"YOU SHALL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE"

Proclamation:

"One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at Him: 'Aren't You The Christ?  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, 'I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in paradise.' "  Luke 23:39-43 (NIV)

Explanation:

Under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God Luke, the physician and traveling companion of the Apostle Paul, recorded that there were two criminals who were crucified along with Jesus, The Christ. (Luke 23:32-33)  One of the criminals insulted Christ.  The second one rebuked the first one and spoke up for Christ and then he asked Jesus to remember him when He enters His kingdom.  Jesus told him that he would be with Him in paradise that day.  These words which Jesus spoke are considered to be the second of the last seven saying of Christ on the cross. 

Application:

On that fateful day there were three crosses on the hill called Golgotha.  The criminals on either side of Jesus responded completely differently to Him.  They have been described as representing the choices we have in responding to Christ.  When all was said and done symbolically, the cross in the center, upon which Jesus hung, represented salvation.  The cross on one side of Him represented rejection of Christ, and the cross on the other side of Him represented belief and acceptance.  The two crosses represent the choices which we all have with respect to what Jesus has to offer.  Either we will accept Him and receive salvation and eternal life, or we will reject Him and spend eternity in torment. (John 3:16 and 1 John 5:13)  We each have a decision to make, to either be with Christ or not, please choose wisely.