The Power and Message of The Cross

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

April 28, 2025

The Power and Message of The Cross

And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Luke 23:43

Several times during my pastoral ministry, I was with people who knew they were dying. They knew their end was in sight. Do you remember how the Apostle Paul faced the end of his life?

The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. (2 Timothy 4:6b-8a)

I was saddened that many of these people I was with did not embrace Paul’s optimistic faith. They might have said, “Well that’s good for Paul, but look at all he accomplished in his life!” True. But let’s also remember the last line of Paul’s statement to Timothy – it is verse 8b, “And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.”

Pastor Alistair Begg, of Parkside Church near Cleveland, Ohio, in his sermon, The Power and Message of The Cross, proclaims the truth of Jesus’ words quoted for today. In this sermon, which is available on YouTube, he presupposes what it might have been like when the thief on the cross next to Jesus arrived in heaven. He might have been asked many questions seeking to establish why he should be admitted to heaven, and for which he had no answers, except to say,

“The guy on the middle cross said I could come.”

Hallelujah and amen! That is the exact statement the Apostle Paul made, and it is the exact statement I can make when my time comes. 

My Takeaway: Any service, any sacrifice I’ve made for God, pales in comparison to the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Like the thief on the cross next to Jesus, all I can pray is, “Jesus, remember me.” And, like the thief on the cross next to Jesus, I’ll hear Jesus respond, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Why? Because Jesus’ grace is sufficient for today, and every day!! 

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2025 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.