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"Father, forgive these people, because they don't know what they are doing."

"I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise."

"Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!"

These are the last words of a dying man; words that Jesus spoke as he was hanging on the cross waiting to die (Luke 23:34, 43, 46) These words sum up the mission of Jesus' life and the reasons he died. Jesus came to earth to forgive our sins, to invite us to live with him in paradise, and to be a living example of what it means to entrust our very lives into the hands of God.

From these final words of the dying Jesus, we learn that he was primarily concerned with bringing people into a relationship with God. Jesus desired foremost that people would receive forgiveness, be with him in paradise, and live lives of faith in God.

We recognize that a lot of harm has been done to others in the name of "Christianity," but please recognize that these so called "Christians" or churches could not possibly have been following the one who uttered these last few words to those who were killing him.

Jesus came to Earth and taught us what it means to be human. Through his own excruciating experience he taught us that God dearly loves us even when things are not going our way. He taught us that you can be good and love others but some will not return your love. In fact, some will even harm you, and so through his mistreatment we see the extent of evil in this world. However, in all of this he taught us that you can love others despite their negative actions or feelings toward you.

Jesus spent a great deal of time with those who were hurting and hopeless. He taught us that all people should be loved and taken seriously regardless of what your job or title might be. Jesus' main message was that the kingdom of God was near. By this, he meant that God was entering into the world in a new way. Some have called it the "upside down kingdom," where those who are despised by the world are given honor, the poor are blessed, the hurting receive comfort, the rejected are included, and those who have no hope are given hope.

To follow Jesus is to be a part of this "upside down kingdom." To be a follower of Jesus means that you accompany him, committing your life to living out the principles that He taught. (see Matthew 5:3-7:27)

At Campus, we see ourselves on a journey accompanying Jesus and learning to live out these teachings with the help of the promised Holy Spirit who dwells in our hearts.

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