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Today you will be with me in paradise LUKE 23:43
Jesus was not the only one crucified on that tragic, dark day. Two criminals also hung on crosses. One was angry, belligerent, defiant and took out his anger not on the soldiers or Pontius Pilate but on Jesus. He cursed and mocked, “Some Messiah you are! Save yourself! Save us!” But the other one rebuked him and told him to shut up: “Have you no fear of God? We’re getting the same punishment as he. We deserve it, but he doesn’t. He did nothing to deserve this.” Then he humbly said, “Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom.” At that moment Jesus looked nothing like a king. He was under a sentence of death. He had been beaten brutally and then nailed to a cross. His naked body was drenched in blood from his head and hands. People stood around mocking him. He was a king? Where were all the trappings of majesty? Where was his army of warriors? Where were his devoted followers? Yet, this criminal saw a king and appealed to him for mercy. And Jesus answered, ““Truly I say to you today, you will be with me in paradise.” Then there is the mystery of the comma. All of our current Bible translations read, “I say to you, (comma) today you will be with me in paradise.” But, there is no punctuation in the original document. The comma was added by translators. “I say to you, (comma) today you will be with me in paradise”, but that doesn’t quite make sense. Jesus died that day but he was not raised from the dead until two days later. So, how could the criminal be with Jesus in paradise today? It makes more sense to me to place the comma after “today.” “I say to you today, (comma), you will be with me in paradise.” But, regardless of the comma, the main point is that the humble criminal will join Jesus in heaven. Why? How? Because he asked. He didn’t have to prove he was good enough. He didn’t have to go to a membership class. He didn’t have to have correct doctrines or theology. He didn’t have to be a Methodist. All he had to do was ask. Perhaps some of you this evening are not sure you will be in paradise with Jesus. Perhaps some of you are not sure of your faith or you worry if you are good enough to go to heaven. Perhaps some of you doubt, you are not sure you are a Christian. Perhaps some of you are not sure how you become a Christian? I have good news for you this evening. Just ask. That’s all it takes. Let go of your turmoil. Let go of your questions. Let go of your doubt and just ask. Ask Jesus to remember you. Ask Jesus to open the door of the kingdom and let you in. Ask Jesus to embrace you, hug you and welcome you into his kingdom, his family, paradise. Just ask. © 2023 Douglas I. Norris |