Remember Me
And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43
In this passage, our Lord is at his lowest, hanging on the cross after being mocked, spit on, slapped, and beaten. On each side of him are two thieves being punished in the same manner.
The first thief starts to mock Jesus, asking for help to get off his cross, but the second thief humbles himself. He rebukes the first thief and explains that their punishment is just. He turns to Jesus and makes a simple plea, “Remember me?”
April 15, 2022 - Justin Rolston
And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43
In this passage, our Lord is at his lowest, hanging on the cross after being mocked, spit on, slapped, and beaten. On each side of him are two thieves being punished in the same manner.
The first thief starts to mock Jesus, asking for help to get off his cross, but the second thief humbles himself. He rebukes the first thief and explains that their punishment is just. He turns to Jesus and makes a simple plea, “Remember me?”
Just before stepping into his Father’s House, Jesus tells the second thief the most wonderful news that the man has ever heard: “Today you will be with me in paradise.”
WE’VE BEEN THE FIRST THIEF
Now let’s be honest. We have all been like the first thief. We may not like to admit it, but we have. He is a sinner, looking for a quick and easy way out of his suffering, seeking worldly rescue and immediate comfort.
After all, this is what our flesh and human nature want, right? We want what we want, and we want it right now. And often we are willing to get it by any means necessary, no matter the risk - even if it means breaking worldly, biblical, or even our own beliefs or ethics.
Before I became a believer, I would sometimes pray. It would typically be when something bad happened or when a problem came up. I would ask for help from God or some other higher power (even though I wasn’t trusting in either one in my everyday life).
My prayers would always go something like this:
“God, if you get me out of this, I will never do it again! Fix this, and I will do better. Help me! I will be a better person from now on, I promise!”
I was the first thief. I was looking for a quick fix.
BE THE SECOND THIEF
I hope that as believers, you and I can now identify with the second thief instead - a person who humbled himself and recognized his sinfulness. Even in the midst of extreme pain and suffering the second thief was honest with himself, his circumstances, and his true need.
Now, this is not easy. It can be so difficult for us to see ourselves clearly. We are tempted to see our lives and actions through rose-colored glasses. Convincing ourselves that we’re okay, we’re better than most other people we know after all. But this simply is not true!
Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you,
unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3
This passage is clear. We have a real need. A desperate need for salvation through Jesus Christ. And like the second thief, we are never too far gone. It is never too late. Jesus is never too busy or too weak to hear our pleas and confession.
SHARE THE GOOD NEWS
In turn, we as believers must also never see an unbeliever as too far gone. We must be alert, constantly ready to share the gospel with family, friends, or even newly met acquaintances.
“but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy,
always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you
for a reason for the hope that is in you;” I Peter 3:15a
It probably will never feel like the “perfect” time, place, or opportunity, but it is our calling to preach the good news. We must be like Christ, telling all we meet that if they only believe and trust in Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they too can be with Him in paradise.
THE REALITY OF PARADISE
Now, let’s talk about the word paradise for a second.
I looked up the word ‘paradise’ in the dictionary:
Eden; an intermediate place or state where the souls of the righteous await resurrection and the final judgment. A place or state of bliss, felicity, or delight.
Sounds pretty good, right? But sadly, many people, even Christians, don’t think about heaven very often. We like to create our paradise here in this world instead.
It’s pretty easy for people living in a first-world country. We have grocery stores on every corner stocked with every food imaginable, delivery services that will drop off any product we want in 2 days or less, and devices in our pockets that allow us to see and talk to anyone around the world within seconds. Heck, I don’t even have to leave my house or get out of my sweat pants to go to work these days. We have made ourselves pretty comfortable.
This line of thinking tempts us to believe that when we arrive in heaven, it won’t be as good as we imagined - but Jesus will never disappoint! Paradise will be better than you and I can ever imagine.
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.
In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you
that I go to prepare a place for you?And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. John 14:1-3
Jesus is in heaven, preparing a place for us in glory right now! We need to prepare ourselves and be hungry for it.
COME LORD
Our church is called Maranatha, which means “Come Lord.” Is this our plea? Are we ready and watching, eagerly waiting for his return? For the day when we, too, will be in paradise?
I pray that if you have not yet trusted in the Lord Jesus, that you will come and trust in him now. That you will trust him completely, trust him only, and trust him at once.
I pray we all have a deep hunger for heaven and claim the words: “Come Lord! We are ready for Paradise!”