It\'s a Good Day to Die

Luke 23:32-43

What would it feel like to wake up and know for certain that today you would die?

Most of us don?t know the day of our death. We could end up in a tragic accident and die suddenly, or have a heart attack or stroke and fall into unconsciousness and die.

Indeed, practically the only individuals who really know the day of their death are criminals about to be executed. I have had the interesting and perhaps tragic opportunity to interview at least one person who sat on Oregon?s death row. In fact, I was the last reporter to be allowed to visit Oregon?s death row back in 1994. There is a certain resignation to their fate that I remember. Others, I?m sure, are not at all resigned and fight every step of the way. In them I saw nothing but hardness.

So too was the experience of two men, very alike and very different on their day to die?the same day as the death of Jesus Christ. I?m talking about the two thieves. Their story is found in Luke chapter 23.

Luke 23:32-34 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. ESV

In the Roman Empire, ?the death penalty was widespread and used for, among other things, homicide, arson, libel, false witness, public corruption, use of spells, attending sedition meetings, treason, and certain types of theft and fraud. The types of execution included burning, suspension (crucifixion), decapitation, being thrown from the Tarpeian Rock ? a high place in Rome, and execution by wild beasts (a form of public entertainment!). Being sent to gladiatorial training school was as good as a death sentence as well. http://www.historystudystop.co.uk/php/displayarticle.php?article=44&page=2&topic=emb

These two men, Matthew identifies them with ?robbers? are set to be executed. Did they know before that day that they were to be joined by Jesus of Nazareth? Certainly not. Did they know who he was, though? Absolutely.

The soldiers were busy that day, putting not one but three men on three crosses. Despite the pain of this most cruel form of torture and execution, there is a conversation between these three condemned men. The first to speak follows the words of the mocking soldiers and religious leaders:

39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, \"Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!\"

The unrepentant criminal (Criminal #1): His words reveal four things about his beliefs that are crucial to his attitude on his day to die.

Mocked the deity of Jesus. ?Railed? Greek: Blaspheme: to injure by words

By saying, ?Are you not the Christ?? he is speaking ironically. ?If you were who you say you are then you wouldn?t be in this predicament.?

Made light of the consequences of his actions, wanting escape from the punishment but not from the sin. His idea of ?saving? was simply to miraculously get down off the cross and walk away, free to do anything the flesh desired.

Misunderstood the mission of Christ, who chose not to save himself so he could save us.

Minimized the power of Christ to be able to save himself and us, but by going through death rather then escape from it only to die again.

The other criminal heard the words and despite his dire circumstances, speaks:

40-41 But the other rebuked him, saying, \"Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.\"

And he said, \"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.\"

The repentant criminal (Criminal #2):

Recognized the character of God in justly punishing the wicked and thus he feared him. ?If God condemns the Christ to a death on the cross, what do you think we deserve?? In actuality, Jesus didn?t ?deserve? any death at all, but he ?became sin? for us?receiving on his body the punishment due all of us for our mistakes, weaknesses, and the evil endemic to a rebellious human race.

Recognized personal culpability for his actions. ?receiving the due reward?

Recognized the innocence of Jesus ? and the position of Jesus as Messiah and king. Why was he the only one amongst all the disciples, the leaders, the soldiers, and the people to declare the innocence of the Lamb of God on the cross?

It was like seeing the innocent Jesus up there right next to him did something in him. He saw innocence and guilt in a whole new light. He saw himself, his relationship to evil and to God in a new light as well.

Reached out to Jesus for salvation by asking for a relationship. What was it that made this man not only acknowledge the innocence and position of Jesus, but also to cry out for a relationship? ?Remember me.? The Jews knew the Messiah was to be a ruler. Those around him figured the cross was the indication that this man was not the Messiah ?If you are the Christ? and that he would have no kingdom. But this man declares it to be a reality and wants to be a part of it. It wasn?t ?if? but ?when?.

So then finally, Jesus speaks, not to the man who had rejected him, but to the one whose heart was open.

43 And he said to him, \"Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.\"

What was the significance of Jesus? statement?

?Truly? ? this was a statement to be counted on

?Today? salvation is not a ?pie in the sky? someday hope, it is an event that is present and active in the here and now

?You will be with me? ? this is what he wanted most of all and Jesus granted it. This was the relationship the man longed for. He didn?t ask for power or fame or position but only to be ?remembered.? It means ?to recall.? ?Don?t forget about me? he says. Jesus not only remembers him but promises that they will be together.

?In paradise? ? though Jesus means the physical location of the dead also known as ?Abraham?s Bosom? it indicates that he will be in a place of joy and peace, not punishment. The man is certainly as culpable as before but he will also surely escape this plight not by climbing down off the cross but by clinging to the other man next to him.

Jesus then cries out ?Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!? and breaths his last.

The significance of what Jesus said is the certainty that this is not the end of the story. Three days later after being laid in a garden tomb, Jesus would, just he voluntarily laid down his life, pick it back up again, but not until paying a ?ransom? for the man next to him and for all of us.

His words on the cross are a prediction of the resurrection and the new life it brings.

As dismal that dark day was (and it got darker after Jesus death), it pales even more in comparison to the bright morning of Resurrection Sunday. It?s like the sun breaking through after a terrible rain, it is like that first long cool drink of water on a parching summer?s day, it is like coming home again after being gone a long time, it is like setting foot on the shore after enduring a horrible storm.

So why didn?t both men flanking Jesus receive that same promise? Both were guilty, both condemned to die. They were the same. So why did Jesus promise salvation to one and not the other? It involves only two things: knowing your sin, and knowing your Savior. The one man didn?t take responsibility for his evil, didn?t take Jesus at his word, and didn?t want anything to do with him. He got his wish. The other man admitted who he really was, admitted who Jesus really was and got his prayer answered.

Despite the horror of the moment, it was made bearable by the promise of Sunday morning. It makes all of our horrible moments bearable as well.

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. ESV

Many times not just one, but all three crosses are depicted as a Christian symbol, and often pictured on a hillside. To me, the two crosses on the outside represent the two possible reactions to the gospel, and the one in the middle is the savior who died for both but only saves the one. We all have the same choice. Which man will you be?