The Death of Christ and its Impact on Missions

There were also two others, criminals, LED with him to be, put to death. and when they had come to the place called Calvary, There, They Crucified him and the criminals one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, father forgive them for they do not know what they do. And they divided his garments and cast, lots and the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered saying he saved others. Let him save himself as if he is the Christ. The chosen of God, the soldiers also mocked him coming and offering him. Sour wine and saying, if you are the king of the Jews, save yourself. And an inscription also with written over him and letters of Greek, Latin and Hebrew. This is the king of the Jews. Then one of the criminals who are hanged, blasphemed him say, if you are the Christ, save yourself and us about the other answering rebuked him saying, do you not even fear, God, sing that you are under the same combination 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 assured Lee. I say to you today, you will be with me in Paradise. Let's prayer. Father.

We come to this moment and the services we have reflected already through song and through your word. Of your great love. That was shown for us in that you sent your only begotten son, Jesus.

And how he willingly went to the cross of calvary.

Despise all the shame humbled himself even to the death of the cross. For our sins. For our Redemption. Father, I pray as we look at this tremendous powerful passage of scripture. Lord, I pray that you would speak to Hearts. I pray that you would use your word father to draw those who are unconverted, those who are lost that, you draw them to your son Jesus today.

Father, I pray that. You would help us as a church. Seeing the death of Christ.

Father, that it would motivate us. Permissions. Tu Banja, Lots.

Lorde. we ask you, Lord to Remove all the hindrances.

Or we all have many, so many things going on. In life. I want to distract us and maybe the most important. . Other life has her list into God's word. The father guard, our hearts, prepare our hearts to receive your word. Where's all these things of Christ name? Amen. As most of, you know, today is Palm Sunday, it commemorates the day that Jesus Christ rode in Jerusalem on a donkey and their info. Filmit he was fulfilling the prophecy of the ancient Zacharia Zachariah. 99 tells us that today begins. What is often called the passion week? The week that leads up to Jesus's crucifixion, his death on Calvary and artex today, finds that Jesus. At this point has already been falsely arrested. He's already been falsely, tried, he's been falsely convicted, and he sent it to death. So In this passage here, Jesus is crucified. And Is in the process of dying for our sins as Our Redeemer. Dying as our savior. But we notice in our tags that as Jesus dies here on Calvary, he is not alone. He does at least have a small group of followers. Four people there at his feet. Mary his mother John, the Beloved disciple Mary Magdalene and His mother's sister, his aunt was there. Of course, the religious leaders were there. The religious leaders have gather there to watch Jesus as he dies. And, as we read in verse 35, these rulers, they sneered at Jesus, and they said that he saved others, let him save himself. If he is really the Christ. I think about that. Just for a moment. He saved others, they admitted that they admitted that Jesus had done great Miracles. They admitted that Jesus had raised Jerry, his daughter from the dead and others from the dead. It's not that they deny those Miracles, they admitted it but even in their mittens, they steal long to crucify the Lord Jesus Christ. The Roman soldiers are there. Common people are there watching Jesus and those others died. What we find in our texts this morning and there was another group there that day. it is this group that I want us to look at briefly this morning, See, Jesus was not the only one dying on Calvary that awful day. We're told that to other men died with him. They're Calvary. John wants to focus in on the reason for our Lord's death and suffering. Are there is no doubt that the death of Jesus on the cross was a very painful event. It was a very painful death. The Bible makes it clear that Jesus suffered greatly while he was hanging on that cruel cross. But the Bible also makes it very clear that the death of Jesus wasn't about the pain that he suffered. The death of Jesus at Calvary was for a purpose and that purpose was in the saving of sinners. His purpose on the cross. Was it save Sinners, Like You and Me?

