One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at Him. “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and save us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. ”Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:39-43
In the midst of the mocking from an angry crowd, a thief asks to be remembered by Jesus when He comes in His kingdom – Jesus, whose crucifixion was the result of dubious accusations and an illegal trial, a messiah executed by His own people. Who could have seemed more helpless at that moment than this ”King of the Jews?” And yet, the thief believed and, for his faith, he was promised Paradise – to be with Jesus that day in the presence of God. Scoffers among us might reason that this man was merely covering his bets, just in case Jesus was who He said He was. After all, the man was a criminal. But Jesus was never saddled by labels. He knew the heart of this man and, to the thief on the cross, He gave courage to face crucifixion and hope for eternity.
Faith demands we give up our preconceived ideas and often accept what does not seem possible or plausible. For Abraham, it meant leaving the home he knew and going to a wild and uncertain land. To Daniel, it meant walking into the lion’s den. To Mary, it meant risking her reputation, her promised marriage and possibly her life. For the thief, it was a confession of his past crimes and an acceptance of the deity of Christ.
Jesus’s promise to this unknown man speaks to us as well. There is power in His words to the thief – “Today,” “with me,” “in Paradise.” We, too, have the promise of Paradise – not only after death but today. The word Paradise to the Jews meant where God is. When He spoke to His disciples before His crucifixion, Jesus promised them a Comforter and Guide. His words “I will never leave you or forsake you” were fulfilled at Pentecost and again at each baptism we witness. Paul explained this in his letter to the church at Corinth. “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (I Corinthians 3:16)
As God tore the veil of the Temple to the Holy of Holies from top to bottom, He gave mankind the opportunity to walk with Him in a way that had not existed since the fall of Adam. Cleansed by the sacrifice of Christ, we live in the presence of God.
Paradise. To be where God is. Today.
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