“I assure you, today you will be with Me in paradise.”
— Luke 23:43 (NLT)
These words, spoken by Jesus while He was dying on the cross, are among the most hope-filled statements in all of Scripture. In just one sentence, Jesus offered complete forgiveness, eternal life, and the promise of immediate joy to a dying criminal. What do they mean for us today?
A Word to a Dying Man — and to All of Us
Jesus was crucified between two criminals. One mocked Him. The other, recognizing his own guilt and Jesus’ innocence, made a simple request:
“Jesus, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom.” (Luke 23:42 NLT)
He didn’t have time to fix his life or do anything religious. He simply acknowledged who Jesus was — a King — and asked to be remembered.
Jesus responded with astonishing grace:
“I assure you, today you will be with Me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43 NLT)
This wasn’t a vague promise for the distant future. Jesus said “today.” That means the moment the man closed his eyes in death, he opened them in the presence of the Son of God.
What Is Paradise?
“Paradise” is a word that describes a place of perfect peace, rest, and joy in the presence of God. In Revelation, it’s associated with the tree of life and being in God’s presence (Revelation 2:7). For the thief, it meant no more pain, no more shame, no more fear. It meant eternal life with Jesus.
Paradise isn’t just a reward for the religious or the righteous. It’s for the forgiven. And that’s good news, because forgiveness is something anyone can receive.
Grace, Not Goodness
The criminal on the cross had no chance to make things right. He couldn’t earn his salvation — and Jesus didn’t ask him to. This wasn’t about being “good enough.” It was about grace. Jesus offered the man eternal life simply because he turned to HIM in faith.
That’s the beauty of the gospel: God doesn’t save us because we deserve it — He saves us because HE is good.
This story reminds us that it’s never too late to turn to Jesus. If He could save a dying thief, He can save you and me.
What About You?
You might feel like you’ve messed up too much. Or maybe you’ve tried to be a good person but still feel empty inside. Either way, this passage reminds us of something important: It’s not about what we’ve done — it’s about what Jesus has done.
He took the punishment we deserved, and He offers us the same promise: “You will be with Me.” Eternal life isn’t a religious system — it’s a relationship with Jesus Christ.
A Simple Prayer
If you’ve never turned to Jesus before, you can do so right now. You don’t need fancy words — just an honest heart.
Here’s a simple prayer you can pray:
“Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God. I know I’ve sinned and I need Your forgiveness. Please remember me. I want to follow You and be with You — now and forever. Amen.”
If you prayed that, I’d love to hear from you. And if you already know Jesus, take a moment today to thank HIM for the grace that saves us — even in our final moments.
Let’s live with the hope and assurance that we will be with HIM in paradise.
