Thief on the Cross – Luke 23:39-42

The Apostles’ Creed, as I learned it, says, “He was crucified, dead, and buried.  He descended into hell.  The third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven.”  The phrase, “He descended into hell,” has been replaced by some with the phrase, “He descended to the dead.”  That is a more scripturally accurate rendering.  Jesus did not enter hell upon death.  We may say he entered Hades, the place of the spirits of the dead, but that is not hell.  Hell is the place of punishment.  Jesus promised the thief on the cross that he would join him in Paradise, not torment.

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”  (Luke 23:39-43 ESV)

Do you believe in deathbed conversions?  Jesus did.  This criminal, crucified right next to Jesus, evidences repentance by chastising his fellow criminal and acknowledging his just penalty, as well as Jesus’ innocence and kingship. Jesus responds to his request for remembrance in Jesus’ kingdom with the promise of being with him in Paradise this very day.

This criminal was not baptized, did not make a public confession of Jesus’ lordship, did not ask Jesus into his heart, did not pray to receive Christ.  He believed.  He saw Jesus as his only hope of redemption.  He knew he did not deserve such redemption, but he asked for it as a gift.  And Jesus gave it.  Jesus gave him Paradise.

Paradise is the place of reward, Abraham’s bosom, as described in an earlier story by Jesus (Luke 16).  Jesus’ soul  descended into Hades, the Paradise part, upon the death of his body, and so did the soul of this crucified criminal.  Now that Jesus has ascended, Paradise has been moved to heaven (2 Corinthians 12:1-3).  For every believer who dies, whether they have been a believer for many years or only since the point of near death, Paradise is the instant abode of our souls upon death.