daily spiritual reflection - apr. 22

BIBLE READING FOR THE DAY: 

Friday of Holy Week

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!"

But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."

Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

Jesus answered him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."

- Luke 23:39-43

THOUGHT: Good Friday is the day that we remember and mourn Jesus' suffering, humiliation and death (awesome op-ed about this here). When Jesus hung on a cross to die, he was crucified between two other criminals. This passage describes their interactions with him. I find it amazing that even after all the shame and suffering that Jesus went through (I just think of how I'd react, angry, hurt, withdrawn... complaining a lot about the pain) that he's still able to talk to these guys lovingly. I really love this exchange though-- I think it so perfectly conveys the internal dialogue that goes with a decision of faith in our broken world. 

The first criminal speaks the words of that voice in our heads that mocks God and rejects him-- when we see suffering that isn't fixed or when we see injustices that don't make sense, or when we feel lonely or unloved or hurting, it is so easy to say, "Well if you're really God, and you're really there, and you're really all that, then why aren't things different?" Essentially, if you're God, then do something, my timing, my way.

But the other criminal cuts in and speaks the words of a different voice-- a voice that reminds us to respect God because he is God, that reminds us of our own responsibility in the brokenness and injustice of the world, that reasserts God's goodness. And then, that criminal makes a statement of hope. Even after he has suffered shame and is all alone on a cross on some charge worthy of capital punishment, he chooses to hope in the man on a cross next to him, to trust God's ways, and to believe in the things Jesus has said about the kingdom he has coming. And he asks to be a part of it! 

And think how beautiful it is that a criminal hanging there reaches out and asks to be remembered by Jesus. This man was clearly of poor status, bad reputation, and all that stuff. He was by no means perfect. But he humbly asks to be remembered by Jesus, and Jesus reassures him (in the bestselling book of all time) that he has a place in paradise... 

CHALLENGE:  If you were hanging there with Jesus, what would you say to him? Does your internal dialogue about faith sound at all like these guys? Take the time this weekend to put yourself in these guys' shoes and try engaging in some kind of dialogue with Jesus during his last hours. See how the conversation goes. Allow for all the different thoughts/voices in your head to have a say and see how Jesus addresses each of them.