Introductory Comments
1. Today we go back together nearly 2,000 years. We go to a place called Calvary or the Skull. Picture the scene as three crosses stand on the hill and on each of them is a man who will soon meet his death. If we were living at this time, there would not be that much unusual about the scene. For it was common for criminals to crucified on a cross, almost a weekly event. It was a horrible death, but an effective deterrent to crime.
2. But on this day, there was something different. - For among those who were to be killed, there was one who claimed to be God Himself. One who was called Jesus. And His death would change things forever. His cross would become a symbol of hope forever and throughout the earth. It is because of Him and what happened to Him on that day, that we gather weekly to worship Him.
3. But today our focus is not primarily on the cross on which our Lord hung, but on the crosses that stood beside His - one on the left and one on the right. Our focus is on the two criminals that hung on these two crosses.
Teaching
1. These two men were both thieves, they are both guilty of sin. Matthew says that. at first, they both heaped insults on Jesus. They were both experiencing the agony of crucifixion. They were both about to die and both want to escape that death. They both heard Jesus say "Father, Forgive them for they do not know what they are doing." They both see the sign which says "This is the King of the Jews". They both see Jesus and the peace with which He suffered. And yet each one responds to Jesus in a different manner.
2. As we see how they respond, I ask you, how do you respond? For as we will see, although we are not robbers or criminals, we may be more like these two than we think. And we also need to make the choice as to how to respond. The most important choice you will ever make in your life.
3. As we said both men wanted to be saved. They both knew the claims of Jesus. That He was the Messiah who would come to save the people from their enemies - the Romans who were the ones who were crucifying them.
4. But by now only one of the two was insulting Jesus. And in a derogatory, mocking way he says "Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us." "If you are really who you say you are, why don’t you save the three of us. Show us who you are by your actions, prove it." He is asking Jesus to save him as a last resort. There seems to be no other way out, so why not try this way. John Piper refers to this approach to God as "car-jack theology." If you are real, God, get me out of this mess. A car-jack is a dirty, useless thing to be kept out of sight until you have a flat tire (a little difficulty). Then you get it out, let it do the dirty work and put it away again. "If you're such a good car-jack, jack me down off this cross, Jesus. Jack me up out of this sickness, out of this financial mess, out of this lousy job."
5. The problem is that such an attitude shows no brokenness or repentance. But that is the way we sometimes come to God. "If you are there help me, is that not what you are there for God." This approach to God does not work. The thief would not be saved - either from His death or from the fires of hell.
6. But the other thief has parted ways with the first one. As we said he had also mocked Jesus. But now, all of sudden, he seems to have changed. John Calvin, shares with us, in a powerful way, how this sudden change was the work of God:
a. In this wretched man there is held out to us a singular picture of the unexpected and unbelievable grace of God, first that he was suddenly changed in the hour of death into a new man, from the gate of hell raised to heaven, then that he won pardon in a moment for all the crimes in which his whole life had been sunk, so as to be received into heaven before the Apostles and the first-fruits of the new Church. First a shining instance of God's grace is seen in the conversion of this man. It was not by the native instinct of the flesh that he changed his cruel brutality and proud contempt for God to an instant repentance, but by the leading-of the hand of God. As all Scripture teaches, penitence is His work. The grace is all the more excellent in coming contrary to anyone's expectation. Who would ever have thought that a thief in his last breath would have become both a devout servant of God and a leading teacher of faith and devotion to the whole world, so that we too may seek from his lips the rule of true and proper confession?
7. Even on the cross, just before the moment of death, God could still change His heart and His eternal destiny.
8. Some of you this morning may be in church, but you really have not placed your trust in Christ, you have not had a change of heart and are still lost in your sin. Or you may know some people - family, friends, neighbours - who seem lost beyond hope. We see, however, that the unexpected can still be reached by the grace of God. Praise His holy name.
9. And, as John Calvin says, this man "a leading teacher of faith and devotion to the whole world, so that we too may seek from his lips the rule of true and proper confession." For I ask you today, is your confession true and proper? Do you know for sure that your salvation is true? Listen to the thief’s confession and ask yourself if you share that which he confesses.
10. First, he rebukes the first thief. "Don’t you fear God?" "Is God someone to be mocked or ridiculed? Someone whose name we use to curse others or to be material for our jokes or comedy shows?" The first step to or the first evidence of his faith or confession is a fear of the Lord. A recognition that God is holy and to be praised and honoured above all. Only when we see ourselves in the light of God’s holiness and power do we see ourselves as we really are. To know God is to know ourselves. And then we do have a fear of God, because we know that on our own we cannot stand before Him and live. We certainly cannot take Him too lightly.
11. How do you respond to God? Do you find it funny when jokes are made about Him? Does it hurt you when others use His name in vain? Is He someone you take seriously? Who do you fear more - what others think?
12. Jesus says: Luke 12:4-5 "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him."
13. Second, the repentant thief admitted that he had done wrong. He says "We are punished justly, for we are getting what our sins deserve." He did not try to hide or justify His sins. How often do we not try to act like there is no sin or little sin in our lives. Perhaps the worst message or witness that the church sends to the world today is that we are without sin. It is so much easier to talk about the sin out there than it is to confess our own sin. It is self-deception and it sends a message to the world that it is better to hide sin than to confess it.
14. I was surprised at some of the response of the series we have just finished on the 7 deadly sins. God spoke to many of us and convicted us of pride, anger, greed, envy, lust, gluttony and sloth. I hope we are dealing with these sins but don’t deny they are still there.
15. Yes God is holy and we fall short but hear what He says.
Isa 57:15 For this is what the high and lofty One says-- he who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit..."
16. Unless we confess our sin, unless we admit that we deserve to be hanging on that cross with those thieves and with our Lord, our faith is a pretense and one day we will find out when it is too late. For we can even confess our sins but not feel we deserve to be punished. The thief said His punishment was deserved.
17. Genuine faith is faith that is also centred on Christ and who He is. Not a good man, or a prophet, or a teacher, but as God Himself. The man wanted entry in to Jesus’ kingdom. The Spirit revealed to Him that Jesus would rule.
18. He knew that Jesus did not sin - that He had done nothing wrong. We must be aware of those so-called Christians that deny the divinity of Christ. Their confession, their faith is false. We must accept fact that Jesus is God.
19. And then we see how humbly we are to ask Jesus to help us. The first thief asked Jesus to save Him. But the repentant one said "Remember me." Our coming to God is not to demand forgiveness but a humble request that He remember us. That He do that which He would do with us. That we seek His mercy and grace but we acknowledge He is the one to choose whether or not to extend it to us.
20. How would we react if after a life-long of serving God, of attending church, of studying His word, of giving or time and money - God were to say "Sorry, there is no place for you in heaven." Would we get upset and remind God of all we had done? Would we feel that it was not fair? Or would we say to God that He had the right to choose? That we do not deserve a place in His kingdom?
21. If we are honest, many of us, if not all, would respond the that we would react the first way.
22. Friends imagine that we are on that hill with Christ. That we are on the cross beside Him. What would we say to Him? Would we fear God? Would we admit our sin and unworthiness? Would we acknowledge that we do not deserve His grace?
23. If we would, Jesus would turn to us and say "Today you will be with me in paradise." One day we will be facing the end of our earthly life. I doubt if we will be hanging on a cross, but what joy it will be if we face that death hearing our Lord say "Today you will be with me in heaven, in paradise." Will He say those words to you?
