“Saved By The Cross”
Charles Colson in his book Kingdoms In Conflict, tells how
Back before the collapse of communism the government of Poland issued an order that all crucifixes were to be removed from classroom walls, just as they had been banned in factories, hospitals, and other public institutions. Many church leaders protested stirring waves of anger and resentment all across Poland.
Ultimately the government relented, insisting that the law remain on the books, but agreeing not to press for the removal of the crucifixes, particularly in the schoolrooms.
But one zealous Communist school administrator decided that the law was the law. So one evening he had seven large crucifixes removed from lecture halls where they had hung since the school’s founding in the twenties. Days later, a group of parents entered the school and hung more crosses. The administrator promptly had these crosses taken down as well.
The next day two-thirds of the school’s six hundred students staged a sit-in. When heavily armed riot police arrived, the students were forced into the streets. Then they marched, crucifixes held high, to a nearby church where they were joined by twenty-five hundred other students from nearby schools for a morning of prayer in support of the protest.
Soldiers surrounded the church. But the pictures from inside of students holding crosses high above their heads flashed around the world. So did the words of the priest who delivered the message to the weeping congregation that morning. "There is no Poland without a cross."
SUCH is the impact of the cross…
“But I when I am lifted up from the earth , will draw all men to myself.”
Jn 3:16
“The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it IS the power of God…” 1 Cor 1:18
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance, that Christ DIED for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was BURIED that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…” 1 Cor 15:3
We are in the 4th week of series of messages that we are calling the impact of the cross. What we have been doing in these messages is attempting to see how the cross impacted those who were there 2,000 years ago.
SO far, we have looked at the Roman soldiers who were unmoved by the cross (because of familiarity, prejudice against the people of God, and material possessions). And we’ve looked at the disciples who were distressed by the cross (because they were disillusioned with Jesus, they were distraught by the evil in the world and they were disappointed in themselves).
Last week, we looked at the cross from the perspective of Jesus’ enemies who were delighted by the cross (they envied, they feared and they hated Jesus.
TODAY, we want to look at the cross from the perspective of another person who was there – This morning we want to take a look at one of the thieves, who when he looked at the cross on that day 2,000 years ago – was SAVED….
Now there isn’t a whole lot of information about these guys in the bible – we meet them for only a brief moment in the final day of Jesus’ earthly life.
Here, is what Scripture says about these guys….
“Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals one on his right, the other on his left.” Luke 23:32-33
“In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.” Mt 27:44
“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” The he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:39-43
Like I said, not a whole lot of information – BUT nevertheless within those verses is a powerful story.
I mean, talk about a day NOT turning out as you’ve planned – when he woke up that Friday morning, all this thief had to look forward to; was pain, crucifixion and death. BUT before the day was over – he found himself in paradise with Jesus.
Listen – that’s the power – that’s the impact of the cross…. To the world it may seem foolish but to us who are being saved – the cross IS the power of God.
The way I want to approach our study today – is to take 5 snap shots of this thief’s Friday and see how the cross took him, from condemnation to salvation…
PRAYER……
In Snap Shot #1 we see a;
Condemned Man
He hadn’t slept all night. And it had nothing at all to do with the hardness of the prison floor or the dampness of the prison cell. He tossed and turned all night – as the frightening images of the Roman soldiers coming for him, relentlessly flashed through his mind. He had seen enough crucifixions to know what was about to happen to him.
All through the night, he found himself looking at his hands and his feet – touching the spots where the seven inch spikes would be driven through. They gave him some food the night before – he managed to keep it down for only a few minutes.
His stomach was in knots – his heart was pounding – his palms were sweating and His eyes were straining to see the sun rise through the narrow prison window, his ears were staining as well, waiting to hear the sounds of the Romans guards coming for him.
Never had he known such fear – and then the sun rose and as it did – the foot steps came, the prison door was opened… and he was being led to his death…He thought of fighting back of resisting BUT he knew that such action would only prolong the inevitable, and increase his agony.
As he made his way down the dark corridor he was literally a dead man walking….
Try to grasp what it would feel like to know that your death would happen before the sun went down…
I can only imagine how frightening being forced to stare into the eyes of death must be.
USA Today surveyed Rich Americans asking them what they would pay the most for? The wealthiest one percent of American families said that their number one desire was NOT; beauty, intellect, power or even love, BUT a place in heaven. The article said the rich would pay on the average $640,000 for the assurance of a place in heaven.
