Reading: Luke chapter 23 verses 32-43.
Ill:
• When evangelist John Wesley (1703-1791) was returning home from a service one night,
• He was robbed.
• The thief must have been disappointed;
• Because his victim had only a little money and some Christian literature.
• As the bandit was leaving, Wesley called out,
• “Stop! I have something more to give you.”
• The surprised robber paused.
• And John Wesley told him,
“You may live to regret this sort of life. If you ever do, here’s something to remember: ‘The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin!’“
• The thief hurried away,
• And Wesley prayed that his words might bear fruit.
• Years later, Wesley was greeting people after a Sunday service;
• When he was approached by a stranger.
• What a surprise to learn that this visitor,
• Now a believer in Christ and a successful businessman,
• Was the one who had robbed him years before!
• “I owe it all to you,” said the transformed man.
• “Oh no, my friend,” Wesley exclaimed,
• “Not to me, but to the precious blood of Christ that cleanses us from all sin!”
EVEN MORE AMAZING THAN THAT THIEF’S CONVERSION:
• Is the incident found in Luke chapter 23:
• Consider the amazing aspects of this man's conversion.
(1). Amazing Situation (verse 32-33).
32Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals–one on his right, the other on his left.
• When they crucified Jesus Christ;
• They put Him between two thieves.
• They could have put the two thieves together.
• In fact, that would have been the natural thing to do.
• We get the impression that these two thieves were partners in crime,
• Ill: Barabus gang (not crucified for theft but for rebellion – stole to fund their movement).
Instead of putting these two friends together (which would seem more natural):
• They put the Jesus between them;
• Central with the thieves either side.
• Remember that the cross was not only the work of man;
• But also at work was the providence of God.
• The word "providence" means "foreknowledge" or "seeing beforehand."
• God sees beforehand. He knows that which will happen and acts accordingly.
• Quote: “There were no accidents in the life of the Lord Jesus-only appointments.”
• It was not accidental that the Lord Jesus was between these two thieves.
It was important for Jesus to be on that middle cross for several reasons:
(1). IT MEANT BOTH THIEVES COULD HEAR HIM.
• Such was the agony of crucifixion that many victims often had their tongues cut out;
• To stop them constantly screaming out in pain.
• Other victims spent their last bit of energy cursing & swearing at the crowd;
• Or at those who were responsible for their situation.
Quote Seneca the Roman Stoic:
“The victims cursed heaven and earth, all mankind, the hour of their birth, their judges and executioners, and they spat in fury at those who looked on.
Sometimes the horror was so great that the victims had their tongues cut out, or their mouths gagged, to silence the desperate torment of their cries”.
In contrast instead of curses from his lips, the two thieves heard Jesus pray:
• Both of the thieves could hear Him pray,
• "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing" (verse 34).
• To dying guilty men about to face their maker;
• They had the chance to hear some good news in their desperate situation.
• As they listened to Jesus pray, there was hope; there was light in their darkness!
• Here is one who forgives and who prays that others might be forgiven.
(2). IT MEANT BOTH THIEVES COULD SEE HIM;
• Whenever these two friends called back and forth to each other,
• It meant they had to look at Jesus Christ!
• And as they looked at him,
• They had to see that title-and that title which told them who He is.
• When you study the harmony of the Gospels, you find that this title read:
• "This is Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews."
• It was written in three languages,
• And the thieves probably knew at least two of those languages.
• That sign bearing the title was written by Pilate.
• And it has been described as “The first gospel tract ever written.”
Think of what it read:
• He is ‘Jesus’;
• Which means "Saviour."
• He is ‘Jesus of Nazareth’.
• He came from a despised and a rejected place, identified with the outcasts.
• He is the ‘King of the Jews’;
• He is a Saviour who has a kingdom!
And so, in reading this title, they could get the message of the gospel.
• He is the Saviour and He is the Saviour of lost sinners.
• He has a kingdom, and He is the King of the Jews.
(2). Amazing Supplication (verse 42).
42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom”
• ‘Supplication’ simply means ‘request, plea or prayer;’
• And this one thief made a truly amazing request of Jesus.
Ill:
Supposing you had been wounded in an accident.
• You are laying on the ground in a pool of blood.
• Somebody has been standing over you for three hours,
• Telling you what an idiot, what a berk, what a wally you are,
• It’s all your fault, you did it, they are constantly insulting you,
• Then at the end of that three hours, the person turns around and says;
• “I hear you are having a party tonight, can I come?”
• What would you say?
• Aren’t you glad that Jesus is not like us?