We think about the purpose of, Christ's death. How he wished to purchase centers, how he was to redeem, sinners. Envious. We see the powerful impact at Christ death. On the cross has on missions. Particularly how we how it relates to our church. Because listen, as Believers, we know that the cross is the centerpiece of our Fates. How we understand that through Christ death and his resurrection. We have been redeemed to God. We have been reconciled to God. But we must also recognize that the impact of the Cross goes, far beyond our personal salvation. Christ death on the cross. Has significant implications. We think about missions. as we recognize here in our texts, how Jesus conducted himself on the cross and such a holy and righteous manner? Even in the face of mockery, we see here, our savior's love, even in the face of sneering and and blaspheming we see a savior who is full of grace and mercy.

Luke chapter 23, verses 32 through 43 is not about a good thief.

Now, these verses are about a good savior. A wonderful savior. Merciful Savior. So, let's look at these three men. Individually this morning. It's very sad that even in. The face. I've seen the goodness of Christ on the cross, seeing the mercy of Christ on the cross. There was one man. We notice, first of all, who was one hardened Criminal? There was one hardened Criminal. Our passage of scripture this morning is a horrific passage of scripture. It is a horrible scene. I both Jews and pagans they scorned Jesus with their mockery. They scorned him with her blasphemy as wild animals torture their prey. Text houses that not only were the religious leaders, making fun of Jesus and blaspheming Jesus that the Roman soldiers will also doing that.

But Mark's gospel revealed to us in Mark, 15:32 reveals that those crucified with him. Also heaped insults on the Lord Jesus Christ, So think about this, the the men who are impaled on his right. And on his left, hit themselves up. Gathered and precious are an Excel table, used on Jesus and deadly blasphemy. And looks account. We learned that after a while. One of the things you spell silent. But the other continued, his insults first 39th Elvis. Then one of the criminals. The retained, blasphemed him saying if you are the Christ, save yourself and us.

Mama, what's bitterness? What blasphemy? Some commentators suggest this criminal was a Jewish zealot. And so if he is, he is a zealot that is very much politically induced. He is holding a lot of contempt. For Jesus. By Jesus not being the politicize Messiah that he wanted Jesus to be wanted a Jesus that was going to throw off the Yoke of the Roman Empire.

Another words, this poor man was dying.

For his Earthly politics. And may I say that he wasn't the last of those who would sell their soul to the devil in order to advance their political agenda.

What makes it more tragic is that this man is about to die lost. Eternally lost without God. And we're told that even through his own pain, this dying, man. Cried out and mockery of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I mean, you was saying that in his impending, death, that somehow that he would be humbled. He's getting ready to leave. This world is getting ready to die. You would think that he would quite and damn, you would think that he would somehow receive some kind of meekness about him but Dusty's blasphemes him he speaks horribly to Jesus. and if this does not convince you of the total depravity of man, I don't know what will.

He even questions, the deity of Jesus when he uses the word. If if you are the Christ, he doesn't believe the testimony of Jesus. He doesn't believe. But Jesus is really who he says he is. He doesn't believe the sign hanging over the head of Jesus, that proclaims, that Jesus is the king of the Jews.

Amazing, this man here is dying. And in that moment of anger and pain and torment, he lashes out of the very one who could have made a difference in his eternity. Think about that.

By his words and actions, this man's Hells as his heart.

You said, by the way, how do you know his heart was so wicked? Well, listen to him speak.

Bible tells us that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. We know this man was a wicked, man, because of the way he speaks. He is lost. He is blinded in the darkness of seeing his Bound by Satan. The win. This is a perfect picture. Sadly, the majority of people in our world today.

There are many who might never mock the name of Jesus out loud. In public, they may not mock the name of Jesus verbally. Yes, I do it everyday. By denying the Lord Jesus Christ. They mock the Lord, Jesus Christ every day when they do not give glory, to Jesus Christ, that he deserves, they mock the Lord Jesus Christ, when they are not painful in when they do not acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, they may say they believe in God. But they are practical atheists. They live as though, God is dead. They live as though there is no God.

It seems like today that there are those who do mot God, this a growing number of people, they might God openly, they mock God verbally.

