During this Lenten season, our church will be exploring the profound significance of “the seven last words” of Jesus Christ spoken from the cross. Each week, we will reflect on these final declarations, words of forgiveness, salvation, relationship, distress, abandonment, triumph, and reunion, that reveal the heart of Christ’s sacrifice and the depth of God’s love for humanity. As we journey through Lent, we will draw closer to the cross, allowing Jesus’ words to shape our hearts and deepen our faith, inviting us to a season of reflection, repentance, and renewal as we prepare for the greatest miracle of all time: the resurrection of Christ. 

     Last week, we looked at the first thing Jesus said from the cross. Jesus is beaten, flogged, crucified and He pushes up on His nail-pierced feet and says, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Now, Jesus is going to go from “them” to “him.” It is going to get very, very personal. Jesus is going to have a conversation with a criminal named Dismas on the cross. We know Dismas as “the thief on the cross.” While hanging on a cross next to Christ, Dismas realized something. He realized, for the very first time in his life, who Jesus Christ of Nazareth really is: the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Dismas realized that no one is ever too far gone from the scandalous grace of Jesus. Dismas goes from blaspheming Jesus to blessing Him and he simply asks Jesus for a favor: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42). What is Jesus’s response? “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). This is the scandalous grace of Jesus Christ.  

     Some people, when hearing this, may ask where is Dismas’ fruit or good works because clearly, this man does not have any! He cannot go to a worship service, he cannot go to Bible study, he cannot get baptized, and he cannot serve those in need. He does not bring anything to his salvation except the sin that requires him to need salvation just like you and me. This guy did absolutely nothing and yet, he is guaranteed salvation. 

     Grace is getting what we do not deserve in any way, and it is the grace of Jesus that we can be with God forever in Paradise. The only thing we bring to the equation of our salvation is the sin that nailed Jesus to the cross. Christ did for us what we could not do for ourselves, and it is simply by grace through faith that we are saved.  

     You see, three men died that day on the cross. One man died in his sin, one man died for our sin, and one man died to his sin. The thief on the cross knew that the promise of Jesus was true: “Today, you will be with me in Paradise.” Do you know?