The Last Confession
Before James W. Rodgers was executed by a firing squad, he was made a final statement requesting that he may be given a bulletproof vest. Rodgers had been convicted by the State of Utah (USA) for murder and was sentenced to death. His request for a bulletproof vest can be considered to be sarcastic, meaning he never meant it. Or probably he was serious, he didn’t want to die so that vest could have saved his life unless if he was to be shot in the head. When people realise that they are at the point of death they usually say out what is deep inside their hearts, the death bed is no place for jokes, most are very sincere in what they say just before they die.
At the death bed the unfaithful wife confesses to her husband that the first born is not his child. It is at the point of death when a person reveals the deep secrets they have been concealing for several years, it is at the point of death when a father gives the final charge to those who are gathered around his bed. Some even go on to ban certain people from their funeral wake, “I don’t want to see him at my funeral”. A dead person cannot see, so either way whether the barred person comes or does not, the dead man will not see him. Nevertheless a person’s last words are taken very seriously.
Even the last words of Jesus before He died on the cross: “it is finished” (John 19:30) have been a source of many sermons and lessons as Preachers try to explain what He meant was finished.
We are living in the last days, the Bible prophecies tell us so. Even the signs are showing, therefore our words and conduct ought to reflect that indeed we are in the last days.
The two criminals
In this sermon we want to consider two particular individuals who were at their point of death and the words which they spoke.
Luke 23:32-33 (NKJV) There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.
When Jesus Christ was crucified, on his sides there were two criminals who had been sentenced to death, these two are our focus in this message.
Matthew 27:39-42 (NKJV) And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, "You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross." Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, "He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him.
Those who looked upon Christ as He hung on the cross mocked Him. No mockery was done to the two Robbers but only Jesus. You see the devil mocks those who are in right standing with God. The chief priests who had plotted the death of Jesus via the cross, where the very people who challenged Him to come down from it. These religious leaders had stirred the people to ask for the release of Barabbas a notorious criminal and have Christ crucified (Mark 15:11-13). Now that He was on the cross where they wanted Him to be, they challenged Him to come down from it, what a confused bunch.
The chief priests had failed to believe Jesus in His three and half years of ministry, after all the teachings He did, the prophecies He fulfilled, the miracles He performed and the way He lived His life, they still didn't believe Him. But as Jesus was on the cross they said if He comes down from it they would believe him. What a blatant lie. Jesus never bothered to perform the requested miracle to prove that He was the son of God. Just as He refused to perform any miracle in the wilderness as He was tempted by Satan in order to prove that He was the Son of God (Luke 4:1-13), here again He did not give in to their demands.
The First Criminal
Luke 23:39 (NKJV) Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us."
Of all the people, one of the thieves joined in the mockery which others were doing. If you are the Christ save yourself together with us also.
This man was at the point of death, he probably had a few hours or even minutes left before he dies. You would expect him to make a careful choice of his words. He was right next to Christ who had power to forgive sins, this was an opportunity for him to confess his sins so that in Judgement day he will have a clean record. But what does he do? He attacks Jesus
He is coping the words of people who are enemies of Jesus but those people are not yet dying, they have a tomorrow to repent and ask for forgiveness. But what about you Mr Robber? You don't have a tomorrow to make it right with God. Let us live each day as if it is our last day on earth for tomorrow is never guaranteed to anyone. Hundreds of thousands of people have gone to the grave from Covid-19, people who hope that they would finish this year alive. People who had plans for tomorrow but tomorrow never came for them.
James 4:14 (NKJV) whereas you DO NOT KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN TOMORROW. For what is your life? It is even a vapour that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
Save yourself and save us was the thief’s request, he wanted another opportunity at life in this world. He wanted to come back to this sin filled world probably so that he may continue with his thieving exploits. He had some unfinished business on this earth, so he wanted to be saved from the cross and be given another chance to live his life.
Some are praying that this menacing virus ends so that they may go back to the evil activities which have been disrupted by the pandemic. They want covid-19 to end so that they can go back night clubbing, they want Corona to end so that they can visit their ‘small houses’ (extra-marital affair partner). What is it that you want to do when Covid-19 ends? Do your plans in any way glorify God or you just want to fulfil lusts of the flesh.
