1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:07,520 Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and today a special edition 2 00:00:07,520 –> 00:00:10,780 as we continue our audio series Heaven How I Got Here 3 00:00:10,780 –> 00:00:14,240 it’s the story the thief on the cross read by actor Stephen Baldwin 4 00:00:14,240 –> 00:00:18,240 and if you’ve missed any of the previous days in this series I do hope you’ll 5 00:00:18,240 –> 00:00:22,280 come and visit our website is openthebible.org and you can go back and 6 00:00:22,280 –> 00:00:25,480 listen to any previous broadcast of this series. 7 00:00:25,480 –> 00:00:26,719 The first few chapters of the book 8 00:00:27,680 –> 00:00:31,760 Colin so far we have seen how the thief was filled with hatred 9 00:00:31,760 –> 00:00:36,180 how he began to turn to Jesus ultimately placing his faith in the promise that 10 00:00:36,180 –> 00:00:41,939 Jesus gave him that he would be with Jesus in paradise today we look at what 11 00:00:41,939 –> 00:00:44,779 happened after he trusted in Jesus 12 00:00:44,779 –> 00:00:47,200 Yeah and it’s a remarkable story 13 00:00:47,200 –> 00:00:51,180 of course the thief was witness to everything that happened during the time 14 00:00:51,180 –> 00:00:55,820 that Jesus was on the cross he actually died after Jesus and we know that 15 00:00:55,840 –> 00:01:00,619 because when the soldiers came to break the legs of the criminals our Lord had 16 00:01:00,619 –> 00:01:05,480 already died and committed his spirit into the hands of the Father so the 17 00:01:05,480 –> 00:01:09,940 thief was witness to all of this and we’re gonna learn more about what 18 00:01:09,940 –> 00:01:13,699 happened on the cross through the eyes of the thief as he recollects these 19 00:01:13,699 –> 00:01:14,660 events for us 20 00:01:14,660 –> 00:01:18,239 Well let’s go ahead and listen to his recollection 21 00:01:18,239 –> 00:01:25,220 this is actor Stephen Baldwin with Chapter five, Love 22 00:01:25,820 –> 00:01:31,580 1150 AM 23 00:01:31,580 –> 00:01:38,580 the bright sun dazzled my eyes 24 00:01:39,080 –> 00:01:43,459 so I look down to the small group of friend standing in front of Jesus 25 00:01:43,459 –> 00:01:47,559 one of them was called Mary and it became clear to me 26 00:01:47,559 –> 00:01:53,160 that she was Jesus’s mother 27 00:01:53,300 –> 00:01:56,300 there was a radiant beauty about Mary 28 00:01:56,300 –> 00:02:00,059 as she wept and watched and waited 29 00:02:00,059 –> 00:02:02,180 surrounded by hatred 30 00:02:02,180 –> 00:02:05,239 she exuded love 31 00:02:05,239 –> 00:02:09,419 It seemed to me that Jesus Christ was more hated 32 00:02:09,419 –> 00:02:13,839 and more loved than any other person I had known 33 00:02:13,839 –> 00:02:16,559 I thought about my own mother 34 00:02:16,559 –> 00:02:20,600 and was glad that she was not with us 35 00:02:21,500 –> 00:02:23,619 I had already broken her heart with the choices of my life 36 00:02:23,619 –> 00:02:26,479 choices that led to years of estrangement 37 00:02:26,479 –> 00:02:28,759 on top of all of that 38 00:02:28,759 –> 00:02:30,779 I had already broken her heart 39 00:02:30,779 –> 00:02:33,919 choices that led to years of estrangement 40 00:02:33,919 –> 00:02:35,600 If she had to endure seeing me on a Cross 41 00:02:35,600 –> 00:02:37,460 , I think the pain would have been unbearable for her 42 00:02:37,460 –> 00:02:41,080 But Mary, the mother of Jesus was there 43 00:02:41,080 –> 00:02:45,360 But Mary, the mother of Jesus was there 44 00:02:46,059 –> 00:02:49,960 I tried to imagine what it was like for her to watch her son suffer 45 00:02:49,960 –> 00:02:55,380 I tried to imagine what it was like for her to watch her son suffer 46 00:02:55,380 –> 00:02:58,699 I had come to trust him in the last hour 47 00:02:58,699 –> 00:03:01,660 But she had loved him from the day of his birth 48 00:03:01,660 –> 00:03:06,419 Now, the brow she had kissed as she had put him to bed 49 00:03:06,419 –> 00:03:07,460 Now, the brow she had kissed as she had put him to bed 50 00:03:07,460 –> 00:03:08,419 Now, the brow she had kissed as she had put him to bed 51 00:03:08,419 –> 00:03:11,419 Now, the brow she had kissed as she had put him to bed 52 00:03:11,419 –> 00:03:13,500 was crowned with thorns 53 00:04:43,540 –> 00:04:45,760 Christ loved me without a reason 54 00:04:45,760 –> 00:04:49,000 He cared for me without cause 55 00:04:49,000 –> 00:04:52,299 His love is its own explanation 56 00:04:52,299 –> 00:04:56,380 Christ loves you for no other reason than that 57 00:04:57,179 –> 00:04:59,179 He loves you 58 00:05:01,239 –> 00:05:06,279 I experienced the beginning of that love through my encounter with Jesus on the Cross 59 00:05:07,619 –> 00:05:12,779 Here in Heaven, I am still discovering the full extent of His love 60 00:05:13,100 –> 00:05:15,100 And the more I discover 61 00:05:15,100 –> 00:05:17,600 The more joy I have 62 00:05:18,820 –> 00:05:23,140 Whatever your experience of love or the lack of it in your life 63 00:05:23,140 –> 00:05:26,820 There is love for you in the heart of Jesus Christ 64 00:05:29,119 –> 00:05:32,779 I saw this, as he prayed for his enemies 65 00:05:32,779 –> 00:05:35,679 And as he promised Paradise to me 66 00:05:37,320 –> 00:05:39,600 But that was only the beginning 67 00:05:39,600 –> 00:05:42,359 I was about to discover more 68 00:05:43,359 –> 00:05:47,519 With all the noise and clamor that had been taking place 69 00:05:47,519 –> 00:05:50,899 I was struck by how little Jesus said 70 00:05:52,899 –> 00:05:55,559 Since the ordeal began 71 00:05:55,559 –> 00:05:57,940 he had spoken only twice 72 00:05:58,799 –> 00:06:01,079 He had called on his father 73 00:06:01,079 –> 00:06:03,380 and prayed for his enemies 74 00:06:03,380 –> 00:06:05,640 Father, forgive them 75 00:06:05,640 –> 00:06:07,720 They do not know what they are doing 76 00:06:07,720 –> 00:06:10,839 Then, he had spoken to me 77 00:06:11,299 –> 00:06:12,660 Amen 78 00:06:12,660 –> 00:06:16,679 Today, you will be with me in Paradise 79 00:06:16,679 –> 00:06:19,040 Now Jesus looked down at his mother 80 00:06:19,040 –> 00:06:21,140 And in spite of his agony 81 00:06:21,140 –> 00:06:26,380 he raised himself up and drew the breath he needed to speak 82 00:06:26,380 –> 00:06:29,279 Woman, he said 83 00:06:29,279 –> 00:06:30,920 behold your son 84 00:06:30,920 –> 00:06:32,980 He wasn’t referring to himself 85 00:06:32,980 –> 00:06:35,420 but to a man standing beside her 86 00:06:35,420 –> 00:06:37,299 who I know now to be John 87 00:06:37,299 –> 00:06:38,820 a disciple of Jesus 88 00:06:39,480 –> 00:06:42,000 who later wrote the fourth gospel 89 00:06:42,000 –> 00:06:43,519 John stood with Mary 90 00:06:43,519 –> 00:06:44,679 and the other women 91 00:06:44,679 –> 00:06:46,640 all morning 92 00:06:46,640 –> 00:06:48,540 now Jesus assigned him 93 00:06:48,540 –> 00:06:54,220 the sons duty of caring for his mother 94 00:06:54,220 –> 00:06:56,980 Woman, behold your son, he said to Mary 95 00:06:56,980 –> 00:06:58,600 Then to John, he said 96 00:06:58,600 –> 00:07:02,380 behold your mother 97 00:07:02,380 –> 00:07:04,440 This expression of love 98 00:07:04,440 –> 00:07:07,899 made a deep impresson on me 99 00:07:07,899 –> 00:07:10,579 The crowd, the pharisees 100 00:07:10,579 –> 00:07:12,739 the soldiers and the other thief 101 00:07:12,739 –> 00:07:16,720 were consumed with themselves 102 00:07:16,720 –> 00:07:19,420 as I had also been 103 00:07:19,420 –> 00:07:22,640 But into this hell hole of suffering 104 00:07:22,640 –> 00:07:24,779 and self-interest 105 00:07:24,779 –> 00:07:27,019 Jesus brought love 106 00:07:27,019 –> 00:07:28,799 it streamed out of him 107 00:07:28,799 –> 00:07:31,500 to his enemies 108 00:07:31,500 –> 00:07:34,260 to me, and now his mother 109 00:07:34,260 –> 00:07:38,859 the death of a son or daughter brings irreplaceable loss to a mother 110 00:07:38,859 –> 00:07:40,420 A grieving mother 