This sudden and sickening rise of transgenderism.

And the glorification of such things. By those in our government. Is out-and-out, mockery? It is blasphemy of God himself. Swallowed, it is. Is mockery is sickening.

This transgender day of visibility.

That was I believe Friday.

Gag me. I don't mean to say that in any real sense, other than I know it gags. Himself, it makes him sick.

A constantly getting pushed and pushed to power down to this. And to accept this.

This kind of mockery. That we're seeing today.

Would make this wicked and vile Thief who hung on the cross, who blasphemed Jesus on the cross. It would make him blush today.

We are seeing. Such a rise of godlessness.

Tragically for this thief.

He like so many today, Express no thought of God. Express. No gills. Express, no repentance. He he expressed no concern for forgiveness.

Sadly he heard no word from Jesus. You heard no argument from Jesus, no warning, but only Silence from Jesus.

We see one hardened Criminal.

Secondly, we see one softened Criminal. When soften criminal verse 40 and 42.

but the other, Answering rebuked him saying to 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. We don't know a lot about this, man. We know that he was a thief. We know that he was an evil do or we know that he was condemned to die for his crimes. But there is a marked difference between this man. And the other Thief. I remember Mark tells us and Mark 15:32 that at first. They both mopped, the Lord Jesus Christ. But now this man has chain has a change of mind that the hehehe at one time reboot Jesus. But now he is rebuking that other criminal for rebuking Jesus mocking Jesus, So, there is no doubt that this man had seen or heard something. That touches hard and that was and that was used by the holy spirit of God to open eyes, to who Jesus really is. Maybe it was a way that Jesus was silent and submissive. As a lamb to the slaughter as they nailed him to the cross. Isaiah 53:7 houses. He was oppressed. He was afflicted yet, he opened. Not his mouth. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before its shearers is silent so he opened not his mouth. Maybe that was what struck a chord in this man's Soul. Sitting out, he willingly vicariously lay down his life. Maybe it was a way Jesus responded to the mockery of his enemies.

He heard Jesus.

As he as Jesus said, father, forgive them for. They do not know what they do. Maybe it was a sign over the cross of Jesus that proclaims his title, Luke chapter 23, verse 38. And an inscription also is written all over him in the letters of Greek, Latin and Hebrew. This is the king of the Jews. Maybe this man heard the stories about Jesus. Maybe he heard about his preaching, maybe he heard about the miracles of Jesus, maybe he had even heard Jesus preach with his own here.

it could be a number of things that spoke to his heart, but here is one thing that we do know, The Lord was gracious to this, man. That's what we do know. The Lord is gracious to this man. In this man Sudden Change from Mercury to humility. We see the suddenness. And we seen the mysterious Act of God called regeneration.

Regeneration is the act of God in which he imparts new spiritual life to us.

We know it may be better as born again. Regenerated. And listen. Regeneration for from many foremost is a mysterious acted as a secret Act of God. I'm sure this man is wondering why he is now submitting to the lordship of Jesus Christ, and stead of rebelling to the lordship of Jesus Christ. As he was just a few moments ago I'm sure he's thinking. Well that's right. That's what regeneration is when God imparts new life in the center's heart and gives that sitter a new nature and he no longer wants to rebelled against God. He wants to embrace Christ, so he hangs there. In the presence of Jesus. And this man does something that. Many today even do not want to do, he admits that he is a sinner. He declares his guilt. He declares his guilt to all that, was there? He says in that since I am the man. I am guilty and I deserve everything and I am receiving.

What I need? And deserve to receive.

I can hear in his words, the sorrow of a wasted life.

I can hear the sorrow of the wrong acts in the wrong, Deeds. This man has done. I can hear a man who is sorry for what he has done, and for what he, what he has become. So, what we see here in this man, in this thief, on the cross is a repentant sinner.

A repentant sinner. Now, in our pagan. Postmodern Society. Repentance of sin is a foreign thing today.

