Remember Me

PRAY: "Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to Your love remember me, for You are good, O LORD" (Psalm 25:7).

READ: Luke 23:26-56

REFLECT: Whenever I read Luke 23:26-56, I have a sense that I'm on holy ground; the crucifixion of Jesus is the most amazing demonstration of sacrificial love the world has ever seen. Over the years, moviemakers have done their best to depict what it must have been like, but no one can ever fully know the extent of the suffering Jesus endured. And yet for all the physical pain, the worst part for Jesus was that God temporarily abandoned Him; the Father turned His back on His beloved Son (Matthew 27:45-46). That's what it took to make a way for you and me and the entire human race to be forgiven of our sins and restored to God.

What amazes me now about this account is that even in the midst of his excruciating ordeal, Jesus was more concerned about others than Himself. To the women mourning for Him, Jesus offered a prophetic warning (vv. 27-31); He wanted them to be prepared for the hard times that would follow His death. To the people, leaders, and soldiers who mocked him, Jesus offered forgiveness (v. 34), whether they realized they needed it or not. To the angry thief Jesus offered silence (v. 39); He didn't try to retaliate. And to the repentant thief, Jesus more than offered – He promised paradise (v. 43).

During my thirteen years on the staff of Prison Fellowship, I had the opportunity to go into prison many times with its founder, Chuck Colson. Often Chuck preached to the inmates from this passage with a message that it's never too late to turn back to Jesus and accept His forgiveness for sin. Many inmates gave their lives to Christ as a result of that simple appeal.

But in a very real sense, this passage offers us a defining picture of what the essential Jesus is all about, whether we're behind bars or out in the free world. Because of our sin, all of us are condemned to die; we're either one thief or the other. The real question is, how will we respond – with insults (v. 39) or with a heartfelt "remember me" (v. 42)?

APPLY: Take time to put yourself in this story. What do you think and feel as you imagine yourself at the foot of the cross?

PRAY: Spend a few minutes humbly thanking Jesus for what He endured for you on the cross.

Discussion Questions for "The Crucifixion of Jesus"

1. Have you ever known, or known of, someone who has completely turned their back on Jesus? What caused them to do this?
2. Do you think some people can become so evil that they lose the opportunity to repent? Do you think Judas could have changed his mind?
3. Have you ever hidden your identity as a follower of Jesus? Why and how?
4. Have you ever been bold about your faith at a time when you felt pressure to hide it? What happened and how did you feel afterward?
5. Do you think politicians should talk about their religious beliefs? Should they govern based on their religious beliefs? Why?
6. What are the best examples today of how religion and politics should mix? How they should not mix?
7. Imagine a person who's never heard of Jesus. How would you explain the crucifixion to that person in a way they could understand?

The Essential Jesus (Part 17): The Resurrection of Jesus

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