It's Never Too Late

Luke 23:32–43 NLT

32 Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. 33 When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. 35 The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. 37 They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 A sign was fastened above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.” 39 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!” 40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” 43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

People Refused to See to the True Identity of Jesus

The scene of today’s text is that Jesus has just been kidnapped, beaten and put on a mockery of a trial and would soon give His life so that all of humanity could be saved through Him. And yet the very people He came to reveal Himself to first are the very people which shouted crucify Him.

Jesus was not only the fulfillment of Old Testament prophesy as the Messiah but He is in fact Emanuel God among us.

Not that Jesus owed anyone an explanation but to prove that He was in fact the Messiah and to glorify God the Father Jesus demonstrated over 38 miracles recorded in the Gospels and these were just the well known ones so that no one could question them.

The truth is we do not know or cannot calculate how many miracles Jesus performed on His earthly ministry but the Disciple John gives us an explanation in

John 21:25 ESV

25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

You see Jesus’s life was a miracle and fulfillment of prophesy. In fact some there are conservatively over 300 Old Testament prophesies fulfilled in His earthly ministry with many Bible scholars noting much higher numbers.

In addition, the Jews of the time of Jesus heard the prophesies read in the synagogues and many were awaiting the Messiah. Yet because of hardness of heart, sin and unbelief many would not repent and believe in Jesus.

The Roman Empire which had never heard of the Messiah obviously didn’t believe either. Verse 34 tells us that the soldiers gambled for His clothes.

Verse 35 states that the crowd and the leaders scoffed and mocked Him. They taunted and said if He saved others let Him save Himself.

The Roman soldiers mocked him too and taunted Him to save Himself if He was a real King.

And verse 39 tells us that even one of the other criminals scoffed Him as well.

This is an intense picture no doubt. But how many people do we see today that not only reject Jesus but mock not only God but all that follow Him.

There is no lack of evidence what Jesus did during His lifetime and is still doing today. There are literally multiplied millions of Christians over two thousand years which testify that Jesus is real and the Holy Spirit is living inside of them.

Furthermore, Christian churches and organizations have given more food, shelter, medical care and counseling to the entire world even non-Christians than any other people group that has ever existed.

Yet still as was in the time of Jesus those who refuse to accept that He is the way, the truth and the life. That He does love us and if we trust and love Him too then He will prepare a place for us in heaven and comfort us and love us in this life.

If that is you today I implore you to put your trust in Jesus Christ this evening. If you know someone close to you that is not saved pray for them daily. That they will be saved.

Jesus Shows Mercy Despite His Suffering

The most powerful point we can see in today’s passage of Scripture is that Jesus shows mercy despite His suffering.

Verse 34 records Jesus saying “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”

Can you imagine leaving the glory of heaven to live humbly as a human. To give you life healing, blessing and serving others all to teach them the path to eternal life and love. Only to have many people mistreat you, and abuse you physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Yet despite the situation Jesus still shows love and mercy to the very people who are abusing Him. You see folks God is love and His love is unlike any love we can possibly comprehend. It has no limit it has not end it has no qualification of than to trust Jesus Christ and live for Him and not for yourself or the wicked ways of the world.

And while most during this time and during our time do not understand the gravity of what they are doing when they reject Christ there are those who do believe and for us is a reward beyond measure.

In verse 39 one of the criminals hanging on the cross next to Jesus begins mocking Him like the crowd and the soldiers but them in verse 40 the other criminal protests and declares that while they are guilty Jesus is not. And then in a beautiful moment the criminal gives a heartfelt plea to Jesus by saying “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

And in verse 43 Jesus replies “I assure you, today you will be with Me in paradise.”

You see many people have lived apart or in opposition to Jesus for so long that they don’t believe they change or if they did that God would accept them back. But nothing could be further from the truth. The Bible didn’t say that the criminal wasn’t guilty. In fact by his own words he admitted he was guilty. What the Bible says is that he confessed His sin and asked Jesus to save Him. And without hesitation or rebuke Jesus forgives His sins and guarantees the criminal a new identity and a home in heaven.

Hear me today please. It doesn’t matter if you have never known the Lord or if you have known Him but never really lived for Him. It doesn’t matter if you have lived a very good life or if you have made a mess of your life.

The Bible teaches us in

Romans 3:10 ESV

10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;

This means that everyone needs to put their faith in Jesus Christ to be saved from the judgement that is coming to this world and have heaven as their home.

You do not have to know much to see that humanity cannot continue on the same course it is going for much longer without self destruction. The hope of wealth, or strength, or intellect is powerless when real calamity takes place.

You see today we are in the age of grace which means that you can put your faith in Jesus today and turn your life around without facing the wrath of God that is to come on a world that rejects and despises Him.

Please wherever you are if you are here today or if you are hearing this sermon online at at later date please put your hope in faith in Jesus Christ who is the only one that can guarantee you a love beyond measure in this life and the life to come. He is the only one who can make you righteous in God’s eyes and He is calling you home today.

If you are here and you are a Christian I want to ask you to take a serious look inside of and at your life. Do you not only believe in Jesus but are you living for Jesus or are you just going through the motions.

I implore you today anyone in the sound of my voice please give turn from your current situation and have a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and I promise you by the authority of God’s word that when you make Jesus the Lord of your life your sins are forgiven, heaven will be your home and you will experience a love like you have never known.

Prayer