Rescue In Progress Series

LOST AND FOUND:

RESCUE IN PROGRESS

LUKE 23:32-47

Introduction

Bobby Lemons, Kenny Moore and Cedrick Walton are Heroes who are also sanitation workers. Out on a route last

week they witnessed a truck drive off a bridge on Winnfield Rd in W Monroe. It was submerged in a creek with the driver still within. Two of them jumped in to save the driver while the other called 9-1-1. As a result the driver survived! Stories of rescue intrigue us and capture our imagination. Super hero stories are so popular.

The Greatest Rescue Story of all Time is the story of Jesus AND WE ARE THE ONES BEING RESCUED!

Why We need to Be Rescued

-Sin separates us from God, destroys our lives, deceives us, places us in bondage, and causes us to hurt others.

-Romans 3:23 where we are told that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

-Romans 6:23 “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

-Every one of us is in need of rescue because we are in danger and we cannot help ourselves out of this mess.

-The Great News: Matthew 1:21 “(Jesus) will save his people from their sins”.

As Jesus made his final entry into Jerusalem, on his mind was the eternal plan of God: the rescue of humanity from sin. (Revelation 13:8 “…the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.”) He is seeking and saving the lost!

Luke 22 - 23

- Judas accepts the assignment to betray Jesus.

- The last supper takes place on “The day…on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed” (vs. 7) … a shadow

of the sacrifice of the Lamb of God.

- On the Mount of Olives Jesus prayed with anguish while disciples slept. “Father, if you are willing, take this

cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

- Angels strengthened him for the task ahead.

- The Judas Kiss, the betrayal, the arrest, Peter’s denials, mocking, beating, illegal trials through the night, release

of Barrabas, Simon from Cyrene carries the cross for Jesus to the place called the Skull, Golgotha, where they

crucified him between two criminals.

Read Text: Luke 23:32-47 NIV

32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.

33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.

34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”

36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar

37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?

41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[b]”

43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon,

45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.

46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.”

48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away.

49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

1. RESCUE PLAN

Jesus actions were deliberate and difficult. At any time he could have called a stop to this. He was willing to go through this for our sake. How many times did Jesus say he was going to die? Over and over Jesus told his disciples that he was going to go to Jerusalem and there be put to death. He promised that this was not the end of the story - that the plan to rescue humanity was a sure thing. God had a plan to save the world - you and me.