Remembering of Love

There have been times when I have told my children as I was heading out somewhere that whoever wanted to go with me could and that all they had to do was just get in the car. Sometimes they have all chosen to go and sometimes not. It is nice when they all want to go, but I can’t force them if they do not want to. I wish I could at times because it is nice to spend time with them, but I know that I can’t, and I leave it up to them as to whether or not they will go.

In Luke 23:39-43 we read how that Jesus also never forces us to be with Him. He gives us all the free choice as to whether we will live with Him in eternity or not. The story is that while Jesus was hanging on the cross in between two thieves one of them said to Jesus “Are you not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” The man on the other side of Jesus said “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then to Jesus he said “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your Kingdom!” Jesus then to him replied “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise” and shortly after this He died.

Imagine Jesus being in the middle of these two men and this conversation taking place. Here they are all in excruciating pain and this man says what he says to Jesus about Him saving not only Himself but them as well. Jesus though had not one negative word to say back to him. He could very well have said something that was convicting and maybe would have even changed his mind, but He didn’t – He gave him the freedom to think as they wanted. Jesus also didn’t take the time to defend His name or His character. He just listened to this man’s ranting because He himself knew the truth and why He was allowing Himself to be crucified. The other man though realizing and accepting what he had done realizes that his life needs Jesus and then says what he did, and Jesus remembered him.

In this story Jesus makes it very clear and evident of His love for both men. One in that He like stated earlier did not have anything negative to say to the one who was insulting Him and to the other by saying that he would remember him that day in paradise. He could have just said “Yes, I will remember you”, but He even gave him the reassurance that even on that day they would be together. What an enormous and awesome relief that had to have been for that man. Imagine what he thought for the rest of the time while he was hanging on that cross. Also imagine what the other guy had to have been thinking. We hear no more as to what he said or even thought that day, but even Jesus’ love for him was demonstrated by Him restraining Himself when he was insulting Him. Jesus through this situation shows us that He will not force anyone to accept or believe in Him. That even though He is the Son of God, He will not impose Himself on us for it is our choice. Our choice to realize or not what we are without Christ and His forgiveness of sins. Once we see things like this man did that’s when we hopefully choose to enter heaven with Jesus. When we don’t like this other man, it does come at a price – a deep and eternal price. However, while Jesus hung on that cross that day, He was the one who paid the ultimate price by giving up His life on the cross. Now we just need to be like the one who admitted his sins and said, “Remember me” and mean it. At that moment Jesus’s love takes and writes our names in the Lambs book of life and when we die, we will be ushered into His heavenly home for eternity. That is the greatest love of all kind.

From Gardens of Splendor by Gina Burns