DOCSLIB.ORG

Do You Know God Exists?

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Do You Know God Exists? “STANDING AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS” Introduction: A. Today Imagine That You Were In Jerusalem On The Day That Jesus Was Crucified 2,000 Years Ago. B. (Slide #2) You Know About The Frustrating Events The Night Before. 1. (►) Jesus arrested by hundreds of soldiers! Mt. 26:47-56 2. The mockery of trials that He endured: a. (►) Annas -- the High Priest emeritus Jn. 18:13 (During this event Peter denied Him the first time. Jn. 18:15-17) b. (►) Caiaphas -- the ruling High Priest Jn. 18:24 (During this event Peter denied Him two more times. Jn. 18:25,26) C. (Slide #3) Events The Morning Of The Crucifixion: 1. (►) Pilate -- the Roman governor Jn. 18:28,29; Lk. 23:1-4 2. (►) Herod Antipas -- the tetrarch of Galilee Lk. 23:5-10 3. (►) Pilate. Lk. 23:11-25 a. Scourged by a Roman lictor, a professional torturer! Mt. 27:26 b. Surrounded by a whole garrison of soldiers, they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on him, placed a reed in His right hand, and shoved a crown of thorns on His head. Then they mockingly bowed before Him saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” After spitting on Him, and hitting Him in the head with the reed that He had held. Then they put His own clothes back on Him and sent Him to be crucified. Mt. 27:27-31 4. (►) He was led through the streets of Jerusalem; falling under the weight of the patibulum, Simon of Cyrene was compelled to carry it to the place of crucifixion. 5. (►) He was taken outside of the city to Calvary or Golgotha (“The Place of the Skull)! Mt. 27:31; Mk. 15:22; Lk. 23:33; Jn. 19:17 1 6. (►) He was nailed to the cross; above Him was the accusation: “This Is Jesus The King Of The Jews!” Mt. 27:35; Mk. 15:26; Lk. 23:38; Jn. 19:19. It was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Jn. 19:20 D. (Slide #4) Events You See As You “Stand At The Foot Of The Cross.” 1. (►) Roman executioners just “doing their job” on another crucifixion day! a. Two robbers were crucified to His right and left. Mt. 27:38; Mk. 15:27; Lk. 23:33; Jn. 19:18 b. Jesus’ amazing statement: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Lk. 23:34 2. (►) Unbelievers blaspheming Him, wagging their heads, and saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” Mt. 27:39,40; Mk. 15:29,30 3. (►) Religious leaders, chief priests, scribes, and elders mocking: “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. 43He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” Mt. 27:42,43; Mk. 15:31,32; Lk. 23:35 4. (►) Roman soldiers mocked Him. Lk. 23:37 “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.” They also cast lots for His tunic. Jn. 19:23,24 5. (►) Agonizing robbers who were crucified on both sides of Him reviled Him! Mt. 27:44; Mk. 15:32 a. One of the criminal blasphemed Him: “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” Lk. 23:39 b. The other criminal rebuked the blasphemer: “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Lk. 23:40,41 c. The penitent thief said to Jesus: “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” Lk. 23:42 d. Jesus’ response to the penitent thief: “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Lk. 23:43 6. (Slide #5) Beginning at 9 AM, God the Father brought about supernatural events that shook observers to the core of their hearts! a. (►) From 9 AM to Noon -- Total darkness over all the land. Mt. 27:45; Mk. 15:33; Lk. 23:44 b. (►) The veil of the Temple was rent from top to bottom, (►) an earthquake occurred that caused rocks to split apart, and (►) graves were opened and dead saints were resurrected! Mt. 27:51,52; Mk. 15:38; Lk. 23:45 2 7. (Slide #6) Reactions to all these events! a. (►) These events caused one of the Roman soldiers to declare: “Oh My! Truly this was the Son of God!” Mt. 27:54; Mk. 15:39 and again, “Certainly this was a righteous Man!” Lk. 23:47 b. (►) The whole crowd began to beat their breasts!!! Lk. 23:48 c. (►) You hear Jesus speak on the Cross: 1. “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Mt. 27:46; Mk. 15:34 2. “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Lk. 23:46 3. He showed His concern for His mother as He asked John to care for her. Jn. 19:26,27 4. “It is finished.” Jn. 19:30 d. (►) You see His mother, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and Zebedee’s wife who was the mother of James and John all standing at a distance observing! Mt. 27:55,56; Lk. 43:49; Jn. 19:25. Also, Salome. Mk. 15:40 e. (Slide #7) You observe the hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders who asked Pilate to break the legs of those crucified so they would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath! Jn. 19:31 And you see the soldiers break the legs of the thieves but when they came to Jesus, they realized that He was already dead; they broke none of His bones. Jn. 19:32,33 You see a soldier pierce His side and blood and water poured out! Jn. 19:34-37 f. (►) The solemn tribute of Joseph of Arimathea who secretly gets permission from Pilate to remove His Body and to bury it. Mk. 15:42- 43. Pilate marveled that He was already dead; He summoned a centurion to affirm that He was truly dead! Mk. 15:44. Joseph then was given the body of Jesus to bury; he buried it in a never used tomb. Mt. 27:57-60; Mk. 15:45-46; Lk. 23:50-53; Jn. 19:38,41. Nicodemus helped Joseph of Arimathea prepare the body for burial. Jn. 19:39,40 E. (Slide #8) What Do You See As You Stand At The Foot Of The Cross? 1. Hymn: “Have You Seen Jesus My Lord?” Verse 3: Have you ever looked at the cross, with a man hanging in pain And the look of love in his eyes? Then I say You’ve seen Jesus my Lord. (refrain) Chorus: Have you seen Jesus my Lord? He’s here in plainview. Take a look, open your eyes, 3 He’ll show it to you. -- Words and Music by John Fischer, 1970 2. What do YOU see as you stand at the foot of the Cross? I. (Slide #9) You See The SUFFERING Of Jesus! A. You See His Mental Anguish In The Garden BEFORE The Arrest! 1. Mt. 26:38 “Then He said to them, ‘My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.’” 2. Mt. 26:39 “He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, ‘O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.’” 3. Lk. 22:44 “And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” B. “See The Man Hanging In Pain!” C. No Wonder: 1. The emotional weight of humiliation and hate railed against Him. 2. The torture of scourging! 3. The agony of crucifixion. 4. The lack of sleep. D. Does It Deeply Touch Your Heart To See Jesus Suffering? 1. A Member Of The Godhead! a. “the Word was God!” Jn. 1:1 b. “Immanuel” which being translated is “God with us!” Mt. 1:23 2. The Creator Of This Universe! a. Jn. 1:3 “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” b. Jn. 1:11 “He came to His own [Greek neuter plural -- “own things”!], and His own [Greek masculine plural -- “his own people”!] did not receive Him.” 4 E. You See His Mental Anguish As He Dies: Mt 27:46 “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” F. And You Remind Yourself, “This Was A Perfect And An INNOCENT Man! 1. As Judas remorsefully cried as he threw the 30 pieces of silver in the floor of the Temple: “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” Mt. 27:3-5 2. As Pilate said when Jesus was brought to him the first time: “I find no fault in this Man.’ Lk. 23:4; Jn. 18:38 3. And as Pilate affirmed during the second trial: a. “You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; 15no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him.” Lk. 23:14,15 b.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Emmaus Doctrinal Papers
    EMMAUS DOCTRINAL PAPERS Emmaus Doctrinal Papers are a comprehensive compilation of important Biblical subjects. They are invaluable to a counselor who wants to answer questions, clarify a subject, or furnish additional information to his student. You may ask the Home Office to send the student a copy of any of the papers by indicating the number and letter on the TAB. If you would like a copy of any paper for yourself, please request it on the Request for Supplies form. 1. ANGELS a. Angelology 2. BAPTISM a. Water Baptism b. Baptism of Infants 3. BIBLE a. How Do We Know the Bible Is Complete? b. Bible Translations c. Bibliology Revelation/ Illumination/ Inspiration 4. CAPITAL PUNISHMENT a. Capital Punishment - Scriptural? 5. DANCING a. Dancing - a Sin? 6. DEATH a. Death b. Accountability after Death of Babies, Children, Still Born c. Accountability after Death of Children and "Childlike" Retarded 7. DISCIPLES/APOSTLES a. What Is a Disciple? b. Apostles’ Authority 8. DRUGS a. Drug Usage 9. ELECTION/PREDESTINATION a. Explain Election/Explain Predestination 10. EMMAUS a. Denomination? 11. ETERNAL SECURITY a. Hebrews 10 Explained b. Eternal Security (Radio Bible Class) 12. EVOLUTION a. Evolution 13. FAITH a. Faith ABOUT vs. Faith IN Christ b. What Is Faith (O.J. Smith) 14. FASTING a. Teaching of N.T. Concerning Fasting b. Fasting (Scripture Ref. & Note) 15. GOD a. Theology Proper b. Where Is God? Is God Dead? c. Can God Be Seen by Man? d. Does Everyone Hear of God? 16. HEALING a. Healing (Through Faith? Working?) b. Some Notes on Sickness, Infirmities, and Healing 17.
