He was living his life. He was a sinner. He was living his life. He had done terrible things. He was living his life. And then he was caught. He was living his life …but now his end had come.
His time on earth was ending. His punishment was in sight. Punishment for his sins. Cruel and excruciatingly painful punishment.
He wasn’t alone as he cried out in pain.
Physical pain.
Pain of regret.
The pain of knowing life was slowing draining away.
The pain of hopelessness.
The pain of …many things.
Into his pain came the cries of the other two men nailed to execution stakes.
“Father, forgive them; they don’t understand what they are doing.”
Incredible, unimaginable words from man beside him.
Cursing filled the air, coming from the man at the far side. Hatred. Anger. Fear. Expected. Insults hurled at the man in-between them. “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
“Have you no fear of God? You’re getting the same punishment as he is. Ours is only fair; we’re getting what we deserve for what we did. But this man did nothing wrong.”
He could see the man in the middle. Face twisted in pain. Blood oozing from every lash mark, from every beating. Bruise-coloured skin. Blood dripping down his face from the cruel joke of a crown smashed into his head. Heard his voice. His pain. Saw and heard his struggle to breathe.
All three men shared that struggle.
Struggling to breathe.
To hold onto life.
Yet, with every breath…
Death was closing in.
“Then he said, “Yeshua (Jesus), remember me when you come as King.”
In those last minutes of his life on earth…
He saw light.
He felt hope.
In those last minutes…
He felt love.
True love.
Love that keeps promises.
Love that will not let you down.
Love that will do anything for you.
Even die for you.
“Yes! I promise that you will be with me today in paradise.”
Let’s journey together…
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