SUMMARY: Paradise
OVERVIEW: Jesus stands trial before both Pilate and Herod before Pilate succumbs to the will of the crowd and orders Jesus to be crucified. Two criminals hung on crosses beside Jesus. One hurled insults, while the other asked for mercy. Jesus is crucified and then later buried.
BIG IDEA: It’s never too late.
KEY VERSE: Luke 23:42–43 (Jesus and criminal)
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
IF GOD WROTE YOU A LETTER
I will not forget you. I am always with you, and you are continuously on my mind. In your darkest moment, I am with you. When you lose someone you love, I am by your side. When you face death, I will hold you up to confront your fear. You may feel alone, but you never are. I will never leave you. I will not abandon you.
Despite how you feel, I love you and offer grace and mercy. Regardless of what you’ve done, I provide forgiveness. Ignore what others say about you, for I am offering you a fresh start. Turn to me and let me bring you hope, healing, and new life. Focus on me and ignore the noise and distractions from those who want you to give up. You are always on my mind. When your feelings cry out that no one cares, don’t trust those feelings. Believe what is true: I am with you always.
NEXT STEP
You probably know someone who believes salvation is not for them. They’ve ignored God, gone their own way, and left a path of destruction in their wake. Remind them that we cannot earn our salvation — only faith in Christ brings salvation. Today, encourage that person who may feel salvation is not an option because of how they’ve lived. Remind them we all fall short, yet God loves us and offers salvation through faith in Christ.
VIDEO (WARNING: disturbing sounds and images in video)
BONUS Music Video