1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,200 Would you open your Bible with me please to the Gospel of Luke, the 23rd chapter, where 2 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:18,400 we'll begin reading in verse 32 for our Scripture this morning. 3 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:23,640 Luke chapter 23, beginning with verse 32. 4 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:30,320 Two other men, both criminals, were led out with Jesus to be executed. 5 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:38,120 When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him along with the criminals, 6 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:42,640 one on his right and the other on his left. 7 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:50,040 Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. 8 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:54,840 They divided up his clothes by casting lots. 9 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:58,600 The people stood watching and the rulers even sneered at him. 10 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:06,600 They said, He saved others, let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the chosen one. 11 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:10,440 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. 12 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:18,060 They offered him wine vinegar and said, If you're the king of the Jews, save yourself. 13 00:01:18,060 --> 00:01:23,920 There was a written notice above him which read, This is the king of the Jews. 14 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:29,680 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him, Aren't you the Christ? 15 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:32,580 Save yourself and us. 16 00:01:32,580 --> 00:01:38,640 But the other criminal rebuked him, Don't you fear God, he said, since you are under 17 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:40,840 the same sentence? 18 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:46,360 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve, but this man has done 19 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:48,400 nothing wrong. 20 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:54,800 Then he said, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. 21 00:01:54,800 --> 00:02:04,040 Jesus answered him, I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise. 22 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:10,440 We think of the cross of Jesus as uniting and bringing people together. 23 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:16,820 At the cross, God and man are reconciled, at the cross, Jew and Gentile are brought together 24 00:02:16,820 --> 00:02:20,760 into one new person, the church. 25 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:27,920 At the cross, one person is reconciled to another. 26 00:02:27,920 --> 00:02:35,920 But there is another opposite perspective that is also true, and that is that the cross 27 00:02:35,920 --> 00:02:40,120 separates. 28 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:45,360 A statement that Jesus made earlier in his ministry is one of the most perplexing of 29 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:47,880 all that he made. 30 00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:53,520 He said, Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. 31 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:58,440 I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 32 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:01,220 Matthew chapter 10 verse 34. 33 00:03:01,220 --> 00:03:07,840 You need to look at the context to understand what Jesus meant when he said that. 34 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:15,040 You see, Jesus brings with himself an element of separation and division. 35 00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:24,880 For when one chooses to follow him, his pathway then splits from those who reject him. 36 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:27,640 And so friendships have ended. 37 00:03:27,640 --> 00:03:34,740 Families have been divided because of the cross of Jesus. 38 00:03:34,740 --> 00:03:41,560 The cross of Jesus separates as well as unites. 39 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:47,680 His cross proved to be a place of separation between two men who were perhaps partners 40 00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:50,120 in crime. 41 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:55,520 The two men that we read about in the text in Luke. 42 00:03:55,520 --> 00:04:03,760 The cross of Jesus separates humanity, all of whom are as undeserving as these two thieves, 43 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:05,840 into two groups. 44 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:11,720 The redeemed and the reproachers. 45 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:17,920 Those who are the saved and those who are the lost. 46 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:22,620 God does not divide humanity into two groups based upon those who are the deserving of 47 00:04:22,620 --> 00:04:26,400 salvation and those who are the undeserving of salvation. 48 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:28,160 That is not the division. 49 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:32,080 All are undeserving. 50 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:40,840 But the cross does divide humanity into two groups called the redeemed and the reproachers. 