“Lord, Remember Me”

Introduction. The Bible indicates that during Jesus’ time on the cross at first both criminals mocked Jesus (Matthew 27:44). But then, one of the men had a change of heart, rebuked the other robber (Luke 23:40-41), and then said to Jesus - “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” (Luke 23:42). Much attention has been given to this account and what lessons it teaches us. Yet, one aspect of the man’s request that has drawn little attention is what he actually asks—“Remember Me.”

I. What Was the Thief Requesting? The man’s question presupposes that the he understood that death was not the end for either himself or for Jesus. By his very request he demonstrates a confidence that in the realm of the dead Jesus would have power to grant that request.

• Did the man understand that Jesus, in death would assume dominion over a spiritual kingdom? Probably not.
• Did he imagine that Jesus would attain this dominion through resurrection? Perhaps.
• Did he hope that Jesus would bring him to life again also, so that he could reign with Jesus in this kingdom? It isn’t clear.

1. What is evident is that the man acknowledged that the two of them were about to enter into “uncharted territory”—the place of the dead.

1. Something moved him to realize that the very man who hung beside him offered him guidance through that territory that…

·         The officials who had nailed him to the cross could not.

·         The slanderous criminal who hung with them could not, and

·         The bloodthirsty mob assembled below them could not.

2. Instead, he appealed to this crucified, dying teacher who (whether the thief fully realized it or not) was God in the flesh, bearing upon Himself the sins of mankind, purchasing with His blood an eternal kingdom that would conquer sin and death and offer man the hope of eternal life with God in the age to come.

1.      The thief begged of this One—“remember me.”

II. We All Want God to Remember Us. Man has often cried out to God that He would remember him.

1.  Samson, in his anguish cried out to the Lord (Judges 16:28).
2.  Hannah, in despair over her childlessness, begged the Lord not to forget her (1 Samuel 1:11).
3.  Job, like many of us feared that God would forget his limitations (Job 10:9).
4.  David, in many Psalms expressed his desire that God remember him  (Psalm 132:1).
1. He asked that God remember His promises (Psalm 119:49).
2.  In the face of enemies or in recognition of his own faults fears that God’s mercy may be exhausted (Psalm 25:6).
3. Like the thief on the cross, David wants the Lord to remember him with salvation (Psalm 106:4).

III. God Remembers His People. While man often fears that God will not remember him, such is an unwarranted fear. God has promised that He remembers His people and the promises He makes to them.

A.    God promised Noah that the rainbow which He set in the sky would be a sign of the covenant that He made not to destroy the earth again by water (Genesis 9:15).

B.      In the Law of Moses, God promised that when the Israelites had turned away from His Law, but confessed their sin, He would remember them (Leviticus 26:42).

1.       Even though Israel would fail to remember and keep the covenant that they made with God, He promised that He would not break the covenant He made with the Israelites in the wilderness (Leviticus 26:45).

2.      This early relationship which God had with Israel He likens to a betrothal (Jeremiah 2:2).

3.      Israel then, was like a child for which the Lord cared (Ezekiel 16:60-61a). This suggests that man bears a responsibility…

IV. We Must Remember God. While we need not fear that God will forget us, the real danger is that we may forget God.

A.     The exiles in Babylon, feared they would forget their covenant with God (Psalm 137:6).

B.      Asaph determines to remember God’s “wonder” (Psalm 77:11).

C.      Although David prayed that the Lord would remember him, he acknowledged his own responsibility to remember the Lord (Psalm 63:6-7).

D.     This must happen at all times and all places (Psalm 42:6). This is like saying, “I’ll remember you from east to west, north or south!”

Conclusion. What About Us? We may like, the thief on the cross hope that in the hour when we are the most vulnerable that the Lord will remember us.

·         We may fear that life will throw trials at us which are too great—burdens upon us that are beyond our ability to bear.

·         Like Job we can be assured that God remembers that we are “like clay.”

For those who are His, He is faithful and remembers the covenant He has made with us in Christ. The question is, will we—in the busy rush of life, stop, consider and in faithfulness remember Him?