Three Crosses
Good Friday Reflections • Sermon • Submitted
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It’s Friday… Every time I think of that I see three crosses. I start to think about those three crosses and what they all mean. So often on Good Friday we look at the scenes of the day where Jesus was paraded through town humiliated carrying a cross, beaten and whipped and spit on. He was then carried to the place of the skull for more torture and agony.
I think of all these things and I am continuously reminded of what a wonderful savior I have. How He did not have to do these things but He did because of the amount of love He has for me. I am so thankful for it.
I am so thankful for what these crosses show us today.
There are two accounts that I will be refrencing today one is in and the other is found in
I am not going to read them just reference them. These are the accounts of Jesus and thieves on the cross.
Let’s look at the first Thief. I would say this guy represents:
Rejection
Rejection
While they were hanging there on the cross there were those looking on from the ground and taunting them and saying to Jesus “He saved others but can’t save Himself”.
Only last Sunday they were shouting praises and saying Hosanna. The crowds were all over bringing honor and praise to Jesus and believed He was their Messiah. How quickly that was forgotten, and they were pushing away any sense of hope or salvation. They were rejecting Jesus because He was not doing things the way they believed He should. They were mocking Jesus:
Luke 23:
The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
Let Him save Himsef IF he is God’s Messiah. He went from being the Messiah only a few days prior to having to prove Himself because of their doubts and mockings.
Even the thief joined in on the mocking of Jesus, in verse 39
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”
He posed the question aren’t you the Messiah - you can feel the hatred in these words, well if you are the Messiah get me out of this. He saw no real worth in believing in Jesus. He was only trying to get out of dying and suffering. He mocked and rejected Jesus but was only wanting to get out of this punishment nothing else.
Some people no matter what God does for them never see His hand or His handiwork or worth. It is so sad to see this man at the end of his life rejecting the one who could have and would have given him a life beyond the grave. But he chose to rebel and reject Him.
Aren’t you the Messiah the thief asked questioning Jesus and what He stood for. Then he goes on to say save yourself and us too. It was like he was contradicting his mockery if it brought him the benefit of getting off of that cross. He was unrepentant and just wanted to get away from the punishment. He did not want the change that Jesus could have given him, he wanted a magic trick. God is not and should not be treated like a magic genie whom we choose to believe in when it works out for our benefit.
There will come a day when this rejection and dismissal of the things of God will matter more than many think and it will cause eternal suffering, when it all could have been different by humbling ourselves before Jesus.
The second thief saw more than the first one. His approach and demeanor towards Jesus was so different and He knew there was more to Jesus.
In this guy we see
Reception
Reception
The second thief had a different outlook. He was opened to faith. He knew he deserved the punishment he was being given. His attitude was repentent and he was ready to change his ways. He saw Jesus as the Messiah as His Savior!
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?
I like how he poses the question don’t you fear God? So often we forget that God is Holy!
God is without sin. Therefore He has no room for it in His presence. He made a way to restore that separation between Him and us in that of His Son’s sacrifice. This guy saw that. He saw that God is not someone you play around with. He recognized that He is Holy and there is no one like Him.
God is our Father and like any good parent there has to be discipline when our children disobey. God is love but He is also Holy and Just and Hates sin. So when we sin there is consequence for it.
Thief 2 mentions fearing God because He knew he deserved what he and the other thief was being punished for. He recognized Jesus was doing something that would change the world and he wanted in on it!
Basically put, he looked at the other guy and said wise up - we deserve this - Jesus does not - He is innocent!
Then He asked Jesus - REMEMBER ME - I feel like Him - let me in on this- I recognize my need is great and please forgive let me be a receipient of your salvation!
Jesus’ response
Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
These are the sweetest words this guy must have ever heard - today you will be with me then Jesus adds Paradise.
Two great things - Forgiveness and Eternity!
If you every wanted to shout JACKPOT! VICTORY! HALLELUJAH! It was then
There was a crucifixion conversion - but HE made it!
Thirdly let’s talk about the last R
Redemption
Redemption
Jesus offered redemption not just to the repentent thief but for all humanity!
Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.”
When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
The words “It is finished” are significant because it marked the fact that what He was sent to do was done! It was accomplished!
Jesus finished the work on the cross and it was the beginning of new life for all who were once dead in sin and wanted a new life in Christ.
