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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 3
These men, who professed to be the expounders of prophecy, were
themselves repeating the very words which inspiration had foretold
they would utter upon this occasion; yet, in their blindness, they did
not perceive that they were fulfilling prophecy. The dignitaries of the
temple, the hardened soldiers, the vile thief upon the cross, and the
base and cruel among the multitude, all united in their abuse of Christ.
The thieves who were crucified with Jesus suffered like physical
torture with him; but one was only hardened and rendered desperate
and defiant by his pain. He took up the mocking of the priests, and
railed upon Jesus, saying, “If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.” The
other malefactor was not a hardened criminal; his morals had been
corrupted by association with the base, but his crimes were not so
great as were those of many who stood beneath the cross reviling the
Saviour.
In common with the rest of the Jews, he had believed that Messiah
was soon to come. He had heard Jesus, and been convicted by his
teachings; but through the influence of the priests and rulers he had
turned away from him. He had sought to drown his convictions in
the fascinations of pleasure. Corrupt associations had led him farther
and farther into wickedness, until he was arrested for open crime and
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condemned to die upon the cross. During that day of trial he had been
in company with Jesus in the judgment hall and on the way to Calvary.
He had heard Pilate declare him to be a just man; he had marked his
Godlike deportment and his pitying forgiveness of his tormentors. In
his heart he acknowledged Jesus to be the Son of God.
When he heard the sneering words of his companion in crime, he
“rebuked him, saying, Dost thou not fear God, seeing thou art in the
same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due
reward of our deeds; but this man hath done nothing amiss.” Then, as
his heart went out to Christ, heavenly illumination flooded his mind.
In Jesus, bruised, mocked, and hanging upon the cross, he saw his
Redeemer, his only hope, and appealed to him in humble faith: “Lord,
remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom! And Jesus said
unto him, Verily I say unto thee today, [
By placing the comma after the
word today, instead of after the word thee, as in the common versions,
the true meaning of the text is more apparent.
] shalt thou be with me
in Paradise.”