    [Show full text]
  • The Parousia
    The Parousia A Careful Look at the New Testament Doctrine of our Lord’s Second Coming, By James Stuart Russell By James Stuart Russell Originally digitized by Todd Dennis beginning in 1996 TABLE OF CONTENTS HIGH PRAISE FOR "THE PAROUSIA" PREFACE TO THE BOOK INTRODUCTORY. THE LAST WORDS OF OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY. THE BOOK OF MALACHI The Interval between Malachi and John the Baptist PART I. THE PAROUSIA IN THE GOSPELS. THE PAROUSIA PREDICTED BY JOHN THE BAPTIST The Teaching of our Lord Concerning the Parousia in the Synoptical Gospels:- Prediction of Coming Wrath upon that Generation Further allusions to the Coming Wrath Impending fate of the Jewish nation (Parable of the Barren Fig-tree) The End of the Age, or close of the Jewish dispensation (Parables of Tares and Drag-net) The Coming of the Son of Man (the Parousia) in the Lifetime of the Apostles The Parousia to take place within the Lifetime of some of the Disciples The Coming of the Son of man certain and speedy (Parable of the Importunate Widow) The Reward of the Disciples in the Coming AEon, i.e. at the Parousia Prophetic Intimations of the approaching Consummation of the Kingdom of God:- i. Parable of the Pounds ii. Lamentation of Jesus over Jerusalem iii. Parable of the Wicked Husbandman iv. Parable of the Marriage of the King's Son v. Woes denounced on the Scribes and Pharisees vi. Lamentation (second) of Jesus over Jerusalem vii. The Prophecy on the Mount of Olives The Prophecy on the Mount examined:- I. Interrogatory of the Disciples II.
    [Show full text]
  • I Just Can't Bring Myself to Join
    just can’t bring myself to join the crowd crying out, “Crucify Ihim!” I want to hang on to the opening gospel and continue to shout, “Hosanna, Hosanna!” We begin Mass today glorifying Jesus and end it killing him. So which person are we: Christ’s disciples or his executioners? Sometimes we act with the humility of the beatitudes, Forgiveness abounds other times with the egocentricity Volunteers offer strength for the journey of the unchurched. This is the very reason we walk our Lenten Dismas House Ministry volunteers enjoyed a Mass said by Archbishop journey: to be enlightened of this Wilton Gregory at the transition facility. dichotomy and ach Thursday, a carload of yearly, said Jo Simon, the ministry freed from our ESt. Ann parishioners makes leader at St. Ann. The volunteers, personal failings. its way around Interstate 285 for she said, are a consistent reminder Today we an appointment. These Dismas that there are people in the enter Holy Week, Ministry volunteers seek to community who will be there for the most sacred encourage, inspire and motivate them. of times for people transitioning from “I particularly enjoy the direct Christians and Reflection incarceration back into normal life. interaction with Dismas residents,” an intense and Deacon Keith Kolodziej “Everyone makes mistakes,” said Melise Etheridge. “I know we final preparation said Christine Holt, “some more make an impact on their lives with for Easter. Take the time to join severe than others. However, Christ our classes [because] many relay your community on Holy Thursday demands that we all seek and give their success stories to us.
