2. "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
Scripture: "And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." Luke 23:43
As Jesus hung on the cross, he was mocked by the leaders and the soldiers. One of the criminals being crucified with him added his own measure of scorn. But the other crucified criminal sensed that Jesus was being treated unjustly. After speaking up for Jesus, he cried out, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom" (v. 42).
Jesus responded to this criminal, "I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise" (v. 43). The word paradise, from the Greek word paradeisos, which meant "garden," was used in the Greek Old Testament as a word for the Garden of Eden. In Judaism of the time of Jesus it was associated with heaven, and also with the future when God would restore all things to the perfection of the Garden. Paradise was sometimes thought to be the place where righteous people went after death. This seems to be the way Jesus uses paradise in this passage.
Thus we have encountered one of the most astounding and encouraging verses in all of Scripture. Jesus promised that the criminal would be with him in paradise. Yet the text of Luke gives us no reason to believe this man had been a follower of Jesus, or even a believer in him in any well-developed sense. He might have felt sorry for his sins, but he did not obviously repent. Rather, the criminal's cry to be remembered seems more like a desperate, last-gasp effort.
Though we should make every effort to have right theology, and though we should live our lives each day as disciples of Jesus, in the end, our relationship with him comes down to simple trust. "Jesus, remember me," we cry. And Jesus, embodying the mercy of God, says to us, "You will be with me in paradise." We are welcome there not because we have right theology, and not because we are living rightly, but because God is merciful and we have put our trust in Jesus.
Questions for Reflection
1. Have you staked your life on Jesus?
2. Have you put your ultimate trust in him?
3. Do you know that, when your time comes, you will be with him in paradise?
Ending Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, how I wonder at your grace and mercy! When we cry out to you, you hear us. When we ask you to remember us when you come into your kingdom, you offer the promise of paradise. Your mercy, dear Lord, exceeds anything we might imagine. It embraces us, encourages us, heals us. O Lord, though my situation is so different from the criminal who cried out to you, I am nevertheless quite like him. Today I live, trusting you and you alone. My life, but now and in the world to come, is in your hands. And so I pray: Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom! Jesus, remember me today as I seek to live within your kingdom! Amen.
Gospel of Luke 23:43
Beginning Prayer:
Father God, as this Word goes forth, please send it straight to our hearts, so we will never forget what You did by sending Your Son Jesus to die for our sin. Bless these Words to fall on good grounds, so that all would bring forth good fruit in their season. Thank You for the opportunity to share Your Word about our Savior Jesus Christ. In Jesus' Name, Amen!
Subject: Jesus Speaks to the Criminal
Scripture: "And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." Luke 23:43
Word of Interest: Paradise
1: an intermediate place or state where the souls of the righteous await resurrection and the final judgment
2: a place or state of bliss, felicity, or delight
3: a state of complete happiness
Words of Encouragement:
As Jesus hung on the cross, he was mocked by the leaders and the soldiers. One of the criminals being crucified with him added his own measure of scorn. But the other crucified criminal sensed that Jesus was being treated unjustly. After speaking up for Jesus, he cried out, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom" (v. 42).
Jesus responded to this criminal, "I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise" (v. 43). The word paradise, from the Greek word paradeisos, which meant "garden," was used in the Greek Old Testament as a word for the Garden of Eden. In Judaism of the time of Jesus it was associated with heaven, and also with the future when God would restore all things to the perfection of the Garden. Paradise was sometimes thought to be the place where righteous people went after death. This seems to be the way Jesus uses paradise in this passage.
Thus we have encountered one of the most astounding and encouraging verses in all of Scripture. Jesus promised that the criminal would be with him in paradise. Yet the text of Luke gives us no reason to believe this man had been a follower of Jesus, or even a believer in him in any well-developed sense. He might have felt sorry for his sins, but he did not obviously repent. Rather, the criminal's cry to be remembered seems more like a desperate, last-gasp effort.
Though we should make every effort to have right theology, and though we should live our lives each day as disciples of Jesus, in the end, our relationship with him comes down to simple trust. "Jesus, remember me," we cry. And Jesus, embodying the mercy of God, says to us, "You will be with me in paradise." We are welcome there not because we have right theology, and not because we are living rightly, but because God is merciful and we have put our trust in Jesus.
Questions for Reflection
1. Have you staked your life on Jesus?
2. Have you put your ultimate trust in him?
3. Do you know that, when your time comes, you will be with him in paradise?
Song of Praise:
Can't wait to walk along Your side
And feel the beauty of Your love
And the fullness of Your grace now
Can't wait to finally be alive
To be in the place where I belong,
To know I've fought for what's right
Don't let this life take hold of my desires
And I won't give up the fight
Cause one day I will be with You in paradise, paradise
But until that day, I will surrender all my life, all my life
We'll sing Hallelujah, Hallelujah, every knee will bow and say
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, we'll bring glory to Your name
Can't wait to walk the streets of gold
And see a lion with a lamb,
And colors that are untold
Can't wait to look into Your face
And see the majesty and glory
That makes the Earth shake
Cause one day I will be with You in paradise, paradise
But until that day, I will surrender all my life, all my life
We'll sing Hallelujah, Hallelujah, every knee will bow and say
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, we'll bring glory to Your name
On my knees, I will glorify, in paradise
On my knees, I will glorify, in paradise
On my knees, I will glorify, in paradise
Cause one day...
I know I will be with You
We'll sing Hallelujah, Hallelujah, every knee will bow and say
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, we'll bring glory to Your name
Cause one day I will be with You in paradise, paradise
But until that day, I will surrender all my life, all my life
We'll sing Hallelujah, Hallelujah, every knee will bow and say
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, we'll bring glory to Your name
And feel the beauty of Your love
And the fullness of Your grace now
Can't wait to finally be alive
To be in the place where I belong,
To know I've fought for what's right
Don't let this life take hold of my desires
And I won't give up the fight
Cause one day I will be with You in paradise, paradise
But until that day, I will surrender all my life, all my life
We'll sing Hallelujah, Hallelujah, every knee will bow and say
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, we'll bring glory to Your name
Can't wait to walk the streets of gold
And see a lion with a lamb,
And colors that are untold
Can't wait to look into Your face
And see the majesty and glory
That makes the Earth shake
Cause one day I will be with You in paradise, paradise
But until that day, I will surrender all my life, all my life
We'll sing Hallelujah, Hallelujah, every knee will bow and say
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, we'll bring glory to Your name
On my knees, I will glorify, in paradise
On my knees, I will glorify, in paradise
On my knees, I will glorify, in paradise
Cause one day...
I know I will be with You
We'll sing Hallelujah, Hallelujah, every knee will bow and say
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, we'll bring glory to Your name
Cause one day I will be with You in paradise, paradise
But until that day, I will surrender all my life, all my life
We'll sing Hallelujah, Hallelujah, every knee will bow and say
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, we'll bring glory to Your name
Ending Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, how I wonder at your grace and mercy! When we cry out to you, you hear us. When we ask you to remember us when you come into your kingdom, you offer the promise of paradise. Your mercy, dear Lord, exceeds anything we might imagine. It embraces us, encourages us, heals us. O Lord, though my situation is so different from the criminal who cried out to you, I am nevertheless quite like him. Today I live, trusting you and you alone. My life, but now and in the world to come, is in your hands. And so I pray: Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom! Jesus, remember me today as I seek to live within your kingdom! Amen.
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