Easter Sunday Service – March 27th 2005
“Two men and a King”
We would like to welcome you to the First Baptist Church of Tawas City, we are very glad you are here today. If you are visiting, please fill out a Visitor Card located in the back of the pew’s, and place them into the offering plate as it is passed.
If you have a prayer request or a need, please see any of the Elders or myself after the service and we would be glad to help.
Our scripture reading today is from the book of Luke. The title of today’s message is “Two men and a King”.
We may already be familiar with the story of the cross. We may even know all of the Stations of the Cross, or the day of Christ’s passion, the 12 hours that led to His crucifixion.
Today we are going to take a look at the two men who were crucified along with Jesus that horrendous day.
Today we will examine in contrast the two men who hung on either side of a King.
Scripture Reading - Luke 23:32-43
PRAYER
I. What is crucifixion?
a. Explain the Roman process (Haley’s Bible Handbook p. 682)
We know that the crucifixion was Rome’s punishment for slaves, foreigners, and criminals who were not Roman citizens. It was the most agonizing death a cruel age could devise. We know that nails were driven into the hands and feet, and the victim was left to suffer in pain for 2 to 6 days before death.
Death could come by dehydration, excessive bleeding, starvation, difficulty breathing, or by any combination of these.
In Jesus’ case, it was over in 6 hours, when Jesus declared that “It is finished” and willfully gave up His spirit.
b. Explain who was being crucified this day.
On this particular day, three men were destined to meet their end. Two of them were thieves, and there was Jesus.
Luke 23:32 – 33
“32Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33When 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.”
II. Describe the two men
a. They deserved death because of their sin
When we read the account of the crucifixion, we see so many different elements at work. We see cruelty, lies, pain, suffering, torture. We can imagine Satan gloating throughout the ordeal. Perhaps even believing he was victorious over Jesus, having a hand in ending His life on earth before He could rule. Not fully understanding why Jesus came, or why it was God’s will for Him to die.
But we also see that through it all, Jesus through the Holy Spirit fulfilled God’s will in His life and through His death.
Jesus stood firm against the attacks, completing the task for which He was born.
We know why Jesus was there that day. But the scriptures do not give us too many details about the other two men, except for the fact that they were thieves.
Perhaps they knew each other, or maybe they befriended each other while awaiting their execution. We don’t know.
But this event illustrates a spiritual truth that sometimes is overshadowed by the horrific events which took place that day to our Lord.
The illustration is of the average man having to pay for his sins in life with his death.
This is where we are today because of the fall of man. Because of sin, we all must die.
There is no avoiding death. For the scriptures tell us;
Hebrews 9:27
“Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.”
There they were, in their last hours together, Jesus and two thieves, one to His right and one on His left.
b. Both mocked Christ
As if things weren’t painful enough, doubt, fear, confusion, pain, suffering, then there were the insults.
Those who passed by hurled insults at Jesus, shaking their heads and saying,
“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)
In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him.
“HE SAVED OTHERS,” they said, “BUT HE CAN’T SAVE HIMSELF! HE’S THE KING OF ISRAEL! LET HIM COME DOWN FROM THE CROSS, AND WE WILL BELIEVE HIM. HE TRUSTS IN GOD. LET GOD RESCUE HIM NOW IF HE WANTS HIM, FOR HE SAID, ‘I AM THE SON OF GOD.” (Matthew 27:41-43)
Rulers sneered at Him. People stood watching, they mocked Him relentlessly in His suffering.
“HE SAVED OTHERS; LET HIM SAVE HIMSELF IF HE IS THE CHRIST OF GOD, THE CHOSEN ONE.”
The soldiers also mocked Him. Saying to Him;
“IF YOU ARE THE KING OF THE JEWS, SAVE YOURSELF.”
Then there were the two thieves.
Matthew 27:44
“In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.”
He was getting it from all sides, literally.
The two thieves knowing death was near, knowing there was no escape from it, and they chose to mock Jesus.
But during all of this, somewhere in the confusion, the chaos, a light goes on, something happened to one of the thieves.
III. Something happened to one of the men
a. Realized who Jesus was
A revelation, an understanding, perhaps his heart changed after they placed the sign above Jesus’ head on the cross, maybe a moment of reflection, maybe it ws a gaze into Christ’s’ eyes, we don’t really know.
