Which Side of The Cross to Live On

Introduction

We are preparing to celebrate the resurrection and God’s ultimate display of love in two weeks. But of course, before the resurrection, there was the crucifixion. In the narrative of the crucifixion, an incident reveals that people all fall into one of two categories. It is an often-overlooked event within the crucifixion account, but when we get down to the essence of it, we discover the decision we must make with our lives.

Crucifixion was a form of punishment reserved for the hardest criminals and insurrectionists. Those condemned to crucifixion were first scourged. Now, the Romans had no rules concerning the amount of scourging an individual could receive like the Jews did, as mentioned in the New Testament. The condemned were scourged with a flagrum: a long leather whip with bone and metal sown into the ends so that once the flesh became tender, the flagrum could begin to rip the flesh with deep gashes. The condemned were tied to a post, and most scourging lasted anywhere from 2 to 3 hours, causing the condemned to be ripped open to the point of bones and organs being exposed. A doctor at Columbia said that scourging would cause an exhaustive condition that would be characterized by uncontrollable shivering, frequent displays of seizures, and an excoriating craving for water. The scourging could be so extreme that historians have described the end results as the condemn being fillet to the bone.

Now for Jesus, after a sleepless night in which he had no food, endured the mockery of two rigged trials, and had his back lacerated to the point of being ripped open, he was then led out to be crucified. The condemned would be forced with the indignity of carrying their cross through the crowds to their place of death. This death was so horrible that it would take place outside the city walls, as mentioned in the Gospels so that those who couldn’t bear the sight would not be forced to see it. The condemned would be laid on the cross, and long, thick nails would be driven in the wrist area (finger pinky crease), then through their feet right around the anklebone. Both of these areas were specifically used to ensure that the entire body could be supported when the cross was raised. Once the cross was raised, the crucified would soon begin to experience dizziness, cramps, thirst, sleeplessness, traumatic fever, crushed tenders, not to mention ridicule, shame, and the anticipation of death.

This is the backdrop to our scripture today. Now, the title of the sermon is sort of a play on words. We just described the experience and process by which the crucifixion would lead to death. There is no side of the cross that leads to life. Yet, during Christ's crucifixion, we see two different sides of the cross. And according to some of Jesus' last words, there was a side that led to life. Luke 23:32-43

Luke 23:32–43 ESV

Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Scriptural Analysis Although the crucifixion has been prolifically covered in Christian literature, art, theological reflection, and the other three Gospels, Luke’s account is rather sparse in detail. His report on the trials before the Sanhedrin, Pilate, and Herod is longer than his report on the crucifixion. Much of the passage seems to be constructed in sets of three: three crosses, three groups around the cross (the people, the leaders, and the soldiers), three sayings of Jesus from the cross, and three responses to his death. However, Luke provides some deep and meaningful truths even in this short account.

Verses 32-33 Jesus had known all along that he faced a criminal’s death.  In Luke 22:37, he foretold he would die like a criminal with criminals, as Isaiah had foretold in Isaiah 53. Here, the expectation became reality. To the uninformed bystander, Jesus’ death appeared as one more instance of cruel Roman justice, which took the most notorious criminals and placarded them against the sky for all to see so no one would imitate their heinous deeds. Crucifixion was a common form of capital punishment from the sixth-century b.c. until it was banned by Constantine in 337. The place where Jesus was crucified was called The Skull, probably because it resembled a skull. In Aramaic, the name is Golgotha. The Latin equivalent is Calvary. It is most likely the site of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem today.

Verse 34 Those who were executed were supposed to say, “May my death atone for all my sins,” but Jesus confessed instead the sin of those who falsely convicted him, who under Old Testament law were liable for his penalty before God.

In the book of Luke, Jesus had proven his ability to forgive sins in his healing ministry. He had taught that forgiveness comes only to those who forgive others, and that forgiveness has no limits. He had called for the love of enemies. On the cross, he practiced what he had taught. He watched those who mocked him, played games with him, scourged him, and crucified him. Then, he asked the Father to forgive them. He called for forgiveness because he loved his enemies, but the explicit reason was their ignorance. Neither the Jewish accuser nor the Roman executor fully realized the gravity of their actions. The Jews were protecting their religious establishment against this obnoxious newcomer who pulled the crowds away from them and demanded that they look at motivation rather than simple legal obligations. The Romans, in the person of Pilate, protected their political territory against one who proclaimed that a new kingdom, the kingdom of God, was at hand. Both Romans and Jews acted defensively in putting personal self-interest and political and religious institutions above true justice. Blinded by self-interest, they never realized that they were executing an innocent man. As Jesus prayed for forgiveness, the Roman soldiers continued their mocking games, taking his clothes and casting lots for them. They certainly were not aware that they were executing and ridiculing the One who came to save people from their sins.

