Written by Vickie Stone, from the Village Church
One of my most cherished books is called “Intimate Moments with the Savior; Learning to Love“, by Ken Gire. The copyright is 1989 and I had it for years before, like many of my books, I finally read it. Once I did, however, it is a book I go to time and again. During Lenten season one of the stories in this book especially sticks with me: “An Intimate Moment with a Thief on the Cross”. Jesus is suffering on the cross; on both sides of him hang a thief, teetering between life and death. At last one reaches out in faith, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Not much is known about the criminal on the cross next to Christ. We know from Matthew’s scripture that this thief joined with the crowds in mocking Jesus. Yet his plea to Jesus before he dies is the last kind word Jesus hears. Jesus responds to the thief “Today you will be with me in Paradise”. He receives the blessed assurance of the Savior. This thief had mocked Jesus to come down from the cross and save himself and taunted Jesus for His claims to be the Son of God. What did the thief see Jesus do, that made him reconsider who Jesus was? Even as Jesus is taking spears in his side, this thief hears Jesus appeal for mercy for His persecutors, His tormentors. As he feels himself fading, the thief meets the eyes of the Savior, and for a moment, all time stands still. And in those eyes, he sees no hatred, no scorn, no judgment. He sees only one thing – forgiveness.
Then he knows. He is face to face with a dying God.
As the author writes: “Incredible, when you think of it. Amidst the humiliating abuse of the crowd and excruciating pain of the cross, Jesus was still about his Father’s business. Even with his eyes sinking on the feverish horizon of death, he was telling a common thief about the uncommon riches of heaven.”
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” [Luke 23:39]
Pathways Press.com 