Even though Jesus’ followers fled when he was arrested, we find them following him and being mentioned as he is taken from place to place. At the cross, some of them are directly mentioned as being there and others are there but nameless. Jesus had people there for him at the crucifixion.
But what about the other two criminals? Did they have friends or family there as they died? Or, had they alienated everyone? It is easy to think of the criminal who mocked Jesus being alone…he was mean. But it is harder to think of the criminal who turned to Jesus and defended Jesus as being all alone as he died. I hear his final request differently when I think of him dying alone. I hear him say, “Jesus—I am alone—remember me.” And, Jesus did.
