1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:18,560 I know that sometimes technology works, sometimes it doesn't. My voice is dying after waking 2 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:29,840 up at 430 in the morning. These sunrise services kill me. But it was such a blessing. We went 3 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:36,200 through each Gospel, the four counts of the resurrection, and the Gospels read one after 4 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:43,240 another. It was eye-opening. So consistent, but yet there's some slight truths in each 5 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:59,200 one that God gives. Just remarkable. So this message is specifically dealing with the crucifixion, 6 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:07,560 what the Gospel literally presented, and the impact it has on one particular man. So before 7 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:16,960 we get started there, I want to pray. And then we're going to go through a couple of 8 00:01:16,960 --> 00:01:24,760 things that are very important for us to reflect on before we get into some of these things. 9 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:29,800 But I think there's some truths that need to be stated, especially during this time 10 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:38,720 of year. I always had the tendency to see all these ideas. There's so many professionals, 11 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:44,760 you know, professors to know things about the resurrection. Like, there's no way Jesus 12 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:52,040 was crucified on Friday. He had to be crucified on Thursday and rose from the dead on Saturday. 13 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:58,920 And that's so far from the truth. So I want to deal with some truths so that we are settled 14 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:06,240 in to the amazing timing of this great event in all of world history, the greatest event. 15 00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:11,800 And then we're going to get into the impact of that event and the lives of the people 16 00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:16,680 there. So let's pray. Father, I want to thank you so much for your faithfulness and goodness. 17 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:22,840 Thank you for your word. Your word is true. Your word is consistent. It is unchangeable. 18 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:30,040 It is everlasting. Lord, your word has impacted so many hearts. It is living and active, sharper 19 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:35,840 than a double edged sword. Lord, your word is used for all things pertaining to life 20 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:45,400 and godliness. And most of all, your word is you presented for us written on pages so 21 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:51,000 that we may know you and know your character. You have stated, Lord, that my sheep know 22 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:55,460 my voice and we hear your voice through your word and we thank you that your word speaks 23 00:02:55,460 --> 00:03:03,040 loudly for all of creation to hear and all to hear the truths of who you are. We thank 24 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:07,240 you and praise you in Jesus name. Amen. So a couple of important important facts. The 25 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:14,920 Lord's Supper landed on Thursday, Nissan 14 that particular year. Why do I say that? Because 26 00:03:14,920 --> 00:03:22,880 if you read the Old Testament and you do any research on the month of Nissan and the importance 27 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:29,720 of the 15th day of Nissan, because on the 15th day of Nissan, it was Passover. What 28 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:35,520 a lot of people have taught is that Passover is always on a Friday. That is not true. Passover 29 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:41,020 is always on Nissan 15 and Nissan 15 didn't always land on a Friday. That kind of messes 30 00:03:41,020 --> 00:03:45,280 up some things for some people. They may not like that, but that's just a fact. I don't 31 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:50,320 know about you, but every five years my birthday lands on Thanksgiving. Does that mean every 32 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:58,960 Thanksgiving is my birthday? Hello? So that's one myth out the window. I like doing that 33 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:04,040 stuff. So remember, it's not the day of the week that we must remember, but the day of 34 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:10,520 the month that God commanded the Jews to follow. This was the meal of unleavened bread. The 35 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:16,360 full Passover meal has to be done on the 15th, which is Passover day, because they would 36 00:04:16,360 --> 00:04:23,200 sacrifice the lamb and then they would partake of the lamb that day. That's why when you 37 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:30,120 read the scriptures, it's called preparation day. So when we sit down and do Passover or 38 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:34,920 the Lord's Supper, you notice there's something missing. There's no meat because Jesus is 39 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:42,280 the lamb of God. We partake in the same way almost to what Jesus would have partook in. 40 00:04:42,280 --> 00:04:49,400 Nissan 15 was Passover. Happened to be that Nissan 15 was on Friday that year, which is 41 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:59,080 very interesting. So that's an amazing timing. It's important that we understand the timing 42 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:06,240 of this moment. There is no time in all of world history, and I'll show that in a minute. 