A Location Called Skull Place
Matthew 27:33
Imagine for a minute the last few minutes of life of the man who we have learned was called Jesus. It was at a place called in Greek, Golgotha (or in English, Skull Place) which in Latin is from the word calvaria (skull).
Two other men, criminals, were also executed with Jesus at this site. It was at this location where they nailed Jesus to the stake alongside these criminals, one on his right side and one on his left side.
The people stood looking but the rulers were sneering saying Others he saved; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One. Even the soldiers were mocking Jesus telling him Save Yourself.
Then, even one of the criminals hanging there began to speak abusively to him saying: You are the Christ, are you not? Save yourself and us too!
Methinks, Jesus did not respond to this person because he often did not reply to those who said bad things to him or about him. Instead, he most likely kept praying to his Father in Heaven, not even turning to look at the person.
What Follows Gives Rise to an Important Subject
The other criminal rebukes the first, saying: Do you not fear God at all, now that you have received the same judgment? And we rightly so, for we are getting back what we deserve for the things we did; but this man did nothing wrong.
Then directing his words to Jesus, this man asks him, Jesus, remember me when you get into your Kingdom.
The reply Jesus gave shows how absolutely amazing the man Jesus was when he was on this earth. While hanging there on the torture stake, Jesus likely stops praying, looks up and turns his head towards this man and then answers him in a way that was so much in keeping with the kind and loving person that I have come to know Jesus truely is.
Luke 23:43 tells us what next happens: Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Luke 23:43
What Paradise was Jesus Speaking About?
When ever I have asked this question in the past, most of the people I ask the question to will answer quickly saying He is going to be with Jesus in Heaven or some even saying that he was in heaven on that very day.
However, I tell them that being with Jesus in Heaven that very day could not be possible for several reasons.
First:
Jesus did not ascend to heaven on that day. If you will remember, he said that he would be in the grave for three days.
(Luke 9:22)
Furthermore, Jesus himself did not ascend to heaven until forty days later on the Pentecost.
(Acts 1:3,
9)
In fact, this translation from which is here quoted, (King James Version) inserts a comma in the text: Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me. However, in the Greek language that the original Gospels were written, there were no punctuation as all punctuation was left for the translator to insert. Knowing from scripture what we know about Jesus being three days in the grave, the version would have been more correctly translated as: Verily today, I say unto thee, thou shall be with me in paradise. Yes, Jesus was, on that very Day, assuring the man that he had a hope to be with him in the future promised paradise.
Second:
The word Jesus used, translated in English paradise is from the Greek word parádeisos. Together with the Hebrew word pardes and the Persian word pairidaeza, all convey the same basic idea of a beautiful parklike garden on Earth.
Furthermore, the Greek word parádeisos was used in the Greek Septuagint translation at Genesis 2:15 when translating the Hebrew word gan Eden, into Greek. This Hebrew word, when translated into English is Garden of Eden.
Third:
The paradise of which Jesus spoke is clearly not in heaven. Remember, earlier that day, Jesus told his disciples that they would be in heaven with him because they had stuck with him in his temptations.
Luke 22:28
, 29
, 30
However, even more important, the criminal to which Jesus made the promise To day shalt thou be with me in paradise, was obviously not Born Again of water and spirit, something that Jesus had clearly explained to his disciples was a requirement to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
John 3:3
, 4
, 5
, 6;
Matthew 5:3.
Instead, when Jesus said to this criminal, You will be with me in Paradise, this man would receive, not the reward which he had promised to his faithful disciples, but the promised reward which is recorded at
Matthew 5:5.
Nor was the evildoer one of those that overcometh whom the glorified Christ Jesus, stated would be with him on his heavenly throne and that have a share in the first resurrection. Yes, the list of reasons continue in so many verses.
(Revelation 3:11,
3:12; and
3:21. (See also
Revelation 12:11;
14:3;
14:4;
20:4;
20:5;
20:6.)
Fourth:
That paradise of which Jesus spoke about to the Jewish Hebrew criminal, was truly familiar to him because it was the earthly Paradise described in the first book of the Hebrew Scriptures at
Genesis 2:15. (Hebrew: gan Eden)
Thus, the promise that Jesus made must point forward to a restoration of that earthly paradise, a restoration of this earth to the condition that would have been on the earth if Adam and Even not had disobeyed their Creator, Jehovah God.
Jesus′ promise to that man would therefore give him an assured hope of a resurrection as well as an opportunity for life in that restored Earthly Paradise.
Here, too, the list of scriptural references are unending, and if anyone wishes to continue to take in Life′s Water Free, let him Come.
(Revelation 22:17)
What is the Real Life?
So, hopefully, this discussion has let you to have the above question in the forefront of you thoughts. Yes, What is the Real Life?
In fact, this would be an important question for one to spend much time in Quest to find the answer to. If you would like help in this Quest, with out any charge or obligation, please contact me at my email address: twj@thewayfarersjournal.com
Yes, taking in the Water of Life is totally Free, always has been, always will be!
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