    [Show full text]
  • JOHN WESLEYS NOTES on the WHOLE BIBLE the NEW TESTAMENT by John Wesley
    JOHN WESLEYS NOTES ON THE WHOLE BIBLE THE NEW TESTAMENT by John Wesley PREFACE 1. For many years I have had a desire of setting down and laying together, what has occurred to my mind, either in reading, thinking, or conversation, which might assist serious persons, who have not the advantage of learning, in understanding the New Testament. But I have been continually deterred from attempting any thing of this kind, by a deep sense of my own inability: of my want, not only of learning for such a work, but much more, of experience and wisdom. This has often occasioned my laying aside the thought. And when, by much importunity, I have been prevailed upon to resume it, still I determined to delay it as long as possible, that (if it should please God) I might finish my work and my life together. 2. But having lately had a loud call from God to arise and go hence, I am convinced that if I attempt any thing of this kind at all, I must not delay any longer. My day is far spent, and (even in a natural way) the shadows of the evening come on apace. And I am the rather induced to do what little I can in this way, because I can do nothing else: being prevented, by my present weakness, from either travelling or preaching. But, blessed be God, I can still read, and write, and think. O that it may be to his glory! 3. It will be easily discerned, even from what I have said already, and much more from the notes themselves, that they were not principally designed for men of learning; who are provided with many other helps: and much less for men of long and deep experience in the ways and word of God.
    [Show full text]
  • Meditations on the Seven Words Good Friday—April 18, 2014 at St
    Meditations on the Seven Words Good Friday—April 18, 2014 at St. Peter’s, Balaton The First Word—Luke 23:34 “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Crucifying people was no easy job. Condemned criminals wanted to make things as difficult for their Roman executioners as they could. Soldiers routinely faced all kinds of attacks from their charges. The guilty would bite the soldiers carrying out their grim task. Kicking, punching, scratching and screaming these men went to their deaths, even though they knew they deserved their fate. After a while, the soldiers got smarter. To prevent unnecessary struggle, criminals’ arms and legs would often be tied to the cross to make the driving of the nails into the hands and feet easier. A drink of myrrh and aloes would be offered to the guilty. This was a drug designed to relax the prisoners and decrease their resistance. For two of the condemned on Good Friday, it was business as usual. But not for the one being crucified on the middle cross. Jesus was different, very different. The soldiers faced no resistance from him. Jesus would not bite his death squad. No cursing of the soldiers spewed from our Lord’s mouth. There would be no spitting in their faces or kicking and scratching as the soldiers tried to tie his hands to the cross. In fact, the soldiers would not need any ropes for Jesus. Quietly, without resistance, as a Lamb led to the slaughter before his shearers is silent, Jesus willingly laid down on his cross and submitted to the terrible agony awaiting him.
    [Show full text]
  • The Deposition from the Cross, by Caravaggio (1571-1610)
    THE LAST 24 HOURS The Deposition From the Cross, by Caravaggio (1571-1610). PHOTO: CNS, VATICAN MUSEUMS EASTER 2020 I am the Resurrection and the Life We’ve all heard the Gospel passages describing Christ’s Passion so often. Yet how much do we really understand about what they mean, or the true significance of what happened? Historian Warren Carroll brings alive the event which Christians believe is not merely a point along an historical continuum in time, but the centre of history itself ... - By warren carroll - n the evening of Thursday 6 April, 30 still characteristic presumption for once in abeyance as they AD, Jesus celebrated the paschal meal contemplated the magnitude of the crime and the certainty with the Twelve. A celebrated contro- with which the Lord had predicted it. Judas joined in the ques- versy, extending through almost the tion; to him alone Jesus replied, inaudibly’ to the others: “You entire history of the Church, arises be- have said it. “Then John, leaning against Jesus with his head cause the first three gospels, clearly de- on His breast” - as the historian Prat well says, “the memory of scribing the Last Supper as a Passover that privilege was to sweeten his whole life”- at the prompting meal, seem to contradict St John who of Peter, asked Jesus who the traitor was, and to him alone Jesus states in his Gospel that Jesus died on identified Judas Iscariot. “What you are going to do, do quick- the day before the Passover, the “preparation day,’’ in which ly, “Jesus then told Judas, who went out at once; John’s Gospel case the paschal meal would normally have been eaten on Fri- adds starkly, “and it was night.” Oday evening rather than on Thursday evening.
