Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise

 

 There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death.  And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.  Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."  And they divided His garments and cast lots. 

 

And the people stood looking on.  But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God."  The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself."  

 

And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew:

THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us."  But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "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."  Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."  And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

 

- Luke 23:32-43 

 

Yesterday we read that as they led Jesus away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, who was coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus.  And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him.  But Jesus, turning to them, said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and your children.  For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!'  Then they will begin 'to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us!' and to the hills, 'Cover us!'  For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?"  

 

 There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death.  And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.   The English word Calvary comes from the Latin for "skull."  In the Greek of the text this word is Κρανίον/Kranion, meaning "the skull."    My study Bible comments that being crucified between the two criminals shows Christ's complete identity with fallen humanity, and it fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah 53:9-12.  

Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."   And they divided His garments and cast lots.  My study Bible says that this intercession is not only for those who sentenced and crucified Jesus, but for all of humanity -- a people who have no insight into the profound mystery of God's salvation.  Jesus speaks these words not as a request, but with divine authority.  My study Bible adds that their great sin would still have been forgiven them had they repented.  Indeed, we know that one of the soldiers did indeed repent (Luke 23:47), and is considered to be a saint of the Church.  

And the people stood looking on.  But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God."  The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself."   The taunt to "save Yourself" is, according to my study Bible, the continuing temptation of Satan to deter Jesus from completing His mission (see Luke 4:9-13).  

 

And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew:  THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.  In this inscription, my study Bible says, what was intended as an accusation and a mockery became instead a triumphant symbol that all nations would come under the reign of Jesus the King.

Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us."  But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "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."  Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."  And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."  My study Bible explains that the first of the criminals wanted to use Jesus to avoid responsibility for his actions, while the other accepts his sentence and asks simply to be remembered.  This latter way is the path to Paradise.  Jesus tells him that "today you will be with Me in Paradise."  My study Bible comments on Jesus' use of "today" that to be reconciled to Christ is to be in paradise immediately.  Moreover, it adds, the souls of the departed are in the presence of God and experience a foretaste of God's glory before the final resurrection.  

I am intrigued and drawn to Christ's final words here, addressed to the penitent thief:  "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."  How many of us would love to hear those words?  Is this not an invitation devoutly to be wished?  Even if we were not close to death in this world, would we not wish to be with Christ in Paradise?  The word for Paradise (Παραδείσος/Paradisos) comes from an ancient Persian (or perhaps Armenian) word, which, according to Strong's definitions, means an enclosure or garden or park.  Ancient Paradise (the one in which Adam and Eve were first dwelling), some say, was a garden upon a mountain (see Ezekiel 28:13-14, "You were on the holy mountain of God").  As such, it was closer to heaven; in this sense of Paradise, somewhere between the earth we know and heaven.  So why would we not wish to be in this beautiful place, and with Jesus, and surrounded by God's love and beauty?  And yet, we live in a world of exile from that place, and tainted by the things that are against love, against the presence and truths of God.  And so, we need to think about this a little bit, because that promise, "You will be with Me in Paradise," is one that is, in a sense, given to all of us.  There can be no doubt that Christ would like to be able to say this to each of us.  Those of us with loved ones no longer in this world no doubt would love to be in that same Paradise where the cares and sins of the world are away from us, and we could live in harmony with those whom we love, perhaps even with those with whom we've had bad experiences.  For this kind of peace must fill a Paradise where Christ is.  But we have to think to ourselves that if Christ came to this world, and took on the nature and life of human beings, even condescending to be numbered among the transgressors, crucified as a criminal between two thieves, on a hill that is the opposite of the holy mountain of Paradise, then these words have to mean something more to us than one promise to one man who has repented.  These words are meant for each of us to whom they are a beautiful promise, for Christ gives us His kingdom, too, and His presence and the Spirit, and His angels, while we are yet still in this world, in exile from Paradise.  Christ asks us to take up His Cross -- the one through which He has defeated death -- and make for ourselves the paradise that we can where we live.  He asks us to live and dwell within His paradise on earth:  the Kingdom we can carry within and amongst ourselves through faith and following His word and His teachings.  We are to love one another, to reflect beauty and His truth.  We are to create by allowing the energies of grace to work through us and cooperating with them, through our own ongoing repentance and transformation in that grace, and by growing in the virtues that God's love and mercy would teach and grow in us (Galatians 5:22-23).  We have walked through Jesus' ministry as we've gone through the Gospel of Luke, and witnessed the struggle for this world, which continues.  But we are those who may yet live with Him through His presence with us, through the grace and mercy we receive and may therefore share with one another, through the beauty we may create through the understanding of God's love.  We might not be on that holy mountain, or in the Paradise Christ opens to the thief, but it seems that our job in this world is to live that paradise here through the gifts we are given, even as we live amidst a world filled with problems and spiritual struggle.  In the 23rd Psalm we may pray with the ancient author that although we "walk through the valley of the shadow of death" our Shepherd walks with us, comforts us, guides us, and provides for us.  For He rules among His enemies here (Psalm 110), even the "shadow of death" that remains.  And yet, we look to the promise of our places in His Paradise (John 14:2-3), even as we are meant to dwell in the holiness He gives us here.  Today we read of an inscription meant to mock, but Christ remains our King, here and in the Paradise He promises.  But it is here we're meant to build and dwell in His Kingdom.

