“Then he said.
‘Jesus!
Remember me!
When you come
Into your kingdom!’”
καὶ ἔλεγεν Ἰησοῦ, μνήσθητί μου ὅταν ἔλθῃς εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν σου.
Only Luke uniquely indicated a completely different tone. This criminal asked Jesus (καὶ ἔλεγεν Ἰησοῦ) to remember him (μνήσθητί μου) when he came (ὅταν ἔλθῃς) into his kingdom (εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν σου). Suddenly, this good thief turned to Jesus, not as a mere innocent man, but someone who was going to come into a new kingdom. There was no indication whether this was a political or religious kingdom. However, the assumption would be an eternal kingdom, since any hopes of a political earthly kingdom was fading fast. Luke had this dialogue between Jesus and this kind criminal or the good thief at his side, while he was hanging on the cross. John never mentioned any interaction of Jesus with either one of these two criminal bandits. Only Luke had this story about the good and the bad thief, while Mark and Matthew had both thieves taunting Jesus. Do you want Jesus to remember you when he comes into his kingdom?