What were the last words of Jesus on the cross?
The last seven words of Christ in the Cross
- » Father, forgive them because they dont know what they are doing»
- «Today you will be with me in paradise»
- «Woman, here is your son. …
- «My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?»
- «I’m thirsty!»
- «Everything is finished»
- » Father, in your hands I entrust my spirit»
What does the first word of Jesus on the cross mean?
* The first three words express the need for Christ of dying shedding light around Himself. In them he asks forgiveness for those who crucify him, opens the doors of salvation to one of those crucified with him, and gives men the priceless gift of his Mother.
What did the criminal say to Jesus on the cross?
39: One of the evildoers hanged him insulted him, saying: «Aren’t you the Christ? … 42: And he said: “Jesusremember me when you are in your Kingdom.” A’ v. 43: Jesus le said: “Truly I tell you: today you will be with me in Paradise.”
What does the word of the cross INRI mean?
According to the Academic Dictionary, inri word is the ‘acronym for Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum (Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews), an ironic Latin label which Pilate recorded on the holy cross‘.
What was the first parable of Jesus?
La parable of the sower is one of the parables of Jesus found in the three synoptic Gospels, Matthew 13: 1-9, Mark 4: 1-9 and Luke 8: 4-8, also in the apocryphal Gospel of Thomas (9).
What did Jesus give up when he died?
Juan simply says that Jesus, «Leaning his head, He delivered the Spirit ”(Jn 19,30:XNUMX).
What is the name of the man who helped Jesus with the cross?
The history of the name of the Simon of Cyrene Corporation is inspired by a biblical character. According to the Gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke, Simón de Cirene or El Cirineo, father of Alexander and Rufo, was the person in charge of helping Jesus to carry with the cross on the day of his crucifixion and death.
Who really said this was the Son of God?
The individual has no name in the gospels which relate the event, but usually identifies with the centurion which, before the death of Jesus, exclaimed: «In true this was el Son of God«.
Introduction
Jesus was crucified between two thieves. One of the thieves mocked Jesus. But the other thief rebuked him.
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 23:42-43).
Herbert Lockyer, in All the Last Words of Saints and Sinners, says,
«The last words of both saints and sinners about to enter eternity, what they had to say before their stammering tongues lay silent in the grave, demands our deepest attention and most earnest concern. If, when the soul is face to face with eternal realities, true character is almost invariably manifest, then we can expect the lips to express glorious certainty or terror concerning the future.»
I want to continue a series looking at the last words of neither a saint nor a sinner, but at the last words of our sinless Savior, Jesus Christ. After Jesus was nailed to the cross he spoke seven short phrases before he died. Luke 23:43 is the second of the seven last words of Christ.
Lesson
The second word of our Savior on the cross is directed to one of the thieves crucified with him. An analysis of Jesus’ second word on the cross, as set forth in Luke 23:43, teaches us about salvation.
I. The Request (23:42)
First, notice the request. The thief said to Jesus, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42).
The dying thief asked Jesus to remember him when he came into his kingdom. The thief had been caught for the crime of theft and was being justly punished for his sin. At first he joined with the others—the Jews, the Romans, and the other thief—in mocking Jesus (Matthew 27:44). After all, the whole world, it seemed, had turned against Jesus. He who proclaimed to be the Savior of the world hardly seemed to be the Savior of anything in the present circumstances.
But then, by a miracle of God’s grace, his heart was changed, and he realized that the man being crucified next to him was none other than the Lord of Glory. He rebuked the other criminal and said to him, “Don’t you fear God, 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” (Luke 23:40-41). Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (23:42).
This is a marvelous request! It is a request offered in simplicity and humility. He recognized that he was a sinner, but now he also recognized that Jesus was indeed the true Savior. He asked Christ to remember him when he came into his kingdom.
Friends, we were like that dying thief. We were under the just condemnation of the law. We had sinned against God and his law. Perhaps we had even mocked God and Christ. We were rebels against God and his holiness. We were not interested in God or the things of God.
But then, by a miracle of God’s grace, our hearts were changed, and we realized that the One who was crucified was none other than the Lord of Glory. And we cried out in words similar to the words of the dying thief, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
II. The Response (23:43)
Notice Jesus’ response to the request. Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).
Jesus promised the thief that he would be in paradise. Now paradise is simply another word for heaven. This thief, who had lived a life of sin and rebellion, was now going to spend eternity in heaven because of his trust in Jesus.
