Luke 23:32-43

Luke 23:32-43 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals — one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and 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.”

Recognizing Jesus as the door to God's kingdom, the thief received Christ's blessing: I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise. By acknowledging his guilt and Christ's innocence, he inherited the kingdom of God. What a wonderful story to see three men, dying on crosses yet conversing with each other. What a message of grace and mercy: facing imminent death, Christ blesses a condemned criminal, promising him eternal life. All three men hung in excruciating pain, with no hope of rescue or escape; nevertheless, one criminal thought about eternity while the other focused on continuing with this life: Save yourself and us! This scene accurately describes the plight of all mankind. Knowing this life passes quickly, we either look forward to a better life, eternal life, or we look out for ourselves, making the most of all this life can offer. Paul said grace teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (Titus 2:12-14) Because of God's grace, we are strangers and aliens: God-focused and heaven-bound, not self-focused and earthbound.

All of us have crosses in one way or another, and in view of eternity, we don't have much time to live. The Bible describes life as a wisp of smoke that disappears, a flower that blooms briefly and then dies. Our lives are brief, and they become shorter and seem to pass more quickly as we grow older. For children, summer seems too far away, but for the elderly, summer has passed and winter is here. Time marches quickly onward and reminds us we will die and turn into dust. The thieves on the cross faced the winter of their lives with no hope of more time, time to change, to repent, to live for God. Facing death's door, one man insulted Jesus while the other suddenly saw hope of death as a crossing-over point. Wanting something more than just a few more minutes of this life, he cried out for a future: Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. The other criminal could only look back, desiring more of his sinful existence. No words of faith or repentance sprung from his lips that day; only a sneer, a rebuke, a selfish desire marked his passing into eternity.

Recognizing Christ as Lord, brought salvation to the criminal. He said the most important word anyone can utter from the heart: JESUS. This honest utterance spoke volumes to Christ. He recognized in the criminal's voice that JESUS meant Lord. The thief placed himself into the hands of Christ simply by breathing his name: JESUS. God hears the sincerity of the heart, not just our words. Many people make long confessions and construct intricate covenants with God, but He listens to the heart, not the words, deciphering the spirit and motivations of the petitioner. The Holy Spirit saw this man's honest and sincere heart and forgave him, ushering him into eternity with Christ. My grandpa recounted three incidents of people he knew who were saved in a few nano seconds. I remember his story of a drunken woman driving into the Columbia River. People rescued her, thought her dead, but after some time she suddenly revived, speaking praises to God for her salvation. She entered the Columbia a sinner, without hope, but she came out righteous, washed in the blood of Jesus. From that time on, she lived for the Lord. She met the Savior and from her innermost being said, JESUS.

All it takes for salvation, all it takes for paradise is that recognition of JESUS AS LORD. We know Jesus said the first shall be last, the last first; in other words, heaven puts all on equal footing. We all receive the same wages: eternal life with God, acceptance as his children. The day Christ looked to the beseeching criminal and heard his brief prayer, He said, "CHILD, today you will be with me in paradise. This same Jesus said, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (Luke 18:16-17) In simple, childlike faith, the criminal cried out, "Jesus." Each day, let us speak his glorious name with that same earnestness and faith. Peace on Earth and eternity with God will be our reward.