Even among those who name the name of Christ. and so, instead of repenting of sin, People want to try to change the definition of sin. You know, to try to soften the sinful d. Level of listen to me, sin is still sin.

May and may try to redefine cin. But God has never changed his mind about what it is. the people in their quest to try to soften seeing will say something like this people no longer commit adultery, they have affairs. People are no longer drunkards. They have a social disease. People no longer steal and she they just embezzle. People don't commit fornication. They just sleep together.

Alyssa man says it is an accident. But God says it is an Abomination, man. Says, it is a blunder, but God says it is Blindness, man, says it is innocence. May God says it is indecency. Man says it is sickness but God says it is a sin, man. Says it is a weakness but God says it is wickedness.

I'll listen this thief sees himself as he is. But he also sees Jesus as he is, he recognizes the fact that Jesus is no ordinary man. He understands that Jesus has committed no sins and that he is who he claims to be.

This man feared God, he stood in awe of God's tea. Told that other Thief do you not fear Him?

so in those moments on the cross, he had become profoundly humble. He knew he had nothing within himself to commend him to God. so, in the spirit, He turned to address Jesus who he has concluded. This thief has concluded was the Messiah.

The king coming.

Where is Kingdom? Jesus. He said this a 42? Is it Jesus Remember me when you come into your kingdom, your kingdom. So he recognizes, and he has submitted to the lordship of Christ but also the kingship of Christ. And we noticed what he says here. He says, Lord. Remember me.

He did not say Lord, remember my works. Nor did he say remember that? I jesus I aligned myself with you and your death. No. The Steve did not demand anything from Jesus or try to negotiate a better deal. He's simply asked to be remembered.

The win. This is a model of true. Repentance and faith. Which involves a humble recognition of our sinfulness and a complete surrender to Jesus Christ. He said, only remember me, remember me and Essence in that he asked for Mercy, he asked for mercy, Could it be? I thought about this this morning? Could it be that this Jew? Who has?

Most Jews as a child grew up knowing the Old Testament, very well. Could it be that this Jew was making a reference to habakkuk chapter 3 verse 2? Ritz says, oh Lord. I have heard of the report of you. And I am in awe of you. Then it says this Ian Rass. Remember me? In Wrath, Remember Me this thief. Ask for mercy. And this is all any of us can ask for. I think about the dying words of the famed astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus.

His dying words were I do not ask for the grace that you gave Paul. I do not dare ask for the grace that you granted to Peter. but the mercy, which you did show to the diamond Thief, that Mercy show to me. All listen to me. That is the mercy we all need. And that is the mercy that is available to everyone who calls upon the Lord Jesus Christ, this notice thirdly. And lastly, we see a hardened criminal, we see a softened criminal, but then we see a wonderful savior. Now to keep this alliterated, I should have changed it to a wonderful price. One, wonderful Christ. But I thought about that just before I get up here. Too late to change the slide, right? But a good way to remember. Remember that one, hardened criminal one, soften the criminal one, wonderful price to verse 43 tells us and Jesus said to him, I surely I say to you today. You will be with me in Paradise. So was Jesus hung there in agony as he hung there and shame dying for the sins of humanity. He reached out in love and compassion to this poor lost Thief. Nothing about this. Jesus is dying, Jesus himself is in agony, he is in pain, but in this moment, he is thinking of others. He is thinking of someone else.

Is this not the essence of what missions is? It really is, it's thinking of not for ourselves who have already been evangelize. It's thinking of others who have not.

and making all of our effort that we can to evangelize those who are not Christian.

