Hey PPN Family,

One of my favourite stories in the Bible is found in Luke 23:32-43 where Jesus is crucified between two criminals. One of the criminals joins the crowd in disrespecting and mocking Jesus, but the other criminal puts his faith in Jesus and asks Him for a place in heaven. Jesus responds to this request with these almost unbelievable words, “Truly I tell you today, you will be with me in paradise,” (Luke 23:43).

Here we have a criminal who has committed crimes worthy of crucifixion, and just before he dies, he comes back to God, and Jesus gives him eternal life as a gift. This is why I love this story so much. Because it is a perfect example of the amazing grace of God.

I imagine that the victims of this criminal’s crimes would have been appalled at this outcome, and I can see their point. In many ways, it almost seems unfair that this troublemaker could receive eternal life without doing any good works like giving all of his money to the poor, or helping to feed the homeless, or even being baptised or going to church – but this is the beauty of the Good News of Jesus Christ. That we are not saved by our good works, but by believing in the good works of Jesus on the cross.

If you are in need of some good news today then you are in luck, because in John 3:16 we read, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

This was great news for that criminal on the cross 2,000 years ago, and it is still great news for us today.

God bless,

Roland Talamaivao-Amituanai