BIBLE BULLETS – 32

Luke 23:43

One felon hung a few steps to His left. The other man, also a convicted criminal, was crucified an equal distance to His right.

Both career criminals had rap-sheets a mile long. Both heard the morbid looky-loos jeering and scoffing: “He saved others; let him save himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!” (Luke 23:35). Both could read the inscription above him: “This Is the King of the Jews” (Luke 23:38) and both heard the innocent Man on the middle cross pray, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

One of the crucified criminals cursed, blasphemed, and yelled insults at Jesus: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” (Luke 23:39).

The other criminal confessed, “we are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong … Jesus, remember me^, when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:41-42). He recognized his wrong-doing and pled for mercy from the Messiah-King.

Jesus’ response came as a pronouncement, a verdict. As if He sat high on the judgment seat with a judge’s gavel in His hand, Jesus decreed, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). “Paradise. You will be with Me. Today!”

A few minutes later, when the criminal breathed his final breath, he was surely transported on angel’s wings into the arms of his waiting and watching Savior! Undeserving but graciously forgiven and eternally blessed!

“To be absent from the body (is) to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8, NKJV), so “set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2).

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).