43 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:12,800 Now, this is why Jesus had to be removed and placed in the tomb before sunset, because 44 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:19,640 the evening of Passover was about to begin. They had to get him down. He had to be sacrificed 45 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:26,680 on Passover day. If he's not sacrificed on Passover day and he's sacrificed on Thursday, 46 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:33,800 guess what? He's not the lamb of God. It's driving me nuts. You know, I watch YouTube. 47 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:43,440 It's like I don't watch CNN or anybody else. I watch YouTube. It's terrible. I know. I 48 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:50,800 should run. I should run. Number two, this fulfills the prophecy that he is the sacrificial 49 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:56,280 lamb that takes away the sin of the world. Here's the proof. John 1.29, the next day, 50 00:05:56,280 --> 00:06:02,640 he saw John the Baptist, saw Jesus coming toward him and said, behold, the lamb of God 51 00:06:02,640 --> 00:06:08,200 who takes away the sin of the world. In the same way that they would take their lamb to 52 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:14,920 be sacrificed to cover the sin of their family, this Jesus is the sacrifice to cover the sin 53 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:24,480 of his family. Isaiah 53.7, he was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his 54 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:30,440 mouth like a lamb that is led to the slaughter and like a sheep that before it shears is 55 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:40,760 silent so he opened not his mouth. So again, a lot of teachers, quote unquote teachers 56 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:48,600 and scholars think they know, but they're so enraptured with their own ideology instead 57 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:54,400 of looking at the scripture and seeing the timing and the perfection of this day. And 58 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:59,720 the amazingness of our God and his sovereignty and control of all things all the way down 59 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:06,400 to his own crucifixion. It's quite remarkable. Every prophecy is fulfilled in him to the 60 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:14,360 T. Number three, his sacrifice and death were on the perfect day at the perfect time. There 61 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:20,560 would be no other time in history that it could have happened this way. No other time. 62 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:25,280 There's no time in all of world history from the time it began to the time of this crucifixion 63 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:32,600 that had to be the day. All the players were present. All the things were in place for 64 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:39,600 the sacrifice and the exact hour and location was set. Look at that. Look at that intentionality 65 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:49,600 of God in the amazingness of the sacrifice of himself. Jesus knew. Example, Romans 5 66 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:58,520 says for while we were still weak at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. John 17 67 00:07:58,520 --> 00:08:04,480 one, when Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, father, 68 00:08:04,480 --> 00:08:11,600 the hour has come. Glorify your son that the sun may glorify you. It's interesting that 69 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:21,160 this word hours is literally the very minute. So let's deal with everyone present. Everyone 70 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:30,160 represented there is everyone guilty. The arrest and sentencing of the holy God. I want 71 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:44,360 you to get that the holy God is arrested and sentenced by guilty men. The Jews guilty. 72 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:51,040 Matthew 26, 66 through 68 says this. What is your judgment? They answered. He deserves 73 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:57,680 death and they spit in his face and he struck him and some slapped him saying, prophesy 74 00:08:57,680 --> 00:09:06,120 to us, you Christ, who is that? Who is it that struck you? And Mark 14, 64 and 65 says 75 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:13,080 this. You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision? And they all condemned him 76 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:19,200 as deserving death and some began to spit on him and to cover his face and strike him 77 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:31,040 and say to him, prophesy. And the guards received him with blows. Everyone is guilty. 