111 00:07:40,420 –> 00:07:42,399 may have other children 112 00:07:42,399 –> 00:07:47,140 but they can never take the place of the one who was lost 113 00:07:47,140 –> 00:07:49,019 John could care for Mary 114 00:07:49,019 –> 00:07:53,980 but however kind he was he could never take the place of Jesus 115 00:07:53,980 –> 00:07:58,299 for 33 years Jesus had been Mary’s son 116 00:07:58,299 –> 00:08:00,299 but he was and is 117 00:08:00,299 –> 00:08:02,579 the Son of God 118 00:08:02,619 –> 00:08:05,559 he took on human flesh from his mother 119 00:08:05,559 –> 00:08:09,000 so that he could become our savior 120 00:08:09,000 –> 00:08:10,820 but as he hung on the cross 121 00:08:10,820 –> 00:08:13,239 with the blood draining from his body 122 00:08:13,239 –> 00:08:16,279 and the life of his flesh ebbing away 123 00:08:16,279 –> 00:08:21,179 the relationship between Jesus and Mary was changing 124 00:08:21,179 –> 00:08:25,100 Mary stood at the foot of the cross crying out 125 00:08:25,100 –> 00:08:26,500 my son 126 00:08:26,500 –> 00:08:28,059 my son 127 00:08:28,059 –> 00:08:30,660 my son 128 00:08:30,660 –> 00:08:32,500 but Jesus was saying 129 00:08:32,500 –> 00:08:35,820 you must no longer think of me as your son 130 00:08:35,820 –> 00:08:37,280 from now on 131 00:08:37,280 –> 00:08:40,419 John is to take that place in your life 132 00:08:40,419 –> 00:08:44,000 regard him as your son 133 00:08:44,000 –> 00:08:47,140 so how then was Mary to regard Jesus 134 00:08:47,140 –> 00:08:48,580 as her savior 135 00:08:48,580 –> 00:08:50,580 and as her Lord 136 00:08:50,580 –> 00:08:54,460 when the angel told Mary about the son she would bear 137 00:08:54,460 –> 00:08:56,000 Mary said 138 00:08:56,000 –> 00:08:58,500 my spirit rejoices in God 139 00:08:58,500 –> 00:09:00,299 my savior 140 00:09:00,299 –> 00:09:02,880 and Mary had looked to God as her savior 141 00:09:02,880 –> 00:09:05,539 and this is how God saved her 142 00:09:05,539 –> 00:09:06,580 Jesus 143 00:09:06,580 –> 00:09:08,320 God’s son 144 00:09:08,320 –> 00:09:12,619 went to the cross and laid down the life he had drawn for Mary 145 00:09:12,619 –> 00:09:14,679 his body was broken 146 00:09:14,679 –> 00:09:17,059 his blood was shed 147 00:09:17,059 –> 00:09:19,119 Mary’s son died 148 00:09:19,119 –> 00:09:20,500 and in his death 149 00:09:20,500 –> 00:09:23,659 he became her savior 150 00:09:23,659 –> 00:09:27,000 Mary lost an irreplaceable son 151 00:09:27,039 –> 00:09:33,559 and she gained an incomparable savior 152 00:09:33,559 –> 00:09:34,659 her gain 153 00:09:34,659 –> 00:09:38,119 was far greater than her loss 154 00:09:38,119 –> 00:09:41,679 you already know about the hate that was in my heart 155 00:09:41,679 –> 00:09:47,599 the blasphemy I spoke against Jesus and the crimes I committed against my fellow man 156 00:09:47,599 –> 00:09:49,960 I was the bottom of the pile 157 00:09:49,960 –> 00:09:52,640 the worst of sinners 158 00:09:52,640 –> 00:09:55,320 but Christ became my savior 159 00:09:55,320 –> 00:09:57,299 because of him 160 00:09:57,299 –> 00:10:00,739 I am in heaven today 161 00:10:00,739 –> 00:10:06,200 Mary is at the other end of the moral spectrum 162 00:10:06,200 –> 00:10:09,599 I can’t imagine a more godly woman than Mary 163 00:10:09,599 –> 00:10:12,239 she was patient kind 164 00:10:12,239 –> 00:10:14,599 good and true 165 00:10:14,599 –> 00:10:16,599 a woman of virtue 166 00:10:16,599 –> 00:10:18,520 blessed by god 167 00:10:18,520 –> 00:10:20,659 and a blessing to others 168 00:10:20,659 –> 00:10:23,320 and Mary is in heaven today 169 00:10:23,320 –> 00:10:26,000 not because Jesus was her son 170 00:10:26,000 –> 00:10:33,000 but because he is her saviour 171 00:10:33,539 –> 00:10:36,739 if she looked to Christ to save her 172 00:10:36,739 –> 00:10:39,460 every person who has sought to live a good life 173 00:10:39,460 –> 00:10:41,919 must do the same 174 00:10:41,919 –> 00:10:43,640 here’s the amazing thing 175 00:10:43,640 –> 