100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:08,300Welcome to a special edition of200:00:08,300 –> 00:00:11,820Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick and300:00:11,820 –> 00:00:15,260all this week we’re hearing the dramatized story of the thief on the cross.400:00:15,260 –> 00:00:17,760It’s called Heaven, How I Got Here.500:00:17,760 –> 00:00:21,799If you missed any of the series I hope you’ll come online to our website at600:00:21,799 –> 00:00:27,020openthebible.org.uk and there you can catch up with any of the broadcasts you700:00:27,020 –> 00:00:27,920might have missed.800:00:27,980 –> 00:00:30,260And Colin so far we’ve seen how the thief900:00:30,280 –> 00:00:35,480was filled with hatred, how he began to turn to Jesus and ultimately places his1000:00:35,480 –> 00:00:40,439faith in the promises Jesus gave him, that he would be with Jesus in paradise.1100:00:40,439 –> 00:00:44,919Today we look at what happened after he trusted Jesus.1200:00:44,919 –> 00:00:49,880Yeah and it’s a remarkable story. Of course the thief was witness to everything that1300:00:49,880 –> 00:00:53,840happened during the time that Jesus was on the cross. He actually died after1400:00:53,840 –> 00:00:59,060Jesus and we we know that because when the soldiers came to break the legs of1500:00:59,060 –> 00:01:04,559the criminals our Lord had already died and committed his spirit into the hands1600:01:04,559 –> 00:01:09,379of the Father, so the thief was witness to all of this and we’re going to learn1700:01:09,379 –> 00:01:13,000more about what happened on the cross through the eyes of the thief as he1800:01:13,000 –> 00:01:14,879recollects these events for us.1900:01:14,879 –> 00:01:17,440Well let’s go ahead and hear what happened next.2000:01:17,440 –> 00:01:19,739This is Chapter 5, Love.2100:01:24,820 –> 00:01:37,300Chapter 5. Love. 1150 A.M.2200:01:37,300 –> 00:01:42,199The bright sun dazzled my eyes so I looked down to the small group of2300:01:42,199 –> 00:01:47,199friends standing in front of Jesus. One of them was called Mary.2400:01:47,199 –> 00:01:52,199And it became clear to me that she was Jesus’s mother2500:01:53,879 –> 00:02:02,839There was a radiant beauty about Mary. As she wept and watched and waited2600:02:02,839 –> 00:02:10,839Surrounded by hatred she exuded love It seemed to me that Jesus Christ was2700:02:10,839 –> 00:02:15,839more hated and more loved than any other person I had known2800:02:15,839 –> 00:02:21,839I thought about my own Mother and was glad that she was not there2900:02:22,839 –> 00:02:25,839I had already broken her heart with the choices of my life3000:02:25,839 –> 00:02:32,839Choices that led to years of estrangement On top of all of that3100:02:32,839 –> 00:02:36,839If she had to endure seeing me on a cross I think the pain would have been3200:02:36,839 –> 00:02:43,839Unbearable for her But Mary the mother of Jesus was there3300:02:44,839 –> 00:02:52,839I tried to imagine what it was like for her to watch her son suffer3400:02:52,839 –> 00:02:57,839I had come to trust him in the last hour But she had loved him3500:02:57,839 –> 00:03:01,839From the day of his birth3600:03:01,839 –> 00:03:05,839Now the brow she had kissed as she put him to bed3700:03:05,839 –> 00:03:08,839Was crowned with thorns3800:03:08,839 –> 00:03:11,839And the hands she had held as she taught him to walk3900:03:11,839 –> 00:03:14,839Were pierced with nails4000:03:14,839 –> 00:03:18,839I looked at her and felt compassion4100:03:18,839 –> 00:03:22,839It was a strange sensation for a heart that was more familiar with hate4200:03:22,839 –> 00:03:25,839than with love4300:03:25,839 –> 00:03:28,839Over the years I had hardened myself4400:03:28,839 –> 00:03:31,839My lifestyle demanded it4500:03:31,839 –> 00:03:35,839Grit and steel were my familiar friends4600:03:35,839 –> 00:03:38,839Compassion