You have seen the three crosses. One is Jesus. The cross on right and left were criminals. We don’t know who they were, where they were from, how old they were, and what they did to deserve death.
We do know both interacted with Jesus.
One insulted Jesus - So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!
One honored Jesus. This changed his eternity and could change your eternity as well. He said: This man hasn’t done anything wrong. Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.
He realized who he was and who Jesus was.
And then Jesus spoke words of grace. I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.
When we compare ourselves to others:
1. We feel better about ourselves.
2. We feel worse about ourselves.
Luke 23
32 Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. 33 When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left.
Crucifixion was one of many forms of execution used. It was for the worse of the worst.
1. Publically humiliate
2. Excruciating painful
It was a bold statement that Jesus was on a cross. To be on the cross means the criminals were bad.
Luke 23
39 One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” 40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? , but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” 43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
This story illustrates a central theme of Christianity and corrects a myth of civil religion:
Myth – Good people go to heaven
Gospel - Good people do not necessarily go to heaven, forgiven people go to heaven
The Bible says God alone is good. -Mark 10:18
It’s not about our failings…it’s about God’s faithfulness.
Lessons from the criminals
1. The forgiven one admits wrong
We deserve to die for our crimes. -Luke 23:41
We don’t want to admit to doing anything wrong, but we all have sinned.
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. -Romans 3:23
For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws. –James 2:10
2. The forgiven person asks for eternal help.
The insulting criminal is only interested in what God can do for him now.
The forgiven criminal isn’t thinking short-term. He is thinking eternally. Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.
We can leave this place a sinner. Or we can leave as forgiven. We become justified, saved, holy – not because of our righteousness, but because of his righteousness.
Romans 3:20-22
20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. 21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For we are saved by grace through faith. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done.
Good people don’t go to heaven. Forgiven people go to heaven.
You are not a cheater. You are chosen.
You are not hopeless. You are holy.
You are not a liar. You are loved.
You are not forgotten or forsaken. You are forgiven.
When the criminal could do nothing to make things right, he said, “Jesus, remember me in your Kingdom.”
And Jesus looked at him with love and said, “Today you will be with me in paradise.”
Thanks to Frederick Buechner, Craig Groschel, and Barbara Brown-Taylor for their contributions to this sermon.
No comments:
Post a Comment