Looking this man up in Wikipedia (he has been given a personal name in the Orthodox Church—Dysmas), I found this interesting passage (the first line, especially, grabbed me for some reason):
Though never canonized by the church, "Dismas" carries the distinction of being the only human to be canonized by Jesus himself, if by 'canonized' one means the formal recognition of a person's place in heaven.
According to tradition, the Good Thief was crucified at Jesus' right hand, and the other thief was crucified at his left. For this reason, depictions of the crucifixion often show Jesus' head inclined to his right, showing his acceptance of the Good Thief. In the Russian Orthodox Church, both crucifixes and crosses are usually made with three bars: the top one, representing the titulus (the inscription that Pontius Pilate wrote and was nailed above Jesus' head;
the longer crossbar on which Jesus' hands were nailed; and a slanted bar at the bottom representing the footrest to which Jesus' feet were nailed. The footrest is slanted, pointing up towards the Good Thief, and pointing down towards the other.The biblical account of the repentant thief is foundational to the teaching of the church regarding Baptism of desire, whereby one who desires baptism, but is prevented by circumstances beyond his control from actually being baptized, may be saved by the grace and mercy of God. Traditionalist Catholics who argue that the Church has never taught Baptism of Desire say that Dismas died and was saved under the Old Law, not under the New Law in which all must be baptized.
Just for the record, I strongly disagree with the last line in the preceding paragraph.
Oh, and I guess I do have a thought of my own after all—if I should ever hope to be canonized as a saint, I too want to be canonized by Jesus!
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”Matthew 16:24-26 NIV
2 comments:
"to be canonized by Jesus."
On that day it will be with HIM that we will have to do. It is He who should say "well done good and faithful servant."
In the previous paragraph it speaks of the "good thief". I would add that it was not the good thief, bur the REPENTANT theif that found grace.
looking back to the Lord ...
from http://www.cfcindia.com/web/mainpages/word_for_the_week.php?display=01_01&year=04
"Peter described the ministry of Jesus as "going about doing good" (Acts 10:38). Truly, this summed up His life. He was not just a good preacher, nor was He just interested in winning souls. He loved the total man, and did good wherever He went, both to the bodies and the souls of men. His enemies, taunting Him, called Him, "a friend of tax-collectors and sinners" (Lk. 7:34), and that was exactly what He was, a friend of the most despised people in society. Jesus had taught His disciples that "it is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35), and demonstrated by His life that the happiest and most blessed life that a man can live on this earth is one lived totally for God and for others, where he gives himself and his possessions to bless others. Jesus lived so utterly for God and for others that, even when dying, He found time to lead a thief to salvation. Hanging there on the cross, He was unmindful of His own sufferings and of the jeerings and hatred of others, and was more concerned that those who crucified Him should have their sin forgiven (Lk. 23:34). Jesus always overcame evil with good. The floods of the hatred of others could not quench the flaming fire of His love (Song 8:7). This is the love that He gives us by His Spirit whereby we can love one another even as He loved us (Jn. 13:34,35; Rom. 5:5). Thus we too shall manifest the divine nature."
Saved by grace, not by any work of ours. purely God who did it all.
Imagine meeting Dysmas - one who has experienced God's mercy, who have nothing to show, nothing to tell, but of this amazing salvation.
I want to live so ... constrained by Christ's love for me.
Yes, brother, we may call this man "the Good Thief" as in traditional language, but even in the post he is called "the repentant thief" and the circumstances of his salvation are called "foundational."
While the churches fight over whether or not baptism is absolutely necessary for salvation, it's better to simply stand with Jesus and help lead others to Him, who can surely save anyone, baptized or not, who turns to Him with their whole heart.
Post a Comment