BIBLICAL EVANGELISM AND THE THREE CROSSES
LUKE 23:26-44
THE CROSS HAS BEEN THE CENTRAL SYMBOL OF CHRISTIANITY THROUGHOUT HISTORY. IT MAY HAVE DIFFERENT FORMS AND APPEAR IN DIFFERENT PLACES, BUT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO THINK ABOUT THE CHURCH WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT THE CROSS.
THE CROSS REMINDS US OF MANY THINGS ABOUT GOD SUCH AS:
GOD’S GRACE AND MERCY
JESUS’ LOVE
GOD’S JUSTICE
SALVATION
ONE THING WE MUST REMEMBER THOUGH, IS THAT THERE WERE THREE CROSSES ON CALVARY WHEN JESUS DIED. THEY SYMBOLIZE THE STATUS OF ALL HUMANITY AND EACH HAS A STORY TO TELL.
WE TEND TO FOCUS OUR THOUGHTS AT EASTER ON JESUS, BUT TONIGHT I WANT TO LOOK AT THE STORY BEHIND EACH OF THE CROSSES. WE WILL BEGIN THOUGH WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROCESS OF CRUCIFIXION.
POINT ONE: THE PROCESS OF CRUCIFIXION
THE CROSS WAS THE CRUELEST FORM OF CAPTIAL PUNISHMENT KNOWN TO HUMANITY. IT ORIGINATED WITH THE PERSIANS AND WAS ADOPTED BY THE ROMANS. IT WAS SO TERRIBEL THAT IT WAS RESERVED FOR SLAVES AND NON-ROMAN CITIZENS, AND ONLY USED IN RARE CASES FOR ROMAN CITIZENS. IT WAS SO TERRIBLE THAT THE WORD “EXCRUCIATING” WAS INVENTED TO DESCRIBE THE IMMENSE PAIN THE CONDEMNED WAS UNDER.
IT WAS ADOPTED BY THE ROMANS AS A MEANS OF CROWD CONTROL BY FEAR. THEY FELT THAT IF A PUBLIC SPECTACLE WAS MADE OF THE GUILTY PERSON, THAT IT WOULD DETER OTHERS FROM COMMITTING THE CRIME.
THE ACCUSED WOULD FACE A BEATING OF 39 LASHES OF A CAT AND NINE TAILS, A WHIP WITH PIECES OF GLASS AND BONE TIED ON THE END. IT WOULD GOUGE OUT PIECES OF FLESH WITH EACH LASH. SOME OF THE CONDEMNED WOULD ACTUALLY DIE DURING THIS PROCESS.
THE CONDEMNED PERSON WOULD THEN BE FORCED TO CARRY EITHER THE CROSS-PIECE OR THE ENTIRE CROSS THROUGH THE STREETS TO THE PLACE OF CRUCIFIXION.
THEY WOULD THEN LAY THE CROSS DOWN ON THE GROUND AND THE CONDEMNED WOULD BE PLACED ON IT. THEIR ARMS WOULD BE TIED TO THE CROSS-PIECE TO PREVENT THE NAIL-HOLES FROM ENLARGING AND THE CONDEMNED PERSON FALLING OFF THE CROSS. NAILS WOULD THEN BE DRIVEN THROUGH THE HANDS. THE FEET WOULD BE CROSSED AND THEN NAILED TO THE CROSS. SOMETIMES THEY WOULD PLACE A SMALL PLATFORM FOR THE FEET TO REST ON TO MAKE DEATH TAKE LONGER TO HAPPEN.
THE CROSS WOULD THEN BE TURNED OVER, AND THE NAILS BENT IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DIDN’T PULL OUT.
THEY WOULD PLACE EITHER ABOVE THE CONDEMNED MAN OR AROUND HIS NECK, THE CHARGE THAT HE WAS GULITY OF. SOMETIMES THEY WOULD INCLUDE HIS NAME.
THEY WOULD THEN HOIST THE CROSS INTO PLACE USING ROPES. IT WOULD BE DROPPED INTO A HOLE USUALLY ABOUT TWO FEET DEEP AND THEN SECURED WITH ROCKS. THE DROP INTO THE HOLE WOULD PULL AND STRAIN EVERY MUSCLE IN THE ACCUSED BODY.
