A Simple Request For a Suffering King

Two criminals were executed with Jesus, one on either side of Him. All four gospel writers mention them. Matthew and Mark use the term “robber” to describe their crime. It was a word for an armed robber, or pirate. Their names are not given, but you could call one an unbeliever, and the other a believer. It seems as though both knew something about Jesus because they both spoke about Him. Luke gives us the conversation (23:39 – 43) between these two men and Jesus.

The unbeliever cried out to Jesus, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” The word for “cried out” is the Greek word blasphemeo, from which we get our English word “blasphemy.” It means abusive speech, cursing, reviling, insulting. The words themselves do not seem so bad, but the tone must have been. The believer rebuked him by saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong?”  From this conversation, it seems as though these two may have been partners in crime and knew Jesus in some way. The believer certainly knew that they were receiving the wages of their life of violence and sin.

The next statement from the believer adds to the speculation that they may have known Jesus in a unique way. He said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Of the 920 times the name “Jesus” is used in the New Testament, this is the only time a person calls the Lord only by His given name, “Jesus.” Some think that this man knew Jesus as a boy, possibly growing up with Him in Nazareth, maybe along with the unbeliever as well. We do not know this from the Bible, but it does seem as though the believer knew Jesus in a familiar way. If they did grow up together, one going one way in life, and the Other going God’s way, and now both paths joining back together at Calvary. Maybe. One thing is for sure; the believer saw a suffering King beside him with eyes of faith and made a simple request.

Jesus responded to his faith by saying, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” The word “truly” is the Greek word amen, which comes from the Hebrew word amen. Our English word amen is also from this Hebrew word, which means “it is true.” Everything that Jesus said was true, and yet at times, He would underline the truth with this expression, amen. In this case, Jesus is giving this man strong assurance of an answer to his prayer. The Lord is about to go back into the presence of the Father, but not alone. He is bringing one back with Him to present before the Father, a sinner forgiven of all his sins.

Some have often said, “If you had been the only person who had ever sinned, Jesus would have come and lived His life, died, and been raised, just for you. He died for each one as if there were only one.” This word from the cross proves that statement. What a statement. What a scene. And what a glorious moment it must have been when Jesus and this believer entered into the presence of the Father that day. As he was welcomed into Paradise that day, he must have said, “AMEN!”