THE SECOND WORD FROM THE CROSS (10 OF 19)
Scripture: Luke 23:39-43
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The Second Word from the Cross (10 of 19)
Series: Cross Examination
Wyman Richardson
Luke 23:39-43
Read Luke 23:39-43
In Act I of Samuel Beckett's enigmatic play, ''Waiting for Godot,'' the two main characters, Vladimir and Estragon, are in conversation when Vladimir alludes to the penitent thief on the cross.
VLADIMIR: Ah yes, the two thieves. Do you remember the story?
ESTRAGON: No.
VLADIMIR: Shall I tell it to you?
ESTRAGON: No.
VLADIMIR: It'll pass the time. (Pause.) Two thieves, crucified at the same time as our Saviour. One-
ESTRAGON: Our what?
VLADIMIR: Our Saviour. Two thieves. One is supposed to have been saved and the other . . . (he searches for the contrary of saved) . . . damned.
ESTRAGON: Saved from what?
VLADIMIR: Hell.
ESTRAGON: I'm going. (He does not move.)
VLADIMIR: And yet...(pause)...how is it - this is not boring you I hope - how is it that of the four Evangelists only one speaks of a thief being saved. The four of them were there - or thereabouts - and only one speaks of a thief being saved...
ESTRAGON: (with exaggerated enthusiasm). I find this really most extraordinarily interesting.
VLADIMIR: One out of four. Of the other three, two don't mention any thieves at all and the third says that both of them abused him...
ESTRAGON: Well what of it?
VLADIMIR: Then the two of them must have been damned.
ESTRAGON: And why not?
VLADIMIR: But one of the four says that one of the two was saved.
ESTRAGON: Well? They don't agree and that's all there is to it.
VLADIMIR: But all four were there. And only one speaks of a thief being saved. Why believe him rather than the others?
ESTRAGON: Who believes him?
VLADIMIR: Everybody. It's the only version they know.
It is a fascinating conversation to overhear, and one that raises an interesting question. In reality, three of the gospels, the three synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), don't mention the two thieves at all and, yes, ...
Series: Cross Examination
Wyman Richardson
Luke 23:39-43
Read Luke 23:39-43
In Act I of Samuel Beckett's enigmatic play, ''Waiting for Godot,'' the two main characters, Vladimir and Estragon, are in conversation when Vladimir alludes to the penitent thief on the cross.
VLADIMIR: Ah yes, the two thieves. Do you remember the story?
ESTRAGON: No.
VLADIMIR: Shall I tell it to you?
ESTRAGON: No.
VLADIMIR: It'll pass the time. (Pause.) Two thieves, crucified at the same time as our Saviour. One-
ESTRAGON: Our what?
VLADIMIR: Our Saviour. Two thieves. One is supposed to have been saved and the other . . . (he searches for the contrary of saved) . . . damned.
ESTRAGON: Saved from what?
VLADIMIR: Hell.
ESTRAGON: I'm going. (He does not move.)
VLADIMIR: And yet...(pause)...how is it - this is not boring you I hope - how is it that of the four Evangelists only one speaks of a thief being saved. The four of them were there - or thereabouts - and only one speaks of a thief being saved...
ESTRAGON: (with exaggerated enthusiasm). I find this really most extraordinarily interesting.
VLADIMIR: One out of four. Of the other three, two don't mention any thieves at all and the third says that both of them abused him...
ESTRAGON: Well what of it?
VLADIMIR: Then the two of them must have been damned.
ESTRAGON: And why not?
VLADIMIR: But one of the four says that one of the two was saved.
ESTRAGON: Well? They don't agree and that's all there is to it.
VLADIMIR: But all four were there. And only one speaks of a thief being saved. Why believe him rather than the others?
ESTRAGON: Who believes him?
VLADIMIR: Everybody. It's the only version they know.
It is a fascinating conversation to overhear, and one that raises an interesting question. In reality, three of the gospels, the three synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), don't mention the two thieves at all and, yes, ...
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