“And he said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’” Luke 23:43

Wonderful words, words of grace, spoken to the dying thief, coming from the lips of our Saviour, in His agony on the cross. Wonderful words, words of hope for sinners who are genuine and truly sorry for their wrongdoing and shortcomings. Today you will be with Me in Paradise. There is no purgatory. There is assurance, truly, of being in His presence.

There were two criminals crucified with Jesus. One mockingly asked for Jesus to save Himself and them if He was the Christ. The other rebuked him for his lack of reverence, and also said,” We are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” He recognised that he deserved to be punished and he knew that Jesus had done nothing to deserve crucifiction. He also understood more about the nature of Jesus’ Kingdom than most of the other people gathered on Skull Hill, and appeals in faith to Jesus: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus knew his heart, and He knows our hearts. He is looking for faith, faith in His perfect sacrifice made on our behalf on the Cross. He died for me, took the punishment I deserved, so that I can be with Him in Paradise. Wonderful love, wonderful grace!

Jesus, pitying the sighs
Of the thief, who near You dies,
Promising him paradise:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

May we in our guilt and shame
Still Your love and mercy claim,
Calling humbly on Your name:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

May our hearts to You incline
And their thoughts Your cross entwine.
Cheer our souls with hope divine:
Hear us, holy Jesus.
Amen. (LSB 447)