DEATH ON THE CROSS WAS A LONG SLOW PROCESS THAT COULD TAKE SEVERAL DAYS. THE FACT THAT JESUS WAS ONLY ON THE CROSS FOR SIX HOURS TELLS US HOW BAD HIS CONDITION WAS GOING TO THE CROSS. THE CONDEMNED WAS AT THE MERCY OF THE ELEMENTS, ANIMALS AND INSECTS, AS WELL AS THE CONSTANT TAUNTING OF THE CROWD.
DEATH WOULD EVENTUALLY COME BY SHOCK, SUFFOCATION, LOSS OF BLOOD, OR THE EFFECTS OF THE BEATING INFLICTED BEFORE THE CRUCIFIXION. FOR JESUS THOUGH THERE MAY HAVE BEEN ONE OTHER CAUSE OF DEATH, AS WE SHALL SEE IN A MOMENT.
JESUS FACED ALL THIS AND MUCH MORE ON THE DAY HE WENT TO THE CROSS. HE KNEW THAT THE CROSS WAS A NECESSITY IN THE PLAN OF SALVATION. THE CROSS AT PASSOVER WAS THE ORDAINED TIME AND METHOD BY WHICH HE WAS TO SACRIFICE HIS LIFE. JESUS DEATH ON THE CROSS FULFILLED THE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECIES THAT POINTED TO HIM AS THE MESSIAH. EVERYTHING HAPPENED ACCORDING TO THE DICTATES OF SCRIPTURE.
THERE IS ONE OTHER THING BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION TO NOTE. WHEN I SPEAK OF THE CROSS, I AM SPEAKING OF THE CROSS AND THE RESURRECTION TOGETHER. ONE ONLY HAS SIGNIFICANCE WITH THE OTHER.
THERE WERE THREE CROSSES AT CALVARY ON THE DAY THAT CHRIST DIED. THOSE THREE CROSSES REPRESENT THE SPIRITUAL POSITION OF THE ENTIRE WORLD. TWO OF THE CROSSES REPRESENT THE TWO WAYS IN WHICH YOU CHOOSE TO DIE IN RELATION TO SIN.
THERE IS A CROSS REPRESENTING THOSE WHO CHOOSE NOT TO COME TO CHRIST, AND THERE IS A CROSS FOR THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO TURN TO HIM FOR SALVATION.
HUNG BETWEEN THESE CROSSES IS THE CROSS OF CHRIST, READY TO OFFER TO BOTH THE GIFT OF LIFE. IT HAS BEEN WISELY SAID THAT A PERSON WILL NOT ENTER HELL WITHOUT FIRST DEALING WITH THE CROSS OF CHRIST.
IF TONIGHT WERE TO BE YOUR DESTINY TO MEET THE LORD, WHICH OF THESE TWO CROSSES WOULD REPRESENT YOUR DESTINY? LET US NOW CONSIDER THE CROSSES AND HOW THEY RELATE TO US AS YOU MAKE YOUR CHOICE.
POINT TWO: HOW WE RELATE TO BOTH THIEVES
WHEN IT COMES TO THE THEIVES ON THE CROSS WE USUALLY GIVE THEM LITTLE THOUGHT. HOW BAD WAS THE THIEF WHO INSULTED JESUS, AND HOW WONDERFUL THE STORY OF HOW THE OTHER THIEF ASKED FOR FORGIVENESS.
BUT LET ME ASK YOU THIS QUESTION, WHAT WERE THEIR NAMES? WE DON’T KNOW, NONE OF THE BIBLICAL ACCOUNTS GIVE THEM. WHO WERE THEY, WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THEM? NO ANSWER IS GIVEN.
HISTORICAL SOURCES STATE THEIR NAMES, DISMAS AND GESTAS. PERHAPS THEY HAD FAMILIES AND THEIR CRIME WAS TO HELP THEIR FAMILIES. WE ARE THINGS WE JUST DON’T KNOW, BUT IN SOME WAYS THEY ARE VERY MUCH LIKE US.
