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2. 3 Crosses Luke 23:32-43

3. Luke 23:32-43 (NKJV) 32 There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. 33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”And they divided His garments and cast lots. 35 And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.”

4. Luke 23:32-43 (NKJV) 36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, 37 and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.” 38 And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”

5. Luke 23:32-43 (NKJV) 40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” 43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

6. Introduction • Text reminds us of three crosses at Calvary the day Jesus was crucified. • As Jesus was crucified, two criminals (thieves) were crucified, one on each side. • Think about the significance of these crosses and the circumstances of the men on these crosses. • Someone might ask, "What was so special about Jesus' crucifixion?”

7. Introduction • Cross of Jesus ordained from eternity (I Pet. 1:18-20). 1 Peter 1:19 (knowing that you were redeemed) with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.

8. Introduction • The death of Jesus was foretold in the garden of Eden (Gen. 3:15). • Bruise His heel – momentary victory for Satan. • Bruise your head – eternal victory for Jesus. Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

9. Introduction • It was prophesied that he would die among transgressors (Is. 53:12). • Jesus is surrounded by transgressors – Luke 23 Isaiah 53:12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.

10. Introduction • Most importantly, He died the death which was meant for us (Deut. 21:22 & Gal. 3:13). • ALL SIN is a transgression of God’s law and ALL SIN is deserving of death. Deuteronomy 21:22 “If a man has committed a sin deserving of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, Gal 3:13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”)

11. Some questions we can ask • What was going on around Jesus as he died on the cross? • What did death on the cross mean for each of those? • And what lessons can we draw?

12. I. One Died In His Sins… • He died hanging next to the One sent by God to bring salvation, make forgiveness possible. (Jn. 3:16). • He was close enough to talk to Jesus, he saw the sign above the cross, the crowd, supernatural events (earthquake, darkness, graves opened), etc. It caused the centurion to glorify God, saying “Certainly this was a righteous Man!” (Luke 23:47) John 3:16 (KJV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

13. I. One Died In His Sins… • This man faced death as all of us must…(Heb. 9:27) • This man was only moments away from leaving this earth, yet he continued in stubborn rebellion and rejection, and he died in his sins. Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment

14. I. One Died In His Sins… • What a serious matter to fall into the hands of the living God (Heb. 10:26-31). Hebrews 10:29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.”31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

15. I. One Died In His Sins… • Many do the same today. • We all must face judgment (II Cor. 5:10). 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

16. I. One Died In His Sins… • But many will not repent (Rev. 9:20-21). Revelation 9:20 But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. 21 And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

17. I. One Died In His Sins… • This man had opportunity to make a change. • He died next to the One who could forgive his sins. • And in the Judgment Day, he will have only self to blame (Rom. 14:12). Some blame their environment or parents or circumstances. Romans 14:12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

18. II. One Died To His Sins… • Same circumstances. At first both thieves were ridiculing Jesus on the cross (Matt. 27:44). • Something inside him changed. Matthew 27:44 Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing.

19. II. One Died To His Sins… • Luke 23:39-40 He rebuked the other thief. The mocker becomes a defender of Son of God. • We are suffering justly (Luke 23:41). No self-pity. 39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” 40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.”

20. II. One Died To His Sins… • He obviously has some knowledge of spiritual truth. • The gospel has the power to change hearts today (Rom. 1:16; I Cor. 1:18). Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

21. II. One Died To His Sins… • A great example of repentance: A change of heart and a change of mind THAT LEADS TO A CHANGE OF LIFE (Luke 23:42). • Jesus’ response, What words of greater comfort or blessing could one ever hear? Luke 23:42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” Luke 23:43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

22. II. One Died To His Sins… • Many today want to be saved like the thief on the cross. • 3 things to consider:

23. II. One Died To His Sins… • Jesus on earth had power to forgive sins ON ANY TERMS HE CHOSE (Mark 2:5,10,11; Matt. 19:21). Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, 11 “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Matthew 19:21 Jesus said to him (rich young ruler), “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

24. II. One Died To His Sins… • Was he baptized by John? An argument from the silence of the scriptures (Matt. 3:4-6). Matthew 3:4 Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

25. II. One Died To His Sins… • We live under a different and far better covenant today (II Cor. 3:7-11; Rom. 7:6; Col. 2:14-17). 2 Corinthians 3:7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 10 For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. 11 For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.

26. III. One Died For The Sins of Others • The cross we usually focus on, the one on which Jesus died. • The crowd crying “crucify him…” (not behead, not stone, they wanted him to suffer and be humiliated). • He was the One who didn’t deserve to be there (Jn. 8:46; I Pet. 2:22; II Cor. 5:21). 2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

27. III. One Died For The Sins of Others • God’s plan from eternity (Col. 1:26-27). Colossians 1:26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

28. III. One Died For The Sins of Others • Jesus went willingly to the cross (Jn. 10:17-18; Phil. 2:6-8). How did the 2 thieves go to the cross? John 10:17 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” Philippians 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

29. III. One Died For The Sins of Others • His resurrection from the dead (Jn. 2:20-22; Rom. 1:3-4; 4:25). • His resurrection was necessary. Romans 1:3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. Romans 4:25 (NIV) He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

30. Conclusion: On which cross are we? • We are not on the one in the middle! • We have sinned, and sin deserves death. • We understand there is a judgment to come. • Are we going to die in our sins? • Or are we going to die to our sins? Matthew 25:32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.