On the Repentant Thief

On the Repentant Thief Memra 20 On the Repentant Thief, and it is said on the Sunday of the Resurrection A Hymn Thanks be to Him who taught the way to the kingdom through the outpouring of blood: of the tree, the brothers. A new creation the Creator made on the summit of Golgotha, and he showed the power of his skill in the man who was crucified. The man who was crucified saw the earth and the heavens, and they were amazed at him, that he might see the wonder that was spoken in him. The whole creation was astonished from all sides to be baptized in the skill on the wood. Artistically he painted the world, the Lord of the world, and set his sign on the wood, that all who see him might see him. On the visible tablet of the body he painted all creatures, that the rational and the mute might be baptized in him by his skill. With the tree he finished his work, his hands at the beginning of the sacrifices, and with the man he completed his perfection at the end of the sacrifices. The tree chose that the world might be renewed in it, and it adorned him with pains and showed his beauty to the eye of all creatures. On the wood he fixed him like a spectacle for the eyes of the beholders, that they might look into him and see the blemishes of their own standing. Like the serpent that Moses lifted up, he also lifted him up, that he might heal the tree from the poison of the evil demons. The demons polluted the body of the tree with poison, and the tree hung the man on the summit of Golgotha to give life to the tree.

His pursuers, the sight of the whole world, was filled with love. For he who looked with the mercy of love, the demons were silenced. In love, the eloquent and the mute were fixed in him on the cross, And they felt his pain and placed hope in the salvation of man. With love, the world looked at him for the salvation of his life, For he saw that the time of renewal of his antiquity had arrived. With a great cry, they saw him standing among the thieves, And they heaped much upon his humiliation, for he had no law. Through his love, the mute natures were astonished, even the speaking ones, That he would receive the form in place of the renewal of their natures. A hidden sign taught them to marvel At the crucified man, who crucified the world and its iniquity with him. O wonder of the power of the Creator, which cannot be spoken, That he crucified the world and its disturbances on one man. A great wonder the creatures saw in one man, That they were crucified with the death that was on the head of the tree. At this wonder, the thief was astonished, from the right side, And he seized a groan over the deeds of the one without law. Great pain the robber put on over his transgressions, For he saw that creation was in mourning, grievously. He saw the natures that were hidden in the time of pain, And he felt and was troubled over the needs of all that is measured. He saw the pure ones who were bent over the thorns of the oak, And he greatly grieved over the change of the order that was in them.

He saw that which shakes the quaking to the earth as if to fall. And it trembled and was confounded at the hardness of the sinews of his mother. He saw the hard nails being driven in, and the people hastened. And the humble one changed, justifying himself for what had happened. He saw the curses being mocked in the man crucified with him. And he knew that the cause of her death was also the cause of her mockery. Wisely he knew and reckoned like a divider, that because of her the bright ones were darkened and the earth quaked. For what reason, then, were darkness and quaking seen together? And for what reason were two difficulties abundant in one hour? For what reason did the deaf elements tear away from their roots? And behold, they are confounded like a woman giving birth, whose pain is the pain of her labor. For what reason does the bright light change to darkness? And for what reason does it shake the face of the earth by means of a shudder? For what reason did it cast commands into the sun, a swift runner? And for what reason did it turn the joyful moon into gloomy blood? For what reason did the deaf elements mourn, contrary to custom? And for what reason do they weep as over a firstborn whose mourning is bitter? For what reason does the earth shed tears abundantly? And for what reason do the eyes of its face pour forth tears of shuddering? For what reason, then, is that crucified man grieved who is crucified with us? And because of him the deaf elements put on mourning? Is it perhaps that his crucifixion is a loss in injustice, though he is not guilty? And that the accuser has fixed nails in him, though he is not worthy?

lest the priests be envious of him and crucify him unjustly, because he performed the deeds of the one who descends from his stages. Why does he live and mock him as if he were a sinner? Behold, the good thief proclaims the name of the helper who divides the earth. Why does he drink vinegar and gall like a criminal? Behold, his victory is hidden from the dead who will warm themselves. If I am an unjust thief, that my standing is for my transgressions, he who does not know for what he is condemned unjustly. If I am a robber of sins that I sinned against justice, he who is innocent, why does he bow his head on the wood? If I sinned, my hands are bound with fetters that I buried in the earth, he who by his words gives life to sinners, why does he die? I have heard the good news of the power of the signs that he performed on the earth, that not justly does he pay the pains of death. These things he was considering in himself, the son of the sea, and like a judge he examined the deed that he saw on the wood. To the just judge over his people he is a divider, and he condemns his injustice and justifies the justice of the one who was crucified with him. Like a firstborn in his voice he speaks the truth and rejects falsehood, and shows the beauty of the word of truth to the eyes of the beholders. And when the pain of the sufferings of the body was good for him, he did not hide and descend from the censer that is against injustice. The weapon of truth was condemning him at the time of pain, and manfully he offered and conquered without custom.

