Lord, Remember Me…

Hanging next to a man on the cross they called, “King of the Jews.”

On the other side is one just like me, a thief, a liar, what life did we choose?

I was a lad in Jerusalem, poor, and alone, running the streets…a beggar, I would not be…

I chose to be a thief…

A loaf of bread was my first crime, chased by soldiers I hid and over time, I stole to stay alive…

Once upon a mountain-top, I stopped to hear this man…the things he said pierced through me, they were things I’d never heard…I paused and for an instant I almost believed his words.

“I Am the bread of life; come and follow me. I’ll give you eternal life, I will set you free.”

For a moment, I stopped and thought what it would mean to be set free.

No more stealing. No more endless nights of running and worry of being caught.

No more hanging out with low-life; we were thieves, robbers, deceitful men of prey.

Now, here I am at my final destination to die upon a tree. I’m thirsty. I’m afraid. And the thief beside me, rails upon this one they call, King of the Jews.

“Quiet,” I scream. “Do you not fear God? This man has done nothing wrong to be crucified like this.”

Straining, I turn my head so that I can see, the holy man hanging next to me…

Weeping, my voice cracks as I struggle to speak…

“Remember… me… when you come into your Kingdom!”

With a voice kinder than I’d ever known, he spoke these words to me, “This day you will be with me in Paradise.”

As he speaks, I recognize his voice, he’s the man from the mountain-top who could grant eternal life…

And with His great sacrifice…I realize he is Yeshua, King of the Jews!

I lived an ungodly life I can never change what I did…but with just one statement, with no ill intent…I am granted pardon into Paradise…

Don’t choose a life of lawlessness, there’s always a better choice…

Listen to the man on the mountain-top open your heart and hear his voice…

“Come, follow me, I Am the way to Eternity.”

~Marla Shaw O’Neill January 28, 2021

Luke 23:39-43 Revised Geneva Translation

And one of the criminals who were hanged, railed at Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us!”

But the other answered, and rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, seeing you are in the same condemnation?

“We are indeed here righteously! For we receive things worthy of what we have done. But this Man has done nothing wrong!”

And he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”