Remembered By Jesus

Discipleship Group Questions for November 21, 2004

 

Scripture:

 

Luke 23:35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said,  “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”

Luke 23:36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said,  “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

Luke 23:38 There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Luke 23:39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him:  “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”

Luke 23:40 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.”

Luke 23:42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Luke 23:43 Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death.  17 All men will hate you because of me.  18 But not a hair of your head will perish.  19 By standing firm you will gain life.

 

Questions for Reflection:

 

  1. “This is the last Sunday of the Church’s Liturgical Year.  It’s called “Christ the King Sunday.” In the first reading from 2 Samuel 5:1-3 we heard of the coronation of David as king not just of the Southern Kingdom of Judah but now also of the Northern Kingdom of Israel!  David had arrived at this point following a long and bloody conflict with claimants from the house of Saul.  But what was most significant was his kingly title in this coronation.  Our reading said, “You . . . shall be shepherd of my people Israel.”  In this “shepherding” role, David is establishing the model of kingship which is that of a “shepherd” and it will be this role that will characterize his most significant descendant: the Messiah, Son of David – Jesus Christ!

 

In our Gospel reading, Luke 23:35-43, we’re taken to the last moments of Jesus’ life, as he hangs on the cross.  This scene is in stark contrast with that of his ancestor David’s coronation.  And instead of words of glorification we hear words of mockery.  Look at verse 36:

 

Luke 23:36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said “If you’re the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

        

            But who did recognize Jesus for who he was?  Please discuss this strange reality.

  1. “Picture that scene – Mel Gibson’s movie “The Passion of the Christ” will help many of us to do this.  The agony, the brute cruelty, the jeers from the soldiers and the crowd.  The profound tragedy of this scene is overwhelming to all present but to those of us who know “the rest of the story” it is sublime and ultimately captivating – for here is our Lord and King dying for all of us – even for those who were murdering Him.  This scene “defines” kingly nobility and courage!”  What does this scene do to you?  Please discuss.
  2. “Look at the thief on the cross to the right of Jesus in your imagination.  We only have a few words from him –  reading now from Luke chapter 23 beginning at verse 40:

 

Luke 23:40 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,  “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

 

Listen to his words – “Don’t you fear God? . . . We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve.  But this man has done nothing wrong . . . “

 

Ah!  He recognized his sin and recognized that this punishment was justified but he also recognized the innocence of Jesus but even more than that he recognized Jesus for who He really was!  He saw Jesus as King and Savior.”  Please discuss.

4         “Jesus comes to us – in our sin and degradation.  Immanuel – God with us!  That’s what the Advent season is all about and here on the last day before the Advent Season we witness what this is all about.  It’s not only about God coming to us in a manger on that first Christmas day but it’s about Jesus coming to us in our degradation and sin – coming alongside of us in our utter pain and inviting us to see Him for who He really is!

 

What God is telling us here is that we don’t fully grasp the meaning of Jesus’ kingship unless we’re prepared to see Him through the eyes, as it were, of a dying thief!  We, like the dying thief, discover Him as Jesus first and then as Jesus our intimate Friend AND heavenly King!”  Please discuss.

5.   “Ah!  I’m SO blessed by the fact that it’s not ultimately about my memory but rather it’s about His memory!  We all know people who have limited memory (heck I’m one of them) and some of us who lose it over time but for Christians it doesn’t matter if we remember or not, for in the words of another commentator “our soul or spirit is that which is alive to God’s memory!” (Fr. Richard Leonard S.J.)  DID YOU HEAR THAT – WE’RE REMEMBERED BY THE LORD HIMSELF!”

 

      The Lord Jesus Christ will never forget me!  He will never forget you!  God, in Jesus Christ, will always come to us wherever we are – come very close to us – even join us in our situation, and as we discover Him we will find those most poignant words coming out from our hearts – ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom!’”  Please discuss.

6.   “So where does all of this lead us as we stand on the threshold of the Advent Season? 

 

Jesus comes to us on our crosses – whatever or wherever that may be and we can either see Him or miss Him!”

 

      Jesus didn’t take Himself from that cross nor did He take the good thief from his cross but that’s not, after all, what it’s really all about is it?  Is it?  Please discuss.