“Today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43
There is much to learn from the interaction between Jesus and the two criminals that he died with. There is the striking contrast between them and sinless Jesus that reminds us of the injustice of an innocent man dying for the guilty. There is the fact that Jesus has the ability to prophesy, to know and speak of the future. There is the contrast between two men who respond to Jesus in two starkly different ways. There is much to learn from this moment in history.
One of the things I learn from Jesus and the two criminals is that Jesus is all they need for eternal life. He’s all or nothing for them. When Jesus tells the one man that he will be with him in paradise you realize that there is NOTHING that man had to do to make amends for his sinful past. There was nothing he COULD do. He was in the last throws of death. On his “deathbed” he looks to Jesus in faith believing that He is all he needs, and He’s given the gift of eternal life.
There is tremendous freedom when you come to realize that Jesus is all you need. It’s not about who you are, or what you’ve done, or how good you’ve been. It’s all about Jesus; who HE is, what HE has done, and how good HE has been! Live in that joy and freedom! Jesus is all you need.
Dear Jesus, You’re all I need. Thank you for everything. Amen.
On the Journey... 