 

 

THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS

 

Byzantine Christogram:  Jesus Christ Conquers.  Graffito; Athens, Greece.  Spray-painted over black star.  © Author's collection

 There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death.  And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.  Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."  And they divided His garments and cast lots.  And the people stood looking on.  But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God."  The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself."  And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew:

THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us."  But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "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."  Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."  And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

 

- Luke 23:32–43 

 

Yesterday, we read that as they led Christ away to the place of crucifixion, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, who was coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus.  And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him.  But Jesus, turning to them, said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.  For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!"  Then they will begin 'to say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" and to the hills, "Cover us!"'  For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?"

 

  There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death.  And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.   Calvary literally means "the skull."  To be crucified between two criminals shows the complete identification of Christ with fallen humanity, my study Bible says; it also fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah 53:9-12.

Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."  And they divided His garments and cast lots.  My study Bible calls this an intercession not only for those who sentenced and crucified Jesus, but for all of humanity.  That is, for people who have no insight into the profound mystery of God's salvation.  Jesus speaks these words not as a request, but rather with divine authority.  My study Bible adds that their great sin would still have been forgiven if they repented.  One of the soldiers did repent (verse 47), and he is considered to be a saint of the Church.  The soldiers divided His garments and cast lots:  see Psalm 22:18.

And the people stood looking on.  But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God."  The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself."  My study Bible points out that the taunt, "Save Yourself" is a continuing temptation of Satan to deter Jesus from completing His mission (see Luke 4:9-13).  

And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew:  THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.  This inscription is an indicator of the upside-down nature of the time, in which an Innocent is crucified while a murderer (Barabbas, whose name means "son of the father") is freed.  The inscription on the Cross is meant as an accusation and a mockery.  Instead it became a triumphant symbol that all nations would come under the reign of Jesus the King. 

Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us."  But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "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."  Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."  And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."  My study Bible says that the first of the criminals wanted to use Jesus to avoid responsibility for his actions, but the other accepts his sentence, and simply asks to be remembered.  It is the latter way that is the path to Paradise.  Jesus says that today this second thief will be with Him in Paradise:  My study Bible reflects that to be reconciled to Christ is to be in paradise immediately.  Moreover, it says, the souls of the departed are in the presence of God and they experience a foretaste of His glory before the final resurrection.

 

