The Thief on the Cross

Posted bySusan K. MarlowPosted inA Peek Behind the Curtain

You can find more Peeks Behind the Curtain in Andi’s Attic >>

Jed Hatton returns in “Specter from the Past” in the new Stranger in the Glade: And More Tales from Memory Creek Ranch. This peek behind the curtain gives you a look at why I wrote what I did when Jed is about to die. He has endured much abuse at the hands of Mateo Vega in order to save Andi and baby Jared. He makes his final speech as he’s dying.

“I’m tired of runnin’ from the law.” Jed sucked in another agonizing breath. “Tired of runnin’ from God.” He patted her arm. “I told Him so too.”

Andi sat still, daring to hope. What was Jed saying?

“Can I ask you somethin’ . . . little lady?” Talking was becoming more difficult. For sure, Jed’s ribs were broken. His voice fell to a labored whisper.

“Ask me anything.” Andi leaned her ear close to his lips to catch his next words.

“Will that Christ you’re always prayin’ to remember me if I ask Him? I got a hankerin’ to see them . . . golden streets.”

Andi held Jed’s hand. “The thief on the cross asked the same thing, ‘Remember me,’ and Jesus said, ‘Today you will be with me in Paradise.’”

Jed let out a slow breath. “That’s what I want. Will you help me ask Him?”

I wanted Jed to figure out his wrong ways and find Christ, and I also wanted to make use of a favorite hymn of mine, “Are Ye Able?” I was able to use both ideas in Jed’s “death” scene. But I was not able to use the song itself in the book, like I’ve used other songs. Why not? Because the song wasn’t written until 1926. Too bad!

The first verse of this old hymn goes like this: “Are ye able,” said the Master, “to be crucified with me?” “Yea,” the sturdy dreamers answered, “To the death we follow Thee!” (but they ran away). The second verse always touches me, so I created a video to go with verse two and the chorus. Now, you know a little “peek” at how this small but important plot event came to be. Below the video, if you are interested, is a mini Bible study.

Mini Bible Study: The Thief on the Cross

On page 64, Jed Hatton asks Andi the most important question any person will ever ask. “Will that Christ you’re always prayin’ to remember me if I ask Him?” Andi answers, “The thief on the cross asked the same thing, ‘Remember me,’ and Jesus said, ‘Today you will be with me in Paradise.’”

Read Luke 23:38-43 and answer the questions.

  1. How many criminals were crucified with Jesus?
  2. One of the criminals made fun of Jesus, showing his disbelief. Which little word in verse 39 shows the criminal’s disbelief in the Son of God?
  3. What did he try to get Jesus to do?
  4. The other criminal showed the signs of true repentance and belief in the Son of God, which is what Jesus Himself said in Mark 1:15. “Repent and believe the gospel.”
  5. A person cannot repent if they don’t admit they have sinned. What does this criminal say that shows he knows he has sinned and deserves death (verses 40-41)?   
  6. What does this criminal say that shows he believes that Jesus is the Son of God (vs. 42)?

Published by Susan K. Marlow

I'm the author of the Circle C and Goldtown Adventures series. I blog as "Andi Carter," the main character in the Circle C series. She lives on a huge cattle ranch in 1880s California. These are her adventures.

25 thoughts on “The Thief on the Cross”

    1. You couldn’t have said it better, my sister-in-Christ! Amen and Amen!!! That story is an amazing verse that brings me to tears each time I read it. Jesus truly loves us even when we have been the worst imaginable person!

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  5. A book that I cry each time I read it is ‘Titus a Comrade of the Cross’ by Florence Kingsley. It is about the thief on the cross (the one who accepts Jesus) and his life. It is a little old fashioned like how long the paragraph are but still intriguing!

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      3. I love the audio version. I listen to it on my long trips over the mountains to visit my elderly mother. It’s hours and hours long! I just feel like I’m back in time when I am listening.

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    3. Do you, by any chance, know of Lamplighter books? Is that where your copy of Titus is from? They’re one of my family’s favorites when it comes to old books (and as a recommendation for anyone else reading this, almost ALL their books are amazing. They’re all older books, and they are all family friendly and have a great Christian message. Also, for those who love books themselves, they’re some of the most beautiful hardcover books I’ve seen. They do some audio dramas too, which are beyond description amazing to listen to, and my family’s go-to road trip listen. Anyhow🤪😂)
      If that’s where you got the book, please let me know as I’d 100% love to talk with someone else who knows them, and if not, please check them out as they have so many other good books too, a lot which are similar to that one! Some of my other favorites are Teddy’s Button, Me and Nobbles, and Probable Sons.

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      1. @Sage N,
        Yes!!! I have read some of their books and my family loves listening to the audio books each road trip we take! And yes I’d love to talk with you some more!! I’ll ask my parents if we can share email address’ and contact each other through that. If they say yes I’ll ask Mrs. M to help us set it up!

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      4. Each of you, Emma and Sage, send me your email addresses via the contact form. I will then get you two in touch with each other. Fun, fun, fun!

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  6. This is such a special post. Thank you. It brought both tears and rejoicing. I am so thankful that I asked Jesus into my heart when i was a young girl. He has been my Savior, best friend, and constant companion ever since.

    If I could speak to Jed, I would say, “Yes, Jed. Andi is right. Jesus paid the price for all of our sins. As long as there is breath within us to repent and confess our sins, He is there for us. I am so glad for this scene at the end of Jed’s life. It shows how much God loves us and is waiting for us to turn to Him, regardless of the past.

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  7. Wow!!!! Love this Mrs. M! Thanks so much! Yes, Jesus loved us even when we were awful people and he was taking our punishment for us!! And I have read “Titus: a Comrade of the Cross” before, and I loved it! Highly recommended!

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