IT IS INTERESTING TO REALIZE THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF THEIR JOURNEY TO DEATH, BOTH THEIVES WERE HURLING INSULTS AT JESUS. WE SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED AT THIS. EVERYONE WAS AGAINST JESUS ON THE DAY HE WAS CRUCIFIED, WHY NOT THEM? THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST WILL ALWAYS BRING OUT THE WICKEDNESS OF THE HUMAN HEART UNTIL CONVERSION.
IS THIS NOT THE WAY THE WORLD IS TODAY? ARE WE NOT SEEING EVIL MULTIPLYING AT AN AMAZING RATE? WE ARE LIVING CLOSE TO THE SECOND COMING OF THE LORD, AND ONE OF THE SIGNS OF IT IS THE RISE IN EVIL, AND THE ACCEPTANCE OF EVIL AS OPPOSED TO THE THINGS OF GOD IN THE WORLD TODAY.
NO THIEF WOULD MOCK OR REPROACH ANOTHER THIEF ON THE CROSS. THERE WAS AN ETHICAL STANDARD EVEN FOR THEM. THEY BOTH KNEW THEY DESERVED THEIR FATE, SO TO MOCK ONE WAS TO MOCK YOURSELF. THE MOMENT JESUS IS HUNG ON HIS CROSS THOUGH, THOSE ON THE CROSS CAN BAND TOGETHER IN REUKE OF THE ONE WHO KNEW NO SIN.
IT HAD BEEN PROPHECIED THAT THE SUFFERING SERVANT WOULD BE NUMBERED WITH THE TRANSGRESSORS.
ISAIAH: 53:12: SO I WILL GIVE HIM A PLACE OF HONOR AMONG THOSE WHO ARE GREAT. HE WILL BE REWARDED JUST LIKE OTHERS WHO WIN THE BATTLE. THAT IS BECAUSE HE WAS WILLING TO GIVE HIS LIFE AS A SACRIFICE. HE WAS COUNTED AMONG THOSE WHO HAD COMMITTED CRIMES. HE TOOK THE SINS OF MANY PEOPLE ON HIMSELF. AND HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR THOSE WHO HAD DONE WHAT IS WRONG.”
THIS PROPHECY CAME TRUE WITH THE TWO THEIVES CRUCIFIED WITH HIM.
MATTHEW 27:38: 38TWO ROBBERS WERE CRUCIFIED WITH HIM. ONE WAS ON HIS RIGHT AND ONE WAS ON HIS LEFT.
THE GREEK MEANING HERE IS “ONE WHO USES VIOLENCE AND ROB OPENLY.” THESE TWO MEN MAY HAVE BEEN GUILTY OF ARMED ROBBERY INVOLVING MURDER. THERE ARE THOSE WHO CONJECT, AND QUITE REASONABLY THAT THEY WERE WITH BARABBAS WHEN HE COMMITTED HIS CRIME, AND HOPING THEY WOULD BE CHOSEN INSTEAD OF BARABBAS TO LIVE.
NOW AS THEY HUNG FROM THEIR CROSSES, THEY BOTH SNEERED AT JESUS TAUNTING HIM BECAUSE THEY DID NOT BELIEVE WHO HE WAS, AND DIDN’T BELIEVE IN HIS POWER. AGAIN, WE ARE SO MUCH LIKE THEM.
JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED BETWEEN THE TWO THEIVES AND IT SHOWS THAT HIS CROSS IS THE BRIDGE FROM SIN AND DEATH UNTO ETERNAL LIFE FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN HIM. BOTH THEIVES HAD EQUAL ACCESS TO THE SAVIOR, BUT ONLY ONE ACTED ON IT. IS THIS NOT THE PICTURE OF THE DIVISION OF OPINION ON OUR ETERNAL FATE.
POINT THREE: THE FIRST CROSS DEATH IN SIN
THE QUESTION COULD RIGHTFULLY BE ASKED, “HOW COULD A MAN AT ARMS LENGTH FROM JESUS, WHO IS ALWAYS READY TO FORGIVE, CHOOSE TO DIE IN SIN.
