Luke 23 - Jesus Remember Me When You Come Into Your Kingdom!


39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.
The two other men crucified beside Jesus were both getting what they deserved, presumably after committing murder, which was a capital offense.  Earlier Jesus had replaced the murderer Barabbas, when the Jewish people demanded he be crucified, even when Pilate could find no charge against him. So as the two guilty men hung next to Jesus they showed to very different responses to their situation.
The first criminal insulted Jesus and said, "If you are really the Messiah prove it.  Save us and yourself!" He didn't care about the injustice being done to Jesus.  He didn't ask for mercy but demanded that Jesus do something about his problem.  He wanted to be set free because he felt entitled to it, even though he was guilty.  
The second criminal had a different attitude.  He rebuked the other criminal.  He couldn't believe what the first criminal was trying to pull off.  After all they were both getting what they deserved, and Jesus was the one being unfairly punished.  He realized he had no right to demand anything from Jesus.  The only he could do was ask him for mercy.  He knew Jesus was special and it appears he may have even believed that he was the Messiah by his words, "Remember me when you come into your kingdom".  Though he didn't deserve to be with Jesus in his kingdom he asked Jesus if he would remember him when he got there.  
The man realized the only hope he had was the innocent one being crucified next to him.  The one who was sinful turned to the one who was sinless and Jesus recognized his faith and told him that this very day they would be together in paradise.  
In this short story we see the heart of the gospel.  Like the two men next to Jesus we are also guilty of sin and deserving of death. Paul says in Romans 6:23, "The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus."  The one man realized that the only hope he had was to turn to the one without sin. He knew he was guilty and was getting what he deserved but he asked Jesus to remember him.
Which man will you be like?  As we trust in Jesus he says to us, "Today you will be with me in paradise."  

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