The Thieves

INTRO

Good morning! My name is Ryan, I’m one of the pastors here at Georgianna.

It’s so good to be with you in worship today…

[MENTION LIVE STREAM AT 9:45]

ME

Several years ago Allie I and had a once in a lifetime deal to visit Hawaii. Essentially the deal was that if we just paid to get there then our accommodations were covered after that with some friends of ours.

There was no way that we could say no, so we went. We stayed on the island of Kauai... which was stunning.

Part of Jurassic Park was filmed there. I hummed the theme song the entire time... Allie never got tired of it.

While we were there we found a beach in a town called Hanalei... here’s a picture.

Now we were there kind of late in the day, but my friend and I couldn’t resist the urge to go for a swim. The wives weren’t really interested but we went anyway.

Far down to one end of the beach there are a bunch of surfers concentrated in one area and we decided that we didn’t want to bother them so we picked a spot about 100 yards away... however, it soon became clear why they had picked a certain, safer spot.

So my friend and I just can’t resist... I mean we Baywatch run straight into the water. He’s ahead of me and he just keeps swimming.

So I just follow him...

And he keeps swimming...

And I follow him.

And before I know it I have no idea when I last felt the ground under my feet.

I look back and Allison and his wife are much farther away than I anticipated. So I turn around and start to swim back.

And nothing happens.

And I swim harder... and nothing happens. They’re just getting further and further away.

And then I panic.

Now, at that point I had only ever lived in Ohio and Tennessee so I didn’t really know what was happening. You coastal people know exactly what was going on. I was caught in a rip tide.

So I swim harder and harder and nothing is helping.

Finally my friend gets within shouting distance and he tells me to swim parallel to the shore... and I thought, “Well that doesn’t make any sense.”

I tried that for a few seconds and didn’t make the progress that I wanted to, so I gave up and started swimming back toward the shore.

It got so bad that, at one point, I came so close to letting go of my boogie board because I thought that was what was holding me back.

The one thing that I was not about to do was throw my hands up and scream “Help!” That just felt like a stereotype. I wasn’t a damsel in distress! I mean, that would be ridiculous. I’m a good swimmer... I’m not a victim and I can do this on my own.

WE

Have you ever been in a situation where you had nothing to offer?

You brought nothing to the table

and unless you asked for help it wasn’t looking good for you...

Maybe it was a rip tide… or maybe it wasn’t life and death, maybe you had trouble making ends meet… or it was a big project at work…

but you came to the uncomfortable realization that you could not do it on your own.

I think these can be difficult feelings to wrestle with. Especially in this particular country, with this particular culture, with this particular heritage.

We go our own way, we blaze our own path, and we pull ourselves up by our bootstraps.

We bring something to the table... right?

But what about when we don’t?

Have you been there before? Where you just had nothing to offer?

In these situations I think we are faced with a choice… PRIDE VS. HUMILITY.

OPENING PRAYER

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight… O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Give us the strength to admit when we have no strength...

GOD

When we encounter the scene of Jesus’ crucifixion in the book of Luke you’ll find a story there about two criminals, crucified with Jesus... one on His right and one on His left.

And if we turn around and faced that scene we would soon realize that those choices of pride vs. humility — arrogance vs. repentance — are squarely in front of us.

We see both options, and exactly where they lead…

Luke 23:32-43

32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull,

[PROBABLY BECAUSE THAT’S WHERE PEOPLE DIED]

they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” 38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews. 39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

[I MEAN CAN YOU IMAGINE THE ARROGANCE OF THIS MAN… HANGING THERE LEFT TO DIE, BUT STILL MUSTERING UP ENOUGH ENERGY JUST TO INSULT SOMEONE?!]

40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

REFLECTIONS

There is a somewhat baffling theory out there about parallel universes… or parallel realities… and while it is kind of a fringe topic in the scientific world… it’s MUCH more popular in science fiction.

You may have heard it called the “Multiverse” in some recent superhero movies.

For instance, did you know the latest Spider-man movie includes no less than THREE Spider… men. Spider-mans?

Parallel universes that have collided.

Now… I’m not really sure if I buy into it, but one explanation says that when we are offered choices or different directions to go that, in that instance, two universes split off from one another... one where I made one choice and one where another me made the other choice.

So when we decided to move to Florida a few years ago, you probably didn’t know this... but we created another universe. And in that universe we stayed in Tennessee and froze during the winter, hiked in the mountains in the summer, and every Fall we sang Rocky Top and cheered on the Vols on Saturdays.

It happened... in a parallel universe.

In parallel universes all of the possible outcomes of our decisions play out to their fullest extent.