LET ME SAY THAT I WILL ANSWER THAT QUESTION IF YOU WILL FIRST ANSWER A QUESTION FOR ME. CHRIST IS JUST AS AVAILABLE TO YOU TONIGHT, AND JUST AS READY TO FORGIVE YOU OF YOUR SIN AS HE WAS TO FORGIVE GESTAS AT CALVARY, SO MY QUESTION IS; “WHY HAVE YOU CHOSEN, THUS FAR, TO DIE IN YOUR SIN.
ALL PEOPLE WHO DIE IN THEIR SINS DO SO FOR THE SAME REASONS:
1. DEATH IN SIN COMES BECAUSE OF AN UNBELIEF IN CHRIST.
LUKE 23:39: 39ONE OF THE CRIMINALS HANGING THERE MADE FUN OF JESUS. HE SAID, “AREN’T YOU THE CHRIST? SAVE YOURSELF! SAVE US!”
WHAT THE THIEF WAS ACTUALLY SAYING IS THAT “YOU ARE NOT THE CHRIST, OR YOU WOULD SAVE US.” HE WASY SAYING THEAT JESUS WAS JUST AN ORDINARY MAN WHO DID NOT HAVE THE POWER TO SAVE. WHY WOULD A MAN WHO HAD THE POWER TO COME OFF THE CROSS AND LIVE, AND TAKE THEM WITH HIM, NOT CHOOSE TO DO SO? THE ONLY REASONABLE ANSWER WAS THAT HE COULDN’T.
HOW MANY OF YOU HERE TONIGHT ARE HAUNTED BY THAT SAME THOUGHT? HERE WAS A MAN TO DIE, AND A CHRISTLESS ETERNITY HELD NO HORROR FOR HIM. PERHAPS HE BELIEVED THERE IS NOTHING AFTER DEATH, SO IN A LITTLE WHILE THE PAIN THAT HE WAS IN AND HIS EARTHLY JOURNEY WOULD BE OVER AND THAT WOULD BE IT.
PERHAPS SOME OF YOU HERE TONIGHT FEEL THE SAME WAY. IF SO, MY HEART IS SAD FOR YOU. PAUL TEACHES:
1 CORINTHIANS 15:12-19:
12 WE HAVE PREACHED THAT CHRIST HAS BEEN RAISED FROM THE DEAD. SO HOW CAN SOME OF YOU SAY THAT NO ONE RISES FROM THE DEAD? 13IF NO ONE RISES FROM THE DEAD, THEN NOT EVEN CHRIST HAS BEEN RAISED. 14AND IF CHRIST HAS NOT BEEN RAISED, WHAT WE PREACH DOESN’T MEAN ANYTHING. YOUR FAITH DOESN’T MEAN ANYTHING EITHER. 15MORE THAN THAT, WE WOULD BE LYING ABOUT GOD. WE HAVE GIVEN WITNESS THAT GOD RAISED CHRIST FROM THE DEAD. BUT HE DID NOT RAISE HIM IF THE DEAD ARE NOT RAISED. 16IF THE DEAD ARE NOT RAISED, THEN CHRIST HAS NOT BEEN RAISED EITHER. 17AND IF CHRIST HAS NOT BEEN RAISED, YOUR FAITH DOESN’T MEAN ANYTHING. YOUR SINS HAVE NOT BEEN FORGIVEN. 18THOSE WHO HAVE DIED BELIEVING IN CHRIST ARE ALSO LOST. 19DO WE HAVE HOPE IN CHRIST ONLY FOR THIS LIFE? THEN PEOPLE SHOULD PITY US MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE.
THE THIEF ON THE CROSS WAS SO CLOSE TO CHRIST BUT STILL WITH NO HOPE. HE HEARD CHRIST’S WORDS OF FORGIVENESS BUT WOULDN’T APPLY THEM TO HIMSELF.
HOW CLOSE TO CHRIST ARE YOU TONIGHT? HE IS ONLY A PRAYER AWAY, BUT UNLESS YOU PRAY FOR SALVATION, YOU ARE STILL ETERNALLY SEPARATED.
CONSIDER WHAT YOU ARE GIVING UP IF YOU BELIEVE IN NOTHING AFTER DEATH.
