Most of Jesus' best friends were fishermen, not scholars. One was a tax collector. Some had been possessed by demons. One sold her body for a living. What they had in common was their willingness to accept the gift of God. Together they were the kind of men and women Jesus loved to bring to His Father. Even in His dying hour, while hanging on a cross between two dying criminals, Jesus gave the gift of eternal life. One of the two mocked Him, saying, "If you are the Christ, save Yourself and us." The other criminal rebuked the first and said, "Do you not fear God, seeing you are under the same comdemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." Only because salvation is a gift of grace could Jesus say to him, "Today you will be with Me in Paradise." (Luke 23:39-43).
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