Imperishable Inheritance

Constantly being drawn back to the cross is a very healthy practice that all Christians should engage themselves in. Just re-reading through the crucifixion account in Luke, I found the following gem:

One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, "Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!" But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? "And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." And he was saying, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!" And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise."
Luke 23:39-43

Both criminals illustrate the varying nature of those who deny Christ and those who humbly accept Him (only by way of the Holy Spirit). What does the first criminal say? He mocks Him and tests Jesus; which is interesting because in Luke Jesus affirms that we are not to test God (Luke 4:12). This criminal is dead spiritual and about to be dead literally (Mark 3:29), but the other criminal on the other side of Jesus has a much different tone.

He rebukes the other criminal by his proclamation: "Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?" This man affirms his humility before God right next to him; he is acknowledging the very nature of Christ's crucifixion. Jesus took the death, and resulting humility, of dying as a common criminal (Philippians 2:5-11). Not only does this man establish that, but he establishes that Christ has done nothing wrong (which would imply that he know somewhat of Jesus' ministry and charges against Him).

After this, the man cries out to Jesus: "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!" And how does Jesus reply: "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise."

Now, if that doesn't give you goose bumps and humble you then something is wrong. Jesus looks aside of the criminal's crime and sees into his faith in Him, and grants him forgiveness on the cross (Luke 5:24). We see the judgment of Jesus in a literal fashion; no anthropomorphism needed. Jesus is clearly separating a sheep from a goat on His cross (Matthew 25:32-33). And not only that, He speaks to this man in an individual (not corporate) fashion: "...you shall be with Me in Paradise."

To look over, as you are about to die, to leave the very humanity that was granted to you and forgive someone. What an incredible display of His humanity and divinity.

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:5-11