1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:08,280 We’re going to look today in the Bible at what Jesus Christ accomplished for us through 2 00:00:08,280 –> 00:00:13,760 his death on the cross. And I hope you’ll open your Bible with me at Luke and chapter 3 00:00:13,760 –> 00:00:21,280 23. We begin at verse 33 where we read these words that when they came to the place that 4 00:00:21,280 –> 00:00:34,619 is called the skull, there they crucified him. Now if you had been at the cross, you 5 00:00:34,619 –> 00:00:39,439 would have seen nails being driven through the hands and the feet of the Lord Jesus. 6 00:00:39,439 –> 00:00:47,000 Fixing him to wooden beams which were then lifted up and dropped into the ground. If 7 00:00:47,060 –> 00:00:53,919 had been at the cross, you would have seen two criminals, thieves, being crucified also 8 00:00:53,919 –> 00:01:01,200 next to Jesus. One on his right, and the other on his left. You would have seen soldiers 9 00:01:01,200 –> 00:01:07,980 at the foot of the cross gambling over Jesus’ clothing. You would have heard the crowds 10 00:01:08,620 –> 00:01:18,739 the cross, shouting insults and moccing Jesus as he suffered. If you had been at the cross, 11 00:01:18,739 –> 00:01:27,699 you would have heard Jesus Christ himself speak seven times. The Gospels record seven 12 00:01:27,699 –> 00:01:35,279 words that Jesus spoke during the six hours in which he suffered on the cross. And of 13 00:01:35,300 –> 00:01:41,760 1737. Three are recorded here in the verses that have been read to us from Luke and chapter 14 00:01:41,760 –> 00:01:49,540 23. The first word that Jesus spoke from the cross is in verse 34. Father, forgive them 15 00:01:49,540 –> 00:01:56,760 for they know not what they do. Then in verse 43, Jesus says to the thief who turns to him 16 00:01:56,760 –> 00:02:03,519 in faith and repentance, truly, I say to you today, you will be with me and paradise. And 17 00:02:03,720 –> 00:02:10,740 verse 46, Jesus says as he breathes his last breath and enters into death, Father, into 18 00:02:10,740 –> 00:02:18,699 your hands I commit my spirit. Now, these three words of Jesus take us right 19 00:02:18,699 –> 00:02:26,199 to the heart of what our Lord accomplished for us through His death on the cross. What 20 00:02:26,199 –> 00:02:32,419 did Jesus accomplish for us on the cross? Forgiveness released. 21 00:02:32,619 –> 00:02:34,100 Heaven opened, 22 00:02:35,039 –> 00:02:38,479 and death defeated. That’s where we are today. 23 00:02:38,500 –> 00:02:41,139 We are going to rejoice if you’re a Christian believer. 24 00:02:41,139 –> 00:02:48,220 Today is a day to rejoice in what Jesus Christ has accomplished for you and for us. 25 00:02:48,220 –> 00:02:53,960 If you are not yet a believer, here is what Jesus Christ offers to you because He has 26 00:02:53,960 –> 00:02:59,020 accomplished it on the cross. So, I hope you have these words of Jesus 27 00:02:59,139 –> 00:03:01,779 open in front of you. I want us to look first 28 00:03:01,779 –> 00:03:06,220 at Forgiveness Released verse 34. Jesus said, 29 00:03:06,220 –> 00:03:13,220 Father forgive them for they know not what they do. 30 00:03:13,740 –> 00:03:20,139 Just to get this scene, Jesus had been scourged. He had been beaten and He had been mocked. 31 00:03:20,139 –> 00:03:27,080 A crown had been twisted out of thorns and had been forced onto His head. He had carried 32 00:03:27,080 –> 00:03:33,300 the wooden beam of the cross and when someone else began to carry it from Him, He was then 33 00:03:33,300 –> 00:03:40,199 dragged to the place of execution, this place that is referred to here as The Place of the 34 00:03:40,199 –> 00:03:47,199 Skull. And as the soldiers were nailing Jesus to the cross, in that excruciating moment, 35 00:03:47,919 –> 00:03:55,220 Jesus said, Father, forgive them. They know not what they do. Now, notice that those who 36 00:03:57,179 –> 00:04:04,179 nailed Jesus to the cross, didn’t feel that they were doing anything wrong. They didn’t 37 00:04:04,860 –> 00:04:11,860 have a bad conscience. They didn’t feel that they needed to be forgiven. They were committing 38 00:04:12,800 –> 00:04:19,799 the greatest sin in the history of the entire world, and they did not even know what they 39 00:04:24,019 –> 00:04:27,540 were doing. That tells us something very important and 40 00:04:27,540 –> 00:04:34,540 it’s this. You cannot know what sin is simply from your own feelings about right and wrong. 41 00:04:34,600 –> 00:04:37,899 Here’s the greatest sin in the history of the world, and it’s being committed without 42 00:04:38,239 –> 00:04:42,299 sense on the part of those who are doing it that they are doing anything wrong at all. 43 00:04:42,299 –> 00:04:49,299 They do not know what they are doing. That’s what Jesus said. If you trust your own intuition, 44 00:04:52,359 –> 00:04:56,459 you will sin and go on sinning without even knowing what you are doing. That’s why we 45 00:04:56,459 –> 00:05:02,779 need the Word of God, which is light to our path. 46 00:05:02,779 –> 00:05:09,779 What were they doing? Well, they were crucifying the Son of God. And as they were doing it, 47 00:05:11,500 –> 00:05:17,359 right in the middle of them actively doing it, while they were doing it, Jesus says, 48 00:05:17,359 –> 00:05:24,359 