78 00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:39,120 Luke 22, 63 to 64. Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they 79 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:44,880 beat him and they also blindfolded him and kept asking him, prophesy, who is it that 80 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:53,320 struck you? And they said, and they said many other things against him, blaspheming him. 81 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:59,960 In John 18, 22 to 23. And when he had said these things, one of the officers standing 82 00:09:59,960 --> 00:10:06,760 by struck Jesus with his hand saying, is this how you answer the high priest? And Jesus 83 00:10:06,760 --> 00:10:12,160 answered him, if what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong. But if what I said 84 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:20,400 is right, why do you strike me? This is the God man. This is the God who has created every 85 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:26,560 single one of you and me. And they knew it. The Gentiles are guilty. So now we see the 86 00:10:26,560 --> 00:10:32,760 Jews are guilty. So any preachers or pastors, past, present, or future that blame it on 87 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:42,200 the Jews? It's not just the Jews. It's the Gentiles too. See, they want to say the Jews 88 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:48,120 crucified Jesus. Yeah, but the Gentiles did the work. All four gospels mention Pilate's 89 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:57,200 dealings with Christ. In Mark 27, verse 26, I mean, sorry, Matthew 27, 26, Mark 15, 15, 90 00:10:57,200 --> 00:11:05,760 23, 25, and John 19, 15, and 16. And this is a summary. Pilate had released Barabbas 91 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:15,240 and scourged Jesus and had him crucified. Even the authorities partook. Everyone's guilty. 92 00:11:15,240 --> 00:11:21,520 And Matthew 27, 27 through 31 and 33 through 37 says this, then the soldiers of the governor 93 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:30,520 took Jesus into the governor's headquarters and he gathered the whole battalion. You know 94 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:37,080 how much a battalion is? A thousand men. They gathered the whole battalion before Jesus 95 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:42,320 and they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him and they twisted together a crown of 96 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:48,840 thorns. They put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand and kneeling before 97 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:54,360 him they mocked him saying, hell, King of the Jews. And they spit on him and took the 98 00:11:54,360 --> 00:12:00,720 reed and struck him with it in the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him 99 00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:07,400 of the robe and put his clothes on him and led him away to crucify him. And when they 100 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:12,360 came to a place called Golgotha, which means the place of the skull, they offered him wine 101 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:19,200 to drink mixed with Gol, drugs. And when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when 102 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:23,800 they had crucified him, they divided his garments among themselves by casting lots. And then 103 00:12:23,800 --> 00:12:28,920 they sat down and kept watch over him there. And over his head they put a charge against 104 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:35,440 him which reads, this is Jesus, the King of the Jews. I want you to notice something about 105 00:12:35,440 --> 00:12:46,040 this charge. It's actually not really a charge, is it? It's actually true. In Mark 15, 19-20, 106 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:54,520 22-26 and Luke 23-33 and John 19-7, I'm going to give you the Mark's statement but they 107 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:59,400 all state pretty much the same thing, almost word for word. And they were striking his 108 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:05,200 head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. And when they had mocked 109 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:10,360 him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him and led him 110 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:15,560 away out to crucify him. And they brought him into the place called Golgotha, which 111 00:13:15,560 --> 00:13:21,480 means the place of the skull, and they offered him wine mixed with myrrh. But he did not 112 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:26,920 take it. And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for 113 00:13:26,920 --> 00:13:40,320 them to decide what each should take. You see, the soldiers then would take prizes to 114 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:47,000 say, we did that work. And it was the third hour when they crucified him and the inspiration 115 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:57,440 of the charge against him read, King of the Jews. Interesting, even the Gentiles are guilty. 