One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” Luke 23:39
We have hurtled ahead to the moments where Jesus now hangs on a cross. He is placed between two thieves, one who spews venom, one who cries for mercy.
The first thief is traditionally known as Gestas, hanging to the left of Jesus (this according to the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus).
There's not much known or said about these two thieves. But at this one moment in history, we are given a glimpse into the eternal conflict: the punishment versus the redemption. One of these thieves is rushing towards punishment; one toward redemption. One of them mocks the sacrifice of Jesus, the other receives it. It's the common theme of mankind.
Can you imagine hanging next to Jesus, dying basically the same death, and having so much evil in your heart that instead of identifying with him, you mock him? I mean, how many times do you approach something unpleasant - say, a dental visit - and find camaraderie with other patients in the waiting room? You don't say, you're an idiot for being here. No, you commiserate with their misery, as you anticipate your own.
This man's heart must have been so corrupted. And how Satan must have been crowing at this moment. How he must have been mocking Jesus - look!! Son of God!! You hanging like a common man, like a common criminal. And look!! Even the criminal next to you hates you.
Thankfully, this thief is not the end of this story. But this story is the key metaphor for our lives: who will you be like? How will you respond to Jesus?
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