INTRODUCTION
Last week I said that from Genesis to Revelation there has only ever been one plan of salvation, “for by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.”(1) Today we look back at the cross by faith and put our trust in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament times folk looked ahead to the cross by faith and put their trust in the redeeming work of Christ. In today’s message, we are going to take a look at two men who neither looked back or ahead, but instead had the opportunity to look to the cross head on, for they themselves hung right beside it, one on the left and another on the right, but only one was saved that day.
Today I want to take us to the scene of the cross and ask you to take a fresh look. Which of the two malefactors do you most identify with? Have you ever confessed Christ and had the assurance that one day you will be with Him in eternity? Or do you identify with the other who was hostile toward Jesus? Let’s read our text in Luke 23:39-43.
And one of the malefactors who were hanged railed at him, saying, If thou be the Christ, save thyself and us. But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we, indeed, justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds. But this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him. Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
TWO RESPONSES
There’s a story told about a man by the name of Edwin Thomas, a master of the stage during the latter half of the 1800s. He was a small man with the huge voice, and was one of the most well known actors of his time. He played the part of Richard III at the age of fifteen, and quickly established himself as a premier Shakespearean actor. In New York he performed Hamlet for one hundred consecutive nights. In London he won the approval of the tough British critics. When it came to tragedy on the stage, Edwin Thomas was in a select group. When it came to tragedy in life, the same could be said as well.
Edwin had two brothers, John and Junius. Both were actors, although neither rose to his stature. In 1863, the three brothers united their talents to perform Julius Caesar. In the play, Brutus kills Julius Ceasar, so the fact that Edwin’s brother John took the role of Brutus was eerie considering what he would later do, because just two years later it was this John who played the assassin in Julius Caesar that took the role of assassin in Ford’s Theatre to fire a bullet at the head of President Abraham Lincoln. You see, the last name of the brothers was Booth--Edwin Thomas Booth and John Wilkes Booth.
Edwin was never the same after that night. Shame from his brother’s crime drove him into retirement. He might never have returned to the stage had it not been for a twist of fate at a New Jersey train station. Edwin was awaiting his coach when a well-dressed young man, pressed by the crowd, lost his footing and fell between the platform and a moving train. Without hesitation, Edwin locked a leg around a railing, grabbed the man, and pulled him to safety. After the sighs of relief, the young man recognized the famous Edwin Booth.
Edwin, however, didn’t recognize the young man he’d rescued. That knowledge came weeks later in a letter, a letter he carried in his pocket to the grave. It was a letter from General Adams Budeau, Chief Secretary to General Ulysses S. Grant. It was a letter thanking Edwin Booth for saving the life of the child of an American hero, Abraham Lincoln. How ironic that while one brother killed the president, the other brother saved the president’s son. The boy Edwin Booth yanked to safety? Robert Todd Lincoln.
Edwin and James Booth. Same father, mother, profession, and passion-yet one chooses life, the other, death.(2)
Why is it that people choose the way they do? I don’t suppose there’s an easy answer to that question, but Jesus said it would be that way when He said,
“Enter in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be who go in that way; because strait is the gate, and hard is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”(3)
Now whether Jesus was talking about salvation or daily living doesn’t really matter, the fact still remains that you have to make a choice – and what you’ll do with Jesus Christ in salvation is a choice only you can make.
· Cain and Abel were both sons of Adam and Eve, but Abel chose the way of faith and Cain did not.
· David and Saul, both kings in Israel, but David chose to pursue God and Saul depended on himself.
· A rich publican named Zaccheus accepts Christ joyfully while a rich young ruler walks away with sorrow in his heart.
· A well-to-do Pharisee named Nicodemus accepts Christ while hundreds of others refuse and even crucify Him.
· Peter and Judas both betrayed Christ; one chose forgiveness and service – the other chose suicide.
· A narrow gate? Or a wide gate?
· A narrow road? Or a wide road?
One malefactor chose Christ that day while the other railed against Him. The word railed comes from the word for blaspheme. This man was blaspheming Jesus Christ while He watched Him pay for the sins of the world! He was paying for this man’s sins and he cursed Jesus all the while!
· Both these men were convicted by the same legal system.
· Both were guilty of their crimes.
· Both were condemned to die the same death.
· Both were at the mercy of the crowd.
· Both were looking at the same Jesus.