Father, forgive them. Notice that Jesus loved them while they were still sinning against 49 00:05:25,239 –> 00:05:32,239 Him. This is a marvelous truth, how marvelous that Christ loved you before you loved Him, 50 00:05:33,720 –> 00:05:40,720 Christ loved us while we still sinning against Him. You remember that Jesus said love your 51 00:05:42,160 –> 00:05:49,160 enemies and pray for those who persecute you, and that is what Jesus is doing right here. 52 00:05:50,160 –> 00:05:57,160 He is loving his enemies while they are inflicting pain on him. They don’t know what they are 53 00:05:59,000 –> 00:06:03,980 doing, but Christ has compassion on them because He does know what they are doing. He knows 54 00:06:03,980 –> 00:06:09,179 their committing the greatest sin in all of human history. He knows the full weight of 55 00:06:09,179 –> 00:06:15,179 what this will bring, and so He cries out to the Father in compassion, Father, forgive 56 00:06:15,179 –> 00:06:19,000 them. 57 00:06:19,000 –> 00:06:25,820 Brothers and sisters in Christ, Christians should be the most compassionate people in 58 00:06:25,820 –> 00:06:32,820 the world. The world doesn’t know what it’s doing when it sins against Jesus Christ, 59 00:06:35,160 –> 00:06:42,160 but if we know the hell that sin brings, and if we have glimpsed in Scripture the heaven 60 00:06:42,640 –> 00:06:49,640 that sin shuns, we will have compassion in regards to sinners. Is there someone that 61 00:06:53,540 –> 00:07:00,540 you need to forgive? Well, in Christ you know what sin is, you know what sin brings, and 62 00:07:02,220 –> 00:07:07,660 that knowledge in and of itself will help you to grow in compassion towards a person 63 00:07:07,660 –> 00:07:14,660 who does not know what they are doing. Christ loved them while they were still sinning against 64 00:07:17,239 –> 00:07:24,239 Him. Then notice that Christ prayed for them while they had no interest in praying for 65 00:07:24,519 –> 00:07:31,119 themselves. These men are not repented. They are still hammering away. They have no faith 66 00:07:31,359 –> 00:07:38,220 the Lord Jesus Christ. They are crucifying Him. They are on the path to hell. They are 67 00:07:38,220 –> 00:07:43,380 so dead in their trespasses and sins that they do not even know what they are doing 68 00:07:43,380 –> 00:07:50,380 but Jesus Christ prays for them. This is a marvellous truth. Jesus Christ prays for us 69 00:07:51,480 –> 00:07:58,480 before we ever pray to Him. He always is the One who reaches out in mercy and grace. And 70 00:08:01,200 –> 00:08:05,980 notice that loving them while they are still sinning against Him and praying for them when 71 00:08:05,980 –> 00:08:11,200 they have no interest in praying for themselves, Christ asks the Father to forgive them. He 72 00:08:11,200 –> 00:08:18,200 could have prayed with perfect justice, Father, destroy them. But He does not do that. Father, 73 00:08:23,160 –> 00:08:29,739 forgive them. One writer says that with this prayer from 74 00:08:29,859 –> 00:08:36,859 the cross, Jesus is building a bridge of forgiveness over which His tormentors could come in penitence 75 00:08:42,799 –> 00:08:49,799 back to God. That’s beautiful. In this prayer, Jesus is building a bridge of forgiveness 76 00:08:50,760 –> 00:08:57,760 over which His tormentors could come in penitence and return to God. 77 00:09:00,140 –> 00:09:05,419 Now, that of course raises the question, how in the world is this possible? How is it possible 78 00:09:05,419 –> 00:09:12,419 for the worst sins to be forgiven and for the worst of sinners to come back to God? 79 00:09:15,460 –> 00:09:20,500 And here we come to the very heart of this marvelous prayer and word of the Lord Jesus 80 00:09:20,500 –> 00:09:27,500 spoken from the cross. When Jesus said, Father forgive them, here’s what he was doing. He 81 00:09:27,840 –> 00:09:34,840 was isolating himself under the judgment of God. Let me explain to you what I mean by 82 00:09:38,400 –> 00:09:45,400 that. At the cross, human sin reached its full horror and its most awful expression. 83 00:09:45,739 –> 00:09:52,739 Here, having rebelled against God in multiple ways, we were crucifying God’s own son. 84 00:09:53,700 –> 00:10:00,700 If ever there was a moment in all of human history when God’s judgment had to fall, 85 00:10:01,020 –> 00:10:08,020 this was it. How could we crucify God’s son and God’s judgment not come on that day? 86 00:10:10,200 –> 00:10:17,200 It had to come. In the very moment when it had to come, Jesus cries out in this prayer, 87 00:10:18,140 –> 00:10:25,140 Father, forgive them. They know not what they do. Jesus Christ knew that judgment would 88 00:10:28,159 –> 00:10:35,159 come and it did, but he cries out in this moment to the Father, don’t let it fall on 89 00:10:37,200 –> 00:10:44,200 them. Let it fall on me and let it fall on me alone. Let me be the lightning rod for 90 00:10:45,059 –> 00:10:52,059 your judgment on their sin. Allow me to be the sacrifice that is consumed. Don’t let 91 00:10:53,840 –> 00:11:00,840 your judgment fall on them. That’s the heart of this prayer, Jesus isolating himself under 92 00:11:01,760 –> 00:11:08,760 the judgment of God. Let it hit me. Save them. That’s the heart of this prayer, and we have 93 00:11:09,719 –> 00:11:16,520 seen that this was