“Very Truly I tell
you”...Points to the Deity of Jesus...and the Reality of HEAVEN
IN HIS LIFE:
Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you…
DAY 6
Luke 23:42-43 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into
your kingdom. ” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you…today you will be with me in
paradise.”
Confirms the deity of Christ…Jesus IS from GOD…and HE
WILL be the one who redeems his church!
For Discussion:
Notice the
specific wording of the man's request: "Lord, remember me when You
come into Your kingdom" (Luke 23:42 ). Notice
that the thief expressed no expectation of immediately going to heaven with
Jesus at the moment they died.
Notice also
Jesus' response to the man, telling him "you will be with Me in Paradise .” Understanding the nature of the
biblical use of the term paradise is crucial to grasping the meaning
of this passage. The word translated
"paradise" is used only two other times in the New Testament. In both
cases it refers to the place of God's presence.
In 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 Paul
describes a vision in which he "was caught up into Paradise ." Paul says this paradise was in
"the third heaven"—the dwelling place of God.
Christ was
encouraging him by solemnly assuring him that a time would come, in God's
future Kingdom on earth, when the man would be resurrected and would see Jesus
again.
Even though
Jesus the king was being killed he understood that Jesus kingdom was not “of
this world” (John 18:36 ) and that after Jesus’ death Jesus
would enter
his kingdom
as king. The miracle of such a belief can only make us reflect in awe and wonder
at so gracious a God. His request “Jesus, remember me” is a statement of faith
in response to understanding he was given.
The
compassion, love and mercy that Jesus shows this criminal is no less
overwhelming.
With absolute certainly he tells him that together they will be in
Christ’s
kingdom. Although Jesus did not “save” himself, at the moment of death he
did “save”
another.
From Jesus’
emphatic statement in this verse we can be confident that those who die in
Christ are immediately with Christ in Paradise .
Reference
commentary from the “The Good News” a
Magazine of Understanding 2012
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