1 00:00:35,675 --> 00:00:40,675 Speaker 1: Welcome to Abides Daily Christian Meditations. I'm Tyler Boss. Today's 2 00:00:40,715 --> 00:00:43,915 Speaker 1: meditation is brought to you by our partners at Life Audio. 3 00:00:44,235 --> 00:00:46,475 Speaker 1: If you go to lifeaudio dot com, you will find 4 00:00:46,555 --> 00:00:50,075 Speaker 1: dozens of other faith centered podcasts in their network. They've 5 00:00:50,075 --> 00:00:53,915 Speaker 1: got shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and more. Head 6 00:00:53,915 --> 00:00:57,795 Speaker 1: over to lifeaudio dot com now, and remember you can 7 00:00:57,835 --> 00:01:01,555 Speaker 1: have full access to our meditations commercial free. Just text 8 00:01:01,635 --> 00:01:05,075 Speaker 1: abide to two two four three three for twenty five 9 00:01:05,115 --> 00:01:09,355 Speaker 1: percent off. Now receive his piece as we meditate and 10 00:01:09,435 --> 00:01:10,435 Speaker 1: abide in Christ. 11 00:01:12,955 --> 00:01:18,875 Speaker 2: Welcome to the special abide Easter Meditation. I'm Melissa, hanging 12 00:01:18,915 --> 00:01:23,035 Speaker 2: on the cross, about to die and mocked on all sides. 13 00:01:23,915 --> 00:01:28,435 Speaker 2: Jesus never stopped caring for the people around him. Breathe 14 00:01:28,475 --> 00:01:33,075 Speaker 2: deeply as you listen to these verses from Luke chapter 15 00:01:33,115 --> 00:01:41,155 Speaker 2: twenty three. One of the criminals who were hanged there 16 00:01:41,835 --> 00:01:45,635 Speaker 2: kept deriding him and saying, are you not the Messiah? 17 00:01:46,035 --> 00:01:50,235 Speaker 2: Save yourself and us? But the other rebuked him, saying, 18 00:01:51,075 --> 00:01:54,115 Speaker 2: do you not fear God? Since you were under the 19 00:01:54,155 --> 00:01:59,195 Speaker 2: same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, 20 00:01:59,795 --> 00:02:02,355 Speaker 2: for we are getting what we deserve. For our deeds, 21 00:02:03,075 --> 00:02:09,355 Speaker 2: but this man has done nothing wrong. Then he said, Jesus, 22 00:02:10,395 --> 00:02:16,395 Speaker 2: remember me when you come into your kingdom. He replied, truly, 23 00:02:16,515 --> 00:02:20,915 Speaker 2: I tell you today you will be with me in paradise. 24 00:02:26,475 --> 00:02:30,275 Speaker 2: Even in the darkest moments of Jesus's life, love flowed 25 00:02:30,315 --> 00:02:35,035 Speaker 2: from him. His concern was not for himself, but for 26 00:02:35,075 --> 00:02:39,475 Speaker 2: the one suffering beside him. This same Jesus is beside 27 00:02:39,475 --> 00:02:44,875 Speaker 2: you in whatever you're suffering, now, extending a hand inviting 28 00:02:44,915 --> 00:02:48,315 Speaker 2: you to trust him with your present and with your future. 29 00:02:53,635 --> 00:02:59,035 Speaker 2: Remember me, the dying man, said to Jesus, What do 30 00:02:59,115 --> 00:03:03,395 Speaker 2: you want to say to Jesus. Now take a few 31 00:03:03,435 --> 00:03:07,675 Speaker 2: seconds and whisper to Jesus the burdens you're caring. Now 32 00:03:09,235 --> 00:03:22,955 Speaker 2: say remember me Jesus, and know he will pray with me. Jesus, 33 00:03:24,475 --> 00:03:29,195 Speaker 2: speak to me. Show me who you are, especially this 34 00:03:29,315 --> 00:03:33,315 Speaker 2: week as I'm meditating on the last words you spoke 