was far from me4700:03:38,839 –> 00:03:41,839but now, enveloped in pain4800:03:41,839 –> 00:03:49,839I felt compassion for a woman I did not even know4900:03:49,839 –> 00:03:53,839Something good was happening in my heart5000:03:53,839 –> 00:04:00,839And I knew that it was happening because of Jesus5100:04:01,839 –> 00:04:06,839Love had been a stranger to me5200:04:06,839 –> 00:04:09,839My mother had loved me in her own disciplined way5300:04:09,839 –> 00:04:14,839But I had long since broken away from family5400:04:14,839 –> 00:04:16,839From the crowd I’d ran with5500:04:16,839 –> 00:04:22,839Loyalty on the basis of self-interest was the standard substitute for love5600:04:22,839 –> 00:04:25,839Think about the love that you have experienced5700:04:25,839 –> 00:04:28,839Love usually comes with a reason5800:04:28,839 –> 00:04:31,839Your mother loves you because you’re her child5900:04:31,839 –> 00:04:36,839Your spouse loves you because he or she is drawn to something in you6000:04:36,839 –> 00:04:40,839Your friends love you because they enjoy your company6100:04:40,839 –> 00:04:43,839But Christ loved me without a reason6200:04:43,839 –> 00:04:46,839He cared for me without cause6300:04:46,839 –> 00:04:50,839His love is its own explanation6400:04:50,839 –> 00:04:54,839Christ loves you for no other reason than that6500:04:54,839 –> 00:04:57,839He loves you6600:04:58,839 –> 00:05:04,839I experienced the beginning of that love through my encounter with Jesus on the cross6700:05:04,839 –> 00:05:06,839Here in heaven6800:05:07,839 –> 00:05:11,839I am still discovering the full extent of his love6900:05:11,839 –> 00:05:13,839And the more I discover7000:05:13,839 –> 00:05:16,839The more joy I have7100:05:17,839 –> 00:05:20,839Whatever your experience of love, or the lack of it in your life7200:05:20,839 –> 00:05:25,839There is love for you in the Heart of Jesus Christ7300:05:26,839 –> 00:05:29,839I saw this as he prayed for his enemies7400:05:29,839 –> 00:05:33,839And as he promised paradise to me7500:05:34,839 –> 00:05:37,839But that was only the beginning7600:05:37,839 –> 00:05:40,839I was about to discover more7700:05:41,839 –> 00:05:45,839With all the noise and clamor that had been taking place7800:05:45,839 –> 00:05:48,839I was struck by how little Jesus said7900:05:49,839 –> 00:05:52,839Since the ordeal began8000:05:52,839 –> 00:05:56,839He had spoken only twice8100:05:56,839 –> 00:05:58,839He had called on his father8200:05:58,839 –> 00:06:00,839And prayed for his enemies8300:06:00,839 –> 00:06:02,839Father, forgive them8400:06:02,839 –> 00:06:04,839They do not know what they are doing8500:06:05,839 –> 00:06:08,839Then he had spoken to me8600:06:08,839 –> 00:06:13,839Amen. Today you will be with me in paradise8700:06:13,839 –> 00:06:16,839Now Jesus looked down at his mother8800:06:16,839 –> 00:06:18,839And in spite of his agony8900:06:18,839 –> 00:06:20,839He had raised himself up9000:06:20,839 –> 00:06:23,839And drew the breath he needed to speak9100:06:23,839 –> 00:06:28,839Woman, he said, behold your son9200:06:28,839 –> 00:06:30,839He wasn’t referring to himself9300:06:30,839 –> 00:06:32,839But to a man standing beside her9400:06:32,839 –> 00:06:34,839Who I know now to be John9500:06:34,839 –> 00:06:39,839A disciple of Jesus who later wrote the fourth gospel9600:06:39,839 –> 00:06:43,839John had stood with Mary and the other women all morning9700:06:43,839 –> 00:06:49,839Now Jesus assigned him the son’s duty of caring for his mother9800:06:50,839 –> 00:06:53,839Woman, behold your son, he said to Mary9900:06:53,839 –> 00:06:58,839Then to John he said, behold your mother10000:06:59,839 –> 00:07:04,839This expression of love made a deep impression on me10100:07:04,839 –> 00:07:10,839The crowd, the Pharisees, the soldiers and the other thief10200:07:10,839 –> 00:07:15,839Were all consumed with