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Day 31, (Wednesday) – “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

As we listen to Jesus’ words on the cross, there’s a pattern present.  He speaks to the Father to ask forgiveness for the Jews and Romans in his first words and then follows with this word to a criminal, one of two who are hung on their crosses on either side of him.  Soon, he will speak to His Mother, Mary and to his beloved Apostle, John.

“Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.
 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left… 
One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!"
 But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong."
Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23: 32-33; 39-43).

The early church named this criminal who prayed to Jesus as Dismas – a fitting name for a man who is hanging on a cross and all looks dismal. In many expositions, he is referred to as a “good thief”, while his fellow thief is the instigator for what is happening.  Both Dismas and his friend had been condemned to die by crucifixion for their crimes – whether it was thievery or something else.  While they were guilty, Jesus hung on the cross as an innocent victim.  The first criminal spoke in the language of desperation but not repentance.  He spoke the words he probably heard on the cross that many in the crowd were saying – “the people stood by watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God…” (23:35).  He heard them and like many others, wanted Jesus to get off the cross and save himself and them also.  His language is one of derision – a sort of mocking plea for Jesus to do something IF he was the Messiah!

The second criminal was named “Dismas” and he acknowledges his guilt – “we indeed have been condemned justly…we are getting what we deserve”, but he recognizes Jesus’ innocence – “this man has done nothing wrong”.  We might think that he is not sure of Jesus except that he makes his plea for mercy and grace in what follows – “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”  He has a “late faith” in life, but one that Jesus accepts – “truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

He had probably lived a hard life.  Criminals at this time were often poor, and homeless, and turned to violence and theft, robbery, to live.  We tend to emphasize the words “in paradise”, for it is the place where heaven exists.  Yet, the words that should leap out at us are “You will be with me”.  He is not going to heaven just to get in, but he is going to join Jesus in his death on this day.

Jesus’ second prayer was more of a promise, but then all prayers are potentially promises of God.  “Let thy will be done” is a prayer with a promised answer from God. Jesus is the hope of heaven and is the promise of our desire to be with Him in his glorious heavenly paradise. 

Two men, two words from them, two futures.  Suffering beguiles our faith if we let it.  We want God to meet our needs – our way.  I’ve met too many people who have told me they left the church, and faith, when someone close to them died or suffered.  Job didn’t understand His suffering. My friend has been battling ALS for almost four years now, and I have asked God for a miracle for almost four years now.  Yet, the point from these words of Jesus is that the outcome of earth that leads to paradise comes from faith in Jesus, not our expectations.

Dismas did not ask Jesus to get him off the cross.  He did not even ask him for mercy.  His request came from a simple humility.  Faith is a simple humble response to God.  Dismas was forgiven, his sins erased, and as he died on the cross, his soul escaped the sin-sick world he had lived in and entered into Paradise in union with Christ Jesus.  Would that we could remember the faith of simple humility every day to the last day of our life.


Peace

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