Verses 35-38 All the mockers echoed the charges against Jesus: religious blasphemy in claiming to be the Messiah and political treason in claiming to be king of a new kingdom. Both Jews and Romans saw life from one perspective: self-preservation. Neither group understood that self-preservation is fleeting. No person can preserve his or her life for eternity. Eternal life is God’s gift, given by the one who died on the cross. Refusing to save himself, he provided salvation for the world. Jesus is truly the king of the Jews, the promised Messiah, and as such, is the only hope for the world.

Ridicule was one of the sufferings inflicted on the naked man hanging on a cross. One might view the soldiers’ offer of “sour wine” or “wine vinegar” as an act of mercy because sour wine could act as a painkiller and was also often used as a remedy for thirst, but Luke declares that it is done only as part of their ridicule. The soldiers’ taunt probably included a touch of Roman cynicism toward Judaism, which was widespread because of the common belief of Romans that they were intellectually superior to the Jews.

Verses 39-41 Three different groups, the Jews, the Romans, and the other criminals being crucified, all scoffed at Jesus and challenged him to save himself. None of them believed that Jesus was the King of the Jews. The Bible says they were thieves. But these men were probably insurrectionists as well as thieves. Roman law didn't crucify men for mere thievery, so the two criminals were probably guilty of crimes against the government as well. There is a real possibility that they were in league with Barabbas, who was both a thief and a murderer and was also guilty of sedition against Rome. Either way, they were convicted criminals. These were grossly immoral men, and the hardness of their hearts is evident in the fact that even while they were being crucified, in the midst of their own excruciating agonies, they both initially poured blasphemous insults on Christ, as we find in both Mark and Matthew.

Luke, who recorded Jesus’ prayer for His adversaries’ forgiveness during these insults, also adds a remarkable postscript to the account of the two thieves. There came a point in the taunting where one of the two thieves experienced a dramatic change of heart. Watching Jesus suffer such abuse silently, without returning threats or insults to His taunters but instead offering forgiveness, that thief was overcome by the truth and repented. He saw Jesus return insults with a prayer of forgiveness. He saw Jesus return hatred with love. His expectations of Jesus were far exceeded.

Verses 42-43 Jesus’ interaction with his fellow victim is Luke’s ultimate example of Jesus receiving sinners and outcasts. The second thief confessed his sins and invited the other thief to join his confession. They deserved to die. They were guilty. As such, they stood in sharp contrast to Jesus. Jesus was the sinless one dying with sinners, the innocent sharing the fate of the guilty, the pure Lamb of God taking on himself the sin of the world. Certainly, this thief did not recognize all this, but it was implicit in his statement. This thief came to recognize Jesus's innocence and declared that Jesus did not deserve to die.

In his reply, Jesus assures the man that he will not have to wait until a future date in order to be remembered. Anyone who turns to Jesus, even in the last moment, is granted fellowship with him. Death is presented in a new light since it is necessary for the fulfillment of Jesus’ word to the dying man. Both Jesus and the man must die for them to be in Paradise, a word of Persian origin meaning heaven. So, death is not a defeat. It is rather a necessary experience if one is to enter into glory. Death is interpreted as entrance into God’s presence, both for Jesus and for those who believe in him.

TODAY'S  KEY  TRUTH "The Grace of Jesus Always Exceeds Your Expectations"

Application Let's look at these two criminals. They’re both in trouble. They have a felt need, and they both turn to God in trouble, but one of them is changed, and one of them is not. Every year, millions of people have problems in their lives, and they turn to God. It might be very brief. It might be very quick, but they turn to God just briefly. Even unreligious people, even people who say they don’t believe in God, have a big problem, and they turn to God, but most people are not changed. Many people don't recognize the difference between going to God as a means to an end and going to God as the end.

For the first thief, all he wanted was what He could get from Jesus at that moment. He didn't care about who Jesus was or what was taking place all around him. He just wanted Jesus to see if Jesus could save him from the moment. He says, “I will be with you if you’ll get me out of trouble.” Look at verse 39. “I’ll be with you. I’ll follow you. I’ll believe in you. I will be with you if you get me out of trouble.” He is still focused on himself as his plea is for himself.

