Second word from the Cross

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

As we all know, this is the second word that our Lord Jesus Christ said during His crucifixion. When we read this verse, many questions may arise in our minds: 1) how could a criminal who has spent his entire life in sin enter paradise?  2) Can sinners enter paradise? 3) Can God break His own laws? The answer to all these questions is a resounding "No".

Before explaining this verse further, I would like to tell you a very interesting incident from the Holy Scriptures. When we read John chapter 3, we can closely examine the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a leader of the Pharisees. There is no doubt that since he was a Pharisee, he was a man of knowledge and well versed in the law. He comes to Jesus in the dark of night so that no one sees him. He tries to flatter Jesus that he is a teacher, does many miracles, does things that no human can do. But Jesus answered the exact opposite of his questions: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

Here the question arises, is the law of God different for Nicodemus and different for the criminal? He was saying to the criminal, today you will be with Me in Paradise,” while he was saying to Nicodemus, who was a follower of the law, “unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” Is God a God of Contradiction? No, not at all.

At that time, all the Jews were waiting for the coming Messiah. Therefore, they knew better than any other people about the "law and sacrificial system", which God had given through Moses. They believed that the Messiah would come according to the law of atonement. And will free them from all their sins. However, they did not believe that the baptism of Jesus, according to John the Baptist, was from God to take away all the sins of the world on Jesus (Mark 11:27-33), but instead, they considered Him only a human being. The one, Who led people astray and thus, crucified Him.

Because Roman citizens could not be punished by flogging or crucifixion according to the law of the Roman government (Acts 22:25-29). Therefore, we know that those who were crucified were not Romans, but Jews. We also know that the criminal was a Jew who feared God by his words, saying, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” (Luke 23:42). He was familiar with the law and the sacrificial system, which God had given to Moses. Therefore, he believed that the Messiah would come according to the Law of Redemption.

Those who come to God must confess that they are sinners, and are destined to go to hell because of their sins. The criminal confessed his sins, saying, “And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong” (Luke 23: 41). We can also know that the criminal was afraid of God, from his words; it appears that his hope was to enter the kingdom of heaven. “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” He said, “this Man has done nothing wrong” (Luke 23:41). What did that criminal know about what Jesus did? He believed that Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, baptized by John the Baptist, the representative of all mankind, took away all the sins of the world, and was crucified. He was a Jew who believed that what Jesus had done for all people, including him; no doubt that he was crucified to receive the reward for his deeds on earth.

When we study scripture carefully, we find that The Criminal knew he was a great sinner. And he knew his sinful nature, and believed that Jesus was the unblemished Lamb of God, Who took away all his sins, and that Jesus shed His blood on the cross for his sins. So he was born again and entered the kingdom of God by believing in the water (Jesus' baptism) and blood of Jesus. Being a criminal, he did evil deeds, theft, and iniquity all his life. But his deeds had nothing to do with his salvation.

 The main thing was his faith that enabled him to be saved because salvation is a free gift of God to every person who believes in Jesus Who came by water, blood and Spirit. As it is written in the letter to the Ephesians, “ For by grace you have been saved  through faith, and that not of yourselves;  it is the gift of God,  not of works, lest anyone should boast.” The criminal did not go to Paradise with sin. He went to Paradise justified by his faith. When he believed in the baptism (water), blood and spirit of Jesus, he was completely washed away from all the sins he had committed throughout his life.

Even today, when we confess, "O Lord, I cannot avoid sinning like that criminal. I sin all the time with my thoughts, with my actions. Besides, I inherited sin from my father Adam. Therefore, I admit that I am a great sinner and cannot avoid going to hell. But I believe that you have borne all my sins through your baptism. And then shed Your precious blood for my sins. Thank you for making me righteous." Then Jesus will also say to us, “you will be with Me in Paradise”

Hallelujah!

 Sehar Salman, Pakistan