Luke 23:38-43 There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom]”
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Perhaps, it would seem I am rushing the season, moving so quickly from Christmas to Easter, but what better time to tie the Gospel Story together. We have just basked in the birth of God’s Son. It seems logical to move forward to understand why He came.
A rather famous and notorious person of the last century was Willie Sutton, who by profession was known as a bank robber. No one would remember him except for his answer as to why he robbed banks. Bank robberies are high profile crimes and involve local and federal law enforcement agencies. The risk is somewhat greater for the crime is in the open, frequently filmed, and involves all of society, so it is newsworthy. Willie’s terse answer for the motive behind his crime was that he “went where the money was.”
Once when in college, I went home on the weekend and played basketball in the high school gym. There were perhaps 40 people there and 2 games were going on simultaneously. I carefully put my belongings in a gym bag and placed it where it was in plain view. An hour later I went to my bag and my billfold was gone. There wasn’t much money inside but the driver’s license, fishing license, and registration for selective service were gone. The high school principal was there and he called the Sheriff’s office. In 15 minutes Rose Kitts arrived. He asked me a few questions then turned to a young teen and inquired “Who was here?” After a brief conversation, he left and in less than 30 minutes he returned with the billfold. He asked if I wished to press charges and I declined.
Sheriff Kitts commanded that office for many terms. He understood human nature and very simply he knew who the crooks were, young and old. He had gone to the thief’s home, knocked on the door, and announced that he had come for the billfold. The culprit surrendered it without ado.
Jesus, the Son of God, was affixed to a cross between two thieves. We know of Jesus’ sinlessness and His spotlessness. He was there on our behalf, the sinless for the sinful. To each side of Him were two robbers whose guilt had been established and were justly being punished. One taunts Jesus and questions His identity. The other accepts Him as a King and desires to be remembered when he comes into His Kingdom. It is then that one dying man who is God Incarnate says to another dying man, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” Shortly thereafter the lives of all three men have been snuffed out.
If Jesus did not arise from the dead, there would be no story, no gospel, and no hope. But since he did, as historically verified by the Bible, what is the critical message for us? It seems clear that Jesus plainly states that one robber will be with Him in eternity that day. It seems equally clear that the other will not. Is Jesus angry at the one and not the other? This seems unlikely for Jesus asks for forgiveness for those who go through the mechanical actions of executing Him by the means of crucifixion. Jesus hangs there and dies for the crimes and sins of all sinners but apparently not all are invited into eternity in His presence.
The answer hinges basically upon how one handles his sin. Romans 3:23 defines the problem (for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,) . We all are sinners. There are no exceptions. Left upon us, God’s wrath must be poured out on our sin. This results in eternal separation from God. The key to being made perfect as Jesus is perfect comes through faith in Jesus as Sinbearer.
Now faith in Jesus is a gift. (Ephesians 2:8 – For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—) It is this faith that is accompanied by a rebirth of soul and spirit that makes paradise (residing in His Kingdom) a possibility. How does one get this gift? You must ask for it in confession. Confession requires that you understand that it is your sin that offends and separates you from God. The act of your confession is between you and God. Crushed by our sin, God gifts faith in Jesus that produces the miracle of transformation from lost to found. True, we still sin in this life but when God looks into our hearts, He sees a reflection of His son. Our sins are crucified with the Christ and we become adopted daughters and sons just as the repentant thief on the cross. This is God’s gift to us if we will but accept it. God looks at the penitent sinner and remembers his sin no more. The true wonder of Christmas is that Jesus of Nazareth chooses to die for all who desire to be saved from their sins.
