Easter 2021

The Three Crosses at Calvary

Luke 23:39–46 NKJV

39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” 40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” 43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” 44 Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last.

Intro: As we reflect on a day that we called Easter. Today is Resurrection day. For Christians today is about the resurrection of Jesus.

But the world has come in and taken the resurrection of Jesus and turned into something else. Elab. Just like Christmas it has become a day to make money.

If it was not for the resurrection of Jesus we could not have salvation. And Satan does not want us to talk about salvation. Satan does not want people to receive the free gift of salvation.

That is why he works so hard to get our focus off what Easter is all about. When Jesus rose from the dead he defeated death, and sin.

Before there could be a resurrection there had to be a death and that death was a curl death. (Elab prior to the cross the punishment)

That death was on a cross. Elab of crucifixion.

On the day that Jesus gave his life on the cross there were two other men that died that day, each one hanging on their own cross, one on each side on Jesus. Why did they hang with two thieves? Perhaps it was to add to add to the humiliation at least in the eyes of the Jewish leaders. Maybe it looked like guilt by association.

Elab when Jesus called Matthew.

Matthew 9:11 NKJV

11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Luke 19:7 NKJV

7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”

So at least in the minds of the Jewish (religious) leaders, since He liked to associate with the sinners; he can die with the sinners. But what they were doing was playing into Gods plans.

Isaiah 53:12 NKJV

12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.

Pilate found no fault in Him, but He played into the hands of the Jewish leaders.

So here is Jesus, perfect, compassionate, loving savior with a sinner on each side. For these two men with death fast approaching, each man with a chose to make from his cross.

Every person in this here is going die to one day, it may be years, it may be weeks, and it may be days. But it is appointed unto a man once to die. Just like these two thieves you have a chose to make. Some have already made the choice to follow Jesus.

Some have made the choice to wait. They I believe are some who the Holy Spirit has been talking to about salvation, but you will not obey the Holy Spirit. Your church membership, your baptism is what you are hanging on to.

I. The Cross of Rejection. VS 39

Luke 23:39 NKJV

39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”

2. Notice some of the things about this thieve.

a. No admission of guilt. He was not interested in admitting that he was wrong.

b. He was mad because he got caught. He had worldly sorrow. He was no sorrow that he had offended God, he had no sorrow he had sinned against God. No, he was only sorry that he got caught. Always looking for an easy way out.

c. Scripture tells about worldly sorrow.

2 Corinthians 7:10 NKJV

10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

Romans 6:23 NKJV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

c. You can feel bad about your sin, but until you repeat of your sin yours sin will not be forgiven.

3. Here was a man that was reaping what he had sown and he didn’t like it.

4. Next we see his skepticism or unbelief.

a. He says to the Lord. “if you are the Christ”

b. This the talk of Satan. Luke 4

c. Whenever you find skepticism or doubt about what God has said or done, Satan is behind it.

d. Today people will doubt God’s existence; they will doubt the Word of God.

f. Here was a man, commended; he was right next to Jesus. How could a man be so close to the savior yet so far from the truth? How could he reject the grace of the savor in such a time of need?

g. It amazes me how people can be so close to the truth and still so no. It’s as if they are trying to figure out a way to not believe the truth.

h. Or when God is moving in someone’s live or in a church and some don’t recognize it or chose not to.

II. The Cross of Reception. VS 40-42

Luke 23:40 NKJV

40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?

VS 40a

1. Some things to notice about the thief that hung on the cross of reception.

“Do you not even fear God”

Prov 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”

Fear: reverence.

1. He knew God controlled his destiny. He knew God was the judge of things.

2. He realized that he was a condemned man. VS 40b

3. He acknowledges his sin. VS 41

Luke 23:41 NKJV

41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.”

a. We are getting what we deserve”

b. Acknowledgment of sin is the first step to salvation.

c. A person must first see themselves as a sinner.

Romans 3:23 NKJV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

d. A person that does not see themselves as a sinner sees no reason to be saved.

e. This was the problem with the Pharisees when they heard the words of Jesus. They did not see themselves as sinners. They were self righteous and Jesus as a sinner.

f. Not much has changed. People are relying of everything other the shed blood and resurrection of Jesus to save them.

4. He recognized the sinlessness of Jesus.

VS 41b “but this man has done nothing wrong”

Jesus had no sin.

a. It’s very likely that this man had seen Jesus before, maybe heard him teach, seen one of His miracles. Something had happened for him to knowledge who Jesus was.

5. So he says what he needs to (by the way he was witnessing to the other thieve.

Luke 23:42 NKJV

42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

1. Then he looks to Jesus and calls out to him. Recognizing Jesus for who he is. Lord.

“Lord” Most of the modern translations leave out “Lord”

2. His statement to Jesus. Lord remember me.

a. There will be a day when Jesus will say, “depart from me ye workers of iniquity for I never knew you.

b. But for those who call upon the name of the Lord. Elab he will remember.

c. This thief knew who he was and knew he was a sinner, and he recognized Jesus for who he was. He called out to him, receiving Jesus. He was on the cross of reception.

d. This was possible because Jesus was on the cross of redemption.

III. The Cross of Redemption. VS 43-46

The word redeem means: To ransom. To pay for. Jesus paid the price for our sins.

1. Jesus hears the call of the repenting thief.

a. What joy it brings to the Lord when a sinner calls out to him.

2. Jesus response. VS 43

Luke 23:43 NKJV

43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

a. What great news for a condemned man to hear.

b. He was not baptized, he didn’t become a member of a church. He did have to do good things. He knew that he was a sinner, he was Jesus as Lord, and he called out to him.

c. He was saved that day.

Luke 23:44–46 NKJV

44 Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last.

Then Jesus was taken to the tomb. A stone was rolled over to keep His followers from taking Him.

But,

Matthew 28:1–8 NKJV

1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. 5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.” 8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.