Today, let’s continue with the last words our Lord pronounced before He was crucified. Now, Jesus is hanging on the cross and He is mocked by the leaders and the soldiers. One of of the two criminals being crucified with him also laughs at Him, while the other crucified criminal sensed that Jesus was being treated unjustly. After speaking up for Jesus, he cried out, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (verse 42). My brother, my sister, when you witness about Christ are you been scorned at or do people believe in your testimony of Him? Look at how Jesus responded to this criminal: “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise” (verse 43). My friends, this is one of the most astounding and encouraging verses in the Bible. Why?Jesus promises that the criminal would be with Him in paradise. Nothing tells us whether this man has ever believed in Jesus before… Yet, He recognised Him as Who He is. The same, even tough we can imagine that He was sorry for his sins, there is no indication that he obviously repented. But, it is his cry, his desperate and last-gasp effort to The Lord to remember him earned Him Jesus’s love and compassion. My friend, we should live our lives each day as disciples of Jesus, and never forget that, in the end, our relationship with Him comes down to simple trust. “Jesus, remember me,” we cry. And Jesus, embodying the mercy of God, says to us, “You will be with me in paradise.” We are welcome there not because we have the right knowledge and not because we are living rightly, but because God is merciful and we have put our trust in Jesus. So the question you today is: have you staked your life on Jesus? Have you put your ultimate trust in him? Are you sure if, when your time comes, you will be with him in paradise? Today cry out to Him, to let Him embrace you, encourage you and heal you. Stay blessed in Jesus’ name. [facebook] [retweet]