Repentance of the Wise Robber.

(Luke 23:39-43).

In complementing the first two Evangelist, Saint Luke narrates about the repentance and appeal to the Lord of one of the robbers. One of them, evidently more irate from the agony and seeking an object upon which he could turn his hatred, began to blaspheme the Lord by emulating the example set by His enemies. The other robber, obviously not corrupted to such an extent, having retained some religious feelings, began to admonish his companion. “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due rewards of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Evidently, he heard the torment of the Jerusalem women accompanying the Lord to Golgotha; perhaps the sign on the Lord’s cross produced a feeling that made him think over their words: “saved others,” or perhaps the most important sermon on Christ for him was the Lord’s prayer for His enemies, the crucifiers.

In one way or another, his conscience spoke up strongly, and he wasn’t afraid to openly come forward among the mockery and blasphemy, in defense of the Lord. Not only that, there came about a complete and decisive break within his soul, so that in expressing his faith in the crucified Lord as the Messiah, he turned to Him with these penitent words: “Lord, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom!” In other words: “remember me, Lord, when You come to rule.” He doesn’t ask for glory or joy, but for the smallest thing, just like the Canaanite woman wishing to receive a breadcrumb from the Lord’s table. From then on, these words of the wise robber have become an example of genuine, deep repentance, and they have even entered into usage in our church services. This remarkable confession brightly testified to the power of faith in the penitent robber. In pain, exhausted and dying, he acknowledges the Lord as King, Who will come into His Kingdom that He will establish. This confession was such, that it was even beyond those closest to the Lord, who were unable to accommodate thoughts of a suffering Messiah. Here undoubtedly was an especial impact of God’s grace that had enlightened the robber, so that he may be an example and lesson to all generations and peoples. This confession earned him the highest reward that one can imagine: “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” — said the Lord i.e. today he will enter Heaven, which will again be opened to people through the redeeming death of Christ.