Luke 23 Devotional

Paradise Promised to a Criminal

“And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.””Luke 23:43 (BSB)

Again and again in Luke 23 someone declares Jesus innocent. Pilate finds no basis for a charge, and says so three times (23:4, 23:14-15, 23:22). A dying criminal says Jesus has done nothing wrong (23:41). The centurion calls him a righteous man (23:47). Yet a man imprisoned for rebellion and murder is released, and Jesus is handed over to be crucified (23:25). The innocent one takes the place of the guilty.

On the cross Jesus prays for his Father to forgive those who are crucifying him (23:34). Rulers, soldiers and a criminal all taunt him to save himself (23:35-39). The other criminal admits he is getting what his actions deserve, and asks Jesus to remember him when he comes into his kingdom (23:40-42). He has no time to make amends, only a request. Jesus promises that this very day he will be with him in Paradise (23:43). Salvation is that near and that free. However late it seems, you can ask the crucified King to remember you.

To think about: What makes you feel you must first make amends before asking Jesus to receive you, and how does his promise to the criminal answer that?