51 00:04:40,840 --> 00:04:51,720 You see, grace by definition is given to those who have no claim on salvation, whatever. 52 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:56,040 There's an illustration in these two undeserving thieves that we need to examine more closely 53 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:59,080 as we think about what they shared in common. 54 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:02,160 It really was a great deal. 55 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:09,160 In the first place, they shared sin by their births. 56 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:14,320 Both of them were born sinners, just like all of us are born sinners. 57 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:19,520 And because we have that nature of being a sinner, when we get old enough to act out 58 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:22,400 our will, we sin. 59 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:24,180 We perform the deeds of sin. 60 00:05:24,180 --> 00:05:31,360 We act out sin because we are sinners by birth and by nature. 61 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:38,560 Those two thieves, like the rest of us, shared in sin by their birth. 62 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:41,520 And then they shared in crime in society. 63 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:44,960 We don't know the particulars of it. 64 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:53,000 The language says that they were thieves, that they were criminals. 65 00:05:53,000 --> 00:06:00,400 It may be that they were associated with Barabbas, who had by this time on that morning of Jesus' 66 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:04,680 crucifixion already been released. 67 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:06,380 These two were not released. 68 00:06:06,380 --> 00:06:09,800 They were taken out to the place of execution. 69 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:13,760 And that tells us the third thing that they had in common, and that is judgment by the 70 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:15,760 government. 71 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:21,680 Rome had arrested them, had tried them in some fashion, and now they had been judged 72 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:28,440 and were being taken out to the cross that that judgment might be fulfilled. 73 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:35,320 There's a fourth thing that they share in common, and that is blasphemy toward Christ. 74 00:06:35,320 --> 00:06:41,280 In Matthew chapter 27 verse 44, it is very clear that when they were first crucified 75 00:06:41,280 --> 00:06:48,540 and hung in place, both of the thieves blasphemed Christ. 76 00:06:48,540 --> 00:06:52,720 They both hurled their insults and mockery at Him. 77 00:06:52,720 --> 00:07:00,880 They shared that in common. 78 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:06,300 And finally, they shared in common an unworthiness before God. 79 00:07:06,300 --> 00:07:16,100 They deserved condemnation, not only by Rome, but by God, because of their sin. 80 00:07:16,100 --> 00:07:22,040 These men were thieves, and the Bible makes it clear that there will not be a thief in 81 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:29,400 heaven unless he's been forgiven. 82 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:35,320 First Corinthians chapter 6 and verse 10 lists, among other things, thieves as those who cannot 83 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:39,160 inherit the kingdom of God. 84 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:46,560 And of course, the fact is, whatever expression of sin there is in our lives, it prohibits 85 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:51,720 us from entrance into the kingdom of God. 86 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:57,520 It may not be an action, it may be an attitude, it may not be things we've done with our 87 00:07:57,520 --> 00:08:06,120 hands, it may be words with our mouths, but it is our sin that separates us from God. 88 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:10,320 These thieves shared in common an unworthiness before God. 89 00:08:10,320 --> 00:08:17,320 They deserved condemnation, just like you and me. 90 00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:22,960 But the wonderful story of the text is that the cross separated the two thieves. 91 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:26,720 What is it that caused the difference between them? 92 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:33,180 Well, it was what happened as they were dying next to Jesus. 93 00:08:33,180 --> 00:08:37,040 One on either side of them. 94 00:08:37,040 --> 00:08:43,580 The text tells us that in the first place, one of the thieves repented. 95 00:08:43,580 --> 00:08:45,160 That is, he changed his mind. 96 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:49,960 The word itself is not used, but it's clear from the words that he does utter that there 97 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:53,780 is a profound change in one of the thieves. 98 00:08:53,780 --> 00:09:02,680 He begins the morning on the cross, blaspheming Christ, and changes his mind about Christ 99 00:09:02,680 --> 00:09:04,040 and about his crimes. 100 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:06,920 He accepted responsibility for what he had done. 101 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:08,880 He acknowledged his own guilt. 