A brigand in the paradise

"Today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23. 43

Jesus comes to know Gethsemane and his terrible fight then the tribunal of Pilate and his unfair judgment ; he is now in Golgotha, crucified between two evildoers, he, the only righteous who has ever existed. The passers-by insult him : "You who destroy the temple and who, in three days, the building, save yourself. If you are the sons of God, come down from the cross" (Matthew 27:40) ; religious leaders deride him : "He saved others ; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God" (Luke 23. 35) ; the soldiers also mock him : "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself" (v. 37); even "those who were crucified with him insulted him" (Mark 15:32).

But as time passes, the tormented conscience of one of the criminals pushes him to repentance and he takes back his companion : "We receive what our actions deserve ; but he did not do anything wrong "(Luke 23. 41 NBS), then he turns to Jesus : "Remember me, Lord, when you come to your kingdom" (Luke 23. 42). On the brink of death, he manifests a certain faith, recognizing that Jesus is a king and that he will establish his kingdom publicly. His request that Jesus remember him is a call to God's mercy, it reveals that he is aware of having no hope apart from God's grace and that he knows that Jesus has the power to grant it to him . The answer to this mark of true faith is not long in coming : "Today you will be with me in paradise". Christ recognizes his faith and declares him saved.

So there is a thief in paradise ... and certainly not only one ! All the evildoers who, over the ages, have repented and turned to Jesus, are there too !

So we will be with robbers in paradise ! People we would not have liked to live on earth will spend eternity with us ! But who are we to possibly feel superior to them ? Like them, we are only sinners to whom Jesus, by his sacrifice, opened the access of heaven !

Source (Pleasing the Lord)