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THE ASTOUNDING CONVERSION OF A CONDEMNED CRIMINAL — Part 11 “Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34). “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will BELIEVE Him” (Matthew 27:42). This criminal had most probably cursed his executioners when they originally nailed him to his cross. So, he must have been absolutely amazed to hear this unique Man on the middle cross breathe this prayer for the forgiveness of the same mocking mob! As mentioned previously, this insurrectionist had certainly been familiar with or raised in Judaism, but had certainly never heard a prayer of pardon like this. He must have thought, “This is not just another man. This Person on the middle cross is infinitely more than a mere man. He has been taunted for claiming to be The SON OF GOD, the Savior of sinners, and the KING of the Jews. But now He is interceding on behalf of the hordes of rebels who are murdering and maligning Him! As a direct consequence of hearing and reading the truths concerning the Lord Jesus, FAITH was being graced to this criminal’s hopelessly wicked heart. This condemned criminal was certainly pondering through his pain, “If He is Jehovah God who saves and there is forgiveness available for these wicked blasphemers, then surely the same amazing grace and magnificent mercy is accessible for me.” Moreover, this terrorist began to hear the mob taunt Jesus, concerning FAITH in the Lord Jesus Christ. “Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may SEE and BELIEVE.” The mob, presently deriding the Lord Jesus with this wicked reviling, “If you are the Son of God; if you are the Savior of sinners; and if you are the King; let us see you climb off of this cross. Asking for another sign, thinking if we can see you perform this miracle of disengaging Yourself from this cross, then we will BELIEVE Your claims.” Oh, but friends, the Holy Spirit was now revealing to this terrible terrorist that Jesus is the Son of God; Jesus is the Savior of sinners; Jesus is the King of kings; and that Jesus is willing to forgive sinners! The Spirit of God illuminating this criminal’s mind to the truth that, “It is precisely because Jesus’ claims to be the Savior of sinners is authentic, that He refused to climb down from the cross and save Himself”. Oh, dear friend, in order for condemned sinners to be saved, Jesus must stay on the cross and finish His saving work. Jesus, the Holy Perfect Lamb of God, would voluntarily receive and thoroughly exhaust “an equivalent of an eternity of the wrath of God (which the sinner should endure in the lake of fire) on behalf of every sinner who will repent of their sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ!” Can you begin to perceive what must have been miraculously occurring within the heart and mind of this condemned criminal? There was an astounding miracle of the “birth from above” which was becoming a living reality in the inner core of his being. There was a “personal faith in the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ”, which had been graced to him, and was rising in his heart. The Spirit of God was awakening this hardened sinner to the true identity of this God-Man who was hanging on the middle cross; and the glorious “redeeming work”, which was about to take place! Oh, dear reader, it is precisely because God the Son refused to save Himself, that He is fully able to save any eternal soul who will come to Him in genuine repentance and saving faith! This was transpiring and filling the dungeon of the heart of this anarchist with Gospel light unto salvation!