April 15th, 2019

7 Sayings of Christ on the Cross (Luke 23:27-49) - 7 PARTS

PART 2 - Christ’s Second Saying (Luke 23:42-43)

Luke 23:42-43, And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

In Luke 23:39, two thieves were being crucified with Christ. One thief looked over to Him and said: "If thou be the Christ, save thyself and us." This man asked the Lord to save him, but he wanted to be saved physically. He wanted no part with Christ and salvation. There is no evidence of him being saved from sin. There are still many people today who are trying to get to heaven without the cross and the shed blood of Jesus Christ. It did not work then for this man, and it will not work for those who try it today.

In Luke 23:40, the thief on the other side of Christ rebuked the thief who spoke in Luke 23:39. One malefactor railed on Him, becoming more hardened in guilt, while the other was repentant. In his rebuke the second thief acknowledged a fear of God. He also acknowledged that Jesus is God and that he himself was a guilty sinner. He acknowledged that Jesus Christ was sinless by saying, "This man hath done nothing amiss." In Luke 23:42 the second thief turned to Christ and did two things. First, he confessed Jesus is LORD. Then he said unto Jesus, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." He knew death was not the end.

The repentant thief believed Jesus was the Messiah He claimed to be and wanted to enter into His Kingdom. In faith, the helpless thief asked to be remembered by the Saviour; in hope, he anticipated Christ’s future kingdom. His plea was not only answered personally, “Jesus said unto him”, but it was answered immediately, “To day”. It was salvation spontaneously and instantaneously. While the Lord does as He pleases, and sometimes waits to answer, it is possible that He will answer our prayers much more quickly than we expect. This is Scriptural proof that some may come to Christ for salvation on their deathbed.

The Apostle Paul spoke interchangeably of Heaven and Paradise (II Corinthians 12:2, 4). While Jesus was on the cross, Paradise was on His mind. In conjunction with this, a poor sinner was on His mind, a sinner He would take to Paradise. “Paradise” was a reference to the heavenly home of the redeemed. Very soon, Jesus was going back to His “Father’s house” (John 14:2), and the thief was given assurance that he would be there with Jesus.

We learn 3 things about salvation here:

1. Salvation is offered to anyone, anywhere, anytime.
2. Salvation is by grace, through faith alone, and not by our works.
3. Salvation will be rejected by some in spite of all that God does.

We see 3 men here:

1. One was dying FOR sin (Christ).
2. One was dying IN sin (unsaved thief).
3. One was dying FROM sin (repentant thief).

There are all classes of people characterized at the cross.

• Indifferent – people stood beholding (Luke 23:35).
• Religious – rulers derided Him (Luke 23:35).
• Materialistic – they parted his raiment, and cast lots (Luke 23:34).
• Earnest seekers – Lord, remember me (Luke 23:42)

PRAYER: Father in Heaven, I’m thankful that when Your Son, Jesus Christ, was on the cross that I was on His mind. I have family, friends and loved ones who are not yet saved. Thank You for compelling me to go tell them of the salvation they can have through Your Son, Jesus. In Jesus name, Amen.

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