Thoughts for another day
April 7, 2011
Today's verse: Lk. 23:43. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
Dismas, was an evil man. He committed so much vice that the only punishment he deserved was death and that too the vilest type: on the cross and he got it. As he neared sleep on the floor of his cell, condemned to be crucified the next day, he remembered the evil he'd done over the years. He had spared none: ripping women of their jewelry and beating and robbing people on the lonely roads. He wondered how many had died on the roads itself. His mind went to his mother; he lost her protective arm around him when she died when he was yet young. There were tears in his eyes as he remembered her gently admonishing him when he did wrong and how she meticulously taught him the tenets of the law that every Jew needed to know.
His father was a drunkard and the moment his mother was buried, he got himself another woman who was evil to the core. She made him do some really vile things and set him on the road to crime. That night as he slept, all the hatred he had for her just vanished. He knew he could have still led a good life as a helping hand to his neighbor who'd offered to take him in to look after his massive herd. His taste for money had kept him away; although deep inside he knew he was doing wrong yet, he continued in it. He pondered on his execution: the Romans were evil men and he was very worried about the pain and the shame. He knew there were two more men convicted to die with him; the third being Barabbas, a vile and insolent murderer. At least he knew he wasn't alone and he soon fell into fearful sleep.
The morning saw a lot of activity and within no time he was hanging on the cross. He hadn't seen Barabbas and wondered what had happened. Suddenly there was a lot of noise and he saw an incredible sight: A Man carrying the Cross, supported by another big man. Although beaten right to the bone, the Man's face had a calm he hadn't seen before. His companion hanging on his left mentioned He was Someone called Jesus of Nazareth, the Miracle Worker. Suddenly his mind went back in time to that occasion when he was hiding from the law and had taken refuge on the mountain when a huge no of people led by a man who looked an ocean of calm walked up and sat down. Too weak to get up and run, he was surprised no one bothered him as he lay there. He heard Jesus say, 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven…' Laughing within, he heard Jesus unfurling His Gospel thinking he was a dreamer; but as Jesus spoke, he realized this was no ordinary man. Now, he strained for every Word that came from his mouth. He wept as Jesus said, 'eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth, but I tell you, offer no resistance to one who is evil…' He thought how could this be possible? But something told him that Jesus was serious of what He said and deep within, he knew Jesus was Divine.
And imagine his shock as he saw Jesus with the Cross walking up Calvary! As Jesus stumbled and fell, despite his pain, he involuntarily tried to move his nail fixed hand to steady Jesus, thinking to himself, what have they done, this man was the solution to clean up the hardened hearts of people like him, yet they were nailing Him!!! What had happened to Barabbas? He realized Jesus had taken his place.
In a matter of minutes, Jesus was on the Cross in the center. His companion cursed Jesus and asked Him to create a miracle and release them. An anger burst in him and he shouted for him to stop saying, 'do you not fear God, seeing you are similarly condemned? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing wrong.' Then with tears in his eyes begging for mercy he implored of Jesus, 'LORD, remember me when You come to Your Kingdom.' He felt a wave of freshness as Jesus looking at him in pain haltingly told him, 'Today, you will be with Me in Paradise.' His heart exulted within and he realized, everything the Man had said He was actually doing. He knew that Jesus was God…he had felt it then on the mountain and he felt it now. Through the pain he looked at Jesus showing his helplessness in helping him, but the glance he got from the LORD was so awesome that he knew…all was well - Heaven had gained another!
April 7, 2011
Today's verse: Lk. 23:43. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
Dismas, was an evil man. He committed so much vice that the only punishment he deserved was death and that too the vilest type: on the cross and he got it. As he neared sleep on the floor of his cell, condemned to be crucified the next day, he remembered the evil he'd done over the years. He had spared none: ripping women of their jewelry and beating and robbing people on the lonely roads. He wondered how many had died on the roads itself. His mind went to his mother; he lost her protective arm around him when she died when he was yet young. There were tears in his eyes as he remembered her gently admonishing him when he did wrong and how she meticulously taught him the tenets of the law that every Jew needed to know.
His father was a drunkard and the moment his mother was buried, he got himself another woman who was evil to the core. She made him do some really vile things and set him on the road to crime. That night as he slept, all the hatred he had for her just vanished. He knew he could have still led a good life as a helping hand to his neighbor who'd offered to take him in to look after his massive herd. His taste for money had kept him away; although deep inside he knew he was doing wrong yet, he continued in it. He pondered on his execution: the Romans were evil men and he was very worried about the pain and the shame. He knew there were two more men convicted to die with him; the third being Barabbas, a vile and insolent murderer. At least he knew he wasn't alone and he soon fell into fearful sleep.
The morning saw a lot of activity and within no time he was hanging on the cross. He hadn't seen Barabbas and wondered what had happened. Suddenly there was a lot of noise and he saw an incredible sight: A Man carrying the Cross, supported by another big man. Although beaten right to the bone, the Man's face had a calm he hadn't seen before. His companion hanging on his left mentioned He was Someone called Jesus of Nazareth, the Miracle Worker. Suddenly his mind went back in time to that occasion when he was hiding from the law and had taken refuge on the mountain when a huge no of people led by a man who looked an ocean of calm walked up and sat down. Too weak to get up and run, he was surprised no one bothered him as he lay there. He heard Jesus say, 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven…' Laughing within, he heard Jesus unfurling His Gospel thinking he was a dreamer; but as Jesus spoke, he realized this was no ordinary man. Now, he strained for every Word that came from his mouth. He wept as Jesus said, 'eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth, but I tell you, offer no resistance to one who is evil…' He thought how could this be possible? But something told him that Jesus was serious of what He said and deep within, he knew Jesus was Divine.
And imagine his shock as he saw Jesus with the Cross walking up Calvary! As Jesus stumbled and fell, despite his pain, he involuntarily tried to move his nail fixed hand to steady Jesus, thinking to himself, what have they done, this man was the solution to clean up the hardened hearts of people like him, yet they were nailing Him!!! What had happened to Barabbas? He realized Jesus had taken his place.
In a matter of minutes, Jesus was on the Cross in the center. His companion cursed Jesus and asked Him to create a miracle and release them. An anger burst in him and he shouted for him to stop saying, 'do you not fear God, seeing you are similarly condemned? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing wrong.' Then with tears in his eyes begging for mercy he implored of Jesus, 'LORD, remember me when You come to Your Kingdom.' He felt a wave of freshness as Jesus looking at him in pain haltingly told him, 'Today, you will be with Me in Paradise.' His heart exulted within and he realized, everything the Man had said He was actually doing. He knew that Jesus was God…he had felt it then on the mountain and he felt it now. Through the pain he looked at Jesus showing his helplessness in helping him, but the glance he got from the LORD was so awesome that he knew…all was well - Heaven had gained another!
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