themselves, as I had also been10300:07:16,839 –> 00:07:21,839But into this hell-hole of suffering and self-interest10400:07:21,839 –> 00:07:23,839Jesus brought love10500:07:23,839 –> 00:07:31,839It streamed out of him to his enemies, to me and now to his mother10600:07:31,839 –> 00:07:36,839The death of a son or daughter brings irreplaceable loss to a mother10700:07:36,839 –> 00:07:39,839A grieving mother may have other children10800:07:39,839 –> 00:07:43,839But they can never take the place of the one who was lost10900:07:43,839 –> 00:07:47,839John could care for Mary, but however kind he was11000:07:47,839 –> 00:07:50,839he could never take the place of Jesus11100:07:51,839 –> 00:07:54,839For 33 years Jesus had been Mary s son11200:07:54,839 –> 00:07:58,839But he was, and is, the son of God11300:07:58,839 –> 00:08:02,839He took on human flesh from his mother11400:08:02,839 –> 00:08:05,839so that he could become our saviour11500:08:05,839 –> 00:08:10,839But as he hung on the cross, with the blood draining from his body11600:08:10,839 –> 00:08:13,839and the life of his flesh ebbing away11700:08:13,839 –> 00:08:17,839the relationship between Jesus and Mary was changing11800:08:18,839 –> 00:08:21,839Mary stood at the foot of the cross, crying out11900:08:22,839 –> 00:08:26,839My son! My son! My son!12000:08:27,839 –> 00:08:29,839But Jesus was saying12100:08:29,839 –> 00:08:32,840You must no longer think of me as your son12200:08:32,840 –> 00:08:37,840From now on John is to take that place in your life12300:08:37,840 –> 00:08:40,840regard him as your son12400:08:40,840 –> 00:08:43,840So how then was Mary to regard Jesus12500:08:43,840 –> 00:08:47,840as her saviour and as her lord?12600:08:47,840 –> 00:08:50,840When the angel told Mary about the son she would bear12700:08:51,840 –> 00:08:52,840Mary said12800:08:52,840 –> 00:08:56,840My spirit rejoices in God my saviour12900:08:57,840 –> 00:08:59,840Mary had looked to God as her saviour13000:08:59,840 –> 00:09:01,840And this is how God saved her13100:09:02,840 –> 00:09:04,840Jesus, God’s son13200:09:05,840 –> 00:09:09,840went to the cross and laid down the life he had drawn from Mary13300:09:09,840 –> 00:09:11,840His body was broken13400:09:11,840 –> 00:09:13,840His blood was shed13500:09:13,840 –> 00:09:15,840Mary’s son died13600:09:15,840 –> 00:09:18,840and in his death13700:09:18,840 –> 00:09:19,840he became her saviour13800:09:19,840 –> 00:09:23,840Mary lost an irreplacable son13900:09:23,840 –> 00:09:27,840and she gained an incomparable saviour14000:09:30,840 –> 00:09:33,840Her gain was far greater than her loss14100:09:34,840 –> 00:09:38,840You already know about the hate that was in my heart14200:09:38,840 –> 00:09:40,840The blasphemy I spoke against Jesus14300:09:40,840 –> 00:09:43,840and the crimes I committed against my fellow man14400:09:44,840 –> 00:09:47,840I was the bottom of the pile14500:09:47,840 –> 00:09:48,840the worst of sinners14600:09:49,840 –> 00:09:51,840But Christ became my saviour14700:09:51,840 –> 00:09:55,840and because of him, I am in Heaven today14800:09:58,840 –> 00:10:01,840Mary was at the other end of the moral spectrum14900:10:03,840 –> 00:10:06,840I can’t imagine a more godly woman than Mary15000:10:07,840 –> 00:10:11,840She was patient, kind, good and true15100:10:12,840 –> 00:10:13,840A woman of virtue15200:10:13,840 –> 00:10:17,840Blessed by God and a blessing to others15300:10:18,840 –> 00:10:20,840and Mary is in Heaven today15400:10:20,840 –> 00:10:22,840not because Jesus was her son15500:10:23,840 –> 00:10:25,840but because he is her saviour15600:10:31,840 –> 00:10:33,840If she looked to Christ to save her15700:10:33,840 –> 00:10:36,840every person who has sought to live a good life15800:10:36,840 –> 00:10:38,840must do the same15900:10:39,840 –> 00:10:40,840Here’s the amazing thing16000:10:40,840 –> 00:10:42,840that