"Jesus, remember me!" | By Rev. Dr. Jack R. Miller
 
The good thief, as he is called, was a nameless criminal until the fourth century. He had made a career of robbing anyone unlucky enough to cross his path, but in our scripture, today, the time had come for him to pay for his life of crime. Although he was probably not a religious man, his words from the cross have touched the lives of faithful people for centuries.
 
All four Gospels record that Jesus was crucified between two other men, but only Luke tells us about the brief conversation they had with Jesus that day. As the three hung on crosses atop the hill called Golgotha, Dismas on Jesus' right, and the other thief called Gestas on his left, they couldn't help but notice the sign Pilate had the soldiers nail over Jesus’ head. Written in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew were the words, "This is the King of the Jews."  The crowds mocked and jeered for Jesus to prove himself a king, the chosen one of God. "Come down off that cross," they yelled, "he saved others, let him save himself if he is the Christ."  Even Gestas, the condemned criminal on Jesus’ left, joined in, telling Jesus to save himself and those who were crucified with him if he were who he claimed to be. In all the chaos around him, only one small voice spoke up on Jesus’ behalf. Not those who, just a few days before, had welcomed him into Jerusalem with palm branches and shouts of Hosanna. Not those who marveled at his teaching in the temple and witnessed his miracles. Not even those who had walked by his side during his ministry years. Only Dismas spoke up from his cross at Jesus' right side. Only Dismas rebuked the crowd and his fellow thief, and in doing so, recognized Jesus for who he truly was. In his final moments, Dismas showed every generation that followed the pathway to forgiveness and personal salvation. First, an awareness of our own sinfulness, followed by repentance, and finally the acceptance of Christ as the promise of eternal life. And in his final words, Dismas humbly asked of Jesus what generations upon generations of hopeful converts have asked; What you and I ask of Christ today, 'Jesus, remember me.”
 
We, too, must face our own need for healing, just as Dismas did; our own need for forgiveness; and our own need for the love and peace that come only from Christ. The one crucified with Jesus, the one we call the good thief, recognized his own need and called out, "Jesus, remember me."  And in the last, painful moments of his own life, Jesus responded to Dismas with compassion and hope; Paradise was opened to him.
 
With Dismas we call out today, "Jesus, remember me."  In acknowledging Jesus as the Christ, in recognizing our own need to forgive and be forgiven, to love and be loved, to give and be ministered to, salvation is ours; Jesus’ promise of Paradise is fulfilled.
 
Such is the transforming and redemptive love of Christ. From the crosses and crucifixions of our world, the reign of God takes shape when we imitate the humble selflessness of Christ, bringing His spirit of hope and reconciliation into the lives of those around us. This is our challenge as we face the dawn of a new age. Let us acknowledge Jesus for who he truly is, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Alpha, and the Omega, the Bright and Morning Star, the True Son of the Living God. And if we do so, Jesus promises that he will remember us, throw open his arms and the doors of heaven to welcome us. Paradise will be ours.
 
Amen? Amen!