Sunday, December 16. 2012
am
THE LIFE OF JESUS 39
The Cross of Christ – 5
The Three Crosses
a.
We are told that Jesus
was crucified between two thieves.
Mark 15:27-28 says, “With Him they
also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left.
So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with the
transgressors.” (cf. Isa. 53:12)
Then vs. 32 says, “Even
those who were crucified with Him reviled Him.”
Matt. 27:44 says, “Even the
robbers (plural-TT) who were
crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing” (as the chief
priests and passersby)
b.
BUT, Luke’s account is
the most thorough as it describes the different demeanor of these two
thieves. It describes one
who kept mocking Him, but it also describes a thief that repented right
there and provoked a remarkable response from our Lord Jesus.
c.
This account has brought
much discussion in the religious world concerning salvation.
Today, we want to discuss the three crosses for a few moments.
a.
It was in the center
between these two thieves that had totally different attitudes.
b.
It was the cross upon
which Jesus was crucified and became the cross of redemption – the cross
upon which Jesus shed His blood.
Blood that we have discussed which redeems us, purifies us in
God’s eyes, justifies us, sanctifies us, brings us near to God and makes
atonement (a propitiation) for our sins. The past few lessons have been
an emphasis on the significance of this cross.
c.
Just know that Jesus
loved us and died for you and me.
1 Pet. 2:24 says, “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having
died to sins, might live for righteousness – by whose stripes you are
healed.” His blood paid
the price for our sins (cf. Rom. 3:23-26, 5:6-11, etc.).
Hebrews 12:2 tells us that Jesus is, “the
author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before
Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the
right hand of the throne of God.”
a.
The thief that mocked Jesus.
He said, “IF You are the
Christ, save Yourself and us.” (23:39)
b.
As you examine the
account you don’t find much room for repentance with this thief.
He has seen what was happening, perhaps the injustice of the day,
and yet he is still bitter and unmoved by it, EVEN IN THE FACE OF DEATH
c.
In this thief you see
selfishness. He seeks relief
for himself. AT best, Jesus
is nothing more than a tool to get what he wants.
d.
Furthermore, he saw
Jesus as nothing more than a condemned man.
As a result he rejected Jesus.
His heart was hardened!
e.
We also see in this
thief a squandered opportunity.
From the accounts we know that Jesus died before either of these
thieves (their legs were broken and Jesus was found already dead – John
19:31-37). This thief had
witnessed Jesus’ response to the penitent thief, yet we read nothing of
his change. Here he was, in
the presence of the Son of God, witnessing spectacular events, and yet
he is unmoved!
f.
How many today reject
Him? They hear the truth but
refuse to obey for one reason or another.
Some are deceived by the religious leaders and fail to properly
follow Him, but others outright REFUSE to receive Him and reject His
will.
Others refuse to accept Him because there’s nothing in it for them in
the now!
So many have opportunities to obey Him, but instead they reject Him.
How tragic!
Matt. 7:13 describes the broad way that leads to destruction and is
travelled by the masses.
a.
On the other side was
the cross of repentance
– here we have a thief who was a sinner and justly condemned.
He rebuked the other thief 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.”
(Luke 23:40-41)
b.
We find here a penitent
heart that confesses his sins.
We find a heart that shows reverence for God realizing who he is
in the presence of. HE is
aware of who Jesus is and that He was innocent.
Based on this conversation, it is possible he had seen and heard
Jesus before.
THEN he says to Jesus, “Lord,
remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” (23:42) That statement
shows a realization that Jesus was Lord and whom He claimed to be.
This thief saw Jesus as more than a man – but as Savior and Lord.
He saw Jesus not as a mock king, but as the KING OF KINGS (1 Tim.
6:15, Rev. 19:16).
Here is a soul that realizes he cannot save himself and he turns to
Jesus to do for him what he could not do for himself.
Jesus said to him, “Assuredly,
I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Lk. 23:42)
c.
Can we use this thief as
an example of salvation today?
i.
He is frequently used in
that manner. Much of the
denominational world, which teaches salvation by “faith only” will
appeal to his example to deny the importance of baptism.
But is that a valid argument?
Consider the following:
ii.
Can you prove this thief
was NOT baptized? Was being
on the cross proof that he had not been baptized?
On that day, was there ANYONE who HAD BEEN previously baptized?
IF so, how do we know that the penitent thief was not an erring
child of God who had been baptized.
He certainly knew more
than the religious leaders who crucified Jesus.
And his faith, in some ways seems stronger than that of even the
apostles (who could not grasp His resurrection).
Consider what he understood about Jesus
1.
He knew to fear God
2.
He called Jesus Lord
3.
He acknowledged His
coming kingdom
4.
