Three Crosses At Gordon’s Calvary

Luke 23:32-56

Luke 23:32–56 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.” 44 By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 45 The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle. 46 Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last. 47 When the Roman officer overseeing the execution saw what had happened, he worshiped God and said, “Surely this man was innocent.” 48 And when all the crowd that came to see the crucifixion saw what had happened, they went home in deep sorrow. 49 But Jesus’ friends, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching. 50 Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish high council, 51 but he had not agreed with the decision and actions of the other religious leaders. He was from the town of Arimathea in Judea, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come. 52 He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in a long sheet of linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock. 54 This was done late on Friday afternoon, the day of preparation, as the Sabbath was about to begin. 55 As his body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where his body was placed. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and ointments to anoint his body. But by the time they were finished the Sabbath had begun, so they rested as required by the law.

INTRODUCTION:

I- THE CROSS OF REDEMPTION (Luke 23:32-38)

Luke 23:32–38 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.”

A- It was on this cross that Jesus identified with sinners.

1- He was crucified with criminals

(Isaiah 53:12)

Isaiah 53:12 NLT

12 I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.

a. He took our sin upon himself

(2 Corinthians 5:21)

2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT

21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

B- It was on this cross that Jesus bought our forgiveness.

1- His Prayer (Luke 23:34).

Luke 23:34 NLT

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.

2- His Proof (Luke 23:43).

Luke 23:43 NLT

43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

a. It was on this cross that he bought complete salvation. (Luke 23:35).

Luke 23:35 NLT

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.”

b. Salvation that comes through a new birth (John 3:7)

John 3:7 NLT

7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’

c. Salvation that transforms lives (Mark 5:2-15)

Mark 5:2–15 NLT

2 When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the burial caves and could no longer be restrained, even with a chain. 4 Whenever he was put into chains and shackles—as he often was—he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones. 6 When Jesus was still some distance away, the man saw him, ran to meet him, and bowed low before him. 7 With a shriek, he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In the name of God, I beg you, don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had already said to the spirit, “Come out of the man, you evil spirit.” 9 Then Jesus demanded, “What is your name?” And he replied, “My name is Legion, because there are many of us inside this man.” 10 Then the evil spirits begged him again and again not to send them to some distant place. 11 There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby. 12 “Send us into those pigs,” the spirits begged. “Let us enter them.” 13 So Jesus gave them permission. The evil spirits came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd of about 2,000 pigs plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water. 14 The herdsmen fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. People rushed out to see what had happened. 15 A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid.

d. Salvation that was costly to him personally. (He could save others, but not himself!)

II- THE CROSS OF REJECTION (Luke 23:39).

Luke 23:39 NLT

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!”

A- The condition of this thief (Luke 23:39a).

Luke 23:39a NLT

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!”

1- He was a criminal.

a. He was a sinner

(Romans 3:23).

Romans 3:23 NLT

23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

b. He was unrepentant

(Luke 13:3).

Luke 13:3 NLT

3 Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God.

c. He was an unbeliever

(Revelation 21:8)

Revelation 21:8 NLT

8 “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

B- The attitude of this thief (Luke 23:39b).

Luke 23:39b NLT

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!”

1- Irreverence

2- Selfishness

3- Ignorance

C- The end of this thief (Luke 23:39-40).

Luke 23:39–40 NLT

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?

1- He died physically.

2- He went to Hell

3- He is still there. (Luke 16:26)

Luke 16:26 NLT

26 And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’

4- He will be judged by Jesus. (Revelation 1:7; 20:11-15).

Revelation 1:7 NLT

7 Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him— even those who pierced him. And all the nations of the world will mourn for him. Yes! Amen!

Revelation 20:11–15 NLT

11 And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. 12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. 14 Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. 15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.

III- THE CROSS OF RECEPTION (Luke 23:40-43).

Luke 23:40–43 NLT

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.”

A- The thief on this cross had a change of heart and mind (Luke 23:40).

Luke 23:40 NLT

40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die?

1- He had a change of heart toward God (Luke 23:40a)

Luke 23:40a NLT

40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die?

(Proverbs 1:7)

Proverbs 1:7 NLT

7 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

(Proverbs 9:10).  

Proverbs 9:10 NLT

10 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.

2- He had a change in attitude about his sin (Luke 23:41)

Luke 23:41 NLT

41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.”

(Proverbs 8:13)

Proverbs 8:13 NLT

13 All who fear the Lord will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech.

B- The thief on this cross had a conversion of life.

1- He confessed his sin (Luke 23:41)

Luke 23:41 NLT

41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.”

2- He confessed Christ’s Lordship (Luke 23:42)

Luke 23:42 NLT

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

(Romans 10:9-13).

Romans 10:9–13 NLT

9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” 12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

3- He called upon Jesus for mercy (Luke 23:42)

Luke 23:42 NLT

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

a. Like the publican did (Luke 18:13).

Luke 18:13 NLT

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’

CONCLUSION:

HYMN LYRICS “AT THE CROSS” BY ISAAC WATTS

Alas! and did my Savior bleed And did my Sov’reign die? Would He devote that sacred head For such a worm as I?

Was it for crimes that I had done He groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity! grace unknown! And love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide And shut his glories in, When Christ, the mighty Maker died, For man the creature’s sin.

Thus might I hide my blushing face While His dear cross appears, Dissolve my heart in thankfulness, And melt my eyes to tears.

But drops of grief can ne’er repay The debt of love I owe: Here, Lord, I give myself away, ’Tis all that I can do.

Refrain (Hudson): At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light, And the burden of my heart rolled away, It was there by faith I received my sight, And now I am happy all the day!