a harsh nail pierced him from the side at the head of the cross, and firmly he gave himself to the robber, as if he placed death before himself, though he was well alive. And he endured and bore all pains as if he felt nothing. He performed two robberies while standing on the wood: against injustice and against the mockery of the revelers. Like an athlete, he stood on the cross, mocking death, and waged war with his limbs against the mockery of the people. Injustice and the people crucified him as an army, and he alone conquered sin and the crucifiers. Oh, how wondrous was the battle that the weak-minded one waged, for at the moment when hope was cut off, he seized victory. At the time of death, he entered the battle stripped of arms, and naked he conquered all pains, both external and internal. The people wore the armor of mockery against the Lord, and they hurled words of scorn like javelins. From the mouths of the impure, the sanctifier of the perfect was mocked, and like a condemned man he was deprived by the revelers. Even the executioner from the left struck him, and the people well cast stones of scorn at him. Recklessly, the reveler acted in the foolish pit, and instead of a sword, he drew his tongue to hurl scorn. "If the Messiah does not come," said the robber, "save yourself and save me also from the cross.

If you are a king, you are, and yours is that of David. Command your mighty armies to be distributed among your crucifiers. If you are a wild beast, you are, and you are a son of God, as you said. Descend from the cross, and behold, the name of your wildness is confirmed. If the powers of the deed you performed against humanity are true, show your power, evil one of your soul, and you will be believed. If you are victorious, and the wood of your cross is a burden to humanity, call upon God, and the cry of your injustice will be followed. Oh, how much a dog would have barked at that gentle one, and the contemptible soul would not have been separated from the holy one. Oh, how much a wanton mouth blasphemed against the meek one, and he was not ashamed, neither of iniquity nor of his pain. Oh, how much a hidden sign endured his wantonness, and the mighty fire of wrath did not consume him. With the voice of his shouts, the son of the sea was troubled and became strong, and his pains were hidden, and he began to offer in opposition to his cry. The righteous one made a bitter war against iniquity, and wisely he loosed the arrows of the confessions of the soul. The name of God, the wise one, placed upon the godless one, that you do not fear God, who is weary of his trial. As a wild beast, he spoke with the one guilty of death, that upon what you have poured out the iniquity of your mouth upon the victorious one. Why do you, wantonly, boast in a worthless blemish, and increase the cords of the decree of judgment upon your folly?

You do not know that the iniquity of your soul is hung on the cross, and your arrogance has made you a likeness without mercy. To you, like a thief, follows a hidden sign of judgment, and according to your deeds, a small death repays the wage. Behold, he is victorious and holy and pure from the stains, and the blind people, lacking understanding, did not defile his cross. Why do you wish to be a companion in the spilled blood and to bind yourself in the judgment of Jesus with the murderers? It is not enough for you that you shed first blood in the body, but you add heaped iniquity upon the first. You are not weary of the death of the sacrifice in place of your iniquity, but you complete a hidden death without end. O new teacher who preaches truth in the land, and spreads and increases trampled iniquity through the word of his mouth. O iniquity that spreads the iniquity that was accustomed to it, and preaches the truth that it did not know how to utter. He increases his companion, who not like a thief cries out to the thief, and the work that he approves of his offenses is exalted. The memory of his iniquity ascended upon his heart at the time of suffering, and he began to judge with his soul concerning the things he had sinned. As if from the garment, he shook off his faults, the couch of iniquity, and saw that he was stripped of the good things as of the garments. He saw that his body and soul were laid bare, and he grieved and lamented bitterly over his offenses.

