Jump Start # 3907
Luke 23:34 “And He said to him, ‘Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.’”
Our verse today is filled with hope. One dying man is speaking to another dying man, which doesn’t present an atmosphere for hope. However, one of the men was Jesus and that changes everything. They were together at Calvary, being executed by the Roman government. They couldn’t escape, yet within these words are the promise of a journey. It’s not wishful thinking, such as, “wouldn’t it be nice to be sitting on a beach right now.” Today you shall or you will be with Me in Paradise. How are we getting there? Who is going to take us? How are we getting off this cross?
There was an understanding between the two of life beyond death. It began with the penitent thief asking Jesus to remember him when He came in His kingdom. He obviously thought that this wasn’t the end of Jesus. Somehow and in some way Jesus was coming in His kingdom. Death wasn’t the final word. He knew that.
The word ‘Paradise’ from our verse today is interesting. It is neither Greek, Hebrew or Aramaic. The word is a Persian word. It was adapted into other languages. The core concept of the word meant a beautiful Persian garden made for the kings. I’ve been to many botanical gardens. Roses blooming. Weed free. Beautiful flowers. As I stroll through such places I often wish I could get my gardens looking like that.
The subject of life after death brings up the curiosity in us. How long did it take those two to reach Paradise? Could they sense that they were traveling? What did all of that feel like? Who did they first see? But, those curious questions are left unanswered. They really do not matter. What matters is faith in the Lord. There were two criminals dying with Jesus that day. Only one is promised Paradise. Some might think, “Well, that wasn’t nice of Jesus. He should have included both of them.” That’s not how things work. One can’t live a life of selfishness, indifference to the law of God and failing to walk with the Lord and expect that Paradise awaits him. Some might think, well all of that sounds like salvation by works. It sounds like we have a part in our salvation, and that’s right. We do. If we didn’t, then all ought to be saved. At the end of the day, it’s the grace of God that saves us, but we have our part as well.
Some want God to do it all. Others fret and stress believing that it is all up to them. It’s not. We are saved by grace through faith, as Ephesians tells us. Grace is what God does. Faith is what we do. And, that faith isn’t a passive, sitting on the sidelines thing. Faith moves one to obedience. By faith, Noah prepared the ark. By faith, Abraham offered Isaac. Faith draws us closer to God in obedience and trust. One without the other won’t get you anywhere. But, together, we hear the words, “Today, you will be with Me.”
Now, some lessons for us:
First, the Gospel accounts show us that this one thief had a change of heart. He changed his mind about Jesus. First on the cross, he was throwing abuse at Jesus. But as the clock ticked on, and he was rapidly drawing closer to death, he realized that Jesus was different. He lived different and He died different. He went from mocking Jesus to honoring Jesus. Conversion is the concept. Now, some might point out that he was never baptized. He didn’t need to. Baptism is on the other side of the cross. Jesus forgave many of their sins based upon their faith. Now, that you and I are on this side of the cross, we need to be baptized. For a person to fight that and fuss with that, shows such a person doesn’t have real faith in the Lord. If you have faith, you’ll do whatever the Lord tells you.
Second, have you considered that as the two of them went together into Paradise that day, Jesus would soon leave the thief there. Acts tells us that Jesus was not abandoned in Hades. He was resurrected. His soul left Paradise and joined His body once again. Soul and body equal life. Separating soul and body is death. Together they went to Paradise, but One left.
Third, it is interesting that Jesus used the word “Paradise,” not, Hades or Abraham’s bosom. The word ‘Hades,’ brings images of a bad place for many people. They think of punishment. Some think of Hell. Technically, the word means, “the unseen world.” The body, Solomon said long ago in Ecclesiastes, goes to the grave and the soul goes to God. Within Hades is Paradise or Abraham’s bosom. A quick read of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16 helps with that concept.
Today, you’ll be with Me in Paradise, a garden. A beautiful place. A place of comfort. At the moment, they were being tortured. There was no mercy offered for them at the cross. Slow, painful, agonizing was the scene. It wasn’t humane. It wasn’t supposed to be. Romans didn’t care about ‘rights.’ They were sending a message. Trouble Rome and you’ll be tortured. But awaiting those two, was a word for a garden. Peaceful. Restful. Enjoyable.
I wonder if the final thoughts of that thief were of a garden. I wonder if he thought, ‘hurry up and get me there?’ I wonder if we live that way? Some do all they can to stay here, no matter what condition that puts them in. Others, by hope and faith, long to get to that other side.
With Me in Paradise…what wonderful words.
Roger