102 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:16,040 He condemned himself and declared that Christ was innocent. 103 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:22,160 What was it that caused the thief to repent? 104 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:28,400 Had he heard something during the trial of Jesus as he was perhaps in the praetorium 105 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:33,320 being prepared for crucifixion? 106 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:34,720 Had he witnessed the crowd? 107 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:44,640 Had he listened to them as they were marched along out to the hill called Calvary? 108 00:09:44,640 --> 00:09:47,820 Did he listen to what the crowd was saying to Jesus? 109 00:09:47,820 --> 00:09:58,560 Did he watch Jesus as he was nailed to his cross and see the contrast? 110 00:09:58,560 --> 00:10:05,440 One of our newspapers this morning gives rather graphic detail of some of the torture the 111 00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:10,560 Iraqis used in their incursion in Kuwait. 112 00:10:10,560 --> 00:10:16,120 It's absolutely inhuman. 113 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:25,400 And sad to say, not altogether unusual in this world near the 21st century. 114 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:29,880 But it nearly sickens your stomach to read some of the things which were done to other 115 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:32,720 human beings. 116 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:41,920 None of those things surpassed the cruelty of crucifixion. 117 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:46,360 The person brought out to the hill was laid down upon that crossbar. 118 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:52,240 Normally, the one who was being crucified had to be held down by several soldiers if 119 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:58,240 not tied down to his cross beam before they could force his hands open and nail the nails 120 00:10:58,240 --> 00:11:03,300 right into his hands or into his wrist wherever they chose to do it. 121 00:11:03,300 --> 00:11:11,880 He screamed in agony, cursed those who were crucifying him. 122 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:16,680 Once they had done that deed, they picked up that cross beam with the thief nailed to 123 00:11:16,680 --> 00:11:17,680 it now. 124 00:11:17,680 --> 00:11:24,680 And with a rope that was up over the stake that was upright, they pulled that cross beam 125 00:11:24,680 --> 00:11:35,000 up into place and nailed it there with his writhing human being hanging by his hands. 126 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:38,680 They would put him up just far enough for his feet to be off the ground, usually about 127 00:11:38,680 --> 00:11:42,640 two feet only. 128 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:47,320 And then they would hold his feet and they would drive another spike through his feet 129 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:51,800 to hold his body on that cross. 130 00:11:51,800 --> 00:12:02,880 There he would hang in agony as he bled, as he was tortured and asphyxiated, and over 131 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:08,400 the course of several hours finally died. 132 00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:15,040 It was a bloody and torturous scene. 133 00:12:15,040 --> 00:12:21,960 Perhaps this one thief saw how Jesus responded to all of this as a lamb led forth to slaughter. 134 00:12:21,960 --> 00:12:25,260 Have you ever seen a lamb led forth to slaughter? 135 00:12:25,260 --> 00:12:30,440 He skips right up to the executioner. 136 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:32,400 He doesn't know what's coming. 137 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:33,920 A sheep doesn't. 138 00:12:33,920 --> 00:12:36,800 Jesus did. 139 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:41,160 And suddenly he's dead. 140 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:54,040 Jesus gave himself to the cross, submitted himself to the soldiers who nailed him there. 141 00:12:54,040 --> 00:13:05,360 Perhaps it was his dignity as he was stripped naked and then hung as a sacrifice before 142 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:09,040 the gawking eyes of his mockers. 143 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:14,160 Something, something profound changed the mind of this thief. 144 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:15,660 And he repented. 145 00:13:15,660 --> 00:13:18,720 He changed his attitude. 146 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:25,240 Secondly, I see that he believed in Jesus' claim to be the Messiah. 147 00:13:25,240 --> 00:13:29,440 He said to him, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. 148 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:31,880 How did he know about a kingdom? 149 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:36,680 Well, he was able to look up and read the inscription on the cross, this is the king 150 00:13:36,680 --> 00:13:39,640 of the Jews. 151 00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:42,800 Maybe that's what planted the idea in his mind. 152 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:45,720 Perhaps it was the word of the mockers. 153 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:50,480 For they said, if you're the king of the Jews, save yourself. 