Thoughts: Hannah's Blog

The gospel of Luke chapter 23, verses 35 to 43 says:

³⁵The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”

³⁶ The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar ³⁷ and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

³⁸ There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.

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.^[d]”

⁴³ Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Let us consider the setting here. There are three people on the cross, undergoing unimaginable suffering and pain, on the verge of their deaths. All three of them knew that this was going to be their last day on earth, that they will not get to see another day. Their life is about to get over. What do they choose to say? What are their last words going to be?

Person #1

His choice of final words were to use his last bit of strength to hurl insults at Jesus! We get to hear him in verse 39 – One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

Just a few verses above we see the same kind of question being asked by the rulers and the soldiers. They were mocking him and sneering at him, probably since the day before. For the soldiers this must have been a familiar routine, they would have been used to crucifixion before, they were not the ones suffering, they were the ones inflicting the suffering. They would go on to live another day and may be participate in other crucifixions as well but for this person on the cross, he was the recipient of the suffering, instead of sympathising with Jesus, in his last moments, even amidst all his pain, he is hurling insults at Jesus.

Person #2

This person is the only one taking Jesus’ side. He rebukes the other saying “Don’t you fear God? You are also under the same sentence… you are also suffering, you are also dying.

Then he confesses saying “We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve.” He knows exactly which of his actions landed him there, he says we are getting what we deserve.

Then he defends Jesus saying “But this man has done nothing wrong.” What a powerful statement to say on behalf of another. This means this man knew Jesus. Maybe he saw Jesus performing some of the miracles, maybe he listened to some of his sermons, maybe he was part of some of the gatherings where “sinners” and “tax collectors” were part of – we don’t know. We don’t have those details explicitly mentioned in the Bible. But from his statement we can see the trust he has on Christ’s character. The next statement further emphasises it.

Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom (when you come with your kingly power)

Here he talks about his unwavering belief in the coming kingdom of Jesus. He says “when you come” not “if you come” into your kingdom, remember me. This is in stark contrast even with the disciples’ belief. On their way to Emmaus, this is what they had to say about Jesus:

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. ²⁰ The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; ²¹ but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.

Note how they say he was a prophet, also they say “we had hoped that he was the [messiah] one who was going to redeem Israel. ” [but he died, and we lost hope]

But the person #2 on the cross knew Jesus as the Messiah and that even though he was hanging in the cross next to him and even though he was dying and even though all hope seems lost, he still believed that Jesus is the Messiah and that he would still rescue Israel and that the Kingdom of God that Jesus often spoke about will be true one day and that enables him to make the request to Jesus.

Jesus

Upon hearing this heartfelt request. Jesus responds with an assurance of salvation. He says “Truly I tell you” for added emphasis and with authority and assurance, “today” not on some future day when Jesus will come into the kingdom, it is today. “You will be with me in paradise”

Today, because of Jesus’ finished work on the cross, we have that same assurance that Jesus has gone ahead of us to prepare a place for us. The assurance of salvation is the greatest gift that we can ever receive.

I’m reminded of the story behind a hymn. There was a young man who had recently given his life to Christ. But unfortunately he was diagnosed with a terminal illness and he was on his death bed in the hospital and his Pastor went to visit him. The young man said “I have the assurance that Jesus has saved me but must I go, and empty handed?” These words inspired the Pastor’s friend to write the hymn:

“Must I go, and empty-handed,”
Thus my dear Redeemer meet?
Not one day of service give Him,
Lay no trophy at His feet?

If we were to know our time has come, what sort of conversations will we have? Will it be of rebellion or regret? Will it be of repentance or awaiting our eternal rewards which we have collected in Heaven? Will we be able to say like Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”?

We cannot take anything out of this world to give to God but we can use the time here on earth to live a life of service to God. For Jesus himself came to the world to serve and not to be served.

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.
– C. T. Studd