A Thieving Encouragement

By Steven Ready

Come back with me, 2000 years ago to the scene of Jesus hanging and dying on the cross.

He has laboured over His disciples and followers, poured His heart out to them, helping, calling, healing and speaking to them. He prays for them and watches diligently over them. Then at His darkest hour, His friends desert Him. The people He has been reaching out to have turned on Him, accused Him and cursed Him. But Jesus did not argue, though the mental and physical strain of the beatings and abuse would surely have hurt.

In the midst of these things, a little event happens. Luke says, ‘one of the criminals who was hanging blasphemed Him, saying, “if You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” ’ (Luke 23:39)

This is a precious thing.

When He was on earth, Jesus was a real people person. He had a heart of compassion. He liked to celebrate. He liked to be with His friends. He cared for people. So what do you think this interaction with the thief meant to Jesus?

Look at what this criminal says. Firstly, he stands up for Jesus. Everyone else has run away, yet this man rebukes the other thief who mocked Jesus.

Then he stands accountable for his life. He is obviously a Jew who knows about God but has gone his own way. But now in the face of all his accusers he turns to Jesus and speaks a word of truth. He calls Jesus ‘Lord’, and asks to be remembered by Him. Allow me to paraphrase his words. ‘I believe in You. I believe in who You are. You are a King and You have a kingdom which is not here. Please remember me.’

As Jesus hangs there close to death, the sin of the world is upon His shoulders. Then a man stands up in faith and speaks a simple word of truth. This is not to imply that Jesus ever lost sight of what He was doing, nor why He was going to the cross. But I think the thief’s words may have been more than a little encouraging. I imagine that would have spoken wonders to Him. I do not think that thief just sneaked into Heaven. I think Jesus would have been waiting there with open arms and a glorious welcome.

I would have loved to have been one who could encourage Jesus. So here is the question. How can I be an encouragement to Jesus?

The answer is found in a little passage in Matthew where Jesus says, ‘I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ (Matt 25:36-40)

If you want to encourage Jesus, encourage His brethren.

The Church is the body of Jesus Christ. Encourage one another.

The apostle Paul says we should be ‘speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.’ (Eph 5:19-21)

So today, be encouraged and encourage one another. If God does something good for you, tell people about it. If you find a great verse, share it. Do not underestimate your contribution. If it is not something you would normally do then just put in a bit of effort. A phone call or a verse can really speak a lot to someone else. You do not know how God is going to use it.
In encouraging one another, Jesus says ‘inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’