FOUR CROSSES OF CALVARY
LUKE 23:32-43
INTRODUCTION: THIS MORNING AS WE LOOK TO CALVARY AT THE DRAMA THAT WAS PLAYED OUT UPON THAT HILL, HOW MANY CROSSES DO YOU SEE? WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF EACH OF THESE CROSSES? LET US CONSIDER THE FOUR CROSSES OF CALVARY.
I. THE CROSS OF REBELLION AND REJECTION – VERSE 39
A. Two malefactors or criminals were crucified with Christ, one on each side. At first according to Matthew and Mark’s gospels both thieves in the madness of the hour and in despair joined in with the crowd as they leveled reproaches at Christ hanging upon the cross.
B. After watching Christ and hearing His prayer for others, the one thief hanging beside Christ is unrepentant and began to use insulting and injurious language toward Christ.
C. The word "railed" means to utter reproaches; to scoff; to use insolent and reproachful language.
D. As He rails Christ there is no admission of personal guilt. There is no expression of regret or sorrow for deeds done. The only regret is the regret and anger that he has gotten caught.
E. Listen to what he says. “If thou be Christ, save thyself and us."
F. This thief wanted Jesus to be the Christ and to save Himself as long as Jesus also saved him and his companion from death on the cross.
G. This is all that he wants Christ for – a ticket out of trouble! To escape the cross and death, to go on living his depraved life.
H. He is the picture of the hardness of men who refuse to repent of their sins.
I. An unrepented sin is a continued sin.
J. Billy Graham (1918-) “If your sorrow is because of certain consequences that have come on (you or) your family because of your sin, this is remorse, not true repentance. If, on the other hand, you are grieved because you also sinned against God and his holy laws, then you are on the right road.”
K. 2 Corinthians 7:10 "For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world works death."
II. THE CROSS OF REPENTANCE AND RECEPTION – VERSES 40-42
A. On the other side of Christ in stark contrast to the unrepentant thief is another thief who demonstrates true repentance and faith.
B. Luke 23:40-42 "But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Do not you fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come into thy kingdom."
C. He revered or feared God and Judgement
1. The penitent thief looks to the other thief and remonstrates him saying, “Don’t you have any fear of God? In a few hours we shall be before Him and have to face His judgement bar.”
2. Matthew 10:28 "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
3. People obey the law for one of two reasons: they either love God or fear punishment. When both of these break down, the result is an environment that breeds violence, poverty, and anarchy. - Jack Kemp
4. Proverbs 9:10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding."
D. He recognized his Sinful and Lost Condition
1. He goes on to say that he was justly receiving the due reward of his deeds.
2. He realized and acknowledged his sinfulness.
3. If a person does not see himself or herself as being a sinner, lost, and condemned then he or she sees no need to be saved.
4. Psalms 51:3 "For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me."
5. 1 John 1:8 "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves…”
E. He realized Christ’s Holiness and Lordship
1. At first reviling Christ, the penitent thief had come to see exactly who Jesus was – the spotless Lamb of God, the King of kings and Lord of Lords.
2. Hear his words, “Lord, remember me when you come into thy kingdom.”
3. Romans 10:8-10 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
F. He asked for Christ’s Mercy and Grace
1. He believed the Lord could and would save him and he committed himself to the Lord and trusted him to save him.
2. He came to Jesus humbly, admitting his sin, accepting his sentence of death, and crying out to God for his mercy.
3. Romans 5:20 "… where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:"
4. Romans 10:13 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
III. THE CROSS OF REDEMPTION AND RECONCILIATION
A. Standing between the cross of Rejection and the cross of Reception hangs our Savior on the cross of Redemption.
B. The cross of Christ was quite different from the two crosses. The thieves upon those two crosses were there fittingly. They were receiving the just sentence for their crimes. But not so with Christ. He was in truth the Innocent, Spotless Lamb of God.
C. Upon that Cross were laid upon the innocent Lamb of God all of your sins and all of mine to purchase our redemption.
D. Isaiah 53:5-6 "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."
E. Max L. Lucado (1955-) God sat in silence while the sins of the world were placed upon his Son. Was it right? No. Was it fair? No. Was it love? Yes. In a world of injustice, God once and for all tipped the scales in the favor of hope.
F. The two thieves were crucified against their wills; but Christ willingly went to His cross.
G. John 10:15-18 "As the Father knows me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore does my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man 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 commandment have I received of my Father."
H. To the unrepentant thief the center cross became a cross of condemnation through his rejection; but to the penitent it was indeed the cross of redemption as Christ utters the words, “Today, you will be with me in Paradise.”
I. Calvary is the place of decision. It is the eternal sword, erected to divide men into two classes, the saved and the lost. Billy Graham (1918- )
J. What a day for that dying thief. He would close his eyes in physical death to waken in the presence of Christ in Paradise.
K. Because of Christ’s cross of Redemption the Scriptures rightfully declare (John 11:25-26), "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"
IV. THE CROSS OF RELATIONSHIP
A. There is a fourth cross on Calvary. It is only seen with the eye of faith.
B. It is the cross of relationship and identification.
C. Matthew 16:24 "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
D. To deny self does not men to deny things. It means to give yourself wholly to Christ and share in His shame and death. To take up a cross does not mean to carry burdens or have problems. A number of people have told me over the years that their physical ailments are the crosses they have to bear! That is NOT the cross of which Christ is speaking! To take up the cross means to identify with Christ in His rejection, shame, suffering, and death. To be identified as His, having established a personal relationship with Him.
E. To take up the cross means that you take your stand for the Lord Jesus no matter what it costs. - Billy Graham (1918- )
F. Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
G. Gregory of Nyssa (C. 335-C. 394) - Yesterday I hung on the cross with Christ; today I am glorified with him; yesterday I was dying with him; today I am brought to life with him; yesterday I was buried with him; today I rise with him.
H. When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die. Understand this: you will be dead so long as you refuse to die. But in dying to self you find life in Christ.
I. Romans 6:11 "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord."
