The Pardon of Jesus

Introduction

Today we continue our series From the Cross, through the Tomb, as we look at a few things.

The first message was titled

“The Perseverance of Jesus” (From the Garden to the Cross)

Jesus Persevered in the Garden

Through the Unanswered Prayer He Prayed to His Father

Through the Unwilling Apostles who slept instead of Prayed

Jesus Persevered

Jesus Persevered Through the Gnashing

Through the Accusations, Rejection & Abuse of Others

Jesus Persevered

Jesus Persevered Unto Golgotha

Though the Way was Hard & the Cross Heavy

Jesus Persevered

Secondly, we looked (briefly) at “The Purpose of Jesus” by breaking down what Jesus said in Luk. 19:10 “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

“The Purpose of Jesus” (Luk. 19:10)

Our Position (lost)

His Passion (to seek)

His Power (to save)

Aren’t you glad He did seek? Aren’t you glad He could save?

Last Sunday morning we looked at one of His sayings upon the Cross in:

“The Prayer of Jesus” (Luk. 23:32-38)

The Cruelty He Endured

From the Scoffers, the Climbers, the Heartless & the Onlookers

The Compassion He Displayed

The Meaning & Method of Grace

The Cause for Which He Prayed

They Lacked Understanding & that He Loved Them

The Culmination of that Prayer

It made a difference - in a thief, a solider, you & I

Later Sunday Night:

“The Providence of Jesus” (Joh. 19:25-27)

The Role of Mary

The Responsibility of Jesus

The Readiness of John

Today we’re going to present this message titled ‘The Pardon of Jesus’. Because Jesus issued a Pardon unto one of the thieves that hung beside Him that day. There were three men crucified that day - two of them justly. But two of those went to paradise!

Pardon (def) remission of the legal consequences of an offence or conviction.

The Bible tells us in Act. 10:43 “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”

So Because of Jesus’ pardon, the thief recieved remission (putting away) of his sins & the Spiritual consequences thereof.

So today we’re looking at The Pardon of Jesus, and the first thing that I want to point out is that it Came Despite His Works

I. Came Despite His Works

He had Sinned Wickedly

Two words are used to describe the men who were hanging on either side of Jesus.

‘thieves’ - Mat. 27:38; Mar. 15:27;

‘malefactors’ - Luk. 23:33;39;

John’s gospel simply says: ‘two other with him’ (Jn. 19:18)

Malefactor (def) One who commits a crime; one guilty of violating the laws, in such a manner as to subject him to public prosecution and punishment, particularly to capital punishment; a criminal.

We know that one of this man’s crimes was that of stealing. However, it’s apparent that it was not his only crime - given the fact that he was given the death sentence. His crimes logically had to be far greater. It’s possible (though we know not for sure) hat these two men were part of Barabbas’s band who committed insurrection and murder in the process. What we know for sure is that he agreed that the punishment that he was enduring was just considering what he’d done (v41). So whatever his sin / criminality was, he acknowledged that it was worthy of death.

I got to thinking of our society. We have the death penalty, but oftentimes, people commit heinous crimes and society deems that the death penalty ‘too harsh’ for them.

Scott Peterson - Killed his 8 1/2 month pregnant wife: life in prison

Susan Smith - drowned her two children: Life w/ possible parol in 30y

Charles Manson - spent 46 years in prison because the death penalty was ‘too inhumane’

So society deemed these criminals were not fit for the death penalty, however this thief recognized that he deserved it. He had thus committed wicked sin.

But do you know what? Even though this man had committed wicked sins, Jesus still pardoned him! Even though he did vile & terrible things, Jesus still was willing & able to wash those sins away!

Do you know what that means for you? That means regardless of your wickedness - regardless of your sins - whether they be great and worthy of death, or not - Jesus is willing to wash you as well! Isn’t that great!

He was pardoned - despite having sinned wickedly.

He was Without Service

He (evidently) had no real works to claim

Now I can’t tell you how many times this thief walked little old ladies across the road.

