Agape Love-Part2

Packing up their tools, the two Roman soldiers, righted and dropped the cross into place, Through a mind-bending blurr of agony, the thief saw another thief to his left, This man was a rebel, even stealing from his own kind; Bartamaeus watched him curse and rage, Even in a hazy mist, Bartamaeus realised that his venom was directed at the Man nearer their age! This quiet Man between them, looked down at the crowd, he spoke, but no cursing passed his lips. Piously he said, 'Father forgive them for they know Not what they do!' He smiled at the crowd. As he looked at the Man, Bartamaeus saw every sin and unjust thing that he, the thief had done, The Man smiled and Bartamaeus was CLEAN; accepted and forgiven by the Savior, God's only Son! "Stop It!', he yelled. 'Can't you see this Man is innocent! 'He has done nothing evil or wrong!' The Romans paid no attention, offering mulled and sour wine on a stick to the Man of God, The Man spoke a second time; Bartamaeus listened hearing'My God, MY GOD, why have You forsaken Me?' The other thief spat, 'If you are really the King of the Jews,then climb down from this tree!' The Man looked at him with great sadness and said, 'Father into Your Hand I commit My Spirit!' 'Master, please Master!, Bartamaeus cried, 'Remember me when You come into Your Holy Kingdom!' The Man smiled at him and said, 'Verily I say unto you tonight you will be in Paradise with Me! He lifted Himself and said with great power, 'IT IS FINISHED! He died, setting His Spirit free! Bartamaeus watched the sky darken and lightning split the ground near the Man and the cross, He marveled as the captain of the guards, kneeling at the cross, said, 'This truly is God's Son! He was newborn and he no longer struggled to rise for even that one last gasping breath of air, For when he awoke, angels were singing, the Man was in Paradise and he, Bartamaeus was THERE! ©Jane Richer 07/04/2012