hopeFriday, September 18
Today, With Me
Scripture
"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
What it means
Jesus is dying on a cross, with a criminal on either side of him. One of them mocks him and says that if he is the Messiah, he should save himself and them. The other man tells him off and asks if he has no fear of God. He admits that the two of them deserve their sentence for what they did. He also says that Jesus has done nothing wrong. Then he asks Jesus to remember him when he comes into his kingdom. Jesus answers, "Today you will be with me in paradise." He does not turn away a dying man who has owned up to his guilt and asked to be remembered.