In this passage, Jesus is crucified by the Romans along with some persons who are criminals. This is our Reign of Christ Sunday (formerly Christ the King Sunday) gospel reading for the year of Luke. Here, we see Jesus enthroned upon the cross as a very different type of ruler than people are used to. We read this passage on this day to help us understand how radically different the reign of Christ is in our lives in comparison to the way earthly powers have ruled throughout history. 

Jesus is crucified outside the city walls of Jerusalem. The place was called the skull because it looked like one and because of what was done there to criminals. The Romans used crucifixion as a method of execution to send a very visible message to anyone who might cause them trouble either as common criminals or as insurrectionists. Crucifixion was painful and took a long time to cause death, usually through asphyxiation. What was considered worst to people at the time, however, was the shame of being crucified. The earliest Christians felt some shame that Jesus was killed this way. That’s why the apostle Paul works so hard in his writings to claim Jesus’ crucifixion as THE fundamental way in which God’s love for us has been shown, and that we should proclaim it proudly. It wasn’t natural for people of the time to see it that way!

Luke’s version of this story is different from other gospel accounts of the crucifixion in how the different criminals crucified next to Jesus speak to him. In other accounts, we only hear of them mocking Jesus, but here we see one criminal respond with faith. He admits that he has been condemned rightly for his crime, but he does admit that now he fears the Lord, that is, he has come to faith. He also acknowledges that Jesus has done nothing to deserve being crucified. The injustice of what has happened to Jesus is an important theme for Luke. Luke wants his Roman citizen audience to understand that Roman justice is sometimes very un-just. 

The ending of the passage is the most touching. The man with faith asks Jesus to remember him when he enters into his kingdom. He is not so bold as to ask to go to heaven, but I do believe that he is asking for forgiveness and for Jesus to bring the man’s appeal for forgiveness before the Father in heaven. But the man doesn’t say all this because it would be too bold. His request is just to be remembered, and it shows great humility on the man’s part. 

Jesus’ response actually begins with, “Amen,” in other words, “It shall be so.” Jesus says that he will grant this man his (implied) request for forgiveness. Furthermore, Jesus promises him that, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” There is incredible grace in this promise. Jesus doesn’t say, “After a multi-year trial-period in purgatory, you will eventually be with me.” No, Jesus says that it will be today. Jesus also uses a very specific word for heaven: paradise. Everyone then knew what a paradise was. It was a private garden that wealthy people had attached to their homes in what was otherwise a desolate land. Jesus is painting a green and verdant picture of heaven for us! I know that this would have been very comforting to this man of faith at Jesus’ side.



Jesus is our king, but he is a very different kind of king than we might think of typically. He does not reign from a throne, but from a cross. He doesn’t wear a crown of gold, but one of thorns. He does not demand that others die in his place, but instead freely gives his own life for us. We read this passage to remember what kind of king we have in Jesus, and thanks be to God that we do!