| March
2009 - Vol. 28
The
Word of Salvation
“Behold you will
be with me in paradise” – Luke 23:43
commentary
and painting
by
John Dunne
As we stand before this painting two figures are outlined against the
sun as it scorches the hanging bodies. We can identify the body of the
thief, as we are told that he was not nailed to the cross, and the body
of the Christ turned towards the thief. They had exchanged words, and unlike
the words of abuse hurled from others, here was one who recognized the
innocence and kingship of Jesus and won for himself a place in paradise.
A companion in death for the God-man, who, despite the great pain and
suffering he was enduring, was willing to reach our in love. We are not
told anything about this man, other than he was a thief, someone caught
up in the machine of Roman justice. For someone like this there was little
justice, and he was certainly not a Roman citizen, for citizens were not
punished by crucifixion. |
The
Word of Salvation, oil painting by John Dunne
|
Roman crucifixion was not so much a deterrent or form of punishment as
a display of power, and by it those who opposed the might of Rome were
rendered powerless. This then is what faces us in this scene – the fact
that the very one who claimed to be “Son of God,” the almighty and omnipotent
God is rendered powerless by man. It is no wonder then that all had run
away from him except one who could not escape to safety – namely the thief
hanging beside Jesus. Here indeed was the greatest opportunist the world
had seen up to this point, for he seized the moment and became the first
citizen of heaven. Grace flowed out from the Christ hanging beside him,
and the thief cooperated with that grace.
We can learn an important lesson in hope from this episode in the life
of Christ, for even in this the worst of situations, during our pain and
the certainty of death, the hand of hope is held out to us. But we
must turn to the Lord and seize the moment, avail ourselves of the grace
offered. The price he has paid for this to happen is the highest
price possible: death on a cross.
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