Saturday, April 16 (HOLY WEEK DEVOTIONALS: Pictures from the Battlefield)

Saturday, April 16

Photo by James W Brilmayer on Unsplash

"One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? 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, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”" Luke 23:39-43

This is the picture I don’t want you to miss. Jesus on the cross, the only perfect sacrifice that could and would take away the sins of the world, is between two thieves. In essence it is “no man’s land” because no man could serve as mediator between God and man except Him. One thief joins with the voices of others who are mocking, scorning, reviling Jesus. The other thief responds differently.

He recognizes that they are deserving of their punishment. And he utters two humble, yet powerful, words, “Remember me.” I find it hard to understand how a man’s heart can be as calloused as the first thief while he is in the process of dying. But I’ve witnessed it through my years of ministry. For the other, facing death brought a reality about his life that before this had never caused him to pause. But it did this day. And with those simple words he ran across the field of battle to surrender to Jesus. In doing so, he joined Jesus that day in the victory celebration. 

Which side of Jesus are you on today?

Prayer Prompts:

Jesus, I praise You that You provided forgiveness to me when __________.

Jesus, please remember me as I face __________.