This Good Friday, my spouse had the opportunity to share a message on one of The Seven Last Words of Jesus —
“Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
I would like to share some thoughts we meditated on regarding this verse.
Each of the seven last words of Jesus is deeply significant. This second word highlights an important truth: our God is an answering God.
Answering God
Firstly, God answers those who call upon His name. Without a doubt—100%—He is a God who answers.
“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” – Jeremiah 33:3
“If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” – John 14:14
God was an answering God in the Old Testament, the New Testament, and He still is today. There is no need for excuses like, “maybe the answer is delayed.” Often, delays are rooted in our compromises or lack of faith.
Among the seven last words, this is the only one that directly responds to an individual’s personal request. It was a response to the prayer of one of the criminals crucified next to Jesus. He received the answer immediately after he made his request. God saw both his internal condition and external circumstances.
Internal Condition:
The criminal, hanging on the cross for six long hours, had no hope and was breathing his final breaths. Physically, he was in unbearable pain, nailed to the cross.
Jesus, too, endured even greater agony—additional to the nailed, He was scourged with 39 lashes, carried a cross weighing around 135 kg over 2,700 feet uphill, and bore a crown of thorns.
External Circumstances:
The criminals were condemned by the rulers for their crimes. But in Jesus’ case, the weight of every person’s sin was laid upon Him. Because of that, even God the Father could not look upon Him during that time. Jesus momentarily lost the relationship He had with the Father during the crucifixion. Two pieces of evidence show this:
Jesus prayed, “Let this cup pass from Me” (referring to the cup of sin) – Matthew 26:39
Jesus cried, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Father could not look upon the sin laid on Jesus) – Matthew 27:46
The point here is: no matter what our internal state or external circumstances may be, God is an answering God. All our physical and spiritual burdens are only a small part of what Jesus took upon Himself. He truly understands our pain, and His answer begins with “Assuredly” or “Truly.”
The Criminal’s Prayer
The criminal said to his fellow criminal:
“Do you not even fear God?” – Luke 23:40
He recognized who Jesus was and questioned his companion. His question reveals that he knew Jesus is God, accepted Him, and feared Him. This moment shows his spiritual awakening and salvation.
He didn’t stop there. He acknowledged his wrongdoing by saying,
“We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve.” – Luke 23:41
Even before making this confession, he rebuked his companion, showing that he had come to know the truth and had started walking in righteousness.
A Question to Reflect On
One thing I deeply reflected on: Why didn’t the criminal speak directly to Jesus first? Instead, he began by asking a question to his fellow criminal.
Could it be that, even in his final moments, he wanted to give his companion a chance to see the truth?
“Do you not even fear God?”
A man in the last hours of his life still tried to help another person know the truth.
If he could do that while nailed to a cross, how much more should I do while I still have breath?
A Simple but Powerful Prayer
Finally, he turned to Jesus with a simple prayer:
“Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” – Luke 23:42
And Jesus remembered him immediately. He didn’t wait until to Paradise, as he prayed, but answered right away. That’s the heart of Jesus.
Even when our prayers aren’t perfect, even if they are broken or incomplete—God accepts them and answers faithfully.
Peter emphasized this point in the house of Cornelius:
“But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.” – Acts 10:35
A criminal, witnessing the crucifixion, recognized God, feared Him, acted righteously, and even shared the truth with his companion. He did all of this not in comfort, but while nailed to a cross.
May we be reminded this Good Friday that our God is not silent—
He is an answering God.