1. AN ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS.
PROVERBS 18:24: EVEN A MAN WHO HAS MANY COMPANIONS CAN BE DESTROYED. BUT THERE IS A FRIEND WHO STICKS CLOSER THAN A BROTHER.
2. HEAVEN.
REVELATION 21:1-4:
I SAW A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH. THE FIRST HEAVEN AND THE FIRST EARTH WERE COMPLETELY GONE. THERE WAS NO LONGER ANY SEA. 2I SAW THE HOLY CITY, THE NEW JERUSALEM. IT WAS COMING DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN FROM GOD. IT WAS PREPARED LIKE A BRIDE BEAUTIFULLY DRESSED FOR HER HUSBAND. 3I HEARD A LOUD VOICE FROM THE THRONE. IT SAID, “NOW GOD MAKES HIS HOME WITH PEOPLE. HE WILL LIVE WITH THEM. THEY WILL BE HIS PEOPLE. AND GOD HIMSELF WILL BE WITH THEM AND BE THEIR GOD. 4HE WILL WIPE AWAY EVERY TEAR FROM THEIR EYES. THERE WILL BE NO MORE DEATH OR SADNESS. THERE WILL BE NO MORE CRYING OR PAIN. THINGS ARE NO LONGER THE WAY THEY USED TO BE.”
3. REUNION WITH LOVED ONES:
HEBREWS 11:16: INSTEAD, THEY LONGED FOR A BETTER COUNTRY. THEY WANTED ONE IN HEAVEN. SO GOD IS PLEASED WHEN THEY CALL HIM THEIR GOD. IN FACT, HE HAS PREPARED A CITY FOR THEM.
ALL THESE THINGS AND MANY MORE ARE WHAT WE WILL INHERIT BECAUSE OF SALVAATION. YOU ON THE OTHER HAND ARE CHOOSING TO HAVE NO OPPORTUNITY AT ALL FOR ANY OF THIS. YOUR CHOICE IS THE GRAVE AND THEN NOTHING.
THE REALITY FOR THE THIEF THOUGH IS THAT HIS CHOICE NOT TO SURRENDER TO CHRIST WAS FAR LESS THAN NOTHING. THERE IS A PLACE OF DESTINATION FOR THE SOUL WHO DOES NOT CLAIM CHRIST. THIS PLACE OF ETERNAL SEPARATION IS WHAT YOU ARE CHOOSING.
2. DEATH IN SIN COMES BECAUSE IT IS A JUST PUNISHMENT FOR SIN.
DEATH IS A JUST PUNISHMENT FOR SIN. PAUL TEACHES
ROMANS 6:23: WHEN YOU SIN, THE PAY YOU GET IS DEATH.
DEATH HAS BEEN A PART OF OUR LIVES EVER SINCE SIN ENTERED OUR LIVES.
GEN. 3:19: YOU WILL HAVE TO WORK HARD AND SWEAT A LOT TO PRODUCE THE FOOD YOU EAT. YOU WERE MADE OUT OF THE GROUND. AND YOU WILL RETURN TO IT. YOU ARE DUST. SO YOU WILL RETURN TO IT.”
DEATH IS A CONSTANT REMINDER THAT WE HAVE ALL SINNED FOR WE WILL ALL DIE SAVE FOR THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH.
ROMANS 3:23: EVERYONE HAS SINNED. NO ONE MEASURES UP TO GOD’S GLORY.
THE DEATH OF THE PASSOVER LAMB WAS THE SACRIFICE FOR SIN IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, AND THE DEATH OF JESUS ON THE CROSS WAS THE PASSOVER LAMB FOR THE NEW COVENANT.
FOR THE THIEF ON THE CROSS TO SAY NO TO CHRIST, FOR YOU TO SAY NO TO CHRIST, MEANS THAT DESPITE JESUS GRACE AND MERCY IN SACRIFICING HIS LIFE FOR YOURS ON THE CROSS, THAT YOU ARE CONSCIOUSLY COOSING TO WALK AWAY FROM HIS GRACIOUS GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE IN HEAVEN, AND CHOOSING INSTEAD TO SPEND ETENITY SEPARATED FROM HIM IN HELL. THE CHOICE THOUGH IS TOTALLY YOURS TO MAKE, AS ARE THE REWARDS AND CONSEQUENCES.