anticipated right from the beginning of the Bible story. You remember 94 00:11:16,520 –> 00:11:23,520 when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden and God said to Satan on that day, cursed are 95 00:11:23,780 –> 00:11:29,859 you. You’re going to be utterly destroyed. Then God turns to Adam and he says to Adam, 96 00:11:29,859 –> 00:11:35,760 cursed, and we’re all waiting for it, and what God says is not cursed are you, Adam? 97 00:11:35,799 –> 00:11:43,059 He says, cursed is the ground because of you. And God finds a way to take that awful judgment, 98 00:11:45,400 –> 00:11:51,719 put it into another place so that room is created for the first man and for the first 99 00:11:51,719 –> 00:11:58,179 woman to be reconciled to God. That is exactly what is happening here in the cross at Jesus 100 00:11:58,679 –> 00:12:01,280 as he dies. 101 00:12:01,280 –> 00:12:06,500 You see it again in the story of Elijah. You remember when all of the prophets of Baal 102 00:12:06,500 –> 00:12:13,099 and this great crowd of people who had defied God and turned to idols all gather at the 103 00:12:13,099 –> 00:12:20,099 top of Mount Carmel, and the fire of God’s judgment is going to fall. And who’s it going 104 00:12:20,099 –> 00:12:27,099 to fall on? Well, you think here’s a whole crowd of people who are defying God, and when 105 00:12:30,940 –> 00:12:35,580 the fire falls from Heaven, it’s going to fall on all of them and consume them completely. 106 00:12:35,580 –> 00:12:42,200 It’s the end for them. But you’ll remember that it’s not what happened. When the fire 107 00:12:42,200 –> 00:12:48,880 of God fell from Heaven, it is like a laser, and it hits only the sacrifice and not the 108 00:12:49,020 –> 00:12:56,020 people. Father, forgive them? And Jesus Christ himself goes under the judgment 109 00:12:57,159 –> 00:13:03,299 that had to fall, and did fall on that day. But he’s isolated under it, and they do not 110 00:13:03,299 –> 00:13:09,380 come under it. They live for another day. A bridge is built, a bridge of forgiveness 111 00:13:09,380 –> 00:13:16,380 over which they may come in penitence to return to the Father. This is the very heart of the 112 00:13:17,299 –> 00:13:24,299 gospel. Jesus is the sacrifice for sins. And when he says, Father, forgive them, the them 113 00:13:30,080 –> 00:13:37,080 is big enough to include you and big enough to include me. Don’t you thank God for that? 114 00:13:37,619 –> 00:13:44,619 Forgiveness released. That’s what Jesus accomplished in his death on the cross. 115 00:13:47,280 –> 00:13:54,280 And that’s not all. Second, heaven opened. Verse 43. And he said to him, Truly I say 116 00:13:55,799 –> 00:14:02,799 to you today you will be with me in paradise. And Luke records, as you will see, in verse 117 00:14:04,140 –> 00:14:10,280 32 that there were two criminals that were crucified with Jesus. One on his right and 118 00:14:10,320 –> 00:14:17,320 the other on his left. And verse 39, one of the criminals who were hanged railed at him 119 00:14:19,679 –> 00:14:26,679 saying are you not the Christ save yourself and us? Think about this. Here is a man who 120 00:14:27,400 –> 00:14:34,400 has only a few hours left to live. He’s completely lost. He is completely helpless. And he is 121 00:14:34,940 –> 00:14:41,940 raging in anger against God. By the way, suffering sometimes makes us more tender but not always. 122 00:14:52,700 –> 00:14:59,700 Suffering can bring the worst out in us and clearly that is what is happening here. 123 00:15:00,380 –> 00:15:05,020 And we are told that there was a second thief on the other side of Jesus. 124 00:15:06,000 –> 00:15:13,960 And Matthew and Mark tell us quite clearly that this second thief also poured out insults on Jesus. 125 00:15:15,119 –> 00:15:18,400 But then there came a moment where something changed. 126 00:15:20,000 –> 00:15:23,419 A silence comes over this man’s soul. 127 00:15:25,640 –> 00:15:29,099 He’s been hurling abuse at Jesus. 128 00:15:29,719 –> 00:15:31,140 fifth 129 00:15:31,140 –> 00:15:33,140 But it comes to him that 130 00:15:33,940 –> 00:15:35,940 in a very short time 131 00:15:36,739 –> 00:15:38,820 He’s going to go into eternity 132 00:15:40,580 –> 00:15:47,539 And perhaps for the very first time in his life he begins to think seriously about his position. He’s skimmed through life 133 00:15:48,900 –> 00:15:51,239 He’s drifted from one thing to another 134 00:15:52,340 –> 00:15:55,780 And now his life is slipping away by the minute 135 00:15:56,659 –> 00:16:02,679 And the earth is beginning to recede and eternity is beginning to loom ever closer 136 00:16:04,099 –> 00:16:06,099 He’d not planned on this 137 00:16:06,900 –> 00:16:08,900 And he’d not prepared for it either 138 00:16:11,059 –> 00:16:14,900 As a jew he would have been raised to fear god 139 00:16:14,979 –> 00:16:19,460 But clearly god had never carried any weight in his life. He was a thief 140 00:16:20,340 –> 00:16:26,520 And almost certainly a violent one as well judging from the sentence to which he was condemned 141 00:16:27,739 –> 00:16:30,840 Now he sees with awesome clarity 142 00:16:31,580 –> 00:16:33,580 that he cannot avoid 143 00:16:33,960 –> 00:16:41,799 being ushered in to the presence of the almighty God who he has defied all his life and 144 00:16:42,380 –> 