross. He had to have heard the teaching of Jesus!
4. Still in verse 42, "thou comest into thy kingdom. ..." He believed that even though Jesus was dying on the cross, he would still be a king.
How can someone dying be expected to become a king? It is ridiculous, unless he understood Jesus' prophecies to be resurrected from the dead in three days. How could he have either known or believed these things if he did not know Jesus before they were nailed to the cross.
This man, being crucified next to Jesus apparently had a greater understanding of Jesus' teaching on the nature of the Kingdom of God than even the Apostles at this point in time. The evidence indicates he knew that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah and Son of the living God. He knew Jesus! He must have been a disciple!
Was he a disciple of John's who baptized with the baptism for the remission of his sins?
John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. And there went out unto him all the land of Judea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. (Mark 1:4,5)
Jesus caused more people to be baptized than John did. Was he one of those who were baptized by Jesus' disciples?
When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)… (John 4:1,2)
When one looks at the evidence, it is more reasonable to believe that this thief was converted to Christ. In the process of that conversion, he had to repent. Real repentance means making things right. When he tried to make things right, the ones he had stolen from had him arrested. He was convicted out of his own mouth and then crucified with Jesus.
This thief must have known Jesus prior to the crucifixion. How else could he know that Jesus was the promised Messiah, the promised King? Why else would he be willing to defend him so strongly? How else did he gain his understanding of the nature of Jesus' kingdom?
It is especially important to notice that there is nothing in the text to indicate that this is the point in time at which the thief received the forgiveness of his sins. What the text does say is that he would be with Jesus in paradise that day. It does not say that it was while he was on the cross that his sins were forgiven!
There is a principle of Bible understanding that we need to be aware of.
This "being saved like the thief on the cross" deals with the authority of Christ. Jesus had the authority to save this sinner then, just as he does for us today. He spoke to him face to face. He speaks to us today through the Word. The Word tells us today that He saves us through his sacrifice and by our obedience to his Word. Look at Hebrews 5:8-9.
Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him… (Hebrews 5:8,9)
Jesus will save those who obey him, those who believe and trust Jesus enough to do as he says. He says that we must be baptized. That is Jesus statement to me and to you. Will you believe Him? Will you trust Him?
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mark 16:15,16)
Should we ignore this command because we want to make the rules? Would we rather be saved like the thief who was on the cross next to Christ than obey this simple command of Jesus? Will we ignore what Jesus says and do as we please? Think about this carefully. We must not lay aside the commandments of Jesus in order to keep our own traditions.
James, The Brother Of Jesus by W. Frank Walton (wfwalton@juno.com)
"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word
of Christ" (Romans 10:17).
"The James ossuary may be the most important find in the
history of New Testament archaeology," says Hershel Shanks
of Biblical Archaeology Review. News reports carried electrifying
reports of the discovery in Jerusalem of the possible ossuary
(bone box) of James, the brother of Jesus and author of the epistle
of James. (See cnn.com or www.bib-arch.org).
1. The Field of Archaeology. A 20" long limestone box has
turned up, dated to 63 A.D., with the Aramaic inscription "James,
son of Joseph, brother of Jesus." The Jews between about
20 B.C. and 70 A.D. would place the bones of deceased ancestors
in an ossuary 1 year after their death. This practice was discontinued
after 70 A.D. with the destruction of Jerusalem. It is probable,
though we cannot be infallibly sure, that the reference to "Jesus"
is to Jesus of Nazareth. It is estimated that Jerusalem had a
population of 40,000 in Jesus' time. Although Joseph, James (Jacob)
and Jesus (Joshua) were all common names, it is statistically
probable, according to Andre Lemaire, the professor of ancient
languages at the Sorbonne in Paris, that only 20 possible such
family connections existed. Moreover, the mentioned of James'
brother, Jesus, is highly unusual on James' ossuary. It must mean
this Jesus was well known and of great importance.
Such a discovery can help corroborate the New Testament record
as historically accurate. Some skeptics insist that Jesus never
lived and this "mythological" figure was invented by
the deluded piety of "the creative Christian community."
The discoveries of archaeology will not force anyone to believe.
Yet, Jewish archaeologist Nelson Glueck wrote, "No archaeological
discovery has ever controverted a Biblical reference. Scores of
archaeological findings have been made which confirm in clear
outline or in exact detail historical statements in the Bible"
(Rivers in the Desert, p. 31). The handmaiden of archaeology can
bolster our confidence of the Bible's accuracy. Joseph, James
and Jesus were real people who really lived in the first century,
just as the 2000 year old record of the NT states.
2. The Person of James. James (Greek form of Jacob) is listed
as a brother of Jesus (Greek form of Joshua) and son of the carpenter
Joseph (Mark 6:3, Matt 13:55, Gal 1:18-19). Josephus, Jewish historian,
recorded the death of James, a prophetic leader in the Jerusalem
church (Acts 15:13,19), at the hands of an angry Jewish mob around
62 A.D. (Jewish Antiquities, 20.9.1). James was murdered, as recorded
by Eusebius, for refusing to recant that Jesus is the Son of God
and Savior of the world before a public gathering in the Temple.
He was then thrown off the Temple roof by the Pharisees and beaten
to death by clubs. He had been known as "James the Just,"
and noted for thick calluses on his knees, like a camel, from
spending much time in prayer (Church History, 2.23).
As Christians, we might find such archaeological discoveries stimulating
our belief, much like visiting Israel and actually seeing locations
where Biblical events occurred. Such discoveries may also be a
springboard of discussion with others about the reliability of
the New Testament record that tells the saving story of Jesus.
Yet, our faith isn't in physical relics. It is in the true and
tried testimony of the Word of God that reveals spiritual reality
in the resurrected Jesus (Rom 10:16, John 20:30-31). The cause
for which James lived and died for was not in vain. "O death,
where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?...Thank God,
who gives us victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ our
Lord!" (1 Cor 15:56,58).
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