Luke 23:39-43
See, Father, I have brought with Me
This trophy rare;
We both were hanging on a tree–
I heard his prayer;
And since for sinners there I bled,
For him the crimson stream was shed.
I heard that cry–“Remember me!”
My soul it stung.
Too piteous his agony,
As there we hung.
My word I pledged within a trice–
“Today. . . with Me in Paradise!”
The first fruits of My dying there
To Thee I yield;
O Father, what the harvest rare
From that world field!
This malefactor, first to come,
Leads all the ransomed sinners Home!
~William Marion Runyan
/~/
You’re never so far gone that Jesus can’t save you. The malefactor being put to death for his crimes and deserving it, with his last breaths asked Jesus to remember him. I find it incredible that he just asked to be remembered–not rescued, not forgiven, not taken to Paradise. . . just remembered. “Simply think of me, Lord.”
But Jesus, as is typical of Him, went above and beyond. He promised they would be in Paradise together. “This malefactor, first to come, / Leads all the ransomed sinners Home!”
P.S. From now on, I will now be posting on Saturday instead of Monday, which means the emails will be sent out Sunday instead of Tuesday.