00:16:44,880 And as these thoughts run through his mind 145 00:16:44,900 –> 00:16:51,859 He hears the distant voice of his friend cursing on the other side of Jesus, and he says to his friend 146 00:16:52,840 –> 00:16:55,080 Do you not fear God? 147 00:16:56,059 –> 00:16:58,000 And 148 00:16:58,000 –> 00:17:00,679 then he turns to Jesus and 149 00:17:01,780 –> 00:17:03,780 He says 150 00:17:04,060 –> 00:17:06,040 Remember me 151 00:17:06,040 –> 00:17:08,939 when you come into your kingdom and 152 00:17:09,020 –> 00:17:10,119 and 153 00:17:10,119 –> 00:17:12,560 Jesus says truly I say to you 154 00:17:13,719 –> 00:17:15,239 today 155 00:17:15,239 –> 00:17:17,359 You will be with me in paradise 156 00:17:19,500 –> 00:17:23,079 it is an extraordinary story a 157 00:17:24,060 –> 00:17:31,880 man who without question was destined for hell and right on the brink is 158 00:17:33,479 –> 00:17:35,699 Snatched from destruction and 159 00:17:36,119 –> 00:17:41,760 And given full access into the joys of everlasting life with Jesus Christ 160 00:17:43,719 –> 00:17:47,380 It’s a marvelous sample of what Jesus Christ is able to do 161 00:17:48,579 –> 00:17:50,579 forgiveness released and 162 00:17:50,979 –> 00:17:52,619 Heaven open 163 00:17:52,619 –> 00:17:56,339 Now I want you to notice the simplicity of this man’s faith 164 00:17:56,780 –> 00:18:02,780 You know sometimes people talk about Christian faith as if it is a terribly obscure and difficult thing a long 165 00:18:02,920 –> 00:18:07,119 Journey and endless search and so forth and people can end up putting off 166 00:18:08,119 –> 00:18:14,500 Trusting in Jesus Christ, which is what I want to invite anyone who has not yet done that to do today 167 00:18:15,560 –> 00:18:17,560 notice the simplicity of 168 00:18:17,839 –> 00:18:24,300 The thief’s faith first he fears God verse 40. Do you not fear God? 169 00:18:24,420 –> 00:18:29,880 he comes to an awareness of the fact that there is an awesome Holy God and 170 00:18:29,939 –> 00:18:33,800 And that he desperately needs to find peace with His God 171 00:18:34,719 –> 00:18:41,260 Second he recognizes his sinful condition. We are receiving the Jew reward of our deeds 172 00:18:42,219 –> 00:18:44,219 the Jew reward 173 00:18:44,219 –> 00:18:46,219 There are no excuses here 174 00:18:46,920 –> 00:18:51,459 He is facing the reality of his own sins and of his own position 175 00:18:51,859 –> 00:18:58,479 Not only in regards to the law that he has flouted but in regards to God who he will soon see 176 00:18:59,939 –> 00:19:07,339 And he recognizes in Jesus the authority of a king he believes in the Lord Jesus Christ 177 00:19:09,020 –> 00:19:11,380 Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom 178 00:19:12,680 –> 00:19:19,560 So he recognizes that there is a king here clearly his kingdom is not of this world as he himself is about to go into 179 00:19:19,560 –> 00:19:23,560 Death, but he says remember me when you come into your kingdom 180 00:19:24,020 –> 00:19:26,020 But remember me when you come into your kingdom 181 00:19:26,699 –> 00:19:30,000 He had heard Jesus say father forgive them 182 00:19:31,540 –> 00:19:34,699 Perhaps he figured if he can forgive them 183 00:19:36,579 –> 00:19:38,939 perhaps he can also forgive me 184 00:19:41,400 –> 00:19:46,780 And on this basis he asks Jesus to save him verse 42 Jesus 185 00:19:47,579 –> 00:19:52,239 Remember me when you come into your kingdom 186 00:19:52,699 –> 00:19:55,760 Have made a terrible wreck of my life 187 00:19:56,439 –> 00:19:57,459 and 188 00:19:57,459 –> 00:20:00,400 Now I have come to this awful end 189 00:20:02,180 –> 00:20:06,780 Jesus if there is any possibility of something better for me 190 00:20:08,339 –> 00:20:10,880 Will you please let me be part of it you 191 00:20:12,280 –> 00:20:15,760 cannot get a simpler faith than that and 192 00:20:16,280 –> 00:20:18,280 And I suspect that this man 193 00:20:18,560 –> 00:20:24,880 Thought that Jesus kingdom was something way way off in the future which would be why he said 194 00:20:25,680 –> 00:20:31,239 Remember me perhaps somewhere in the eternal future our paths will cross again 195 00:20:31,239 –> 00:20:36,540 Will you please remember me and Jesus says oh you don’t need to worry about me be remembering 196 00:20:37,479 –> 00:20:39,479 today 197 00:20:39,680 –> 00:20:41,680 today 198 00:20:41,800 –> 00:20:44,579 You will be with me in 199 00:20:46,199 –> 00:20:48,199 Paradise 200 00:20:48,420 –> 00:20:50,199 Now this 201 00:20:50,199 –> 00:20:53,079 remarkable story of the thief on the cross 202 00:20:53,859 –> 00:20:55,859 makes God’s Grace 203 00:20:56,260 –> 00:20:59,040 That is his free gift of salvation 204 00:21:00,300 –> 00:21:06,660 Crystal clear and I want to stress this point because there are many people who go through life with the idea 205 00:21:07,199 –> 00:21:13,400 That entrance into heaven comes to a person who has lived a good enough life 206 00:21:13,880 –> 00:21:15,319 but 207 00:21:15,319 –> 00:21:20,800 Do you see that this story blows that assumption clean out of the water? 