This one thief made a truly amazing request of Jesus. Just look at the content of his request:
• He admitted that he feared God;
• So he was not an agnostic, he was not an atheist, & he was not irreligious.
• He admitted his guilt.
• "We are punished just" (verse 41a).
• He admitted he deserved this punishment.
• “Getting what our deeds deserve” (verse 41b).
• He admitted that Jesus Christ was innocent,
• “But this man has done nothing wrong” (verse 41c).
• And he admitted that there was a life after death.
• “Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (verse 42).
• Considering this is a spontaneous, spur of the moment plea;
• And not a thought out prayer, that’s not bad! Quite amazing!
Ill:
If you asked the average person in the street:
• Do you believe that there is a life after death?
• Are you prepared for it?
• If you were to die now, where would you go?
• Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord of paradise?
• Do you believe that you deserve judgment, that you are a guilty sinner?
• Do you believe there is a God and that you are going to have to answer to Him?
Considering he only had a plaque attached to the cross and the taunting jibes from the religious leaders:
• He put 2 and 2 together and got 4!
• It is amazing how much this man really understood about Jesus.
• "Jesus" means "Saviour."
• Jesus had a kingdom.
• Jesus was innocent.
• Jesus came from Nazareth, and He saved others.
(3). Amazing Sight:
• 5 things the thief saw that the other people gathered there could not see:
• 5 things that changed this mans attitude and eternal destiny.
(1). He saw the weakness, not the power of Jesus.
• He conversion happened at a time when the outward appearance Christ:
• Was at his weakest, when it would seem he had absolutely no power at all.
• Remember this thief would have marched through the streets of Jerusalem with Jesus,
• He would have seen him unable even to carry his cross, due to physical exhaustion,
• He probably only ever saw Jesus in a condition of weakness and disgrace,
• He saw a Jesus defeated by his enemies.
• Forsaken by his friends, mocked by the public crowd who had gathered.
• Slowly dying on a wooden cross.
If he had any knowledge of the coming Messiah:
• It would be of a conquering king, bringing liberation to his people.
• It certainly would not be the site that was right in front of him.
• It took incredible faith for this thief to trust a dying, weak, helpless human being,
• In fact his faith is astounding!
Quote John Calvin:
“How clear was the vision of the eyes which could thus see;
in death life, in ruin majesty, in shame glory, in defeat victory, in slavery royalty.
I question if ever the world began there has been so bright an example of faith”.
(2). He saw beyond the suffering of Jesus.
Quote:
“A man may refute an argument; he cannot refute a life”.
This thief like the Roman Centurion later on in the passage:
• Never encountered a crucifixion victim like Jesus,
• His conduct, his attitude, in fact everything about Jesus declared he was different.
The thief could literally see and hear:
• Not the usual cursing of God and heart & mind full of hatred,
• But a calmness, a love, a forgiveness, praying to a God he called “Father, asking to forgive”.
• He saw then that Jesus would not be saved from his suffering.
• But he will be vindicated as a result of it.
Quote:
“Men may win the war, but God will win the battle”.
(3). He saw that Jesus was innocent.
• Verse 41b: He sees that Jesus is innocent.
• Unlike them who were guilty (verses 40-41b).
Quote: In one of Shakespeare’s play Iago says of Othello:
“He has a daily beauty in his life that makes me ugly”.
• Being in the presence of Jesus:
• Made this thief feel ugly, dirty, and ashamed of his actions.
• Still true, get close to Jesus,
• The light shines in our darkness and makes us uncomfortable
Verse 41: The thief confessed his ugliness, his guilt:
“We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong”.
• They are being punished justly.
• They had broken the law and knew what to expect if caught.
• Ill: Wages of sin is death,
• He and his friend were literally being paid in full.
(4). He saw the future.
• He sees beyond temporary the cross,
• And glimpses the everlasting kingdom (verse 42b).
“Then he said; “Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom”.
From his words he infers he was aware of the sovereignty of God:
• It is only a king that rules over a kingdom,
• He saw beyond the crown of thorns, to another crown.
• He saw beyond the inscription; “Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews”
• He saw a regal authority, God’s king, God’s Messiah.
The thief was obviously aware that the kingdom of Jesus, was not an earthly one:
• After all in a few hours he would be dead,
• But he had faith to believe that Jesus would be entering into another place.
• He saw him as much more than a dying victim,
• He had faith to believe he was going elsewhere to be king.
IN THIS VERSE WE SEE THE THREEFOLD MINISTRY OF JESUS:
• As Prophet:
• He predicted the man would be with him in paradise.
• As Priest:
• He pronounced the word of absolution.
