Conversations with Jesus: As he is dying on the cross Jesus speaks to two thieves.

10/04/09 | Posted by ellen

It was a Friday. Jesus had been condemned to a shameful death. Beaten, humiliated and desperate Jesus is nailed to a cross – on his head a crown of thorns, above him a Roman soldier had written ‘This is the King of the Jews’. To Jesus’ right is a condemned thief named Dismas, to his left a condemned thief named Gestas. All three men are dying – a slow painful public death.

 Three crosses at Easter

Gestas: (Turning on Jesus, screaming and angry) Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!
Dismas: Shut-up, shut-up, shut-up. You never know when to shut-up do you…
Gestas: You are a fool Dismas and you are a liar Jesus. Jesus, you have betrayed us…if you really were who you say you are then you wouldn’t die like this. You would call on God – your Father – and God would save you. This isn’t the death of a Messiah this is the death of a criminal.
Dismas: This man is innocent.
Gestas: They all say that…but he’s here isn’t he…he is condemned just like us.
Dismas: But we have stolen from everyone we have ever met, we have taken all we can from this world. Lied to everyone who ever trusted us and conned our way into palaces and pubs; But, this man has done nothing to deserve this. He shouldn’t be here. He should be with the people who love him but instead he is here dying between us - two thieves – his last breath will be taken next to us…the scum of the earth!
Gestas: You might be scum, but I am not. I am Gestas and I can do whatever I want. I don’t bow down to any God, I am Gestas.
Dismas: You are dying. You are dying Gestas…
Gestas: I don’t give a S**t.
Dismas: Don’t you fear God?
Gestas’ words were carried on the wind as he cursed God and the whole earth. His life was nearly over and he cursed God for every moment he had lived. He died cursing God and screaming.
Dismas: Noooooooo!

After the wind, the shouting and the cursing there was silence.

Dismas: (Turning to Jesus, saying quietly) Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
Jesus: (in that moment all the pain and suffering was gone from Jesus face and the man who had healed the sick, loved the unloved, set people free and blessed the untouchables was restored – just for a moment - Jesus smiled at the man next to him) I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.

Dismas no longer a thief but a man restored sighed his last breath and died.

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two.

Jesus: (crying loudly) Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.

A last gasp…Jesus took his last breath. Nothing. It was over.

One of the soldiers saw that all three men were now dead. His job was over for the day. He looked up to Jesus.

Roman Soldier: (Praising God) Certainly this man was innocent.

There was nothing left to see, the spectacle was over. The crowd dispersed. But Jesus friends stayed at a distance - waiting and watching - what would happen next?

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