I can’t tell you how many homeless people he fed

I can’t tell you how much money he put in the treasury at the temple

I can’t tell you how many times he attended the temple for prayer

I have no idea about these things, but there’s a popular (and false) belief among many people that God stands with a cosmic scale weighing man’s good and bad. And as long as his ‘good’ outweighs his ‘bad’, then Go will look upon that with favor, and Heaven will be their home.

#1 - you’ll not find that in the Bible anywhere.

#2 - even if he had some works, judging from his punishment, I’d say they’d have a hard time outweighing his sin.

He was pardoned though by Jesus - so he (evidently) didn’t earn it.

He (certainly) had no works to promise to do

Many people when they seek God’s face for something, they will make certain promises to Him. “Oh God, if you do this, I will do this...” they treat God as if He is the host of ‘Let’s Make a Deal’.

Well this fellow was certainly in no position to make a deal with the LORD. He had nothing he was going to do - nothing he was capable of doing, other than hang there and die.

He couldn’t do anything to earn his salvation. But aren’t you glad for Eph. 2? (Read Eph. 2:1-9)

He was pardoned by Jesus because Salvation doesn’t come by works. Not what we have done, or what we will do - but by His Grace! Eph. 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

He was pardoned without service

He was Saved without Water

This is one of the instances that show the fallacy of baptismal regeneration (or baptism being necessary for one to be saved).

It’s interesting how denominational doctrines try to excuse this obvious instance of a man - by the mouth of Jesus - was saved, yet they didn’t get off their respective Crosses and go down to Jordan and get baptized.

The Catholic church recognize ‘baptism by desire’. In other words, if one wants to, but can’t then that’s excused.

It’s funny, I don’t see here where after Jesus said ‘today...’ then the thief said ‘I really wish I could get baptized...

Another said: ‘Well how do we know he wasn’t baptized sometime before?’

Another said: ‘Jesus sometimes chose to save people just because’

Another said: ‘That was under the law, we’re now under Grace’ (which makes no sense however you slice it).

The fact of the matter remains, if anyone can be saved at anytime without water baptism, then of necessity BAPTISM IS NOT NECESSARY FOR SALVATION.

I could speak for the next hour on how salvation comes without baptism, but that’s not the meat of the message today. I simply wanted to point out this important truth concerning this malefactor on the Cross.

That Jesus pardoned him WITHOUT water.

His Pardon Came Without Works. Secondly, His Pardon Came Definitively

II. Came Definitively

What I mean is that what Jesus said left no room for discussion. It had definite meaning and understanding.

The word ‘Verily’ means ‘Truly’ or ‘Of a truth’ - He’s saying what I’m telling you is FACT

Secondly, Jesus uses the definitive word ‘shalt’

So what Jesus is saying is not open for discussion or interpretation. Jesus is saying ‘This IS the way it IS’.

So what do we see:

Specifically unto Him

There’s no doubt as to who Jesus is addressing.

The thief says ‘Remember me’, and Jesus says unto him ‘Verily I say unto THEE, To day shalt THOU be with me in paradise’

It wasn’t a sweet little lady at the foot of the Cross - it was to HIM! That dirty rotten thief! That malefactor! That’s who Jesus was talking to!

I don’t know about you, but I’m thankful that Jesus was willing to rescue that thief! Because had Jesus not been willing to save him, Jesus would have had a hard time saving me!

The Pardon was issued Specifically to that Thief

Sure was the Destination

‘Verily I say unto THEE…in PARADISE’.

Jesus had a specific place this thief would be. And paradise sounds pretty good to me!

Jesus told his disciples: Joh. 14:1-2 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”

Aren’t you glad that this world is not our home?

Aren’t you glad that it gets better for the Christian?

Paul said in ICor. 15:19 “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”

We’ve got something to look forward to… but that’s not even the best part.

Jesus gave him Surety of the Destination

Settled was His Company

Joh. 14:3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

This thief was going to be in the presence of Jesus. Not just the Crucified Lamb, but the CONQUERING LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH!