00:10:46,159 that i still can’t get over 176 00:10:46,159 –> 00:10:49,859 I had lived a life that was as bad as they come 177 00:10:49,859 –> 00:10:51,359 Mary lived a life 178 00:10:51,359 –> 00:10:53,840 that was as good as they come 179 00:10:53,840 –> 00:10:58,520 yet both of us entered into heaven precisely the same way 180 00:10:58,520 –> 00:11:02,520 through faith in jesus 181 00:11:02,520 –> 00:11:04,859 In the words he spoke to me 182 00:11:04,859 –> 00:11:06,640 and then to Mary 183 00:11:06,640 –> 00:11:10,940 Jesus embraced the worst and the best of humanity 184 00:11:10,940 –> 00:11:16,760 and reconciled us both to his father 185 00:11:16,859 –> 00:11:20,099 So wherever you are on the moral spectrum 186 00:11:20,099 –> 00:11:24,200 Jesus Christ is the Savior for you 187 00:11:24,200 –> 00:11:27,119 Two misconceptions keep many people out of Heaven 188 00:11:27,119 –> 00:11:30,580 One is that they are too bad to come to Christ 189 00:11:30,580 –> 00:11:34,219 and the other is that they are too good to need him 190 00:11:34,219 –> 00:11:36,760 You may be as wretched as me 191 00:11:36,760 –> 00:11:39,039 as righteous as Mary 192 00:11:39,039 –> 00:11:41,659 or somewhere in between 193 00:11:41,659 –> 00:11:43,059 Wherever you are 194 00:11:43,059 –> 00:11:45,760 don’t let the bad or the good you’ve done 195 00:11:45,760 –> 00:11:49,080 keep you from embracing Christ as your Savior 196 00:11:49,080 –> 00:11:51,500 In these last hours on the cross 197 00:11:51,500 –> 00:11:54,380 the steely eyed hatred that filled my heart 198 00:11:54,380 –> 00:11:55,679 when the day began 199 00:11:55,679 –> 00:11:58,739 melted like snow on a warm afternoon 200 00:11:58,739 –> 00:12:01,440 something had changed inside of me 201 00:12:01,440 –> 00:12:03,679 I knew that Jesus had made me 202 00:12:03,679 –> 00:12:05,219 a different person 203 00:12:05,219 –> 00:12:08,280 The heart that had been filled with bitterness 204 00:12:08,280 –> 00:12:10,500 now felt compassion 205 00:12:10,500 –> 00:12:13,359 the mind that had been hostile to Jesus 206 00:12:13,359 –> 00:12:16,500 that trusted and believed in Him 207 00:12:16,500 –> 00:12:19,940 the will that had been hell bent on pursuing my own way 208 00:12:19,940 –> 00:12:22,679 now desired more than anything 209 00:12:22,679 –> 00:12:25,900 to honor Christ 210 00:12:25,900 –> 00:12:30,739 I never experienced anything like this before 211 00:12:30,739 –> 00:12:32,780 The religion I was brought up with 212 00:12:32,780 –> 00:12:36,359 attempted to change me from the outside in 213 00:12:36,359 –> 00:12:38,099 Do these things 214 00:12:38,099 –> 00:12:41,359 and you will be a good person 215 00:12:41,419 –> 00:12:44,179 It never worked 216 00:12:44,179 –> 00:12:46,119 all I can say is 217 00:12:46,119 –> 00:12:49,880 that when Christ’s word went into me 218 00:12:49,880 –> 00:12:52,359 my heart changed 219 00:12:52,359 –> 00:12:55,520 and I believed 220 00:12:55,520 –> 00:12:58,719 I now understand why Jesus spoke of this inner change 221 00:12:58,719 –> 00:13:01,719 as being born again 222 00:13:01,719 –> 00:13:03,440 I was changed 223 00:13:03,440 –> 00:13:08,640 from the inside out 224 00:13:08,859 –> 00:13:10,820 so here we were 225 00:13:10,820 –> 00:13:13,020 a scoundrel on the cross 226 00:13:13,020 –> 00:13:15,780 and a saintly woman standing below 227 00:13:15,780 –> 00:13:18,679 and both of our lives changed forever 228 00:13:18,679 –> 00:13:23,940 by Jesus Christ 229 00:13:23,940 –> 00:13:28,440 You’re listening to a special edition of Open The Bible actor Stephen Baldwin reading 230 00:13:28,440 –> 00:13:32,119 heaven how I got here, the story of the thief on the cross 231 00:13:32,119 –> 00:13:33,179 Colin, I think that chapter 232 00:13:33,179 –> 00:13:35,539 on love is so helpful 233 00:13:35,539 –> 00:13:38,919 to see how the thief, who is so far from Jesus 234 00:13:38,919 –> 00:13:42,520 needed to have a relationship with him, but so did Mary 235 00:13:42,520 –> 00:13:44,460 his mother the this godly woman 236 00:13:44,460 –> 00:13:47,500 but i think it’s so helpful in our understanding that no matter 237 00:13:47,500 –> 00:13:48,940 how bad you may be 238 00:13:48,940 –> 00:13:50,239 or how good you are 239 00:13:50,239 –> 00:13:52,140 you still need Jesus 240 00:13:52,140 –> 00:13:54,599 Yeah and the picture of 241 00:13:54,599 –> 00:13:59,559 the representatives as you like of the very worst and the very best 242 00:13:59,559 –> 00:14:02,000 both there at the cross and both looking 243 00:14:02,000 –> 00:14:04,419 to Jesus Christ 244 00:14:05,059 –> 00:14:08,640 Mary must have been one of the most godly women who has ever lived 245 00:14:08,640 –> 00:14:11,000 and yet she says 246 00:14:11,000 –> 00:14:14,140 that God is her savior she says this in 247 00:14:14,140 –> 00:14:17,380 the Magnificat her famous song where she says 248 00:14:20,559 –> 00:14:22,760 well here’s what was happening at the cross 249 00:14:22,760 –> 00:14:27,320 she’d known jesus as the son to whom she had given birth 250 00:14:32,119 –> 00:14:32,840 singing 251 00:14:32,960 –> 00:14:36,520 and he’s the savior of the very best and the very worst of everyone 252 00:14:36,520 –> 00:14:38,219 who will put their trust in him 253 00:14:38,219 –> 00:14:40,200 I hope that that is something 254 00:14:40,200 –> 00:14:44,479 that you have done that you have put your faith and your trust in Jesus 255 00:14:44,479 –> 00:14:47,039 maybe as you’ve been listening to this broadcast 256 00:14:47,039 –> 00:14:49,960 you’ve come to the point where you realize you’d like to do that 257 00:14:49,960 –> 00:14:53,599 but maybe you have questions or you’d like to talk with one of our staff members first 258 00:14:53,599 –> 00:14:55,700 or maybe have someone pray with you 259 00:14:55,700 –> 00:14:57,979 I hope you’ll contact us here at open the Bible 260 00:14:57,979 –> 00:15:04,419 Our toll free number is 1-877-673-6365 261 00:15:04,979 –> 00:15:08,500 thats 1-877-OPEN-365 262 00:15:08,500 –> 00:15:12,700 Or you can always reach us through the website open thebible.org 263 00:15:12,700 –> 00:15:15,299 When you listening to the special edition of Open the Bible 264 00:15:15,299 –> 00:15:18,059 As actor Steven Baldwin is reading Pastor Cullen’s book 265 00:15:18,059 –> 00:15:21,039 Heaven How I Got Here the Story of the Thief on the Cross 266 00:15:21,039 –> 00:15:22,119 But a number of years ago 267 00:15:22,119 –> 00:15:25,619 He actually performed this story as a one man stage play 268 00:15:25,619 –> 00:15:27,719 We’ve recorded those performances 269 00:15:28,539 –> 00:15:29,820 Those have been turned in to a movie called 270 00:15:29,840 –> 00:15:32,820 Heaven How I Got Here A Night with the Thief on the Cross 271 00:15:32,820 –> 00:15:35,900 And all this week in fact all the way through Easter Sunday 272 00:15:35,900 –> 00:15:39,080 You can come to our website and you can watch that for free 273 00:15:39,080 –> 00:15:42,119 Just come to openthebible.org slash heaven 274 00:15:42,119 –> 00:15:45,500 That’s openthebible.org slash heaven 275 00:15:45,500 –> 00:15:48,539 Back to our story once again here’s Steven Baldwin 276 00:15:48,539 –> 00:15:56,380 Chapter 6 Darkness, Noon 277 00:15:56,380 –> 00:16:04,059 What in the world just happened? 278 00:16:04,059 –> 00:16:08,940 Did I black out? 279 00:16:08,940 –> 00:16:10,659 No. 280 00:16:10,659 –> 00:16:17,700 One minute the sun glared down on us and the next we were plunged into complete darkness. 281 00:16:18,580 –> 00:16:22,820 Not slowly like on a stormy day, but instantly. 282 00:16:23,780 –> 00:16:24,820 Complete darkness. 283 00:16:25,780 –> 00:16:31,380 We went from mid day to midnight in a moment. 284 00:16:31,380 –> 00:16:35,059 Scariest thing I’ve ever experienced. 285 00:16:35,059 –> 00:16:39,380 My first thought was God’s judgment must be falling on the soldiers 286 00:16:39,380 –> 00:16:44,260 who had struck and nailed Jesus or maybe on the people who had mocked him 287 00:16:44,900 –> 00:16:48,979 or on the leaders who had condemned him, but that didn’t happen. 