Obituaries - The Promise of Paradise
Luke 23:32-43 (p. 737) April 6, 2014
Introduction:
In the latter half of the 1800’s there was a small man with a huge voice who was a master of the stage. His name was Edwin Thomas. At age 15 he debuted in Richard III and from then on he became well known as a premier Shakespearean actor. He performed Hamlet in New York for 100 consecutive nights. The British critics in London sang his praises. Edwin Thomas was a master of tragedy on stage.
Unfortunately, his life was all too similar to his stage persona. Tragedy was his trademark. Edwin had two brothers who were also actors, John and Junius. In 1863 the three brothers performed Julius caesar. The fact that brother John portrayed the role of Brutus, Caesar’s assassin, was an ironic twist that foreshadowed what would happen just 2 years later.
You see, in 1865, John became a real life assassin. On a crisp April night, he stole into a rear box in Ford’s Theater and fired a bullet at the head of Abraham Lincoln. Edwin Thomas and John Wilkes both shared the same last name, Booth.
After that night Edwin was never the same. Shame from his brother’s crime drove him to an early retirement. He likely would never have returned to the stage it it weren’t for a twist of fate in a New Jersey train station. Edwin was awaiting his coach when a well-dressed young man, pushed by the swell of the crowd, lost his footing and fell between the platform and a moving train. With little regard for his own personal well-being, Edwin locked a leg around a rail, grabbed the man and pulled him to safety. Amid the sights of relief, the young man recognized the famous Edwin Booth. But Edwin didn’t recognize the famous young man he’d rescued. It was only weeks later, in a letter from the chief secretary to Ulysses S. Grant that he learned that he had saved the life of Robert Todd Lincoln, the child of an American hero, Abraham Lincoln. Booth carried that letter in his vest pocket to his grave.
Ironic isn’t it...two brothers, same father, same upbringing, same mother, same profession...and yet one chose to kill the president and the other chose to save the president’s son...
So, what made the difference? One word...choices.
[I remember hearing about identical brothers, twins, who grew up in the same home. A tough home, with an alcoholic father and an absent mother. One of those brothers refused to drink, poured himself into school, and became a respected H.S. teacher, his brother chose a different road. He broke the law, drank heavily, continually was in and out of jail. One day a reporter asked them about their lives and what had happened. The teacher and the outlaw...The first brother, the outlaw said, “How could you expect me to end up any other way...look at my father.” And when the teacher was asked about his life’s direction he responded...”How could you expect me to end up any other way...look at my father.”]
Don’t get me wrong...I believe “to whom much is given, much is required” (Lk. 12:48). And I have been given much in regards to my father, my mother, my foundation. But, regardless of whether you grew up with a plastic fork or a “silver spoon” we all make choices that will determine the direction and destiny of our lives. Whether we will us the struggles as a springboard or an excuse...whether we are victims or victors...whether we take a life or save one...whether we lose our lives or keep it.
Standing near the cross of Jesus on Calvary were people who had chosen to be there. Mary, John, others who loved him, the religious leaders who had plotted for this moment, soldiers who were carrying out their orders, a crowd there for the gory spectacle, entertained by the blood and intensity of the crucifixion. There were also two criminals there on Calvary. And although they had not chosen to be on these crosses, each had chosen a life of lawlessness that led them here.
“Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.” (Lk. 23:32)
Fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy “He poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors.” (Is. 53:12)
One of those transgressors would choose the road he’d always travelled...hatred, selfishness, lawlessness. He would join his voice with the haters. “One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah, save yourself and us.”
The ironic truth is Jesus couldn’t save himself and us at the same time...so he chose us!!!
The criminal is simply saying, “Get me out of this...And oh yeah yourself too.”
And then something amazing happens. The other criminal makes a different choice...a choice for good...a choice for life...”Don’t you fear God...you’re under the same punishment! We are being punished fairly...for what we’ve done. We are getting what we deserve, but this man has done nothing wrong.”
“Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” (v. 40-42)
If we look through the eyes of Jesus this morning...the view we have from his cross is a Savior who sees a world that needs forgiveness.
I. PEOPLE WHO ARE CAUGHT AND IN TROUBLE
Nobody does wrong stuff with the thought. “Man I hope I get caught doing this! I sure hope I end up with a broken family. I hope I sacrifice my integrity. I hope I end up in jail. I hope I’m nailed to a cross!”
There’s a show on TV called “I (Almost) Got Away With It.” The key word is ALMOST. Nobody cheats on their mate, embezzles money, or kills another human being without Satan whispering “you won’t get caught, you can hide this.”
But whether you’re King David or Rick Burdette “your sin will find you out...God will bring it to light.” (Numbers 32:23)
Both of these criminals have been caught. They have been convicted of a capital crime. (Only Rome can do this). So it’s been determined by Roman law...not the Lord’s commandments...They are paying for a life of bad choices (and deservedly so, according to one of them. Seems they know each other.)
You see, not only did Jesus die for sinners, He died with sinners.
There are two very real reactions from those who are caught and in trouble.
1. The 1st is Anger & Hatred...It’s in our nature when we’re 3 and tell “Mommy, I hate you!” But it’s not just 3 year olds, or 18 year olds, or 53 year olds. Sometimes it becomes a lifetime habit. It scares people and anger always tries to cover guilt.