IN THEORY.

____________________________

Again, I’m not sure I buy into the theory, but in the story of Jesus and the criminals I think that the writer, Luke, is offering us a glimpse into BOTH realities. Both possible outcomes...

Something tragic has occurred… it can be dealt with this way… or it can be dealt with that way.

Spoiler alert: we might see something similar next week when we look at the stories of Judas and Peter. Something bad has happens… here’s what it looks like to deal with it this way… Here’s the other option.

And so we have BOTH of the possible outcomes when a condemned criminal encounters Jesus.

One outcome where the criminal makes one choice.

One outcome where the criminal makes the other choice.

Pride vs. humility.

Arrogance vs. Repentance

Bringing something to the table vs. bringing nothing to the table

__________________

We don’t know anything about these two criminals. They’re not necessarily thieves, even though we’ve gotten accustomed to saying that. We don’t know what their crimes are. We don’t even know what their names are.

They show up in these few verses and are gone.

But kind of like parallel universes, NOT SAYING THEY EXIST :) -- these are both of the outcomes in that situation... simultaneously played out for us.

Picture them as ONE character for just a moment…

At his lowest point... will a criminal sentenced to die on a cross – when he has nothing left to offer, nothing left to lose--- will he still remain prideful? Will he die with his chin held high?

Or will he admit that he brings nothing to the table and hope for the best?

_____________________________

It takes his followers a long time to realize this, and it sometimes takes us a while to realize it as well, but Jesus is constantly operating on a different wavelength. A different plain than they are on, a different one than we are on.

We sometimes get frustrated because Jesus doesn’t make sense in this world.

But everything he says and does is an illustration of another world. Of the kingdom of God. No it doesn’t make sense in this world. It doesn’t belong here.

In one scenario the criminal dies and is never heard from again. We only know he exists because he is a footnote in the other guy’s story. He dies with his chin held high, but historically anonymous.

In the other scenario the criminal admits that he’s got nothing to lose. And he places his bets on Jesus.

He refers to Jesus’ kingdom, which is a concept that even Jesus’ closest followers had trouble with. I don’t think the criminal could affirm the big theological idea that is the kingdom of God.

I wonder if, knowing he was at his lowest point, he was finally willing to let go of his pride and put his faith in something.

The soldiers mock Jesus and put a sign up that says “King of the Jews.”

And maybe looked at that and thought… Whatever kingdom that is... this is my dying breath anyway... I’m going to assume that what they’re mocking you for might actually be true. So remember me when you get there.

Because I’ve got nothing left to offer. I’m bringing nothing to the table.

And he dies honored. Luke didn’t give him a name in the story, but he is so honored throughout history that we made one up for him... Dismas. He achieves sainthood in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Church! He has cities named after him (San Dimas, CA). He has churches named after him... the Church of the Good Thief as several are called.

Not to mention... he is in paradise with Jesus.

Both asked for salvation.

The one is heard, while the other dies prideful, just a few feet from the Savior, who could have extended him mercy (NIB, 458).

The guy who admits he is nothing gets everything. This is Jesus’ wavelength. This is how the kingdom works.

Jesus says things like “the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

If you’ve been staying up to date with the Take 5 videos lately you’ll recognize this one…

Jesus says, “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

And so the Kingdom is for those who have this very difficult, uncomfortable awareness that...

they bring nothing to the table.

_______________________________

But our pride gets in the way doesn’t it? Too often we act like the other criminal.

There was a video that went around on social media several years ago where a man dresses up like he is homeless and sits on a sidewalk. Only, instead of asking for money, he gets people’s attention and tries to give them a handout.

And no one will accept it! No one wants to accept money from this guy they think is homeless.

I actually wanted to show this video this morning but I couldn’t! People get so offended by being offered money by someone on the street that it’s downright obscene!

There were certainly some kind people in the video as well… but they still wouldn’t take money from him.

Once they realize what he is trying to do, they decline and then start to offer him money.

It’s almost like they have these knee-jerk reaction to keep their pride in tact and, at least, match his offer back to him.

I don’t need your money, here take mine.

They weren’t even going to stop for him in the first place!

but pride can be strong!

We have to bring something to the table!

________________________________

Nearly every year that Allie and I have been together we have spent Thanksgiving at her grandmother’s house in Nettie, West Virginia.

But all the years that we have been married we have never lived anywhere close. When we were in TN it was almost a 6 hour drive. Now it’s definitely a flight.

If you look at the enormous spread of food on the Thanksgiving table we have never been able to contribute a thing. We have always had to travel way too far to be able to have cooked something special to provide.

