Luke 23:42

New King James Version

Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

For Meditation

Until a person sees Jesus for who He is — God Almighty — their response to Him would be hypocritical at best. It is therefore interesting to note how the people at the crucifixion scene reacted to Jesus and what informed their decisions.

Consider the stark contrast between the two criminals crucified with Jesus. They had two different interpretations of the Man on the Cross between them. To the first, Jesus was a fake Messiah who couldn’t save Himself to save others. His perspective was disbelief and mockery and contrasted the second criminal’s growing realization.

If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us, he said (Lk. 23:39).

The other criminal, perhaps with some knowledge of theology and familiar with the prophecies about the coming Messiah, saw things differently.

Jesus’s utterances on the Cross also were convicting. This Man is not an ordinary criminal like him. Who calls God His Father and asks for forgiveness for His oppressors?

With the preponderance of evidence before him, this second criminal perceived Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, dying not for His crimes but for the sins of others, and that was transforming. So, he rebuked the taunting criminal.

Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong (40-41). 

He was aware of Jesus’ true identity and saw his only opportunity to make it right with God. He knew that Jesus, in His mercy, could forgive him and grant him a place in His kingdom. All this was the word of the Holy Spirit, who guided and revealed the truth about the Man sandwiched between them. His depraved heart melted, and he made a heartfelt plea for forgiveness and a place in Jesus’s kingdom.

Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom (42).

Merciful Savior He is! He came to the world for this purpose and was dying to make it happen. How could Jesus disregard the plea of this dying criminal?

Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise, Jesus said (43).

What a picture of God’s grace! Undeserving and unable to help himself or buy his way out of hell, he threw himself on the extraordinary Man on the Middle Cross, received redemption for his soul, and an instant place with Christ in paradise. Isn’t that wonderful?

Two dying criminals with two different perspectives on Christ brought two different results—paradise for the one who asked for forgiveness, and hell for the other who taunted the Savior.

How about you? What is your opinion about Jesus and your choice of eternal destiny?

The Savior’s outstretched arms on the Cross invite everyone to come to Him for salvation. Will you take His offer today?

But for all who have believed already, let this message assure you of your eternal destination after death — instant Paradise! (Lk. 16:22; 2 Cor. 5:8). Let this truth encourage you to live a faithful life while waiting for Christ’s coming. Amen!

Pray with Me

Father, please hear the desperate cry of the sinner for salvation today and save them through your worthy Son, Jesus Messiah, as you saved that dying criminal on the Cross. Open your paradise to all who take your life offer through Christ and assuring our presence with you when we take our final breath on this earth. In His glorious name, amen.