|
“Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom” (Luke 23:42, The Message).
The dying thief cried out to Jesus the desperate words of a helpless and fallen humanity.
“Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom.”
Nailed to a cross, like our Savior, the thief spoke words that must have been strained, breathless, frantic, and yet hopeful in the midst of his agonizing execution.
“Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom.”
What did the thief want Jesus to remember? Certainly not his sin. Scripture identifies him as today’s headlines would: a thief, a criminal. A man defined by his crimes; a wrongdoer worthy of a death sentence. And yet he asks, “Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom.”
Scripture doesn’t tell us, but during this brief exchange, one can imagine the thief looking into our Savior’s dying eyes. What an amazing moment. The thief did not see condemnation. Instead, he saw the compassion and love of Jesus, who was willingly laying down his life to save him.
“Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom.”
Imagine what those words meant to our Savior as he agonized in unspeakable pain. In stark contrast to the insults, the spit, the beating, and the hatred, here was a man who understood. Here was a sinner crying out, offering Jesus a glimpse of the joy to come. That joy would be repeated countless times on the faces of repentant sinners, no longer defined by their sins, but cleansed by his blood.
Jesus did remember the thief, but not as the world does. And Jesus will remember us if we put our faith in him. But not as sinners marred by the stain of our own transgressions.
God promised, “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” (Hebrews 8:12).
Our sins are not remembered, because the Good Shepherd laid down his life for his sheep—for us. And we are mindful of that today, confident in the promise he will remember us in his kingdom.
Heavenly Father, our Savior, we confess that we were helpless and hopeless in our sin, and are so humbled you sent your Son to save us. We can’t begin to comprehend the depth of your love for us, but Father we cling to it. Thank you for cleansing us from our sin. Thank you for making us new. Thank you for calling us your children. We turn to you now, Father, to remember, and allow the love of Jesus, as expressed on the cross, to draw us nearer to you.
|
