Giants

Giants pt.1

Oct. 5

Do you ever think about the, “Giants” of faith.  In Hebrews there is a list of some OT saints that were giants of the faith.  I’m sure that we could easily add some NT characters to that list.  But I’ve been think about one person.   I think this guy is a giant of the faith and I’m not sure if anyone else has ever listed him among the giants.  Today I’m going to add his name and tell you why.

This guy is perhaps the most unlikely character to think about.  He is only briefly mentioned in the Bible and never by name.  He never performed any miracles and only told one other person about Christ.  And as far as we know that other person rejected the message.  He never taught or preached. Did not write any books and only lived for a very short time after conversion.  So, by now your like who is it? 

“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since 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, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.””

Luke 23:39-43 NIV

That’s right, “the thief on the cross.”  Why him?  Well look at it.  Jesus is dying on the cross.  Everyone is mocking Him. Even the thieves were hurling insults.(see accounts in Mark & Matthew)  Jesus disciples had abandoned Him (only John was there) Jesus was supposed to be the Messiah. To the Jews that meant He would defeat the Romans and become the King of a great Jewish nation.  And yet here He was on the cross, there was no escaping the cross.  It was certain death.  That meant; not the messiah, no victory over the Romans, no Kingdom, no more followers.  To everyone there it was over.  Even the followers of Christ thought it was over. The cross had killed all the dreams of the disciples and the people.  Yet in the middle of all of this something miraculous happened.  What happened is reason enough to add the thief on the cross to our list of, “giants of the faith.”  

Part. 2 coming soon 🙂