Billy Graham was once asked over the 4 decade that he has ministered to American Presidents which of the Presidents did he see the most? Who would you guess. The answer is Lyndon Johnson, reason for seeing him so much was that Johnson was afraid of death.
And Lydon Johnson was NOT the first, nor was he the last to be afraid of death.
The thief was a condemned man.
AND his crime. Matthew 27:38 says he was a robber. But not just any kind of robber. The Greek word that Matthew uses (Lestes) means, “one who uses violence to rob openly.” Therefore tthis guy was not the kind of thief, who just sneaks into a house steals, rather he was a violent man, much like the thief today who enjoys breaking into a home and commits what we know today as a ‘home invasion.’ Understand the thief on Calvary didn’t just want to steal property, he wanted to hurt people…
BUT not only was this man condemned physically (crucifixion) – he was also condemned spiritually. And not simply because he was a violent thief - but because he, like all mankind, was a sinner…
Paul in Romans chapter 3:10-18 quotes several old testament passages that point out the truth that all men are sinners…and that all men are condemned.
READ >> Romans 3:10-18
READ >> Romans 3:23
READ >> Romans 6:23
Snap shot # 1 is of a condemned man…
Snap shot # 2 is of a;
Crucified Man
You see, Like Jesus, this thief was going through the horrible, cruel & agonizing death by crucifixion – he was suffering. His hands & feet were painfully NAILED to a cross. Blood was streaming from those wounds – And his lungs were screaming with pain, JUST trying to breathe in one more breathe.
His legs were knotting with cramps, his lips were dry & swollen from the tremendous thirst. And there was nothing he could do to speed up or lessen the pain of the process. He would have to just hang there in utter agony – suffering until the guards would come by and break his legs, only then would he be allowed to die,
The snapshot of a crucified man is not a pretty one….
And do you know what? You don’t have to be nailed to a cross to suffer…
In my years of being a minister – I have seen many different circumstances and many types of situations NAIL people to the cross of suffering… Unfortunately it seems that there is more than enough pain & suffering in ‘this’ life to go around.
I know of people who are suffering right now in this body – some are battling a physical illness… They are doing all they can do to get better – and yet sometimes complete physical health seems to be only a fading dream.
I know people who are suffering right now because a loved one is battling a terminal disease (just yesterday, I received a call Wednesday night from a Shannon Jones who attended Central until she moved – her father is battling an aggressive terminal cancer and had a fall at the hospital that resulted in him being thrown into uncontrollable convulsions…
I know people who are suffering BECAUSE their marriage is falling a part – some even are wondering if it was ever together in the first place. They are suffering because their most important ‘human’ relationship IS draining the life right out of them….
I know parents who are suffering because their kids are walking down the wrong road and I know kids who are suffering because of broken homes, shattered dreams, and unfulfilled promises.
AND I also know people who are suffering because of the consequences of some sin, and they just can’t seem to bounce back…
Now, it’s not my intention today, to depress you – BUT – I just wanted to underscore the truth that perhaps the snap shot of some of our present circumstances, would be that of a suffering person.
The third snap shot of the thief on the cross – is often the result of this second snap shot;
In snap shot number 3; we see a:
Bitter Man
The thief was condemned and he was suffering, and all that pain and agony made him bitter. And while on that cross he poured out that bitterness on Jesus. Matthew says that he joined with the chief priests and taunted Jesus as he hung on that cross…
He more than likely had heard about Jesus – after all, Jesus was a very popular figure in Jerusalem at that time.
TRY to picture that scene in your mind… Three crosses… Three man nailed to their wooden grave. Three man; suffering, bruised, bleeding, three men all dying. And now picture two of them taunting and mocking the third…(seems kind of crazy – after all Jesus was not responsible for what they were going through… BUT they had become BITTER in their suffering.
Understand – suffering has the ‘potential’ to take you in one of two directions - it can develop character in you and help you to become MORE sympathetic towards others, BUT suffering can also make people very bitter (‘no one was there for me – why does everything have to happen to me – if I got to be in pain then look out world).
Suffering can make you a better perosn or a bitter person.
Listen - Far too many continue to carry the hurt, the pain and the suffering much longer than necessary…
One day, two monks were walking through the countryside. They were on their way to another village to help bring in the crops. As they walked, they spied an old woman sitting at the edge of a river. She was upset because there was no bridge, and she could not get across on her own. The first monk kindly offered, "We will carry you across if you would like." "Thank you," she said gratefully, accepting their help. So the two men joined hands, lifted her between them and carried her across the river. When they got to the other side, they set her down, and she went on her way.