154 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:52,200 Maybe it was something again at the trial. 155 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:59,000 We don't know, but somehow this man believed that Jesus was the king, he was the Messiah. 156 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:05,840 There was some gracious work of the Holy Spirit revealing who Christ was to him. 157 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:10,720 And having repented, he then believed. 158 00:14:10,720 --> 00:14:18,240 And thirdly, I notice that he publicly confesses his repentance and faith. 159 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:27,680 There is no thought in his mind of those standing around the cross weeping or mocking or gawking. 160 00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:34,720 His eyes were fixed on Jesus alone as he says to him, remember me. 161 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:43,960 Fourthly, he appealed to Christ to save him with those very words, Jesus, remember me. 162 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:53,480 He had heard Jesus already utter from the cross, Father, forgive them. 163 00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:59,800 It seems inherent in the thieves' words is a conviction of existence beyond death. 164 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:02,920 Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. 165 00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:08,200 They were not coming down from those crosses alive, no one ever did. 166 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:12,440 But he says, remember me when you come into your kingdom. 167 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:16,920 He believed that Christ was the Messiah and had a kingdom yet to come. 168 00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:21,920 He appealed to Christ to save him. 169 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:27,480 And fifth, Christ promised to save the thief. 170 00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:31,560 The thief had said, Jesus, remember me. 171 00:15:31,560 --> 00:15:35,280 Jesus said, you shall be with me. 172 00:15:35,280 --> 00:15:39,040 He said, remember me when you come, when you come. 173 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:43,080 Jesus said, today. 174 00:15:43,080 --> 00:15:46,040 He said, remember me when you come into your kingdom. 175 00:15:46,040 --> 00:15:50,720 Jesus said, today in paradise. 176 00:15:50,720 --> 00:15:58,520 Jesus promised to save this repentant, believing thief. 177 00:15:58,520 --> 00:16:06,160 Miriam Lefebvre Krauss wrote these words, three men shared death upon a hill, but only 178 00:16:06,160 --> 00:16:09,760 one man died. 179 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:15,960 The other two, a thief and God himself, made rendezvous. 180 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:23,760 Three crosses still are born up Calvary's hill, where sin still lifts them high. 181 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:31,040 Upon the one sag broken men who, cursing, die. 182 00:16:31,040 --> 00:16:38,260 Another holds the praying thief, or those who, penitent as he, still find the Christ 183 00:16:38,260 --> 00:16:43,080 beside them on the tree. 184 00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:46,720 There was no ritual. 185 00:16:46,720 --> 00:16:48,800 There is no baptism. 186 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:52,480 There is no church membership. 187 00:16:52,480 --> 00:16:59,680 There is no opportunity to do good works, to add to simple faith. 188 00:16:59,680 --> 00:17:05,500 Because you see, the gospel is by grace through faith plus nothing. 189 00:17:05,500 --> 00:17:11,220 He began the morning with blasphemy, and as a criminal. 190 00:17:11,220 --> 00:17:16,600 And yet a dramatic revolution took place in the soul of this one thief. 191 00:17:16,600 --> 00:17:21,400 He had witnessed Christ's submission in silence as the Lamb of God. 192 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:25,640 He had heard the prayer for forgiveness and claimed it for himself. 193 00:17:25,640 --> 00:17:32,840 He saw and heard the mocking throng, but canceled that out of his own life and witnessed to 194 00:17:32,840 --> 00:17:37,680 the fact that Christ is truly the Messiah. 195 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:45,480 So the cross of Jesus forever separated those two thieves, those compatriots in crime. 196 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:51,040 It forever separated them, not just as they died, but for all of eternity. 197 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:58,000 Now remember, both were undeserving. 198 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:06,120 The difference was that one repented and one refused. 199 00:18:06,120 --> 00:18:10,400 There are several observations I make on the text based upon our study. 200 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:16,520 One is that the work of Jesus on his cross was sufficient. 201 00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:23,240 Jesus said, you will be with me today in paradise. 202 00:18:23,240 --> 00:18:31,960 When Jesus died on the cross, his spirit did not go to hell, contrary to the Apostle's 203 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:34,160 Creed. 204 00:18:34,160 --> 00:18:40,240 He went to Hades, the place, the realm of the dead, but he did not go to the burning 205 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:41,880 fiery hell. 206 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:47,400 His work was finished at the cross, and he himself said, today, my friend, you will be 207 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:53,160 with me in paradise. 