But more than just being in paradise, Jesus said to the thief, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” The promise is not only heaven but in the presence of Jesus himself. The thief deserved hell because of his sin but now he was going to be in heaven with Jesus. What unspeakable joy!
Moreover, he was going to be with Jesus that very day! There was no purgatory. There was no sleep in limbo for who knows how long. The thief, who had no opportunity for good works, went straight to paradise to be with Jesus for all eternity!
Friends, Christ’s response is the same to us as it was to the dying thief. When we trusted in Christ as the Savior sent from God, we immediately received the promise of an eternity in paradise with Jesus. We know that there is no such thing as purgatory or limbo. All of us who trust in Christ will immediately be transported into the presence of Christ in paradise the moment we die. What a great hope we have!
Jesus hung on the cross in between two criminals. One criminal mocks at Him while the other understood that Jesus was treated unjustly. He cries out saying, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom!”And there Jesus utters His second word to the thief,
“Assuredly I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise”.
Luke 23:43
The criminal’s cry to Jesus was a desperate effort. He was at the very end of his life and he could hardly change anything that he had done his entire lifetime. But still he had enough faith to cry, “Jesus, remember me!”. He believed Jesus was able to forgive Him. He laid on Jesus the weight of his sins and Christ did accept his burden.
Even though our life is different from the life of a criminal, we are in many ways like him. We have been in situations where there is a need to cry out, pleading Jesus to remember us.
“Remember me, LORD, when you show favor to your people, come to my aid when you save them”
Psalm 106:4
Jesus’ reply to the criminal was a word of assurance. He assured the sinner that he would be there in heaven with Him. His saying gives us hope for our salvation even today. A small heartfelt prayer, “Jesus, remember me!” would be enough to receive his mercy. He never forsakes anybody who comes to Him.
“All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away”.
John 6:37
We will be welcomed in heaven not because we are living perfectly but because God is merciful to those who repent. Trust His assurance!
– Blessed Christian
“And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” [1] (Luke 23: 42, 43).
Crucifixion is perhaps the most demeaning and agonizing form of execution ever concocted, yet Jesus showed no defiance and demonstrated no animosity. He even prayed for those responsible for His death (v. 34).
His prayer did not immediately secure personal forgiveness for His adversaries, but it bore back the wrath of God for roughly forty years, therefore allowing the nation time to repent. Alas, they appeared not receive the Word and indeed committed another murder when they stoned Stephen (Acts 7).
In fulfillment of Isa. 53:12,
Therefore, I will divide him a portion with the many,
and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,
because he poured out his soul to death
and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
and makes intercession for the transgressors.[2]
He was crucified with two criminals, and He interceded for the transgressors. The mockery fulfilled Ps. 22:6–8,
But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by mankind and despised by the people.
All who see me mock me;
they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; [3]
and the offer of the drink Ps. 69:21. The light and darkness remind us of Ps. 22:1–2, and the cry in v. 46 fulfills Ps. 31:5.
Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God. [4]
Luke is the only Gospel writer who records the exchange between Christ and the thief. How did the criminal know Jesus had a kingdom?
Probably from the official plaque hanging over His head (v. 38).
There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” [5]
How did he know that Jesus could save him? He heard the mockers cry, “He saved others!” (v. 35)
He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” [6]
In Matthew’s gospel, we learn that there were two criminals. These outlaws were tormented with Jesus. It is Matthew in his gospel that describes that the thieves joined in with many others in mocking Jesus. Jeering – “He saved others, but he cannot save himself” (Matthew 27: 44).
Therefore, it is all the more miraculous movement of the Spirit to witness the transformation in the heart of one of the nameless criminals.
Luke includes the Jewish rulers, later the soldiers, and ultimately one criminal shouting insults. Is there an inconsistency? It may very well be, that the other criminal had flung an insult but was silenced, by Jesus’ character and prayer.
Suddenly, he was awakened to the truth concerning Jesus’ innocents. “We’re guilty, but he has done no wrong.”
The thief knew, as did Pilate, that Jesus was innocent. Next, he appealed for an extraordinary favor: ‘Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’
-
- It seems surprising that the thief had the eyes of faith to see the true identity of Jesus.
- He knew that, even though Jesus looked helpless, he was a king.
- His lifestyle had been unlike that of any royal person that has ever lived.
The thief could see no fine clothing (they have stripped the Lord of his outer garments); he could see no visible following—his friends had long since fled for their lives.
His only crown, they made such as it was of thorns. Yet the thief recognized his true identity.
