Funeral Message

Today, we both celebrate and mourn the loss of our friend, Jim. A great father and husband as well as a pillar of our church for many years. I know of few places of greater comfort in a time of loss than Jesus on the cross. Let me show you why this.

Today’s Scripture

Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”

39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

44 It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” 48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 49 And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.” (Luke 23:32-49)

Had you gone to Jerusalem that day so long ago, and had you gone just outside the wall to the north, out through the Damascus gate, there you would have seen a rocky hill. And on that hill, you would have seen three crosses, with the men on those crosses. You would have seen on that one cross to the left a thief. On the other cross to the right, a thief. On that middle cross would have been the very Son of God. Someone has observed that Jesus did not die in a cathedral between two candles. He died on a cross between two nameless criminals. One was a Savior, one was a sinner, and one was a saint. One man died for sin. Another man died in sin. The third man died to sin. And here, Luke presents for us, three dying men. Each of the three dying men have something to say to us.

Watch the King between bandits for the next few moments.

1. The Man Who Missed It

“One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us” (Luke 23:39)! I’m calling him “The Man Who Missed It,” but he classically known as the impenitent thief. He says to Jesus in effect, “If you are God, then save yourself and us.” You don’t have to a religious person to understand this prayer. In fact, all of us have prayed this prayer at one time or another. We have all prayed this man’s prayer, “Lord, if you are up there… save me!” You are in the waiting room and you’re praying, “God… if there is a God, save my daughter,” or “Get me out of this!” We’ve all prayed the impenitent thief’s prayer. Here’s this man’s prayer in its essence: “Here’s how I know you’re God, if my life goes the way I know it needs to go…” One of the reasons why a lot of people in this room don’t believe or don’t believe very well is because you’ve done the very same thing. At one point, you’ve turned to God at some really difficult time, and you’ve said, “If you’re there, if you’re God, here’s how you can show me. Get me out of this!”

Here’s our test for whether God is real: “I know you are God if you agree with me.” But this isn’t a real test. When you pray like the first thief, you do not want God. Instead, you want a personal assistant or a genie on a bottle. Jesus doesn’t say one recorded word to the impenitent thief. Jesus doesn’t say one recorded word to those who mock.