· Both had the same opportunity to cry out to Him for mercy, but only one did!
The first malefactor or criminal was just moments away from death, angry and foul, reaping the wages of his sinful life when he says, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us.” This wasn’t the talk of doubt – it was mockery and blasphemy. “You think you’re some kind of savior – then prove it!” Maybe you remember another character in the gospels who talked like that. “If you’re the Son of God then turn these rocks into bread. If you’re the Son of God then jump off this tower and let the angels save you.” This man was talking the talk of the devil, the one who had blinded him so much that he couldn’t see the Savior hanging there beside him.
The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 4:4 that “the god of this world has blinded the minds of them who believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” It says in Luke 8:12 that the devil comes “and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.” Some of you in here today have never made a decision for Christ. Oh, maybe you’re not guilty of railing against the Savior, mocking or blaspheming Him directly, but you hear the gospel, you know what He’s done for you, but you refuse and refuse time and time again. Even as I tell you that Satan has been blinding you and deceiving you and convincing you that you’ve got plenty of time or that you don’t need Jesus or whatever lie it is you’re fighting the truth even right now! Look at the cross! He hung there for you!
What about the other man? Look at verse 40 again. He rebuked the first man saying, “Don’t you fear God? Can’t you see that you’re hanging there in judgment too? You and I are hanging here because we deserve it. We’re just getting what was coming, but this man didn’t do anything wrong. Then he looked at Jesus and said, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
The Bible says that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”(4) “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…”(5) but “the fool has said in his heart, there is no God.”(6) I like what Proverbs 3:35 says, “The wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the promotion of fools.”
I tell you this man inherited glory that day! When he passed from this life he found out what life really is! He was in the eternal presence of the King of kings and Lord of lords! That man was in Glory Land!
I’ve a home prepared where the saints abide, Just over in the glory land;
And I long to be by my Savior’s side, Just over in the glory land.
I am on my way to those mansions fair, Just over in the glory land;
There to sing God’s praise, and His glory share, Just over in the glory land.
What a joyful thought that my Lord I’ll see, Just over in the glory land;
And with kindred saved, there forever be, Just over in the glory land.
With the blood washed throng I will shout and sing, Just over in the glory land;
Glad hosannas to Christ, the Lord and King, Just over in the glory land.(7)
What made the difference between the two?
1. He recognized God for who He was and Jesus for who He was too. He acknowledged that Jesus was without sin and didn’t deserve to die on the cross. Salvation begins with an acknowledgement of Jesus Christ.
2. He saw that he was guilty and condemned. He told the other man that they were on their crosses because they were guilty and were just getting what they deserved.
3. He admitted his sin and then turned to Jesus and asked Him to deliver Him, and that’s exactly what Jesus did! Today you will be with me in paradise!
ONE SAVIOR
One man openly and defiantly rejects the Savior; the other humbly receives Him. Today every one of you is making a choice about Jesus Christ. You either reject or receive Him, and on that cross of redemption there are some eternal lessons you need to learn before you make your choice.
Jesus always gives you the freedom to choose.
Did Jesus know this man’s destiny? Did He care that he was making a choice that would land him in hell? Why didn’t He just determine that this man had to be saved and make it happen? Does that make Jesus unfair or unloving? I mean, if this man had been given all the facts about his lostness and destiny maybe he would have seen things differently, right? Well we could say that about anyone for that matter. If God loves man so much then why doesn’t He just provide a Damascus Road experience for every lost soul and so overpower them that they can’t help but be saved?
Well the answer is quiet simple really – because God doesn’t work that way. His way has always been the way of faith, not by sight. Listen, if there was ever a man who had opportunity to be saved by sight it was this man who was watching Jesus die for His sins right there in front of him! He was looking with his physical eyes, but he couldn’t see what was going on. He was hearing with his ears, but he couldn’t hear the sweet call of the Savior to come unto Him!
Jesus is not going to argue with you.
This man was cursing and blaspheming Jesus to His face. Had I been Jesus I might have just zapped him, but Jesus did the same thing He did when Judas came to turn Him over to the mob – nothing! “If you really are the Christ…” When the other rebuked him and said, “We’re hanging here because we deserve it, but not Him…” Jesus could have said, “Yeah, that’s right! I’m the perfect, sinless sacrifice for your sins buddy! I’m hanging here for you – you really need to think through what you’re saying and put your faith in me.” He didn’t do any of that, not a word – He just did what He’s going to do with you today, let you make your choice.