But by Jesus showing such compassion and Grace. Jesus demonstrate exactly why he died. Notice carefully and Isaiah 53. Isaiah 53 tells us in great detail that Jesus was to suffer, but it makes it very plain over and over that. It was all for you and me. Isaiah 53. Verse 1 says, who has believed our report and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed for. He shall grow up before him as a tender plant. And as a root out of dry ground, he has no form nor comeliness. And when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected by Men. A Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief, and we hid as it were our faces from him. He was despised and we did not esteem him. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows, yet. We esteemed him stricken Smitten by God and Afflicted, but he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon him by his stripes. We are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone to his own way and the lord has laid on him. The iniquity of us all all blood. Listen to cross was not about the pain. The cross of Jesus was about the payment. Jesus himself said in John, chapter 10, I laid down my life for my sheep. And Jesus had a Mark chapter 10, I came to give my life as a ransom for many. Lovelace and Jesus died to satisfy the just demands of God for our sins, Jesus died to pay the penalty, that Sinners could never repay. Jesus died to take our place. Pay for our sins and set us free. This is how the death of Christ impact missions. The cross of Jesus says this Jesus saves. Jesus saves. So, the cross is a message of Hope. For people regardless of their background. It is a message of Hope, regardless of other circumstances.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:13 but now in Christ Jesus, you her once far away have been brought near by the blood of Jesus Christ. It's all because of the death of Jesus Christ. We have the message of reconciliation and Redemption. Which is beloved a powerful tool for evangelism? Cuz it is the deepest need that people have. Deepest longing that they should have is to be redeemed. It is be, it is to be reconciled once again to God. But noticed, Jesus told this man that he did not have to wait for a future time to be with the Lord. Who would be with the Lord that very day, in paradise that were Paradise? Come from a Persian word, which means a Walled Garden. And to be invited into a king's Paradise, was to be invited to join him in fellowship with in his Walled Garden. Now later this word Paradise would come to represent the future joy in the future. Bliss of God's people. The New Testament writers use it to other times as a symbol of heaven and eternal Bliss. But Jesus tells us man, that that very day, he would join Jesus and sweet Fellowship in our Lord's Paradise, I'll blow this house has that? There is hope beyond the grave. Amen. This is not yet. that when our Lord comes our, if we leave this world, be a death, This is not hits. Paradise, awaits us. Paradise. A White Sox.

I know you would agree with me that this situation.

Looked very, very Bleak. It look like a hopeless situation especially for that one Thief. but when that poor Thief, Cried out to Jesus and simple Faith. Jesus responded by Saving his soul.

This is just what? He will do for you. If you will call out to him. To be saved. Isn't it does not matter how far into send you have traveled. It does not matter what kind of witness breaking this. You have gotten yourself into some people's bank will. I'm just too bad for Jesus to save. No, you're not. A lot of houses that God's arm is not shortened. That it cannot save. And his ear is not too heavy that it cannot hear. If you'll come to Jesus and call on his name for forgiveness, he will receive you and he will save you. Romans 10:13 tells us that and you will come under him and call upon Him. He will not turn you away. John 6:37.

What he did for that Thief. And what he did for me, what he has done for others, he will do for you, if you will come to him today. Artex. Palsis Their own Calvary on this day, three men.

One man died in his sins. He went to hell because he rejected Jesus Christ even up at the moment of his death.

And then one man died to seeing. Return to Jesus by faith and was gloriously saved. And then the third man, Jesus died for sin. Gave his life on the cross. So that you might have your sins forgiven so that you would miss hell. Go to heaven. He died for your sins so that you would not have to die in your sins. Let's pray Our Father

Lourdes. We think about this. Horrific scene. Pain. I've really of Injustice if there ever was one. How the innocent your son? Jesus died in the place of the guilty. father, it's I pray helps us to. And motivates us.

To see the great price that you paid for us on the cross. And Lord, I pray that as we have gone through the gospel message.

I pray that those that are here today that I've never been saved. Lord, that you would draw them to your son, Jesus. That they would call upon you today and be safe. I pray as we get ready to partake of the Lord's Supper.

I pray Lord, you would search our hearts.

I just saw mrs. Said, Lord, that you would try us and you was searched us. And if there be any wickedness

Lord, we would repent of that.

I pray that this would as we observe, the Lord's Supper would motivate us to serve you and to live for you for all that you have done. With all these things in Christ name, amen.

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