A bit less than 2,000 years ago an era ended. It was the last day of the pre-Messianic time. The new era would not begin for a couple more days.
A kangaroo court convicted the Incarnate Word of God of blasphemy and drug him over to the local civil governor to petition for what they considered to be a fitting punishment. The governor, in fear of losing control over the situation washed his hands of the problem and acquiesced to the demands of a mob and had an innocent man (indeed the only truly innocent man who ever existed) flogged and put to a grisly death by crucifixion.
The Holy Gospel According to Luke gives us excellent examples of repentance and forgiveness:
32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
38 There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
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.” [Luke 23:32-43]
Jesus forgives those who put him to death: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
The one criminal who asked him for forgiveness received exactly that from Jesus. He acknowledged what he had done and that he deserved to be punished, but he asked for and received divine mercy from the Son of God.
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