208 00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:59,320 And yet there are those today who think to offer him again in a mass or in some other 209 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:07,480 ritual, who think that Jesus must freshly be offered again for sins. 210 00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:13,440 But the Bible says that Jesus' sacrifice 2,000 years ago was once and for all time 211 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:16,340 sufficient. 212 00:19:16,340 --> 00:19:21,600 It was sufficient for the thief who believed, as it is sufficient for all who will believe 213 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:27,560 today. 214 00:19:27,560 --> 00:19:32,920 The sacrifice was sufficient even for a thief. 215 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:36,960 Someone may say, well, I'm worse than a thief. 216 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:42,320 I care not what terms you may use to describe the depth of the guilt that you may feel for 217 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:44,760 what you have done in your life. 218 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:52,160 I want you to know that in Jesus Christ there is forgiveness. 219 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:57,760 The shedding of His blood on the cross of Calvary was sufficient for whatever sins may 220 00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:01,040 be a part of your record. 221 00:20:01,040 --> 00:20:05,760 There is nothing that is beyond the power of God to forgive and to wash away by the 222 00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:07,260 blood of Christ. 223 00:20:07,260 --> 00:20:08,760 Someone says, you just don't know. 224 00:20:08,760 --> 00:20:11,320 Yes, I do know what Christ has done. 225 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:14,280 I don't know what you've done. 226 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:21,120 But I know that Jesus is able to save you. 227 00:20:21,120 --> 00:20:24,680 His work on the cross was sufficient in that day as it is today. 228 00:20:24,680 --> 00:20:31,960 Secondly, Christ enjoyed the fruit of His suffering even before it was finished. 229 00:20:31,960 --> 00:20:39,800 The thief was among those who were purchased, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. 230 00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:45,960 Go back with me to the book of Isaiah for just a moment to the 53rd chapter. 231 00:20:45,960 --> 00:20:57,040 The Gospel in Isaiah, where we have this graphic prophecy of the death of Christ written more 232 00:20:57,040 --> 00:21:03,060 than 700 years before Jesus died. 233 00:21:03,060 --> 00:21:10,560 Verse 4 says, Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered 234 00:21:10,560 --> 00:21:17,680 Him stricken by God, smitten by Him and afflicted, but He was pierced for our transgressions. 235 00:21:17,680 --> 00:21:21,000 He was bruised, crushed for our iniquities. 236 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:28,560 The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. 237 00:21:28,560 --> 00:21:33,760 We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way, but the Lord 238 00:21:33,760 --> 00:21:37,120 has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. 239 00:21:37,120 --> 00:21:38,880 Let me just take a moment. 240 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:41,760 Do you remember the chorus from the Messiah here? 241 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:45,400 It says, All we like sheep have gone astray. 242 00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:49,000 I think Handel did a beautiful job picturing that musically. 243 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:50,960 Can you think of the tune in your mind? 244 00:21:50,960 --> 00:21:55,800 It is a light, lilting, skipping tune like sheep that are dancing and prancing and playing 245 00:21:55,800 --> 00:21:56,800 together. 246 00:21:56,800 --> 00:22:01,360 All we like sheep have gone astray and turned everyone to his own way, and oh what fun we're 247 00:22:01,360 --> 00:22:03,800 having. 248 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:09,680 And He comes in His chorus to that point, and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity 249 00:22:09,680 --> 00:22:10,680 of us all. 250 00:22:10,680 --> 00:22:16,480 And suddenly the joy stops in this large and deep and rich sound. 251 00:22:16,480 --> 00:22:23,120 It says, the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. 252 00:22:23,120 --> 00:22:24,960 Sin is that way, isn't it? 253 00:22:24,960 --> 00:22:26,920 It deceives us. 254 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:34,400 It makes us think that we can play with it and get away with it and have fun with it. 255 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:43,040 But if you want to see what the price of sin really is, look at the cross, friend. 256 00:22:43,040 --> 00:22:46,560 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. 257 00:22:46,560 --> 00:22:53,160 Led like a lamb to the slaughter, as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not 258 00:22:53,160 --> 00:22:55,560 open His mouth. 259 00:22:55,560 --> 00:23:02,160 Step on down to verse 10, yet it was the Lord's will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer. 260 00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:11,640 And though the Lord makes His life a guilt offering, He will see His offspring. 