Posted on: 06 Feb 2005
On the cross, when Jesus was present in such a horrible condition, the two thieves, who were also crucified, got the same universal doubt that how the Lord in human form can get crucified and cry loudly “Oh Lord! Why did you leave Me?” This scene will clearly establish the doubt in the heart of any human being that Jesus cannot be the Lord. The doubt comes due to the important point as to how the Lord, who was unable to protect Himself, would protect others? But the doubter should also think of the scene in which Lord Jesus asked a dead body to become alive. Only the Lord has the power to give life. Thus we find these two contradicting concepts of the Lord [giving life] and the human body [suffering on the cross] of the Lord. The concept of the Lord attracts the human beings. The concept of the human body tests the human beings and filters the real devotee out of them.
The second thief believed in Holy Jesus as the Lord even in that pathetic condition. Such devotion is great and real. He did not show this belief when he saw Holy Jesus raising the dead body. When a girl loves the son of a king who is in the disguise of a beggar, her love is great. When the king declares himself as the king, every girl will love him and want to marry him to become the queen. The thief did not ask for any worldly desire. He could have asked Holy Jesus to give Him life itself and Holy Jesus could have given it because He was still the Lord even on the cross. The thief asked only protection in the upper world and did not ask for any materialistic boon. Thus he is certainly a higher devotee. He did not see any miracle and believed Holy Jesus as the Lord, who placed Himself in such a terrible situation.
The human incarnation is a game of the Lord (Narayana) and the human body (Nara). The thief showed correct understanding of the human incarnation. The internal Lord is great and the external human body follows all the natural rules. A blade can cut even the shirt of a king. Even though his shirt is cut, the king does not loose his powers and the quality of kindness. The thief approached the internal Lord and the internal Lord assured the thief. This shows what a realized soul the thief is! That is the highest test for the faith in spirituality and so the thief deserves the complete grace of the Lord. The other thief confused the Lord with the human body. Like all other human beings he thought that if the shirt of a king is torn, the king has lost all his powers. The Gita says that even the highest criminal is blessed by the Lord if he is a real devotee (Apichet Sa duracharah…).
The Lord considers faith and devotion as the criteria and not the qualities of the devotee. We pay for the contents in the cup and not for the colour or material of the cup. Kannappa, a hunter was given salvation by Lord Shiva. The Lord sees the selfless sacrifice and faith, which are the fruits of real devotion and real knowledge. When Lakshmana became unconscious, Rama was weeping. Hanuman brought the mountain containing the Sanjeevini plant, and saved Lakshmana. Rama expressed His gratefulness to Hanuman. In this scene even the audience will believe that Hanuman is God and Rama is a devotee. But Hanuman himself declared that he could do service to Lord Rama only by the grace of the Lord Rama. This is a test for his faith and faith is the fruit of determination that comes out from divine knowledge. Sacrifice is the fruit of devotion or love. Lord tests your faith and your sacrifice so that you will know in what stage of divine knowledge and devotion you really are.