POINT FOUR: DEATH TO SIN: THE SECOND THIEF
AS DEATH APPROACHED THAT DAY AT CALVARY, ONE THIEF CHOSE NOT TO CHANGE HIS WAYS. ANOTHER THOUGH FOUND THE ANSWER TO HIS NEED OF SALVATION. WHO CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT GOD DOES TO ALLOW ONE TO SEE THE NEED OF SALVATION AND THEIR SINFULLNES, BUT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE CROSS AND THE GRAVE THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SECOND THIEF.
HIS NAME ACCORDING TO HISTORY WAS DISMAS. IT IS IN THE STORY OF THE SECOND THIEF THAT WE CAN LEARN THE PLAN OF SALVATION.
FIRST: DEATH TO SIN COMES WITH AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF PERSONAL GUILT. NOT ONLY DID THIS THIEF ACKNOWLEDGE THE INNOCENSE OF CHRIST, HE ALSO STATED THAT THEY WERE SENTENCED JUSTLY. THEY HAD COMMITTED THE CRIMES THEY WERE CONDEMNED FOR.
WHAT A REVERSAL OF FORTUNE FOR THIS MAN. HE HUNG HELPLESS ON HIS CROSS AWAITING DEATH. HE HAD NO HOPE. OH HOW THIS IS LIKE THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE CHRIST IN THEIR LIVES.
SECOND: DEATH TO SIN COMES BECAUSE OF A BELIEF IN CHRIST.
THIS MAN HOWEVER REACHED OUT TO CHRIST IN FAITH, ASKING TO BE REMEMBERED WHEN JESUS SET UP HIS FUTURE KINGDOM. THE SUPREME IRONY IS THAT THE CRIMINAL RIGHTFULLY BEING EXECUTED FOR HIS CRIMES, BECAUSE OF HIS EXPRESSION OF FAITH, WAS INFINITELY BETTER OFF THAN ISREAL’S HIGH PRIEST, WHO BY HIS REJECTION OF GOD’S SON WAS ETERNALLY DAMNED.
THIS THIEF IS THE PRIMARY EXAMPLE OF A DEATHBED CONFESSION. HE DID NOT KNOW ALL HE ASKED, BUT HE HAD ENOUGH FAITH TO ASK TO BE A PART OF WHATEVER JESUS WAS UP TO. HE PUT HIS FAITH IN JESUS. HE SAUGHT ETERNAL BLESSINGS BEYOND THE CRUEL DEATH HE WAS ENDURING.
CHRIST’S PROMISE TO THE THIEF EXTENDS TO ALL WHO BELIEVE IN HIM. WHEN WE CALL ON HIM FOR SALVATION, ACKNOWLEDGING OUR SIN AND SEEKING HIS SALVATION, HE RESPONDS WITH A WORD FOR TODAY. YOU TOO, MAY EXPERIENCE LIFE IN CHRIST’S KINGDOM BY BELIEVING IN HIM.
THIRD: DEATH TO SIN COMES BECAUSE OF A SURRENDER TO CHRIST.
THIS THIEF ANTICIPATES THE RESURRECTION AND A COMING KINGDOM. HE ASKS TO BE INCLUDED. HIS DEPTH OF PERCEPTION STANDS IN CONTRAST TO THE SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS OF THOSE AROUND HIM. THIS MAN, DESPITE A LIFE FULL OF SIN, COMES TO CHRIST ANS ASKS FORGIVENESS IN HIS LAST MORTAL MOMENTS. HE CONFESSES HIS GUILT AND CASTS HIMSELF ON JESUS’ MERCY AND SAVING GRACE. LUKE COULD NOT HAVE PAINTED A CLEARER PORTRAIT OF GOD’S GRACE.
THIS THIEF STANDS IN OPPOSITION TO THOSE WHO THINK THEY HAVE SINNED SO DESPERATELY THAT THERE IS NO HOPE FOR THEM. THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE IN CHRIST. THE TIME FOR SALVATION IS NOW.
