No Gift Without A Giver

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.”

Grace is one of those words you hear often inside the walls of the church, but that you don’t hear too often in the real world. Sometimes you’ll hear it as a synonym for something precise or elegant, like dancers moving with grace. Or you’ll hear it used in pitiful situations, like when a girl lets a boy down gracefully. You’ll even hear it used as a synonym for something beautiful, like a bride’s wedding dress that drapes gracefully.

The Church’s mission is to help the world grapple with the true meaning of grace. For all the ways our fallen world is still capable of recognizing grace in the things that move us, in moments of mercy, and when beholding something beautiful - grace is not fully understood apart from the cross of Christ. The word grace literally means “gift,” and for all the gifts ever given, none surpasses the gift of God’s own self for our redemption. If grace is a gift, then it can’t just be something to witness, but something to receive. And there can be no gift without a giver. No grace without personal sacrifice.

When everyone is cheering at the crucifixion, it’s the thief who comes to Jesus’ defense. He said that he deserved his punishment, that Jesus was innocent, and he asked Jesus to remember him when he entered into his kingdom. And Jesus says to the thief, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

In that moment, Jesus’ crucifixion became more than just a spectacle - it was the first time Jesus got to personally deliver the greatest gift the world has ever known: grace.