39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Here the criminal, who in his own words was being justly crucified, said to Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom. He did not ask to be saved or to be forgiven. He simply asked Jesus to remember him when he is in heaven, asking for help which he did not deserve.
Unknowingly he confessed that he knew and believed that Jesus was the Son of God by saying “when you enter your kingdom.” He confessed his faith when he said to the other criminal that Jesus was without sin and did not deserve this death. He knew Jesus was innocent of all crime.
Jesus, weak from blood loss and pain, speaks the most unbelievable words, the words you would never expect from someone who is being crucified, “Today you will be with me in paradise.”
How we wish Jesus would speak those words to us the day we die. With these words Jesus says, “you are forgiven.” He says, “I will rescue you and take you to my Father in heaven, where there will not be any suffering, any pain, any sickness or disease. There will not be any senseless violence or injustice.” With these words Jesus says, “you will live in paradise with God the Father forever, your time of struggling is over I will take you in.”
“Today you will be with me in paradise,” is one of the most precious words of the Bible that we Christians remember and share with others because it most clearly shows the amazing grace of our heavenly Father. It says that God loves you and forgives, and holds you in his arms no matter who you are or what you have done. It says I love you even though you do not deserve it.
These words of Christ teach us that through Jesus, death is no longer the end. It is no longer the end of our existence, nor the end of who we are, but the beginning. It is the birth into a new and better reality, a life in the presence God and His loving care and kindness.
http://trinityzululand.wordpress.com/2012/03/17/truly-i-say-to-you-today-you-will-be-with-me-in-paradise-gospel-of-luke-2343/
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Here the criminal, who in his own words was being justly crucified, said to Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom. He did not ask to be saved or to be forgiven. He simply asked Jesus to remember him when he is in heaven, asking for help which he did not deserve.
Unknowingly he confessed that he knew and believed that Jesus was the Son of God by saying “when you enter your kingdom.” He confessed his faith when he said to the other criminal that Jesus was without sin and did not deserve this death. He knew Jesus was innocent of all crime.
Jesus, weak from blood loss and pain, speaks the most unbelievable words, the words you would never expect from someone who is being crucified, “Today you will be with me in paradise.”
How we wish Jesus would speak those words to us the day we die. With these words Jesus says, “you are forgiven.” He says, “I will rescue you and take you to my Father in heaven, where there will not be any suffering, any pain, any sickness or disease. There will not be any senseless violence or injustice.” With these words Jesus says, “you will live in paradise with God the Father forever, your time of struggling is over I will take you in.”
“Today you will be with me in paradise,” is one of the most precious words of the Bible that we Christians remember and share with others because it most clearly shows the amazing grace of our heavenly Father. It says that God loves you and forgives, and holds you in his arms no matter who you are or what you have done. It says I love you even though you do not deserve it.
These words of Christ teach us that through Jesus, death is no longer the end. It is no longer the end of our existence, nor the end of who we are, but the beginning. It is the birth into a new and better reality, a life in the presence God and His loving care and kindness.
http://trinityzululand.wordpress.com/2012/03/17/truly-i-say-to-you-today-you-will-be-with-me-in-paradise-gospel-of-luke-2343/
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