If Crosses Could Speak.
Luke 23:39-43NKJV
Visual illustration—Have 3 crosses on stage, with the middle cross draped with purple, but at the end overlap the middle cross with white.
Through the criminals on the cross, we see that death exposes the human heart.
At the climax of a lifetime’s interaction with sinners, we see Jesus between two criminals. One joins the mockers and dies with his sins. The other admits his guilt, acknowledges Jesus’ majesty and seeks His mercy.
This entire episode is found in Luke 23:33–43. However, I will only look at 5 verses this morning.
The title of this mornings message is—If Crosses Could Speak.
The fact is these three crosses on Golgotha’s Hill did speak. They spoke volumes. They spoke of character, fruit, gifts and the works of the flesh, and it spells out what these men hanging on them truly believed.
One man said, “As the pressure of life are turned-up, the heart of man speaks out.”
Luke 23:39-43NKJV Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”
40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
The TM Bible say’s of Luke 23, verse 39, One of the criminals hanging alongside cursed him: “Some Messiah you are! Save yourself! Save us!”
This criminal was a hard core man, he had lived his life as a hardened criminal. His life emptied by this world. His only regret was that he got caught.
Jesus stated this in, Matthew 15:17-20ESV Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”
This man was hell bent, and he never looked back. His heart was filled with evil, and he sure wasn’t going to change now.
His thought while hanging on that cross was: “Maybe, just maybe, I can con this Jesus to save me as he saves Himself. After all, I die and that’s it!”
His famous last words were filled with cursing and blasphemy. His heart spoke out. This man railed on Jesus until the end, dying in his sins. P.H
The second criminal spoke out—Luke 23:40AMP But the other one rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
No, fact is, he had no fear of God, it was all just a joke to him.
This second criminal, gave the hardened-crime -ridden-man one last word—“Don’t you even fear God….”
Proverbs 1:7NKJV The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
The fear of God—makes you walk softly, never taking anything, or anyone for granted— Especially God. Walking in the fear of God, means you remember where you were, and where you were headed. P.H
Paul writes in, Romans 6:23AMP For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God [that is, His remarkable, overwhelming gift of grace to believers] is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Perhaps, the second thief, or criminal, had heard of God, but for many years, he did his own life. A life of crime—a life of taking what didn’t belong to him.
Upon interviewing hardened criminals most say the same thing:
“I once felt bad about my actions, but later my remorse seemed to be removed.”
This second criminal knew his life was going in the wrong direction, but he too continued doing his own thing throughout life.
Again, Romans 6:23TM Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God’s gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master.
Maybe someone had taken him to a temple as a young lad, maybe he had a parent or grandparent praying for his eternal soul. Maybe he once attended AWANA, or perhaps Children’s church.
Paul gives every person this stern warning—Romans 6:12-14NKJV Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
This criminal came to his senses while hanging upon this cross of death.
This second thief stated in Luke 23:41-42AMP We are suffering justly, because we are getting what we deserve for what we have done; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he was saying, “Jesus, [please] remember me when You come into Your kingdom!”
For me it’s remarkable that, while in the excruciating and mind-numbing torment of the cross, the Son of Man—Jesus, had the heart, mind, and will, to pray for others.
Yet it is a miracle that one thief, while in agony himself, heard the Spirit of God call him to repentance and acceptance of the forgiveness God was just about to provide through the death of Christ.
Think about this—While the disciples were abandoning the Lord, this thief answered the call, and his sins were forgiven.
He experienced what I call—death bed repentance and salvation. It’s very uncommon, because of the life and years leading up to this, and the hardening of the heart. P.H
Say, “Only Jesus!”
Luke 23:43ESV And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Two thieves—and one Savior!
What’s the Saviors testimony? Here’s seven last words He spoke from the cross.
Luke 23:34 "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Everything Jesus is and ever was, is about forgiveness. Jesus offers forgiveness, so you too can offer and receive forgiveness. P.H
As the old song goes—“What can wash away my sins, what can make me whole again, Nothing but the blood of Jesus!”
2. Luke 23:43 "Today you will be with me in paradise.”
Today, not tomorrow, but today! No man is beyond hope of redemption in whose soul still lingers some fear of God.
3. John 19:26 ”Jesus said to his mother, ’Dear woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple ’Here is your mother’”
To me, Mary the mother of Jesus, represents those getting on in years. However, at the Cross there’s no age barrier, no sex barrier, for all who come to Jesus are part of his household.
Paul stated in Ephesians, “That you become part of the family of God.”
4. Matt. 27:46 "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me.”
Abraham Kuyper— “Christ’s self-emptying was not a single act or bereavement, but a growing poorer and poorer, until at last nothing was left to Him but a piece of ground where He could weep, a Cross where He could die, and a tomb where He could be raised!”
Again Jesus’ words—“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me!”
5. John 19:28 "I thirst.”
The prophetic 22nd Psalm which anticipated our Lord’s passion speaks graphically of his condition, "I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.” (Psalm 22:14-15)
Yes, our Savior’s sufferings were real. Although Jesus was divine, He was also uniquely man and felt all the emotions and pain as we feel them.
The Bible says, “He was touched with the feelings of our infirmities.” (Hebrews 4:15-16).
6. John 19:30 "It is finished.”
Notice, Jesus didn’t say—"I am finished,” but rather, "It is finished."
“It was a shout of victory over sin, death and hell!” P.H
7. Luke 23:46 "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
Jesus once said these words—I have authority to lay it down (His life) and authority to take it up again.
And then the angel spoke to the women at the tomb of Jesus, “He’s not here, He has risen!”
Benediction.
