March 15, 2017 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: Luke 23:35-43 REPENT! TURN TO JESUS HE HOLDS THE KEY TO HEAVEN!

MIDWEEK LENT 3

March 15, 2017

Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

Text: Luke 23:35-43

REPENT!

TURN TO JESUS

HE HOLDS THE KEY TO HEAVEN!

Luke 23:35-43 (NIV 1984) “The people stood watching and the rulers even sneered at him.  They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”  ³⁶The soldiers also came up and mocked him.  They offered him wine vinegar ³⁷and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”  ³⁸There was a written notice above him which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.  ³⁹One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ?  Save yourself and us!” ⁴⁰But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?  ⁴¹We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve.  But this man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴²Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  ⁴³Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

            “Beware the Ides of March!” Those of you who like history or Shakespeare not doubt recognize that famous line from the Shakespeare play Julius Caesar. In the play, and in legend, a seer warned Julius Caesar about his upcoming assassination on March 15^th, the day known to the Romans as the Ides of March. If that were true Julius Caesar certainly should have expected an attempt on his life and yet when it successfully came it was unexpected. March 15^th, that’s today, the Ides of March and we are gathered to talk about the assassination of someone much more important than Julius Caesar and whose initials are also JC. Jesus Christ. As we gather at the foot of His cross we see what we would expect and what is unexpected.

          First some things we expect. Crucifixion was meant to be a public matter. Rome wanted conquered people to know that defying the Roman empire was not a good idea. You died and you died badly. When violent criminals were crucified the public could watch a measure of justice being served. So it’s not surprising that many people were watching Jesus’ crucifixion. That is what was expected. What was unexpected was the presence of the religious rulers and their reaction. “The people stood watching and the rulers even sneered at him.  They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” The rulers here are the religious leaders. Did you notice they acknowledged that Jesus had done good. “He saved others.”  One would have expected them to speak up for someone who had done good for others. But that’s not the case. They sneer and mock. Maybe that’s not so unexpected. Sinful human beings have a nasty tendency to turn on and hate those who do good. “What’s the saying? No good deed goes unpunished.

          The soldiers also turned on Jesus.  “The soldiers also came up and mocked him.  They offered him wine vinegar ³⁷and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” Well that’s not unexpected. While there were good Roman soldiers history records more brutality. I’m going to guess that the kindest and gentlest did not get crucifixion duty. They join in the jeering. That’s not unexpected because sinful human beings have a nasty tendency to prey without mercy on those who appear weak.

          Pilate also mocked Jesus. “There was a written notice above him which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” This is not unexpected. Pilate had let himself get bullied by the Jewish leaders into pronouncing a death sentence he knew was undeserved. Like a little kid though he showed them. You  made me crucify your king. That’s not unexpected because sinful human beings have a nasty tendency of doing or allowing wrong and blaming others for it.

          It goes on. “One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ?  Save yourself and us!” This is maybe unexpected. Shouldn’t there be a little honor among thieves? Some empathy? No. More mocking. But maybe we should expect that. Sinful human beings have a nasty tendency to throw others under the bus to take the attention off of themselves.

          But then there is that other thief. “But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?  ⁴¹We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve.  But this man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴²Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  This is unexpected! In the midst of his own pain this criminal confesses his sins and turns to Jesus. He utters a memorable prayer. “Remember me.” And in a way the thief was not expecting Jesus does. “Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” Today. That very day Jesus gave this criminal heaven and He could do that because He holds the key to heaven.

          Brothers and sisters in this whole account we have seen the expected and the unexpected. We were not surprised to see people turning on someone who had done good, preying without mercy on those who were weak, doing wrong and blaming others and shamefully throwing another under the bus. We aren’t surprised at that because we see people doing that all the time. We see ourselves in the same sinful behavior. But that is exactly why Jesus came and why Jesus stayed on the cross. He was urged to save himself but He didn’t so that He could save others. He made sure the one thief on the cross knew it. He’s made sure in your life and my life that we know it too so we would turn to Him.

          “Remember me,” was the unexpected prayer of the repentant thief who turned to Jesus. But with what we know of Jesus “remember me” is a prayer Jesus can expect to hear from us. “Remember me,” we can pray when death has claimed a mom or dad or spouse and hearts are hurting. “Remember me,” we can pray when sickness has lasted so long we no longer remember feeling good. “Remember me,” we can pray when our lives are in turmoil because of the hurts from the ones who are supposed to love us. “Remember me,” we can pray when loneliness seems to be our only companion. “Remember me,” when guilt from sin overwhelms. And when our own death is imminent what a comfort to know we can turn to Jesus and plead “Remember me.” In each and every case Jesus will and Jesus does. He holds the key to heaven. He is the key to life right now. Turn to Jesus. Amen.