Seven Sayings From The Cross-Number 2. (Hix)

A person said today on TV, taking about someone who had committed a terrible crime. Said, “Hell will burn hotter for them!” I understand what she meant when she said that, that the punishment would fit the crime, but the truth is Hell is going to be hot for anybody that winds up there…Nobody is going to be saying, “It’s not really heat, it’s the humidity!”

Luke 23:39-43-Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”

But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?

And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.”

Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

Mark 15:32-Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Even those who were crucified with Him reviled Him.

Isaiah 53:12-Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.

Seven hundred years before Pilate gave the order, for Jesus to be crucified between to thieves, God had declared through Isaiah that his Son should be "numbered with the transgressors"

Why was Jesus hung between two thieves, to show us the harsh realities of life!

They both hear what is being said to Jesus and what Jesus has said from the cross.

Both are hurting, both are dying, both are in need of forgiveness and yet…

One thief dies like he has lived…hard hearted and unrepented, but the other repents (we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds) and ask Jesus to be with him and him be with Jesus (Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom).

The same thing happens in our day and time, two sinners can hear the same sermon, one person doesn’t repent and the other person does!!

What Else Does Jesus Teach Us As He Dies Between Two Thieves!

We have to come to Jesus, just as we are!

This thief could not walk in the paths of righteousness because there was a nail through feet.

This thief could not perform any good works because there was a nail through his hands.

This thief could not turn over anew leaf and live a better life because he was dying.

Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

Lord, Remember Me-Ephesians 3:20-Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

What the crowd yelled at Him, He took no notice, He did not answer to the insults that religious leaders said, But when this repented thief speaks, then Jesus speaks up!

Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise

To the insults and curses, Jesus has been deaf and dumb!

But to the cry of a poor man who is repenting and confessing…His love could nlot be silent any longer!!!

Paradise-The devil had deceived mankind and they were cast out of paradise and now a man is snatched away from the jaws of hell and placed in paradise!

Where is paradise? Where Jesus Is!!

What is paradise? To be fully like our Lord sees us! He doesn’t our imperfections, He doesn’t see our flaws, When He looks at us He doesn’t see a sinner, He sees a saint!!!

A rabbi was walking with some of his disciples and one of them asked, “Rabbi, when should a man repent?”

The rabbi thought for a moment and said, “You should be sure you repent on the last day of your life!”

“But,” several of his disciples protested, “we can never be sure which day will be the last of our lives.”

The rabbi smiled and said, “Then the answer to that problem is very simple, Repent Now!”