A Conversation from the Cross
Luke 23:39-43
Imagine in your mind these two thieves hanging on the cross. They pull up with their arms and push down with their feet to get each breath. Each time the flesh tears a little more, more blood vessels are torn open, and more blood flows down the cross where it begins to pool at the bottom. There is no escape. Their fate is sealed. Eventually, they will either lose strength from the loss of blood and suffocate, or the Roman soldiers will come along with an iron club and shatter the leg bones to speed up death.
This morning I want to look at what these two thieves and Christ had to say as they hung there on each side of Jesus. And as hard as it may be, I want each of us to put ourselves there that day, not as one of the Roman guards, not as one of the spectators, but as one of these two thieves. Let’s face it, these two thieves were there for crimes they had committed, but Christ was there for crimes that you and I have committed. So in reality, we deserve the middle cross. It was for my sins Christ bled and died. It was for your sins Christ bled and died.
LET’S PRAY
(I) Let's look at what the first thief said to Christ “If thou be Christ, save thyself and us” He “RAILED” against Christ.
This guy knew who Jesus was. He had heard of the miracles that Christ had done. The dumb talked, the deaf heard, the blind saw, the lame walked, the dead were raised, and evil spirits were cast out. He was being crucified next to a famous person. Jesus of Nazareth.
I'm trying to get my mind around this guy.
Did he just not believe? Maybe he hadn’t seen the miracles in person. Maybe he had lost all faith in the religious establishment of the day. The Jewish religion was so corrupt and he didn’t want anything to do with anything religious..
Maybe he had had a bad childhood. Maybe his parents were abusive to him, or maybe he was an orphan. I don’t know.
Maybe he thought he would be the one set free. “Why Barabus deserves death more than I do.” GO INTO IT.......That’s why Barabus was picked so the people would choose Jesus instead of a no-good scoundrel like Barabus. The plan of Pilate backfired. They chose Barabus.
Maybe he had thought his good outweighed his bad. I really don’t know what was going through this man’s mind but I do know, without a shadow of a doubt, that as he neared the end of his life he “railed” on Christ. Definition of rail- to yell and curse bitterly. He mocked Him. He cursed Him. He yelled and screamed at Christ. His one and only way of escape, he railed at. He was simply doing what the chief priest, scribes, and pharisees had done according to Matthew 27.
I tell you what, some of the things going on today I don’t understand. I just don’t get it. I try to get my mind around these things and it just won’t click.
You have more suicides. More divorces. More murders. More rapes. Mass school shootings. More despair. And what do people do today. They “rail” against the God of this universe. Their ONLY hope. Their only way of escape.
Some folks want to put up a monument of the ten commandments down at the state capitol. What happens, people “rail” against it.
A valedictorian wants to mention God and pray in his or her’s graduation speech. The school won’t allow it.
Separation of Church and state. (Not in our constitution)
They want a God free life all the while they worship themselves as god. (humanism)
People are scared the A.C.L.U. will sue if we allow that.
Folks, we are nearing the end of our time here on earth. In a hundred years either Christ will have returned or we’ll all be dead. Jesus Christ is your only way of escape. I don’t know what kind of circumstances you’ve had to face in life.
Maybe you’ve heard all about Jesus Christ, but you just don’t believe.
Maybe your fed up with the religious community as a whole. Too many hypocrites.
Maybe you had some rough things happen in your life and just to be honest, you’re mad at God.
Maybe you think your good will outweigh your bad.
Maybe it just don’t seem fair that God would let just anybody into heaven.
Like I said, I don’t know what you’re thinking, but it won’t do any good to rail at; to curse, yell at, or mock the God of this universe.
(II) Now let's look at what the second thief said to the first. Read verse 40, 41 The other thief rebuked the first “Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?” “And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this man hath done nothing amiss.”
First of all I think this fella had figured out a couple of things.
#1 This was his day to die. Death was coming. There was no escaping the truth.
#2 This was the most important thing. He realized Christ really was who He said He was. You see, he may not had seen any of Christ’s miracles, but he believed.
We don't know when we're gonna die. It could be anytime.
I’m not going to break down Hebrews 9:27. "And as it is appointed…" It’s pretty self explanatory. We are all gonna die. No and’s, if’s, or but’s. It’s gonna happen.
ILLUSTRATION: Cryonics- The hope that someday you can physically come back from the dead. Only 150 people are frozen because of the high cost (Up to $155,000), but for the budget minded they’ve got a new plan. THE HEAD, You can have your head frozen for a lot less money (As low as $14,000). There’s about 80 heads frozen and more on the way. People don't want to believe it but physical death is where the soul leaves the body.
Like I said earlier, the most important thing that this second thief realized was that Jesus truly was the promised Messiah. Folks, Jesus was who He said He was or He pulled off the greatest scam in world history. You see, you can’t argue that Jesus Christ came, lived, and died. If you was to never read the Bible there are plenty of historical writers who talk about Jesus.
The question is, do you believe Jesus was who He said He was? Was He the Son of God? Did He live a sinless life? Did He raise from the dead after being dead for three days? Did He ascend back to heaven where He sits beside God the Father even today? THAT’S THE QUESTION
I’ll tell you, there were 12 apostles who spent three years of their life walking and talking with Him. 10 OF THEM DIED AS MARTYRS PROCLAIMING HIS NAME TO A LOST AND DYING WORLD. Do you think they would have done that for a hoax?
There have been countless millions face death for His name.
The Apostle Paul faced the chopping block with joy because he believed Jesus was who He said He was. He never forgot the road to Damascus.
There are Christians today facing persecution and death for Christ’s name in Iran, China, Sudan, North Korea, Vietnam, and other parts of the world.
Jesus Christ is more than just some guy in history, HE IS THE GOD OF THIS UNIVERSE!!!!
One more thing. We get NO RESPONSE from the other thief. NOTHING He evidently ignored what the second thief had to say. Ignoring the truth won't help on Judgment Day!!!! If we ignore a problem it doesn't go away. If you ignore the God of this universe He doesn't just go away. You will face Him someday.
(III) Now, what did the second thief say to Jesus? Verse 42 “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.”
He put his trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. He was helpless on his own.
He didn’t ask for a reprieve. He knew he was guilty.
He didn’t try to justify why he should get into heaven. He didn’t deserve it
My friend today, you are helpless without Christ. All your good works are worthless.
You are guilty, You have transgressed the law of God. Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
ILLUSTRATION: Kirk Cameron -Street evangelism.
Folks, you know what this fellow asked Jesus for? Grace and Mercy. Here’s the best part.
HE GOT IT!!!!!!
(IV) This is what Jesus said to him. Verse 43 “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
The book of Mark tells us that Jesus died around the ninth hour of the day. That would have been around three o’clock in the afternoon. John 19:32 tells us that they came around and broke the legs of these two thieves, but Jesus was already gone. He was waiting for this old thief in Paradise. Can you imagine what that reunion was like. Hanging beside each other only moments before, in total agony, now, instantly, free from pain and sorrow in Paradise.
I believe when it comes our time to die it’s gonna be just like this. People want to get into deep theological discussions on soul sleep and where we’re gonna stay until the end of time. I don’t care where I’m at just so long as Jesus is there. Paul said it best in:
I Corinthians 5:1-9
5 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
The first thief railed at Christ. He mocked Him, cursed Him, and yelled at Him. He refused to believe Jesus was the Son of God.
The second thief had it figured out. He knew there was no escaping death, but more importantly, he knew who Christ was. The Son of God.
The second thief put his trust in Christ. He's still up there today. I'm gonna get to meet him.
Now I've got to ask you this question. Which one of these thieves would you have been?
