Luke 23:38-43 is a passage from the Gospel of Luke that describes the events that took place during the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This passage is significant because it includes a conversation between Jesus and one of the criminals who was crucified alongside him.
The passage begins with Luke 23:38, which reads, "There was also an inscription over him, 'This is the King of the Jews.'" This inscription, placed above Jesus' head on the cross, is significant because it identifies him as the king of the Jews, a title that was often used to refer to the promised Messiah.
The passage then continues with Luke 23:39, which reads, "One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, 'If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!'" This criminal, like many others, did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah, and instead mocked him, asking him to save himself and the other criminals who were being crucified alongside him.
However, the other criminal rebuked the first, saying, "Don't you even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong."
This second criminal recognized that Jesus was innocent and did not deserve to be crucified, while he and the other criminal did deserve their punishment. He also recognized Jesus' divine nature and authority, referring to him as "Lord" and asking him to remember him when he came into his kingdom.
Jesus replied, "Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise." This statement is significant because it shows that Jesus had the power to forgive sins and grant eternal life. Despite the criminal's past sins, Jesus showed him mercy and granted him salvation through his faith.
This conversation between Jesus and the criminal demonstrates the power of forgiveness and the transformative nature of faith. Despite his past mistakes, the criminal was able to recognize Jesus as the Messiah and have faith in him. Jesus, in turn, showed him mercy and granted him eternal life.
The passage as a whole also emphasizes the innocence of Jesus and the injustice of his crucifixion. The inscription above his head identifies him as the king of the Jews and the promised Messiah, and the recognition of his innocence by the criminal highlights the fact that he did not deserve to be crucified.
In summary, Luke 23:38-43 is a significant passage that highlights the events of the crucifixion and the power of forgiveness and faith. The conversation between Jesus and the criminal demonstrates the transformative power of faith and the importance of recognizing the innocence of others. Jesus' response of granting the criminal salvation and eternal life also shows the power of his divine authority and the depth of his mercy and forgiveness. This passage serves as a powerful reminder of the significance of the crucifixion and the transformative nature of faith in Jesus Christ.
Luke 23:38-43. An inscription was also written over him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!” But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Don’t you even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” He said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” Jesus said to him, “Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”