If Crosses Could Speak.

If Crosses Could Speak.

Luke 23:39-43NKJV

Visual illustration—Have 3 crosses on stage, with the middle cross draped with purple, but at the end overlap the middle cross with white.

Through the criminals on the cross, we see that death exposes the human heart.

At the climax of a lifetime’s interaction with sinners, we see Jesus between two criminals. One joins the mockers and dies with his sins. The other admits his guilt, acknowledges Jesus’ majesty and seeks His mercy.

This entire episode is found in Luke 23:33–43. However, I will only look at 5 verses this morning.

The title of this mornings message is—If Crosses Could Speak.

The fact is these three crosses on Golgotha’s Hill did speak. They spoke volumes. They spoke of character, fruit, gifts and the works of the flesh, and it spells out what these men hanging on them truly believed.

One man said, “As the pressure of life are turned-up, the heart of man speaks out.”

Luke 23:39-43NKJV Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”

40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

The TM Bible say’s of Luke 23, verse 39,  One of the criminals hanging alongside cursed him: “Some Messiah you are! Save yourself! Save us!”

This criminal was a hard core man, he had lived his life as a hardened criminal. His life emptied by this world. His only regret was that he got caught.

Jesus stated this in, Matthew 15:17-20ESV Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”

This man was hell bent, and he never looked back. His heart was filled with evil, and he sure wasn’t going to change now.

His thought while hanging on that cross was: “Maybe, just maybe, I can con this Jesus to save me as he saves Himself. After all, I die and that’s it!”

His famous last words were filled with cursing and blasphemy. His heart spoke out. This man railed on Jesus until the end, dying in his sins. P.H

The second criminal spoke out—Luke 23:40AMP But the other one rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?

No, fact is, he had no fear of God, it was all just a joke to him.

This second criminal, gave the hardened-crime -ridden-man one last word—“Don’t you even fear God….”

Proverbs 1:7NKJV The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

The fear of God—makes you walk softly, never taking anything, or anyone for granted— Especially God. Walking in the fear of God, means you remember where you were, and where you were headed. P.H

Paul writes in, Romans 6:23AMP For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God [that is, His remarkable, overwhelming gift of grace to believers] is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Perhaps, the second thief, or criminal, had heard of God, but for many years, he did his own life. A life of crime—a life of taking what didn’t belong to him.

Upon interviewing hardened criminals most say the same thing:

“I once felt bad about my actions, but later my remorse seemed to be removed.”

This second criminal knew his life was going in the wrong direction, but he too continued doing his own thing throughout life.

Again, Romans 6:23TM Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God’s gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master.

Maybe someone had taken him to a temple as a young lad, maybe he had a parent or grandparent praying for his eternal soul. Maybe he once attended AWANA, or perhaps Children’s church.

Paul gives every person this stern warning—Romans 6:12-14NKJV Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.