Pastor Carlos M. Castro and myself were among seven preachers from different denominations who were assigned to each speak about the "Seven Last Words" of Jesus in the afternoon of Good Friday, April 10. We were invited by Pastor Pio Umlas, our GCI Pampanga prison ministry leader at the Pampanga Provincial Jail.
"I Thirst"
Pastor Carlos M. Castro was assigned to speak on the fifth saying, "I thirst." He told the 200 or so inmates that Jesus is the living water where everyone can drink of and never thirst again. He told them that God is freely offering them this living water, the Holy Spirit.
"It is Finished"
I spoke on what Jesus meant when he said, "It is finished." I told the inmates that it was God's plan all along to draw all men (not just a few selected ones) to himself when Jesus was lifted up (John 12:32 ).
Everyone's Included
In his great love, God had planned to include everyone all along. I explained that everyone has been predestined to be adopted as God's children (Ephesians 1:5 ). I explained that Jesus was not "Plan B" which God quickly came up with as a solution when man messed things up because of sin. Jesus was the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. It was planned all along, before the beginning of time.
Done Deal
I told them that in so far as God is concerned, it is all done -- finished. Everything that's needed to be done for us to be saved has already been done by our Lord Jesus. It's paid in full! What's left is for the inmates is to decide whether to accept God's love and believe this offer of salvation or not.
Inmates Encouraged
Despite the differences in beliefs and practices among the preachers, the messages that were given that day uplifted and encouraged the inmates who heard the gospel that day on a Good Friday. A few months back, we baptized 17 inmates (15 females, 2 males) in this provincial jail.
Articles List 
