One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 

But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

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 23:41-43

Jesus’ Second Word on the Cross

Now, hanging, nailed to the cross, with all the pain and pathos that goes with that, the two men crucified with him turned toward him – one hurled insults at Jesus who was not making any moves to defend himself much less help them.   The other dying man rebuked the man, We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.  Turning to Jesus, he said, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.

This prompted Jesus to say, Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.  This is his second statement as he hung of the Roman Cross, being killed without any cause whatever.

I grasp these words of Jesus, “with me in paradise today.”  The horrid hill was the entrance to paradise, and the way is open today.