Paradise

“You will be with me in paradise.”

Christ’s pardon of the repentant thief reveals his desire to extend eternal life to all.

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? 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 justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:39–43

Suspended between life and death, one criminal mocked Jesus. But Matthew tells us that at some time, both criminals mocked him (Matthew 27:44). Something must have changed the heart of the penitent thief. What miracle transformed his heart of stone? Maybe it was when he looked into Jesus’ eyes and heard him pray, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

The penitent thief saw the depth of his sin. “We are receiving the due reward of our deeds.” He recognized the sinlessness of the Savior. “This man has done nothing wrong.” And he confessed Jesus as Lord, showing he recognized Jesus as the ruler of a heavenly kingdom.

The result was eternal life. “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Paradise is from a Persian word that symbolizes a place of beauty and delight. Amazing grace made a criminal immediately fit for paradise. God’s grace still does the same to every repentant sinner. In the words of hymnist William Cowper:

There is a fountain filled with blood,
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins.
And sinners plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see,
That fountain in his day.
And there may I, though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away!

Reflection

The thief confessed Jesus as Lord and recognized his kingdom. Reflect on your own confession of faith. How do you daily affirm Jesus as Lord in your life? What areas of your life do you need to surrender to his lordship?

Application

Meditate on Luke 23:39–43 and the additional readings (Mark 15:27–32; John 10:28–30; Romans 6:20–23; 1 John 5:11–13). After reading, pray, asking God to help you internalize the truth about repentance, grace, and eternal life.

Pray

Heavenly Father,

We are humbled by the repentant thief who found forgiveness in his last moments. We see ourselves as that thief and understand that we, too, deserve the consequences of our actions. And, like him, we look to Jesus and his mercy.

We marvel at the grace that extended paradise to a repentant sinner, showing your desire to grant eternal life to all who turn to you. As the thief recognized your kingdom, we confess Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

Thank you for the forgiveness and new life that comes through the sacrifice of your Son, Jesus. His blood washes away all our guilty stains, making us fit for paradise. We find our hope in the promise of eternal life with you.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.