 Jesus' crucifixion fills us with a terrible sadness, a crushing horror that makes us weep.  How can this happen to the Savior of the world?  Why would such a terrible fate await the purely good, our Lord who is truly beautiful?  Some might answer that the Crucifixion presents to us an image of ourselves, an ungrateful and sinful humanity rejecting and even crucifying our Lord.  But my study Bible once again -- as the Gospel passages over the past week did as well -- points out that there is one culprit upon whom the ultimate blame lies for this scene, and that is Satan who continues to work through human beings as they sneer and mock.  This isn't to remove culpability from human beings for the choice to sin or to commit evil acts.  But the teaching of spiritual evil is not simple mythology used to naively explain away bad behavior, nor is it without tremendous theological foundation supported by the most brilliant thinkers and saints of history.  It is an unseen reality we'd be better off acknowledging if we want to understand ourselves, and our world, and how spiritual evil works off of our temptations, weaknesses, and passions.  Above, in the discussion of the inscription written on the Cross in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew, my study Bible remarked that, although it was meant as an accusation and a mockery, it instead became a triumphant symbol that all nations would come under the reign of Jesus the King.   As we also noted, this is an indication of what we might call an "upside-down time."   It seems this quality of being upside down is an indicator of evil influence, a time in which rules and logic, an understanding of good values which include respect for one's fellow beings, are shoved aside for a rule of selfishness and criminality, where brutality becomes an acceptable means to an end.  If we look at recent historical examples, such as the time of the Cultural Revolution in China, or the early decades of the Soviet Union, the period of Nazi rise and rule in Germany, and a great many other examples in the world, we see what can be called "upside-down" periods of time, when traditional values are deliberately overthrown in favor of extremely ruthless means of assimilating and building power.  Concentration camps that tortured and exterminated whole groups of people on the basis of propaganda claiming to be scientific were merely a means of consolidating power in Nazi Germany, as earlier genocides such as of the Christians of the Ottoman Empire did the same.  The ruthlessness of the KGB in revolutionary Russia was made in the name of progress and human liberation, but equaled every bit the hideous practices of the Nazis.  The Cultural Revolution in China claimed also to liberate, while it decimated education, relations within all communities, and destroyed those who represented in the most tangential way the lengthy historical culture of the country.  At the same time, what was called "The Great Leap Forward" needlessly resulted in tens of millions of deaths due to starvation, just as collectivization had done in the Soviet Union.  Pol Pot called his country Democratic Kampuchea, while in reality instituting one-party rule and murdering millions of his own citizens.  These are examples of huge periods of historical chaos, but an upside-down time can occur on a large scale or a small, even to intimate and fleeting times of our lives, when suddenly nothing seems comprehensible, save for an extreme idea, or a slogan that grips the mind in response to fear or other passions.  The culture of the mob often produces upside-down results, unthinkable under historical systems of law or justice.  And in this period of the crucifixion of Christ, we see so many signs of a world turned topsy-turvy, as we look back at His ministry of love, care, and healing, the great teachings in fulfillment of the Law and Prophets, and the many good things Christ did within the immediate years preceding His death.  All know He is being crucified on the basis of lies and manipulation, and all know Barabbas to be a murderer whom the crowd has demanded to be set free.  Let us note, secondarily, that whether or not we correctly perceive this upside-down time really depends upon which side of the fence we're on at the time.  Those who only seek their own benefit perceive it the other way around -- and so, we might say their perception is also upside down!  If we look at the response of the women and others who weep for Christ, at the uncomprehending disciples, even at members of the ruling Council who have faith in Christ (such as Nicodemus, in his response in John 7:51), we see the stunned and bewildered effect a world turned upside down has on the ones who seek the truth they need.  This confusion only emphasizes the evil of the time, in which "whoever kills you will think that he offers God service" (John 16:4), and "you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death," and "you will be hated by all for My name’s sake" (Luke 21:16-17).  But in such times, Christ calls on us for endurance, and moreover suggests they may be opportunity for testimony and the work of the Holy Spirit in us (Luke 21:13-15), and by our patience we will possess our souls (Luke 21:19).  In these times, we turn to our spiritual weapons of prayer and worship, we seek to cultivate virtue and spiritual fruit, we remain alert and awake and rely on God.  We watch and pray, as will the women who remain faithful to Him, and the disciples.   For these are our examples in a time when even our Savior is numbered with the transgressors, and a King is nailed to the Cross.

 

 

 

 

Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise

There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death.  And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.  Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."  And they divided His garments and cast lots.  And the people stood looking on.  But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God."  The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself."  And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew:

THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us."  But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "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."  Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."  And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

- Luke 23:32-43

Yesterday we read that as they led Jesus away to be crucified, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, who was coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus.  And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him.  But Jesus, turning to them, said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.  For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!'   Then they will begin 'to say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" and to the hills, "Cover us!" '  For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?"

