Joel M Bradshaw

39One of the criminals who were hanged railed at [Jesus], saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”–Luke 23

One of my favorite moments in Scripture. Let’s take it by character.

1. FIRST CRIMINAL. Let’s say you had the seat next to a biblical counselor on a flight. Would you talk about your pressing anxiety? I bet you would. This guy didn’t have faith, but he had access, or so he thought, to a possible way out of his situation. He had no hope left. This was the end. But maybe this Jesus guy would work some magic and get them out of there. So he unleashed his frustrations and feelings at Jesus.

2. SECOND CRIMINAL. He rebuked the first guy. He offered a sober analysis of his situation, which admitted he was a sinner deserving death. Such humility and self-awareness at the end! Regarding Jesus, he acknowledged that Jesus was different. He wasn’t dying like them for his own sins.

He recognized Jesus as king for he had a kingdom. And he asked Jesus to remember him. He didn’t ask for physical salvation like the first guy. He asked to be remembered in a different kingdom. As if there was something more to existence and Jesus was sovereign over that. So much to ponder in that man’s request!

3. JESUS. He gave the man an Amen and then said possibly the greatest words a sinner ever heard. There was hope, because the King proclaimed it. We don’t know what that scene looked like. Commentaries fill their pages about what Paradise is. If you made me, I would say it is the intermediate state. Like the porch of Heaven. The gathering place for the ones in Christ before we all enter together (the “together with us” in Hebrews 11:39-40).

But regardless, imagine the scene. Jesus entering Paradise. And bringing with him the repentant criminal. There is hope even on a deathbed for the genuinely repentant who acknowledges their sin and turns exclusively in faith to Jesus. This criminal is one of the most unique characters in history. He died in faith next to Jesus who died to pay for the criminal’s sins.

Jesus’ words make me cry tears of joy. For I am that man next to him who turned to Jesus in faith. The question you have to ask yourself is which criminal are you? Whose response best mirrors your own? The bitter realist or the humble repentant? You might never ponder a better question.–JMB