He Knows My Eleventh Hour Request
Scripture Reading: Luke 23:32-43
Meditation
In death, as in life, Jesus keeps company with sinners.
Since his ministry began, the religious leaders have accused Jesus of hanging around the riffraff. When he talked about the value of lost things, the religious leaders were right there, watching with a legalistic eye, pointing their fingers, and shaking their heads in disgust.
By this time a lot of men and women of doubtful reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently. The Pharisees and religion scholars were not pleased, not at all pleased. They growled, “He takes in sinners and eats meals with them, treating them like old friends.”1
Finally, in these last days, the religious leaders have found a way to condemn Jesus for the company he keeps. His crucifixion between the two criminals is meant to signify guilt by association to all who pass by. Jesus shares the penalty for sin, but unlike the two men he hangs with, he’s innocent of the crime.
Sinner? No!
Friend of sinners? Yes!
For the two criminals crucified next to Jesus, these are the final minutes of the eleventh hour. Death is near. Strength to push the legs up and the chest out to fill the lungs with air is fading. Every breath is a hard fought prize. As the final grains of sand stream through their hourglass, words are few and measured. One of the criminals wastes his breath by damning the soldiers below for nailing him to the cross. Catching his breath, he turns his head to Jesus and curses him for keeping him on the cross. The coming specter of death has hardened his heart.
“Some Messiah you are! Save yourself! Save us!”2
But when the other criminal hears the curses that are hurled at Jesus, he gathers whatever strength he has left and begins to rebuke his partner in crime.
“Have you no fear of God? You’re getting the same as him. We deserve this, but not him—he did nothing to deserve this.”3
This criminal understands the penalty of justice. He’s getting what he deserves and so is his partner. But Jesus is innocent.
As the criminal defends the Son of Man, he, a dying man, is born again. A few hours ago, he had mimicked the insults of his partner. From the opposite side of the cross, he had shouted the same cutting words into Jesus’ other ear. The nails had made his heart callous and cold, ready for the coffin. But when he heard Jesus ask his Father to forgive the ones who were crucifying him, his heart of stone crumbled. A new heart was given—and with it—a new spirit and the hope for new life.
Believing that he has nothing to lose and everything to gain, he turns toward Jesus and, with words broken by shallow breaths, he pleads,
“Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom.”4
The request is audacious. The criminal is asking that the verdict of justice that nailed him to the cross be overridden by the grace of Christ. Though he deserves death and Hades, he pleads for that which he doesn’t deserve—Paradise.
Jesus hears the beat of a new heart and makes it skip. To an eleventh hour plea he gives an eternal promise.
“Don’t worry, I will. Today you will join me in paradise.”5
Jesus assures this new child of God that, though death may come, his life won’t end.
Today it will continue in Paradise.
The fullness of the promise means that, when the final grain of sand falls in the hourglass, the criminal will leave his partner in crime hanging on the cross and walk hand in hand with Christ, the second Adam, into the splendor of the new Eden. When the criminal breathes his last breath, his “today” will turn into a never ending tomorrow. And when his eyes open, he will be in a different place, a better place, the place of Christ, forever.
A place filled with exuberance and laughter,
thankful voices and melodic songs.6
Just like the father who welcomed home the prodigal son, from the cross Jesus opens wide the doors of heaven. He clothes the naked criminal with the robe of his righteousness. He gives him sandals to walk in the Garden of God. He puts the family ring on his finger, calls for a feast, and then invites all of the angels of heaven to come and celebrate.
“Quick. Bring a clean set of clothes and dress him. Put the family ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then get a grain-fed heifer and roast it. We’re going to feast! We’re going to have a wonderful time! My son is here—given up for dead and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!” And they began to have a wonderful time.7
In death, as in life, Jesus keeps company with sinners.
In Christ, eleventh hour requests are never too late. They’re given an eternal response.
Reflection
The religious leaders accused Jesus of hanging around the riffraff. What comfort is there in knowing that the Savior treated sinners like old friends?
What’s the significance of Christ being crucified between two criminals?
What would your eleventh hour request be?
How is Christ’s promise of Paradise your possession?
Prayer
Father,
Like the criminal on the cross, I am guilty and deserve nothing but the hammer of justice to nail me to the cross. In the suffering brought on by my sin, I have insulted your Son. I have mocked his sacrifice, accused him of being too callous to care, and too weak to act on my behalf. As death approaches, my heart has become as hard as stone.
During this day, let me hear your Son’s words of forgiveness. Through those words shatter my heart of stone and give me a new heart: a heart that dares to ask for that which it doesn’t deserve—Paradise. Assure me that in and because of the sacrifice of your Son, the answer to my eleventh hour request is “yes.” Comfort me with the fact that, when I breathe my last in this life, I will open my eyes and see Christ face to face, forever.
I pray this in the name of him who treats sinners like old friends. Amen
1Luke 15:1-2 2Luke 23:39 3Luke 23:40 4Luke 23:42 5Luke 23:43 6Isaiah 51:3 7Luke 15:22-24
All Scripture references in the meditation are marked by italics and are taken from the Gospel reading for the day. Those verses quoted outside of the chosen reading for the day are noted. All Scripture quoted in this post is taken from THE MESSAGE: Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001 & 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.