INTRODUCTION
On a never to be forgotten day, while a mob of bloodthirsty, mocking Jews, Romans, and other Gentiles looked on, three men were nailed to three crosses on a hill then known as "Golgotha(which means The Place of the Skull.)(Matthew 27:33)" Today, most Christians refer to the hill as Mount Calvary. Two of the men being spiked to their crosses were "robbers," hardened criminals. They had been tried and then justly sentenced to death by crucifixion as punishment for the crimes which they had committed against society.
The third man being nailed to a cross was named Jesus, Jesus of Nazareth. He was a man known around the nation of Israel as a wise teacher, a miracle worker, one who was not afraid to speak up against the evils and evil religious leaders of the day. He had spoken to and fed crowds of thousands. He had raised the dead. Many hailed him as the Messiah who had been spoken of by the Hebrew prophets. He was a man who had only a short time given himself up to the Jewish and Roman officials. A few short hours earlier, he had been tried and unjustly sentenced to death by a cowardly Roman governor named Pilate. A man who had declared that he found no crimes that could be attributed to Jesus. He was willing to put to death an innocent Jew, just to quiet the ferocious, bloodthirsty crowd. To keep the peace. Jesus had been forsaken in his hour of trial by the silence of his disciples.(Were they silent because they had confidence that he would get himself out of this dangerous situation, just as he had done several times previously? Or were they silent because they feared for their own lives? You can read the accounts in the gospels and decide for yourself.)
Pilate ordered that a notice should be hung above Jesus on the cross, "which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS."(v. 38) The religious leaders protested the wording of the notice: But it remained on display as a symbol of the power of the conquering Romans.
The palm branches of the previous Palm Sunday had been turned to thorn branches, which were shaped into a crown and placed on the head of Jesus. The same crowd that had on the previous Palm Sunday sung praises about and to him, and had tried to make him their king by force, taunted and teased Jesus. With the same voices that had claimed him as king, perhaps even Messiah, they were now shouting, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!"(Matthew 27:39-40) The religious leaders insulted him and said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen one."(v. 35) The Roman soldiers mocked Jesus and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself."(v.37) Most of the people, who were probably dressed in the same cloaks that they had thrown on the ground for Jesus’ donkey to walk over, were filled with disappointment and hatred. They smugly taunted the one they had so recently proclaimed to be king.
(Illustration: Just a few days ago, the people of Iraq were shouting praises to Saddam Hussein. He was the blessed ruler, the protector of the populace… What a joy for the world to see his statue toppled, to see people throwing rocks at and hitting with their shoes any picture or statue of Saddam. It reminded me of the times in the Old Testament when brave men tore down the idols of the false gods. Saddam had been "king" by force. Jesus was/is King of Love. The people could not understand. They were impatient and traded their king for decades more of Roman rule. Because of their unbelief, Israel has had to endure centuries of oppression. Remember the Children of Israel, who because of unbelief, had to endure slavery in Egypt and forty years in the wilderness centuries before the ministry of Jesus.)
For a while, even the two criminals that hung on the crosses beside Jesus blasphemed and insulted Jesus saying things like, "Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"(v. 39 & Matthew 27:44 & Mark 15:32) Then a strange happening took place. One of the dying criminals rebuked the other and told him to stop his insults. What had happened to this hardened, criminal, who had only a short time before joined with others in mocking Jesus? What had taken place as he was slowly and painfully loosing his life on the cross?
Let us stop, LOOK at and LISTEN to this criminal and try to discover the reason for the change. First, by looking at what this man had been like. Second, by looking at him repenting and putting his faith in Jesus. Third, by listening to him praying. And fourth, by listening to the answer that Jesus gave to the request/prayer of this blasphemer and criminal.
I. LOOK AT WHAT THIS MAN HAD BEEN LIKE.
We can be sure that he was a criminal and that he knew that he was guilty of death. As he hung suffering on the cross he admitted his guilt, said that he was being "punished justly…getting what (his) deeds deserve(d)."(v.40) He was probably a Jew, or at least very well acquainted with the Jewish religion. He spoke of fearing God,(v.40) not the Roman Caesar, nor the pagan gods or goddesses, and not the heathen’s idols.
He had to believe in life after death, punishment and reward. Why would he fear God if he did not believe in a conscious eternity? If he believed that man died like an animal--and he was dying—Why say what he said?
He must have also been somewhat acquainted with Jesus’ claim to forgive sins. He must have heard the talk of Jesus’ Kingdom. But for some sin sick reason, as his life’s blood oozed from his wounds, he mocked the one on the center cross. We may be asking, "How low can one get? A man with a religious background, who knew the eternal penalty for sin--cursing Jesus, the only one who he knew who had any hope of helping him? We are not shocked by his actions: For we see this happening all around us today. Churches are full during Lent. Prayers are prayed. Ritual is performed. Yet many just keep on sinning. How about you?
