Our passage for study, detailing the crucifixion of Jesus, is the second episode of a series of six dealing with his glorification, 23:26-24:53.

v33. Jesus and two criminals (Mark has bandits, although the word has political overtones) are led to "calvary" ie. the place of the skull, presumably named after a skull-like rock formation that existed just outside the city wall. Here they are crucified, with Jesus between the two criminals.

v34. Jesus' ministry serves to justify sinners, it gains for sinners a declaration of right-standing before God. Justification involves "forgiveness", a forgiveness which Jesus prays for and which his sacrificial death now achieves. Justification also involves blessings, divine blessings which can best be summed up in the promise, "today you will be with me in paradise." This blessing is often described in terms of "peace" - reconciliation with God.

v35. Luke seems to make a point of separating the response of the "rulers" from that of the people. The religious officials sneer at, abuse, Jesus, while the people look on quietly. This is a nice descriptive touch, probably driven more by Luke's theology than sentiment.

v36. The soldiers also get into the act, mocking Jesus by offering this kingly claimant some cheap wine.

v37. The soldiers assume that Jesus is a king, of sorts, but of course they think it is all a bit of a joke. From Luke's perspective, the joke is on them, since Jesus is a king.

v38. The messianic kingship of Christ is underlined by Luke.

v39. The first criminal sarcastically suggests that since Jesus is the Christ he might like to do something about their situation.

v40. The second criminal has recognized Jesus' messianic credentials and so reminds his friend that it is dangerous for a justly condemned thief to deride God's righteous one.

v41. Here, we see Luke underlining Jesus' innocence.

v42. The faith of the thief is firm, and so he asks Jesus for his eternal care. The phrase "remember me" is actually a common prayer found on gravestones of this period. If God is willing to remember us, then we are bound to survive the grave.

v43. Jesus proclaims the blessing associated with justification. This blessing, "paradise", is available "today". "Today" is a common technical phrase used of the messianic kingdom, and does not mean "this day", but rather "the coming day." Some manuscripts place the "today" with v42 - "remember me ...... today." There are those who argue that the soul of the thief left him "today", but this is against the teaching of the New Testament where we read of the dead rising on the coming day of resurrection. The "coming day" (today) is most likely Jesus' resurrection in which the "body of Christ" (believers) rise, ascend, and sit in glory with Christ. This blessing is inaugurated in Christ, but realized on the day of his return. The blessing itself is "paradise". Paradise means "garden" and of course, the imagery is that of the garden of Eden where God was in complete fellowship with his creation.

I do love reading the verses on gravestones. Sadly, we don't put much on gravestones these days. "At rest" is about it, although as Billy Connely puts it, "they're dead not resting." Probably the best is on Spike Milligan's grave stone: "I told you I was sick!" Many old gravestones have lovely verses and even little stories. In the first century a common inscription on gravestones was "remember me." It was a kind of little prayer to the gods that they might remember the person in the grave. If the gods choose to remember the dead then they may well survive the grave.

As Jesus' life slipped from him on the cross, a thief asked him, "remember me." It was a common prayer, a request that darkness would not overcome him. Obviously, the thief believed that Jesus could answer the prayer, and because he believed, Jesus promised him "paradise". The promise wasn't a maybe in the future, but an immediate place in the resurrection community, hid in Christ now and alive with him in eternity.

Far too often the gospel is presented in complex terms when it is actually a very simple message. God offers us eternity in his presence through Jesus. All we have to do is ask and it is ours. Like the thief on the cross, all we have to do is ask Jesus: "remember me." When speaking with my own son Paul, as he was dying from a brain tumor, I explained the gospel in the terms of asking Jesus to remember him. Those who ask Jesus to remember them receive the promise, "today you will be with me in paradise."

It is true that each generation hears the gospel in slightly different terms. The between the wars generation, overwhelmed by the horror and guilt of depraved humanity, need to hear the words, "Father forgive them." The baby boomers need to hear of a "paradise" where we find true friendship with God. Generation X/Y needs to hear of the mystery and magic of the "Chosen One" who is truly King - the Lord of the universe. Yet in the end, the gospel is not generation-specific. In truth, every generation can handle the simple prayer, "remember me".

Consider how the gospel is formed in this passage and try presenting it to each other as if to an unbeliever of similar age.