Lent 2023 day 30

 Dying

Jesus is on the cross next to two criminals.  One ended up in Paradise with Jesus, the other didnt. Why? Because one recognised who Jesus was and the other didnt.

Jesus was well known in His day, but there were no photographs, no newspapers, only word of mouth to spread the news about Him and the chances that either of the criminals crucified with Jesus would actually have met Him before are slim.  They might possibly have been in a crowd which heard Him teaching. But probably the only thing they knew about Him were the stories that were doing the rounds in Jerusalem. And bear in mind, not all those stories were true.  Jesus had been beaten to a pulp before being nailed to the cross.  He was barely recognisable as a man. The only thing to let people know who He was was a sign nailed above His head.  We can assume that three people who are strangers to each other are crucified on the hill that day.

The thieves on their crosses had also been beaten to a pulp and nailed up.  They would have been focused on their own pain and imminent death not on the unknown guy hanging next to them. So why did one of them turn to Jesus and ask to be remembered by Him after death?  Well, I  think it was because Jesus revealed Himself to that guy as he was dying and that guy realised He was Jesus, Saviour and Messiah and decided to follow him right at the last moment of his life.  I believe Jesus comes to everyone as they are dying. But like the second thief, not everyone recognises Him.  This changes our approach to those who are dying. Even if they have not known Jesus before, in their last moments there is the chance for them to see Him and take His hand.  But they need to know who it is who is coming to them and offering the invitation. Our job is to pray for those who are dying that when Jesus comes they see and recognise Him.  If we get the chance we can also tell them that they might see someone come to them, perhaps someone they dont recognise.  A man in His 30s. Kind. Safe.  It is OK to go with Him. Even people who have refused to believe all their lives will listen and accept this in their final moments.  Because everyone wants reassurance at the end.  

The amazing thing is that we can pray this for everyone we know, all the time.  'Lord Jesus when You come for them may they recognise You and go with You.'  Its such a simple prayer but its one God must surely love to answer. And given that none of us know when our time might be up its a good one to pray for all those we love.  Having prayed it we can then feel so reassured when someone who doesnt profess to know Jesus dies. Because we can trust that blind eyes can open to new life even when they are closing in death.

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