Crucifixion

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Crucifixion

Luke 23:39-43

39 And [de] one [heis] of the malefactors [kakourgos] which were hanged [kremannumi] railed [blasphemeo] on him [autos] , saying [lego] , If [ei] thou [su] be [ei] Christ [Christos] , save [sozo] thyself [seautou] and [kai] us [hemas] .
40 But [de] the other [heteros] answering [apokrinomai] rebuked [epitimao] him [autos] , saying [lego] , Dost [phobeo] not [oude] thou [su] fear [phobeo] God [theos] , seeing [hoti] thou art [ei] in [en] the same [autos] condemnation [krima] ?
41 And [kai] we [hemeis] indeed [men] justly [dikaios] ; for [gar] we receive [apolambano] the due reward [axios] of our [hos] deeds [prasso] : but [de] this man [houtos] hath done [prasso] nothing [oudeis] amiss [atopos] .
42 And [kai] he said [lego] unto Jesus [Iesous] , Lord [kurios] , remember [mnaomai] me [mou] when [hotan] thou comest [erchomai] into [en] thy [sou] kingdom [basileia] .
43 And [kai] Jesus [Iesous] said [epo] unto him [autos] , Verily [amen] I say [lego] unto thee [soi] , To day [semeron] shalt thou be [esomai] with [meta] me [emou] in [en] paradise [paradeisos] . KJV-Interlinear

39 And one of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, 'Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!' 40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, 'Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 'And we indeed justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.' 42 And he was saying, 'Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!' 43 And He said to him, 'Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.' NASB

At first both of the criminals were yelling curses at Jesus. They saw and heard the many people walking by and offering their two cents worth of wisdom toward Christ, but then one of them began to think about this whole situation, and he changed his mind. He believed in the Christ and will go to Paradise when he dies.

The other criminal continued to be impudent and continued his bold and brash assailing of Christ. One would think that a person who is hanging there on a cross, with nails driven through their hands and feet and knowing that in the very near future he would be dead, that he would perhaps change his tone about life, about God, and about everything.

Why would a person in such a position, hold on to their bitterness? Why would they verbally trash someone they didn't even know. But clearly both criminals were somewhat aware of who people were saying this Jesus was. Or rather of what people were saying that Jesus had said.

Why taunt Him at all. If He were just another nut case, then leave Him alone and finish your own life with some semblance of dignity. On the other hand, if He really is who He says He is, then what good would it do to taunt Him? Just how many points do you think you earn with God when you ridicule Him?

The first criminal, the one who changed his mind, recognized Jesus as Lord and called Him just that, 'Lord.' At that moment he was saved.

He further recognized that this Jesus was perfect, and had done no wrong. He did not know of nor did he probably understand anything of the scriptures. He doesn't exactly fit the profile of your typical Bible student. That should be obvious. But then believers come from all walks of life. This man was a murderer and a thief and probably has done many other things that would disgust the typical Sunday School person. Ones former life (or even current life) is irrelevant when it comes to salvation. That, salvation, is open to anyone who believes in Christ.

Furthermore, Jesus confirms his being saved by telling him that on 'this current day' he would be with Christ in Paradise.

Paradise is one of the four compartments in the underworld. The underworld is called Hades. Hades sometimes is used for hell or for Torments (another of the four compartments), but the general name for the underworld is Hades. See the chart of the underworld - Hades.

Prior to our current dispensation, the Church Age, anyone who died and was saved, went into Paradise. From the time of Adam up and until just after the Cross, all believers went to Paradise.

All unbelievers went to, and still do go to, Torments. Torments is a temporary place in the underworld where all unbelievers wait until their resurrection and their final judgment before the Great White Throne, which will occur at the end of the Millennium.

Paradise is a place of many pleasant things. Torments is a place of many miseries.

Shortly after the Cross, when Jesus ascends into heaven, He will lead a huge victory parade, just as a general in ancient times would lead a victory parade after his conquests in battle. Christ's parade will consist of all the Old Testament believers, and they will leave the old Paradise in the underworld and go to a new Paradise in heaven. They waited in the old Paradise until the victory of the Cross. In the new Paradise they await Christ's victory at the second advent. There also, they are now currently awaiting their resurrection at the end of the Tribulation.

As for the other criminal. His defiant attitude is typical of people who wish to remain defiantly against God, even in the face of their own death. He knows the truth. He even taunts Jesus regarding who He is, but his own death is not enough to scare him into repentance. Some people who are defiant in life and even into death, will never change. Even in Torments they will refuse to change. Even when standing before Christ at the Great White Throne, they will remain defiant. And off they will go into the Lake of Fire, because they will simply refuse to accept Christ as Lord and savior. Now that is the quintessence of stupidity, and a description of just how dangerous a negative attitude can really be.

Some people will be defiant in salvation. They will lose out in eternity. Many people are defiant (as believers) in getting with their spiritual growth through a daily Bible study. They will lose out in blessings. A very few people (perhaps you???) will persist in their spiritual lives and that may very well be their only success in life. Advancement to spiritual maturity is the greatest achievement that anyone can attain in life. There is nothing greater. There is nothing else that will have as great an impact on ones eternity, than ones spiritual life.

We are fast approaching zero hour. Judgment is about T-minus one hour away now.