35 00:03:33,395 --> 00:03:38,915 Speaker 2: before your death. Help me to see you afresh, to 36 00:03:38,995 --> 00:03:43,235 Speaker 2: hear your voice, to know your heart, and to be 37 00:03:43,355 --> 00:03:47,635 Speaker 2: united with you. Help me to understand more fully why 38 00:03:47,675 --> 00:03:52,835 Speaker 2: you came, lived, died, and rose again, and how I 39 00:03:52,875 --> 00:03:58,835 Speaker 2: can participate in the kingdom you inaugurated. I'm so grateful 40 00:03:58,875 --> 00:04:06,555 Speaker 2: for your love. In your name, I pray, Amen. Keep 41 00:04:06,635 --> 00:04:13,595 Speaker 2: breathing deeply and steadily. Feel your heart rates slow and 42 00:04:13,675 --> 00:04:21,035 Speaker 2: your muscles relax. Let your shoulders drop and your belly 43 00:04:21,075 --> 00:04:28,755 Speaker 2: expand know that Jesus is with you, loving you now 44 00:04:29,835 --> 00:04:50,835 Speaker 2: as you breathe. The thief on the cross didn't hesitate 45 00:04:50,875 --> 00:04:54,995 Speaker 2: to name his guilt. He confessed it plainly and found 46 00:04:55,075 --> 00:04:59,795 Speaker 2: refused in the Savior dying beside him. Come to Jesus 47 00:04:59,875 --> 00:05:03,875 Speaker 2: with that same confidence, and confess your sins to the Lord. 48 00:05:19,715 --> 00:05:23,195 Speaker 2: The suffering Savior welcomes you into the Kingdom of God. 49 00:05:24,315 --> 00:05:27,475 Speaker 2: By his wounds, you have been healed, and He has 50 00:05:27,515 --> 00:05:31,315 Speaker 2: given you the Holy Spirit as a seal of your salvation. 51 00:05:32,795 --> 00:05:36,555 Speaker 2: Give thanks to God for his great love. Listen again 52 00:05:36,595 --> 00:05:40,355 Speaker 2: to the passage in the new Revised Standard version. And 53 00:05:40,395 --> 00:05:43,795 Speaker 2: we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting 54 00:05:43,835 --> 00:05:46,915 Speaker 2: what we deserve for our deeds. But this man has 55 00:05:46,955 --> 00:05:52,675 Speaker 2: done nothing wrong. Then he said, Jesus, remember me when 56 00:05:52,675 --> 00:05:58,155 Speaker 2: you come into your kingdom. He replied, truly, I tell 57 00:05:58,195 --> 00:06:01,955 Speaker 2: you to day you will be with me in Paradise. 58 00:06:04,515 --> 00:06:11,835 Speaker 2: Pray with me. Jesus, you gave your life even though 59 00:06:11,835 --> 00:06:15,475 Speaker 2: you had done nothing wrong, and although I am a sinner, 60 00:06:16,795 --> 00:06:20,555 Speaker 2: you welcomed me into your kingdom and invited me to 61 00:06:20,675 --> 00:06:27,755 Speaker 2: join you in Paradise. I am so grateful, Jesus. Thank 62 00:06:27,795 --> 00:06:31,075 Speaker 2: you for showing us with your dying breaths that the 63 00:06:31,155 --> 00:06:34,155 Speaker 2: gates of heaven are open to any one who puts 64 00:06:34,195 --> 00:06:38,595 Speaker 2: their trust in you. Thank you for the gift of salvation. 65 00:06:39,995 --> 00:06:44,315 Speaker 2: Help me to walk in your ways in your name, 66 00:06:44,395 --> 00:06:49,715 Speaker 2: I pray. Amen. If you ever begin to worry that 67 00:06:49,755 --> 00:06:53,755 Speaker 2: you've gone too far, remember the thief on the cross. 68 00:06:55,355 --> 00:07:01,915 Speaker 2: It's never too late to put trust in Jesus. Until 69 00:07:01,995 --> 00:07:05,115 Speaker 2: next time, May you abide in Christ.