Two Criminals: An EASTER Msg

COMMUNION EXHORTATION:

The Criminal on His Right:

Luke 23:33–34a,39 “When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified [Jesus] there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. [He] said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”… 39 “One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!””

Describe character of BAD Rebel

Contrast briefly with GOOD Rebel

Scripture

Good NEWS: Jesus still died for rebel on his R.!

Even mocked, blasphemed, jeered, cursed…

When we do our worst, Christ dies for us—“Father forgive them...”

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

INTRODUCTION:

Red Letters… Teachings of Jesus

Start S.O.Mount {Beatitudes] | took quick break…

Palm Sun. {How many here last. wk?! Fam. Service; palm sun—“Heart’s throne”]

TODAY: few Red Letters from Crucif./ Res. acct!

As started from

The Criminal on Christ’s Left

Luke 23:40–43 “But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.””

Jesus’ response to this man’s sincere req. is striking. Crim. asked for JC to remember Him & Jesus said yes!

No baptism (that know of), likely no training or Torah school, no chance to live a better life (on cross)

This man was apparently ushered into the new order of Heaven three days later.

Like this crim., X calls us to a sense of urgency. Start’g today, [prepare for...] >>

Preparing for Paradise

The biggest difference I see btwn two criminals is their sight.

Awareness, recognition, VISION

Rather, how they act on their perception of themselves, their situation, God…

Preliminarily, i’d like to spend just a minute defining an important term:

To “acknowledge” is to ‘own’ our actions toward something/someone.

Came into signif. use in 1500s Mid.-English

Primarily legal term: acknowledged a debt, a crime, or a child’s parentage.

It was a verbal contract that carried the weight of law.

To acknowledge isn't just to "see" something/one—it’s active decision to make it real, know fully.

Eg: You might know you are over budget this month (internal awareness), but you haven't acknowledged it until you look @ numbers (moving toward the truth) & create a plan.

Bridges gap btwn. underst'g & action

To prepare for a life with Christ, I must first— >>

Acknowledge my Weakness(es)

Luke 23:41 “We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.””

Man self-aware enough to admit that he & co-crim. deserved their punish’t!

Other guy KNEW guilty; still asked for quick fix from X (“save us”).

Pompously mocking situation & X.

Not fully aware (ackn.) the fatal state in.

Denying my fragile mental/emo. state keeps me from fully serving Jesus.

Acknowledging my faults keeps me humble.

Respond to UR own outbursts with curiosity…

Instead of wallowing, ask: “Why did I respond that way to XYZ?” | “That was a big overreaction. Why did it sting so deep?”

Realize you probably need help getting to bottom of why hurtful behav. keep happ’g!

Counseling resource… help find source & offer healing, growth!

Without humility, I can’t receive salvation nor serve Jesus!

The criminal next to Jesus could clearly & humbly see his sorry state

Secondly, we, like that rebel, need to— >>

Acknowledge God’s good Plan

Beyond just KNOWing what G. says right/wrong—

Taking ownership of fact that His Way is correct.

Acknowledgment means examining our life for/against God’s revealed will.

Really struck by two statements: first one…

Luke 23:40 “The [one] criminal rebuked [the other]: “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?”

Not only was this man’s head on straight when it came to OWN guilt—knew they’d sinned against GOD!

He declar’d w/ mouth that he fear’d God!

A healthy fear of God helps us respect what’s right & wrong. [Proverbs 1:7]

Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

When we respect YHWH’s rule, likely to obey it.

Somehow, this crim. knew that Jesus was what was right (even innocent!).

He demonst. healthy fear of the Lord (jeer’d fellow crim. for not.)

The second statement that REALLY stood out to me:

Luke 23:42 “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

JC whip’d, hang cross, die, exec. like traitor—"what kingdom?!” It’s over, man. Over!

What in the world could poss. be thinking?!

There’s no overthrow Rome after this! No freeing Isr.; no riding on white horse to victory…

Somehow, this lowlife, crim., nobody, rebel… given proph. understanding! Beyond natural.

~Two possibilities of what he thot:

1. Death wasn’t going to stop Him. 2. Jesus’ kingdom WAS heaven and, bc He was innocent, He was going there now.

Little did he know at that moment, he was correct on both accounts.

three days later, on Sunday…

Matthew 28:1–2, 5-7 “At dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.” The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead!…””

JESUS HAD CONQUERED DEATH AND THE GRAVE!

HE IS RISEN TODAY!

And the best part, he [invites you into that same Life]

An Invitation into Resurrection Life!

Romans 6:4 “Just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”

AP says: New, death-free state of JC is avail. to us today as well!

When we honestly pray and ask Jesus to show us the right way, help us walk in it [“saved”], we declare: JESUS’ rule directs my life...

...we actually participate in the same kind of life that Jesus XP phys. on that res. Sunday!

Live out His Life Today!

Turn your life over to Jesus!

Today, Res. Sunday, no better time to shutter adher. to this world’s desires & pleasures

Pursue HIS kind of life. Live it NOW.

And one day, we’ll XP phys. what Jesus did 2000 yrs ago:

Romans 6:8–11 “Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

The Gospel truth is:

JC took our sin prob on his sourged back & died to give sin a death sentence.

He rose again, however, with the power to purge those sins from our lives.

The risen Jesus & His Spirit help us live a life that’s died to the control of sin.

Have a New start today:

Communion cups

Recommit your life today. XP His grace.

Take practical steps to put roadblocks between you & the sin that so easily entangles you.

Install new habits & patterns that honor Jesus.

Surround yourself with a family of believers who know the truth & believe that it can set you free.

Walk in His freedom!