The moment at the cross between the three convicts, with them as criminals and Jesus condemned by the chief priests for blasphemy, but NOT as a criminal!

Have you ever wondered how to attain heaven? Have you ever considered why Jesus came to strengthen the law and promote harmony between people and between people and God, rather than to abolish the laws given by God in the Old Testament? Have you pondered on how the establishment of Divine Harmony (God-Humanity) on Earth could benefit nature and bring about peace, tranquility, and harmony among nations? Have you ever thought about why evil opposes good and why good seeks to be established among those who accept it? Whom do you choose to rule over you, evil or good? Have you contemplated how sin arises within humanity and how it can be overcome to bring about forgiveness, peace, and harmony as described in the New Testament?

We find the answer in Jesus on the cross, through the conversation between Jesus and two criminals just before he yielded his spirit to the Father!
Let’s take a moment to understand: All three were nailed to the feet and hands on the cross. Jesus, in particular, was most severely injured and mocked. He was wounded in the side, pierced by a spear, causing blood and water to flow from the wound. His head was also pierced and he was tormented with a crown of thorns because he was mocked for being called the King of the Jews {Luke 23:37}. The soldiers shouted, “Save yourself!” We can see a struggle created and tempted by evil. However, we will focus on a very interesting dialogue as a victory over evil.

The act that Jesus performed for one of the criminals remains a mystery, as the Bible does not specify the crimes that the criminal had committed. However, we can explore the testimony in the Gospel of Luke 23:39-43.
We read the following dialogue with Jesus and the two evildoers:
-39 Now one of the cruel crusaders cursed him, saying, If thou be the Christ, save thyself and us.
-40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost, not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
-41 In reality, we are rightly condemned, because we are receiving the punishment we deserve for what we have done, while he has done no wrong. “
-42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
-43 Jesus saith unto her, Verily I say unto thee, TODAY shalt thou be with me in paradise.

What an extraordinary conversation! Jesus opens the gates of heaven to one of the evildoers who repent and pray for the salvation of his soul. What we see is that Jesus had the authority to open heaven at that moment when this evildoer would no longer be called that, but a redeemed one, a son of light! It’s magnificent, powerful, and true! Jesus knew the outcome before the cross and also after the cross, but the criminal, already a son of light, was with Jesus in paradise, after the moment of the cross when Jesus became Christ!
“After the other evildoer retreated, they went straight to hell with the devil!”

In this dialogue, there is another miracle, a very important detail: the forgiven evildoer’s plea. He asks Jesus to remember him and his soul when he comes with his kingdom. This shows that he realized Jesus was not just a man but the man-God who would become Christ. This understanding is likely why Jesus was condemned by the High Priesthood for blasphemy, though the evildoer was not aware of the significance at the time.
“Now, the beauty and significance of this dialogue lies in the fact that, while the two men were still alive and nailed to their crosses, Jesus proclaimed his kingdom by promising heaven. The repentant evildoer was seeking the kingdom, and Jesus promised it, opening up paradise for one of the men that moment, TODAY. Jesus declared himself as Christ before his death, before giving up his soul. Jesus said to the repentant evildoer, who was now a son of light, “You will be with me, TODAY, in the Kingdom of God,” so Jesus proclaimed it and showed us that paradise is His kingdom.” Jesus, Christ, demonstrated that repentance involves suffering. This applies to the wounded, the paralyzed, the despairing, and even those who are pierced by a spear. Repentance lies precisely between good and evil and always triumphs for good. This triumph can only be achieved through repenting and surrendering the soul for selfless empathy, grace, and mercy through Jesus, who became the Christ. He forgave through pain and ridicule, for sins were confessed amid the struggle of good against evil. This conflict becomes very evident in the dialogue between the evildoers, with one winning paradise, which is the kingdom of God, and the other hell.

Where are we, you?

I am praying that you choose to turn away from evil, confess your sins, and give your pain to Jesus so that He can be your Savior, and you can have a place in His Kingdom to celebrate in Paradise in the future. The important thing is that Jesus must accept you through repentance, and He promised acceptance through His sacrifice and His resurrection!

Renato Preza
Pastor | Biblical Studies and Ministerial for Christian Consulting
From the cycle: Intersection and Healing of the Harmony between God-Man–Creation, – by Renato Preza, – continues