Luke 23:33-43 (NRSV)
Read Luke 23:33-43 on biblegateway.com
Verse 33When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Verse 34Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing. Verse 35And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" Verse 36The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, Verse 37and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" Verse 38There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews." Verse 39One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" Verse 40But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? Verse 41And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." Verse 42Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Verse 43He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
Devotion
One said, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” The other said, “Remember me in your kingdom.” Jesus said, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” That scene from Luke has been used to validate last minute conversions and the “fact” that people go to heaven immediately upon death.
But the scene is more paradoxical and ironic than that. At Jesus’ birth only some shepherds on the fringe of society heard the good news about the child for whom there was no room. Jesus’ death is much the same. The gracious word is spoken to an outcast hanging in shame and spoken by outcast hanging in shame.
The mighty have been cast down and the lowly lifted up. Augustus, Herod, or Pilate neither hear nor speak of good news. The powers and authorities of the world are passing away. “This is the King of the Jews.”
Prayer
Lord Jesus, we live in a world that is in love with power and the powerful. Help us remember your kingdom. And as the kingdoms of this world make much ado, remember us all. Amen.