My other party pooper thoughts on the thief thing is this :
How do we know that the thief on the cross was saved, like we are all taught ?
The thief would normally have survived the crucifixion for a few days, it was a painful and slow death, but Jesus knew what the thief did not know, that they would be buried that day.
John 19:31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
The Jews asked that the legs of those crucified be broken, because of the Sabbath day. In order to breathe adequately, the crucified victim periodically had to push himself up using his legs. Breaking the legs prevented them from doing that, thus hastening their deaths. They would suffocate. Had the thieves legs not been broken they would not of been buried that day.
This fulfilled the prophecy "His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God
" ( Deuteronomy 21:23 )
John 19:32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.
33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:
34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.
So back to my question of how do we know the thief was saved?
Lets ask ourselves three questions, firstly, what did the thief mean when he said "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom."? ( Luke 23:42 )
In John 6:14-15 the mulitude of people thought to make him King by force, believing he was to set up the kingdom there and then, freeing them from Roman oppression and bondage, not understanding he going to die for our sins.
So what about the disciples?
Matthew 20:20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedees children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
They had no idea that Jesus was talking about his persecution, suffering and terrible death at the cross. They said we are able, they also were clueless.
Prior to Pentecost, the disciples were clueless.
The risen Jesus, whilst withholding his identity asked the two disciples on the road to Emmaus why they were sad:
But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
Luke 24:21
Thinking the Messiah was dead, they had lost hope. They also had expected the redeemer of Israel to free them from Roman oppression.
Notice in Luke 22:32 Jesus says to Peter "and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." Peter was a disciple of Jesus, he was with him three and half years, and he saw Jesus risen, yet he still needed a conversion. So what was this conversion?
The conversion that changed them from being clueless, to men of power and authority preaching the Kingdom of God, was the outpuring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
See John 14:26
When the thief said "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." are we to assume that unlike everyone else even those closest to Jesus he knew what he was asking? Or did he expect Jesus' followers to rescue him and him lead a revolt against the Romans?
Keep that thought in mind as we ask the second question. Which Came First?
In Matthew 27:44 it says the thieves, plural, both thieves, were mocking Jesus. So did this come before the events recorded in Luke? Did he stop mocking Jesus? Or did this occur after the events recorded in Luke? Did he think that he might get rescued along with Jesus, so he sougth to gain favour with Jesus, and when he realised Jesus was not going to be rescued, started to mock Jesus also? We do not know, we can only assume.
Question 3, Why is this story about the thief being saved so popular?
The thief on the cross is commonly used as an example of how to be saved. Yet the Bible does not say the thiefs sinned were forgiven. Nor does it say the thief repented. The Bible does not tell us if the thief got saved or not.
Is this story so popular because it a consumer friendly gospel for our fast food society?
We just have to say a few words like "remember me" and we are saved?
Another reason it is popular is deaths door conversions, that give people a good feeling. People like to be comforted with the thoughts that if they can get their relatives that are on deaths door, to confess Jesus Christ, either by saying a few words or if they are unable to speak by nodding their head, or blinking their eyes, then they are saved and on their way to glory.
Thank God Uncle Slasher Charley blinked his eyes before he died. Its a feel good, consumer friendly gospel, and that is why it is so popular.
Shiddukh (שִׁדּוּךְ) – Arrangement / Match
Mohar (מֹהַר) – Bride Price
Ketubah (כְּתוּבָּה) – Marriage Covenant / Contract
Kiddushin / Erusin (קִדּוּשִׁין / אֵרוּסִין) – Betrothal
Kos HaBrit (כּוֹס הַבְּרִית) – Cup of the Covenant
Mattan (מַתָּן) – Gifts to the Bride
Mikveh (מִקְוֶה) – Ritual Immersion
Hachanat HaKallah (הֲכָנַת הַכַּלָּה) – Preparation of the Bride
Teruʿat HaShofar / HaKri'ah (תְּרוּעַת הַשּׁוֹפָר) – Announcement of the Groom
Nissuin (נִישּׂוּאִין) – Taking the Bride