116 00:13:57,440 --> 00:14:07,760 The condemnation, the condemned are guilty. The men who deserved their punishment. Jesus, 117 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:13,360 holy God, executed with the guilty. The innocent with the guilty. All four gospels mention 118 00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:21,280 the criminals' dealings with Christ. All four of them. It's interesting. In Matthew 27, 119 00:14:21,280 --> 00:14:31,360 38 through 40, and Mark 15, 27, 32, and John 19, 18, the two robbers were crucified with 120 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:37,400 him, one on the right and one on the left. And those who passed by derided him. The word 121 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:45,880 derided here is the word blasphemo. Blasphemy. To speak evil of or revile. Wagging their 122 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:53,360 heads. So imagine they're walking by, making fun of him, calling him names, and they're 123 00:14:53,360 --> 00:15:00,080 just, you're pitiful. You're just so pitiful. After he went and healed them and healed their 124 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:06,840 diseases and fed them when they were hungry and preached to them for three years and cared 125 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:12,920 for them and took care of their families. Once they get, once you get what you want 126 00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:19,180 from Jesus, you just throw him away. It's the same today, isn't it? This is what they 127 00:15:19,180 --> 00:15:24,920 said to him. You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself 128 00:15:24,920 --> 00:15:30,600 if you are the son of God. Come down off the cross. So also the chief priests with the 129 00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:36,360 scribes and the elders mocked him saying, he saved others but he cannot save himself. 130 00:15:36,360 --> 00:15:42,520 He is the king of Israel. Let him come down from the cross and we'll believe in him. He 131 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:50,080 trusts in God. Let God deliver him now if he desires him. For he said, I am the son 132 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:55,680 of God. Here's the sad part. It didn't matter if he came down from the cross. They wouldn't 133 00:15:55,680 --> 00:16:04,160 have believed in him anyway. They would have still killed him. Of course, if I came down, 134 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:08,440 if he came down off a cross, I don't know about you, but I'd be terrified. That's kind 135 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:12,720 of like, all right, we're in trouble. And this is what it says in verse 44, and the 136 00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:23,960 robbers who were crucified with him also reviled. On i dedzo or didzo. On i dedzo is the word 137 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:33,320 here. And this word means undeserved reproach. Define guilty with, revile or to speak through 138 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:42,920 one's teeth. See, they know he was not guilty. And they were just both of them talking nonsense 139 00:16:42,920 --> 00:16:48,520 to be part of the crowd thinking, I'm thinking that they did it because they wanted to get 140 00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:52,840 down. Like if we, if we're against them, maybe they might take us down. No, bro, you're nailed 141 00:16:52,840 --> 00:17:00,840 too. Then Luke says it this way. It's very interesting. Out of all the gospels that give 142 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:11,560 this account, Luke gives two very important facts here. So I want you to get this picture. 143 00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:18,000 They are brought with Jesus crucified. They're brought up. They're set up. In the same way 144 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:26,120 the serpent was lifted up, so shall the son of man be lifted up. And so Jesus is there 145 00:17:26,120 --> 00:17:32,240 and everybody is making fun of him, a fun of him. And even the two robbers, the two guilty, 146 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:39,920 the two condemned, the two that deserved it. Then all of a sudden this happens. This is 147 00:17:39,920 --> 00:17:45,240 what it says in Luke 23, the two robbers who were criminals were led away to be put to 148 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:52,000 death with him. And when they came to the place that is called the skull, they were 149 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:57,200 crucified. They, there they crucified him and the criminals, one on his right and one 150 00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:08,040 on his left. And at this point is when everybody starts making fun of him. Everybody's blaspheming. 151 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:13,520 Everybody's saying things about Jesus, including the criminals. Then all of a sudden Jesus 152 00:18:13,520 --> 00:18:22,760 says, father, forgive them for they know not what they do. That was a scud missile in the 153 00:18:22,760 --> 00:18:35,640 middle of a very evil moment. So much so there are two statements that impact one, LOI LOI 154 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:43,880 MA SABATINI and this statement. The scripture says, and they cast lots and divided his garments 155 00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:50,080 and the people stood by watching. But the rulers scoffed at him saying he saved others. 