The second thief begins to realize something is different. When Jesus prays for everyone's forgiveness, the second thief begins to see life and death differently. The second thief says, “I’ll stick with the trouble if I can be with you.” Notice he is not asking to get off the cross. He is not talking about that immediate need. The first thief says, “I’ll be with you if I get out of trouble.” The second thief says, “I’ll stay in trouble if I can be with you.”

When you say, “God, I’ll be with you if you give me this. I’ll be with you if you handle my issue,” what have you done there? You have a negotiable and a non-negotiable, right? What’s the negotiable? God. What’s the non-negotiable? Well, I don’t know what it is for you, but it’s your real god. The non-negotiable thing you have to have is always your real god if you have a prerequisite from God to draw close.

What begins to happen in the second thief and what has to happen to anybody is that he begins to realize that instead of a change in circumstances, what he really needs is a change in what his life centers on. Instead of asking God for the life he wants, he needs to make God his life. This second thief shows us you have to start to get more concerned about your soul than your skin. The first thief is more concerned with saving his skin than his soul. The second thief is more concerned with saving his soul than his skin. He begins to see that he is using God as a means to an end. He begins to realize what’s going on here. So, he says, “I don’t care about the trouble if I can have you.”

So, the second thief calls out humility and surrender. The first thief says, “Save us.” The second thief just says, “Remember me.” And what does Jesus say? Jesus says to this guy, “When you die, today, you will be where I’m going. I am about to be exalted, glorified, and redeemed. I’m about to be lifted into my Father’s glory. My promise is that you will be with me.”

To this insurrectionist, to the second thief who earlier mocked Jesus before his confession, Jesus says, "You are forgiven." This man who just insulted Jesus in Jesus' worst moment is now forgiven. That is amazing grace. That grace is what drew in the second thief.

"The Grace of Jesus Always Exceeds Your Expectations"

Conclusion Jesus Christ is the only founder of a major religion who was killed by his enemies, who brought salvation in weakness and vulnerability, and says, “You’ll only be saved not if you say, ‘I know I’m strong enough to do your teaching,’ but if you admit you’re too weak to do the teaching and you need a complete gracious salvation.” Christian salvation was accomplished in weakness and can only be received in weakness and repentance. It’s so utterly different than every other religion in the world.

The gospel is if you believe in Christ, though you’re more wicked and sinful than you ever dared believe, you are more loved and completely and absolutely accepted in Christ than you ever dared hope both at the same moment. Jesus says, “You’re right. You are a horrible sinner. You deserve to be cast out, but I will take you in.”

Because Jesus was cast out, you could be taken in. Jesus was crushed. Jesus was judged. The greatest irony in all of the Scripture is when these people mocked Jesus by saying, “He saved others, but he won’t save himself.” He saved others because he wouldn’t save himself. My dear friends, we should replace our centers with Jesus because he replaced us at the center of the bull’s eye. We should replace our centers with him because he replaced us at the center of the bull’s eye where the eternal justice of God was falling.

"The Grace of Jesus Always Exceeds Your Expectations"

Theologically, the cross provides the atonement that forgives sin. Jesus offers himself for others. He prays for the forgiveness of his enemies and accepts one of the criminals into his kingdom. He represents us as he unjustly bears the penalty for our sin in his love. The most important consideration we can give to the cross is to embrace its meaning with a responsive heart that is filled with the forgiveness, love, grace, and the humility Jesus so eloquently displays here.

"The Grace of Jesus Always Exceeds Your Expectations"

The cross is, at its heart, the offer of God’s gracious forgiveness to those who embrace it. To embrace the cross means to renounce our own works, our efforts, as the basis of our salvation. Our relationship with God comes through trusting in Jesus and in his finished work. “My sin, not in part but the whole” has been wiped away by the grace and forgiveness Jesus provides. The cross offers an opportunity for a new life, living with a clean slate before God. That offer comes by God’s grace, with nothing for us to earn. If we accept his grace, God begins a new life in us. Our spiritual well-being rests solidly and securely in the hands of a caring and gracious heavenly Father. Just like the criminal that day, we find life on the cross because of the grace of Jesus.

"The Grace of Jesus Always Exceeds Your Expectations"