One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 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.” (Luke 23:39-43)
Had I been Jesus, I would have tried to conserve energy whenever possible. Yet in this second word, Jesus speaks at some length. Granted, it’s only 13 words in English, but Jesus could have gotten by with one word. A simple “Okay” would have sufficed in answer to the criminal’s request. Why the lengthy reply? Why the emphatic and energetic “Truly I tell you”?
Because Jesus wanted this word to be one of promise. A sure promise. This was no casual, throwaway, “yeah, probably” or “depending on how things go” type of promise. That sort of promise might work when the kids ask if tonight is the night we go to Dairy Queen. Maybe that sort of hopeful uncertainty is an acceptable response to some requests but not for this request.
The request the criminal makes is the same one we make. We want to know, we need to know, that Jesus will remember us when he comes into his kingdom. We want him to remember us when we, like this criminal, face our last hours. Therefore, Jesus begins by saying, “Truly I tell you.” Have no doubt about it—this second word from the cross is going to be a word of promise from the one whose promises can always be trusted.
The next word that Jesus speaks is “today.” Again, it’s a word of definite promise. Not “sometime.” Not “eventually.” Not “after you’ve finished paying for whatever I don’t pay for here on the cross.” Today. Right away.
Jesus’ next word is again definite. “You.” This thief didn’t want to know what was going to happen to the others. He wanted to be sure of what was going to happen to him, a criminal who was getting what his deeds deserved. He wanted to be sure that he was not going to get what his deeds deserved in the next life. He wanted to know that, as we sing in a Christmas hymn about the manger, “there is room and welcome there for [him]” (Christian Worship, 1993 54:1). He wanted assurance that there was room and welcome in heaven even for him.
Isn’t that what you want to know? You know the depth of your sinfulness. You know what you deserve because of your sin. You want to know if there is room and welcome in heaven for someone like you. There is, for Jesus spoke a very definite and very personal word of promise when he said to the thief, “You.” Then he finished with “will be with me in paradise.” Again, not “might be.” Not “could be.” Jesus speaks a word of promise that says with certainty “will be,” and it’s the “with me” that especially thrills us. That’s what really matters about eternity, right? We will spend it in Jesus’ presence. To be with Jesus is to live in paradise.
Jesus tells us the truth in this second word from the cross, a word of promise. He remembers you, and when you die, you may be certain of immediately being with him in heaven forever.