Fifth Sunday in Lent – Friday

Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise. – Luke 23:43.

One of the malefactors, crucified with Jesus, continued railing on Him persistently, saying: “If Thou be Christ, save Thyself and us!” (Luke 23:39).

But the other one had experienced a great change. He stopped mocking the Savior, and he rebuked his companion, saying: “Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds, but this Man hath done nothing amiss” (vv. 40-41). And he said unto Jesus: “Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom!” (v. 42). And Jesus said unto him: “Verily I say unto thee: Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise” (v. 43).

O precious word of our Redeemer! It shows that Jesus receives the very worst of sinners when they come to Him in true contrition and faith. It shows that Jesus receives them, even if they come to Him in the very last hour of life, after long living in sin. It shows that Jesus gives them the same blessedness which He gives to the greatest saint, and He gives it at once, without an intervening purgatory. Let everyone comfort himself herewith! And this whole delightful story shows how alone a man may come to true faith in the Savior: By seeing and hearing Christ Crucified, as we may do now in His Word. And it shows what fruits of faith are produced: Sorrow for sin, childlike trust in Jesus, a blessed hope in death, a bold and cheerful confession of Jesus, and patience in cross and affliction. May all here take a lesson!  Christian, show the same fruits of faith as that malefactor who repented in his last hour. Continue to renounce the devil and your sins of the past, and strive, with the help of God, to continue to amend your life out of love for the Savior who first loved you!  God will “help” you (Psalm 46:1-2; 121:2; Isaiah 41:10 and Isaiah 41:13)!

PRAYER. – O Jesus, continue to grant to me the mercy which Thou didst grant to the thief. Not that I am worthy of it, but continue to grant it because Thou dost love to show mercy for Thine own sake. Continue to remember me in Thy grace and mercy. Continue to forgive me my great and numerous sins. Continue to uphold me in Thy Kingdom of Grace (the Holy Christian Church, the Communion of Saints) by saving faith in Thee. When my last hour comes, receive me into Thy Kingdom of Glory (heaven, paradise). Continue to give me true knowledge of Thee through the preaching of Thy cross. Continue to grant to me at all times the spirit of true repentance, firm confidence in Thee, sure hope of eternal life, a new heart, and the courage cheerfully to confess Thy name, to serve Thee, and to suffer patiently. Continue to have mercy on me, O Jesus! Amen.

There is a fountain filled with blood

Drawn from Immanuel’s veins,

And sinners plunged beneath that flood

Lose all their guilty stains.

—

The dying thief rejoiced to see

That fountain in his day;

And there have I, as vile as he,

Washed all my sins away.

Hymn 157, 1. 2. [TLH]