Jesus, remember me
by Colleen Fitzpatrick
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Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom’ (Luke 23:42).
Read Luke 23:36–53
Talk about a deathbed conversion! Here, we have a criminal condemned to death, hanging on a cross, recognising Jesus’ sinless life. Not only that, but he asks to be remembered when Jesus comes to his heavenly kingdom. His prayer is answered when Jesus provides reassurance.
This precedes the final stages of Jesus’ suffering and death. Right at the end, Jesus hears this man’s prayer and offers eternal life – that is, life in paradise. What an amazing example of grace!
This incident reminds me of the parable of the workers in the vineyard told in Matthew 20. Workers were hired at varying times during the day, and at the end of the day, each received a full day’s wages – no matter how long or how well they worked. And that is how Jesus does business! Jesus accepts us just how we are. We can be sure of entry to paradise – all we have to do is believe in Jesus and his saving grace. No matter how weak our faith or how little we have done, Jesus will welcome us.
Just a gentle reminder: You and I don’t get a vote on who is in or who is out of paradise. God is the divine adjudicator. So, let’s do the best we can and, with God’s help, live a life of loving service, secure in the knowledge that we, too, have right of entry into God’s kingdom.
Merciful God, thank you for being so gracious. Thank you for the gift of forgiveness that is able to wipe away my sins and remove barriers to my salvation. Thank you for the gift of baptism, which has opened the way for me to be your child. Amen.
Colleen has a husband, two daughters, three granddaughters and a wide range of extended family and friends. She lives in Adelaide and loves the way the various parts of her life intersect. Colleen is involved in numerous committees within the church and community. She loves to read. Colleen coordinates her congregation’s prayer group and is delighted to respond to requests for prayer from friends and family.
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