April 7: Believing His Salvation.
HIS INHERITANCE.
"Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!"--Luke 23:42
Have you ever seen a person suddenly become a millionaire? It is hard to explain the emotions that instant wealth brings to a person. I watched on TV as a woman won one million dollars and I witnessed the instantaneous flamboyant celebration that followed. Can you imagine the thoughts and feelings of a person who goes from poor to rich in a matter of seconds? But something even greater happened to the thief on the cross.
Just when we thought that the story of the prodigal son was only a parable (Luke 15:11-32), we find a real-life prodigal, an undeserving evildoer, who will request his share of the inheritance. He is being crucified next to Jesus, and Luke records his shocking request: May I have part of the inheritance? In other words: "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!" (Luke 23:42). On what basis should Jesus remember him in His kingdom, and give him an inheritance? First of all, the criminal calls Christ by His name: Jesus. He did not call Him "Rabbi" or "Lord" like most people did during His ministry. He called Him "Jesus," a name that recalls "Yahweh saves" (see Matthew 1:21). The second part of the request is, "remember me." In the Jewish Scripture this type of request was usually addressed to Yahweh. When the Lord remembered somebody, it was about acting on behalf of them within the framework of His covenant. (see Judges 16:28; 1 Samuel 1:11). This is about Jesus acting on his behalf. Thirdly, the sentence "when You come in Your kingdom," shows that this criminal had come to believe that the Crucifixion was not the end of Jesus; there was His kingdom beyond the cross. The charge against Jesus placed on the cross was a fulfillment of prophecy. But would Jesus even hear this prodigal son's shocking request for an inheritance? Jesus answered: "Truly to you I say today with Me you will be in paradise" (Luke 23:43, Greek-English Interlinear NT). On the spot, Jesus assured him of a heavenly inheritance, which at that moment He was securing for him. We can live with the same assurance of eternal life, which is our inheritance in Christ! (Hebrews 9:15).
My Response:____________________________________________________________
HIS INHERITANCE.
"Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!"--Luke 23:42
Have you ever seen a person suddenly become a millionaire? It is hard to explain the emotions that instant wealth brings to a person. I watched on TV as a woman won one million dollars and I witnessed the instantaneous flamboyant celebration that followed. Can you imagine the thoughts and feelings of a person who goes from poor to rich in a matter of seconds? But something even greater happened to the thief on the cross.
Just when we thought that the story of the prodigal son was only a parable (Luke 15:11-32), we find a real-life prodigal, an undeserving evildoer, who will request his share of the inheritance. He is being crucified next to Jesus, and Luke records his shocking request: May I have part of the inheritance? In other words: "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!" (Luke 23:42). On what basis should Jesus remember him in His kingdom, and give him an inheritance? First of all, the criminal calls Christ by His name: Jesus. He did not call Him "Rabbi" or "Lord" like most people did during His ministry. He called Him "Jesus," a name that recalls "Yahweh saves" (see Matthew 1:21). The second part of the request is, "remember me." In the Jewish Scripture this type of request was usually addressed to Yahweh. When the Lord remembered somebody, it was about acting on behalf of them within the framework of His covenant. (see Judges 16:28; 1 Samuel 1:11). This is about Jesus acting on his behalf. Thirdly, the sentence "when You come in Your kingdom," shows that this criminal had come to believe that the Crucifixion was not the end of Jesus; there was His kingdom beyond the cross. The charge against Jesus placed on the cross was a fulfillment of prophecy. But would Jesus even hear this prodigal son's shocking request for an inheritance? Jesus answered: "Truly to you I say today with Me you will be in paradise" (Luke 23:43, Greek-English Interlinear NT). On the spot, Jesus assured him of a heavenly inheritance, which at that moment He was securing for him. We can live with the same assurance of eternal life, which is our inheritance in Christ! (Hebrews 9:15).
My Response:____________________________________________________________
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