A Thief’s Theology

“Lord, remember me when You come into your kingdom.” Luke 23:42

Remember – What does remember mean to you?  If you’re a product of the Western Greek culture, you will think of “remember” as a mental action.  When we remember, we bring something to mind.  The process happens in our heads.  If this is what the thief had in mind, he would probably be playing footsy with hot coals right now.  Please remember (no pun intended) that the thief spoke Aramaic just like Jesus.  So the words that he used had Hebrew imagery, not Greek imagery.  We have overlaid these words with centuries of our own worldview.  There’s a very good chance that the thief never considered his request as a plea for a mental recall.  He had something quite a bit more Biblical in mind.

In Hebrew, the word for “remember” is zakar.  This word is a very important concept in Jewish theology.  Why?  Because it is the word that describes God’s actions concerning the covenant (for example, Exodus 2:24).  But that’s only the beginning.  What happens when God remembers is critical to a thief who is about to die.  When God remembers, God does much more than bring a past thought to mind.  When God remembers, things happen.  In particular, when God remembers He acts with grace and mercy toward those who call on Him.  The first five books of the Bible are replete with examples of God’s saving acts as a result of remembering.  In addition, God calls on His people to remember and He doesn’t mean mental recall.  He means to fully engage in the history of God’s saving acts for His children.  Remember the God who brought you out of Egypt.  Remember the God who destroyed your enemies, who fed you in the wilderness, who gave you the Promised Land.  Why am I asked to remember these acts of God?  Because when I do I place myself under His protection and grace.  I acknowledge God as my Lord.

Now what do you suppose the thief was saying?  Was He asking Jesus to make a mental note?  Or was he saying, “You are God and when you remember me, act with grace and mercy toward me because I am placing myself under your protection.”  Oh, yes.  Just a little Hebrew makes a big difference.

Have you hung on a cross next to Jesus, condemned to death by your own transgressions?  Did you turn to Jesus, admitting that you deserved your punishment?  And then, in the custom of the desert people, did you ask him to remember you, to put you under his protection, to act with mercy on your behalf?   I am part of the brotherhood of the thief.  Are you?