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Instant Results Luke 23: 26 – 43 Rev. Peter R Green, Good Friday morning, 14 Apr, 2006
“HOW LONG will it take?” “Isn’t it ready yet?” Don’t we all want the answers yesterday? Don’t we baulk at any delays? How long does it take to be saved? Look at the dying thief. Jesus made a promise to the man. How could he do that? Jesus had not yet died. The atonement was still future. In fact, nearly all that we rely on for our salvation was still future. But the process was underway. That was what counted. Of course, things always look different from God’s perspective. God’s time and ours are quite different. Your past is God’s now. Your future is God’s already. He waits eagerly for you to receive his blessings which he has already poured out.
The story of the dying thief shows how immediate God’s future blessings are. Here’s the scene. It was crucifixion Friday in the Roman Governor’s schedule of events. They had a few criminals awaiting death, and it would be good to get them cleared up before the Passover. Pilate could buy himself some popularity with the Jewish populace. That was always important for a Procurator. The Jews were outraged to have a Gentile controlling God’s State. It was to them as it is today to Muslims in Iraq — having the US there is an affront to their religion. So Pilate could see his chance to get the Jews a little more on side. He offered them a choice: the popular religious figure, Jesus, or the romantic robber and partisan, Barabbas. They chose Barabbas, just like most Australians would have chosen Ned Kelly over D. L Moody, the evangelist.
So Jesus and the two remaining robbers were led out to be executed. Each of them was fixed to a cross. The idea was to make the death as painful and as drawn–out as possible. The three were nailed up, possibly tied as well to stop the nails from pulling through. They were left to dehydrate, to bleed, to slowly suffocate, to die. Jesus went through great suffering there on the cross. The Psalmist wrote 1000 years earlier, PSA 22:1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? 22:2 O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent. The prophecy of Jesus’ sufferings was clearly set out. PSA 22:14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. 22:15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. 22:16 Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. 22:17 I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. 22:18 They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing. It was a horrible, cruel death, and he did it for you and for me. Is the Christian vision too gory? Do we talk too much about blood? But isn’t that what life is like? Bloodshed and violence? Isn’t that what sin does in our world? And the gospel message is that Jesus is right there in the midst of it all. When children are dashed on the roadway in some African rebellion, when soldiers in Asia shoot people for attending the funeral of someone the soldiers shot last week, Jesus is there, dying. When the poor starve on rubbish heaps outside the shining cities, Jesus is starving with them. Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.
God can’t stand aloof and pretend it isn’t happening. He is there in the midst, there in Jesus.
What greater love is there, than that of a person who lays down his life, not just for his friends, not just for good people, but for his enemies?
We don’t know what it was about Jesus that changed that thief. At first the thieves abused Jesus. They joined in the jeering, they asked him why God didn’t answer, why no angels came to save. They scorned and despised the man hanging between them. But something happened to one of them. Maybe you have had the experience of joining in with people who are picking on one individual who doesn’t fit in? I remember a kid at school who used to ask the question the teacher had just answered, who used to talk to the rest of us about nonsensical topics, and who just seemed to hang around like a demented blowfly, and we used to tease him. I did, too. But when some of the other kids began bullying, I began to realise that the teasing was just another form of bullying, so I stopped. I used to tell the others to lay off this fellow. Sometimes something happens that wakens us up to what we are doing wrong. When the 18th century evangelist, John Wesley, preached around England, people often rioted. Once, they came out with sticks and lumps of rock, determined to kill Wesley. Their ringleader was a powerful innkeeper. But when Wesley stood bravely and refused to be bullied or cowed, this man suddenly realised how wrong he had been. He told Wesley that he would follow him anywhere. Wesley was only a little man, and this big innkeeper picked him up and carried him through the crowd to safety.
People change.