After they had walked another mile or so, the second monk began to complain. "Look at my clothes," he said. "They are filthy from carrying that woman across the river. And my back still hurts from lifting her. I can feel it getting stiff." The first monk just smiled and nodded his head.
A few more miles up the road, the second monk griped again, "My back is hurting me so badly, and it is all because we had to carry that silly woman across the river! I cannot go any farther because of the pain." The first monk looked down at his partner, now lying on the ground, moaning. "Have you wondered why I am not complaining?" he asked. "Your back hurts because you are still carrying the woman. But I set her down five miles ago."
Maybe someone here needs to put down a load of pain & suffering that they should have set down miles ago.
And not only does suffering cause people to become bitter towards others - sometimes suffering can harden people’s heart to the point where they want nothing to do with God. They say, “don’t talk to me about christinaity, my child, spouse, parent - died.” Or “I’ve been praying for years for my marriage to get better and it’s only gotten worse”).
One angry women was so bitter about the injustice of God that she said, “God, if this is the way that you treat your friends, it’s no wonder that you don’t have too many…”
But do you know what really sticks out to me, the fact that even though this crucified thief taunted Jesus, Jesus did not lash back at him.
Question - DO you know why? because Jesus understood their anger, he understood their pain, he felt their frustration. Jesus was hurting too. AND Jesus knew that sometimes people in pain can get bitter.
After all Jesus was with the Father when Job after losing his ten children cried out; “Therefore I will not keep silent, I will speak out in the Anguish of my spirit, I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.” (Job 7:11)
And Jesus was there when Jeremiah in the midst of suffering and disappointment spokes these words to God. “Why is my pain unending and my wound grievous and incurable? Will you be to me like a deceptive brook, like a spring that fails.” (Jer 15:18).
Maybe like Job & like Jeremiah you’re hurting & frustrated right now – and you think that God doesn’t care or understand. LISTEN - If that’s where you are – may I say to you – “Look at the cross”
Understand – there is NO loneliness, NO rejection, No physical pain, No betrayal, No emotional stress that you will ever go through that Jesus didn’t experience himself…
Isaiah in the 53rd chapter of His book verse 3 said that, Christ was despised and rejected by men – that he was a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering…
Listen to what the Hebrew writer says about the suffering of Christ…
“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions, with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death…” Heb 5:7
UNDERSTAND THAT Jesus knows about suffering – before you were born he had already walked a mile in your shoes…
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin.” Hebrews 4:15
NOW, for the 4th snap shot of the thief;
In this snap shot we see a:
A Changed Man
In my years of ministry – not only have I seen snap shots of people who are suffering – BUT one of the things that lights my fire, gets me stoked - is to see the snap shots of people who have made major changes in their lives…
To see people turn away from the things of the world, and turn to God – to watch them go DEEPER in their walk is awesome! To see people change and become that ‘new creation’ in Christ ROCKS!!!
AND I’m looking at some of those snap shots right now – and I am stoked!!!
Sometime between 9’ O’clock in the morning when he was crucified with Jesus and noon when the sky turned black for 3 hours – the thief completely changed as evidenced by his attitude towards Jesus.
Not only does he no longer taunt Jesus, BUT he tells the other thief to stop..
Question – what was it that caused such a drastic and noticeable change in this man’s thinking?
Now, the scripture doesn’t tell us exactly – BUT I don’t think it is too hard to figure out why, I believe that the way Jesus faced death – convinced this man of who Jesus was…
The thief had watched Jesus for hours – he saw the way he handled it all. He heard Jesus as he prayed for forgiveness for those who were taking his life so cruelly. AND he was blown away, by Jesus’ ability to handle; pain without profanity, taunting without retaliation. Being hated w/o hating. Being spit on without spitting back…
When the thief looked into the eyes & face of Jesus he didn’t see weakness and pain, he saw strength and power.
AND I am pretty sure, that what blew him away, is what blew Paul away when he wrote the words we find in Phil 2:6-11…
READ PHIL 2:6-11
(God the Son who did not ever have to know pain....died on a cross for us - Amazing love)
Jesus’ death was SO distinctive that this dying thief realized that Jesus’ claims were true and he was ready to confess that Jesus was Lord to the glory of the Father..
AND in this man’s acknowledgment of Jesus we see three indications of genuine repentance…
1) Respect for God’s authority;
This ‘changed’ thief heard the other thief taunting Jesus and he rebuked him saying, “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same sentence…” In other words, it’s not smart to curse God when you’re dying, because you are about to meet him and are eliminating any hope of eternal life.