THIS THIEF WAS A GREAT SOURCE OF COMFORT TO JESUS WHILE HE WAS ON THE CROSS. JESUS’ COMFORT IS IN THIS MAN’S SALVATION. THOUGH THE WORLD REJECTED HIM, THIS ONE MAN STILL BOWED TO HIM AND ACKNOWLEDGED HIM AS KING OF KINGS.
THIS ASSURANCE CAN BE YOURS TONIGHT, BY DOING AS THIS THIEF DID. ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU ARE A SINNER AND ASK CHRIST INTO YOUR LIFE.
POINT FIVE: DEATH FOR SIN
BECAUSE THERE WAS NO OTHER WAY CHRIST DIED FOR US:
ONE MAN DIED IN SIN, ONE MAN DIED TO SIN, BUT ONLY CHRIST WAS ABLE TO DIE FOR SIN.
IN THIS PASSAGE WE SEE THE SAVING NATURE OF JESUS REVEALED EVEN IN HIS DEATH. LUKE WANTED HIS READERS TO KNOW THAT JESUS OF NAZARETH EVEN IN HIS DEATH, ESPECIALLY IN HIS DEATH, WAS THE PROMISED CHRIST, THE KING OF THE JEWS, AND THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD
THERE WAS NO OTHER WAY FOR OUR SINS TO BE FORGIVEN. THERE WAS NO OTHER WAY APPROVED BY GOD.
1 PETER 2:24: HE HIMSELF CARRIED OUR SINS IN HIS BODY ON THE CROSS. HE DID IT SO THAT WE WOULD DIE AS FAR AS SINS ARE CONCERNED. THEN WE WOULD LEAD GODLY LIVES. HIS WOUNDS HAVE MADE YOU WHOLE.
ACTS 4:12: YOU CAN’T BE SAVED BY BELIEVING IN ANYONE ELSE. GOD HAS GIVEN US NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN THAT WILL SAVE US.”
ILLUSTRATION OF THE JUDGE:
CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS BECAUSE IT WAS THE ONLY WAY HE COULD BE JUST AND MERCIFUL.
SECOND: BECAUSE OF HIS DIVINE LOVE CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SIN.
ROMANS 5:6-9:
6AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME CHRIST DIED FOR UNGODLY PEOPLE. HE DIED FOR US WHEN WE HAD NO POWER OF OUR OWN. 7IT IS UNUSUAL FOR ANYONE TO DIE FOR A GODLY PERSON. MAYBE SOMEONE WOULD BE WILLING TO DIE FOR A GOOD PERSON. 8BUT HERE IS HOW GOD HAS SHOWN HIS LOVE FOR US. WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US. 9THE BLOOD OF CHRIST HAS MADE US RIGHT WITH GOD. SO WE ARE EVEN MORE SURE THAT JESUS WILL SAVE US FROM GOD’S ANGER.
CONCLUSION:
WHAT JESUS ACCOMPLISHED ON THE CROSS WAS AN ETERNAL TRANSACTION THAT INVOLVED HIM AND THE FATHER. JESUS DID NOT DIE AS A MARTYR WHO FAILED IN A LOST CAUSE. NOR WAS HE ONLY AN EXAMPLE FOR PEOPLE TO FOLLOW. ISAIAH 53 MAKES IT CLEAR THAT JESUS DID NOT DIE FOR HIS OWN SINS, BECAUSE HE HAD NONE; HE DIED FOR OUR SINS. HE MADE HIS SOUL AN OFFERING FOR SIN.
EACH OF US MUST FACE UP TO THE CLAIMS OF BOTH HIS PERSON AND HIS DEATH, DECIDING EITHER FOR HIM OR AGAINST HIM. AS WE LOOK AT CALVARY TODAY, DO YOU SEE THE THREE CROSSES. THERE ARE ONLY TWO THAT YOU CAN CHOOSE FROM. YOU CANNOT DIE FOR SIN. YOU CAN ONLY CHOOSE TO DIE IN IT, OR TO IT. WHICH CROSS WILL YOU BEAR?