And this robber changed. Somehow his conscience spoke to him. He repented and believed. Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He knew he was a sinner. He knew that he didn’t deserve anything from God. All he hoped was that, from time to time, Jesus would stop and think of this repentant robber who had hung beside him. If the death of Jesus was a great sacrifice, the repentance of this robber was a great repentance. And great repentance requires great faith. Not that it was bigger or stronger than any other faith, just that this dying man was prepared to exercise the faith he had. There are plenty of people who believe the facts, but won’t entrust themselves to those facts, and that is what makes the difference. Here was Jesus, bleeding, suffering, dying — in the same way that the robber himself was bleeding and suffering and dying. The robber knew that he was receiving a just punishment. He knew that he would die. He had no particular hope of resurrection. But he knew that, somehow, it was important for him to bring his situation before Jesus. But he had a hope that Jesus would be raised again. He could see with the eye of faith that somehow Jesus would fulfil his destiny and be King in a new, God–filled kingdom. Instantaneous repentance, instantaneous faith.
It’s ever the way.
The Ethiopian Eunuch said, “Here is some water: what is to prevent my being baptised?” And Philip said that, if he truly believed, there was nothing to stop it at all. The gaoler in Philippi cried out to Paul and Silas, “What must I do to be saved?” and Paul said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved — you and your household!” There is no delay, no probation period. But the most amazing part of the story of the crucifixion is Jesus‘ answer to the thief: Today you shall be with me in paradise. There is no delay. If you have repentant faith, salvation is immediate. My grandfather Green grew up a Protestant, but he didn’t grow up a Christian. He was positive about Jesus. I remember how upset he was when some close relatives went to hear Billy Graham in 1959 and didn’t make a decision. But his religion consisted of arguing the point with Catholics. When he was sick, he went to St Joseph’s Hospital at Auburn. He knew he was dying. He was getting dropsy — fluid build up in his legs. It means heart and kidney failure, the works. He told us, “See that nun up there” — he pointed to the Evening sister for the ward — “She’s working on me,” he said. “I try to argue with her, and she just points to the crucifix and says, ‘It’s not about the label you have, Mr Green — it’s about trusting Jesus.‘” He knew she was right. Monday our pastor visited him and prayed with him and led him to Christ. Wednesday morning, my mother visited him before surgery was scheduled. He didn’t say, “Hooroo — see you later.” He said goodbye. He told her not to worry. He said he would see her again. He died during the surgery. He was riddled with cancer. He had no time to prove himself. He had no period of working towards repentance and faith. But he had faith — faith to save. That’s all you need.
The dying thief had no time to prove himself either. He had no period of working towards repentance and faith. But the faith he had was faith to save. It was all he needed.
Jesus died — it was everything we need for salvation. Our salvation is great: it reaches to the chief of sinners. It reaches to you and me. Jesus didn’t put it off. When the right time came, he was there. The robber changed his mind instantaneously and trusted in Jesus straight away. When the Holy Spirit convicted him of his sin and of his need to repent, he didn’t delay. He went straight to Jesus. And what was Jesus’ promise? Instantaneous salvation! The moment any one of us turns in repentant faith to the dying Lord, the promise is ours: Today you shall be with me in paradise.
We want instantaneous. Yet, for some reason, when it comes to salvation, when it comes to repentance or faith or starting a walk with Christ, our hearts, our minds, immediately tell us that it will take time.We thing it can’t be done in a moment of time, but waiting will always be necessary. Satan loves us to think like that, because our delay is an easy step from turning away. It’s Satan’s final draw-card. If he can just make us pause and not hear, if he can just keep us away a little longer, he might win. The little voice whispers in our ear, “You aren’t ready yet, to come to God. You don’t feel sad enough about your sins, you need a probation period. Don’t do it now: wait and God will show you when you are really ready.” Don’t listen to that voice. Jesus didn’t put off dying until he felt more like it. He didn’t wait for a more convenient day.
It’s the devil who directs delay.
The Bible tells the truth: 2 Cor 6:2 For [God] says, “In the time of my favour I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation. Jesus’ suffering was not delayed. The thief’s repentance was not delayed. And salvation came to him immediately on that first Good Friday.
Now is your day of salvation. Now is the time to choose to have faith, to choose to repent. The moment you do, you will have life — eternal life, a life ready for paradise with Jesus! Come to Jesus Come to Jesus Come to Jesus Right now
He will save you He will save you He will save you Right now Right now
AMEN
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© Peter R. Green 2006. Permission is granted for quotation in full for non-commercial purposes provided that authorship is acknowledged and this copyright notice is displayed with the text. Portions also copyright The Bible, NIV (Zondervan Ltd.) |
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