3. 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, 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." Luke 23:32-43
4. 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!" 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." Luke 23:32-43
5. Lord, whatever stuff I get wrong, wherever I miss the point, may I always have the essentials sorted out, understood and included in my testimony. Jesus is Lord! Amen COMMITMENT
10. YET THIS SERIES OF MESSAGES WILL FOCUS ON PEOPLE LIKE THIS THIEF...PEOPLE WHO FACES CHALLENGES, DISAPPOINTMENT, DEATH AND PAIN. PEOPLE WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LITTLE ARENA OF LIFE. IT’S AN UNLIKELY PLACE TO LOOK FOR A HERO: THE LINE-UP. UNLIKELY PEOPLE
11. IT WAS A HORRIBLE SIGHT. AT LEAST THREE MEN HAVE BEEN IMPALED ON INSTRUMENTS OF DEATH - THE ROMAN CROSS. IT’S A RATHER STRAIGHT FORWARD SITUATION. THE LINE-UP The bad guys get what’s due them. You wouldn’t be nailed there if you hadn’t done something pretty bad. Friends gather to mourn for Jesus, a man of big promises, a gentle demeanor, a man doomed to die.
12. NOBODY UNDERSTOOD. NOBODY BELIEVED. NOBODY SAW BEYOND THE GRAVE TO A GLORIOUS KINGDOM. BUT , THIS SOLITARY FIGURE DID - A CROOK. NOBODY. EXCEPT ● The bad guys get what’s due them. ● You wouldn’t be nailed there if you hadn’t done something pretty bad. ● Friends gather to mourn for Jesus, a man of big promises, a gentle demeanor, a man doomed to die.
13. CONVICT #LU23-13f. We salute you! You got it right! He understood his own unworthiness … “We deserve to die…” HE UNDERSTOOD ● Another convict, also hanging there, taunts Jesus. ● But this man knows the truth of the matter. We are here because we deserve it.
14. SOMEHOW HE CAME TO THE STARTLING CONCLUSION THAT JESUS HAD DONE NOTHING WRONG HE SAW JESUS ● We don’t know if he heard it on the grapevine or if he wandered into earshot of one of Jesus’ conversations. ● But, despite the edict from the governor, he believes that Jesus is innocent.
17. I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. I choose to follow Jesus as my Lord and trust Him as my Savior. My Confession
18. HE SAW BEYOND JESUS’ GRAVE…A KINGDOM WHERE HE COULD BELONG HE SAW MORE ● How about the disciples who were privy to so many miracles…even raising the dead? ● Sometimes the untrained, programmed eye can more clearly see the profound and wonderful.
19. HE UNDERSTOOD THAT JESUS WAS THE ONE THROUGH WHOM HE COULD ENTER THAT KINGDOM HE UNDERSTOOD ● The whole world needs to see this: “I am the way, the truth and the life and nobody comes to the Father but by me.” Jesus
20. AND HE WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED! JESUS’ RESPONSE SPOKE OF CERTAINTY, IMMEDIACY, GLORY AND INTIMACY. JESUS’ AFFIRMATION ● What Certainty…”I assure you…” ● What Speed…”Today…” ● What Glory…”In Paradise…” ● What Company…”With me.”
21. A STEP OF FAITH ON OUR PART RECEIVES IMMEDIATE ATTENTION AND GRACE FROM GOD GOD ISN’T NEARLY SO CONCERNED WITH WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN, AS WITH WHERE YOU ARE WILLING TO GO WITH HIM. A STEP OF FAITH IT ISN’T TOO LATE. RUN A RAGGED COURSE? WASTED A BUNCH OF YEARS? REFUSED TO SURRENDER FOR ALL OF THOSE YEARS? HERE’S A GUY WHO MAKES IT RIGHT WHILE HE STILL HAS BREATH.
