TODAY YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE

Luke 23:26-43 / Keywords 23:34

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

 

The Crucifixion of Jesus

23:26 As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then

“‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”

    and to the hills, “Cover us!”’[b]

31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”[c] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”

36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[d]”

43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Footnotes

b. Luke 23:30 Hosea 10:8

c. Luke 23:34 Some early manuscripts do not have this sentence.

d. Luke 23:42 Some manuscripts come with your kingly power

1. As Jesus was led to the place of execution, he fell again and again under the weight of the cross. The soldiers seized Simon from Cyrene and made him carry it behind Jesus. Following Jesus, many women mourned and wailed for him. Jesus told them not to weep for him, but for them and their children, because of the judgment to come on their nation which rejected the Messiah. In light of God’s righteous judgment, everyone must weep for their sins and ask for God’s mercy before it is too late.

 

2. Reaching Calvary, they crucified Jesus along with two criminals (Isa 53:12). In his unbearable pain and agony on the cross, Jesus prayed to his Father God for the forgiveness of those who were killing him in their ignorance. This forgiveness is available to anyone who comes to him in repentance and faith. The soldiers cast lots to divide Jesus’ clothes and mocked him along with the onlookers and rulers: “Save yourself.” But they did not know that in order to save all sinners, Jesus could not save himself. One criminal admitted that he was guilty and his punishment was just and asked Jesus’ mercy on him, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus accepted him as he was and invited him to the kingdom of God.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for forgiving my sins. Help me to live as a forgiven sinner with my hope in your kingdom.

One Word Jesus forgives and welcomes repentant sinners