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“He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise’.” (Luke 23:43)

Paradise!

I’m not sure what kind of images are evoked by this word for you, but the biblical world helps us. Genesis sets humanity in a garden, and John of Patmos refers to it as “the paradise of God” (Rev 2:7). And when Isaiah portrays the return of Israel from exile, the prophet says God “will make her wilderness like paradise” (Isa 51:3). It’s a place of joy, gladness, and the voice of song.

Yet this is not the only place noted in Luke’s story of the crucifixion. “When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals…” (Luke 23:33). In contrast to Mark and Matthew, Luke names the place of crucifixion, The Skull. It would seem that somehow the topography resembled the shape of a human skull, thus its name.

The Skull!

Two places. One typified by cruel violence; the other characterized by beauty and life. And what strikes me is that somehow in his moment of agony, our Lord has the capacity to look beyond the place of violence and name the place of life. Whatever his own view of The Skull he could also view Paradise. Not as an escape, but as an invitation to be “with him.”

A few weeks ago, our College experienced a remarkable moment of grace. Eighteen refugee children came to our place and joined us for a concert of brass, timbrel, and didgeridoo! The children came from three nations in Africa; they came from violent situations as refugees to Canada. And their music teacher in a Transitional School sought an opportunity to introduce them to some of the music of Canada…and Australia! The joy on their faces, the rhythm in their bodies, and the expressiveness of their voices transformed our chapel.

I have little idea of their journey to this land. I can barely comprehend the violence these young lives may have experienced. But somewhere along the way my hunch is that a request was made: “Remember me…” And somewhere along the way somebody had the vision and resources to name another place.

In our ministry we seldom know the suffering that has helped to form the people we meet. As we approach this Easter my prayer is that we would have the capacity to see not only The Skull but Paradise. Not only the violence, but the possible beauty. And to hear in this an invitation to be “with him.”

Major Ray Harris