Today in Paradise
Bob Yandian
“Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom. And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:42-43
This is the second statement Jesus made from the cross and it was spoken to the thief who accepted Him as Lord and Savior just before he died. Even on the cross, Jesus was still fulfilling His purpose of why He came. Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost.
The thief wasn’t necessarily asking, “Get me into paradise right now.” What he was saying was, “I know you have a kingdom coming. I want to be part of that kingdom.” As far as he knew that kingdom might have been months away. From our side of history, it’s been nearly two thousand years, and that kingdom has not yet come, but it will come in the millennial reign of Jesus Christ. Still, Jesus answered him with something immediate: “Today…with Me…in paradise.”
Even the Cross Couldn’t Stop Salvation
The pain of the cross didn’t stop Jesus—nor did the screaming crowds, the beatings, the whippings, or even the nails in His hands and feet. Right up to His final breaths, He was still leading someone to the Lord, because that’s why He came—and that’s what makes heaven rejoice.
We rejoice on earth over temporary things. People rejoice when a president is elected. One side celebrates, the other side mourns, and next time it flips. But angels in heaven don’t rejoice over every president that is elected. Angels rejoice over every sinner that repents. Heaven rejoices over eternal things, because presidents aren’t eternal, but the new birth is. When a person receives eternal life, Satan can’t take that away. That man will be with Jesus forever.
Numbered with the Transgressors
It is no accident Jesus was hung between two thieves. God foresaw it, and Isaiah foretold it. Isaiah 53:12 says, “He was numbered with the transgressors.” That included the soldiers in front of Him, the crowd around Him, and the two criminals beside Him—except for a few believers like Mary and John and the women who stood there. Most of that multitude was out there yelling, mocking, cursing, accusing, and making fun of Him. Yet Jesus died for those standing right in front of Him. And one of those transgressors, one of those criminals, received Him.
These two men were criminals, gangsters, murderers. Think of the parable of the good Samaritan in Luke 10:30. “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves, who stripped him and wounded him and departed, leaving him half dead.” Those “thieves” were violent men who didn’t care about life. They cared about possessions. It got so bad in that region that soldiers would camp along the roads, and when they caught these men, they made a public display of them. This is the kind of men hanging next to Jesus.
Why Two Thieves?
So why was Jesus crucified between two criminals like that? Because they represent all mankind. “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:23). Jesus was not dying for the righteous; He was dying as our substitute.
But if they represent all mankind, why two? Because they also represent the two answers to the gospel. One said yes. One said no. Both saw the same things. Both heard the same things. Both had the same opportunity. The difference was not God’s choice; it was their choice.
Those two men were imprisoned at the same time. To be crucified together, they had to be tried together. To be tried together, they had to be arrested together. To be arrested together, they had to commit crimes together. They left prison together, traveled to Calvary together, and were crucified together. They probably knew each other for years. They may have run with the same criminal gang. They may have laughed together about Jesus long before this day.
No Miracles Seen—Yet No Excuse
These two never witnessed a single miracle. They came too late for the miracles of His ministry and died too soon for the miracles that followed His death—darkness over the land, earthquake, the veil torn, graves opened, saints appearing, resurrection, ascension. They didn’t live to see those. Yet they still had enough evidence right there to make a decision.
They watched Jesus beaten, mocked, and nailed. History tells us the screaming of crucifixion could be heard for miles. Yet Jesus, as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, opened not His mouth. They both heard Him pray, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Matthew 27:44 says both thieves reviled Him at first. They joined in with the crowd: “If you’re the Son of God, come down!” Both began the same. But one changed.
Romans 1:20 says the invisible things of Him are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, so they are without excuse. In other words, God gives enough light for a decision. One thief responded to that light, and one resisted it.
Salvation Without Works
At the crucifixion, works were not the issue. Since they were on the cross, they couldn’t perform good works to gain salvation. Their hands were nailed. They couldn’t feed the hungry. Their feet were nailed. They couldn’t go to church. They couldn’t visit the sick. They couldn’t promise a lifetime of service after salvation, because they would never get off the cross. If salvation were by works, there was no hope for them.
Salvation is by grace. “For by grace are you saved through faith…not of works.” It is not of works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us. Eternal life has nothing to do with your good works before salvation or after salvation. We are saved unto good works so people can see the reality of faith in our lives, but works don’t purchase heaven. Jesus purchased it.
God’s Sovereignty and Man’s Choice
This is where people get confused. God’s sovereignty is seen in the presentation of the gospel to the whole world. Man’s responsibility is seen in the choosing of eternal life. Heaven and hell are your choice, not God’s.
First Timothy 2:4 says God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Second Peter 3:9 says the Lord is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” The invitation is real. One thief chose to accept. One thief chose to reject.
Which Thief Are You?
The thieves represent you and me. You may have never gone to church. You may have never heard many sermons. You may have never witnessed a miracle. You may not think you have enough good works to impress God. Good—because God isn’t impressed by human good or human evil. Both come from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God is looking for divine good, and divine good begins with receiving what Jesus did for you.
Which thief are you? The yes thief or the no thief? Right now, you can say yes or no. If you will, pray this from your heart:
“Jesus, I receive You as the Lord and Savior of my life. Thank You for bearing my sins. Thank You for giving me eternal life. And when I come to the end of my life, I will be with You forever. Amen.”
This is how simple it is. Not by works of righteousness, but according to His mercy, He saves.
