Bible

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As one reads about the crucifixion here in Luke 23 many different thoughts will walk through one's mind. I often think on the thief on the cross who said to Jesus "Lord remember me when You come into Your kingdom." I look but could not find all the bad stuff these criminals did during their life time, but a bit on their stealing & murder, let us just say they really were not good folks. The one repentant thief, from my Dr. JeremiahStudy Bible, "the repentant thief illustrates all the elements of salvation: he perceived his own guilt. he knew that he deserved to die. He prayed for forgiveness. The man had no time to join a church, to be baptized, or to do good works, he only had time to believe in Jesus and he was saved." Jesus said to the repentant thief---"truly, I say to you, today you will be with with Me in Paradise." This repentant thief should be a real lesson for all, I do not suggest that one waits until his/her last breath to acknowledge Jesus, but salvation is just a simple of reaching out, just acknowledging Jesus. This also teaches that when I take my last breath I am where I am going. Some think about being in a place until judgment, but this says, today I will be in paradise, not tomorrow, not next week, not years from now....right when my last breath is taken, I am there. Notice verse 44 & 45, to me very important for me to know and understand--"Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. Then the sun was darkened and the veil of the temple was torn in two". In Old Testament times the veil in the temple separated the people from the priest who offered sacrifices, but, when this veil was torn, it signified that we have direct contact with God through Jesus Christ. For me, the repentant thief really carries a great message, no matter where I am, where I've been, no matter what I am doing or what I have done, allow me to include you in this also----no matter, whatever, all we have to do is remember this thief and all he had to do was say "remember me"...the whole thought of Christianity is wrapped up right here. "Remember me" is like a life-preserver being tossed to a drowning
person. God Bless