He acknowledged that he
was a sinner and thus worthy of his punishment, BUT Jesus was innocent.
5.
Where did he learn all
this? 2 possibilities –
during the 6 hours leading up to the crucifixion OR at some point prior
to his conviction as a thief he had been taught.
We read that John taught and baptized.
The disciples of Jesus taught and baptized.
Is there ANYTHING that can definitively deny that this thief had
been previously baptized?
6.
NOW, I am NOT saying
that he was baptized and we shall see that it doesn’t matter, but my
point is to make a positive statement that he was NOT baptized cannot be
proved any more than I can prove he was baptized.
But the points I have made ARE plausible.
7.
BUT, for the sake of
argument, let’s assume he was NOT baptized!
iii.
While upon earth, Jesus
had power to forgive sins.
1.
Mark 2:5-12, Jesus
forgave the sins of the paralytic to demonstrate who He was, God on
earth with authority to forgive sins at will “on earth.”
2.
John 8:1-11 gives the
account of the woman taken in adultery.
Though she was clearly an adulterer, Jesus said that He did not
condemn her. Further He
said, “Go and sin no more”, which indicates that He forgave her sins.
3.
While upon the cross,
Jesus was still “on earth” and had the power to forgive sins at will.
4.
We are living in a time
where Jesus has ascended on high, as such the only recourse we have to
receive forgiveness of our sins is to follow the teachings of the Bible.
Whatever it bids us do to come in contact with His blood and
receive forgiveness we must follow.
Acts 22:16 tells us, “arise and be baptized and wash away your
sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”
1 Peter 3:20-21, appealing to the use of water we read, “Baptism
now saves us.”
iv.
The Old Law was still in
effect-
1.
We are told in
Colossians 2:14 that Jesus nailed to the cross, “the handwriting of
requirements that was against us.”
Ephesians 2:14-16 elaborates on this noting that Jesus has “broken
down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in the flesh the
enmity, that is, the commandments contained in ordinances, so as to
create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that
He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross,
thereby putting to death the enmity.”
2.
Heb. 8:7-13 explains how
at His death the old TESTAMENT was abolished and the new TESTAMENT (or
will) to its place. He
abolished the Old Law at the cross.
3.
Remember how He said He
came to fulfill the Old Law (Matt. 5:17-18)?
BECAUSE of this, we need to understand that the thief was under the Old
Covenant when his sins were forgiven by Jesus.
We CANNOT appeal to that for what we must do.
4.
50 days after His
resurrection, on the day of Pentecost, the kingdom would be established
(cf. Acts 2) and the New Covenant became the ONLY covenant that God
would accept. What we
must do is based upon that covenant.
And according to that we are not saved like the thief on the
cross.
v.
Finally, was the faith
of this thief the same faith one needs today?
1.
Consider Romans 10:9-10.
What does one need to believe (according to the denominational
world) to be saved? “…that
if you believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead…”
Could the thief believe that?
2.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 –
speaks of the gospel dealing with His death, burial AND RESURRECTION.
3.
While thief on the cross
did believe in a coming resurrection, Jesus had NOT yet been raised. So
what he believed was different that we need to believe!
vi.
The point in all this is
that, to use the thief on the cross as an example of how we are saved is
INVALID for a number of reasons.
We are simply commanded by Jesus, AFTER His resurrection, “He who
believes and is baptized shall be saved.” (Mark 16:16)
“…baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit.” (Matt. 28:19)
a.
For Christians the cross
ought to mean everything!
Paul said, “But God forgive that I
should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the
world was crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Gal. 6:14)
Phil. 3:7-11 – Paul counted all things loss for the excellence of
the knowledge of Christ Jesus as Lord.
b.
What is our attitude
toward the cross?
i.
Are we like the leaders
that hated Jesus and shouted “crucify Him?”
ii.
Are we like Pilate, that
even though we know He is TRUE, yet we in a cowardly and weak fashion
refuse to confess Him (Matt. 10:32-33)
iii.
Are we like the soldiers
that mocked Him and His followers?
iv.
Are we like Peter who
denied Him when in the midst of the enemy?
v.
Are we like the thief
that was bitter and refused to turn to him?
vi.
Are we like the thief
that did repent?
vii.
Are we like the soldier
who after all was done, he said, “Truly this was the Son of God”?
At
the Cross of Jesus, SOMEONE represented you.
In your sinful conduct, may the cross of Jesus accomplish what He
intended for it to do. May
the blood of His cross cleanse you of all your sins.
BUT that will only happen if you have the attitude of the
repentant thief. We
encourage you to obey the gospel today, or if you as a child of God have
rebelled against Him, turn around and return to His fold before it is
too late. Whatever your
need, let us help you, right now!