261 00:23:11,640 --> 00:23:15,640 Let me just stop the reading there. 262 00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:25,480 When the Lord Jesus was still on the cross, being offered for our guilt, dying in our place, 263 00:23:25,480 --> 00:23:32,160 while He was still there suffering, He saw with His eyes His offspring. 264 00:23:32,160 --> 00:23:37,840 He saw in the midst of His suffering the fruit of it all. 265 00:23:37,840 --> 00:23:45,360 When this thief who was hanging a few feet away from Him repented and believed. 266 00:23:45,360 --> 00:23:52,480 G. Campbell Morgan says, has it ever occurred to you what that meant for Jesus? 267 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:58,080 Reverently attempt to get back into the mind and heart of Jesus. 268 00:23:58,080 --> 00:24:04,700 Forsaken of His disciples, the butt of brutal mockery on the part of the rulers of His people 269 00:24:04,700 --> 00:24:10,320 spit upon, cast out, all the howling mob around Him. 270 00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:17,440 And suddenly the blaze of glory, this flame of light, one man recognizing His redeeming 271 00:24:17,440 --> 00:24:22,920 kingship and flinging Himself out upon His mercy. 272 00:24:22,920 --> 00:24:31,580 Right there and then in measure, He saw the travail of His soul and was satisfied. 273 00:24:31,580 --> 00:24:37,320 As He swung the gates of the kingdom of heaven open to the dying malefactor, He entered into 274 00:24:37,320 --> 00:24:46,160 the joy that was set before Him for which even then He was enduring the cross. 275 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:51,080 Second observation I make is that Jesus enjoyed the fruit of His suffering even before it 276 00:24:51,080 --> 00:24:54,000 was finished. 277 00:24:54,000 --> 00:25:02,880 My friend, every time someone repents as did this thief, Jesus rejoices. 278 00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:12,080 Because yet again, freshly comes to His mind the joy of His suffering in saving those who 279 00:25:12,080 --> 00:25:14,840 are undeserving. 280 00:25:14,840 --> 00:25:22,800 My third observation is that Christ takes believers to be with Him in their death. 281 00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:32,200 He said to that thief who believed, today you will be with Me in paradise. 282 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:41,040 Today not merely in My future kingdom, today you will be with Me in paradise. 283 00:25:41,040 --> 00:25:47,760 And using that word, Jesus used a word that is not common in the New Testament in describing 284 00:25:47,760 --> 00:25:52,480 the afterlife for believers. 285 00:25:52,480 --> 00:25:58,760 Paul uses it in 2 Corinthians chapter 12 as he describes his own experience of being caught 286 00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:07,160 up into paradise for a brief moment, probably when he was stoned and left for dead in his 287 00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:13,040 ministry and yet came back and was resuscitated. 288 00:26:13,040 --> 00:26:19,200 He had an out of the body experience to put it in the language of some today. 289 00:26:19,200 --> 00:26:21,720 He says I was caught up to paradise. 290 00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:24,920 Jesus said you will be with Me today in paradise. 291 00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:28,320 The word is a Persian word. 292 00:26:28,320 --> 00:26:37,520 It was brought directly into the Greek language and it literally means a park, a garden, a 293 00:26:37,520 --> 00:26:45,440 manicured spot, a place of beauty and delight. 294 00:26:45,440 --> 00:26:51,460 They were in an ugly place of suffering as they hung upon the cross. 295 00:26:51,460 --> 00:26:58,680 And yet Jesus said to this one who believed, today you will be with Me in a place of unbelievable 296 00:26:58,680 --> 00:27:02,920 beauty and delight. 297 00:27:02,920 --> 00:27:11,840 Paradise at that time was another compartment in Hades as best as we can understand it. 298 00:27:11,840 --> 00:27:16,740 A place that is now empty because Jesus emptied it in His resurrection and took the righteous 299 00:27:16,740 --> 00:27:25,360 dead who were there to heaven itself, which is also called by Paul now paradise, a park. 300 00:27:25,360 --> 00:27:29,560 And as you read of its description in the book of the Revelation, you see why it's 301 00:27:29,560 --> 00:27:38,520 called a park, trees, fountains, a river, a beautiful place. 302 00:27:38,520 --> 00:27:43,120 Christ takes believers to be with Him in their death. 303 00:27:43,120 --> 00:27:50,640 It's a wonderful comfort to those who have lost loved ones, who died in Christ, to know 304 00:27:50,640 --> 00:27:57,200 that they have left the place of suffering, that body perhaps of illness and pain. 305 00:27:57,200 --> 00:28:09,720 And having died to this world, they are with Christ at home in paradise. 306 00:28:09,720 --> 00:28:18,000 My final observation is in this quote, better late than never. 307 00:28:18,000 --> 00:28:24,840 Yes, there are such things as deathbed conversions. 308 00:28:24,840 --> 00:28:27,880 We should not think lightly of them. 309 00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:35,660 I recall a dear pastor friend of mine who was called to the hospital where a man was 310 00:28:35,660 --> 00:28:40,100 dying and had asked for a preacher. 311 00:28:40,100 --> 00:28:46,280 Going into the intensive care unit where the man was, he had been in a terrible accident, 312 00:28:46,280 --> 00:28:47,280 no hope of recovery. 313 00:28:47,280 --> 00:28:52,240 He was still conscious, unable to speak. 