Finding Myself in the Easter story- the two criminals Luke 23: 32-43

So there are two criminals hanging on either side of Jesus on the cross, representing the two attitudes of mankind toward Jesus. One hurls insults at him, telling him to prove himself to be the savior. "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us?" the other criminal sees something else in Jesus. He sees one who has already proven himself by his innocence. And in comparison he sees himself, worthy of punishment. A first step in knowing Christ is the ability to see ourselves for who we really are. The first man just demands that Jesus prove his power by saving all of them. The other man doesn't even ask to be saved. He asks one thing, to be remembered. There is something of faith in that statement. He knows something about where Jesus is going. He doesn't even dare ask to go there, he asks merely to be remembered. But Jesus opens up so much more to him than he can even imagine when he says "I tell you the truth today you will be with me in paradise." It goes well beyond being remembered. It goes to the point of new life. Living again. How many people, I wonder, when they know death is upon them, look for how they will be remembered. Reflecting on the need to continue on, if not in influence, through ones children, through a memory. There is something in all of us, no matter what our beliefs are of the afterlife that wants to be remembered. To have made some sort of mark on this world, to not just disappear as if we never existed. But we can have so much more. I want to be like the second criminal,to see myself for who I am and my hope is not only to be remembered but to live forever in the company of my Lord.