It is finished - paid in full - The debt (sins of humanity was paid in full) - the debt was paid off - Jesus eliminated the debt owed by mankind - the debt of sin.
Jesus was tasked with bringing redemption
I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.
When the apostles returned, they told Jesus everything they had done. Then he slipped quietly away with them toward the town of Bethsaida.
For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
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for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—
And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.
Jesus came to finish the work of His Father, to Redeem, to atone - to provide atonement for sins of all who would ever believe in Him and to bring reconciliation.
Conclusion:
God is Holy - He is completely uncorruted by evil. He will always show His holiness in every action!
Holiness is the most essential moral essence. Holiness sets God apart from all living beings.
For example when He showed Himself to Moses in the burning bush - the ground became holy because God was present. He could not reveal His complete self because Moses could not handle it in his human nature.
In the Tabernacle/Temple - those who were sinners would be burned up due to the very essence of God’s Holy nature if they were not kept back.
God is merciful - He does not want to punish those He created. He does not want to send us to Hell. Hell is a place of tornment and an evil a place that is the total opposite of everything God stands for. God is Holy and He embodies goodness, sin cannot abide where He is, therefore it must go to Hell).
God created us to have fellowship with Him. He created us to have relationship with Him. He wants us!
He also gave us free will - the ability to choose Him or to reject Him. But we have to be willing to live with the consequences of our decision. If you reject Him that means Hell!
There was a rift in humanity because of sinful nature and God made a plan to repair it in His mercy. He made a way to remedy the rift to take care of the problem.
There was a perfect sacrifice needed - He provided that too! Perfect sacrifice - His only Perfect Son!
God does love the world
He made sure there was a plan in place to fix the rift between God and mankind. Jesus came to earth and told/proclaimed what His father/God was like all through His earthly ministry.
Jesus healed
He loved
He proclaimed God’s standard of right and wrong
He rallied against injustice and those with evil hearts.
He did not compromise on the truth but in the end He offered Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of the world.
Jesus Christ’s perfection + God in flesh = sufficient to satisfy the Father’s need for justice to protect His holy nature.
But He was also able to give/offer God’s love and mercy through His death so that whoever believes would not perish but would be able to have eternal life through Him. ().
The Father showed that He is a God of love in sending His son to take our place on the cross.
The Father showed that He is a God of love in sending His son to take our place on the cross.
Jesus literally went to Hell for us!
He became sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
God could not have shown more fierce love for us any other way. He sacrificed His precious only son in our place.
While God hates sin, He loves us so much. So He gave us Jesus. He gave His son to save us from ourselves and from eternal judgement.
The Choice is Yours!
God did all this for you and me. But He will not force His salvation on us. You can certainly choose to reject Him and go your own way. But there is a consequence for that rejection and that is Hell.
All people do not go to Heaven because Jesus died in our place. We must still choose our response to grace and mercy.
If we do not repent and respond correctly by agreeing with God that our sin is a stench that needs repentance, we will remain under the judgement of God.
We have the choice. There is a time where we have the ability to choose, one day soon that window of opportunity will close forever!
No amount of excuses will cause you to have that choice to reject Him over turned. That decision has been made.
Respond to the Lord while you still can. Take that time to receive the free offer of salvation. Be like that thief on the cross who asked Jesus: “Remember me!”
Here are the steps to follow
Step 1 God loves you but your ways are not His ways
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
Step 2 Admit you are a sinner
Rom. 3:33
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.
It might be hard to admit but nothing you tell God will surprise Him. He already knows you well. But He still wants you to admit the truth.
Step 3 Be sorrowful and change your thinking about your sin
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
Lord be merciful to me a sinner! God asks you to repent - say you are sorry. Repentance - change your opinion about your sin. On putting your life on a new path to not go there anymore!
Step 4 Ask Christ to forgive your sins and come into your life
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
Ask Him to wash your sin away. And then Christ will come live within your heart.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Today if you have taken these steps I want to say “Welcome Home” I am so proud of the decision you made. I would love to hear from you. Please contact me through our Facebook group or tell someone in your life of the decision you made. The angels in Heaven are rejoicing on this decision you have made today. I would love nothing more that to be a support to you, to pray with you and to help you get started on a new path.
Pray