208 00:21:21,040 –> 00:21:23,459 This man had not lived a good life 209 00:21:24,020 –> 00:21:25,180 clearly 210 00:21:25,180 –> 00:21:27,180 he’s a thief and 211 00:21:27,660 –> 00:21:33,900 With his hands fixed to the cross. He’s in your position now to do good works with his feet nail to the cross 212 00:21:33,900 –> 00:21:36,780 He is in no position to walk in paths of righteousness 213 00:21:37,699 –> 00:21:41,280 He’s not in a place to turn over a new leaf. He’s out of time 214 00:21:42,260 –> 00:21:48,839 He has not lived the life that God calls him to live and he’s right on the brink of eternity 215 00:21:49,260 –> 00:21:54,140 Yet to this man Jesus says you will be with me in paradise 216 00:21:55,920 –> 00:21:57,959 Now you see what that makes very clear 217 00:21:59,040 –> 00:22:04,079 that Heaven does not in the end depend on what we do for Jesus 218 00:22:04,079 –> 00:22:07,739 but on what Jesus has done for us and 219 00:22:08,300 –> 00:22:10,380 The New Testament makes this clear 220 00:22:11,140 –> 00:22:19,660 Again, and again, let me give you just three examples to press this home from Galatians chapter 2 and verse 16 a person is 221 00:22:20,099 –> 00:22:21,339 not 222 00:22:21,339 –> 00:22:25,939 justified by works of the law, but through faith in 223 00:22:27,280 –> 00:22:29,280 Jesus Christ 224 00:22:29,859 –> 00:22:34,780 Not through what you do for him, but through what he does for you 225 00:22:35,660 –> 00:22:39,839 Or Titus chapter 3 in verse 5. He saved us 226 00:22:40,800 –> 00:22:45,079 not because of works done by us in righteousness, but 227 00:22:45,579 –> 00:22:51,180 According to his own mercy that is we have not earned our way into this by what we have done 228 00:22:51,180 –> 00:22:55,060 But we have received mercy that comes to us freely from Jesus Christ 229 00:22:55,859 –> 00:23:02,339 But Ephesians 2 and verse 8 and 9 for by grace you have been saved through faith 230 00:23:02,339 –> 00:23:08,180 and this is not your own doing it is the gift of God and 231 00:23:08,699 –> 00:23:10,699 Not the result of works 232 00:23:10,939 –> 00:23:13,540 So that no one may boast 233 00:23:14,739 –> 00:23:17,420 So salvation is by grace 234 00:23:18,619 –> 00:23:22,199 Alone, that is it is God’s gift to us 235 00:23:23,119 –> 00:23:30,060 It is received by faith alone, and it is found in 236 00:23:30,579 –> 00:23:32,260 Christ 237 00:23:32,260 –> 00:23:33,839 alone and 238 00:23:33,839 –> 00:23:35,839 All of this is accomplished 239 00:23:36,400 –> 00:23:43,040 By Jesus in his death on the cross, what did he accomplish there on the cross? He accomplished? 240 00:23:43,420 –> 00:23:45,420 forgiveness released and 241 00:23:46,560 –> 00:23:47,900 Heaven 242 00:23:47,900 –> 00:23:55,839 wonderfully opened and then there’s one more thing here, and it’s that he defeated death itself 243 00:23:56,439 –> 00:23:59,160 Look at verse 46 of Luke 23 244 00:23:59,819 –> 00:24:04,319 Then Jesus calling out with a loud voice said 245 00:24:05,380 –> 00:24:07,239 father 246 00:24:07,239 –> 00:24:10,880 into your hands I commit my 247 00:24:12,160 –> 00:24:14,119 spirit 248 00:24:14,119 –> 00:24:20,160 Now when we say and when the Bible speaks about death being defeated it clearly does not mean that death no longer 249 00:24:20,599 –> 00:24:26,099 exists, but rather that for those who are in Christ its nature is for ever 250 00:24:27,160 –> 00:24:28,760 changed 251 00:24:28,800 –> 00:24:30,800 Notice that Jesus said 252 00:24:31,079 –> 00:24:37,439 father in the first and in the last words that he spoke from the cross 253 00:24:37,959 –> 00:24:39,959 first word father 254 00:24:40,520 –> 00:24:43,219 Forgive them they know not what they do 255 00:24:44,300 –> 00:24:46,300 last word father 256 00:24:47,119 –> 00:24:49,119 into your hands I 257 00:24:49,260 –> 00:24:51,260 commit my spirit 258 00:24:51,780 –> 00:24:53,939 between these two prayers that are 259 00:24:54,739 –> 00:24:58,300 poured out from Jesus on the cross to the father 260 00:24:59,380 –> 00:25:01,500 there lay an awful 261 00:25:02,339 –> 00:25:04,339 abyss of 262 00:25:04,540 –> 00:25:09,680 What took place in the darkness that covered the whole land 263 00:25:10,900 –> 00:25:16,739 During three hours in which Jesus suffered on the cross look at verse 264 00:25:17,719 –> 00:25:21,979 44 it was now about the sixth hour and 265 00:25:22,040 –> 00:25:25,939 And there was darkness over the whole land 266 00:25:27,359 –> 00:25:29,359 until the ninth hour 267 00:25:30,359 –> 00:25:38,319 So let’s get the story of the cross clear in our minds mark tells us that Jesus was crucified at the third hour 268 00:25:38,719 –> 00:25:40,719 That would be nine o’clock in the morning 269 00:25:41,199 –> 00:25:43,359 and as he’s nailed to the cross 270 00:25:44,160 –> 00:25:48,099 He speaks these words as we have seen father forgive them 271 00:25:48,880 –> 00:25:50,880 They know not what they do 272 00:25:51,839 –> 00:25:58,040 The morning wears on 9 10 10 30 somewhere during that morning 273 00:25:59,040 –> 00:26:05,780 All of the mockery that was going on and all of the abuse and profanity that was being hurled by the thieves 274 00:26:05,979 –> 00:26:07,520 one of the thieves 275 00:26:07,520 –> 00:26:15,140 Came to a stillness in his soul and turned in repentance and faith to Jesus and Jesus spoke these wonderful words 276 00:26:15,140 –> 00:26:16,920 To him today 277 00:26:16,920 –> 00:26:18,920 You will be with me in 278 00:26:19,160 –> 00:26:20,520 paradise 279 00:26:20,520 –> 