Luke 23:42-43
‘One of the malefactors…, railed on Him…. The other… rebuked him (the first), saying: “Do you not fear God?… We are receiving the due reward for our deeds; but this man (Jesus), has done nothing amiss!” Then he said to Jesus: “Lord, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom!” And Jesus said…: “Truly, I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise!”‘ Luke 23:39-43.
Calvin comments: “‘One of the malefactors (railed on Him)’…. An example of furious obstinacy is held out…in this wretch…. ‘But the other, answering, (rebuked the first), saying: “Do you not fear God?”… In this…, a striking mirror of the unexpected and incredible grace of God is held out…. (He was) suddenly changed into a new man, when he was near death…. Who would ever have thought that a robber, in…death, would become not only a devout worshipper of God — but a distinguished teacher of faith and piety?… He severely reproved and restrained the wicked forwardness of his companion…, ascribing to Christ the praise due to His righteousness!…
“‘Lord, remember me!’… A robber…(after) giving himself up to execrable murders…, suddenly rises higher than all the Apostles!… While on the gallows, he adores Christ as a King; celebrate His Kingdom in the midst of shocking and worse than revolting abasement; and declares Him, when dying, to be the Author of life!… That a person ignorant…and whose mind was altogether corrupted, should all at once…perceive salvation and heavenly glory in the accursed cross, was truly astonishing…. This was…, from the depth of Hell, to rise above the Heavens!… Woe to our sloth, if we do not…fix our hope of life on His resurrection; if our aim is not towards Heaven where He has entered!… With a mangled body and almost dead…, yet he (the penitent malefactor) relies on the grace of Christ alone…. Whence came his assurance of pardon, but…in the death of Christ?!…
“Christ had not yet made a public triumph over death. Still…He shows that He never was deprived of the power of His Kingdom…. Nothing more lofty or magnificent belongs to a divine King, than to restore life to the dead…. We ought to observe His inconceivable readiness on so kindly receiving the robber without delay, and promising to make him a partaker of a happy life…. Hence we may conclude with certainty that we shall be saved, provided that He remembers us!…. Whoever then in dying shall commit to Christ in true faith the keeping of his soul, will not long be detained or allowed to languish in suspense…. Christ will meet his prayer, with the same kindness which He exercised toward the robber!… Souls, when they have departed from their bodies, continue!… Those…ingrafted by faith into…Christ…, enjoy after death a blessed and joyful rest until the perfect glory of the heavenly life is fully manifested by the (final) coming of Christ!”
Calvin also said in his Institutes III:24:11 & III:25:6: “Was there any germ of righteousness…in the thief who only with his last breath thought of repentance?… Did not the soul when unclothed from the body retain its essence…capable of beatific glory — our Saviour would not have said to the thief, ‘Today you shall be with Me in Paradise!’ (Luke 23:42-43).” Calvin further states in his Psychopannychia: “The thief…implored mercy…. He (Jesus) calls him to the joys of His Kingdom on that very day!” That same day, the dying penitent robber went to Paradise! And you, when you die?