It would only take a miracle for Jesus to save Himself and the two criminals from where they were and it is that miracle that the robber asked for. This robber represents the miracle-chasing-believers, who are in search of miracles for their benefit but have nothing to do with God’s word. If Jesus had escaped the cross together with the two criminals, will that in anyway fulfil the prophecies which related to the death & resurrection of Christ? The robber was not concerned about that, he just wanted the miracle to be performed for his benefit.
The devil’s message
Matthew 16:21-23 (NKJV) From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!" But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."
Jesus was supposed to die and rise again but Peter rebuked him for giving that prophecy. A disciple wanted to correct His master by telling Him that none of the things He said were going to happen. Peter had a good message (at least to himself) but it was not in line with what God had set out. Be careful of preachers who tell you a message which excites your ears but which is not in accordance with the will of God. Peter was preaching peace and safety when sudden destruction was coming. Jesus reproved him and in His words He reveals that the source of this message was not Peter but Satan hence the words “Get behind Me, Satan”.
Satan is mindful of the things of men, that which excites the flesh of unconverted sinners is his core business and has no concern with the things of God. He preaches a gospel which is not a gospel at all which is targeted at fulfilling the wants of men rather than the things of God. ‘I see you driving a fancy car, I see you owning a mansion, I see you being rich, receive your money, receiving your job promotion’, things of men, never the things of God. There is nothing wrong in one having material possessions which are obtained in a way which God approves but the moment we take acquiring wealth as our core business as Christians then we have lost the mission that God has given us.
The same message preached by Satan through Peter was now being repeated by the thief on the cross. ‘Save yourself, you don't have to die, You are the son of God’
The Other Criminal
Luke 23:40-41 (NKJV) But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.
The other robber rebuked his colleague, a criminal rebuking another criminal. Though we might all be sinners in need of grace, we must rebuke each other in love when one of us in error. Don't fear those who are quick to scream ‘judge not’ when you are actually not judging but correcting those who are in error.
1 Timothy 5:20 (NKJV) “Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.”
In his rebuke, he questions the other robber as to whether he feared God. Indeed we must call upon the world to fear God. Just as the 1st angel that John saw flying in the midst of heaven having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth--to every nation, tribe, tongue, saying with a loud voice, "FEAR GOD and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water." (Revelation 14:6-7)
The everlasting gospel calls us to fear God. This doesn't mean to be scared of him. Yes we ought to be reverent when it comes to God but over and above that to fear God means to be obedient to Him. The first robber preached a devil’s message which tempted Christ to come down from the cross, but the second robber preached the truth which called upon his ‘cross-mate’ to fear God.
The robber goes on to exonerate Christ, though he is a robber he appreciates that Christ did nothing wrong deserving of death, something which the chief priests did not appreciate. In our last hours on earth we need to vindicate God. Christ has been accused of so many things and as His followers we have a mandate to set the record clear
After preaching to his fellow, the thief did not end there. We must not just end at preaching to others. We must also preach to ourselves and seek salvation. As Paul said on 1 Corinthians 9:27 (NKJV) But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
Luke 23:42 (NKJV) Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."
He turns to Jesus and asks to be remembered when He comes into His kingdom. Somehow the thief knows that Jesus has a kingdom which is not of this world which He is going into and he wants to remembered in that very kingdom. Though on earth, in the kingdom which was under Caesar, he desired to be in the kingdom of God. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33)
Colossians 3:1-2 (NKJV) If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth
As the robber was with Christ, He sought for those things which are above, he didn’t set his mind on things on earth for he knew that this world will pass away.
Jesus never bothered to respond to the request made by the first thief but to this one he said "Assuredly, I say to you today, you will be with Me in Paradise." (Luke 23:43)
Jesus made a promise on that very day that the thief would join Him in Paradise not to mean that on the same day that’s when the thief was taken to Paradise, but the assurance was the one given on that day.
The Appeal
Time is short on this earth, we do not know what tomorrow holds. Live each day like it is your last day. James 2:12 says “So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty”. Speak and live in a way that shows that there is a judgment. Get your relationship right with Jesus. If there is anything we must prioritize more than anything is our salvation. Let our last confession and last years, days, hours, minutes and seconds of our lives testify of Jesus.
1 Peter 4:7 (NKJV) But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.
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