Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” 43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Lk 23:42–43.
This scene as written in the book of Luke gives me a glimpse of so many things. I see the simplicity of the gospel. I see the complexity of the pride of man as well as the evil heart from which it emanates. I see God’s extended hand of grace running right up to the last breath of life. I see the efforts of man to earn something negated by a humble heart and acknowledgement of a king. This event reveals so much to me.
This morning as I write my mind is filled with so much chaos. I know there is peace to be realized but I allow all of the “church stuff” to dominate my thoughts knowing that peace is only a prayer away. Still I push on thinking of the issues that occupy my mind. Then I read this scripture in Luke where a justly convicted criminal is positioned divinely (in both time and space) next to the savior of man. This man has come to himself, knowing that his end is imminent and he can do nothing to save himself. His mind had to ponder deeper things because escaping physical death was not possible.
Through whatever he had heard and seen, he belived that Jesus was innocent and had a kingdom that existed outside of this life of which he wanted to be a citizen. Jesus was the king and how better to become a citizen of a kingdom than to ask the king.
Here is what I see. I see a man who admits that he is a sinner and has been rightly judged. He admits that he deserves to be there on that cross but also sees that there hangs beside him and innocent man who does not deserve to be there. He recognizes that this is no ordinary innocent man but one who has power beyond this life and a kingdom to rule. This man submits in humility to the power of Jesus and asks that Jesus simply allow him to be remembered once He arrives in His kingdom. Then comes the grace applied. This man had no ability to do good works, be baptized or participate in communion. He was absolutely helpless to add anything to his cause. He was totally dependent on the object of Jesus and the work that was about to be finished for his salvation.
The chaos in my mind is now being replaced by the gratitude of that finished work on the cross. The things that I worry about are nothing in comparison to the gift that has been given. The gospel is simple and full of grace and mercy. When my mind is filled with problems caused by man and my own doing the solution is to remember the gospel and it’s simplicity. Without it nothing else really matters.