Every Thanksgiving we literally “bring nothing to the table.”

My first couple of Thanksgivings with Allison’s family almost felt shameful. Up in West Virginia you fix your own cars, you shoot your own guns, and you cook your own food.

Usually because you had shot something with those guns!

And I couldn’t impress anyone with those things. I wasn’t bringing anything to the table

And it took me a few trips up there to realize that no one else thought that. I never had to impress them in the first place. They just accepted me.

I love that family. And they love me... completely empty handed. And I don’t deserve it.

God’s Kingdom is Mammaw’s Thanksgiving table... on a cosmic scale.

If you think you bring something to the table... you don’t. And it is only in knowing that you have nothing to offer that the table is offered to you.

__________________________________

One of the reasons why I love the story of the criminals is because it gives us a crystal clear example of where Jesus’ actions here on earth then made their way right into our theology… and from there right into our core beliefs and values… and from there (when we’re at our best) right into our churches.

Let me explain that…

*In this story you have paradise offered to condemned criminal.

*A little later you have the Apostle Paul who then puts this idea in writing when he says:

Ephesians 2:4-5 ...God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead

[THIS SOUNDS SO MUCH LIKE A CRIMINAL ON A CROSS TO ME]

even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

AND PAUL GOES ON TO SAY...

this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

*And then we begin to sing this core belief in songs that say “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a WHAT? a wretch like me.”

Or another song that says, “Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace… FREELY bestowed on all who believe.”

*And then… when the church is really nailing this Kingdom of God thing… we invite people to come EXACTLY AS THEY ARE. No pretense, no need to get yourself together first. No need to make yourself worthy… or even iron your clothes.

You don’t have to walk in with dignity or pride or with your chin held high…

Because it is only in knowing that you bring nothing to the table, that the table is offered to you.

And so every Thanksgiving I approach the table with nothing in my hands other than a plate. I eat food (probably too much food) that isn’t mine.

I usually take a nap in a recliner that’s not mine.

I’ll watch football on a TV that’s not mine.

That night, I sleep under a roof that’s not mine.

I spend the whole Thanksgiving holiday with a family that, technically speaking, isn’t mine.

And, having come empty-handed, the only thing I CAN offer is a Thank You.

It’s when you admit that you bring nothing to the table, that the table is offered to you.

The Kingdom works differently than we do. It gives us what we don’t deserve.

And it gives it to us first...

It’s paradise offered to thief.

It’s new life offered to people who are still a bunch of sinners.

It’s amazing grace that saves a wretch.

It’s a grandmother who just wants to see a new in-law accept the meal in front of him.

It’s a surfer who is ready to rescue an oblivious tourist as soon as he cries help.

________________________

I did throw my hands up that day. I swallowed my pride, I let my dignity drift off into the Pacific Ocean and I cried HELP at the top of my lungs.

And this enormous Samoan surfer strides across the water on his surfboard. I felt like I was getting rescued by The Rock. And I felt so small.

He got out to me and threw the leash from his surfboard to me and told me grab on and swim with him.

And at that moment, I had to tell him that I had nothing left to give. I brought nothing to the table.

I told him that I couldn’t swim anymore. He had to do it for me.

And so The Rock paddled me in towards the beach.

And after a few minutes I finally felt the sand again.

At that moment, when I had nothing… EVERYTHING was a gift

I wasn’t just grateful for a great vacation or good weather or even my good friends.

I was thankful to have something under my feet. I was thankful for breath that I was still catching. I was honestly grateful for life.

I hadn’t earned any of it. It was all a gift from God.

(And a little from The Rock) :)

I wish I had this awareness every single day. But on my good days I remind myself that I bring nothing to the table... I’m a drowning tourist... I’m an imposter at Thanksgiving... and I’m a thief on a cross.

And I am offered the Kingdom of God.

____________________________

As the weeks go by in LENT we head closer and closer to God’s greatest gift of new life at Easter.

But LENT really invites us to take stock of who we are while we are on our way.

And like the criminals we have a couple of options.

*We can take it for granted… Easter just comes every year… we’ll go to church, we’ll hunt eggs, we’ll have family over. It’ll be fun.

*Or we can embrace the humility that says we bring nothing to the table… We can declare to God and to ourselves that WE NEED THIS.

I NEED EASTER. On Ash Wednesday I affirmed that, without Jesus, I am dust. And I need Easter.

I need the resurrected life of Jesus.

So we’ve got 3 more weeks. We’re at around the halfway point to Easter.

Will you keep your chin held high… or will you be a penitent thief?

BENEDICTION

remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return… so REPENT and believe the good news… that Jesus offers you new life!