A Cross and A King

In past economic depressions, murder rates went down and suicides went up because Americans—trained in the puritan ethic of self-reliance and internal restraint—blamed themselves for personal economic failure.

Now when people reach a breaking point in frustration, they lash out at others.

Between two criminals.

Luke 23:33 CSB

When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left.

A picture of the place of The Skull outside of Jerusalem.A bigger picture in view.

Let’s look at the first response to Jesus in this passage.

Luke 23:39 ESV

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!”

Luke 23:39 CSB

Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

A rejection of Jesus.

Here we have the unrepentant man. He wants Jesus to get them down. To get him out of his situation so he can go about his own life and agenda.

This shows a visual of the human heart. In our worst times, we may be angry with God and want him to help us get out of trouble but we don’t really want to give our allegiance to Him.

Luke is the only Gospel writer who records the conversation between Christ and the thief.

Wiersbe, W. W. (1992). Wiersbe’s expository outlines on the New Testament (p. 203). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Twenty-Three: Condemned and Crucified (Luke 23)

It was providential that Jesus was crucified between the two thieves, for this gave both of them equal access to the Saviour.

A repentant response to Jesus.

Repentant

A man may be very sorry for his sins, but if he doesn’t confess them, he has no promise of being forgiven.

Moody, D. L. (1898). Men of the Bible (p. 114). Chicago; New York; Toronto: Fleming H. Revell.

It’s not about being sorry for sin, but confessing them.

This man went from being one of the mocking voices to a voice of confession and repentance of his own sin. He wasn’t looking for someone else to blame, he knew of his guilt.

Luke 23:40 CSB

But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment?

Luke 23:41 CSB

We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.”

Notice that he not only confesses his sins, he now defends Jesus and his innocence. He wasn’t just mentally believing, but he confessed the true identity of Jesus! He’s been changed in these hours on the cross.

Think about this with me. We have here two men on either side of Jesus. They see his inscription above him - King of the Jews. Both are hearing the crowds mocking him and shouting at him. They also see the people weeping and mourning. They have heard him praying for the soldiers. And we have two different reactions to Jesus.

Both have the same information - and they both have the choice to make.

The one criminal recognizes that he’s getting what they deserve. they broke the law and are guilty - but he also believes that Jesus is innocent and doesn’t deserve to be there. He trusts in Jesus as the King of Kings.

He believes Jesus will be going to his “kingdom” since it says he’s “king of Jews” which is why he’s being crucified.

Luke 23:42 CSB

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

It’s not clear if he was asking for immediate fulfillment of his hopes or for the future. But Jesus clears all of this up.

Released or Remembered

The response of Jesus.

Luke 23:43 CSB

And he said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

paradise

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Eleven: A Preacher in Paradise (2 Corinthians 12:1–10)

Paul affirmed here the reality of heaven and the ability of God to take people there. The third heaven is the same as “paradise,” the heaven of heavens where God dwells in glory.

heaven ⇔ paradise n. — heaven understood as a protected, walled garden full of delightful delicacies. The presence of God is the ultimate “paradise”.

Word Pictures in the New Testament Luke 23:43

He promises him immediate and conscious fellowship after death with Christ in Paradise which is a Persian word and is used here not for any supposed intermediate state; but the very bliss of heaven itself.

Closing

What is your response to Jesus?

What side are you on tonight?

Jesus will forgive you of your sin if you confess them, turn from them, believe that He is Lord and Savior.