Second Saying of the Saviour on the Cross

This sermon was preached on 27/9/2009

‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise’ (Luke 23:39-43)

A lot of people were at Calvary that day who would not have written it in their diaries as a day to enjoy. The soldiers were there because they had work to do, the Jews were there because they had malice to show, the disciples were there because they had sorrow to bear, the crucified were there because higher powers had arranged for their deaths. It is on those who were crucified that we will focus, although we may mention the others.

When I said that these three men were there by the arrangement of higher powers, I don’t mean that their deaths were authorised by the civil authorities. They were involved, and no doubt they imagined that they had arranged it, yet the higher power that arranged what was taking place was God. The primary reason why Jesus and the two criminals were on crosses was because God had arranged it. This is an important perspective for us to have, even about our own service at this time – God has arranged for you to be here.

Why was Jesus there? The answer to this question takes us back to heaven, to even before the beginning of the universe. God’s purpose for the inhabitants of the world was that he would send his Son to save them from the penalty of their sins. This required that Jesus become their substitute, that he bear the penalty and suffer the wrath of God. The geographical location was Calvary, although the spiritual location was the person of Christ himself. Of course, we get a vivid picture of substitution when we consider Barabbas, the man who had been condemned to death but who was released instead of Jesus. Jesus took Barabbas’ place and suffered death instead of him. Barabbas could say literally, ‘Jesus of Nazareth took my place and suffered instead of me.’ Whether he ever understood it spiritually is unknown.

Who was the criminal?

We don’t know his name, but we are told about some of his interests. He was a colleague of Barabbas, involved in the same cause. From the Roman authorities’ point of view, he was guilty of insurrection (rebellion) and murder. Barabbas and his friends had planned for an uprising in Jerusalem at Passover time, probably hoping for succes due to the fact that the city’s population was greatly increased by the vast number of Jews who came there to celebrate that feast. These men had begun their rebellion and killed people (perhaps officials or soldiers), had been caught and sentenced to death.

In distinction from the attitude of the Roman authorities, the Jewish leaders had a different opinion. I used to wonder why the Jews would have preferred a murderer instead of Jesus and also why there is not a mention that the two crucified criminals were taunted by the crowd. I suspect the answer is that the Jews sympathised with the plans of Barabbas. To them Barabbas and his men were patriots, fighting to deliver their homeland from Roman dominion. This would explain the support for Barabbas and indicates that there was sympathy for the two who were crucified.

So who was the criminal? At one level he was a patriot. Of course, there is nothing wrong with being a patriot – a love for one’s country is basic to one’s identity. Yet there is one aspect of life in which patriotism would be wrong and that occurs when love for this world prevents love for the next world. The man’s patriotism had this defect: while he was fighting for an earthly inheritance he was not interested in a heavenly one.

In addition to being a patriot, he was also a prisoner of an alien power. He discovered that Rome’s iron grip extended everywhere and despite his intentions he could not free himself. Perhaps that was the only power that he thought he was a prisoner of, yet the fact is that he was also a prisoner of another power, far stronger and more capable than Rome. Rome’s dominion over him was no almost at an end, yet the devil’s authority over him would continue after he died unless he found freedom from this imprisonment.

Third, he was a man in need of pardon. How pleased he would have been if he looked down the road and saw a messenger rushing from Pilate to inform him that he had been granted a last-minute pardon. But he knew that no such messenger was going to come. In addition, he also needed pardon in another sense because while he may have imagined that he was dying as a patriot, he was also dying as a sinner. His journey was not going to end at Calvary. Ahead of him lay, after death, an appearance at the judgement seat where God would judge him for his sins. He needed divine pardon.

Fourth, he was man with no prospects. Whatever his dreams had been since childhood, they were now at an end. Life had turned out to be marked by disappointments, not only for himself, but for those who shared his life. Whether he had a wife and children we cannot tell. Perhaps he had pious parents who had taught him about God when he was young. Whatever, he was now in a situation of no hope. What prospects could a man in his situation expect to have?

Perhaps when we first thought about this man we imagined that were no similarities between him and us. Yet I suspect that what we have suggested about him would lead to the conclusion that we are like him in the ways that I have mentioned. We are patriots, who love our homeland, perhaps even to the extent that we have so focused on its prosperity that we have forgotten the next world. We too are prisoners of sin and Satan, heading for an eternal prison. We are also in need of pardon for the many wrong actions we have committed against God. And our prospects decrease as we make our way through life. Surely we can identify with this man on the cross.

What he said about and to Jesus

Yet as we observe the man, we note a surprising change came over him. We can highlight two details: first, he confessed that he was a sinner and, second, he called on Jesus for help. His confession is revealed in the rebuke he gives to his colleague: ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong’ (Luke 23:40-41). His calling on Jesus is recorded in his request, ‘Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom’ (Luke 23:42).

