Lost and Found Department

Luke 23:42-43 (NIV) Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."  Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

Often when I prepare to write the blog post for Daily Bible Blast I will open my Bible to the passages selected for the day and see that I have notes and or dates written in the margins.  Luke 23:35-43 contains the remark, "Read at Mark's memorial, 4/1/08."  Mark was my younger brother, a prodigal son like many of us, who ran away from home but returned. He was a missing son who was found.

We hear these words read as Good Friday approaches.  We read them, nod in our heads that we heard them, but unless we have experienced them, they quickly fade. I am learning that Scripture really is 'living and active' (Hebrews 4:12).  Reading God's Word is one thing, breathing it in, is another. We may go for years reading the Words of God, we may memorize and recognize verses when they are read, but until we experience them for ourselves, put them in our hearts, we won't identify like we could.

The wise criminal hanging next to Jesus understood Jesus didn't deserve the punishment mete out, while the two of them did; like we do. The story of the compassion and love Jesus gave this New Believer is still told today, more than 2000 years later.

The effects of this one act of kindness wrapped up in forgiveness and a beautiful invitation to "be with me in paradise," is the real Good News our world needs.  It is the Good News each one of us can believe. "For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." (Luke 15:24)

Luke 23:32-43