He asked to be remembered by the Lord when he entered his kingdom, and Jesus’ reply was that even that very day he would be with him in ‘paradise’. What a contrast! From excruciating pain to the refreshment of the garden of God! Such was the blessing the thief would receive that day.
The robber had a 12th-hour death bed conversion experience! Maybe he saw the sign above Jesus’ head and he believed and made Jesus his Lord. What we can say, it that the forgiven criminal saw and heard things that brought conviction.
The Nature of Jesus On Display.
What the portion of scripture suggests is that Jesus’ last ally on earth was a sinner. The same man was Christ’s first companion at the gates of paradise – “I promise you that today you will be in Paradise with me” (GNB).
Second, because the man believed he was instantly prepared for heaven. The man had no opportunity to do any good works it was grace that saved him. God lavishly reigned, rich, sin covering grace upon him! Our Savior is one who saves from the uttermost to the uttermost!
Right to the conclusion of his story, Jesus was reaching out to the lost, speaking a word of salvation.
The songwriter writes,
The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day,
And there may I, though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away.
The dying thief representative of us! People who desperately need salvation. People who need a promise and hope. People who need to be in the company of Jesus now and forever.
“Today you will be with me in Paradise.”
William Barclay writes, “The word Paradise is a Persian word meaning a walled garden. When a Persian king wished to do one of his subjects a very special honor he made him a companion of the garden, and he was chosen to walk in the garden with the king. It was more than immortality that Jesus promised the penitent thief. He promised him the honored place of a companion of the garden in the courts of heaven.”
Lessons from a Thief.
-
- We may observe that there is a great difference between the conduct of this dying thief and that of many dying penitents who are supposed to be converted. They often speak confidently of their state, and of their going to heaven; but this poor man did not, though Christ said so of him. He prayed that he might be saved; and after what Christ said, he might believe that he should; but he himself said not a word of that. The strong language that was used was Christ’s, and not his.
- The mercy shown to the penitent thief affords an encouraging example to perishing sinners.
- There is a request on Christ’s part as well as on ours: He desires to be remembered by us (1 Cor. 11:24).
and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” [7]
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Lk 23:42–43). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Is 53:12). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ps 22:6–7). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
[4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ps 31:5). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
[5] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Lk 23:38). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
[6] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Lk 23:35). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
[7] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (1 Co 11:24). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
A post about the Crucifixion of Jesus.
Jesus’ First Words From the Cross
Good Friday Was All About Love
“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise”
Luke 23:43
One of the criminals hanging there threw insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” The other one, however, rebuked him, saying: “Don’t you fear God? Here we are all under the same sentence. Ours, however, is only right, for we are getting what we deserve for what we did; but he has done no wrong.” And he said to Jesus, “Remember me, Jesus, when you come as King!” Jesus said to him, “I tell you this: Today you will be in Paradise with me.” Luke 23:39-43
As we see Jesus up on the cross, we see him between two very different criminals. The first criminal is full of anger and full of hate. He desires Jesus to wave a magic wand and make all the things we have done wrong become right. Don’t we sometimes have that same mentality about God, thinking that God should come to our rescue and right the wrongs that we have caused? We cry out to God to save us and yell at God when we perceive our cries have been heard or answered.
Sometimes it is easier to disparage Christ rather than to admit and look at what we have done?
And on the other side of Christ is another criminal, this one acknowledging the thieves are getting what they deserve, but Jesus doesn’t deserve this—he has done no wrong. And even though this man knows he deserves it, he still cries out with hope, “Remember me, Jesus when you come as King.”
To this man who still saw good, to this man who tried to defend and protect the good, to this man, who even in the midst of getting his “just punishment” sought good, was given words of comfort.
“Today, you will be in paradise with me,” says Jesus. Will Willimon says, “For when Jesus speaks of ‘Paradise”, he is not talking so much of a place where they may go someday, as a relationship that the entered into today.” This entering into paradise was not when the criminal breathed his last, but the moment he recognized that “that the one who hung next to him in the agony and humiliation on the cross was none other than his Lord, the master of his life, the sovereign of the kingdom of God.”
This short conversation between the criminal and Jesus reassures us that even in the darkest times in our life, Jesus promises to be there in the here and now. As Will Willimon asks “What situation in our lives could be worse than hanging on the cross?” We believe and worship a God who gets all mixed up in the messiness of life. And when things don’t go as we planned or we take the wrong road and things go from bad to horrible, there is God hanging there with us.
Published by revjenn
A wife, mother, and Presbyterian pastor.
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Published
April 18, 2011April 19, 2011