288 00:16:50,179 –> 00:16:55,539 All of them slept in their beds that night and woke to continue their lives the following day. 289 00:16:57,859 –> 00:17:03,940 The judgment of God was falling on someone else that day and now I know who it was. 290 00:17:05,459 –> 00:17:10,420 Jesus, the Son of God, was about to die. 291 00:17:10,420 –> 00:17:15,939 Jesus Himself was coming under the judgment of God. 292 00:17:21,780 –> 00:17:25,060 The crowd had been quite sure that they were on God’s side 293 00:17:26,180 –> 00:17:29,060 and that He would affirm their condemnation of Jesus. 294 00:17:30,180 –> 00:17:34,979 If they were right, trusting Jesus would turn out to be the greatest mistake of my life. 295 00:17:35,699 –> 00:17:40,660 My head spun with questions about what just a few hours earlier I had come to believe. 296 00:17:42,180 –> 00:17:48,579 Then Jesus’ agonizing cry broke right through all of my questions. 297 00:17:49,140 –> 00:17:56,819 ”My god, my god, why have you forsaken me?” 298 00:18:06,819 –> 00:18:11,859 I felt a gut-wrenching anguish as these words echoed through the eerie darkness. 299 00:18:12,660 –> 00:18:18,219 Had god abandoned Jesus? This terrified me. 300 00:18:18,239 –> 00:18:24,180 I had put my trust in Jesus and he had promised paradise to me 301 00:18:24,180 –> 00:18:27,920 but if god had forsaken him, what hope was there for me? 302 00:18:27,920 –> 00:18:30,640 My new faith was being stretched to the limit. 303 00:18:30,640 –> 00:18:37,140 When doubts crowd in, and you find yourself in darkness, 304 00:18:37,140 –> 00:18:39,020 go back to what you know about Jesus.. 305 00:18:39,260 –> 00:18:43,140 That’s what I did, and it got me through. 306 00:18:43,140 –> 00:18:47,339 I didn’t know much about Jesus, but it was clear to me 307 00:18:47,339 –> 00:18:50,239 that his suffering was a travesty of justice. 308 00:18:50,239 –> 00:18:52,819 That was why I said to the other thief, 309 00:18:52,819 –> 00:18:57,819 we are receiving our due reward but jesus has done nothing wrong. 310 00:18:57,819 –> 00:19:01,579 I rehearsed this truth to myself. 311 00:19:01,579 –> 00:19:04,880 This man has done nothing wrong. 312 00:19:04,880 –> 00:19:07,680 Why would a man who had done nothing wrong 313 00:19:07,719 –> 00:19:11,040 find himself under the judgement of God? 314 00:19:11,040 –> 00:19:15,800 Why would a man who had done nothing wrong be crucified on the cross, 315 00:19:15,800 –> 00:19:21,339 the most hideous method of death ever devised? 316 00:19:21,339 –> 00:19:23,680 I now know the answer 317 00:19:23,680 –> 00:19:25,979 and the more I think about it, 318 00:19:25,979 –> 00:19:29,040 the more astonishing I find it to be. 319 00:19:29,040 –> 00:19:31,280 Jesus suffered the judgment 320 00:19:31,280 –> 00:19:33,839 that was due to me. 321 00:19:33,920 –> 00:19:37,400 The crowd were sure that Jesus was under God’s curse 322 00:19:37,400 –> 00:19:38,699 and in a sense, 323 00:19:38,699 –> 00:19:40,560 they were right. 324 00:19:40,560 –> 00:19:42,819 He was under God’s curse, 325 00:19:42,819 –> 00:19:47,079 but the curse did not fall on him for his own sins, 326 00:19:47,079 –> 00:19:48,319 he had none, 327 00:19:48,319 –> 00:19:51,680 he came under the curse for the sins of others. 328 00:19:51,680 –> 00:19:52,880 He endured 329 00:19:52,880 –> 00:19:54,380 my judgement 330 00:19:54,380 –> 00:19:58,619 so that I could enter into HIS reward. 331 00:19:58,619 –> 00:20:01,819 Even here in heaven I still can’t get over this. 332 00:20:01,819 –> 00:20:03,500 My sin 333 00:20:03,540 –> 00:20:05,699 was laid on Jesus. 