I still can’t get over16100:10:43,840 –> 00:10:46,840I had lived a life that was as bad as they come16200:10:46,840 –> 00:10:50,840Mary lived a life that was as good as they come16300:10:51,840 –> 00:10:53,840Yet both of us entered into Heaven16400:10:53,840 –> 00:10:55,840precisely the same way16500:10:55,840 –> 00:10:57,840through faith in Jesus16600:11:00,840 –> 00:11:02,840In the words he spoke to me16700:11:02,840 –> 00:11:03,840and then to Mary16800:11:03,840 –> 00:11:08,840Jesus embraced the worst and the best of humanity16900:11:08,840 –> 00:11:11,840and reconciled us both to his Father17000:11:13,840 –> 00:11:16,840So wherever you are on the moral spectrum17100:11:16,840 –> 00:11:20,840Jesus Christ is the Savior for you17200:11:21,840 –> 00:11:24,840Two misconceptions keep many people out of Heaven17300:11:24,840 –> 00:11:27,840One is that they are too bad to come to Christ17400:11:27,840 –> 00:11:30,840And the other is that they are too good to need him17500:11:31,840 –> 00:11:33,840You may be as wretched as me17600:11:33,840 –> 00:11:36,840As righteous as Mary17700:11:36,840 –> 00:11:38,840Or somewhere in between17800:11:39,840 –> 00:11:40,840Wherever you are17900:11:40,840 –> 00:11:42,840Don’t let the bad or the good you’ve done18000:11:42,840 –> 00:11:46,840keep you from embracing Christ as your Savior18100:11:46,840 –> 00:11:48,840In these last hours on the cross18200:11:48,840 –> 00:11:51,840The steely-eyed hatred that filled my heart18300:11:51,840 –> 00:11:52,840when the day began18400:11:52,840 –> 00:11:55,840Melted like snow on a warm afternoon18500:11:55,840 –> 00:11:58,840Something had changed inside of me18600:11:58,840 –> 00:12:02,840I knew that Jesus had made me a different person18700:12:02,840 –> 00:12:05,840The heart that had been filled with bitterness18800:12:05,840 –> 00:12:07,840Now felt compassion18900:12:07,840 –> 00:12:10,840The mind that had been hostile to Jesus19000:12:10,840 –> 00:12:13,840Now trusted and believed in Him19100:12:13,840 –> 00:12:17,840The will that had been hell-bent on pursuing my own way19200:12:17,840 –> 00:12:23,840Now desired more than anything to honor Christ19300:12:23,840 –> 00:12:27,840I never experienced anything like this before19400:12:27,840 –> 00:12:29,840The religion I was brought up with19500:12:29,840 –> 00:12:33,840Attempted to change me from the outside in19600:12:33,840 –> 00:12:38,840Do these things, and you will be a good person19700:12:38,840 –> 00:12:41,840It never worked19800:12:41,840 –> 00:12:47,840All I can say is that when Christ’s word went into me19900:12:47,840 –> 00:12:52,840My heart changed and I believed20000:12:52,840 –> 00:12:58,840I now understand why Jesus spoke of this inner change as being born again20100:12:58,840 –> 00:13:04,840I was changed from the inside out20200:13:05,840 –> 00:13:08,840So here we were20300:13:08,840 –> 00:13:12,840A scoundrel on the cross and a saintly woman standing below20400:13:12,840 –> 00:13:17,840And both of our lives changed forever by Jesus Christ20500:13:17,840 –> 00:13:23,840You’re listening to a special edition of Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith20600:13:23,840 –> 00:13:28,840It’s a dramatzied reading of Heaven How I Got Here the story of the thief on the Cross20700:13:28,840 –> 00:13:31,840And Colin I think this chapter love is so helpful20800:13:31,840 –> 00:13:37,840To see how the thief who was so far from Jesus needed to have a relationship with him20900:13:37,840 –> 00:13:41,840But so did Mary, Jesus’ mother, this godly woman21000:13:41,840 –> 00:13:46,840It really helps our understanding that no matter how bad you are or how good you are21100:13:46,840 –> 00:13:48,840You still need Jesus21200:13:48,840 –> 00:13:52,840Yeah , and the picture of the representatives as you like21300:13:52,840 –> 00:13:54,840Of the very worst and the very