00:26:24,939 Then after three hours of agony suddenly something different 280 00:26:25,540 –> 00:26:27,579 happens 281 00:26:27,579 –> 00:26:29,579 darkness at noon 282 00:26:29,979 –> 00:26:34,780 covers the whole land and the darkness continued for three hours until 283 00:26:36,459 –> 00:26:42,319 Three o’clock the ninth hour when Jesus breathed his last 284 00:26:44,199 –> 00:26:47,219 Now what was happening in the darkness 285 00:26:47,739 –> 00:26:54,839 Very clearly this sudden darkness that lasted for three hours in the middle of the day is 286 00:26:55,319 –> 00:27:00,319 telling us that something new and different is happening at this point in the 287 00:27:00,959 –> 00:27:04,219 Sufferings of Jesus on the cross and it’s striking that 288 00:27:04,760 –> 00:27:06,760 When Jesus was born 289 00:27:07,380 –> 00:27:14,180 There was light in the sky at midnight and when Jesus was crucified there was darkness 290 00:27:14,839 –> 00:27:16,839 covering the sky and 291 00:27:17,219 –> 00:27:18,839 noon 292 00:27:18,839 –> 00:27:24,660 now the very fact that God plunged the land into darkness for these three hours 293 00:27:25,199 –> 00:27:29,079 Indicates to us that what took place during these hours is 294 00:27:29,699 –> 00:27:31,339 beyond our 295 00:27:31,339 –> 00:27:33,000 understanding 296 00:27:33,000 –> 00:27:35,319 But there are things that we know 297 00:27:36,540 –> 00:27:39,859 Because God in Scripture has told us 298 00:27:40,900 –> 00:27:42,900 Here is what we know 299 00:27:43,439 –> 00:27:45,439 That in the darkness 300 00:27:46,140 –> 00:27:48,880 Jesus Christ bore our sins 301 00:27:50,479 –> 00:27:54,979 He himself Peter says bore our sins in 302 00:27:55,760 –> 00:27:57,760 His body on the 303 00:27:58,300 –> 00:27:59,979 tree or 304 00:27:59,979 –> 00:28:05,359 As Paul puts it in 2nd Corinthians chapter 5. God made him who knew no sin 305 00:28:06,280 –> 00:28:09,500 to be sin for us or 306 00:28:10,180 –> 00:28:12,180 as Isaiah said 307 00:28:12,420 –> 00:28:15,599 The Lord has laid on him 308 00:28:16,680 –> 00:28:21,160 The iniquity of us all that’s what was happening in the darkness 309 00:28:22,000 –> 00:28:28,099 That our sins the sins of all who are in Jesus Christ were 310 00:28:28,699 –> 00:28:33,900 Laid on Jesus they were counted as his the guilt was transferred 311 00:28:35,140 –> 00:28:36,300 they were 312 00:28:36,339 –> 00:28:39,000 Executed to use a Bible word to 313 00:28:39,479 –> 00:28:45,800 Jesus Christ and because he bore the guilt of our sins as if they were of his own 314 00:28:45,900 –> 00:28:53,459 what that meant was that he endured the punishment of our sins and what is the punishment of sins it is 315 00:28:53,459 –> 00:28:55,459 hell itself 316 00:28:57,660 –> 00:29:02,199 Think about what Jesus endured on the cross 317 00:29:02,199 –> 00:29:06,699 Conscious suffering in 318 00:29:08,819 –> 00:29:10,819 Blackest darkness 319 00:29:12,359 –> 00:29:14,359 Surrounded by demonic powers 320 00:29:16,339 –> 00:29:18,339 Bearing sin 321 00:29:19,119 –> 00:29:21,579 Under the judgment of God and 322 00:29:23,380 –> 00:29:26,780 Separated from the comfort of the knowledge of his love 323 00:29:27,140 –> 00:29:31,719 Which is why he cried out in the darkness my god my god 324 00:29:32,239 –> 00:29:34,239 Why have you? 325 00:29:34,579 –> 00:29:36,579 forsaken me Jesus 326 00:29:36,979 –> 00:29:42,839 Endured all that hell is in the darkness on the cross 327 00:29:44,699 –> 00:29:46,699 Hell is 328 00:29:46,760 –> 00:29:49,540 conscious suffering in black as darkness 329 00:29:50,160 –> 00:29:55,180 Surrounded by demonic powers bearing guilt under the judgment of God and separated 330 00:29:55,800 –> 00:29:59,099 From the comfort and the knowledge of his love 331 00:30:00,680 –> 00:30:05,599 Friends hell is as real as the cross and 332 00:30:07,359 –> 00:30:12,099 Jesus endured it for you. So that you would never know what it is like 333 00:30:14,680 –> 00:30:21,319 Christ endured hell for us on the cross and the divine wrath was spent in the 334 00:30:21,979 –> 00:30:23,400 darkness as 335 00:30:23,420 –> 00:30:26,579 far as all who are in Christ are concerned 336 00:30:27,260 –> 00:30:34,280 The justice Divine Justice was satisfied right there and then in the darkness the perfect 337 00:30:34,979 –> 00:30:40,339 sacrifice was offered in the darkness atonement was made in the 338 00:30:40,780 –> 00:30:44,459 darkness and then Jesus Christ said in triumph 339 00:30:44,459 –> 00:30:48,400 It is finished and then as Luke records here 340 00:30:48,400 –> 00:30:54,599 Father into your hands I commit my spirit 341 00:30:57,660 –> 00:31:04,819 Luke records that Jesus said this with a loud voice 342 00:31:06,760 –> 00:31:14,859 Now the loud voice coming out of the darkness must have astonished everyone 343 00:31:15,380 –> 00:31:17,380 Nobody 344 00:31:18,500 –> 00:31:23,099 Speaks with a loud voice at the moment of their death 345 00:31:25,140 –> 00:31:29,000 If you been with someone who is dying and 346 00:31:30,079 –> 00:31:33,699 Have seen them write through to the moment where they have died 347 00:31:35,339 –> 00:31:37,339 You will know what this is like 348 00:31:39,060 –> 00:31:43,260 Strength diminishes the voice weekens 349 00:31:45,140 –> 00:31:46,619 Eventually 350 00:31:46,619 –> 00:31:52,400 There isn’t utterance that is more than a whisper and then just a breath 351 00:31:53,280 –> 00:31:54,459 and 352 00:31:54,459 –> 00:31:58,859 Then a person enters into death nobody goes into death with a live voice 353 00:32:00,619 –> 00:32:02,619 But Jesus did 354 00:32:02,839 –> 00:32:11,140 And here’s what that tells us you see Jesus was not overwhelmed by death the son of God was not overcome by death 355 00:32:11,140 –> 00:32:18,719 You know Jesus said this in John chapter 10 in verse 18. No one takes my life from me. I 356 00:32:20,260 –> 00:32:23,699 Have authority to lay it down and 357 00:32:24,359 –> 00:32:30,939 I have authority to take it up again. No one takes my life from me 358 00:32:32,180 –> 00:32:34,180 Christ life was not taken 359 00:32:35,439 –> 00:32:37,439 His life was given 360 00:32:38,020 –> 00:32:43,140 He gave himself into death and he gave himself in to death 361 00:32:43,939 –> 00:32:48,479 When his work on the cross was complete and when it was finished then he said 362 00:32:49,060 –> 00:32:51,219 father into your hands I 363 00:32:51,900 –> 00:32:53,900 commit my spirit 364 00:32:55,219 –> 00:33:02,319 Now the Bible speaks about death as being a dark valley that we all have to walk through and 365 00:33:02,619 –> 00:33:07,800 Dark valleys are scary places, especially if enemies are hiding there 366 00:33:08,739 –> 00:33:12,780 But here we are told very clearly that Jesus Christ has gone through 367 00:33:13,619 –> 00:33:20,579 The valley of death and he has cleaned out the enemies. Death is still a dark place 368 00:33:21,780 –> 00:33:23,780 But it is a safe place 369 00:33:24,819 –> 00:33:26,819 for all who belong to 370 00:33:27,540 –> 00:33:29,459 Jesus Christ and 371 00:33:29,540 –> 00:33:32,319 If you have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ 372 00:33:34,199 –> 00:33:36,819 When the moment of death comes for you 373 00:33:38,219 –> 00:33:41,560 You will be able truly to say with Jesus father 374 00:33:42,280 –> 00:33:45,920 into your hands I commit my 375 00:33:46,979 –> 00:33:48,699 spirit and 376 00:33:48,699 –> 00:33:53,459 Death will not lead you into a long period of unconsciousness 377 00:33:54,459 –> 00:34:00,560 It will not lead you into a long process of being prepared if you are in Christ 378 00:34:01,479 –> 00:34:03,479 To be away from the body 379 00:34:04,079 –> 00:34:05,900 will be 380 00:34:05,900 –> 00:34:08,040 Instantaneously to be at home 381 00:34:09,000 –> 00:34:10,919 with the Lord 382 00:34:10,919 –> 00:34:13,239 now brothers and sisters in Christ 383 00:34:13,239 –> 00:34:19,000 Don’t you think today it is the most marvelous thing to be able to say I’m 384 00:34:19,560 –> 00:34:21,199 forgiven 385 00:34:21,360 –> 00:34:24,040 I’m bound for heaven and 386 00:34:25,040 –> 00:34:29,100 I’m safe in the father’s hands and 387 00:34:30,000 –> 00:34:34,379 all of that is yours because Jesus accomplished these things in 388 00:34:34,919 –> 00:34:36,479 giving himself 389 00:34:36,479 –> 00:34:40,040 For you right there on the cross 390 00:34:40,560 –> 00:34:42,439 forgiveness released 391 00:34:42,439 –> 00:34:45,179 Heaven opened and death defeated 392 00:34:46,320 –> 00:34:48,199 changed forever 393 00:34:48,199 –> 00:34:55,239 Let me just make these very brief observations at the end to try and press this home first 394 00:34:56,300 –> 00:34:59,300 Do you see how greatly you are loved? 395 00:35:00,879 –> 00:35:07,060 That Jesus would endure all this so that you today could say I’m forgiven 396 00:35:07,719 –> 00:35:12,260 I’m bound for heaven and I’m safe in the father’s hands 397 00:35:13,820 –> 00:35:15,820 What amazing love this is 398 00:35:16,780 –> 00:35:22,780 Greater love no one has than this than that a man should lay down his life for his friends 399 00:35:24,179 –> 00:35:25,959 God 400 00:35:25,959 –> 00:35:29,939 Demonstrates his love for us in this while we were still sinners 401 00:35:31,100 –> 00:35:33,100 Christ died 402 00:35:33,300 –> 00:35:35,300 for us 403 00:35:35,459 –> 00:35:37,620 With all the sins that are still in our lives 404 00:35:38,780 –> 00:35:43,320 That love streams to us because he has chosen to redeem us 405 00:35:43,679 –> 00:35:45,179 God 406 00:35:45,179 –> 00:35:52,100 So loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him should not perish 407 00:35:53,719 –> 00:35:55,080 but have 408 00:35:55,080 –> 00:35:55,820 everlasting life 409 00:35:55,820 –> 00:36:01,459 Oh when you see what Jesus accomplished on the cross and when you come to believe as a 410 00:36:01,639 –> 00:36:05,580 Christian believes that this was indeed four you 411 00:36:08,080 –> 00:36:12,639 Well, then you will be saying no one ever loved me like this 412 00:36:14,000 –> 00:36:16,199 No one ever will love me like this 413 00:36:17,500 –> 00:36:20,120 the Son of God loved me and 414 00:36:20,979 –> 00:36:22,979 He gave himself for me 415 00:36:24,620 –> 00:36:30,620 Second I went to press this home. Do you see today then the necessity of faith? 