334 00:20:05,699 –> 00:20:07,619 The guilt of my theft, 335 00:20:07,619 –> 00:20:09,420 my blasphemy 336 00:20:09,420 –> 00:20:12,099 and my godless, selfish life 337 00:20:12,099 –> 00:20:17,160 was lifted from my shoulders and transferred onto Him. 338 00:20:17,160 –> 00:20:19,500 He bore my sins. 339 00:20:19,500 –> 00:20:22,459 They were laid on Him. 340 00:20:22,459 –> 00:20:23,300 More than that, 341 00:20:23,300 –> 00:20:24,339 He took 342 00:20:24,339 –> 00:20:29,339 all the sins of every person who would trust in Him. 343 00:20:29,339 –> 00:20:32,699 He carried their guilt and judgement in full. 344 00:20:32,819 –> 00:20:37,540 The cumulative weight of this is unimaginable to me. 345 00:20:37,540 –> 00:20:40,699 Only Christ could have borne it 346 00:20:40,699 –> 00:20:44,479 and this was the reason why He was pierced and crushed. 347 00:20:44,479 –> 00:20:47,619 It was for sinners like you and me. 348 00:20:47,619 –> 00:20:49,339 Without Jesus 349 00:20:49,339 –> 00:20:53,619 I would have carried my sins into my death and emerged on the other side 350 00:20:53,619 –> 00:20:56,140 to face the Almighty. 351 00:20:56,140 –> 00:20:59,540 All that I had endured at the hands of men 352 00:20:59,540 –> 00:21:02,760 would only have been a prelude 353 00:21:02,760 –> 00:21:07,020 to what I would have suffered at the hand of God. 354 00:21:07,020 –> 00:21:09,839 But Jesus carried my sins 355 00:21:09,839 –> 00:21:11,579 into His death 356 00:21:11,579 –> 00:21:15,739 so that I should not carry them into mine. 357 00:21:15,739 –> 00:21:18,099 I suffered the judgment of men 358 00:21:18,099 –> 00:21:19,739 but through Christ 359 00:21:19,739 –> 00:21:22,939 and all that He endured in the darkness 360 00:21:22,939 –> 00:21:26,780 I was saved from the judgment of God. 361 00:21:26,780 –> 00:21:29,180 That’s why I’m in heaven today 362 00:21:29,180 –> 00:21:33,339 some say I trusted Christ at the last moment 363 00:21:33,339 –> 00:21:34,859 but the way i look at it 364 00:21:34,859 –> 00:21:37,339 I trusted Christ at my first opportunity 365 00:21:37,339 –> 00:21:40,339 and that’s what you should do 366 00:21:40,339 –> 00:21:46,760 trust Him now 367 00:21:46,760 –> 00:21:49,699 that’s a really powerful invitation from the thief 368 00:21:49,699 –> 00:21:52,939 to put your trust in Jesus 369 00:21:52,939 –> 00:21:56,420 you’re listening to a special edition of Open the Bible with pastor Colin Smith 370 00:21:56,900 –> 00:21:58,939 the reading of Heaven How I Got Here 371 00:21:58,939 –> 00:22:01,260 as read by actor Stephen Baldwin 372 00:22:01,260 –> 00:22:04,540 Colin, before we talk about putting our trust in Jesus 373 00:22:04,540 –> 00:22:06,280 I want to back up just a little bit 374 00:22:06,280 –> 00:22:09,459 I think it’s important for us to understand the fact 375 00:22:09,459 –> 00:22:10,780 that Jesus bore 376 00:22:10,780 –> 00:22:11,920 all the sins 377 00:22:11,920 –> 00:22:13,900 of those who had put their trust in him 378 00:22:13,900 –> 00:22:17,459 he carried our sins into his death 379 00:22:17,459 –> 00:22:18,859 so that we don’t have to 380 00:22:18,859 –> 00:22:24,380 yeah… it’s the most amazing and central truth really in the gospel 381 00:22:24,380 –> 00:22:26,060 He actually endured 382 00:22:26,060 –> 00:22:29,479 everything that hell is on the cross 383 00:22:29,479 –> 00:22:31,219 I mean if you think about what hell is 384 00:22:31,219 –> 00:22:33,500 as it’s described to us in the Bible 385 00:22:33,500 –> 00:22:34,599 he endured all of it 386 00:22:34,599 –> 00:22:35,900 all of its dimensions 387 00:22:35,900 –> 00:22:37,199 what is hell? 388 00:22:37,199 –> 00:22:38,540 It involves darkness 389 00:22:38,540 –> 00:22:40,199 and there was this great darkness 390 00:22:40,199 –> 00:22:40,939 that Christ was 391 00:22:40,939 –> 00:22:42,260 plunged into 392 00:22:42,260 –> 00:22:44,459 during these hours on the cross 393 00:22:44,459 –> 00:22:46,479 it’s conscious suffering 394 00:22:46,479 –> 00:22:48,439 it involves bearing sin 395 00:22:48,439 –> 00:22:51,339 it’s being under the judgement of God 396 00:22:51,339 –> 00:22:53,819 it’s in the presence of the demonic and dark powers 397 00:22:53,880 –> 00:22:54,459 and 398 00:22:54,459 –> 