Dismas and Gestas

Many people, even those who are not Christians or Jews, have biblical names. My second name is certainly one of the more popular. But I have yet still to hear anybody named Dismas or Gestas. Obviously, what good parent would name their sons after the two thieves crucified with Jesus. Especially Gestas who mocked Jesus. Dismas, maybe, but I haven’t met anybody named Dismas yet. These names are not actually in the Bible itself, but from tradition, specifically the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus.

But from these two, we can also learn lessons in faith in our relationship with God. Long as it is, the Scriptures has only one theme in mind --salvation of man from sin through the atoning propitiation of the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. From the time Adam and Eve made the first sin of disobeying God and eating from the forbidden fruit of the tree, the whole Scriptures points out to this act of redemption, and the two thieves gave us the examples on how we respond.

Gestas had the same opportunity that Dismas did --to repent, to see the majesty of the Lord, and to ask for forgiveness-- but he turned away instead. He made a choice --to suffer for eternity rather than move closer to God. One may say he hasn’t really understood, but the truth of the matter is, we all know ourselves to understand the depravity of our condition. From the time we were born, we know what is right and wrong. Education might have clarified the details but knowing right and wrong is embedded within our human conscience.

Gestas mockingly challenged Jesus, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” (Luke 23:39). Gestas only looked at his current situation. He didn’t really understand the extent of his predicament. He was punished because he did something wrong. He made a mistake. He sinned. Dimas, on the other hand, understood, and responded, and rebuking him, said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our crimes; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” (Luke 23:41).

As it was in that day, 2,000 years ago, we remain faced with the same situation. The Scriptures is very explicit that we all are sinners and that “The wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23). But more importantly, Dismas understood that Jesus is his only way to forgiveness. He asked Jesus, “remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus replied and assured him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:42).

At the end of the day, this is always a personal choice. Many of us are inclined to think we need to suffer to gain forgiveness. No amount of suffering can excuse our sins, not even physical death. Sin brings death to our soul --the total separation from God. Suffering cannot buy our forgiveness. Only Jesus Christ’s death on the cross and by trusting him and accepting him as our personal savior, can.