best21400:13:54,840 –> 00:13:59,840Both they’re at the cross and both looking to Jesus Christ21500:13:59,840 –> 00:14:04,840You know, Mary must have been one of the most godly women who has ever lived21600:14:04,840 –> 00:14:08,840And yet, she says that God is her Saviour21700:14:08,840 –> 00:14:12,840She says this in the Magnificat, her famous song21800:14:12,840 –> 00:14:16,840Where she says, my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour21900:14:16,840 –> 00:14:18,840Well, here’s what was happening at the cross22000:14:18,840 –> 00:14:22,840She’d known Jesus as the son to whom she had given birth22100:14:22,840 –> 00:14:27,840And on the cross, He is becoming the saviour about whom she was singing22200:14:27,840 –> 00:14:31,840And He’s the saviour of the very best and the very worst of everyone22300:14:31,840 –> 00:14:33,840Who will put their trust in Him22400:14:33,840 –> 00:14:35,840I hope that’s something that you’ve done22500:14:35,840 –> 00:14:38,840That you’ve put your faith and trust in Jesus22600:14:38,840 –> 00:14:40,840Maybe, as you’ve been listening22700:14:40,840 –> 00:14:43,840You’ve come to the point where you realise that you want to do that22800:14:43,840 –> 00:14:45,840But maybe you have questions22900:14:45,840 –> 00:14:48,840Or perhaps you’d like someone to pray with you23000:14:48,840 –> 00:14:53,840If so, I’d really encourage you to seek out a trusted Christian friend23100:14:53,840 –> 00:14:54,840Or maybe family member23200:14:54,840 –> 00:14:57,840Or go along to a local Christian fellowship23300:14:57,840 –> 00:14:59,840Talk to the Pastor there23400:14:59,840 –> 00:15:00,840Talk to the Prayer Ministry team23500:15:00,840 –> 00:15:02,840And ask them to pray with you23600:15:02,840 –> 00:15:07,840They’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have about living the Christian life23700:15:07,840 –> 00:15:10,840And how to commit your life to Jesus23800:15:10,840 –> 00:15:12,840Don’t forget, if you’ve missed them any of the series so far23900:15:12,840 –> 00:15:14,840Of Heaven how I got here24000:15:14,840 –> 00:15:16,840The story of the thief on the cross24100:15:16,840 –> 00:15:18,840Then you can catch up on our website24200:15:18,840 –> 00:15:20,840Or go back and listen again24300:15:20,840 –> 00:15:23,840That’s at openthebible.org.uk24400:15:23,840 –> 00:15:25,840Back to Heaven how I got here24500:15:25,840 –> 00:15:31,840The Thief on the Cross24600:15:31,840 –> 00:15:33,840Chapter Six24700:15:33,840 –> 00:15:35,840Darkness24800:15:35,840 –> 00:15:44,840Noon24900:15:44,840 –> 00:15:45,840What in the world just happened?25000:15:45,840 –> 00:15:47,840Did I black out?25100:15:47,840 –> 00:15:51,840No25200:15:51,840 –> 00:15:54,840One minute the sun glared down on us25300:15:54,840 –> 00:15:57,840And the next we were plunged into complete darkness25400:15:57,840 –> 00:16:00,840Not slowly, like on a stormy day25500:16:00,840 –> 00:16:02,840But instantly25600:16:02,840 –> 00:16:05,840Complete darkness25700:16:05,840 –> 00:16:09,840We went from midday to midnight in a moment25800:16:09,840 –> 00:16:14,840It was the scariest thing I have ever experienced25900:16:14,840 –> 00:16:16,840My first thought was26000:16:16,840 –> 00:16:21,840God’s judgment must be falling on the soldiers who had struck and nailed Jesus26100:16:21,840 –> 00:16:24,840Or maybe on the people who had mocked him26200:16:24,840 –> 00:16:27,840Or on the leaders who had condemned him26300:16:27,840 –> 00:16:29,840But that didn’t happen26400:16:29,840 –> 00:16:32,840All of them slept in their beds that night26500:16:32,840 –> 00:16:36,840And woke to continue their lives the following day26600:16:37,840 –> 00:16:41,840The judgment of God was falling on someone else that day26700:16:41,840 –> 00:16:44,840And now I know who it was26800:16:44,840 –> 00:16:46,840Jesus26900:16:46,840 –> 00:16:48,840The