Why is the ProjectSaul.org byline “Jesus Loves EVEN Me!“?
I’ll refer to the Book of Luke to answer this question.
The Book of Luke’s author tells us that when Jesus was about to die on the cross there was an exchange between the two criminals that were about to be crucified with Jesus. One criminal complained to Jesus about why, if Jesus was the messiah, He didn’t save himself and the criminals. Another criminal understood his own sin–knowing that he and not Jesus–deserved the ensuing punishment and basically told that first criminal to hush up. This second criminal, conversely, asked Jesus a simple request — to remember him when Jesus entered His kingdom.
Jesus responded that the criminal would join Him in paradise that day.
This is why ProjectSaul.org’s byline is “Jesus Loves EVEN Me!” Jesus accepted a confessing sinner’s request–at the very last opportunity in that sinner’s life–to remember him. To me, this shows that no matter what my sin, Jesus still loves me and loves me all the time–even if I wait until the very last moment in my life to ask Him to forgive me. It’s just up to me to love Him back and through that love have the opportunity to join Jesus in paradise when I eventually die.
Here it is from the Book of Luke itself – Luke 23: 39-43 (NIV Bible):
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.”