SEVEN WORDS TO JESUS; Word Four: Save Yourself and Us
By Gail K. Kachnycz 3 March 2026
And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his
left. Mark 15:27 KJV
Then there were two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the
left. Matthew 27:38
One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ?
Save Yourself and us!” But the other responded, and rebuking him, said, “Do you not even fear God,
since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are
receiving what we deserve for our crimes; but this Man has done nothing wrong."Luke 23:39-41 NASB2020
Matthew and Mark specify that Jesus was crucified with other condemned men, one on either side.
The King James Version (KJV) uses the word “thieves” to describe them, but the modern translations
use the more accurate terms “criminals” or “rebels.” Since I am no expert in Greek, I asked our pastor
to supply and define the Greek words that were used. The Gospel of Luke uses the word “kakourgos,”
which means criminal or evil-doer. Matthew and Mark use the word “leisteis,” which means robber,
brigand, or insurrectionist. The Oxford Dictionary provides these definitions:
Robber: a person who takes property unlawfully by force or threat of force
Brigand: a member of a gang that ambushes and robs people in forests and mountains.
Insurrectionist: a person who is engaged in violent uprising against an authority or government.
Thief: a person who steals another person’s property, especially by stealth and without using force
or violence. [emphasis added]
With the proper translation and definition, it makes more sense that crucifixion was the punishment.
Rome would certainly eliminate anyone who threatened the safety on their system of roads, or dared to
overthrow their rule.
It is quite possible that the two men being executed were comrades in arms, part of the same gang
of brigands or fighters trying to undermine Roman authority. Whatever their crimes, they were violent
men. In extreme pain, one chose verbal abuse as a way to attack even in his final hours. The other
recognized that he had lived by the sword and was therefore dying by the “sword,” that is, the rightful
punishment for the violence he had inflicted on others.
The abusive brigand challenged Jesus: “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” In times of
pain and crisis, do we sometimes question God? If God really cared, He would smooth our path and
relieve our suffering. If God doesn’t help, He must not love us. If God is love, why does He allow
innocent babies to be born with birth defects or get cancer? If God is all-powerful, why does He allow
natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes? Why doesn’t He prevent them and save us? Why do bad
things happen, especially to people who trust Him, if God could change them?
There is no easy answer. In the foundation essays for this blog, I state that Christian scholars have
addressed this better than I ever could. The book by the late Dr. James Dobson,
When God Doesn’t Make Sense, is recommended. Deeper Questions 4 June 2025
Because Jesus did not step down from the cross, He can enter our suffering and say, “I understand
your pain.”
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who
has been tempted in every way, just as we are– yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of
grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.Hebrews 4:15 & 16 NIV
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