Son of God27000:16:48,840 –> 00:16:50,840Was about to die27100:16:51,840 –> 00:16:55,840Jesus Himself was coming under the judgment of God27200:17:00,840 –> 00:17:05,839The crowd had been quite sure that they were on God’s side27300:17:05,839 –> 00:17:08,839And that He would affirm their condemnation of Jesus27400:17:08,839 –> 00:17:14,839If they were right, trusting Jesus would turn out to be the greatest mistake in my life27500:17:16,839 –> 00:17:22,839My head spun with questions about what just a few hours earlier I had come to believe27600:17:23,839 –> 00:17:29,839Then, Jesus’ agonizing cry broke right through all of my questions27700:17:30,839 –> 00:17:33,839My God27800:17:33,839 –> 00:17:35,839My God27900:17:35,839 –> 00:17:37,839Why have you forsaken Me?28000:17:39,839 –> 00:17:42,839No28100:17:45,839 –> 00:17:51,839I felt a gut-wrenching anguish as these words echoed through the eerie darkness28200:17:53,839 –> 00:17:56,839Had God abandoned Jesus?28300:17:56,839 –> 00:17:58,839This terrified me28400:17:58,839 –> 00:18:01,839I had put my trust in Jesus28500:18:01,839 –> 00:18:03,839And He had promised Paradise to Me28600:18:03,839 –> 00:18:05,839But if God had forsaken Him28700:18:05,839 –> 00:18:07,839What hope was there for me?28800:18:07,839 –> 00:18:10,839My new faith was being stretched to the limit28900:18:10,839 –> 00:18:12,839When doubts crowd in29000:18:12,839 –> 00:18:15,839And you find yourself in darkness29100:18:16,839 –> 00:18:19,839Go back to what you know about Jesus29200:18:19,839 –> 00:18:21,839That’s what I did29300:18:21,839 –> 00:18:23,839And it got me through29400:18:23,839 –> 00:18:25,839I didn’t know much about Jesus29500:18:25,839 –> 00:18:29,839But it was clear to me that His suffering was a travesty of justice29600:18:29,839 –> 00:18:32,839That was why I said to the other thief29700:18:32,839 –> 00:18:35,839We are receiving our due reward29800:18:35,839 –> 00:18:38,839That Jesus has done nothing wrong29900:18:38,839 –> 00:18:40,839I rehearsed this truth to myself30000:18:40,839 –> 00:18:44,839This man has done nothing wrong30100:18:45,839 –> 00:18:47,839Why would a man who had done nothing wrong30200:18:47,839 –> 00:18:50,839Find himself under the judgement of God?30300:18:50,839 –> 00:18:52,839Why would a man who had done nothing wrong30400:18:52,839 –> 00:18:54,839Be crucified on a cross?30500:18:54,839 –> 00:18:59,839The most hideous method of death ever devised30600:19:00,839 –> 00:19:02,839I now know the answer30700:19:02,839 –> 00:19:04,839And the more I think about it30800:19:04,839 –> 00:19:07,839The more astonishing I find it to be30900:19:07,839 –> 00:19:11,839Jesus suffered the judgement that was due to me31000:19:12,839 –> 00:19:16,839The crowd was sure that Jesus was under God’s curse31100:19:16,839 –> 00:19:18,839And in a sense they were right31200:19:19,839 –> 00:19:21,839He was under God’s curse31300:19:21,839 –> 00:19:23,839But the curse did not fall on Him for His own sins31400:19:25,839 –> 00:19:26,839He had none31500:19:27,839 –> 00:19:29,839He came under the curse for the sins of others31600:19:30,839 –> 00:19:33,839He endured my judgement31700:19:33,839 –> 00:19:36,839So that I could enter into His reward31800:19:37,839 –> 00:19:40,839Even here in Heaven I still can’t get over this31900:19:41,839 –> 00:19:44,839My sin was laid on Jesus32000:19:45,839 –> 00:19:47,839The guilt of my theft, my blasphemy32100:19:48,839 –> 00:19:50,839And my godless selfish life32200:19:51,839 –> 00:19:54,839Was lifted from my shoulders and transferred onto Him32300:19:56,839 –> 00:19:57,839He bore my sins32400:19:58,839 –> 00:19:59,839They were laid on Him32500:20:01,839 –> 00:20:02,839More than that32600:20:02,839 –> 00:20:07,839He took all the sins of every person who would trust in Him32700:20:08,839 –> 00:20:10,839He carried their guilt and judgement