But we know something happened, because one moment he is mocking Jesus along with the other thief, but the next we read the following;
b. Rebuked the other thief and tried to tell him who Jesus was
Luke 23:38-41
“There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “AREN’T YOU THE CHRIST? SAVE YOURSELF AND US!”
Though he was in pain and agony this man would not humble his proud spirit. The scripture continues;
40But the other criminal rebuked him. “DON’T YOU FEAR GOD,” he said,
One moment, a choice, a decision, the two thieves began their journey the same way, with the same sin and the same debt to pay for that sin. They were both introduced to Jesus that day, the same man before both of them.
They even began in the same way mocking Jesus in unison with the crowds, the guards and the leaders and teachers.
But something touched the heart of one of the two thieves.
We see this when he rebukes the other and confesses that he believes Jesus IS GOD!
“DON’T YOU FEAR GOD?” He exclaims.
He acknowledges and recognized Jesus for who He is, the Christ, God.
But the penitent criminal didn’t stop there. He continued by confessing his own sin and the sin of the other thief.
c. Confessed his sin
“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.”
He sees Jesus for who He is, and in light of Christ’s being God, he sees his own sin for what it is and confesses it before the Lord acknowledging that he is getting what he deserves for his sin.
This is the illustration of our lives as well. For the wage of sin is death.
The thief then looks to Jesus.
d. Asked Jesus to be his Lord
Luke 23:42-43
“Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[f]”
43Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
This is a picture of man today.
Not just a picture of man today, but this encounter with Jesus and the two thieves is a picture of our salvation, and what Christ died for.
It’s an illustration that shows us, in life there are only two positions that can be taken when it comes to the Cross.
You either accept Jesus as your Lord, or you reject Jesus as your Lord.
There is no other option in life.
IV. Today we celebrate the resurrection of Christ
Today we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Today we celebrate the empty tomb. Today we cry “PRAISE BE TO GOD FOR THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST AND THE REDEMPTION OF MAN!”
We are a reflection of the two thieves looking on Christ that crucifixion day.
But if we accept Jesus, we can be a reflection of Christ on that resurrection day!
Our death is eminent, and near. And we know this.
Our wage for sin is going to be paid.
But like the penitent thief, we need to look at Christ on the cross, and see Him for who He is and what He has done.
a. We need to recognize who Jesus is
Today we can recognize Jesus as the son of God. We can read the scriptures of all the wonderful things He has done. We can look deep into the Old Testament and see how everything points to Christ either in prophecy or foreshadowing through traditions and rituals.
Although we may start our journey as the thief, not recognizing who Jesus is, as long as you have breath, it is not too late to accept Christ as our Lord.
Recognizing that Jesus IS our Lord and God.
b. Share this with others
In the same way as the penitent thief tried to explain to the other, who Jesus is, we need to do the same in our lives.
When we recognize who Jesus is, we are led to share that with others who don’t recognize Him, sharing Christ with others regardless of our complete understanding of the scriptures.
The thief was essentially witnessing to the other thief.
He knew nothing more of Jesus but the fact that he believed Jesus to be God.
We share what we know.
c. Confess our sins to Him
We need to confess our sins; just as the thief did once he recognized who Jesus was.
He didn’t go into detail about each and every sin, but confessing that he was sinful and he recognized that he was receiving what he deserved for what he had done.
We confess we are sinful to Christ. We confess that we recognize that we deserve hell for our sin.
But because of the resurrection, because of Jesus’ sacrifice and love for us, we do not have to pay the debt we owe which is eternal hell!
Because of what took place not just on the cross, but three days later when He arose, we have been saved from that!
We have been spared because of God’s love.
d. Ask Him to be our Lord
Like the thief, we recognize Jesus; confess our sins, then, ask Jesus to be our Lord.
CONCLUSION: Ask ourselves, “On the last day, which man would you be? Who are you today?”
ALTAR CALL
Ask yourself right now,
Have I recognized Jesus as Lord?
Have I confessed my sin to Him?
Have I asked Him to be my Lord and Savior?
If you would like to do that now, come forward and one of the Elders will pray with you.
If you would like to accept Jesus as your Lord and savior and allow God’s love to spare you from hell, come forward.
If you would like to be baptized or join our family here at the First Baptist Church, please come forward and one of the Elders will help you.
Or if you have a prayer concern or would like to be prayed over, now is the time to come forward and we will pray for you.
James 5:13-15
“Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.”
If the Holy Spirit is calling you forward, come forward now.
