April 2, 2023
Have you ever got caught doing something wrong, like have you ever been caught speeding? Or lying? Or with your hand in the cookie jar: you ate something that wasn’t for you?
There’s a time I got caught. When we first moved to Tamaqua, we went to a restaurant. We were going home, and I was driving. Then I was stopped by a policeman. I went down a one-way street the wrong way. My family was with me. I didn’t pay attention to all the policeman said. My family let me know: the policeman didn’t say you went down a one-way street the wrong way. They said you went down three one-way streets, the wrong way. Thank you, family, for pointing that out.
But the policeman only gave me a ticket for going down one, one-way street the wrong way. Thank you, policeman.
It was a very humbling experience. Now I am an outlaw.
Today we’re going to talk about Jesus on the cross with the outlaws. I want to suggest to you that every single one of us is one type or the other, one of the two thieves on the cross.
First off, I have to say, isn’t it amazing that Jesus, God come to earth, willingly went to the cross, with outlaws? He didn’t stay safe and with the holy people. In the past five weeks we have seen in the gospel of Luke, Jesus came to the outsiders, outcasts, and outlaws. Where religious people condemned outsiders, and rules and respectability were more important to them than people were, Jesus wasn’t like that. Instead, he showed God’s love and mercy to everyone. He called people to return to God. Jesus said he didn’t come for the healthy. He came to seek out and save the lost. He came to show everyone they were valued, sought after, and loved by God.
Every one of us is guilty of breaking God’s laws. We are all guilty. There is a verse, in the book of James, James 2:10, that says, “whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking ALL of it.” If you break. just one law, you are as guilty as a person who breaks ALL of God’s laws.
Luke 23 tells the story of Jesus and two thieves. 32 Two men, both criminals, were also led out with Jesus to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified Jesus there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.
Crucifixion was the horrible way to die, and it was a punishment for the worst criminals. It was painful and humiliating. It was humiliating because they would strip the criminals of their clothes, so they were exposed on the cross.
The first criminal crucified with Jesus hurled insults at him. He said, “Aren’t you supposed to be the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” The second criminal says to the first guy, “Hey, don’t you fear God? We’re punished justly for we’re getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Every one of us is, spiritually speaking, one of these two thieves. The first guy, who says, “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” You can tell, he’s arrogant. He’s a smart Alec. He doesn’t fear or respect God. If there’s something from God he wants, he’ll take it. Hey, you’re the Jesus Savior guy? Then save me too. Some people approach God that way: “All right, if there’s a heaven and a hell, I’ll pray a stupid prayer, I’ll come to the class, if I have to get baptized, I’ll do it. Just so you save me.” It’s an entitled mindset. The first criminal does not admit any guilt. “I haven’t done anything wrong. This isn’t fair. Help me get out of this if you’re the Savior.” He’s unrepentant.
The second criminal, he’s just as guilty as the first. He deserves to be punished, but he’s humble. He admits, “I’ve done something wrong.” He has some fear and respect of God. He says, “We should be punished, because we have done wrong. But Jesus has done nothing wrong.” The second criminal is sorry for what he’s done. He’s repentant. He knows he needs mercy; he knows he needs help. He knows he’s a sinner in need of God.
This is important because it’s hard to admit, “I’ve done wrong. I’m an outlaw.” We say, “Well, I’m not a sinner. I’m not a bad person. I have an excuse. You have to know I have a very good reason for what I did.” The problem is, we compare ourselves to other people, not to God. “I’m not that bad of a person. I’m sitting next to a really bad person.” Don’t look at the person next to you!
We have to recognize we have all broken God’s laws. We have to start there, because until we admit we have sinned, we don’t recognize our need for a Savior. The moment we see our sin, is the moment we receive God’s grace. God can forgive us, when we can recognize our sin.
If you’re arrogant and full of pride, God looks on and says, “I can’t help you.” But if you come to him and admit, “I’ve sinned, I messed up, I’m an idiot,” suddenly you receive God’s undeserved love and unearned forgiveness.
Jesus was hanging on the cross next to two guilty people. They both deserved punishment. They both needed a Savior. One missed out, and one didn’t.
The second criminal, although he deserved punishment, Jesus gave him a reward. In verses 42 and 43, it says, “The second criminal, after he rebuked the first said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”He didn’t use flowery words or fancy begging. He just asks Jesus, “Remember me.” And Jesus says, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” The moment we see our sin is the moment we receive God’s grace.
God is so good! He loves you so much that there’s nothing you can do to make him love you more. There’s no sin that you can commit that can make him love you less. God is love and he sent Jesus who came, humbly. He didn’t sit on a throne. Instead, he died on a cross. While we were still sinners, he died for us. If we admit our sin, we receive God’s grace. We don’t have eternal life because we’re good. We have eternal life because God is good.
My challenge for you this week is to pray to God, “I need you.” “I need you.” Be the second criminal, the one who asked God for mercy and grace.
We’ve all been caught doing wrong. We’re all outlaws. But there’s two kinds of outlaws: the kind who are cynical and arrogant and never admit they’ve done anything wrong. They’re unrepentant. The other kind of outlaw says, “It’s me who needs help, it’s me who needs God. They’re repentant. Open your heart. The moment you see your sin is the moment you receive God’s grace. God is good! Amen.
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