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“Lord, Remember me when you enter your kingdom.”
“Today, you will be with me in Paradise.”
There are several deep theological truths embedded in Christ’s words to this criminal at his side at the time of his death. And I want to propose first that “Paradise,” as a word or phrase may be misleading.
I think that Jesus is revealing more about the future than a revelation of what the after-life will be like. and when I say the future, I don’t mean merely his imminent future, but our future - On the other side of the cross.
First, lets try to deal with the thief. Because his request to Christ reveals as much as Christ’s answer. Humility, and Penitence push him to approach Christ. And Christ’s immediate Forgiveness and comfort are his immediate response.. What was the thief’s request? “Lord, remember me when you enter your kingdom?” He offers nothing. No excuses. No sentimental apology. No bargaining. And he asks it to a dying Christ, not a Christ in glory.
Could this thief have been the first to understand the Kingdom Christ spoke of throughout his ministry? It was only a few chapters before in the gospel story that the apostle’s were arguing over who should sit at Christ’s right side and left (A spot currently occupied by dying criminals). Clearly they misunderstood something integral to the coming and make-up of his kingdom.
Upon his arrest, throughout his trial and until his resurrection the disciples would be questioning all that they believed about their hopes for the kingdom and Jesus means to establish it. Ye of little faith. We do not see because, we like the apostles expect Gods kingdom on our terms. On deaths door this thief saw Jesus at the peak of his humiliation and yet had faith that this would not keep Christ from his goal and rightful place as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Why?
What did the thief understand that the apostles didn’t? He understood enough to recognize that Chirst’s death was the start of his kingdom, not the end of it. Sharing in his suffering he asked to share in his glory.
Somehow this thief points to the hidden truth that Christ’s crucifixion is simultaneously his coronation. The kingdom is at hand.
And we know this by Jesus response. “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” his answer gives the man confirmation of the kingdom , forgiveness of his past and hope for the future, in what would seem like the most hopeless of circumstances.
And with that we come to his last words about his kingdom, I believe that these words are not merely a comforting description of the Heaven that sits on the other side of this suffering death. I believe that this gives us a deep insight and understanding of the kingdom he intended from the start. A kingdom we are not waiting for but are a part of the building process, here and now.
We are now at peace with God. He is putting the world to rights. And it starts here as his death puts us at peace with God, the father.
After living the life we should have lived and now dying the death we should have died. Rejoice. We are not merely waiting for that final day of his return to put the world to rights. It has already begun.
His grace is increasingin our lives, and we are agents of his grace to the world. This is the hinge point of history. Redemption is nigh.
Christ is the present and future king.
Christian Acker
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