April 13, 2014
Morning Service

Luke 23:

 

We began Jesus’s last week before the crucifixion, in chapter 19, with:

·         His triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  This is what Christendom is celebrating today, Palm Sunday.   

·         The cleansing of the temple, embarrassing the religious leaders by His accurate teachings, and questions that they would not answer. 

·         Jesus taught them of His second coming, and the destruction of Jerusalem.  They still don’t know the plan is for Him to give His life a ransom for mankind. 

·         In his most difficult time, two of His immediate disciples question concerning who will be the greatest in His kingdom. 

·         We have witnessed the institution of our communion service. 

·         Jesus tells Peter that he will deny Him three times before the cock crows.  Peter is confident that he is ready to go to jail, and even death, before he would deny his Lord.

·         Jesus tells Peter, “when you are converted strengthen your brethren.”

·         Before He is taken, we saw His agony in the garden, “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”  Can we try and imagine His thoughts of leaving these people He has called into service, and that He has great love for each of them?  He is only 33 yrs. Old.   

·         We see the betrayal of Judas.  As Judas approached Jesus to kiss Him, Jesus said, “Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?

·         Luk 22:54  Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off.

·         Luke 22:55 – 62;  Tells of the three denials of Peter.  The Scripture says;  Luk 22:60-62  And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.  (61)  And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.  (62)  And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

This will be a moment that will remain in Peter’s mind for quite some time.  Peter was no different than you and I, when we do something that we know displeases the Lord, I hope it bothers us in the same manner.

·         We finish chapter 22 with Jesus being questioned and made fun of, and His reply to some of their questions;  Luk 22:67-71  Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:  (68)  And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go.  (69)  Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.  (70)  Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.  (71)  And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.

In chapter 23 Jesus is taken, and questioned before Pilate, and Herod.  Neither men finding fault with Him.  In His torture, and mock trial, He fulfills Isa. 53;  concerning the suffering servant.  In these verses we see someone that was examined, and determined there was no fault in Him, yet suffered unbearable pain, and humiliation, that through His sacrifice, mankind would have a  way of getting back into a good relationship with Almighty God.

This brings us to the point that God has laid on my heart for todays study. 

·         There is the terrible pain, and sufferings.

·         The agony of the cross.  Again, unbearable torture.

·         His willingness to ask forgiveness to them that are killing Him. 

My thought while studying for this message this morning was with the thief on the cross.  We all have heard many sermons concerning this person.  Here is the story;

 

Luk 23:34-43  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.  (35)  And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.  (36)  And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,  (37)  And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.  (38)  And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.  (39)  And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.  (40)  But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?  (41)  And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.  (42)  And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.  (43)  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

·         The cry of this man to Jesus is heart breaking.  This is what I see?

1.      I see a man that once served God, and had a good upbringing, a loving Mother, or Grandmother, that had raised him in the way he should go. 

2.     I hear the heart break of someone who knows he did wrong, and is deserving of his punishment, but is sorry that he lost his way.

3.     He is someone who knows about Jesus, and His teachings.  He knows there is a kingdom awaiting for the Lords return.  I believe he could’ve been a follower of Jesus at one time, but fell in with the wrong crowd, and peer pressure destroyed his earthly life.

·         Even in Jesus’s most agonizing moments, He realizes this man is sincerely sorry for his sins, and has a good heart, and Jesus assures him that he is forgiven of his trespasses.  “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”   This man goes to his grave, a peaceful man.

·         The important thing here is to realize that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God.  And that Jesus will accept us into His kingdom if we are willing to repent from the heart, and ask forgiveness.   This is the only way to a life of  joy, peace, and happiness.

·         There are many, many people today that have had a close walk with the Lord, or been taught the ways of God, but have erred from what they were taught.  Satan, by influencing their minds have them believing that there is no hope for them, and that God will not forgive them for their transgressions.  Satan is a liar, and the father of all liars.  God will forgive you, and you can have the peace of mind knowing that everything is alright between you and God.

·         How do I know this works?  Because I was in this man’s shoes at one time.  Paul described me like this;    Col 1:21  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled Col 1:22  In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

 

My question for you this morning, will you be like the thief on the cross, and ask the Lord to accept you into His kingdom.  Will you be reconciled to Almighty God, from your past sins, by believing, and accepting the atoning work that Jesus did on calvary.  To be reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, that you might be holy, and unblameable, and unreproveable, in the sight of Almighty God?

Or maybe your like Peter, following from a far off.  Why not have the heart of the thief on the cross this morning, and tell the Lord you want a closer walk?

 

Almighty God, please help us all to have the heart of the thief on the cross.  Amen.