Whac-A-Mole: Universalism — Wednesday
Luke 23:39-43
One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (NLT)
Jesus is moments away from taking His last breath on the cross when a verbal exchange happens between him and two other men sentenced to die. One mocked Jesus. The other repented. The repentant criminal admitted his wrongdoings and asked Jesus to remember him. And Jesus responded. Can you imagine the weight lifted off the soul of this man while the weight of his body was causing him to suffocate on the cross? He was forgiven. Somehow he knew enough about Jesus that he wanted to go where He was going.
We don’t know much about the two men crucified with Jesus that day. While traditionally we have referred to them as thieves, scholars have suggested that common criminals wouldn’t have necessarily been sentenced to death. These men were more likely a threat to Imperial Rome, as was Jesus. They may have been rebels attempting to start an uprising. One thing is clear from the text, the criminal who engaged Jesus humbly knew to be fearful about facing God outside of forgiveness. “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die?” he said to the other criminal who had hurled insults at Jesus. “We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.”
This interaction between Jesus and these men almost in and of itself sets aside Universalism's claim that all are saved. Each man on either side of Jesus had a choice and each made a different choice. Jesus did not say today you both will be with me in Paradise.
Wednesday’s Reflection
Jesus had compassion for the repentant man on the cross. Equally, I’m sure Jesus was saddened by the rejection of the other. May we see everyone on our path today with the eyes of Jesus, knowing they, too, have the ability to say YES to Him.