156 00:18:50,080 --> 00:18:57,160 Let him save himself. He is the Christ of God, his chosen one. And the soldiers also 157 00:18:57,160 --> 00:19:03,440 mocked him coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, if you are the king of the 158 00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:13,000 Jews, save yourself. You notice both the Jews and the Gentiles are mocking him. And there 159 00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:21,240 was also an inscription over him. This is the king of the Jews. And one of the criminals 160 00:19:21,240 --> 00:19:28,200 who were hanging, railed at him saying, are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us. 161 00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:32,640 Why is this there? Why does he say one, not two? Because the two had already made fun 162 00:19:32,640 --> 00:19:40,600 of him. And this one just had a little bit more gusto, I think. Why does Luke record 163 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:45,360 this slightly different than the other gospels? Is Luke wrong or was there something that 164 00:19:45,360 --> 00:19:51,400 happened that was worth mentioning? One of the criminals was changed. Luke is the only 165 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:57,360 gospel that records and Jesus said, Father forgive them for they know not what they do. 166 00:19:57,360 --> 00:20:05,160 And that's Luke 23, 34. And is the only gospel that records the repentant criminal. This 167 00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:14,200 statement changes everything. Not only for the guilty criminal, but for all who are guilty. 168 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:24,400 His forgiveness is real and it's genuine and it's true. You are truly and really in every 169 00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:34,860 sense forgiven in Christ. You are forgiven. That's the point of the cross. The criminal 170 00:20:34,860 --> 00:20:47,400 has received what only those who are chosen and changed can receive, true freedom in Christ. 171 00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:53,080 Repentance and believing in the son equals eternal life. Mark 1, 15 says this and saying, 172 00:20:53,080 --> 00:20:58,560 the time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel. 173 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:05,880 Jesus stated. A changed heart to a changed mind, the repentant criminal. And Luke 23, 174 00:21:05,880 --> 00:21:14,740 40 through 43 says this, but the other rebuked him saying, do you not fear God since you 175 00:21:14,740 --> 00:21:20,480 are under the same sentence of condemnation? One criminal says, hey, save us. The other 176 00:21:20,480 --> 00:21:26,920 one says, are you nuts? Don't you fear God? You're under the same sentence and condemnation 177 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:34,480 as this man who just said that we're forgiven. If he had just said that, I think it's safe 178 00:21:34,480 --> 00:21:44,680 to assume that's what he means. Verse 41, it says, and we indeed justly, for we are 179 00:21:44,680 --> 00:21:52,640 receiving the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong. What changed 180 00:21:52,640 --> 00:21:59,080 this criminal's mind? What changed his mind from both of them condemning and blaspheming 181 00:21:59,080 --> 00:22:05,080 Christ to the one going, I can't believe I'm up here. Lord, I deserve this. Will you forgive 182 00:22:05,080 --> 00:22:13,400 me? If Christ can forgive the man on the cross without a baptism or a prayer, he can forgive 183 00:22:13,400 --> 00:22:20,240 you. The prayer of salvation is nonsense when it comes to the reality of the conversion 184 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:27,000 of the heart. There is no prayer that saves you. It's the loving power of the cross and 185 00:22:27,000 --> 00:22:32,960 Christ dying on it at which he gave his blood for you and wassas away your sin. It's not 186 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:38,520 the prayer that saves you. It's the crucified Christ, the risen Lord who saves you. And 187 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:48,400 the criminal knew this. And look what he says. And the criminal said, Jesus, remember me 188 00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:56,240 when you go into your kingdom. And Jesus said to him, truly, I say to you today, you will 189 00:22:56,240 --> 00:23:08,000 be with me in paradise. Wow. If God can forgive the criminal at the moment of the cross, watching 190 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:13,120 the gospel being truly lived out before his eyes and seeing the God, the holy God of all 191 00:23:13,120 --> 00:23:17,400 creation saying, father, forgive them for they know not what they do. How much more 192 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:27,520 will he do it for you? All are guilty. The Jew is guilty. The Gentiles guilty. The government 193 00:23:27,520 --> 00:23:34,320 is guilty. The criminals are guilty. Every human being on the planet is guilty. But God 194 00:23:34,320 --> 00:23:42,800 forgives in spite of our evil and our brokenness. Isaiah says this. The spirit of the Lord is 195 00:23:42,800 --> 00:23:50,400 upon me because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has set me 196 