In great torment he was stretched out painfully, And with bitter groans he wept over his ruin. The cross made for him a bed of rest alone, And his limbs were his bedfellows, and he rode on voices. Like a dead man, his soul wept upon the top of the wood, And he buried his person in the depths of his soul. But he made a steadfast mourning over himself and over his affliction, Seeing that he was dying, and yet would be raised again to the judgment of Lazarus. Two thoughts of two deaths he pondered justly, And his sins seized the opportunity of his body for two judgments. A judgment that was to come he set in order better than that which is present, And as nothing he accounted the death upon the top of the wood. That affliction without end he remembered, And as with eyes he saw it in his hidden mind. That ordinance of the kingdom on high he saw secretly, And he ran and considered that his blood might wash away his debts for entrance. With gentle blessings he sharpened his mind keenly, And he acquired boldness like a beggar over his need. Great boldness the bold one acquired, as at the first, In that same manner in which he had formerly waged war impudently. He spread no denial of theft upon his face, But struck the palm and began to contend within the kingdom. With this reply he grew bold and asked of our Savior, Whether he might be able to plunder the spiritual treasure.

His first habit he cast off to be changed, And he silenced all voices and on the cross he was saved like his law. I remembered my Lord, the beginning who spoke to the master of the treasure, In that kingdom hidden in height from the seers. Show my ascension a spiritual hearing, And live by grace in the small remainder of your gift. Leave my faults and cover my sins and cleanse my blemishes, And cover with your mercies the bond of debt I owe against your justice. Rescue my ruin and show my ascension and warm my death, And form in me the pattern of the abolition of death and the dissolution of evil. Imprint in me the path of repentance for the generations to come, That they may pursue after me in the dwellings of souls toward forgiveness. Kindle the light of your faith within my darkness, And pursue from myself the darkness of evil that dwells in me. Turn my face toward you from the rebellion that has wearied me away from you, And free my servitude that I may serve with you and be yours. Yours I am and it is fitting that I be freed from your lordship; Rescue your household servant and let everyone know the power of your lordship. When I served among the strangers until now, And my days were consumed in the service of their error without profit. The day ended and the sun of my life set, And if your help does not reach me, I would be nothing. Not, my Lord, would I perish from the creation of the dust of Adam, Nor would I be joined to the fellowship of the living dead.

Rush upon my death, O youth of mercy, who is hidden in your words, That blood may be sprinkled on the day of resurrection and glory be paid. My cries, that I may go with the poor along the path of thorns, And enter and rejoice in that joy which is indestructible. What has been revealed to you, O dead one, by his sins, that you may know this? And what has been examined for you, that the crucified man is the king over all? What has shown you that there is authority for man in the height, And how he can rule over the future? What has taught you that the iniquity of man can be set free, And whence he has the power to give life that does not die? When, then, does man see man, And when do earthlings divide the kingdom of the height? And that which is, that man sees man, that is written, That the kingdom of the height divides man, is not heard by you. What has led you astray, O wanderer, in the confusion of the steps, That the crucified man gives life and forgives iniquity? See, O son of my error, lest in your error your mind wander, Pursue what is good and ask the sign of the mysteries from you. Lest by the weight of the pains of your body you have erred and confessed, And like a dream your mind has become empty of manifest things. It is not that the robber has erred by his prayer, He arranges words, errs, and shines for him toward his deeds. The greatness of his iniquity and his robberies the speaker remembers, And he desires that he shine, whence is truth for the erring one?

How can it teach the whole fool to know the truth, And how can it show him the way to rebel against the face of the height? How can it open a new book for the zealous disciple, And how can it become a master for him in the meditation of future things? How can it explain the power of the testing of hidden things, And how can it say to him that there is a kingdom that is not dissolved? How can it become a king of counsel for the one who errs in his error, So that in the time of boldness he might find himself? Through which eyes did the seer of hidden things see That sign that does not perish, in which the eye of the flesh does not look? Through which ears did the weighty one hear, the listener of iniquity, That daughter of a voice that is not heard by the senses of the body? Through which mouth did the interpreter speak to the one who was from the truth, That discourse that is not spoken in the language of the flesh? Through which palate did the wise one taste the sweetness of life, And how and how much did he suffice to receive the food of the spirit? And let it be that the one who is crucified, the man of the cross, has the kingdom that is hidden in the height, And he rules over its pleasure. And let it be that he hopes that mercy will live for sinners, One man with another, how does he suffice to help? And let it be that he believes that he can accomplish these things of the cross, How can he cast into it the thought of these things that do not see him? Not by fleshly thoughts does the flesh think, And it is not his own to ask for what is above, as if by obligation.

