Which Thief are You?

April 14, 2014 Monday Message:

Repentant Thief: “Jesus, Remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

Jesus: “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:42-43 NLT)

Two thieves were crucified with Jesus. One was angry, belligerent and full of himself. In spite of his predicament (hanging from a cross and facing imminent death,) he decided to call Jesus out: “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it – save yourself, and while you’re at it, save us too!”

But the other thief was contrite, repentant. He knew that Jesus was the Messiah. He knew enough about religion to know that in spite of how this looked, it wasn’t the end for Jesus. He knew Jesus wouldn’t be dying, but instead would go to a far better place. “Remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

We all deserve death, each of us in our own way. Picture yourself alongside Jesus on that fateful Friday. But remember that Jesus came to rescue us, to redeem us.

So the question is, which thief are you? Do you challenge Jesus: “So you claim to be the Messiah? Then prove it!”

Or do you humbly ask for forgiveness? “Please remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

The promise is that when you go from this reality into the next reality, you will be in paradise – with Jesus!

Norton Lawellin

Resurrection Sunday is upon us! Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets every Sunday, at 10:30am, in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. Pastor Michael Pilla looks inside the empty grave.