“Today You Will Be With Me in Paradise”

This devotional is the second in a seven-part series leading up to Easter through the season of Lent. Each week’s devotional will focus on one of Jesus’ seven sayings from the cross. 

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

The Bible tells us that Jesus was not the only person killed on Calvary the day He died. He hung between two other men. We don’t know much about them, but we know that they were criminals (Luke 23:32). Additionally, the two men had vastly different responses to the man they were crucified alongside. Let’s contrast how each of these men interacted with Jesus. 

“One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, ‘Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!’” (Luke 23:39). The Bible says that this man criticizes Jesus. Another way to understand this is that he blasphemes Jesus. He speaks evil towards Jesus, using his final breaths to mock Christ. He belittles Jesus’ power, asking Him to save Himself and them from their torturous death. 

“But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong” (Luke 23:40-41). The second man has the opposite reaction to Jesus. He criticizes the other criminal for his words, telling him that he should fear God since he, too, hung there dying. The man then recognizes that they deserved this fate. He knows that both of them had done wrong, but he rightly recognizes that Jesus had not. This man understands the truth that many people even today do not recognize: Jesus has never sinned, and He alone is perfect. 

The man then makes a bold request. He says, “‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom’” (Luke 23:42). This man does not only believe that Jesus had done nothing deserving of death; he believes that Jesus is exactly who He says He is. He believes that Jesus is the Messiah, recognizing that He will rule a coming Kingdom. It is in response to this criminal’s appeal that Jesus says, “‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise’” (Luke 23:43). 

Just like the two criminals who died on crosses beside Jesus, we deserve death. We deserve to be condemned. We deserve the punishment that Jesus endured. However, we can make the same plea that the second criminal did because of the cross. Because Jesus died, we can live. Because Jesus took on the death and punishment we deserve, we can be forgiven. Because Jesus endured the wrath of God, we can be made righteous. 

This man knew that his life was drawing to a quick close. There is no doubt that with the sting of the nails and the slow, painful labor of breathing, he knew death was on his doorstep. He knew his only hope was in the man on the cross beside him. This man had likely not attended synagogue. I doubt that he had any scriptures memorized. He probably stole money instead of giving it to the church. 

However, this man went to Paradise—to Heaven—because he had faith. He believed that he was a sinner, and he believed that Jesus’ death is enough to deliver us from what we deserve to His Kingdom instead. Jesus honored this man’s faith by granting him eternal life. 

The same can be true for you. Do you believe that Jesus is who He claimed to be? Are you trusting in His sacrifice on your behalf? If you know Christ, He will give you eternal life. This criminal on the cross gives us all an example to follow: to gain eternal life, all we have to do is come to Jesus humbly.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life” (John 6:47). 

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Side note: If you’re interested in exploring this story from Scripture any further, there are a few songs I really enjoy that are about the men crucified alongside Jesus. I’ve put YouTube links to them below. 

“Thief” by Third Day

“Remember Me” by Andrew Peterson

“Three Men on the Mountain” by Jason Hoard