• As King:
• He bestowed gifts far greater than the thief could ever dream of.
Quote:
“Jesus in his dying, transformed the hideous cross into a pulpit, an altar and a throne”.
(5). He saw his own need.
He saw the need to repent (verse 39-41).
“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”
But the other criminal rebuked him.
“Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?
We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong”.
• Matthew and Mark tell us both thieves verbally abused Jesus.
• Only Luke informs us that one of the thieves had a change of heart.
Note his words:
• They are not “Don’t you fear death?”
• But “Don’t you fear God?”
• He does not say “Don’t you fear death?”
• But “Don’t you fear God?”
• Death is not as important as what happens after we die.
• Hebrews 9:27 “Man is destined to die once, and after that face judgment”.
Quote: Proverbs chapter 1 verse 7:
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge”.
• How ironic that in his dying hours,
• Hen learnt life’s greatest lesson.
Verse 42 is an incredible verse:
“Then he said; “Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom”.
Ill:
Supposing you had been wounded in an accident.
• You are laying on the ground in a pool of blood.
• Somebody has been standing over you for three hours,
• Telling you what an idiot, what a berk, what a Wally you are,
• It’s all your fault, you did it, they are constantly insulting you,
• Then at the end of that three hours, the person turns around and says;
• “I hear you are having a party tonight, can I come?”
• What would you say?
• Aren’t you glad that Jesus is not like us?
This man had a death bed conversion:
• He almost missed out on salvation,
• But just in time, he recognized his need.
These verses also give us a good insight regarding salvation.
(4). Insights to the nature of salvation:
• The priests were mocking Jesus,
• The crowd opposed him,
• His friend and partner in crime mocked Jesus,
• Yet this man asked Jesus for salvation.
(a). Salvation is all of grace:
• There was nothing in this man that he could bargain with,
• He was a condemned sinner, who deserved death and he knew it!!!
Ill:
• He couldn’t like a man in prison, offer to change his ways, reform his behaviour.
• He would have no opportunity to do so, just a few hours left to live.
• He was saved by grace alone:
• Or as Paul put it:
“He saved us, not because of the righteous things we have done, but because of his mercy”.
• He didn’t deserve forgiveness.
• He couldn’t earn salvation.
Quote: D.L. Moody:
“The thief had nails through both hands, so that he could not work; and a nail through each foot, so that he could not run errands for the Lord; he could not lift a hand or a foot toward his salvation, and yet Christ offered him the gift of God; and he took it. Christ threw him a passport, and took him into Paradise. “
(b). Salvation is personal:
• Notice the words “You” twice used in verse 43.
• This promise was for him and not for both thieves.
Quote:
“One thief was saved, in order that no one need despair,
one thief was lost in order that no-one dare presume”.
Personal note:
• When was this man converted?
• What changed his mind?
MY VIEW 2 THINGS:
(1).
• The character, the demeanor of Jesus.
• In the way he was dying.
(2).
• The prayer of Jesus, those words:
• “Father forgive them” – What!!! Forgive those who were doing this deed to him!!!
• I think he must have thought, if he will forgive them,
• He will even forgive me.
(3). Salvation is immediate:
• The thief said “When you come into your kingdom”:
• In other words;
“I don’t know when your kingdom will come, but when it does come,
please, Lord, remember me”.
Verse 43:
“Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise”.
• The man hoped for some kind of help in the future,
• But Jesus gave him forgiveness that very day,
• “Today” speaks of immediacy,
• “Today” is the emphatic word in the verse,
The great thing about the gospel is:
• It doesn’t postpone our acceptance with God until we are fit to be accepted,
• We are not put on probation until we improve.
• When we receive Jesus, the gospel receives us.
• We are accepted unconditionally in Jesus Christ.
(4). Salvation is a relationship:
• The thief asked only to be remembered,
• He got the gift of actually being with the saviour in his kingdom.
Note those words:
• “With me.” What company.
• Salvation is centered in Jesus Christ.
Think of the moral gap between the thief and the saviour:
• One a violent, murder, a rebel and a thief.
• The other the spotless, pure Lamb of God.
• They were as far apart as any two people could be,
• Yet brought together because of the cross.
(5). Salvation is perfect:
The Lord promised “paradise”:
• What does paradise mean to us?
• Think back to the first few chapters of the Bible.
• The garden of Eden was paradise,
• A place of beauty, fruitfulness, enjoyment and plenty.
• That paradise was lost by one mans sin.
• This paradise is available by one mans obedience:
Quote: Bousset:
““Today” what speed! “With me” what company! “In paradise” what rest!”