    [Show full text]
  • Christ the King Sunday, Year C Nov
    1 Christ the King Sunday, Year C Nov. 24, 2019 St. James Episcopal Church, Wheat Ridge Jeremiah 23:1-6; Psalm 46; Colossians 1:11-20; Luke 23:33-43 By the Rev. Becky Jones The third season of the hit Netflix series “The Crown” Was released a week ago, last Sunday. Anybody watched any of it yet? The series is a fictionalized account Of the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth, Starting with her marriage to Prince Phillip in 1947, And it’s projected to last Right on up to the present day. The third season opens in 1964, And will take us into the 1970s. It follows Elizabeth as she leads her country And her family through a series of crises. Had this been any other week but THIS week, When I’ve been more than a little distracted By yesterday’s festivities, I bet I would have binge-watched At least three or four of the episodes by now. As it is, I’ve only had time to watch the first episode, Which is entitled “Olding.” The title refers both to the queen’s reaching middle age, AND to a spy scandal At the heart of the British establishment. The episode opens with Elizabeth inspecting a new portrait of herself. It’s the image that’s going to be going onto the postage stamps. It will replace the image of the young princess. She’s now an older Elizabeth. The new portrait is supposed to convey a sense of majesty, The profile of a settled monarch. 2 But Elizabeth looks at it and the first words she says are “old bat.” But that’s how she looked.
    [Show full text]
  • The Way of Salvation by J
    The Way of Salvation by J. C. Ryle Where must a man go for pardon? Where is forgiveness to be found? There is a way both sure and plain, and into that way I desire to guide every inquirers feet. That way is simply to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior. It is to cast your soul with all its sins, unreservedly on Christ—to cease completely from any dependence on your own works or doings, either in whole or in part—and to rest on no other work but Christ's work—no other righteousness but Christ's righteousness, no other merit but Christ's merit as your ground of hope. Take this course—and you are a pardoned soul. Says Peter "All the prophets testify about Him, that through His name everyone who believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins." (Acts 10:43). Says Paul at Antioch, "Through this Man forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you, and everyone who believes in Him is justified from everything." (Acts 13:38). "In Him," writes Paul to the Colossians, "we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins" (Col. 1:14). The Lord Jesus Christ, in great love and compassion has made a full and complete satisfaction for sin, by suffering death in our place upon the cross. There He offered Himself as a sacrifice for us, and allowed the wrath of God which we deserved—to fall on His own head! For our sins, as our Substitute, He gave Himself, suffered, and died—the just for the unjust, the innocent for the guilty—that He might deliver us from the curse of a broken law, and provide a complete pardon for all who are willing to receive it.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Corinthians 2:14-4:13 Pt.2
    1 Corinthians 2:14-4:13 Pt. 2 Charles Feinberg Feinberg: Christ Comes. Penetrating gaze. It's the testing fire of God's discernment. All will be judged according to God's standards. Not the world's standards and not any earthly government standards to see. What. Kind it is to see the quality that's of what sort. Literally each man's work is the word sort is important not how much it is. Notice that or how many deeds they are but of what kind. God always, hear it, God always looks on the heart. A skeptic once said to his dying fellow unbeliever. Hold on. Hold on. The awful answer was but what am I to hold on to. Going into eternity friends and nothing to hold on to is a frightful. Unthinkable predicament. May God protect you from that sinking and no foundation? Christ is the only foundation and bless God. It is a firm one and all we will ever need and verse fourteen says if a man's work is built on that foundation remains he's going to receive a reward. You see we've indicated that this is for reward and here's the proof of it. Believer gets the reward the reward isn't heaven or eternal life or salvation. Why that's not a reward that's a gift. We never did anything to get into heaven. Not anything to be the recipient of eternal life. Let's not get our scriptural details mixed up this salvation is not a reward.
