Jesus, Remember Me

Luke 22:43

Does it bother us on some level that the thief on the cross is in heaven? Let me ask it differently. Does it bother us at some level that Jeffrey Dahmer could be in heaven? Or Hitler? Or that person who did that awful thing against you? You’re lying if you don’t tell me that I’m telling you the truth. Bothers me. Why? Because inside every one of us sinful human beings, there is this pride that thinks that somehow God must love me because I’m a pretty good person. And I look at the thief on the cross, and I think, this guy is asking for a place in Jesus’ kingdom, he wants to go to heaven forever. What right does he have? And in so doing, I condemn myself because guess who else has no right? Me. Because in the eyes of God, I’m just as sinful as that thief on the cross. No, maybe my outward deeds, haven’t been as obviously sinful, but my mind, my heart, just as sinful. And that’s where, brothers and sisters, the thief on the cross-account becomes absolutely beautiful for you and for me. Could Jesus forgive the thief on the cross? Yes. Who else does that mean Jesus can forgive? You and me. What a wonderful thing it is for you and me to know that Jesus promised the thief on the cross, “Today you’ll be with me in paradise.” Because if there’s room in heaven for the thief on the cross, that means that there’s room in heaven for you and for me. And why? And why? Because of the events of Good Friday that Jesus died to pay for our sins. Someday, you too will be with Jesus in paradise. Amen?