Of thieves, zealots, and crucifixion

by Levy Abad

I was hanging out at Polo Park, one of the big malls in Winnipeg, when I heard one of my Filipino compatriots say, “Eh yun ngang magnanakaw na napako (referring to Dismas, the Penitent) sa tabi ni Jesus naligtas” (one of the robbers crucified beside Jesus was saved). He was referring to Bible verses in Luke 23:39-43 and Matthew 27:38-44. The way the brother mentioned “magnanakaw” or robber was expressed with definitiveness, which made me wonder where he got this idea. Take note that the names Dismas and Gestas are not found in the canonical Gospels but only in the Apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus, which was written in the fourth century and serves only as a literary reference.

I’ve attended Bible studies hosted by different churches, and one thing I noticed is that most facilitators assert that those poor guys were thieves or criminals. Curious, I did my research. First stop was A.I. Overview, where it says, “The Greek New Testament lestai typically translates to ‘bandits’ or ‘brigands,’ rather than just ‘thieves.’” It refers to individuals involved in robbery and who are also associated with political agitation or rebellion against the “Roman Imperial rule,” particularly in the context of first-century Israel/Palestine. The etymological root of the word thief in Greek is kleptes, that is, plain and simple stealing, as contraposed to lestai, with its insurgent and subversive connotation, and for which the condemned is punished by crucifixion.

From name-tag to red-tag

Reflecting on the readings, one might consider Dismas and Gestas as thieves at the outset. However, upon closer analysis, this view seems inadequate, since they are not ordinary thieves, but zealots or revolutionaries fighting the Roman occupation. Even during the first century, rebels were already “name-tagged” as thieves to demean their love of God and country. Jesus himself was name-tagged and vilified by the authorities, calling him Beelzebub (Matthew 12:22-30), a blasphemer (Mathew 9:1-8), and for “inciting the people” (Luke 23:13-46). Anybody who questions the Roman authorities and their ruling class’s theocratic collaborators was branded, preparing them for elimination or crucifixion. This reminds me of the priests and pastors in the Philippines who were assassinated due to their prophetic denunciation of the structures of injustice and oppression, and their longing for integral liberation of the oppressed in the context of neocolonialism. Most of these victims were name-tagged or, in our present context, red-tagged as terrorists/communists. Among them were Rev. Pastor Noli Capulong of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), Bishop Alberto Ramento of the Philippine Independent Church (IFI), and Catholic Priest, Father Marcelito “Tito” Paez, coordinator of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP).

Dismas, the Penitent, saved

Dismas, the Penitent, saved? Yes, and why not? In answering this question, it would be helpful to note that Dismas and Gestas were not common thieves who were punished by merely returning what they stole. Both of them were zealots or revolutionaries who fought for their people’s liberation, like those who led the people in the exodus from Egypt or from Roman occupation during their time. Research will tell that being a zealot means leaving everything behind and devoting one’s life to the struggle for liberation to the point of giving up one’s life for the cause. This is easy to understand for modern-day activists or church missionaries who sacrificed and continue to sacrifice for justice and peace, as commanded in the Scripture. I could imagine that even Jesus appreciates this since there was a zealot among his disciples in the person of Simon, who was willing to die to fulfill the commandments to love God and to love one’s neighbour. Following these commandments subverts the Roman slave system and ideology. Furthermore, Jesus’ act of saving Dismas was not new, for Jesus knew the heart of a revolutionary. Jesus left the comfort of power. He immersed himself in human history to sow the seeds of freedom and justice, and contriteness of heart, leading to crucifixion and resurrection. I can envision that Jesus appreciates Dismas and Gestas, but it was Dismas’ revolutionary humility, trust in God, contriteness of heart, and sincere compassion that earned him an instant entry to paradise (Luke 23:43). What do you think?

Levy Abad is the author of Rhythms and Resistance: Narrative of Filipino Musicians and Activists (1972-1994). He is also a singer-songwriter, poet, and migrant rights activist who has released four albums centred on the life and struggles of migrants.