Numbers 35-36

Mark 10:1-31

“Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise.’” —Luke 23:42-43

There were two men crucified with Jesus. Other than the fact that they were thieves, Scripture does not give us any detail about their lives. In their final hours, one thief was mocking Jesus while the other said to Him, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom” (Luke 23:42). We have an idea of the condition of this man’s heart, because he said to Jesus, “We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve…” (Luke 23:41).

There are some people we may know personally, others we hear about in the news, and many more from documented history who led immoral, corrupt and desecrated lives. There are also those we know of who led kind, selfless and generous lives. Is it fair that both categories of people have an equal opportunity to 
inherit heaven?

In Matthew 20, Jesus tells the parable of the workers in the vineyard. When a landowner needed workers, he went out early in the morning and hired men for one denarius a day. Three hours later, he went out again and hired more workers for one denarius a day. At the sixth hour, ninth hour and eleventh hour, he brought more workers to his vineyard for one denarius a day. At the end of the day, he paid them all the one denarius he had promised, but the workers who were first on the field grumbled against the landowner, because they had been paid the same wages for a full day’s work as the men who had come in at the last hour. Is it fair?

By our worldly standard, it is not fair, but Jesus says this is what the kingdom of heaven is like. It is not built on being fair. Deeply ingrained in many of us is a sense that we need to be deserving of God’s grace, and that is a problem. There are also those who believe they are deserving, and this is a problem as well. To believe either way is not a correct understanding of the gospel. The kingdom of heaven has nothing to do with what we do or do not deserve.

All the issues of the gospel are about a restored relationship with God; acknowledging our sin and receiving forgiveness is necessary, but it is a means to an end in that we come to know God and Jesus Christ. Everyone enters the kingdom of heaven on the same terms—reconciliation to God through Jesus Christ. This is again clearly evidenced in the compassionate response of Jesus to the repentant man, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).

Sovereign God, thank You that Your gift of salvation is for everyone who comes before You in repentance. Your grace is amazing. Praise You!