(Ill.) For 21 years now I’ve known this man Jesus as my Saviour.

I have for 21 years now studied & learned about Jesus - and heard from Him in His Word

For about 17 years I have preached about this man Jesus. Telling anyone & everyone I could what I know about this man.

But church, there’s going to come a day when my eyes see Jesus! There’s coming a day when I will be in His presence!

People talk about the street of Gold and the gates of pearl and all that - But I tell you this: None of that excites me like knowing that I’m going to hold the hand that bought my salvation! That I’ll bow down at the pierced feet of My LORD and SAVIOUR!

And make no mistake, I’d rather be on the Cross with Jesus than without Him

I’d rather be in the midst of the fire with Jesus, than outside it without Him

I’d rather be in the midst of the storm with Jesus, than safely on shore without Him.

There’s nothing like being with Jesus!

It was Settled with His Company

His Pardon Came Without Works. His Pardon Came Definitively. Lastly, His Pardon Came Due to His Conversion

III. Came Due to His Conversion

The thief was (as Jesus put it) ‘born again’ upon the Cross there at Mt. Calvary

And even in this brief account, we can learn how that came about - and I hope you see just how familiar it is.

First, He Remembered His Sin

He Remembered His Sin (v41a)

He spoke of his ‘deeds’ there in v41. He’s talking about his sin.

The Bible tells us that sin was not unique unto this man - nor is it something that just a few ‘bad apples’ are plagued with. Sin is universal

Rom. 3:10 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:”

Rom. 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

Ecc. 7:20 “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.”

1Jn. 1:10 “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

If someone is to come to know the LORD and be born again, this is a truth that they must recognize.

God doesn’t save us because we’re good - He saved us because we’re sinners!

The thief Remembered His Sin

He Realized His Condemnation (v40)

He realized that he was condemned - and that it was his sins that condemned him. And he wasn’t speaking about the Judgment from man that he was experiencing - he was speaking of the Judgment of God (Dost thou not fear God?)

The Bible tells us: Rom. 6:23a “For the wages of sin is death;”

This is exactly what the thief is saying when he says ‘we receive the due reward of our deeds’.

Eze. 18:20a “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.”

Heb. 9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”

This thief understood that He was going to answer to God for His sins

He Remembered His Sin & Realized His Condemnation. Lastly, He Recognized Jesus as His Sinless Saviour

He Recognized Jesus as His Sinless Saviour (v41b-42)

He saw that Jesus was Crucified - even though He was innocent

He recognized Jesus as LORD

He recognized Jesus as King

He looked to Jesus for Salvation - which took great faith, given that the thief is looking at a man who is bruised, beaten & suffering shamefully

And that gets to the crux of the matter. Salvation is not by works. It’s not by water. It’s by FAITH IN JESUS!

Joh. 3:16 “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.”

Act. 16:31 “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

Act. 10:43 “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”

This mode of Salvation is the same to which we enjoy today. By GRACE through FAITH! Eph. 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

(Ill.) The Bible doesn’t give us the names of this malefactor. So I have taken the liberty of assigning this man a name. After much consideration, I chose to name this man - Scott McGraw. That is a name that suits him greatly. Because truthfully, I as in the same situation. (Spiritually). I was condemned to die - and rightfully so! Rightfully, because I am as wicked as they come. But one day, I realized my situation. I realized that I was condemned because of sin… but then I looked over to Jesus! and in words far less eloquent than this thief said, I did say what would be the equivalent. “Lord, remember me”. And just as simple the LORD replied in my heart “You’ll be with me”

That malefactor would finish out the day paying physically for the sins in which he committed, but Spiritual speaking, his sins were transferred to the ‘Man in the Middle’

His Pardon Came because He was Converted. He was ‘Born Again’ - and your’s can too!

Conclusion

Mention the other thief - who failed to receive a Pardon. It was available, yet he chose not to accept that gift.

Make sure to ask Gracelyn ‘What did Jesus do for you?’