I’ve been known to object to what I call “thief on the cross” theology. Basically, I object to using what science might call a “limiting case” in order to draw general theological conclusions. Typically, an appeal to the thief on the cross is made in discussions of what is necessary for salvation. So, supposedly, baptism, communion, any substantive knowledge of christology (who and what Jesus is), or even any very substantive form of faith, are all ultimately superfluous and non-essential for the experience of salvation. Such arguments seem to be used by those who would like to downplay the role of the sacraments in Christian life or to downplay the significance of theological knowledge.
Yes, the thief did experience the grace of God in and through Jesus, but one might turn the whole argument around and suggest that he had what is not available (depending on your sacramental theology) to any of us: a direct, physical encounter with the incarnate Christ. Thus none of us has experienced a basic factor in the thief’s salvation, which might make us cautious about drawing too many conclusions from his case about what is necessary for and constitutes our own salvation.
Yet the thief was there, and Jesus did speak to him one of what are often called the “seven last words” from the Cross, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:39-43). At least one list of the seven last words calls it the “Word of Salvation.” In response to a recognition of Jesus’ innocence and a direct call to be remembered in Jesus’ kingdom, our dying Lord promised the man an immediate place with Him in Paradise.
Some conclusions we might truly draw from the case of the thief on the cross are verified from other texts in Scripture, like the epistle lesson for Sunday from Romans 5:12-19. Such as the fact that salvation does come through Christ and Him alone, and that it does not depend in any way upon our own selves, since we are all, like the thief, sinners who deserve the consequences of our deeds.
So, limiting case or not, the penitent thief (notice that adjective) shows us the marvelous availability of salvation in Christ, available to the worst of us and thus to any of us, along with the fact that such redemption is accessible from anywhere at anytime. That is good news for all of us who hope for more than we deserve.