Expert: shannon Gilmour - 2/7/2012

Question
1 of the 2 criminals crucified with Jesus  believed in God after being together being in the process leading  to crucifixion. Can I know the approximate time/hours they were with Jesus before accepting God?

Answer
Hello Nihal, Thank you for your question!


" Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left." Matthew 27:38 NIV

"One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him; "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other criminal rebuked him " Don't you fear God," He said, "Sincey you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, " Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom: Jesus answered him, " I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23: 39-43 NIV

Scripture does not reveal to us how long the robbers were cruxified before Christ's cruxifiction. The understanding underneath this scripture is that one robber was a believer in Christ, the other was not. These men died in their sins, but one man died to Christ. He was a believer in God BEFORE he was cruxified, BEFORE he was punnished for his crime, he was a believer. Because of the dialogue, I would have to guess that these men had not been up there long since they had not succumbed to weakness or shock. They still had thier senses of minds and were able to speak quite clearly and decisively. Scripture tells us that they were cruxified WITH Christ, so with that said; God's word does not give us any more information because this was NEVER meant to be the focus of our attention.

We sin all the time and still we believe, Our belief in God does not give us a free path to freedom without experiencing the concequense of sin.  Some people assume that this robber had what is known as a 'death bed confession.' He did not. He did not confess that Jesus is Lord, He did not confess His crime to God and ask for forgiveness, because the believe we are shown through scripture was already in his heart. So we can assume that this man already asked Gof for forgiveness. In prayer we do not always hear God's still small voice. This man had come to terms with the punishement for his crime but perhaps the man was asking for a bit of reassurance, that even though he still believed, God heard his prayer and above all, God still loved him regardless of his sin.  Whatever hidden question this man was asking, or whatever confirmation this man needed;  Jesus gave him reassurance he needed. This man was a little worried eventhough he had faith, and Jesus in His mercy and compassion while He Himself hung in pain and shock; offered this dying man comfort and hope.

This is the premise of this scripture, to help the reader understand that one man's heart was hardened to God, and the other was open to Him, softened with the foundation of faith. This man who believed was not blameless before God, but he did have faith and had he allowed his faith to grow and not become a part of the world to make his living perhaps at robbing other people; he would have lived a long and valuable life serving God in some way. ( That's just my personal thought of course.)

I hope this helps you! God Bless you Nihal!
~Shan