"Finding Paradise" - a reflection on Luke 23:26-43

I am continually fascinated in the interaction between Jesus and this criminal on the cross next to him … the one who was repentant. Here is the tremendous telling of a story of transformation, occurring through the darkest of circumstances. It reminds us that there is always hope in God. We sense that, even from the cross, Jesus is showering his love on people. Of course, that is one of the major points of significance of the cross – that God loves us so much that He will go to any extent to connect and form relationship with us.

What was it about Jesus that so impressed this ‘next-door’ criminal? What had he seen; what had he heard?

Jesus was enduring all sorts of mockery; and clearly he had been flogged badly before he was even put on the cross. Certain leaders and soldiers, we are told, scoffed at Jesus, and suggested that if he was really the “Messiah of God” he should save himself. The guy on the other cross callously joined the chorus. Yet no-one seemed to be able to suggest any particular crime that Jesus had committed. Being a nuisance to the powerful would certainly annoy them, but couldn’t possibly result in crucifixion like this could it! The only charge they could put above Jesus’ head were the ambiguous words, “This is the King of the Jews”. So for some, this was a rejection of God; but ironically for others, for those with the eyes to see, this would create an unprecedented opportunity for salvation.

Then there were those loyal followers, and the women who were weeping and wailing for Jesus – already expressing a sense of great loss. Obviously Jesus had made a great impression on many ordinary people. Many people deeply loved this Jesus. They had obviously been on a longer journey with Jesus, and he had proven himself to be trustworthy and the one that they surely wanted to follow.

And then there were those remarkable words of forgiveness … “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing”. Could it be that Jesus, through all the agony he was suffering, was actually forgiving all those who had put him there! Unbelievable – but it seemed so real, so sincere. And if someone could be forgiven for this … well, a person could be forgiven for anything! Even an undeserving criminal suffering the most degrading punishment!! It’s as if Jesus can soak up our worst and offer forgiveness in exchange.

So this poor criminal on the nearby cross concludes that clearly Jesus “has done nothing wrong”. Yet in the face of this, and in all the agony of crucifixion, Jesus seems in some way serene, as if he knows why this is happening and accepts it. Thus he also seems to come to conclude that Jesus is truly the “Messiah of God” – the Chosen One; and therefore comes to the further conclusion that even death on this cross will not be the end for Jesus, rather he will be taking his rightful place in his own kingdom.

This man’s transformation of heart and mind is first noticed as he rebukes the other criminal for his unthinking derision of Jesus. Then he shows an understanding of his own guilt and need of mercy. In his own experience of torture this criminal certainly would desire some sort of hope and peace. But now he comes to realise that this mercy, hope and peace is actually available to him, even him! So he says, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom”.

This man didn’t have to know all the religious words nor understand everything about faith … he just had to open his heart, and believe, and say “Jesus, remember me”. And of course he would not be disappointed, for never would he be separated from Jesus now. As he accepts that Jesus’ death is for him, he will also rise in the resurrection. You can see in this heartfelt request to Jesus the sort of regret and remorse concerning a life wasted … that allowed for a blessed eternity. Whatever it was that set him on a life breaking the law, he was now going to experience true freedom … and today!

There is also the other aspect here, from the other side, of how Jesus saw this criminal. What did Jesus see in this dying man? Here was a lost and lonely person, in need of love and care. Although he was suffering the consequences of his actions, all would not be lost, if he could just look into Jesus’ eyes and see mercy there. Through God’s eyes of grace, people often look very different to how they look to us.

This repentant chap serves to show us the impact of the cross. This wasn’t just a mistake or an injustice perpetrated by the Jewish leadership together with Roman authority … this was a self-giving of God, so that people just like this condemned criminal could find mercy, forgiveness, salvation and eternal life. The idea of living life without Jesus doesn’t bear thinking about.

To be Missional ...

At the conclusion of his time on earth after his resurrection, Jesus directed his followers to make disciples from all nations (Matthew 28:19). This is the essence of being “missional”. What we continually grapple with is how to fulfil this requirement in this particular day and age. Here are some of the things I’ve discovered to bring a framework to what we do. To be missional … is to acknowledge that it’s God’s mission that we participate in. To be missional … is to recognise the predominance of God’s grace. To be missional … is to affirm God’s wondrous acts of creation and re-creation. To be missional … is to be prepared to stand up for those who are oppressed or have been abused – to respond to community need. To be missional … is to love your neighbourhood and engage with your community. To be missional … is to deal with your prejudices and just love all people. To be missional … is to live out the life of Jesus who perfectly demonstrates the “way of God”.

The Ultimate Story of Grace (Luke 15:11-32)

Jesus told us a story to teach us about God’s grace. There was a young man in a fairly well-to-do family that desperately wanted his independence. He realised that if he was going to be free to see and experience the world he was going to need some extensive funds. The only way he could get such money was through his father. Though a generous father, he knew that it would be better if his son remained within the family fold and benefitted progressively from the available resources. Yet the son was so fixated on taking his own journey, that he would have preferred his father to be dead and the inheritance distributed now! Seeing no point in holding him back against his will, the father allowed the son to go, and gave him the money he was looking for.

As often happens in the complex and difficult world, the son lost his way, for he never did really have a good plan or purpose. First he spent all the money he had been given, some wasted on what turned out to be hopeless get-rich-quick schemes. Then he got himself into such debt that life became simply a matter of working to survive. We might imagine the sort of depths that he fell into. Hearing what happened to his youngest son, you might imagine the father would be incensed, angry and bitter, bemoaning the waste. But no, quite the contrary – the father’s only abiding emotion was one of compassion – ‘if only my son would come home’! The father only wanted to pour love out on his son again; he had already forgotten this son’s belligerent and arrogant attitude. He couldn’t wait for the moment he would talk to his son again.

Not everyone however felt the same as this loving father. For instance an older brother couldn’t understand this offering of mercy at all. After all this young man deserves everything he’s got himself into. People, like this older brother, looked at themselves and felt superior, and couldn’t accept that such a miscreant could be restored. Not only this, but to be given a place of honour in the family, and his return being celebrated at a big party – this was outrageous. Well perhaps it still seems far too radical humanly speaking – but this is the grace of God! The younger son, having certainly learned a lesson, humbly returned; and one who would have otherwise been lost in an endless hell, now has received a future paved with opportunity. To be a bearer of God’s grace is to follow this father’s attitude.