416 00:36:32,939 –> 00:36:37,620 This thief on the cross who turns to believe in Jesus and 417 00:36:38,639 –> 00:36:40,639 His eternal future 418 00:36:40,659 –> 00:36:45,659 Was utterly transformed because that’s what Jesus is able to do 419 00:36:47,540 –> 00:36:50,360 But I want to remind you that there were two thieves 420 00:36:50,360 –> 00:36:56,379 We love to tell the story of the thief who at the very last moment was snatched from hell and brought into 421 00:36:56,580 –> 00:37:01,320 The presence of Jesus in heaven today you will be with me in paradise 422 00:37:02,919 –> 00:37:04,919 But there were two thieves 423 00:37:05,820 –> 00:37:07,820 One was saved and 424 00:37:08,379 –> 00:37:10,379 The other was lost 425 00:37:11,520 –> 00:37:15,979 And Bishop Rile has a comment on this that I have found very helpful 426 00:37:16,060 –> 00:37:19,300 He says this that one was saved 427 00:37:20,320 –> 00:37:23,500 so that no one should despair and 428 00:37:24,459 –> 00:37:26,199 One was lost 429 00:37:26,199 –> 00:37:28,199 So that no one should presume 430 00:37:30,080 –> 00:37:36,179 And you see the danger is for those of us who are here in church that there may be someone among us who 431 00:37:36,340 –> 00:37:38,939 Feels that yeah, because I’m here 432 00:37:39,580 –> 00:37:45,239 Take my time to think about these things and of course if anything happens it’ll all be fine with me in the end 433 00:37:45,540 –> 00:37:49,100 No, you must come to faith in the Lord. Jesus Christ 434 00:37:49,260 –> 00:37:54,060 You must turn to him in repentance as the thief on the cross did 435 00:37:56,000 –> 00:37:58,000 You can’t just drift through life 436 00:37:59,080 –> 00:38:02,560 Saying oh, I’ll deal with that sometime. It’ll be okay irrespective 437 00:38:03,860 –> 00:38:05,699 It’s not 438 00:38:05,699 –> 00:38:10,340 This story teaches us so clearly the necessity of faith and 439 00:38:11,199 –> 00:38:13,199 the life and eternity 440 00:38:13,399 –> 00:38:17,479 changing nature of it when a person believes in the Lord Jesus Christ 441 00:38:17,879 –> 00:38:23,719 Because of what he accomplished by on the cross things are changed now and forever 442 00:38:2,540 –> 00:38:32,260 Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ listen others around you are forgiven 443 00:38:32,919 –> 00:38:36,959 Others around you are bound for heaven 444 00:38:38,060 –> 00:38:43,699 Others around you can truly say I’m safe in the father’s hand. Why not you? 445 00:38:44,560 –> 00:38:49,860 Why would you not also put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ today? 446 00:38:50,840 –> 00:38:55,659 What are you holding on to in your life that you think is so good that it would be worth losing? 447 00:38:56,620 –> 00:39:01,199 Everything that Jesus Christ offers in order to hold on to that. It’s just not worth it 448 00:39:02,199 –> 00:39:06,860 What he offers to you is total forgiveness for all your sins 449 00:39:07,239 –> 00:39:09,239 heaven opened and 450 00:39:09,479 –> 00:39:11,600 safety through death into the everlasting 451 00:39:12,340 –> 00:39:13,979 presence of Almighty 452 00:39:13,979 –> 00:39:19,100 God who you have come to know as your father because you’re reconciled to him in 453 00:39:19,500 –> 00:39:23,959 Jesus Christ believe in the Lord Jesus Christ the Bible says and 454 00:39:24,479 –> 00:39:27,479 You will be saved 455 00:39:28,139 –> 00:39:31,419 And then here’s the last thing do you see how bright is your hope 456 00:39:33,100 –> 00:39:37,379 The whole history of the world is the story of paradise lost 457 00:39:39,699 –> 00:39:44,479 And everyday we see it played out in new installments in our daily news 458 00:39:46,439 –> 00:39:48,439 Paradise lost 459 00:39:50,199 –> 00:39:57,159 And when Adam and Eve were evicted from that garden you remember that there was no way back for them because there was that 460 00:39:57,520 –> 00:39:59,520 flaming sword 461 00:39:59,840 –> 00:40:06,580 That flashed back and forth in every direction. It never stopped. It represented the judgment of God 462 00:40:06,580 –> 00:40:09,620 There was no way back into paradise for them 463 00:40:10,760 –> 00:40:12,760 they were outside and 464 00:40:13,479 –> 00:40:16,679 no way past the judgment of God 465 00:40:18,820 –> 00:40:25,840 But here’s the marvelous truth that the flaming sword of God’s judgment broke itself on Jesus 466 00:40:25,840 –> 00:40:27,120 as 467 00:40:27,120 –> 00:40:30,159 far as all who are in him is concerned and 468 00:40:31,560 –> 00:40:33,560 through his death 469 00:40:33,860 –> 00:40:35,959 He has opened for us 470 00:40:37,280 –> 00:40:40,899 the way to the tree of life and 471 00:40:42,179 –> 00:40:45,239 To all of its fruits of eternal joy 472 00:40:46,600 –> 00:40:48,600 forever and 473 00:40:48,600 –> 00:40:49,899 forever 474 00:40:49,899 –> 00:40:55,580 Lord we lift our hearts to you scarcely able to take in the wonder of 475 00:40:56,320 –> 00:40:59,780 What you have done for us in Jesus Christ 476 00:41:01,780 –> 00:41:04,560 Let us love and trust and 477 00:41:05,719 –> 00:41:07,560 serve him 478 00:41:07,560 –> 00:41:09,560 with gladness with 479 00:41:10,040 –> 00:41:12,040 peace and 480 00:41:12,139 –> 00:41:14,139 with lively hope 481 00:41:14,919 –> 00:41:17,139 All the days of our lives 482 00:41:18,159 –> 00:41:25,780 Until faith is turned to sight and we enter into the fullness of all that he purchased for us 483 00:41:26,280 –> 00:41:28,280 on the cross 484 00:41:28,439 –> 00:41:31,260 Hear our prayers in Jesus name 485 00:41:32,239 –> 00:41:34,239 Amen