Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Luke 23:42 (NIV)
The call came from the hospital — which was odd.
A nurse who worked in the Intensive Care Unit had a patient asking to see me — immediately.
I didn’t know the older gentleman particularly well. I’d had no more than two conversations with him and his wife. Pleasantries. Casual stories. Nothing serious. I hadn’t spoken with them for a couple of years. I hadn’t even been aware that they’d moved out of their life-long residence into a small apartment across from the hospital.
I barely knew them.
As soon as I walked into the ICU and took one look — I knew.
The man was lying on his death bed.
I greeted him warmly — giving him a smile. Fear was in his eyes.
I wasted no time.
“You’re going to die. You know that, don’t you?”
He nodded.
“Are you afraid about what’s going to happen when you die?”
Another nod.
I briefly shared Jesus’ promises of eternal life for anyone who believes — and asked if he’d like me to lead him in a prayer of belief.
A third nod.
By the time we were done with the short prayer, tears were streaming down his face.
“You have to tell my wife,” he said. “Tell her I prayed to receive Jesus in my heart. Tell her she needs to pray, too.”
I agreed that I would.
“Now!” He insisted. “Go right now! Our apartment is across the street. Go there. Don’t wait.”
I walked across the street to the apartment number he gave me.
I shared exactly what had happened. I asked her if she wanted to pray like her husband had. She said she did. I led her in a similar short prayer of faith, and then I left.
The man died that evening.
His wife was discovered dead in their apartment the following morning.
I didn’t really didn’t know their story. I presume, given their ages, that they knew about Jesus. As death drew near they realized something unsettling — They knew about Jesus, but they didn’t know Him.
In today’s chapter, Jesus is crucified.
It was the most brutal, humiliating form of execution.
Some victims of crucifixion suffered for days before dying.
Hanging there between heaven and earth affords time for conversation.
Luke describes the conversation between Jesus and the two thieves crucified on either side of Him. As I read the episode this morning, it felt like one of Jesus’ parables come to life.
“Once, there were two thieves crucified for their crimes…”
One had gone all-in to the angry bitterness in his heart.
The other asked Jesus, “Remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”
I spent some time meditating this morning on this simple request.
Somewhere — somehow — he knew enough to ask.
He’d watched Jesus being railroaded by the system.
He saw the simple truth of what was happening.
“I deserve this — but not Him.”
His simple request was an example of Jesus’ proverbial mustard seed of faith.
Small.
Barely there.
But alive.
“I’m guilty for what I’ve done.”
“I deserve to die.”
“But Him? He’s going to His eternal Kingdom.”
“Jesus? Think of me.”
And, in the quiet this morning, it made me think of that call from the hospital. A man and woman who knew about Jesus their entire lives.
Until death came knocking.
Faith is a simple step.
But it’s a step every person has to make for themselves — or not.
Once, there were two thieves…
Nailed to the cross for their crimes.
One died as he’d lived.
The other… took a single step.
If you know anyone who might be encouraged by today’s post, please share.
