“TRULY I TELL YOU; TODAY YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE" (LK23:43)
The moment I saw ‘this scriptural portion’ which says -Truly I tell you; today you will be with me in Paradise, which is also one of the sayings of Jesus. The first thing that came to my mind was – “Jesus is always ready and faithful to do his mission even when he was at the point of his death”
If we read others portion of the scripture, we find: The main purposes of his mission; For eg -
- Lk 4:18: Nazareth manifesto which says -"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor."
- Lk 19:10: the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost."
- And in John 10: 10, the gospel writer also told us the purpose of Jesus coming, it says: “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
Therefore, in order to fulfill his mission, he faithfully has spent all his entire life – casting out demons, healing the leapers, the sick and paralytic, giving sight to the blind, and even giving life to the death, and so on.
The extraordinary nature of his ministry and mission was – he put his focus not only to people who look special, people of high ranking, people belonging to well to do family; but his mission focused and touched the entire people of his time including- the poor, the leapers, and even the sinners.
Even though Jesus gave all his might to accomplish his mission, spending and absorbing all of his attentions and energy to save and help people, yet that was not the end, and the accomplishment of his mission. He needs to put himself to the last step where he alone could put his feet to scarify his life in order that all may be saved.
Therefore as he did, this short but very appealing conversation between Jesus and the man whom they crucified along with Jesus was come into reality and made known to us.
Therefore some of the significant points what i want to emphasize at this moment are;
1. As found in john 9:31, -“God does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will”. This saying clearly demonstrated that - Jesus is always ready to accept a sinner and a penitent not only to a period of time when he was actively involved in his ministry but also even at the moment of his last breath and even at the point of his death.
2. When one of the criminals derided Jesus saying - "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” Jesus said nothing.
But when the other criminal rebuked his friend who was at the other side of Jesus saying – “we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." Then when he made an appeal saying, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." The immediate answer given by Jesus clearly tells us the purpose of his coming on earth and how he put his serious concern on his mission and his purpose.
3. Lastly, when Jesus gave his answered saying – “Today you will be with me in Paradise”. This saying and scene of his crucifixion tell us that – Jesus is at the side of a sinner, criminal, poor, weak, hopeless and helpless people, and a downtrodden, broken hearted, subjugated and oppressed people like you and like us.
Yes, He has shown to us his unceasing and immeasurable love and his faithfulness to his father, to his mission and ministry, to his people like us. Therefore let the name of Jesus be praised among his people for his wonderful nature, for his suffering for us and for his wonderful work of atonement which he made accomplished on the cross.
The moment I saw ‘this scriptural portion’ which says -Truly I tell you; today you will be with me in Paradise, which is also one of the sayings of Jesus. The first thing that came to my mind was – “Jesus is always ready and faithful to do his mission even when he was at the point of his death”
If we read others portion of the scripture, we find: The main purposes of his mission; For eg -
- Lk 4:18: Nazareth manifesto which says -"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor."
- Lk 19:10: the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost."
- And in John 10: 10, the gospel writer also told us the purpose of Jesus coming, it says: “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
Therefore, in order to fulfill his mission, he faithfully has spent all his entire life – casting out demons, healing the leapers, the sick and paralytic, giving sight to the blind, and even giving life to the death, and so on.
The extraordinary nature of his ministry and mission was – he put his focus not only to people who look special, people of high ranking, people belonging to well to do family; but his mission focused and touched the entire people of his time including- the poor, the leapers, and even the sinners.
Even though Jesus gave all his might to accomplish his mission, spending and absorbing all of his attentions and energy to save and help people, yet that was not the end, and the accomplishment of his mission. He needs to put himself to the last step where he alone could put his feet to scarify his life in order that all may be saved.
Therefore as he did, this short but very appealing conversation between Jesus and the man whom they crucified along with Jesus was come into reality and made known to us.
Therefore some of the significant points what i want to emphasize at this moment are;
1. As found in john 9:31, -“God does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will”. This saying clearly demonstrated that - Jesus is always ready to accept a sinner and a penitent not only to a period of time when he was actively involved in his ministry but also even at the moment of his last breath and even at the point of his death.
2. When one of the criminals derided Jesus saying - "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” Jesus said nothing.
But when the other criminal rebuked his friend who was at the other side of Jesus saying – “we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." Then when he made an appeal saying, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." The immediate answer given by Jesus clearly tells us the purpose of his coming on earth and how he put his serious concern on his mission and his purpose.
3. Lastly, when Jesus gave his answered saying – “Today you will be with me in Paradise”. This saying and scene of his crucifixion tell us that – Jesus is at the side of a sinner, criminal, poor, weak, hopeless and helpless people, and a downtrodden, broken hearted, subjugated and oppressed people like you and like us.
Yes, He has shown to us his unceasing and immeasurable love and his faithfulness to his father, to his mission and ministry, to his people like us. Therefore let the name of Jesus be praised among his people for his wonderful nature, for his suffering for us and for his wonderful work of atonement which he made accomplished on the cross.
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