The Seven Words of the Cross #2

[HKHaugan]

The Seven Words of the Cross #2

 “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise (Lk.23:43).”

 The word Jesus uses here for the phrase, “I tell you the truth” is one simple word, amen. It is the Hebrew word written in Greek which is pronounced the same as the word we use to conclude a prayer as if to say, ‘I agree.’ But used here by Jesus it has a much deeper sense. He is on the Cross uttering His last words; thus, they are binding. It is as though He is saying, “I want to make this perfectly clear,” or “This is my guarantee: today you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus is saying to the fellow sufferer, “You’re with me all the way to the other side.” Why?

 Let’s view the context since the specifics mentioned in this passage have significance.

 First, the passage here starts with a Cyrenaic man, Simon (Heb., he has heard), who just happened to be there and was simply picked out of the crowd by the Roman soldiers to carry the Cross of Jesus. How many people who have met Jesus were headed somewhere else or just happened to be there when a sermon was preached, a tragic event happened, something unexpected took place and they were confronted by their need for Jesus. Whatever the reason for Simon being there at that time is unknown but he was there. He was compelled to carry the Cross. All of us, at one time or another, have been confronted by Jesus when we were headed somewhere else or were consumed with some other issue and called to bear faith or to be faithful (our cross) at that moment. Again, our cross is having faith in Jesus as each next moment happens. An example comes to mind. The Parable of the Good Samaritan who, while he was on his way, happened on a half dead man, a victim of robbers, lying on the side of the road (Lk.10).

 Second, this occurred after a local convicted murderer and rebel named Barabbas was released instead of the innocent Jesus for whom the noisy crowd shouted, ‘Crucify Him.”  There is always a noisy crowd out there ready to vent their personal frustrations on someone they don’t know, without any personal justification whatsoever.

 Third, as Jesus was being led to the Cross, He was followed by a large number of people whose motivation for being there can only be a subject of speculation. Mentioned specifically were women mourning and wailing, a practice at that time after someone had died, not before. Women bear the frustration of the ongoing cultural injustice heaped on the innocent son of a friend, a mother, a widow, a wife, the cries of compassion, pity and sorrow. “Blessed are4 those who mourn (Mt.5:4).” He responded to them specifically, “Don’t mourn for me. Mourn for your children, there’ll come a time you will envy the barren and childless woman (my translation).” Was He not alluding to a world where sin ruled, and this kind of injustice would be commonplace? But the crowd must also have included those whose hopes for a messiah had been dashed, those who had thought that perhaps, on an outside chance, He would cause a revolution against Rome or do some miracle to overcome the circumstance. All their motivations were self-centered. However, He had a higher mission, mankind’s salvation, that could only come through faith in His Father’s will for Him. He had to endure the Cross and death by faith, His perfect faith. His faith was His active obedience to His Father’s will in every next moment.

 Now we can return to the two thieves beside Him on the Cross and the people surrounding them. What did they say and why did Jesus reply as He did?

 First, He was stripped of His clothing and four soldiers gambled and each got a share. They left an undergarment on Him which was seamless (Jn.19:26-27) for which they did not tear fulfilling a prophecy from Psalm 22:18 that said they would divide His garments and cast lots for His clothing. There are always people out there who are willing to strip you of your identity, your beliefs, be critical and tear you down. Jesus endured that.

Second, people stood watching. You can make your own assumptions about who and why they were there and probably be right. There are always people out there watching ready to find some negative thing to make themselves feel superior. That’s what gossip is all about. Jesus endured that.

Third, there were soldiers who taunted Him and gave Him vinegar instead of water to make Him suffer more. When you are down there’s always someone who will make you feel even worse. Jesus endured that.

Fourth, a mocking sign was placed above Him that later became a reality, ‘King of the Jews.’ Another attempted insult. Jesus endured that.

Fifth, He was crucified between two criminals. One maligned Him. The other rebuked that criminal saying, “Don’t you fear God since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong. Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, today, you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus endured the Cross for both in His heart.

 What these two criminals represent is the two great divisions of mankind, the unrepentant and the repentant. All of us, because we are sinners, are spiritual criminals, but one criminal realizes his sin, the other doesn’t. The one who realizes he is a sinner, needs Jesus and turns to Him in faith is the one to whom Jesus promises immediate (today) forgiveness and paradise. What this says is that when we die, Jesus immediately receives us into His presence. That relationship with Him is paradise. It is the relational perfection of His presence in us, He in us and we in Him (Jn.17). It is the final transformation from sin to a perfect relationship with God in Jesus. Martin Luther King, said in his ‘dream’ speech, something of the dynamic taking place when we reach out to Jesus, “Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, we are free at last.”

 However, we can’t avoid the fact of the controversy about Heaven and paradise, that one is God’s residence and the other an intermediate state awaiting entrance into Heaven. All kinds of verses are quoted to support each but, like all spiritual controversies, there is one final resolution---we’ll know when we get there. The point is this, Jesus said upon our death we will be with Him. That is all we really need to know. Like Paul said, “To live is Christ, to die is gain (Php.1:21).” Wherever Jesus is, that’s good enough for me. He has our back. If we have received Him as Savior and Lord, we have crossed under His covering and into His Heaven forever.

 The focus for us in this world is Jesus. He has given us a concern. Not about what will happen to us. We know that. Rather, what will happen to those who don’t know Him? They are the subject of mission, our mission, the one He undertook and gave us, the Great Commission (Mt.28:18-20), to be His witnesses and make disciples.