 There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death.  And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.  Calvary is from Latin, and literally means "the Skull" (in the Greek Kranion, a translation of Hebrew Golgotha).  My study bible says that being crucified between the two criminals shows Christ's complete identity with fallen humanity and fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah 53:9-12.

Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."  My study bible tells us that this intercession isn't simply for those who sentenced and crucified Jesus, but for all of humanity; that is, for a people who have no insight into the profound mystery of God's salvation.  Jesus speaks these words, it says, not as a request, but rather with divine authority.    My study bible adds that their great sin would still have been forgiven them had they repented.   We know that one of the soldiers did repent (verse 47) and that he is considered to be a saint of the Church.

And they divided His garments and cast lots.  And the people stood looking on.  But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God."  The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself."  Save Yourself is, according to my study bible, yet another of the continuing temptation of Satan to deter Jesus from completing His mission (see 4:9-13). 

And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew:  THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.    My study bible notes here that what was intended as an accusation and a mockery became instead a triumphant symbol that all nations would come under the reign of Jesus the King.

Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us."  But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "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."  Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."  And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."   My study bible tells us that the first of the criminals wanted to use Jesus in order to avoid responsibility for his actions.  But the other accepts his sentence and asks only to be remembered.  This is the way to Paradise.   Jesus says that today he will be with Him in Paradise.  To be reconciled to Christ is to immediately be in a place where our sin is let go or forgiven, "in Paradise" (as in the state of our earliest ancestors, in Eden).  Moreover, my study bible adds, the souls of the departed are in the presence of God and experience a foretaste of God's glory before the final resurrection.

Jesus prays, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."  Certainly we can understand that the soldiers who crucify Christ at that moment have no idea of the Scriptures and their fulfillment, who and what the Messiah is, who and what Christ is, and no preparation in terms of the understanding of Jewish spiritual history.  But righteousness is something meaningful in all cultures, and the centurion's pronouncement that "certainly this was a righteous Man!" becomes clear to him in the presence of Jesus.  But in the bigger picture, upon which my study bible focuses, it is also true for all humanity, in the sense in which my study bible puts it -- Christ speaks for a people who have no insight into the profound mystery of God's salvation.  To some extent, that remains true for each of us, since such a mystery is infinite, and we can always continue more deeply into God's salvation through the journey of our faith.  We look also to St. Stephen, the first martyr, who prayed as he was stoned, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."  Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin," just before he passed (Acts 7:57-60).  Forgiveness is a tricky subject; but even as He is dying, Christ forgives.  Forgiveness does not mean God's own justice does not prevail.   It does not mean there is no judgment.  But it does mean that we place all things in the hands of God.  It is a way of giving up our own impulses for vengeance to our faith in God's justice instead.  After all, it is only God who really understands the extent to which people "know not what they do."  Therefore, it is truly only God who can judge.  The story of the Crucifixion does not teach us that there is no injustice in the world, nor that we will not suffer injustice -- quite the opposite, in fact.  But it does teach us that there is a higher justice that is at work.  Christ going first before all of us gives us a sense that our lives are to be lived in the light of God's justice, even when we suffer injustice.  There is a judgment that will come, but it is a much greater and larger reality in which we seek to participate through faith than we understand in the immediate circumstances of our lives.  And yet, each is precious to God, even Christ's fellow thief on the cross, who is promised that he will be with Him in His kingdom, even today.  Let us also remember Christ's prophecy about what is to come in Jerusalem.  In a very real sense, there are ways in which our choices work out in our own lives -- for the most part, we should be glad of this, because it means we have a chance to revisit and change our minds (the literal meaning of the word for "repent" in Greek).  But Christ's entire mission -- even here on the Cross -- is for the salvation of all, of each.  It is not vengeance nor punishment He seeks for all of us, even those who harmed Him, but salvation; that is, the capacity to be truly healed (see Matthew 13:15, in which Jesus quotes from Isaiah 6:10).  Let us consider our own very real hurts and injustices in the light of Christ.  What if we gave up each of them to God, asking only for our own salvation and healing, and considering that we, too, like the thief, wish most of all for a place with Him in His kingdom, even today, here and now?  Would that not be good for our own lives, our perspectives, our forward-looking road of faith?  Let us consider how we fit into that bigger picture in light of the example He sets, and how He sets us each free to live our lives to the full, despite the hurts and harm of the past.