Jesus, Remember Me

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at [Jesus], saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” -Luke 14:34-36

Jesus, Remember Me

I cannot bring you anything.

No offering of worth, worthy to gain your remembrance.

My palms are pinned and pockets pilfered.

Condemned I hang, knowing each crime, each sin.

Unjustly you hang all the same, sinless, commendable.

Good, you are truly good, a purity that brings me fear.

Your presence proves God to me.

I dare not mock your thorny crown or join the jeers of, “Save yourself!”

No, there is something in you that draws me near.

You are more true than your mockers beneath.

You are more life-giving, in death, than the living below.

Those thorns above your brow now shimmer golden to my eye.

What irony! Their mocking crown has marked my King!

Now, what can I bring?

I have offerings of emptiness, nothing of virtue that the living would prize.

My status is stripped and my sweat sterilized.

I only see you, so please Lord, I plead.

“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”