The Humanity of Jesus

They threw down the whips and cut Him loose. His back was a bloody mess of purple welts and shredded skin. He was gasping, half blind from the red-hot pain surging through His body. The crown of thorns bit savagely into His head and trickles of blood ran down His face. His eyes were glazed. He gasped, "How long?" Each minute seemed an hour, each hour a year.

    The sky around the area darkens as though it is late twilight; but it is not yet 3 o'clock. Silently and again His whole inner body screamed, "How long?"

    He is hanging from the cross; the whole weight of His body suspended from nails gashing holes in his feet and hands. His body contorts; but only for a second because it cuts off his breath and suddenly, with a choked cry, He groans, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”[1] But a whisper comes instantly into His ear, "I am here. You are my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased." He sighs ... A voice beside Him says, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”[2] He lifts His head slightly and seems to be looking far off into eternity. He says, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”[3] And with a final whisper He says, "Father into your hands I commend my spirit," [4] Then He dies. 

    The story doesn’t end there. Dismas, the thief and thousands and millions of others go chanting through the ages their Credo:

    I believe. I believe in God.

    I believe in the Father Almighty, in the Son, in the Holy Spirit.

I believe in the Holy Catholic Church; the forgiveness of sins and the resurrection of the body.

    I believe in life everlasting.

    I believe in the Love that Christ had for us — “love one another,  as I have loved you.” [5] He said.