314 00:28:52,240 --> 00:28:58,960 And yet my pastor friend took him by the hand, introduced himself, and as briefly as he could 315 00:28:58,960 --> 00:29:03,720 explained the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to this man, that Christ had died for his 316 00:29:03,720 --> 00:29:07,760 sake, had been raised from the dead, that he might be saved, and that if he would trust 317 00:29:07,760 --> 00:29:12,440 the Savior alone for his salvation, he could know what it means to be saved and to go to 318 00:29:12,440 --> 00:29:13,440 heaven. 319 00:29:13,440 --> 00:29:19,080 And he said to this man, if you right now will trust Jesus Christ as your Savior, will 320 00:29:19,080 --> 00:29:21,840 you squeeze my hand? 321 00:29:21,840 --> 00:29:28,600 And the man squeezed his hand with all of the strength that he had in his body, and 322 00:29:28,600 --> 00:29:34,320 then it wouldn't limp as he died. 323 00:29:34,320 --> 00:29:41,360 Here's a thief who is only minutes from his own death. 324 00:29:41,360 --> 00:29:44,120 And he says, Lord, remember me. 325 00:29:44,120 --> 00:29:49,320 And Jesus said, today my friend, you will be with me. 326 00:29:49,320 --> 00:29:52,560 Better late than never. 327 00:29:52,560 --> 00:29:58,040 How in contrast this is to Stalin. 328 00:29:58,040 --> 00:30:06,840 Eyewitnesses report that on his deathbed, he raised up, he sat up in bed, unable to 329 00:30:06,840 --> 00:30:14,280 speak, he raised his fist toward heaven, clenched it, and shook it at God, and then slumped 330 00:30:14,280 --> 00:30:17,680 in his bed in death. 331 00:30:17,680 --> 00:30:26,160 His dying moment, one of refusal and rejection. 332 00:30:26,160 --> 00:30:37,280 Here on this day of his crucifixion, God saved one in this way, that is, in his final moments, 333 00:30:37,280 --> 00:30:41,800 so that none might despair of that possibility. 334 00:30:41,800 --> 00:30:50,920 But he saved only one that way that none might presume. 335 00:30:50,920 --> 00:30:57,760 It is a deadly error to think, I'll wait till tomorrow, I'll wait till sometime in 336 00:30:57,760 --> 00:31:03,720 the future, I'll wait till my deathbed. 337 00:31:03,720 --> 00:31:10,040 We cannot presume either that we will know when we are a moment from death, or that our 338 00:31:10,040 --> 00:31:21,320 heart will then repent, as it may be desiring to today. 339 00:31:21,320 --> 00:31:25,440 The cross of Jesus stands on a line. 340 00:31:25,440 --> 00:31:29,460 It is a line that separates humanity. 341 00:31:29,460 --> 00:31:36,760 On the one side of that line are those who repent of their sins and are therefore redeemed. 342 00:31:36,760 --> 00:31:43,760 On the other side of the line are those who reproach Christ by ignoring Him, neglecting 343 00:31:43,760 --> 00:31:47,680 Him, or denying Him. 344 00:31:47,680 --> 00:31:57,720 And that line divides not only humanity, but all of eternity into two destinies, paradise 345 00:31:57,720 --> 00:32:04,520 and hell. 346 00:32:04,520 --> 00:32:11,320 John once said, the cross is God's final warning sign, a warning sign that He has erected 347 00:32:11,320 --> 00:32:16,040 for those who are on their stubborn, independent way to hell. 348 00:32:16,040 --> 00:32:28,200 My friend, if you walk by the cross, you walk by your last hope. 349 00:32:28,200 --> 00:32:36,240 I quote author Max Lucado, who says, what in the world did Jesus have to gain by promising 350 00:32:36,240 --> 00:32:41,160 this desperado a place of honor at the banquet table? 351 00:32:41,160 --> 00:32:45,720 What in the world could this chiseling, quizzeling ever offer in return? 352 00:32:45,720 --> 00:32:50,940 I mean the Samaritan woman I can understand, she could go back and tell the tale. 353 00:32:50,940 --> 00:32:53,920 And Zacchaeus, he had some money that he could give. 354 00:32:53,920 --> 00:32:57,840 But this guy, what's he going to do? 355 00:32:57,840 --> 00:32:58,840 Nothing. 356 00:32:58,840 --> 00:33:03,480 That's the point. 357 00:33:03,480 --> 00:33:04,840 Listen closely. 358 00:33:04,840 --> 00:33:09,120 Jesus' love does not depend upon what we do for Him, not at all. 359 00:33:09,120 --> 00:33:16,200 In the eyes of the King, you have value simply because you are. 360 00:33:16,200 --> 00:33:24,240 You don't have to look nice, perform well, your value is in bread, period. 361 00:33:24,240 --> 00:33:27,600 Think about that for a moment, says Lucado. 362 00:33:27,600 --> 00:33:31,120 You are valuable just because you exist. 363 00:33:31,120 --> 00:33:35,400 Not because of what you do or what you've done, but simply because you are. 364 00:33:35,400 --> 00:33:37,240 Remember that. 365 00:33:37,240 --> 00:33:41,800 Remember that the next time that you're left bobbing in the wake of someone's steamboat 366 00:33:41,800 --> 00:33:43,800 ambition. 367 00:33:43,800 --> 00:33:48,480 Remember that the next time some trickster tries to hang a bargain basement price tag 368 00:33:48,480 --> 00:33:50,960 on your self-worth. 369 00:33:50,960 --> 00:33:57,000 The next time someone tries to pass you off as a cheap buy, just think about the way Jesus 370 00:33:57,000 --> 00:34:01,080 honors you and smile. 371 00:34:01,080 --> 00:34:02,080 He says, I do. 372 00:34:02,080 --> 00:34:05,200 I smile because I know I don't deserve love like that. 373 00:34:05,200 --> 00:34:07,000 None of us do. 374 00:34:07,000 --> 00:34:12,920 When you get right down to it, any contribution that any of us make is pretty puny. 375 00:34:12,920 --> 00:34:20,200 All of us, even the purest of us, deserve heaven about as much as the crook did. 376 00:34:20,200 --> 00:34:26,320 All of us are signing on Jesus' credit card, not ours. 377 00:34:26,320 --> 00:34:32,640 And it also makes me smile to think that there's a grinning ex-con walking down the golden 378 00:34:32,640 --> 00:34:38,620 streets who knows more about grace than a thousand theologians. 