Jesus is not going to prove Himself to you.
Not only did He not argue, He didn’t try to prove Himself that day, and He’s not going to try to prove Himself to you either. You’ve got all the information you need. Let me take just a moment and remind you of what that information is.
You are never too far-gone to be saved.
No one ever is. As long as they are still breathing there is still hope for them. I read a story about a man who was an alcoholic. He would do anything to buy his booze. Then one day his son became very sick and if he didn’t receive a certain medicine he would die. So this man begged and pleaded for money to buy his son the medicine he needed, and when he got the money, instead of buying the medicine for his son, he went out and bought liquor. His son died, and at the funeral this man stole his sons’ shoes just so he could sell them and go out and buy more liquor, but eventually he hit rock bottom and God reached down and this man received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. That’s not where the story ends. The man’s name was Mel Trotter, and he went on to became a preacher and missionary.(8)
We should never give up on anyone. This man hanging next to Jesus was a thief and a murderer, and who knows what else. The Apostle Paul persecuted and murdered Christians, and Peter denied the Lord three times, and yet the Lord mightily used all of them. Jesus can save you today. It doesn’t matter what you may have done or been in your life. Jesus Christ came to save sinners, and if you’ll confess your sin and place your faith in Christ you can be saved right now.
All God requires is simple faith in Christ.
We can’t earn salvation, we can’t ever be good enough, we can’t work for it, and we can’t buy it. In-fact no one could ever meet the requirements that God demands for salvation. No one except for God Himself could do what needed to be done, so God came in the flesh in the person of Jesus Christ and He personally fulfilled the righteous requirements of the Law, and then He paid for our sins by shedding His blood and dying on that cross two-thousand years ago, and all we have to do is believe that and put our trust in Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul spoke of the simplicity that is found in Christ – you see, it is man that tries to complicate things, tries to make salvation harder than what it really is, but salvation is about a decision you make to confess your sins and place your faith in Christ. “For by grace are you saved through faith, and not by works…” In fact, if a person refuses to accept salvation solely on grace by placing their faith in Christ, what they are really doing is saying that what Jesus did was not enough to save them, that His blood is not sufficient, and that they can improve on God’s plan. While so much of mankind is crying out to you to be good and do this or that, all God requires is that you place simple faith in His Son Jesus Christ.
CONCLUSION
Which one of those men are you today? Which one of those responses is yours? As you consider the Savior Jesus Christ, do you reject His offer of salvation? Do you look upon Him and think of how dumb all of this is? Do you have plenty of time? Do you have something better to do with your life than to follow this man Jesus Christ? If you can look at the Savior and reject Him in salvation then the Bible says you are making a foolish decision, you’ve been lied to and deceived by Satan, the father of lies. He’s blinded you, deceived you, and though you may be fully alert, hearing and seeing this morning, you’re running full speed ahead with your eyes wide shut.
My appeal to you today is to recognize your destination – where is it that the road you’re on is taking you? If you’re saved today already don’t tune me out – where is the road you’re on taking you? You see, even though you know Jesus Christ, your life may be very much like the man who rejected Jesus. You name His name and pray the prayers and come to church, but the road you’re on is the road to destruction and empty living. It is an empty, powerless life, and you know that you’re tired of living in defeat. You want victory over sin – you want a stronger will or more determination to put into practice the teachings of the Scripture, but you keep falling in defeat, so you try harder, only to fail again.
You need to come to the cross of redemption this morning – not to be saved again, but to bring all your self-effort and self-will to Jesus, to lay it there at His feet and cry out to Him, Lord Jesus, I can’t do it! I’m completely helpless and I need you! If you’ll come to Jesus this morning empty of yourself – my friend, today, you will find deliverance in Christ!
Works Cited:
1. Ephesians 2:8-9
2. http://www.sermonillustrator.org/illustrator/sermon3/edwin_thomas.htm
3. Matthew 7:13-14
4. Proverbs 1:7
5. Psalm 111:10
6. Psalm 14:1
7. Just Over In The Glory Land by James W. Acuff.
8. Adapted from a sermon titled The Three Crosses, by Gino Cascieri
http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=35149&ContributorID=5738
