Happy Easter! Today we celebrate the foundation of all that we believe – the resurrection! How thankful I am that Jesus was willing to come and give his life away for us! As I meditate on all that God accomplished for us through Jesus, I am drawn to what transpired while Jesus was hanging on the cross.

On the day of Passover, they crucified two criminals with Jesus, one on each side. One of them began to insult and ridicule Jesus, but the other addressed Jesus with faith and humility and tapped into eternal life. Wow! A few simple words and a believing heart granted him eternity with God.

Luke 23:39-43  One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”  But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth; today you will be with me in paradise.” (NIV)

Remember me! That’s it – Remember me! This humble, wise criminal feared God, recognized his sin, and asked for Jesus to remember him. The response of Jesus was profound! “Today, you will be with me in Paradise.”

Wow! This criminal understood the gravity of his sin against God and humbly asked Jesus to remember him. How powerful! It is almost as if I can feel his humble cry and petition to the Son of God. Jesus, could you please remember me? Can I be a part of your thoughts when you come into your kingdom? Could I be on your team when you come into your kingdom? Will you let me be in your family!

As we consider this monumental transaction between Jesus and the criminal, here are the questions we need to make sure we have correctly answered.

1.    Do we also fear God?

2.    Do we recognize our inability to deserve or earn God’s favor?

3.    Do we believe that Jesus is our only way to be made right with God?

4.    Have we, by faith in the sacrifice of Jesus, said to God, “Remember me?”

Jesus was mocked, ridiculed, severely beaten, had a crown of thorns jammed into his head, and was now hanging by nails driven through his flesh on the rugged cross of Calvary. Though bearing the weight of the entire world’s sin upon him and being in excruciating pain, the reality of who he was came through – LOVE! Absolute and total love! To his very last breath, Jesus displayed the essence of his nature – LOVE!

Now, through the sacrifice of Jesus, God has declared us not guilty; we are now entirely perfect in God’s sight.

Hebrews 10:14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

The thief hanging on the cross next to Jesus had no time to get baptized or do any good deeds. Only one thing was needed; he put his complete trust in Jesus and said, “Remember Me.” Wow! His simple words, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom,” changed his eternal destiny. He merely believed Jesus and spoke nine uncomplicated words.

Oh, that we, with a humble heart, would fully receive the simplicity yet powerful truth of the sacrifice of Jesus! So many are confused about what Christianity is. Because of wrong teaching, many see Christianity as complicated and unattainable. But the simplicity of the gospel can be clearly seen through this story of the criminal hanging next to Jesus when he said these powerful words …

Jesus Remember Me