2020-04-12 Easter Sunday-Virtual Church Luke 23:39-43 WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES (Luke 23:39-43) April 12, 2020 Read Luke 23:39-43 The epitaph on in Indiana tombstone read: Pause, Stranger, when you pass me by, / As you are now, so once was I. As I am now, so you will be, / So prepare for death and follow me. Scratched beneath that was this message: To follow you I’m not content, / Until I know which way you went. The passerby knew there’s more than one way to go. Paul says the gospel has two possible outcomes to unbelievers: II Cor 2:16: “to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.” Same gospel message – two totally different results. Nowhere is this truth more starkly demonstrated than at the cross by the 2 thieves executed with Christ. Two forgettable, wasted criminals are suddenly cast center stage on the greatest drama ever played out in human history. They dramatically illustrate the ONLY two possible utterly divergent outcomes facing every person who ever lived. To one Christ became the fragrance of death to death. To the other, the same crucified Lord became the fragrance of life to life. It’s one event; two perspectives. One cross; two points of view. One death. Two outcomes. The difference? The personal decision each made concerning this crucified Lord. So we come to the cross today. When we leave, we must leave by one of two routes. There are no other options. Just two! Jesus described them in Matt 7:13-14, “The gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14) For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” There are two routes away from the cross, Beloved. Not one. Not three. Two! One is wide and easy. We are born on it and most never leave it. No decision is a decision to stay on it. But it leads to destruction. Jesus advises the narrow way; it leads to life. You have to cross over to get on that road. The two thieves thought the cross was the end of life. But the cross is never the end. The cross is the beginning. To meet Christ crucified is either the beginning of life or the beginning of death. Eternal life or eternal death. Those are the stakes and no one – not you, not me, not the philosophy prof who robbed you of your faith or the devil who made him do it – no one can change those stakes. Because it wasn’t just another person on the middle cross. It’s the God-man dying for your sin and mine. So at the cross, you have to decide. Broad way – or narrow way? Death or life? Your decision. 1 Both men started out mocking Christ. Mt 27:44, “And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him.” Then they watched Him for 6 hours. They saw the dignity with which he bore His pain. They saw His heart when he cried out, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” They saw Pilate declare Jesus innocent, not once but 3 times. They knew Herod declared him innocent. They saw absolute darkness descend for 3 hours starting at noon. They saw and heard all the same things, yet one believed; the other did not. They started the day the same; they ended it as far apart as any two men could be. What a difference a day makes. So, what happened? Why from the same starting point did one of these men leave his cross on the broad way to destruction, having seen Christ for the last time – while the other left his cross to join Christ in paradise where he has been with Him every since? Why? What drove the personal decision that took them in such opposite directions? Let’s examine each to see. I. First Thief (Broad Way) A. Fearlessness Major failure – he did not fear God. In v. 40, the 2nd thief rebukes the first: “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?” He’s a couple of hours from eternity and still, no fear of God. In fact, he challenged God: v. 39: “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” Think of the arrogance. “You are the Messiah? Well, prove it. Save us!” It’s not a suggestion, it’s a command. Not a hint of humility or deference. Just – Incredible arrogance. No fear of God. Reminds me of an HR director who was all about dress codes and etiquette. One day she saw a guy dressed in jeans and golf shirt. She scolded him, “Dressed a little casually today, aren’t we?” To which the man replied, “Well -- that’s one of the benefits of owning the company.” If you own the company you can dress however you want. And if you own the universe, you make the rules. This man showed no appreciation for that. B. Faithlessness Faithlessness. This man was driven purely by what his eyes could see. So, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” From a human standpoint, it seems reasonable. Jesus claimed to be the Messiah, yet here He is, 2 helplessly hanging on the cross. Everything about His current position screams – FAKE! Sarcasm is reasonable. “Are you kidding? You’re the Messiah? Then do something!” response of the thief the thief is reasonable. You’re the Messiah? Son of God? You’re a joke! This man saw only with physical eyes; so the cross was a stumblingblock. So, he refused the one and only thing that could save him. Paul described people like this who fill the broad way in I Cor 1:18, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; (that’s how the thief saw it). V. 22) “For the Jews require a sign,” -- exactly what this guy wanted. If you’re Messiah, get us down from here. First a miracle, then we can talk. He cannot and will not believe what his eyes cannot see. He has no faith to see what is right in front of him – his salvation is closer to him than to anyone in history and he cannot see it. A tragedy. He’s looking for proof; God is looking for faith. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever would believe in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Whoever would believe. This man was faithless. C. Rebellion He is in rebellion. There’s no repentance here. He just wants rescue -- on his terms, insisting he’s good enough to deserve it. Perhaps that’s you at the cross, saying, “This is not necessary, Jesus. My good outweighs my bad. I have no need of your forgiveness”. Then you are in fatal rebellion against the Father who says it is necessary or He never would have sent Him. I Jn 2:1 says He’s there to pay “for the sins of the whole world.” If you disagree, you’re rebelling against the Father who sent Him, and e in mortal danger. D. Ruin Finally, this man was in ruin. He stayed on the broad way to destruction, which is where he arrived a few hours later to begin his forever in that place of torment. That is thief number one. But how about the 2nd? How did that 6 hours change his eternal destiny? II. Second Thief (Narrow Way) A. Fear of the Lord First, he developed a fear of God. 41b) for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” Somewhere in that six 3 hours he realized his ultimate accountability is to a God of fearsome holiness. Heb 12:28-29 says, " . . . let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.” Only a fool would take that God lightly. Perhaps this man had heard Jesus called “the Lamb of God.” Perhaps he reflected on the original Passover under Moses as he led the Israelites out of Egypt as God brought one final judgment. Exod 12:12, “For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt.” That’s a God to fear. The Israelites got it; the Egyptians didn’t! And this thief got it. As it dawned on him that God was sacrificing His own Son for sin, he realized his own accountability. He saw God’s wrath against sin plays no favorites. All are equally guilty before a holy God, just as both Israel and Egypt were guilty. All are accountable. Somehow that man got it. He feared God, and he got wisdom. Do you fear God? B. Faith in Christ How were the Israelites saved? God told them to kill a spotless lamb and put the blood on the doorposts. Then Exod 12:13: “The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you.” By faith in the blood of an innocent victim. And guess what this thief saw in Christ? V. 41: “And we indeed (are suffering) justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” He affirms the sinlessness of Christ who is hanging naked and ridiculed on a cross. Not impressive. But this man says he is sinless. He understood the deity of Christ. Then he says in verse 42, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He understands the sovereignty of Christ. He understands the kingship of Christ. He understands the Saviorhood of Christ. He wants to be remembered "when you come in your kingdom." That is a very sound theology. It’s really stunning. Can happen only by faith! And Jesus said, "Today you will be with me in Paradise." This can only be explained by the sovereign work of God in his heart. Reason would have said, this doesn’t add up. But God changed his heart and he saw the truth of the person and work of the Christ who hung next to him on the cross, and responded in faith – clinging to the truths that he could not prove but now saw with spiritual eyes. He believed with all his heart, and he was saved with a capital S. By grace thru faith. 4 C. Repentance True faith is always accompanied by repentance. 41b we are receiving the due reward of our deeds.” This is faith in action. Faith isn’t just to accept certain facts about Jesus. You can believe all the facts and still not be saved. James 2:19, “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!” They believe, but they’re not saved. They’ve no repentance. “Repent” means literally to turn around, turning from sin, to God. The first act of faith is repentance – changing roads. Paul Lovelace ran a golf-ball salvage business. He collected a lot of interesting things from golf-course lake bottoms. He recalled, “I once found a full bag of clubs with an address on the bag. When I called him, he said he didn’t want them. He said they were in the pond for a reason.” That man was done with those no-good clubs. That’s repentance, letting go of sin for good. Yes, we will slip at times, but we will confess it and continue our new direction on the narrow way. This man repented and cast himself upon Jesus alone. V. 42, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” No arrogance or demands. Just faith and repentance. D. Regeneration Now, imagine how this man felt when he heard Jesus’ words. Hanging on a cross, about to die, without hope, but now hearing: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” What utter joy! “Today” – not some distant day in some distant kingdom – but today, right now. You will be “with me.” From the depths of despair to the center of heaven. This is regeneration – a new creation. Eternal life. Even as that man hung dying on that cross, he became a new creation inside. Old things passed away, all things became new and he was regenerated. Thus Jesus says, “Today – with me – in paradise.” Unbelievable. Six hours ago without God, without help, without hope. Now “Today – with me – in paradise!” Conclusion – So, we’ve come to the cross. Now the question – by which route will we leave? Two guilty, mocking men came; saw the same events; heard the same comments; met the same Christ. But what a difference a day makes! One ended the day in hell; the other in heaven. To one He was the fragrance of life to life; But to the other He was the fragrance of death to death. Which is He to you? The difference was a decision of faith. 5 Three days after this, the world got the greatest news if ever heard. Jesus’ tomb was empty. The first Easter. “He is not here. He is risen!” Price paid. The check cleared. The Father accepted as payment in full the sacrifice of His own Son for the sin of the world. The news meant everything to thief #2; it meant nothing to thief #1. What will it mean to you this morning. How will you leave the cross – broad way that leads to destruction, or narrow way that leads to life. Faith and repentance is the key. Not works; not baptism; not church membership. Accepting Him, but grace thru faith. Robert Frost wrote a poem; he didn’t mean it as theological, but it is deeply so by changing a couple of words: I shall tell this with a sigh / Somewhere ages and ages hence: / Two roads diverged at the cross, and I -- / I took the one less traveled by, / And that has made the eternal difference. Which road is it for you? I urge you – take the one less traveled. The narrow way. Let’s pray. 6