Remember Me

One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself —and us, too, while you’re at it!” But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:39-43

IT CAN BE HARD to hold on to hope when a family member continues to show no interest in Christ or even scoffs at him. Our hearts break at the possibility that this person might not be with us when we enter eternity in the presence of Christ. And we can barely think about what his or her future will be like apart from God.

So this criminal, hanging beside the Lord at the bitter end of his life, gives us hope. Finally he can see the holiness of Jesus, the worthiness of Jesus, the kingship of Jesus. If he could come down from the cross, he would bow his knee before this one who hangs under the mocking sign that says “King of the Jews.” At last, in these final moments of life, this criminal can see his own guilt. He knows he deserves the punishment he’s receiving. He knows he has no basis for his bold request, and yet he asks. He has no moral résumé to put forward to gain acceptance but simply open acknowledgment of his sin and his desperation for Jesus.

The story of the criminal putting his faith in Christ encourages us to pray up to the very end for those we love who have so far seen no need for Christ. We pray that they will see their real guilt but that what will loom much larger will be a strong Savior. He is a merciful King who responds to our desires to be with him by assuring us that we will live with him forever.

King Jesus, I pray now for the one I love who is living far away from you, far away from your grace and mercy. Melt her hardened heart, open her blind eyes, and drain her of the cynicism that keeps her scoffing at you. Bring her to her knees before you so that your Kingdom becomes beautiful and desirable, so that the paradise that is defined by your very presence is what she longs for most.