The Lamb & the Hyenas

Me

I find trends and patterns quite interesting. Particularly the statistics of the lottery. In 2014, Americans spent $70 billion on lottery tickets alone, which is about $300 per adult and more money spent than on sporting events, movie tickets, books, video games, and recorded music.

The people who are most likely to purchase lotto tickets are the ones who can’t afford to do so. According to a Duke University study, the poorest third of households buy half of all lottery tickets sold. As a result, folks who can least afford those tickets typically end up spending the most.

Why would those who live paycheck to paycheck also be the ones who are throwing their money at lottery tickets? There’s a chance that one of those tickets could skyrocket them out of poverty and into wealth.

There is a desire to have the best without putting any work into it at all.

I’m reminded of one of the great songs from Fiddler on the Roof.

Dear God, you made many, many poor people. I realize, of course, that it's no shame to be poor But it's no great honor, either. So what would have been so terrible if I had a small fortune?

If I were a rich man, Daidle deedle daidle Daidle daidle deedle daidle dumb

All day long I'd biddy-biddy-bum If I were a wealthy man I wouldn't have to work hard, Daidle deedle daidle Daidle daidle deedle daidle dumb

If I were a biddy-biddy rich, Daidle deedle daidle daidle man

In the song Tevye believes that if he was rich life would be completely different. One of the ways life would be different, is that Tevye wouldn’t have to work nearly as hard and everything would be lovely and easy.

We

But we know that this simply isn’t reality.

It takes a lot of work to excel and be great at anything. That includes our finances. It also takes hard work to stay great. It takes hard work to become rich and it also takes hard work to stay rich.

But there is still this idea that many of us have, that if God blessed me, everything would be great and dandy.

But lets say for a moment that winning the lottery was more than a possibility. Let’s say that it will happen to you. If you won the lottery how would you live your life differently? I want you to think about that question as you listen to the message today.

God

One of the aspects of scripture that I find so interesting is the reversal of scripture. The irony and reversal of scripture is fascinating to me on many levels.

On the one hand it can be quite humorous. Like in the gospel of John, when we find that the blind man can see more clearly than anyone else in the story.

John 9:30 ESV

30 The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes.

John 9:30 ESV

30 The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes.

John

The teachers of the law are the ones who can’t see not the man born blind.

Or how about when Pilate was supposed to question Jesus, the prisoner, it was Pilate who was being judged. The roles switched.

But the story I want to focus on is the story of the lamb and the two hyenas.

All throughout the gospels Jesus is presented with lamb like characteristics. Jesus is gentle and kind even to those who bring harm and threaten his life. Whether Jesus was with children or at the Sanhedrin's court Jesus was gentle and kind.

But then Jesus meets two hyenas. Where a Lamb is kind, the hyena is mean. While the lamb is gentle, the hyena is rough.

It always seems like Hyenas are laughing and mocking you at the same time. There is nothing lovely about the hyena. Even the way they get their food is dishonest. They steal from other predators. They are scavengers. They don’t work for their own food, they take the food from other animals.

The lamb is gentle, kind, and pure.

The hyena is mean, destructive, and a thief.

Jesus is put on a tree between two hyenas. records the conversation between the Lamb and the two Hyenas.

Luke 23:39–43 ESV

39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Luke 23:

What is so nerve racking about this story and interaction is that we know that Jesus has no place being in that place. The whole biblical narrative tells us that Jesus is the last person who should be crucified. He is the most unlikely candidate.

But the other two. Those hyenas up there with him? We would be shocked if they were somewhere else. They are exactly where they should be.

Every decision those thieves made brought them to this place and time. But the choices of Jesus should have never led him there.

The thieves deserved to be there.

Jesus did not.

Then something miraculous happens. One of the hyenas wins the lottery.

Luke 23:42–43 ESV

42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

This interaction between Jesus and the thief on the cross is absolutely golden. Especially when I think about my walk with Jesus.

Let’s look at the question and command the thief asks Jesus.

Luke 23:42 ESV

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

Often when we read this we assume the thief is talking about heaven. But there is no indication either way. The thief could be speaking about heaven or he could be speaking about an earthly kingdom that just about every Jew believed the messiah was there to usher in.

The thief doesn’t say that he wants to live and enjoy this kingdom, he asks Jesus if He will remember him.

This second thief clearly believes that Jesus is the Messiah because he is asking about a future event. Something after the cross.

Remember me.

Don’t forget about me.

How many times have we asked God the same thing? Remember me.

What is remarkable about this interaction is that Jesus has every reason and intent to say no.

This thief has done nothing of value. He has caused heartache and grief for many families. He has hurt people. His choices have been selfish and destructive.

As far as we know there is nothing of value that this thief has done. He deserves to be on that cross.

How will Jesus answer this despicable excuse of a man?

Luke 23:43 ESV

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

Jesus gives this thief a promise. That he will be in paradise. Its not a mere possibility its for a for sure thing. A guarantee. Its going to happen.

Most of us would say there’s no way this man will be in the kingdom of heaven. But Jesus says yes, he must certainly will.

Which causes us to ask the question, why? What caused Jesus to give this promise to an undeserving man?

The thief didn’t ask for a position like James and John. He asked for a memory. Please remember me.

Please keep this moment with you forever. I believe Jesus saw something we never see. A desire to be with Jesus.

That desire isn’t a one way street. Jesus desired to be with the thief as well.

You

This is why this story is filled with so much spiritual gold. Because for many times I recognize that I have been that hyena. That laughs in the face of God. Though I didn’t know it.

I am dirty and undeserving. I have hurt others for my own well being.

Perhaps you have too.

We are not lambs or sheep but hyenas. We are thieves on the cross next to Jesus.

We may have done nothing of value. Maybe nothing of kingdom value. Maybe we have never brought someone to Jesus. We have only done negative and hurtful things.

We

Listen I am describing the worst of society. The worst of us. Jesus looks at the worst candidate for eternal life. The individual who should never even have that option.

And says, you have won the lottery. You have won a ticket that takes you from being spiritually poor to spiritually rich. Not because you have done anything of merit, but because you have come to the one with all the merit in the universe.

You and I have the opportunity to win the greatest lottery of all. You don’t have to spend any money. There is no risk at all. There is nothing for you do, except come to the cross.

Be like the thief on the cross. Come to Jesus.

Remember:

The thief on the cross wasn’t saved because he was great, but because Jesus was great.

And that is the best news of all.