How did this man come to know that he was a sinner? His words give the impression that he gained this understanding by contrasting himself with Jesus. Now we cannot know what it was like to be in the presence of total holiness. We can perhaps get an idea from thinking about the impression an intelligent person can make on others, or the effects that a beautiful singer can have on an audience. Something is conveyed that cannot be ignored. I suspect it was often the case with people who observed Jesus. We know the effects his words had on soldiers, who on an earlier occasion had been sent to arrest him. Instead of detaining him they returned to their leaders and said that never had a person spoken like him. The condemned criminal had an ideal view of Jesus on this occasion. He would have observed the manner with which the Saviour responded to ill-treatment, including his prayer for those who were crucifying him. Gradually he realised that he was in the presence of a sinless person, and having discovered that wonderful fact he could not remain silent about it.

There are several ways by which you can become convinced that you are a sinner. For example, you can be affected by the lifestyle of a godly person – perhaps the memory of a devout parent still influences you although they have long gone. Or we can measure ourselves against the standards of God’s holy and good law and very quickly realise that we are failures. The man may have thought of these things, although I suspect he did not – the law does not provide us with thoughts of divine mercy. Like him, we should reflect on the beautiful character of Jesus and thinking about his perfection will soon show us the defilement in ourselves. But thinking about Jesus will also includes thoughts of his mercy, and it is obvious that this man realised that Jesus could show mercy to him. His understanding is revealed in his prayer, ‘Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’

There are many wonderful features in his prayer, but let me mention three of them so that we can imitate him. First, he confessed the sovereignty of Christ – we cannot tell how he realised that Jesus was a king. What is important is that he did. Second, he asked for salvation and membership of Christ’s kingdom. Third, his prayer was short and to the point – it did not contain waffle and flannelling. Have we ever imitated the criminal in the form of prayer? This method of praying brought salvation to him and if we copy him it will bring salvation to us. Confess the sovereignty of Jesus (he is Lord), ask him for a place in his kingdom, and be to the point when you speak to him.

The reply of Jesus

Right away Jesus said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise’ (Luke 23:43). First, note the immediacy of the Saviour’s promise. This sinful man would not have to spend years making up for his evil actions. That very day, he would receive pardon because at his side his sins were being paid for by Jesus. Shortly afterwards, he would hear Jesus say, ‘It is finished.’ This is how a sinner receives immediate pardon from a successful Saviour.

I sometimes think we find this aspect to be almost too good to be true. There is an element of purgatory in all of us. Yet I can assure you that pardon is given immediately from the King on the throne. This man who needed a pardon received one freely from the King of grace. And we will receive it as well when we ask him for it.

The criminal has also been looking for an inheritance. Indeed he was dying because he had failed to achieve this desire. Now he heard the King beside him promise him an endless inheritance in Paradise. The original paradise in Eden had been intended to function as humanity’s inheritance. They had lost it because of their sins. Now this man was discovering that he could have Paradise restored to him.

Paradise literally means a well-watered park, a place where the kings of Persia would go for recreation and rest. Here Jesus promises this man an eternal inheritance in which he would find permanent rest and pleasure. But he promises him more than these blessings – he also promises his company to the man whom a few minutes before was facing an eternity of isolation. What wonderful prospects he now had!

In addition, the prisoner on the cross found freedom. Ahead of him now was endless ages of exploring the promised inheritance. His travelling around would take place without fear, with no threats or disappointments or failures. It is true that he would die before he would discover these pleasures, yet he would also have to be raised again from the dead in order to know them fully. Yet death would not make him a prisoner in the eternal jailhouse; instead it became the door to liberty and joy.

We can think of the contrast between the penitent criminal and his colleague. Together they had participated in the futile attempt to overthrow the might of Rome; together they had been sentenced to death for their action; together they had come to the last moments of their lives. Yet while they died together, they did not arrive at the same destination when they died. The penitent one went to heaven, the impenitent one went to hell. They had so much in common, yet their destinies became different once one of them realised he needed mercy and knew that the Saviour was there beside him. One of them went to hell from the proximity of the dying Saviour, from the place where atonement was made by Jesus for sin. That one was so near, yet became so far, from safety. Dying beside Christ, he did not die in Christ, and that made all the difference between him and his penitent companion.

We can think of the penitent man today. Where is he? He is with Christ in Paradise. His current experience began when he turned to Jesus, confessed his sin, and asked for mercy. I wonder what he would say to us if he were allowed to come here for twenty seconds and speak to us. He would say, ‘Confess your sins, call on Jesus for mercy, and you will receive pardon and the promise of an eternal inheritance.’ Would you heed his advice?