Simplistic Prayer

“Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom”. Luke 23:42

Two lives were lived badly, but one ended well. One man went to his death cursing Christ, the other reached out to Him in faith. That’s one way to read this brief encounter between Jesus and the criminals as they hung dying on their crosses. There is great hope here for those who feel they have wasted their lives and who wonder late in life if there is any hope for them. “They can be assured that there is” --- according to this story.

The one who spoke to Jesus and asked for pardon was given an insight into Jesus that even the disciples didn’t have. When the man requested, “Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom,” he confessed a faith in Jesus’ victory that the apostles were despairing of at the moment. The criminal is very much like the workers in Jesus’ parable who get a full day’s wages for an hour’s work. (Matt 20:1-16)

The man’s prayer is one of simplicity. The criminal prayed, “Remember me!” What could be more elementary? Two important ingredients in prayer are: You must know your need, and you must know the only one who can meet that need. All genuine prayer is rooted in humility and hope; humility in oneself and hope in the Savior who “was numbered with the transgressors, and made intercession for our transgressions. (Isaiah 53:12 & Luke 22:37).

Jesus’ answer to the criminal was example of God’s eagerness to answer prayer. It was immediate – “today you will be with me in paradise.” And it was gracious. We might even say Jesus over answered when he added, “in paradise”. The criminal wanted simply to be remembered; Jesus promised that he would be by His side in paradise. The word “paradise” is synonymous with “Abraham’s side or “bosom” the place reserved for people the quality of Abraham. (Luke 36:22-23) The Persian root word referred to a king’s walled, private garden, the place of special honor reserved for a favored servant or subject to be with the king. Jesus gives more than we ask and better than we ask.

It is never too late to be simplistic and to cry out. “Remember me!” God is more ready to hear our prayer than we are to pray it.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, you know my foolishness and my gilt. You know the time I’ve wasted. Please be merciful to me for I pray with that dying criminal, “Remember me!” In Jesus’ name this day, Amen.