Lord, Remember Me

Before us is a pertinent scripture in light of the Lord’s Supper. When Jesus instituted the last supper he said “do it in remembrance of me.” The very next day one of the thieves on the cross beside Jesus mustered enough strength to say “Lord, remember me.”  Why would the thief have chosen those words?

Luke 23:42 “And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, to day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

In the mind of his enemies Jesus was simply being put to death. However, he was dying for them as well as the thief. At the beginning of the ordeal both thieves railed on Jesus. Then after his suffering and seeing the suffering of Jesus, this thief was touched. He felt himself dying. Why didn’t he say “Lord, save me” or say as the Philippian jailer did “what must I do to be saved?” His fear of dying as a sinner disturbed him.

Thinking you’d be remembered by only a few, for only a short while, can weigh heavy on your heart. When those few die off you’re gone as far as this earth is concerned. We look at an old photo of a distant family member and have no real attachment to it. Imagine the thief. He knew his life was short. I wonder. Did he have friends? Did he have a family, or had they turned their backs on him. When he came off the cross was he taken by his family or buried in the potters’ field for the poor. Thinking about our mortality can be scary and being forgotten is not something anyone would want. If the world goes on long enough our memory goes with it. Our memory might become just an old photograph that no one looks at anymore.

Was the thief thinking he’d cease to exist and be forgotten on top of all the torments of hell? He’d remember, but would he be remembered? Abraham told the rich man “son, remember” your past life. They both would be in torment. Part of the thief’s suffering was the thought of being completely forgotten from the minds of those who knew him, nor no more felt in their hearts. Greater was his thought of being forgotten by God. He didn’t ask for a lot just “remember me.” Jesus responded by saying “today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

What matters in time and eternity is to be remembered by our Savior. Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper and in effect was saying if you forget me, you’ll be forgotten forever. Eternal life is ours when we remember HIM. Faced with total obliteration the thief said “remember me.” Jesus shed his blood so I won’t have to be forgotten forever. When I trust in God, one million years from now I’ll still be Bob Surber. Though I’ll be dust on this earth, I’ll be somebody in heaven!

It’s worth serving the Lord. We’ll be eternally somebody, saved and glorified. To forget Jesus is to be eternally forgotten.  “Lord, help me to never forget you.” That’s how I’ll not be forgotten.