Someone from the congregation (who wishes to remain anonymous) wrote this meditation during Easter and shared it with me. With their permission I am sharing it with you…
One of the criminals who was hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 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.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to them. “Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.
Luke 23:39-43
When I read those verses, I am overwhelmed because they help me realize how magnificent God’s grace is. He had mercy on a man whose whole life was probably lived in sin and destruction. The Bible tells us nothing about this man. I imagine him as an orphan left on the streets to make his own way, chased through the streets for stealing a small portion of bread or a rotten piece of fruit, or beaten and abused just because of his position in life; just trying to survive. As he grew older his life and the lives of others were of no value to him. Violence was his reaction in all situations. He did what was needed to keep something in his stomach, clothes on his back, and a place to lay his head unmolested.
We don’t know what crime he committed that warranted a death sentence, but a horrific, humiliating death on a cross is what the Roman government imposed. He knew what was coming and that it was well-earned. He deserved to be on that tree. His whole life pointed to it. Yet in his pain and agony he was still aware of the situation he was in. Maybe he’d heard about this man named Jesus; gossip on the street, hearing about his miracles or even seeing one, catching snippets of a sermon, possibly scoffing about what he’d seen and heard. No one cared about him much less this God he couldn’t see.
But once on that cross, he realized he had missed something. Who was this man beside him? He’d never seen him doing anything but good; showing love and compassion for others. He seemed to have power over life and death. Didn’t he heal that woman who touched his robe? Heal that officer’s daughter? There was even talk of him raising a man from the dead and feeding a crowd of thousands with a few fish and some bread. Maybe this Jesus guy was telling us the truth about ourselves; that we needed to be delivered from our wretched lives; that we could be delivered from our wretched lives.
In his hazy, confused state something became clear. This God Jesus talked about could have mercy on him. This God could wipe out his evil past. Jesus said this God would forgive him of his sins no matter how great. He remembered the officials at the synagogue saying that was blasphemy—but what if it were true? Maybe all wasn’t lost. With what little energy he had he scolded the other criminal who was insulting Jesus. He’d done nothing wrong. He didn’t deserve what was happening to him. In desperation he turned to Jesus and pleaded, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus knew the sincerity of his heart. He knew all about him—and he still loved him. “Today,” he replied, “you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:42-43).
God came down to save a broken man; releasing him from his pain and suffering, and his evil past. God’s desire is that no one should perish, but that all should have eternal life—even a wretched criminal on a cross. What Jesus did for us on the cross is beyond comprehension! The weight on the MAN, Jesus, must have been unbearable as he took on himself the sin of the world. Because he became sin for us, the Father had to turn away; and he faced the horror of separation from God. That is the price he paid for the lives of every man, woman and child who would believe in him.
Jesus paid it all! Praise God for making a way for us to be reconciled with him. As the hymn says…
Mercy there was great and grace was free;
Pardon there was multiplied to me;
There my burdened heart found liberty,
At calvary.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,
not wishing that anyone should perish, but that all should reach repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
Pastor Jon