Understand – that FOR much of his life the thief had lived with total disregard for God – His life was the kind of life the palmist was talking about in Psalm 36:1;
“An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes…”
But after seeing Jesus – he now he realizes that it is both healthy and right, to fear God…
For the scriptures says,
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Pr 9:10
“The fear of the Lord leads to life…” Pr 19:23
Understand - a key ingredient in repentance is to respect God, to fear HIM – to understand that you can’t conquer death on your own. That you can’t forgive your own sin… Someday everyone in this room is going to stand before a holy God and give an account of your life…
AND when you do it’s best to have Jesus standing with you...
The 2nd ingredient in repentance is -
2) Admitting sin
The thief said,
“We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong…”
Listen - The changed thief admitted that he was getting what he deserved. He didn’t gloss it over, he didn’t excuse it, rationalize it OR justify it - he just came right out and said – “I’m a sinner…”
NOW sin - is something that many people have a hard time doing, admitting sin…
I HEARD ABOUT A FAMILY WHO WANTED TO GIVE THEIR FATHER A GIFT OF THE FAMILY TREE FOR HIS 65TH BIRTHDAY. THEY HIRED A RESEARCHER AND HE WENT TO WORK. A FEW DAYS LATER HE CALLED AND SAID, HE HAD SOME BAD NEWS. IN HIS RESEARCH HE HAD FOUND THAT
UNCLE HARRY IN THE FAMILY TREE, NOT ONLY WENT TO PRISON BUT WAS ELECTROCUTED FOR HIS CRIME.
THEY ASKED THE RESEARCHER IF HE COULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT AND HE SAID HE ALREADY HAD AND WANTED TO KNOW IF THE FOLLOWING WAS OKAY.
“UNCLE HARRY OCCUPIED A CHAIR OF APPLIED ELECTRICITY AT ONE OF OUR IMPORTANT GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS. HE WAS ATTACHED TO HIS POSITION BY THE STRONGEST OF TIES AND HIS DEATH CAME AS A REAL SHOCK.”
All kidding aside, I’ve found that people don’t really like facing the facts and admitting their faults.
But remember 1 John 1:9 says; “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness….” 1 John 1:9
Listen – as long as we see ourselves as good & moral, we’ll never see ourselves as God sees us. He sees us as sinners in need of repentance.
On the cross, as he watched the Son of God face death – this thief began to see himself in need of a savior and this awakening led him - to the 3rd ingredient of His repentance.
3) Placing Complete Trust In Jesus
The word for repentance used in the New testament is the Greek word “metanoia” and it means; "after understanding to changes ones mind.
At one time this man believed that Jesus was just another criminal, BUT after understanding, his mind has been changed and he now believes that Jesus is the Messiah and he is ready to place his trust in him…
The changed thief (bleeding, suffering on the cross) – turned to Jesus and said, “Jesus will you remember me when you come into your kingdom…”
Even through all the blood, all the pain and all the mockery THIS thief realized that the sign above Jesus was indeed correct – Jesus is a King – and not just the king of the Jews BUT, HE is, the King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s….
AND just as Jesus changed this man’s life – he still changes the lives of men today….
And a changed man, woman, youth is an AWESOME snap shot…..
Now for the final snap shot…
In snap shot number 5 – we see a;
Saved Man
AND Jesus answered the thief; “I tell you the truth, TODAY you will be with me in paradise…”
Listen - though Jesus did not end his physical suffering – He did something for the thief that was far better – Jesus gave him a future HOPE.
(He does the same today - though he may not remove our physicla or emotional suffering and will always give us a future hope)
In our final moments this morning, I want us to see what this account teaches us about salvation.
Now, understand that there are a lot of people who try to make this account in Luke (23:42,43) say something that it does not say.
You see, many people look at this account and they conclude that you do not need baptism to be saved….
And any time you try to present the clear biblical teaching on baptism…Whenever you tell them what the bible says in Acts 2:38, Acts 22;16, Romans 6:2-6; Gal 3:27 and 1 Peter 3:21 - they ignore those verse and say, “what about the thief on the cross – he wasn’t baptized….”
Let me make a few quick comments about that faulty teaching… It’s faulty for several reasons…
1) Baptism is not even mentioned in the verse….
2) Christian baptism (in the name of Jesus)had not been commanded yet… (Mt 28:18-20, Mk 16;16, Acts 2:38)
3) Jesus had not died yet and therefore the new covenant had not come into effect (Hebrews 9:15-17).
