Last Words of Jesus, Part Two

And he was saying, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!" And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise."
Luke 23:42-43

Today we look at the next thing Jesus said while on the cross.  Remember, these last sayings of Jesus reveal His heart.  They reveal what was on His mind as He suffered and died.  Yesterday, we saw that Jesus asked the Father to forgive.

Jesus was crucified between two criminals.  Here in Luke, we see that one of the criminals is insulting Jesus.  As he hurls abuse, He tells Jesus to free Himself and them if He is the Messiah.  Even as this man dies, He wants a sign from Jesus.  He will not believe.  He does not expect the sign to come, and he says it derisively.

However, the other criminal rebukes the one insulting.  He asks the man if he does not fear God. They are suffering justly, but this man, Jesus, has done nothing wrong.  We see the heart of this criminal.  He knows He is guilty.  He fears God.  But what can help Him in God's coming presence?

Only Jesus.

So he asks Jesus to remember him when He comes to His kingdom.  This is one of the most simplest expressions of faith in Scripture.  It reminds one of the prayer of the publican, when he simply prayed, "Father, be merciful to me, a sinner."  This criminal simply asks, "Remember me."  But that simple expression is packed with faith.  Faith that Jesus was going to a kingdom.  Faith that Jesus could somehow help Him in the presence of God.  And his simple faith is answered.

Jesus tells the man, "Today you will be with Me in Paradise."  Jesus offers him salvation.  Hope of life beyond death.  An end to suffering.  Even on His dying day, in the midst of His terrible suffering and anguish, Jesus saves.  He remains the Savior.  Jesus said in John 6:37, "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out."

Did not Jesus have so much else on His mind?  Was He not fighting His great eternal battle against the cosmic forces of darkness in that moment?  Was He not experiencing the agony of becoming sin for us?  Yes.  But He was suffering for the very sins that put that criminal on the cross as well.  And when the criminal comes, Jesus certainly does not cast him out.

The dying criminal was not baptized.  He had no good works.  He had no church membership card.  He did not give to the church or charity or anyone, He stole.  He had absolutely nothing to merit salvation.  But He asks, and Jesus answers.

Aren't you thankful for our Savior?

The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day;
And there may I, though vile as He,
Wash all my sins away.
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue
Lies silent in the grave,
Then in a nobler, sweeter song,
I'll sing Thy power to save!

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