The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection of Leawood, Kansas, United States for Wednesday, 25 March 2015 - "Remember me when you come into your kingdom"

The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection of Leawood, Kansas, United States for Wednesday, 25 March 2015 - "Remember me when you come into your kingdom"
Daily Scripture: Luke 23:32 Two other men, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. 33 When they came to the place called The Skull, they nailed him to a stake; and they nailed the criminals to stakes, one on the right and one on the left. 34 Yeshua said, “Father, forgive them; they don’t understand what they are doing.”

They divided up his clothes by throwing dice.[a] 35 The people stood watching, and the rulers sneered at him.[b] “He saved others,” they said, “so if he really is the Messiah, the one chosen by God, let him save himself!” 36 The soldiers too ridiculed him; they came up, offered him vinegar[c] 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 And there was a notice over him which read,

THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS

39 One of the criminals hanging there hurled insults at him. “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other one spoke up and rebuked the first, saying, “Have you no fear of God? You’re getting the same punishment as he is. 41 Ours is only fair; we’re getting what we deserve for what we did. But this man did nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Yeshua, remember me when you come as King.” 43 Yeshua said to him, “Yes! I promise that you will be with me today in Gan-‘Eden.”[Footnotes:

Luke 23:34 Psalm 22:19(18)

Luke 23:35 Psalm 22:8(7)

Luke 23:36 Psalm 69:22(21)]

Reflection Questions:

Luke used a broader word (translated "criminals") than Mark and Matthew ("rebels"). Sometimes the words were interchangeable. Luke's whole gospel, however, showed Jesus' love for all who are outcast and looked down on. It's possible that he wanted Jesus' pledge to the man who asked for a place in his kingdom to show clearly that there is grace for absolutely anyone who desires it.

• What an extraordinary request for that crucified man to make to Jesus! What made him think this man crucified next to him would ever have a kingdom? Have you ever felt (or known someone who felt) that "I’ve done too much—waited too long—I can’t turn to God now?" What does the man's request and Jesus' response say to that attitude?
• In contrast, the other man said, "Aren’t you the Messiah?" That did not express faith, as the scornful "Save yourself and us" showed. Most of us have a deep-seated fear of being gullible or naïve. In what ways can this cynicism become spiritually dangerous? Which of Jesus' promises do you struggle most to trust? Which is most precious to you?

Today's Prayer:

Lord Jesus, when I read about your saving love reaching a criminal on a cross next to yours, I thank you that you love people who miss the mark. That means you can love me! Remember me when you come into your kingdom, Lord. Amen.

Insight from Angela LaVallie Angela LaVallie is the Worship Logistics Program Director at Resurrection. She oversees preparing the Sanctuary for worship, supports Vibe worship and volunteers in the Student Center, provides oversight forHoly Communion at the Leawood campus, and assists with worship logistics at conferences. It just doesn’t seem fair when others get what we have worked for. We get passed up for a promotion even though we’ve already been doing the job in question. Someone who’s been slacking or cheats gets the same reward – or better than – we get. So often, my judgment on others is influenced more by my own insecurities and a lack of compassion than by a true sense of justice. If someone gets away with something, I am self-righteous: I wouldn’t have even tried that. If someone gets something I feel I deserve, I get jealous: he/she doesn’t deserve that. I rarely take into account the circumstances surrounding those whom I judge. I look at my circumstances and what is or isn’t fair to me. When Jesus tells the criminal, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise,” my sense of justice tends to be cynical. Just because this man was not against Jesus, he didn’t do anything to deserve being in paradise with Jesus. He didn’t even repent of the sins he committed. I forget that, as hard as I try to live out Jesus’ love in the world, I haven’t done anything to earn my place in heaven and I forget to repent of my sins all the time. I have no idea what crime put this man on a cross – he may have been wrongly accused or convicted for all I know. Though God loves us and created us with all the emotions and abilities to reason that we have, God also knows we are all fallible. We are not capable of fair eternal justice. Our minds cannot comprehend the scope of God’s plan. Just as I often (after the fact) look back and understand that my expectations and judgment were not taking into account the bigger picture, I trust that God knows best and remind myself, time and time again, that God alone has the final say on what it means for Jesus to remember us when he comes into his kingdom. How much differently might we live our lives and treat others if we assumed Jesus would remember everyone rather than just those we deem worthy?

Church of the Resurrection

gpsonline@cor.org

The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection

13720 Roe Avenue

Leawood, Kansas 66224 United States
____________________________