The hidden sign shows him in secret to see the mysteries, And he raises him to the scrutiny of the secrets. The power of the Spirit speaks with him spiritually, And he interprets for him the hidden mysteries that are concealed from him. He establishes in him the power of the wisdoms of the future, And he examines for him that there is a kingdom and a judgment to come. He tells him that the man crucified who is crucified with you, That his is the high kingdom and the future judgment. He reveals to him that the wicked thief of man can repent, And write in his name a writ of freedom instead of servitude. The writ of the guilty he desires to abolish by his demonstration, That if a guilty one receives victory, he will share in it. The high kingdom opens to the earthlings through its entrance, That if a robber enters first, how can he remain? The exaltation of the race reveals by the confession that he confessed to him, That if a son of your race, your heart, the kingdom, blessed are you. The dissolution of your folly shows in himself that he entered for the sake of the feast, Of your future ones, that they may enter with him into the high kingdom. In the form of an image he forms in him your wickedness and your repentance, And he raises his crown on the head of the skull for the eyes of the beholders. By this sign he leaves his wickedness at the time of suffering, That the living may learn that for the sake of the dead he suffered on the cross. By this schema he chooses the man of sin from all, That by the sinner he may show the power of the power that can do all.

He pours out blood and fills the world with iniquity, from the king of the kingdom. The way of repentance for those who have sinned: a writ of the debts of the race of Adam came to be paid, And it freed first one guilty one who had sinned greatly. Nature that wears out in mortality desires to renew, And it acts through a man who had died entirely in grievous iniquity. He made a sign to the natures and showed himself as a sign over his victory, And revealed that he is Lord and Son of God who rules over all. Through silent ones and speakers he proclaimed his power, And like heralds they cried out to creatures concerning his authority. Not as sensible ones did he show himself like sensible ones, And to sensible ones he appeared as a breath of spirit. He clothed the sun and moon in the garments of mourning, And the firmament, its stars, to interpret the greatness of his power. As if with a mouth, the silent ones cried out in their changes, Because of the man who hung with them, their fellow sufferer. The earth spoke with them through an earthquake, the sons of the earth, The sons of the many who had shed the blood of the one who suffers pains. The voice of the firmament, better than thunder, thundered in creation, That the dead might see life hanging on the head of a tree. And heaven and earth bent their ears to the beauty of his voice, But the people alone shut their ears from hearing. For the sake of his concealment, the heart became signs, And because of him, the bright ones darkened and the earth trembled.

Because of his iniquity he resisted the executioner and repented from his iniquity, so that he saw and repented and sought and was reconciled to his folly. His divinity was revealed in his humanity to the eye of all creatures, that he might suffer like a human being, he who is a son of God. The Jews crucified the bodily Son of God, not God the Word of the Father who was born from him. Nails pierced the bodily flesh, not the essence of the one who is high above the creatures. The executioner saw the exposed body on the top of the wood, not the hidden covering that is seen only by the Spirit. The Spirit of revelation showed the heart of the robber that the man who terrifies the people with his shout is the Son of God. The people were ashamed and the demons were confounded at the truth that was revealed in him, that he was the one who caused the multitude and the sons of his side to be ashamed by his preaching. By the voice of his confession he put to shame the rebel who had enslaved Adam, so that on the top of the wood he removed from him the captivity of the seven. He was ashamed of one human being who had come against him, and he was not able to stand and stop him from confessing in him. He spread out through the confession that he confessed to him, and for his salvation he sealed it with 'Amen' to the word of his mouth. With 'Amen' he sealed the word that is the seal of truth, that 'Today you will be with me in Paradise through the request of the soul.' 'With me you will not be in the place of Paradise,' he said to him, 'but after Paradise and not in heaven, where he is.

He sought a kingdom, not a garden, from the thief, and he asked from him blessed fruits, not plants. What is this, that he was able to say even to the thief: "A kingdom has been asked of you, not a garden"? If it is of the Lord, come, and of your own, go up to height and depth; what are you astonished at, from that which is not to be completed, the confession of your words? Come to the height that is not dissolved, in your request for inheritance; what do you give me as an inheritance of the land whose inhabitants are poor? The earth is a gift, and the garden, however beautiful it is, is destructible; the food of its fruits, however sweet it is, is perishable. Do not think that these things are true within his thought, that the sign of his sin which followed him did not cease. That one who lied about the mystery of the invisible kingdom cast upon him the commands of silence that are not to be divided. By faith he sought the kingdom from the one who was his debtor, and from afar he brought him into the time until he was chosen. He was not able to enter with him at this sacrifice, without the great order of that season being established. By that order that entry occurs at the completion of the sacrifices, and together the watchers and the fire enter, a great labor. And since he did not permit him to enter with him, it was not fitting; he brought him in by hope to the mystery of the entry into the kingdom.