4) The bible teaches in Romans 6 that when we are baptized we are baptized into Jesus death – again Jesus ws still alive when he spoke to the thief.
5) And also keep in mind that Jesus was talking to an individual here – the thief and not to us..
You know, I find it interesting that a lot people focus on what Jesus said to the thief in Luke 23 in regards to salvation - BUT those same people do not even mention what Jesus said to another man in Luke about salvation…
TURN – to Luke 18:18-22
Now I don’t hear many people saying that you need to sell everything and give to the poor in order to be saved….(not too many converts with that teaching)…) YET that is exactly what Jesus said to someone.
[note 5 pts above apply to this man as well]
Listen – the bible doesn’t contradict – it all fits together… And one rule to keep in mind is that if your understanding of a particular passage conflicts with other clear passages…(for example some people’s understanding of the theif of the cross and the numerous N.T. passages about baptism)THEN your understanding of that passage is wrong… Therefore you need to go back and look at it again…in context (paragraph, chapter, book, bible)
Okay enough of that…
Back to the thief and what this encounter does teach us about salvation….
(and let me say that before this week, I have never even tried to learn things about salvation from the thief because I’ve let the misinterpretation of some keep me away from this text… NOT any more…..)
Here are 5 things we learn about salvation from this encounter on Calvary….
1) Jesus Has The Authority To Save….
John 14:6, “I am the way……”
Acts 4:12, “salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which you must be saved…”
2) Jesus Word is The Final Word On Salvation
His final word to the thief on the issue is found in Luke 23:43…
AND is final word to us on the subject of salvation is found in
Mk 16:16; Matthew 28:18-20
And the rest of the New Testament – (all in red)
3) No one Is Beyond The Reach of God’s Grace
This thief was a violent man – if he wanted something he just took it – and more than likely he was a murder… BUT – because he repented and changed – He is right at his ver y moment with Jesus in paradise….and he has been there for 2,000 years…
Listen – there is no sin that you will ever commit that God’s grace cannot pull you out of…
Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance….” Lk 5:31,32
AND that is exactly what you see, when you read the New Testament and see the people that came to Jesus and experienced his grace - prostitutes, crooked tax collectors, demon possessed, sinners….
[Jeffery Dahmer before he was murdered in prison had been doing bible studies and confessed his faith in Christ – repented of his sins and was baptized….. IF there isn’t enough grace for him there is not enough grace for you or I)
Paul who before Christ got a hold of him was responsible for the death of many Christians wrote in 1 Timothy…
TURN TO 1 TIMOTHY 1:15-17
4) We Are NOT Saved By Works Of Merit…(either before or after conversion)
Listen the thief hadn’t done anything to earn his salvation – AND – couldn’t do anything to earn it… in a few hours he’d be dead….
Understand - salvation is never earned or deserved – and it does not cost $640,000 either - it is always a gift….
What can wash away my sin... Nothing but...
“For it is by grace we are saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves it is a gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” Eph 2:8
5) Salvation Is An Individual Choice
Listen - God has given you and he has given me – a choice. We get to choice whether we will spend eternity in heaven or eternity in hell. And one thief on theat dark day on calvary made the right choice and is in heaven….
NOW, There was another thief on that hill 2,000 years ago. And he saw & heard the same things that the saved thief did. Jesus was right next to him – he could have made the same request and he would have received the same response – “Today you will be with me in paradise…”
YET he chose not to be saved…
AND - THOUGH it was too late – when that thief died - he was without a doubt convinced that he had made the wrong choice… What an opportunity he passed up…
HE too could have been in paradise with Jesus…rather than in eternal torment…
Back in 1830 George Wilson was convicted of robbing the U.S. Mail and was sentenced to be hanged. President Andrew Jackson issued a pardon for Wilson, but he refused to accept it. The matter went to Chief Justice Marshall, who concluded that Wilson would have to be executed. "A pardon is a slip of paper," wrote Marshall, "the value of which is determined by the acceptance of the person to be pardoned. If it is refused, it is no pardon. George Wilson must be hanged."
AND he was - what do you think of George Wilson.. He was crazy.... Why die when a pardon is waiting for you.
2,000 years ago God the Son – Jesus the Christ issues a pardon….
BUT just like in the case of George Wilson – the value of the pardon is determined by the acceptance of the person to be pardoned… If it is refused, it is no pardon….
AND I think those who refuse this pardon are crazier then george wilson..
The impact of the cross…
It has the power to save...
Are you willing to embrace it and be impacted today?
Pray...
