#Jesus22 - Daily DevotionalsSample

Still grace today

Today, we once again enter into the midst of the crucifixion scene. Jesus and the two criminals are already hanging on their crosses. With each passing minute, breathing becomes more difficult and the pain is already unbearable. Then one of the criminals calls out to Jesus, "Are you not the Christ, the promised Savior? Then help yourself and us!" It was probably mockery and maybe a little bit of hope to get out of this situation. Jesus does not answer for the time being. But the other crucified one reacts and rebukes the first one. "This one is innocent; he has done nothing wrong." Then he says to Jesus, "Remember me when you take your reign." He seems to start believing in Jesus even in the last minutes of his life. Jesus answers him, "This very day you will be with me in paradise." What hope these words must have brought the criminal.

Just a moment before, he experienced the worst hour of his life. But it was not only this unimaginable pain. Death was already tangibly near. Probably the worst thing, however, was certainly the hopelessness of that moment. He had nothing more to expect. There was no perspective here on earth and also not in the hereafter.

But the exchange of words with Jesus changed everything for him. In this darkest and most difficult hour of his life, he met God. What we see here is grace that is not of this world. This man had nothing to show for his life. His life was lost, and now he had no chance to make up for anything. Jesus gave him this divine grace and promised, "This very day you will be with me in paradise."

The cross and this man are perhaps the best place to understand the grace of God. To understand that this grace is so absolutely undeserved. Because the criminal could do nothing at all to deserve it. The cross is also the place where we see how we can experience this grace: we just have to ask for it.

This grace is waiting for you and me. No one deserves it. You and I, we just have to accept it. This is how God brings hope back into our lives, hope for forgiveness and life. Here on earth, and after death. Hope that the hopeless situations in our relationships will change. Simply by grace.

ACTION STEP

Is there one thing in your life for which you have no hope? Ask Jesus for His grace. He wants to bring hope.