Luke 23:43-49: a reflection

43Jesus said to him, “Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” 44It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. 45The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” Having said this, he breathed his last. 47When the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous man.” 48All the multitudes that came together to see this, when they saw the things that were done, returned home beating their chests. 49All his acquaintances and the women who followed with him from Galilee stood at a distance, watching these things.

As Jesus hangs dying on the cross, one of the criminals crucified beside him turns to him at the very last, asking only to be remembered; and Jesus gives him a stunning promise. Assuredly I tell you, Jesus says, today you will be with me in Paradise. Here is a man at the end of his life, with nothing to offer, no time to make amends, no record of good works, who simply turns to Christ in his final hours and casts himself on his mercy; and Christ receives him, promises him Paradise that very day. This is mercy given at the very last, to one who simply turned to Christ. It was not too late for him; even at the end, even with nothing to offer but a turning to Christ, he received mercy and the promise of Paradise. Christ's mercy reaches even to the last hour, to the one who simply turns to him with nothing but his need. No one who turns to Christ, however late, however empty-handed, is beyond his mercy. Even at the last, a turning to Christ receives mercy.

Notice to whom, and when, Christ gave this promise: to a dying criminal, at the very last, who simply turned to him. The man had nothing to offer, no time left to prove himself, no record of righteousness; he had only his final hours and a turning to Christ, asking to be remembered. And Christ received him at once, promising him Paradise that very day. This shows how far Christ's mercy reaches: even to the last hour, even to one with nothing to offer but a turning to him. It was not too late for this man; his turning to Christ, empty-handed and at the end, was met with mercy and the promise of Paradise. This is a great comfort and a great wonder: Christ's mercy is not reserved for those with long records of good works, but is given even to the one who simply turns to him at the last, casting himself on his mercy. No turning to Christ, however late or empty-handed, is refused. Christ receives the one who turns to him even at the very end. His mercy reaches to the last hour.

That is worth resting in, for Christ's mercy reaches even to the last hour, to the one who simply turns to him. We can fear that it is too late for us, or for someone we love, that we have nothing to offer, no time to make amends, no record to commend us; but Christ received the dying criminal who simply turned to him at the very last, promising him Paradise that day. No turning to Christ, however late or empty-handed, is beyond his mercy. It is never too late to turn to Christ, who receives even the one who comes at the end with nothing but his need. When you fear it is too late, remember the dying man to whom Christ said, today you will be with me in Paradise. Rest in the mercy Christ gives even at the last hour, to the one who simply turns to him, as he promised the dying criminal Paradise that very day; for Christ's mercy is not reserved for those with long records of good works but reaches even to the last hour, to the one who turns to him empty-handed with nothing but his need, so that no turning to Christ, however late, is refused, and it is never too late to cast ourselves on the mercy that received the dying man beside him.

Lord Jesus, as you hang dying on the cross, one of the criminals crucified beside you turns to you at the very last, asking only to be remembered; and you give him a stunning promise. Assuredly I tell you, you say, today you will be with me in Paradise. Here is a man at the end of his life, with nothing to offer, no time to make amends, no record of good works, who simply turns to you in his final hours and casts himself on your mercy; and you receive him, promise him Paradise that very day. This is mercy given at the very last, to one who simply turned to you. It was not too late for him. Show me to whom, and when, you gave this promise: to a dying criminal, at the very last, who simply turned to you. The man had nothing to offer, no time left to prove himself; he had only his final hours and a turning to you. And you received him at once, promising him Paradise that very day. This shows how far your mercy reaches: even to the last hour, even to one with nothing to offer but a turning to you. This is a great comfort and a great wonder: your mercy is not reserved for those with long records of good works, but is given even to the one who simply turns to you at the last. Let me rest in that, for your mercy reaches even to the last hour, to the one who simply turns to you. I can fear that it is too late for me, or for someone I love, that we have nothing to offer, no record to commend us; but you received the dying criminal who simply turned to you at the very last. It is never too late to turn to you. When I fear it is too late, help me remember the dying man to whom you said, today you will be with me in Paradise, Lord, and rest in the mercy that receives even the one who comes at the end with nothing but his need.