He brought the thief into the place of eternity, not into a body, in that man who is able to receive spiritual things. To his fullness he gave the breadth of future things, for he knew that the hope placed upon him is not deceptive. He gave him the breadth of life in eternity, to the son of mortals, so that death, which enslaves Adam and his offspring, might be dissolved. Where sin began the head of humanity, and death killed him, he brought desire into the path of the thief's repentance. In the days of his father, upon the one who dwells as a thief, he saw him groaning, wailing, and weeping without comfort. To the place where it erred, a command passed over the face of Adam, upon Adam by the hand of the executioner who is over the people of the Lord. The Lord himself and the executioner are alike, and he opened the door before the souls of the rocks. The fence of wrath was built before their faces, so that he did not enter, and the Lord opened his door and brought him in with his entrance. To the shame of the demons, he opened Paradise before mortals, so that they rejoiced that the thief had now come out by means of their entrance. To the head of the air, he spread out and shamed by this which he did, that he expelled Adam from the inheritance which his Lord gave him. He saw the destruction that would never again be repaired, that Adam would not return to his place, and he was shamed by the silence, for he saw him in eternity in two persons. Two entered before one righteous man and one sinner, for he knew that good and evil would enter.

He grieved for the thief and was greatly troubled, more than the master whose door poured forth blood to the wall of the wound. In his thought he had hoped, the bold mind that closed paradise, and when he saw that his opening had seized a groan, he cut off hope. He saw that the way to the Garden was blocked for the man of dust. And he wailed and wept, for he remained alone in the tombs. "What shall I do?" said the bitter self to him, the king whom I cast into exile, who seeks his kingdom. "Where shall I go?" the evil one asked his evil nature, for Adam seized height and depth through his offspring. He measured his time before paradise, where blood does not inherit, and no place remains in the land that is not his inheritance. "Blessed would I be in the inheritance of the land that was wounded in the land, and no new good came to me that ascends above." It was pleasing to me that he bent the earth doubly, and the heir of height and the son of the kingdom was not hidden. I would have rested if I had inherited both height and depth, and I would not have ascended to the high step of divinity. He is of his kind, this one who was crucified on the head of the wood, and behold, heaven and earth confess his limbs. He hung on the cross and nails are fixed in his body, and he says in Amen that he is able to give a high kingdom. He was cast into the furnace of suffering and is near to death, and a certain fool stood up and begged him, "Give me life.

The bold ones were added to him, the slanderer. After the sound of the voice that reminded my Lord, "When you come, come." As much as the executioner was troubled over the head of the wood, he increased and was stretched out bitterly. As much as he struck, he was confessing, "Let it not be with me." He was perishing in the furnace of his strong nature. As much as he swore and sealed his word with "Amen," he was wailing like a woman whose womb is in pain. Like a man who swallowed a bridle in the halter of his ways, and from everything the voice of the executioner was piercing him. And if the executioner of his disciple was thus piercing her, what will he do when heaven and earth cry out against him? If the one who knows his secret reveals and discloses his ignorance, where will he go when the city and the country cry out against him? If the murderer receives the confession of the kingdom of heaven, with what eyes will he look when the whole assembly enters? O executioner who cut off the hope of the householder and set up and chose for the poor one hope in the forgiveness of his iniquity. O one who was condemned and found himself in the debts that he took, the document of his debts was torn by one word. O one who was entirely defiled in all his beloved iniquity, who trampled upon all the pure waters of repentance. O one who plundered and robbed the regions in all his life, and on the day of his death plundered the heavenly goods.

O the persecutors who were hidden from the path of his wickedness, who opened the way of repentance before sinners. O the laborer who consumes his days in vain, who spoke the word and received the reward of the kingdom of heaven. O how and in what manner shall I fashion the image of your forgiveness, O wicked one, that your seal may be set, giving ranks to your rank that is hidden? My tongue is too small to fashion your story, O struggling thief, and I do not know how many hidden wonders of your repentance are revealed. Your whole life and the events of your latter days, you sinned as you wished, and you acted and did as pleased you. Your wickedness alone knows the folds of your heart, and knowing you, it does not reveal to you the greatness of your wickedness. Wisely he fashions your story with the page of his sufferings, that every man may learn to contend in sufferings toward the future. Response: Glory to you, O revealer of the erring, to the knowledge of the greatness of his glory.