11. Criminals speak to Jesus. Luke 23:39-43

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." 42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." 43 Jesus answered him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."

“Remember me”

Yarn on cardboard 

Angela Roberson and daughter, Shae Roberson 

As Jesus hangs on the cross next to convicted criminals, one mocks him and says that if he is the Messiah to save them from their current circumstances. The other asks Jesus to simply remember him. In the midst of unimaginable pain and suffering, I find this such a beautiful request when just one night before Jesus shared the bread and cup with his disciples and said, “do this in remembrance of me.” Just as the unbaptized, convicted criminal, and sinner did, in remembrance of Jesus we find that we too have not been forgotten.

—Angela Roberson