I have decided to continue for one additional week the Easter message I sent to you two weeks ago. That message I sent to you provided the scripture for all four Gospels regarding (1) Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, (2) Jesus’ crucifixion, and (3) Jesus’ resurrection from the dead three days later. The reason for continuing this message one additional week is that I followed the advice I gave each of you two weeks ago, and I read all the scriptures I shared with you on each of the above topics. In doing so, I had one piece of scripture stand out to me when I reread it, and wanted to share that thought with you.
That unique scripture was from Luke, who I suggested to you might be considered the original “investigative journalist” who provides interesting additional information in his accounts. The scripture from Luke that struck me was the following:
Luke 23:39-43 – One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” 40 But the other responded, and rebuking him, said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our crimes; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” 43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
This passage is unique in the Gospels. Matthew simply says:
Matthew 27:38,44 – At that time two robbers were being crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left… And the robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him in the same way.
Mark and John provide very similar one sentence descriptions of the two robbers crucified with Jesus. As the hours wore on, however, one robber’s conscience was apparently changed, and he repented. When the impenitent robber resumed his mocking in Luke 23:39, the second robber rebuked him and refused to participate again. The penitent robber then went on to say Jesus, unlike them, has done nothing wrong (v 41). The penitent robber then asks Jesus to remember me when You come into Your kingdom (v 42). This request by the robber to be remembered was a plea for mercy, which reveals that the robber understood he had no hope but divine grace, and that the dispensing of that grace lay in Jesus’ power. This response by the robber demonstrates true faith on the part of the dying thief, and Jesus graciously accepted the man’s salvation in verse 43. Note that verse 43 is one of only three places in the New Testament where Paradise is specifically mentioned, with 2 Corinthians 12:4 and Revelation 2:7 being the other places.
This version of Scripture presented exclusively by Luke indicates that it is never too late to seek God’s saving grace in our lives. Here is an instance where the Son of God granted to a common criminal eternal life with Him for his complete and full acceptance of Jesus as his Lord and Savior as he awaited his impending death on the cross. We need to keep this thought alive and active in our hearts as we seek to bring others in our family and friends network, as well as others we come across in our daily walk, that it is never too late to be saved. Our only requirement is to have a deep, unwavering belief that Jesus is our hope for eternal life, to express our deep faith in Him as our Lord and Savior, to ask Him for forgiveness of all our sins, and to accept us into Paradise, just like the common thief on the cross did in this passage of the Gospel according to Luke. And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”