Choosing Jesus

Series: Choices That We Make

Text: Luke 23:32-43

Title: Choosing Jesus

July 25,2010; January 10, 2021

Introduction:

· Life is filled with great decisions—friendships, dating, marriage, presidential elections, etc. But the greatest decision in life is, “What will I do with Jesus?”

· “When it comes to major decisions, there are three seasons of timing: We change when we hurt enough that we have to, when we learn enough that we want to, and when we receive enough that they are able to.”

· This morning I want to ask you to travel back in time to a hill outside Jerusalem called Golgotha.

I. The People Who Were Crucified

A. Two Practicing Thieves were crucified that day—verse 32

Malefactor—An evil worker

Illustration: Depravity—all have sinned

Romans 3:10 KJV 1900

10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:23 KJV 1900

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Note: They were deserving of punishment.

They were criminals—they were being crucified because they were found guilty of crimes that required death.

Isaiah 53:12 KJV 1900

12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, And he shall divide the spoil with the strong; Because he hath poured out his soul unto death: And he was numbered with the transgressors; And he bare the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.

B. The Perfect Son of God was crucified that day—verse 33 (Him)

Note: Deity-the nature and essence of the Supreme Being.

1. Consider the crucified

Note: He was just

1 Peter 3:18 KJV 1900

18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

Hebrews 4:15 KJV 1900

15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

2. Consider the crucifixion

A physician looks at crucifixion. As Dr. Truman Davis contemplated the story of Christ…..

· His arms tied to a post above His head

· The heavy whip is brought down with full force again and again across Jesus’ shoulders, back, and legs

· A heavy crossbeam is tied across His shoulders

· At the site of execution, the crossbeam is thrown down, and Jesus is pushed to the ground, his arms stretching over the wood

· The executioner drives a heavy, square, wrought-iron nail through the wrist and into the wood

· A nail is driven through the arch of each foot

· As He pushes Himself upward to avoid this stretching torment, He places His full weight on the nail through his feet. Again there is the searing agony of the nail tearing through the nerves between the bones of the feet.

· Air can be drawn into the lungs, but cannot be exhaled. Jesus fights to raise Himself up in order to get even one short breath.

· The common method of ending a crucifixion is breaking the bones of the legs. This prevented the victim from pushing himself upward. This was unnecessary for Christ, who died after six hours of crucifixion.

· Apparently to make doubly sure of death, the legionnaire drove his lance through the fifth space between the ribs, upward through the pericardium and into the heart. There was an escape of water fluid from the sac surrounding the heart.

II. The Plea from the Cross

Note: The first thief was critical and unbelieving. The one thief sarcastically said to Jesus, “If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.” (v.39)

Note: You can never be saved as long as you are in the “IF” mindset!!!

Note: The second thief had a reverence for Jesus—verse 40

A. From a Heart of Understanding

1. He understood he was a sinner—verse 41

Ecclesiastes 7:20 KJV 1900

20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

Romans 3:10 KJV 1900

10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 5:12 KJV 1900

12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Note: All men are criminals against God.

1 John 1:8 KJV 1900

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Illustration: A woman summoned for jury duty said to the judge, “Your Honor, I can’t serve on a jury. I don't believe in capital punishment.” The judge said, “Ma'am, this isn't a capital charge so that doesn’t matter. This is a case where a husband emptied out the wife’s savings account of $14,000 to take a three-day weekend with his girlfriend in Las Vegas.” The woman said, “Okay, I'll serve. And I could be wrong about capital punishment.”

2. He understood Jesus was the Saviour

· He believed in the innocence of Jesus—41b

· He believed in the Lordship of Jesus—42b

· He believed in the kingdom of Jesus

B. From a Heart of Faith and Repentance—verse 42

Acts 20:21 KJV 1900

21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 10:9–10 KJV 1900

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

The people that were crucified

The plea from the cross

III. The Pardon from Sin

Note: Today, you will be with me in Paradise or Heaven…verse 43

Note: Only Jesus can say this.

Note: We often don’t contemplate eternity.

Illustration: Peter stopped a man at the gate of Heaven and asked him to give an account of himself. “Tell me one good thing you did in your life,” demanded Peter. The man paused for a moment and then responded, “I saw a gang harassing an elderly woman, so I kicked the leader in the shins.” Peter asked, “When did this happen?” The man replied, “About forty seconds ago.”

A. Through His Blood—verse 46

Note: Crucifixion was a bloody and horrible death.

Colossians 1:14 KJV 1900

14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Ephesians 1:7 KJV 1900

7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

The Spurgeon Study Bible: Notes Chapter 23

Well does our poet [Isaac Watts] put it: “He that distributes crowns and thrones, hangs on a tree and bleeds and groans.”

B. For All Who Believe

1. For the thief on the cross

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV 1900

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Note: The believing thief did not get baptized, etc.

Illustration: Famous Baptist pastor R.G. Lee visited the site of Calvary in the holy land. He wanted to go to the top and at first his Arab guide discouraged him. Finally as they reached the top, the guide asked him, “Have you ever been here before?” Dr. Lee said, “Yes, some 2000 years ago.”

Note: Only God can forgive sins.

Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV 1900

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Luke 5:18–23 KJV 1900

18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. 19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? 22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? 23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?

2. For me

John 3:16–18 KJV 1900

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Illustration: If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist; If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist; If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer; But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.

Conclusion:

This day thou shalt be with me in paradise…..

John 14:5–6 KJV 1900

5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

When you have to make a choice and don't make it, that is in itself a choice.