II. LOOK AT THE CRIMINAL REPENTING AND PUTTING HIS FAITH IN JESUS.
Something wonderful happened in the heart of this sin-scared criminal. He finally saw himself as he really was. A lost sinner, about to die and go to hell. He was without God and unable to save himself. He had not been given time by the Jews to go to the temple and offer sacrifice for his sins. The Romans had not offered a priest for one final confession. Instead, thank God, he humbled himself and admitted to Jesus and to those around him that he was a criminal who deserved his punishment. He admitted his fear and reverence of God and placed himself at the mercy of Jesus.
Why the sudden change? Why place his faith in one who was also hanging and dying on a cross? Why now, when the popular opinion polls said that Jesus and his teachings were irrelevant? Why now, when most of his closest disciples were no where to be seen?
He had not believed when he had heard of the feeding of the 5,000: Or when he had heard of the many other miracles of Jesus; even the ones of Jesus raising the dead. As the criminal hung on the cross he began to think: Of his own sinful life: Of the stories he had heard about Jesus. Many had said that Jesus had never sinned. Why, even Pilate had stated that he could find no fault in Jesus! He noticed that no curses or words of hate came from the lips of Jesus on that day. He only heard words of compassion, forgiveness, and love for the crowds, the soldiers, his quiet followers, the criminals… He must have thought, "How could I have been so blind?" At last, on his final day, in the final hours of his life, HE DISCOVERED HIS SAVIOR! HE PLACED HIS FAITH IN JESUS AND PRAYED FOR MERCY.
III. LISTEN TO HIS PRAYER.
The criminal prayed, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."(v.42) He asked for no special place in the kingdom; as Jesus’ disciples were prone to ask. He had faith that Jesus would be just. In a sentence prayer, he revealed that somehow he understood Jesus’ teaching about his spiritual kingdom and resurrection. Things that even his disciples were not able to fully understand until after Jesus’ Easter resurrection and after Pentecost. He was seeking salvation solely by faith and not by works. He could not repent with animal sacrifice or acts of penitence. There was no way that he could be baptized before he met death. It was too late for good works to save this evil character. Being born a Jew, nor synagogue/church membership could provide salvation. With his feet and hands nailed to the cross, he had nothing to offer to Jesus but his faith. He confessed that Jesus was his Messiah and King: And that was enough for Jesus to give him salvation. Are you under the misguided impression that you must first be good to be saved? Jesus came to save the lost.
IV. LISTEN TO JESUS’ ANSWER.
The criminal’s prayer was all that was necessary for Jesus to break his silence and to answer the dying man’s prayer. Except for what we now call "Jesus Last Seven Words," Jesus had suffered in silence: But at the prayer and confession of this evil man Jesus continued to fulfill his gospel mission-- to save and give eternal life to all who would believe. Jesus’ answer to the man’s prayer was, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."(v. 43) "Today, you will be rewarded for your faith." "Today and forever, you will be with me in my kingdom."
Thank God, the criminal did not miss Heaven, as the other criminal most likely did. He believed in time. How much time do you have left to live?
CONCLUSION
May I ask you? For years, you have heard of this Jesus—Have you believed and prayed your prayer of repentance and faith? Just as Jesus heard and answered the criminal’s prayer, he is quietly waiting to hear your prayer of confession and faith.
Last week, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said, "We are seeing history unfold events that will shape the course of a country, the fate of a people, and potentially the future of the region. Saddam Hussein is now taking his rightful place alongside Hitler, Stalin, Lenin, Ceausescu in the pantheon of failed, brutal dictators, and the Iraqi people are well on their way to freedom."(Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, 4/9/03 in a DOD news briefing.) Alongside the saints, the robber took his place in Paradise.
Last week, President Bush said, "The nightmare that Saddam Hussein has brought to your nation will soon be over. You are a good and gifted people - the heirs of a great civilization that contributes to all humanity. You deserve better than tyranny and corruption and torture chambers. You deserve to live as free people. And I assure every citizen of Iraq: your nation will soon be free."(President George W. Bush, 4/10/03, in his Message to the Iraqi People.) What about you? You deserve to be free from sin’s captivity.
Today, most of the world sees and will remember Saddam Hussein and his brutal, criminal regime as evil, greedy, villains, rapists, thieves, and murderers. They represent evil. During this Lenten Season, Christians around the world remember the Thief on the Cross as a fellow Christian, saved by grace. His story is told with joy and hope. People hear and believe.
What about you? You have heard--Now, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved…"(Acts 16:31)
(Bible quotes from the NIV)
(Sermon idea came when reading Page 134 of REVIVAL SERMONS by George Perren)
(Ron Keller 4/13/2003)