00:22:56,280 and it involved being separated 399 00:22:56,280 –> 00:22:58,959 from the knowledge of the love of God Himself 400 00:22:58,959 –> 00:23:00,459 and Jesus endured 401 00:23:00,459 –> 00:23:01,060 all of that 402 00:23:01,060 –> 00:23:02,099 that’s why He says 403 00:23:02,099 –> 00:23:03,660 my God my God 404 00:23:03,660 –> 00:23:05,500 why have you forsaken me? 405 00:23:05,500 –> 00:23:08,359 He’s in hell on the cross 406 00:23:08,359 –> 00:23:09,459 and yet 407 00:23:09,459 –> 00:23:12,040 the thief did not have to experience that 408 00:23:12,040 –> 00:23:13,099 we don’t either 409 00:23:13,099 –> 00:23:14,339 he gives us that invitation 410 00:23:14,339 –> 00:23:15,780 that we heard a few moments ago 411 00:23:15,780 –> 00:23:17,380 he said put your trust in Jesus 412 00:23:17,380 –> 00:23:18,599 trust Him now 413 00:23:18,599 –> 00:23:20,920 for the person who’s thinking about that today 414 00:23:20,920 –> 00:23:22,079 what’s the next step? 415 00:23:22,099 –> 00:23:24,280 Yeah I just want to press this to you 416 00:23:24,280 –> 00:23:27,260 Jesus Christ endured hell on the cross 417 00:23:27,260 –> 00:23:29,880 so you need never know what that is like 418 00:23:29,880 –> 00:23:32,479 and you can put your trust in Him 419 00:23:32,479 –> 00:23:33,979 as the thief did 420 00:23:33,979 –> 00:23:35,219 the thief said to Jesus 421 00:23:35,219 –> 00:23:37,599 remember me when you come into your kingdom 422 00:23:37,599 –> 00:23:41,119 Jesus responded to that simple request 423 00:23:41,119 –> 00:23:42,859 you could come to Jesus Christ 424 00:23:42,859 –> 00:23:44,739 you could put your trust in Him 425 00:23:44,739 –> 00:23:46,800 you could ask Him to save you 426 00:23:46,800 –> 00:23:48,900 and this is why he went to the cross 427 00:23:48,900 –> 00:23:51,500 in order to bring that gift 428 00:23:52,260 –> 00:23:53,099 freely to us 429 00:23:53,099 –> 00:23:54,180 it’s a most marvelous gift 430 00:23:54,180 –> 00:23:56,099 why would anyone not come 431 00:23:56,099 –> 00:23:58,140 and put their trust in Jesus Christ 432 00:23:58,140 –> 00:24:00,040 Well if you’d like to talk with someone 433 00:24:00,040 –> 00:24:01,760 about doing that today 434 00:24:01,760 –> 00:24:04,380 I do hope you’ll contact us here at Open the Bible 435 00:24:04,380 –> 00:24:08,260 you can call us at 877-Open 365 436 00:24:08,260 –> 00:24:14,020 that’s 1-877-673-6365 437 00:24:14,300 –> 00:24:16,020 well maybe as you been listening 438 00:24:16,020 –> 00:24:17,760 you have a friend, a family member 439 00:24:17,760 –> 00:24:18,800 who has come to mind 440 00:24:18,800 –> 00:24:20,680 someone you think would really enjoy 441 00:24:20,780 –> 00:24:22,839 may be even benefit from listening 442 00:24:22,839 –> 00:24:25,040 to this dramatic audio story 443 00:24:25,040 –> 00:24:26,420 Heaven, How I Got Here 444 00:24:26,420 –> 00:24:28,579 well you can order a copy of the audio book 445 00:24:28,579 –> 00:24:29,920 or the paperback book 446 00:24:29,920 –> 00:24:31,459 when you visit our website 447 00:24:31,459 –> 00:24:33,579 you’ll also find the film 448 00:24:33,579 –> 00:24:34,800 Heaven, How I Got Here 449 00:24:34,800 –> 00:24:36,400 a night with the Thief on the Cross 450 00:24:36,400 –> 00:24:37,599 that you can watch 451 00:24:37,599 –> 00:24:39,219 for free at our website 452 00:24:39,219 –> 00:24:41,359 this week all the way thru Easter Sunday 453 00:24:41,359 –> 00:24:45,680 just come to openthebible.org 454 00:24:45,680 –> 00:24:46,119 and you’ll find all the information you need 455 00:24:46,119 –> 00:24:46,719 right there 456 00:24:46,719 –> 00:24:49,719 that’s openthebible.org 457 00:24:49,959 –> 00:24:51,459 for pastor Colin Smith, I’m Steve Hiller 458 00:24:51,459 –> 00:24:52,520 thanks for listening 459 00:24:52,520 –> 00:24:56,119 and I hope you’ll join us next time 460 00:24:56,119 –> 00:24:58,359 This program is a listener-supported production 461 00:24:58,359 –> 00:24:59,400 of Open the Bible