379 00:34:38,620 --> 00:34:45,600 No one else would have given him a prayer, but in the end, that's all that he had. 380 00:34:45,600 --> 00:34:53,160 And in the end, that's all it took. 381 00:34:53,160 --> 00:34:58,960 Two thieves were there at Calvary when Jesus was crucified. 382 00:34:58,960 --> 00:35:06,240 Condemned for the crimes they committed, they hung with him, one on each side. 383 00:35:06,240 --> 00:35:12,180 One of them taunted and mocked him and died in guilt and disgrace, but the other chose 384 00:35:12,180 --> 00:35:21,000 to believe him and received God's mercy and grace. 385 00:35:21,000 --> 00:35:28,360 I hope this morning that if you have not crossed that line, that you will do it today and get 386 00:35:28,360 --> 00:35:33,760 on the side of the line where redemption is. 387 00:35:33,760 --> 00:35:37,000 Let's pray. 388 00:35:37,000 --> 00:35:47,120 Father, I pray that in the closing moments of this service, with the Holy Spirit probing 389 00:35:47,120 --> 00:35:59,160 our hearts, exposing us, showing us what we are, that like the thief of old, we may have 390 00:35:59,160 --> 00:36:14,520 grace to repent and to believe and to publicly confess, as did he, Jesus as Savior and Lord. 391 00:36:14,520 --> 00:36:21,040 With our heads bowed and our eyes closed, my friend, I wonder what God may be saying 392 00:36:21,040 --> 00:36:22,680 to you today. 393 00:36:22,680 --> 00:36:23,940 Are you saved? 394 00:36:23,940 --> 00:36:26,880 Are you redeemed? 395 00:36:26,880 --> 00:36:30,440 My friend, this cross is a dividing line. 396 00:36:30,440 --> 00:36:33,120 Which side are you on? 397 00:36:33,120 --> 00:36:39,040 Which thief will you see in eternity? 398 00:36:39,040 --> 00:36:46,840 You will be with one thief or the other, heaven or hell. 399 00:36:46,840 --> 00:36:51,520 And right now you have the opportunity to choose. 400 00:36:51,520 --> 00:36:53,520 Will you take it? 401 00:36:53,520 --> 00:36:57,320 I pray you will. 402 00:36:57,320 --> 00:36:59,600 Let's take our hymnals and stand together. 403 00:36:59,600 --> 00:37:03,160 I'd like for us to sing number 206. 404 00:37:03,160 --> 00:37:12,920 It is a hymn that says, There is a Redeemer, God's own Son, precious Lamb of God, Messiah, 405 00:37:12,920 --> 00:37:13,920 Holy One. 406 00:37:13,920 --> 00:37:15,880 Let's stand as we sing. 407 00:37:15,880 --> 00:37:26,040 And as we sing, if today you, like this one thief on the cross, would change your mind 408 00:37:26,040 --> 00:37:31,440 and place your faith in Jesus Christ, and you are unafraid to publicly identify with 409 00:37:31,440 --> 00:37:36,840 Him and to confess your faith, I invite you to slip out from where you're seated and 410 00:37:36,840 --> 00:37:39,320 come and take my hand here at the front. 411 00:37:39,320 --> 00:37:44,520 And we'll have elders and staff who will be able to pray with you and talk with you 412 00:37:44,520 --> 00:37:46,480 as your need may be. 413 00:37:46,480 --> 00:37:48,760 Will you come today? 414 00:37:48,760 --> 00:38:04,520 Let's sing together of God's Redeemer, His only Redeemer. 415 00:38:04,520 --> 00:38:28,200 There is a Redeemer, Jesus, God's own Son, precious Lamb of God, Messiah, Holy One. 416 00:38:28,200 --> 00:38:47,200 Thank you, O my Father, for giving us your Son, and leaving your Spirit till the work 417 00:38:47,200 --> 00:38:51,200 on earth is done. 418 00:38:51,200 --> 00:38:54,720 I know, my friend, the struggle can be great. 419 00:38:54,720 --> 00:39:05,440 The struggle with your own mind and will is a struggle to the death. 420 00:39:05,440 --> 00:39:12,240 Will you today make that decision that will change your destiny from hell to heaven? 421 00:39:12,240 --> 00:39:18,980 Will you today change the side of the line that you're living on and come to the Savior 422 00:39:18,980 --> 00:39:21,680 as we sing the second verse about Him? 423 00:39:21,680 --> 00:39:23,480 Come right now. 424 00:39:23,480 --> 00:39:47,360 Jesus, my Redeemer, name above all names, precious Lamb of God, Messiah, all for sinners slain. 425 00:39:47,360 --> 00:40:08,120 Thank you, O my Father, for giving us your Son, and leaving your Spirit till the work 426 00:40:08,120 --> 00:40:16,000 on earth is done. 427 00:40:16,000 --> 00:40:23,200 Just last verse is for believers, and it says, when I stand in glory, just imagine being 428 00:40:23,200 --> 00:40:32,680 there and in that place of paradise and looking and seeing Jesus, the Redeemer, and this thief 429 00:40:32,680 --> 00:40:38,920 that we read about, and others who've gone before us in Christ, and oh, what a day that 430 00:40:38,920 --> 00:40:41,560 will be when we're in glory together. 431 00:40:41,560 --> 00:40:46,320 Let's sing about that day when we see His face and serve Him forever. 432 00:40:46,320 --> 00:40:55,920 When I stand in glory, I will see His face. 433 00:40:55,920 --> 00:41:09,280 There I'll serve my King forever in that holy place. 434 00:41:09,280 --> 00:41:27,840 Thank you, O my Father, for giving us your Son, and leaving your Spirit till the work 435 00:41:27,840 --> 00:41:36,240 on earth is done. 436 00:41:36,240 --> 00:41:41,920 Lord, remind us as we anticipate that future day of heavenly service that there is still 437 00:41:41,920 --> 00:41:48,040 work on earth to be done, and that you have given us the Holy Spirit to enable and to 438 00:41:48,040 --> 00:41:51,320 empower us in that work. 439 00:41:51,320 --> 00:41:55,180 So may we be about your business in the world. 440 00:41:55,180 --> 00:42:12,040 This week, in Jesus' name, amen.