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The thief, was he immediately taken up into heaven-- after all the Lord could have sent him, tout suite.
Why should God have done that? That has only happened to two people. And they certainly were not thieves.
Or did he hang there, suffering with and alongside of the Lord, and share in the crucifixion?
He suffered for his crimes. He had nothing at all to do with Jesus Christ being there. One deserved to be there, one did not. The thief didn't share in Jesus death for your sins.
What an ineffable honor!
There is no honor in the cross, only shame.
His sins were forgiven, no punishment was even due him, was there?
If you commit a crime, you still owe your pound of flesh to the law, and to justice. No matter if your sins are forgiven or not.
So, Take up your cross and follow Me, erwitz, become one of My disciples, is a shameful thing? To become a disciple of the Lord's, to be crucified with Him, in life and in death is dishonorable? I don't think so. It is an ineffable honor. You are no Christian.