The Thief on The Cross

Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43)

The dying criminal had more faith than the rest of Jesus’ followers put together. Although the disciples continued to love Jesus, their hopes for the kingdom were shattered. Most of them had gone into hiding. As some of His followers sadly said two day later, “We had hoped that He was the one who was going to redeem Israel” (Luke 24:21). By contrast, the criminal looked at the man who was dying next to him and said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” By all appearances, the kingdom was finished. How awe-inspiring is the faith of this man who alone saw beyond the present shame to the coming glory! Jesus promised eternal life to the thief, doing what the mockers had asked Him to do (Luke 23:39).

Word Focus: Paradise - (Gk. paradeisos) (Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 12:4; Rev. 2:7) G3857: This word literally means “garden” or “park.” It was used with such a meaning in the Greek Old Testament in Eccl. 2:5; Song 4:13. The Septuagint also used paradeisos for the Garden of Eden (see Gen. 2:8). In later Jewish thought, Paradise is the place of the righteous dead in Sheol. Jesus perhaps alluded to this idea in His story of Lazarus going to Abraham in Luke 16:19–31. And when Jesus spoke to the thief on the Cross, He promised him that he would that day be with Him in Paradise (Luke 23:43). This again seems to indicate a pleasant place for the righteous among the dead. The promise of Paradise in Rev. 2:7 speaks of the restitution of an Edenic paradise, an everlasting home for believers (compare Gen. 2; Rev. 22).

As this man was about to die, he turned to Christ for forgiveness, and Christ accepted him. This shows that our deeds don’t save us- our faith in Christ does. It is never too late to turn to God. Even in His misery, Jesus had mercy on this criminal who decided to believe in Him. Our lives will be much more useful and fulfilling if we turn to God early, but even those who repent at the very last moment will be with God in paradise.

Father God, it is my prayer that when the unsaved world hears the truth of Your Word that they will accept Your free gift of salvation that only comes through Your Son Christ Jesus. Amen.

References: NKJV Holy Bible, Life Application Bible (NIV), the Nelson Study Bible.