Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Luke 23:40, 42 But the other criminal rebuked him [the one who joined in the mockery of Jesus] ... Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
FAITH COMES THROUGH HEARING THE WORD OF GOD
One of the two criminals crucified with Jesus was repentant.
He recognized that Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah, His King and Savior.
Martin Luther says:
"You might think, how did this criminal get the knowledge to recognize the Lord of eternal life, and from whom did he learn it? There's no doubt at all. He learned from the prayer Jesus uttered on the cross. In Isaiah 53:12, it is recorded, 1- that the Messiah shall suffer, and 2- that he would pray for the transgressors. When this actually occurred on the cross, and the Lord began to pray: "Father, forgive them!" ... the one criminal grasps the word "Father" ... and concludes that Jesus is the Son of God. And since He prays for those who are sinning against Him, the penitent thief recognizes him as the true Messiah or Christ.:
"Without a doubt, these passages of Isaiah and other prophets have come to his mind, which perhaps he had heard in the Temple at Jerusalem or elsewhere in the synagogues, but did not understand. These now, he combines -- and the Holy Spirit makes such prophecies clear in his heart, so that he can no longer refrain but must out and confess with his mouth what he believes in the heart."
Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
Before we pass over Luther’s remarks as so much guesswork, we do well to remember what Brother Martin taught us from the word of God in confirmation instruction. Namely, that faith in Christ is worked in human hearts by God the Holy Spirit in only one way -- through the Gospel in Word and Sacrament. And so it is that we too pray, "Jesus, remember me."
