143. The Prayer Of The Thief From The Cross.
The Prayer Of The Thief From The Cross. The Prayer as recorded.—Luke 23:42. The Lord’s Answer.—Luke 23:43.
“I see Beyond the city crosses three, And mortals three that hang thereon, Ghast and silent to the sun; And round them blacken, and welter, and press, Staring multitudes, whose father Adam was, whose brows are dark With Cain’s corroded mark.”—Browning. On either side of the Savior were crucified with him two malefactors; one of them seems to be seriously affected by his position, for from his rebuke to the other we know he was satisfied that the Savior was suffering innocently, and that he was the Messiah, the king of Israel. Overcome by his convictions, and led by the immediate teaching of the Holy Spirit, he becomes repentant, and prays to the suffering Savior.
“The moment a sinner believes, And trusts in his crucified God, His pardon at once he receives, Redemption is full through his blood.”
“T’is faith that still leads us along, And lives under pressure and load; That makes us in weakness more strong, And leads the soul upward to God.”
It is true, the case of this thief is a peculiar one, for when we consider his position we might be led to imagine it an unusual exhibition of God’s mercy to so great a sinner; but it furnishes encouragement to all to come to Jesus, however guilty they may have been, and the same mercy and forgiveness shown to the repenting malefactor will be given to others. All God requires of any is this turning in faith to him, this relinquishing of self, and throwing ourselves upon him who is mighty to save, and strong to deliver; his pierced hands are still stretched out to lay gentle hold on every soul, as on that of the departing thief. This guilty man had only to feel himself a sinner, and come to Jesus. So you must come, sinner; you may not have been a malefactor, but you have broken God’s holy law. and there is no remedy but in Jesus. Come, then, “just as you are,” without one plea, save that the Lord hath died for thee, and thine shall be the glory and the crown of paradise. Ye cannot leave this prayer without considering an argument that many would draw from it in favor of death-bed repentances. This is the only instance of the kind in the sacred page, and while it encourages the most vile to hope in God’s mercy, it offers not the shadow of an excuse to any for putting off the making of their peace with God, “Now is the accepted time, the day of salvation,” and, reader, as your eye rests on these words of God, you know there is danger in delay. Remember the foolish virgins sought no oil till alarmed at the bridegroom’s approach. Oh, come now to God, when you are warned; your soul is full of the dark and troubled waters of sin, continually casting up mire and dirt, “yet a spirit-wind may blow white those waters,” and wash your soul in the blood of the crucified Jesus. Ten thousand voices are calling you to come. This poor thief may have never been told of God; your case is not like his; light is all around you, friends are whispering to you come, the fresh made graves of those you love speak in a soft voice to your soul, be ye ready; and the Savior is whispering, in this “story of the cross,” I am waiting for thee, waiting for thee in paradise! Oh, turn believing unto Jesus.