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:56,400 to bind up the brokenhearted to proclaim liberty to the captive and the opening of the prison 197 00:23:56,400 --> 00:24:04,280 to those who are bound to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. Every single one of us 198 00:24:04,280 --> 00:24:13,240 are prisoners. Guilty. Deserve death. We are just like the criminal on the cross. Father, 199 00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:17,920 forgive me. Will you remember me when you go into your kingdom? Isn't that what Jesus 200 00:24:17,920 --> 00:24:27,040 says? Where I go, you will be also. I go to prepare a place for you. If it were not so, 201 00:24:27,040 --> 00:24:32,920 I would not have told you. Because in my father's house there are many rooms. And Luke, Jesus 202 00:24:32,920 --> 00:24:37,800 states this very scripture. He says the spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed 203 00:24:37,800 --> 00:24:42,480 me to proclaim the good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captive 204 00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:49,160 and recovering sight to the blind to set at liberty those who are oppressed, a physis. 205 00:24:49,160 --> 00:24:57,160 The word here is imprisonment, bondage, or forgiveness. Do you see the criminal on the 206 00:24:57,160 --> 00:25:05,080 cross was imprisoned and in bondage and in need of forgiveness. And Jesus gave him a 207 00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:13,440 thesis. He set him free. We all need to be set free from our bondage. And the reality 208 00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:22,860 of the criminals short but so important story is the repentant and believing sinner is 209 00:25:22,860 --> 00:25:31,560 a sinner set free. Whom the son sets free will be free indeed. We the condemned are 210 00:25:31,560 --> 00:25:39,440 guilty and are freed. Romans 8, 1 through 3 says this. Through the work of the cross 211 00:25:39,440 --> 00:25:46,520 of Christ he set the condemned free. There is therefore no condemnation for those who 212 00:25:46,520 --> 00:25:51,320 are in Christ Jesus for the law of the spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from 213 00:25:51,320 --> 00:25:57,320 the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law weakened by the flesh could not 214 00:25:57,320 --> 00:26:04,360 do by sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin he condemned sin 215 00:26:04,360 --> 00:26:11,880 in the flesh. He tore the bars off and has set you free. My last statement is this. If 216 00:26:11,880 --> 00:26:17,680 you do not know this and if the Holy Spirit is convicting your heart right now please 217 00:26:17,680 --> 00:26:26,000 know you will come. You will come. Love is as strong as death. You will come. My hope 218 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:35,800 in prayer is that moment is today. That moment is the day when you say Jesus is Lord and 219 00:26:35,800 --> 00:26:41,440 have been justified by the power of the Holy Spirit by believing in the gospel. This is 220 00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:45,520 the gospel that Christ died according to the scriptures. Was buried and rose again on the 221 00:26:45,520 --> 00:26:51,880 third day according to the scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15, 3 and 4. There is no other 222 00:26:51,880 --> 00:26:58,360 gospel. There is no other way. It does not matter what others say or what others think. 223 00:26:58,360 --> 00:27:05,760 Jesus says I am the only way. There is no other way. Your good works will not save you. 224 00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:10,720 Only the power of God through the work of the Holy Spirit and through the amazing gospel 225 00:27:10,720 --> 00:27:17,520 will he implant in you the gift of faith to believe. So if you hear his voice do not harden 226 00:27:17,520 --> 00:27:25,840 it. Run to the arms of the Savior. As the prodigal son was coming the father ran to 227 00:27:25,840 --> 00:27:32,880 him and brought him home. Come home. Come home. Father I want to thank you for this 228 00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:40,000 amazing moment. This amazing event in all of world history of the conversion of the 229 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:47,480 criminal as the gospel is literally opened wide for him to see and he is a participant 230 00:27:47,480 --> 00:27:56,720 in what is happening. You draw the broken one. You draw the evil and guilty and even 231 00:27:56,720 --> 00:28:02,760 among those who were not crucified with you you have shown the reality that you are forgiving 232 00:28:02,760 --> 00:28:13,840 in spite of their disbelief. Lord we praise you. We thank you that you are good, faithful 233 00:28:13,840 --> 00:28:23,440 and you are the only way. Thank you for the reality that this criminal was with you in 234 00:28:23,440 --> 00:28:30,960 paradise because you resurrected as you said on the third day. Tear down this temple and 235 00:28:30,960 --> 00:28:38,240 in three days you would raise it up and you did. They are looking at a temple made by 236 00:28:38,240 --> 00:28:44,080 the hands of man when they miss the very temple of God the holy one. The holy of holies standing 237 00:28:44,080 --> 00:28:49,760 before them. I pray that no one walks away and rejects the reality of the truth of who 238 00:28:49,760 --> 00:28:55,360 you are. And bless those who have not seen but yet believe. To you be honor and glory 239 00:28:55,360 --> 00:29:03,520 in Jesus name. Amen.