“The criminal hurled insults...got sarcastic, Aren’t you the Messiah? If so save yourself, and us buddy!!!”
Still no repentance...no remorse. Amazingly he still joins the crowd who are crucifying them.
“Hurt people might hurt people” but selfish sinful, unrepentant people also hurt people!
“Save yourself and us”...which one of those two do you think he was most interested in?
[At the end of the Nuremberg Trail for the war crimes committed by Hitler and the Nazi leadership of Germany, the systematic extermination. The final solution to ethnic cleanse the world of “undesirables”...Adolf Eichman, the architect for this plan was not there...he’d escaped to Argentina...but 15 years later in 1961 he was brought to trial in Jerusalem. He was convicted and sentenced to death...and on June 1, 1962 he was hung. He was given a chance to repent to make a final statement...he said and I quote, “Repentance...repentance is for little children!”]
He’s right...repentance is for little children. Jesus said “unless we become like little children we cannot enter the kingdom of God.” And that’s the second response to being caught and in trouble.
2. Repentance. Sorrow that leads to forgiveness.
“One of the criminals admits his sin...”I deserve exactly what’s happening...but then he looks for grace.
“Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”
Folks there are two kinds of sorrow. One, you’re sorry you got caught and you’re sorry there are consequences, and two there’s real sorrow, that you’ve sinned, created distance between yourself and Jesus. Real sorrow that He is holy...and I am not. 2 Cor. 7:9-10 says, “For you became sorrowful as God intended...Godly sorrow brings (produces) repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” (2 Cor. 7:40)
One choice changes your eternal destiny from death to life, and one keeps you on the road to destruction.
Jesus encountered both at his crucifixion. One on his right. One on his left.
Jesus looks at the one who chose godly sorrow and said, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
II. THE KEY WORDS...”WITH ME”
Please remember...scripture always teaches salvation is found in only one place, and that place is where Jesus is!
You are not saved because you recite a prayer. You are not saved because you are baptized. You are not saved because of Jesus. The Holy Spirit always cuts our hearts in conviction of sin, righteousness and the judgment...but he always bears witness that Jesus is the answer for our sinfulness, our unrighteousness and our condemnation.
[I remember a baptist preacher yelling at me...you don’t have to be baptize in God’s plan of salvation...Look at the thief on the cross! And I mad him even madder when I said, “the resurrection part hasn’t happened yet. The Holy Spirit has not been given yet. The thief, like John the Baptist and everyone else before those two events died under the Law. What was the requirement under the Law? You had faith there was a coming Messiah. Baptism is always the N.T. response after conviction so you can unite yourself with Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. It’s the H.S. being given as a gift that makes our resurrection sure!]
My whole point is it’s all about Jesus. You can say a prayer. You can get wet. but, if the prayer isn’t “Lord remember me in repentance, true repentance, if you’re not uniting yourself with Jesus in your death to sin and a new life with him as Lord, you’ve left out the key words “with me.”
If it’s not about Jesus and your life saving relationship with Him...You punched the wrong ticket!
When Jesus promised his disciples in John 14 that “He is going to prepare a place for them, that where he is they will be also...”
It’s being with Jesus that makes this promise so powerful. In fact when he tells these same disciples “you know the place I’m going and how to get there” Thomas says “we don’t know the way...Jesus says “I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
A relationship with Jesus is what saves us. Not a checklist of Biblical items we have done! We need to be obedient to scripture...but the starting place is the same place the repentant thief started...”JESUS.”
[My favorite part of this story is that it’s never too late for God to change a heart...at least if you’re in your right mind, and have the facilities to respond to His offer...Both thieves witnessed Jesus, the Lamb of God going to His slaughter, both witnessed his responses to the hatred, anger and abuse...To one it meant nothing, and to the other it meant “conviction and a response of faith...”Lord Jesus remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”
One got a momentary deflection of His pain and anger onto another...
One got “This day you will be with me in paradise.”
CONCLUSION:
[Reconciliation means “a change of relationship from hostility to harmony and peace...When it happens between people it’s called “diallasso”. That’s what Jesus describes in Matthew 5:23-24 when he says “if you are offering your gift at the altar and then you remember your brother or sister has something against you first, go and be reconciled to them, then come offer your gift.”
Make things right...make peace...pursue harmony instead of division...(First) Neither thief had done this very well with people and so instead of harmony...they were on the cross. Both of those criminals came to the cross as enemies of God...Romans 5 says that “they” and all of us are in a relationship of hostility and enmity with God. (v. 10) says because of sin we are God’s enemies.
We see both enmity (adversary) and reconciliation take place on Calvary. One criminal chose to remain God’s Adversary...One chose to ask for reconciliation. It’s what God was doing for the entire world on the cross. Listen as I conclude
2 CORINTHIANS 5:14-21 (p. 805)
We also meet Jesus at the cross. It’s a place where we also die, although it’s a death to our sinful lives, we are born again through the washing away of our sin, and a resurrection in new life through the gift of the Holy Spirit. The result...Reconciliation...peace with God...the enemy is vanquished...He wins!
And we NOW become ambassadors that represent our King in a foreign land. Seeking to bring others into a peaceful relationship with someone they’ve been at war with.
Let’s pray.