    [Show full text]
  • "At the Ninth Hour" -- Matthew 27:50-54
    "At the Ninth Hour" -- Matthew 27:50-54 Our Redeemer Lutheran Church Emmett, Idaho 21 April Anno Domini 2000 Good Friday Pastor Michael L. McCoy Dear Baptized, The crucifixion of God Incarnate is so awfully incongruous, so terribly inharmonic, so dreadfully inconsistent that this earth and indeed, the solar system bear witness during the scandalous occasion. The Creator had entered His creation some thirty years earlier and is now crucified by His creatures. God forsakes Himself and the sun’s light is extinguished as darkness covers all the land for three hours - until 3:00pm - until the ninth hour. If that is what transpires when Jesus, the Son of God and the Son of Man, is crucified, what happens at the awe-filled moment of His death ... when He commends His spirit into the hands of His Father ... when Jesus’ body and spirit separate? Please listen to the Good News written in the Gospel of Matthew 27:50-54 under the theme ... ... At the Ninth Hour Jesus, when He had cried out again with a loud voice, yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. Now when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!" Thus far the Word of the Lord our God.
    [Show full text]
  • Gospel Medita)On
    Gospel Medita-on: John 4:1-26 Individually or as a group, watch the Lenten devo-onal video and work through the following medita-on. 23 Yet a &me is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” (Jn. 4:23-24) REFLECT—Sink into this passage for the next seven days using the following prompts: • Find a comfortable place and empty your mind of its many thoughts. • Imagine Jesus speaking the words of verses 23-24 directly to you. o What does he sound like? o What’s the tone of his voice? o What does it mean for your worship to be in both “Spirit and in truth”? REPENT—Take next steps to change your mind and behavior through the following prompts: • Imagine that you are the woman at the well. o Let the places of deep shame, hurt and woundedness come to mind. o Be conscious of what you’re feeling in this moment. o How have you tried to deal with these insecuri&es in the past? • Look into the eyes of Jesus as you stand next to the well. o Describe his facial expression. o What is he asking from you? o How does the light of his presence pierce the darkness of your pain? PRAY—Be embraced by the friendship of the crucified God. My crucified Jesus, wash me with your most precious blood.
    [Show full text]
  • The Good, the Bad, and the Penitent Thief: Langlandian Extremes, the Edge of Salvation, and the Problem of Trajan and Dismas in Piers Plowman
    Marginalia, April 2011 1 The Good, the Bad, and the Penitent Thief: Langlandian Extremes, the Edge of Salvation, and the Problem of Trajan and Dismas in Piers Plowman Alexander Gabrovsky University of Cambridge And yet the synfulle sherewe seide to hymselve: ‘Crist, that on Calvarie upon the cros deidest, Tho Dysmas my brother bisoughte thee of grace, And haddest mercy on that man for Memento sake, (B-text, Passus 5. 464-7)1 In the above passage, Robert the Robber recalls Dismas on the cross, who, in his final moments, defends Christ against the vicious attacks of Gestas, the Bad Thief. At the centre of Robert’s dual address to ‘hymselve’ and ‘Crist’ is Dismas: a ‘man for Memento sake’. Although Robert finds comfort in the established tra- dition of penitential rhetoric, his situation spirals into uncertainty: ‘What bifel of this feloun I kan noght faire shewe’ (B.5.472). Christian theologians were simul- taneously amazed and perplexed with the inherent contradiction that a thief, who receives a kind of clara visio at the crossroads of death, becomes the sole heir to the heavenly kingdom, elevated to a status of glory as the first to enter Paradise.2 It is no coincidence that as a symbol of God’s mercy, Dismas is some- times depicted alongside Christ in the Harrowing of Hell, appealing to the ideal of imitatio Christi.3 In fact, ‘some writers carry the paradox so far as to suggest that the greatest sinners make the greatest saints’,4 which it could be argued contributes to a pattern of colliding Langlandian extremes.
    [Show full text]