As you are aware, there were three executed that day—two public enemies #1, not unusual, and the Savior of mankind. Unprecedented.
Matthew writes:
“…two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads and saying,
"You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross."
In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, "He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him.
"HE TRUSTS IN GOD; LET God rescue Him now if he delights in him; for He said, 'I am the Son of God.'"
The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words." (Matthew 27:37-44)
At the time Jesus was crucified, Matthew and Mark note something Luke does not.
This “could” be perplexing to some but it need not cause any consternation.
If every writer in the Scriptures made the exact same observations or highlighted precisely the same details as every other writer on the same occurrence, it would be needless repetition.
When Matthew and Mark—inspired by God Almighty—mention that both of these wretched men being crucified with Jesus were not merely casual scofflaws,
they want us to note these convicts were irreligious men, godless to their core,
having no inkling that The merciful Savior was in their midst.
They themselves are suffering, struggling to muster enough strength to push themselves up a few inches by their feet nailed to their crosses enabling them to take one more gasp of breath until they could no longer do so.
Oh but the goodness of our Loving God compels Luke to focus on something else only one of the two convicts said. He shines the Light of Revelation on what is truly a death bed confession of faith in the One and Only Messiah!
Mind you, crucifixion was designed to be a slow agonizing torture. It would take hours for a person to die which is why the soldiers not infrequently had to finally break the legs of those crucified preventing them from scootching up to take
another sip of life giving air.
Now sometime between Matthew and Mark’s observation that BOTH robbers were taunting Jesus, and their final succumbing to hypoxia-- hours had passed.
So we note that this “robber,” more likely a violent insurrectionist, has nothing to commend himself to the mercies of God.
Furthermore--He had not a single minute to rectify his wretched life, he was devoid of any good. All he brought was a confession uttered as a rebuke to the other villain with him.
"Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?" (Luke 23:40)
So apparently in those passing torturous hours this one, moved by the gracious compulsion of the Almighty, cries out,
"Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” (Luke 23:42)
And Jesus replies “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Lk 23:43)
What thou, my Lord, has suffered
Was all for sinners' gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression,
But thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior!
'Tis I deserve thy place;
Look on me with thy favor,
Vouchsafe to me thy grace.
Oh your grace oh God, your grace is greater than all my sins..
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