Sermon Tone Analysis

*Today you will be with me in Paradise*

Luke 23:43

 

(P.P. with Cross, all 7)

Last time “Forgiveness” – see the cost of forgiveness and get thrilled – giving up my right to get even –

 

Critics of the Bible love to point out apparent contradictions, it appears that we have one here.

3 Parallel passages on the screen

Is there an explanation?

Legends abound about this criminal.

One of the most dramatic tails about this repentant criminal was that when Mary and Joseph and young Jesus were fleeing to Egypt they were attacked by a band of thieves.

The son of the leader of the attack saw the young Jesus, their eyes met, right then he knew that there was something special about this little boy named Jesus.

The son of the robber then persuaded his father to stop the attack and let them go.

The robber’s son went over to Jesus and said, “if every there come a time for having mercy on me, remember this hour”

Who knows if this is true or not, but whatever the case, I envision Jesus hanging on the cross in pain, both robbers taunting him and cursing him.

Jesus turns to look at one of the robbers.

Their eyes meet.

Through swollen cheeks and blackened eyes there is a flash of recognition.

“My God, it’s him – it’s Jesus, the one who I helped when he was a baby, it’s the one who I’ve heard about, it’s the one whose pull I’ve been resisting all these years.

This isn’t another false Christ – this is Jesus.

He shouldn’t be up here!!!

And then verse 40 comes in.

*Vs 40-41*

The word here for rebuke is the same word that Jesus uses when he casts out demons, it’s a very strong word – the Message translates it “Shut up” that’s the force behind the word

“Shut up man!!!”

Don’t you have any fear of God?

I know this Jesus, he is innocent, and we are not.

He shouldn’t be up hear, we should be

We are getting what we deserve, He isn’t.

Don’t mock him, pray to God for Mercy.

and so he looks to Jesus Christ and he makes this one request.

*42*

In this request, I think we get a glimpse of some of the things the robber was believing about Jesus.

(what are some)

#1 – He believed that Jesus is the king

#2 – He believed that Jesus had the power to save him even in his sin filled condition

#3 – He believed that there was no one else he could look to for help.

# 4 – He believed in life after death and that Jesus was in charge of sorting out who goes where

 

I think, that while he was hopeful that maybe Jesus would help him, he also was looking at his sin, and so he was thinking since “he did the crime, he would have to do the time” – that’s why he says when you come into your kingdom – at some distant point in the future maybe you could help me out – I fully expect to be punished for my sins – perhaps he is thinking of some sort of a purgatory.

Or maybe he believed in soul sleep like the J.W. do – maybe he thought he just wouldn’t exist until the kingdom is set up.

In any case he is not expecting any immediate help for his awful situation.

This takes us up to our phrase for today.

*Vs 43*

*Truly *– I am speaking the truth, I am not lying

*I *– Jesus

*Say to you – *the guilty sinner

*Today *– not when the kingdom is set up, not at some distant point in the undetermined future, after you have done your time for your crime.

– This must have come as a shock to the robber, never in his wildest dream would he have thought Jesus would have said today.

*You – *the guilty sinner

*Will – *near future

*Be – *existence beyond the grave

*With me – *Together in friendship with Jesus Christ.

*In Paradise -- *Paradise is a reference to heaven.

It is the place where the righteous dead are, and it is the place where Jesus is.

“Paradise” is only used in two other places in the N.T.  II Cor 12:3-4, & Rev 2:7 and in both cases you see its heaven.

– Jesus is saying you are coming with me to heaven today.

Paradise is an old Persian word, it referred to the royal garden of kings.

A walled in garden right near the palace.

The garden was not for the public, only special friends of the king were allowed to enjoy the pleasures of the kings personal garden.

I think this is exactly what Jesus is communicating to the thief of the cross, he is saying “you are right, I am the king, and you are coming with me, as my personal friend, to my garden, today.

What a word of encouragement to a dying man.

This was too much to hope for, yet Jesus had just said it.

This robber, who had violated so many people in his life, he probably had even killed people, had just been promised heaven by J.C.

Before we get all excited, Lets just think about this for a minute

How many of you have been robbed (Old Yeller)

I wanted to find those dirty rotten criminals and take care of business!

– How about a little justice

Does this robber deserve a free pass to the pleasures of the kings garden?

Ask the people he victimized during his life of crime?

They probably say “No, he needs some more justice.

--  Granted, he is hanging on a cross, but still his sins have gone against not just his victims but also against a holy God.

He needs to suffer!

He did the crime, he needs to do the time!!! Don’t send him to the kings garden, send him to the kings dungeon!

Amen!?

 

What is Jesus giving this criminal?

*Grace*

What is grace?

-- goodness freely given to some one when they don’t deserve it.

It’s hard to accept grace isn’t it.

Why -- Two reasons

*Sense of Justice*

Justice hates grace.

How can we rejoice with this thief, especially if its your mother he robbed and killed, our sense of justice just won’t allow it.

What happened to the thief is not fair, he lives a life of crime, repents while he is dying, and then “boom” everything is fine????

No no no, that just ain’t right

*Sense of Independence *(I don’t need grace)

The vast majority of human kind rejects the notion of grace.

ALL of the religions of the world do, including a major chunk of what is considered Christianity rejects Grace.

The human spirit, is wired for independence, to figure things out, I can make it on my own, I don’t need your charity.

Ciara now want’s to feed herself, she doesn’t need daddies help!

(it’s a mess food ends up in her ear and up her nose – but it’s o.k.

cause she doesn’t need daddy’s help)

Most everyone in the world acknowledges that they don’t measure up to God’s standard, but with some *good hard work* they can impress God just enough, to tip the scales in their favor come judgment day.

I can become good enough to *deserve *God’s goodness!

After all I am not that bad.

– I’m in control

Most “Christianized” people have a hard time understanding and appreciating grace.

Why?

Because we’ve spent their lives trying to be good, we haven’t done the bad stuff.

– “I’m not like the thief!” when you peel it all back, we don’t think we need grace, the thief needed it, but not me.

(maybe a little grace, but I don’t need lots)

Most people in this world don’t accept grace, because fundamentally, they don’t think they need it.

My sense of justice makes me react negatively to grace