The joy of the Lord

The joy of the Lord

And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honour and glory and blessing!” (Revelation 5:11-12)

The story of the dying thief always moves us. The Lord Jesus, while He was dying for the whole world, found one lost sheep. He promised, not merely that he would be in Paradise, but that he would be with the Lord in Paradise.

It struck me a little while ago that I had missed something in this beautiful story of grace. I had overlooked what the Lord felt in His heart. As the Lord Jesus endured the cross and all that it meant, He heard a voice. It was not the voice of His family or His disciples. Nor was it the voices of those who expressed absolute rejection of and hatred for the Lord Jesus. It was the voice of the dying thief. Out of the recognition of where his sin had brought him, he expressed the perfection of Jesus: “This man has done nothing wrong” (Luke 23:41). Then in simple faith, he asks, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom” (Luke 23:42). The full title of Jesus above the cross was, “Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews” (John 19:19). The dying thief was the single voice that acknowledged the Lord Jesus in all the power of His perfection and lowliness as Man, and the holy dignity of the One who we know is the King of kings, and Lord of lords.

What joy those words must have brought to the Lord’s heart. He spoke about this joy to tax collectors and sinners in Luke 15:6: “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!”

In Revelation 5:11 the Lord hears the voices of “ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands”. It’s so difficult for us to grasp in our minds or hearts the wonder of that day. I think when the Lord Jesus hears the vast chorus of heaven, He will listen to each voice of personal tribute from the hearts of His redeemed people as they express holy worship and the joy that He has brought us to where He is. In the meantime, He is with us where we are. And we have the privilege each day, before the whole of creation owns Him as Lord, to worship, serve and follow Him.