“Remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

Luke 23:43

On Good Friday, I invited to you to look again at the cross. Let’s not take this Friday casually because the cross is where everything broken in humanity meets the restoring power of God.

Most of us view the crucifixion from the ground up with Jesus in the middle, thieves on both sides, religious leaders mocking, and disciples fleeing in fear. At first thought some would say that this scene looks like a total loss and defeat.

But in the middle of that all that suffering and shame, a powerful moment unfolds before our eyes – one thief overcomes his mockery with adoration as he sees Jesus for Who He is – the Son of God!

He looks at a beaten and bleeding man crowned with thorns and says, “Lord!” And by faith he sees what the others can’t – a Savior with nails in His hands and a King crowned with thorns on His head. Yes. by faith that morally rotten thief saw a King who was dying first and then reigning later!

That thief makes an extraordinary request, “Remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” That word remember is deeper than we realize. It does not simply mean to think about someone again. But it literally means to put back together what has been torn apart. In essence, that thief was saying to Jesus, “Your death is my only hope because sin has torn me into pieces. I have been separated from God, so when You come into Your kingdom, put me back together.”

And thank God that Jesus answers this mess of a man, this hurting human with the power of amazing grace that came with a promise, “Today you will be with Me in paradise.”

At Calvary, Jesus allowed His body to be broken and His blood to be poured out. The Bible tells us that the life of the flesh is in the blood. When blood is separated from the body, death occurs. But when blood is in the body life occurs! Spiritual life comes into us as God takes the broken pieces of our lives and restores our soul, renews our minds, and rebuilds are dreams.

Just as Jesus spoke to the thief way back then, He speaks to you today with these words, “The power of grace will meet you right where you are. Let Me do the heavy lifting of removing the stain of sin and straighten the mental maze! Trust Me to put all the pieces of your life back together as My masterpiece!”

Pressing On Together,

Pastor Dave