Paradise

If you didn’t see it already, no this isn’t Josh sharing today. This is Renee and I’m Josh’s girlfriend with something I think we can all take time to reflect on today. As a little background, I’m a 7th grade middle school teacher and after one of the craziest school years ever (remote, hybrid, and currently full in-person) I couldn’t be happier to have finally made it to Spring Break! So of course when I think of the word, “Paradise,” that just about sums up my current thoughts for this week off from daily asking teenagers to please stay six feet apart. And yes we’re bummed that baseball was pushed back but I know Josh will also feel that sense of paradise when he steps onto the field again very soon!

But before I get into what’s on my heart to share, I first want to say Happy Holy Week! If you are confused, Holy Week is observed in the Christian church during the time of Palm Sunday through Easter. The events leading up to Jesus’ death and resurrection. A time to remember that even during Spring Break, when you or your friends are taking off for vacation, Jesus booked our tickets to Paradise.

Quick story, growing up, all my friends thought I was crazy that I liked Easter more than Christmas. Which in a kid’s mind, they hear that I must not like getting presents, what a weirdo. But honestly, Christmas to me always felt super stressful being divided into a divorced family, too focused on shopping, and honestly just too cold (Midwest problems I guess). I love Christmas, and will pat myself on the back real quick because I’m a dang good gift giver! But I just feel that a lot of the meaning gets lost in the busyness and hallmark movies. Almost feels too busy to sit and reflect on why we celebrate the holiday in the first place.

However, whenever Easter came around, I always felt this sense of peace, joy, warmer weather, and reason to celebrate something I didn’t even fully grasp, but felt.

As I got older, I understood that Christmas is amazing, and begins the story of Jesus. But Easter is WHY we celebrate Christmas because Easter is WHY Jesus was born.

I will be very honest with you for a moment. I struggle to read the Bible and it’s not something I’m proud to admit. I lose my track of thinking, I doze off, and I don’t let the words sink very deep in my heart. I always say that I’m more of a visual learner, which is true, but it’s also not an excuse. But for the verses I’m about to share, it’s pretty impossible not to envision what the scene was like, as well as see yourself in the story.

Starting in Luke 23:32, Jesus is nailed to the cross and two other criminals are led out to be crucified alongside him for their crimes. As they hang there, Jesus is painfully watching the scene play out beneath him and pleading with God to forgive the very people who are sentencing him to death, gambling for his belongings, and mocking him for his proclaimed ability to save others and yet does not save himself from the cross.

As all of this plays out, a small, yet extremely life-changing exchange, occurs for these criminals that are next to Jesus.

“One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, ‘So you're the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself - and us too, while you're at it!’

But the other criminal protested, ‘Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.’ 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.’”

Luke 23:39-43

Imagine the people in your life that have hurt you, and hearing that they won a dream vacation. THEM?! They don’t deserve that!

Or what about you, have you ever lied, cheated, put things before your faith, was greedy, or even envious of others? Yeah.. me too. If someone KNEW you’ve done any of these things, and offered you a dream vacation how would you feel?

Like I said before, most of us are in Spring Break mode and probably itching for a little getaway. Or you may just be relieved that the world is finally opening up a bit more, maybe even got your vaccine, and you already have something in the works for your next bucket list item. Many of you reading this are likely fans of baseball and cant wait to be back in the stands and hopefully coming to see Josh play too! We all desire a slice of paradise in some shape or form.

Take away the analogies, and truly you need to know that all the hurt and brokenness that you have felt in your entire life will come to a point of meeting Jesus in Paradise. Will he remember you?

The reality is, that as the criminal was nailed to the cross for all his crimes and wrongdoing, he saw the hope of Jesus. He knew the weight of his sins and that Jesus was God’s perfect son. He asked for assurance from Jesus to remember him when he entered his Kingdom. To prepare a room for him in Paradise.

But more important, he learned that Jesus was not viewing him as a criminal, but as another sinner to be set free.

What do you need to do today to believe that Jesus promises to meet you in Paradise?