in full32800:20:11,839 –> 00:20:14,839The cumulative weight of this is unimaginable to me32900:20:16,839 –> 00:20:18,839Only Christ could have borne it33000:20:19,839 –> 00:20:22,839And this was the reason why He was piercing crushed33100:20:23,839 –> 00:20:25,839It was for sinners like you and me33200:20:26,839 –> 00:20:27,839Without Jesus33300:20:27,839 –> 00:20:31,839Without Jesus, I would have carried my sins into my death33400:20:31,839 –> 00:20:33,839And emerged on the other side to face the Almighty33500:20:35,839 –> 00:20:37,839All that I had endured at the hands of men33600:20:38,839 –> 00:20:40,839Would only have been a prelude33700:20:42,839 –> 00:20:45,839To what I would have suffered at the hand of God33800:20:46,839 –> 00:20:49,839But Jesus carried my sins into His death33900:20:50,839 –> 00:20:53,839So that I should not carry them into mine34000:20:54,839 –> 00:20:57,839I suffered the Judgment of Men34100:20:57,839 –> 00:21:01,839But through Christ, and all that He endured in the darkness34200:21:02,839 –> 00:21:05,839I was saved from the judgment of God34300:21:06,839 –> 00:21:08,839That’s why I’m in Heaven today34400:21:09,839 –> 00:21:12,839Some say I trusted Christ at the last moment34500:21:13,839 –> 00:21:14,839But the way I look at it34600:21:14,839 –> 00:21:16,839I trusted Christ at my first opportunity34700:21:16,839 –> 00:21:18,839And that’s what you should do34800:21:19,839 –> 00:21:21,839Trust Him now34900:21:23,839 –> 00:21:26,839That’s a powerful invitation from the Thief35000:21:26,839 –> 00:21:28,839to put your trust in Jesus35100:21:28,839 –> 00:21:31,839You’ve been listening to a special edition of Open The Bible35200:21:31,839 –> 00:21:32,839with Pastor Colin Smith35300:21:32,839 –> 00:21:36,839It’s a dramatised reading of Colin Smith’s book35400:21:36,839 –> 00:21:37,839Heaven How I Got Here35500:21:37,839 –> 00:21:38,839the story of the Thief on the Cross35600:21:39,839 –> 00:21:41,839Colin, before we talk about putting our trust in Jesus35700:21:41,839 –> 00:21:43,839I want to go back a bit35800:21:43,839 –> 00:21:46,839and say that Jesus carried all the sins35900:21:46,839 –> 00:21:48,839of those who put their trust in Him36000:21:48,839 –> 00:21:50,839He carried our sins into His death36100:21:50,839 –> 00:21:51,839so that we don’t have to36200:21:52,839 –> 00:21:53,839It’s the most amazing and central truth36300:21:53,839 –> 00:21:55,839really in the Gospel36400:21:55,839 –> 00:22:00,839He actually endured everything that hell is36500:22:00,839 –> 00:22:02,839on the Cross36600:22:02,839 –> 00:22:04,839If you think about what hell is36700:22:04,839 –> 00:22:06,839as its described to us in the Bible36800:22:06,839 –> 00:22:07,839He endured all of it36900:22:07,839 –> 00:22:08,839all of its dimensions37000:22:08,839 –> 00:22:09,839What is Hell?37100:22:10,839 –> 00:22:11,839It involves darkness37200:22:11,839 –> 00:22:13,839and there was this great darkness37300:22:13,839 –> 00:22:15,839that Christ was plunged into37400:22:15,839 –> 00:22:17,839during these hours on the Cross37500:22:17,839 –> 00:22:19,839It’s conscious suffering37600:22:19,839 –> 00:22:21,839It involves bearing sin37700:22:21,839 –> 00:22:24,839It’s being under the judgment of God37800:22:24,839 –> 00:22:25,839It’s in the presence37900:22:25,839 –> 00:22:27,839of the demonic and dark powers38000:22:27,839 –> 00:22:29,839and it involves being separated38100:22:29,839 –> 00:22:30,839from the knowledge38200:22:30,839 –> 00:22:32,839of the love of God himself38300:22:32,839 –> 00:22:34,839and Jesus endured all of that38400:22:34,839 –> 00:22:35,839That’s why he says38500:22:35,839 –> 00:22:38,839My God, my God why have you forsaken me38600:22:38,839 –> 00:22:40,839He’s in hell on the Cross38700:22:41,839 –> 00:22:44,839And yet the thief did not have to experience that38800:22:44,839 –> 00:22:46,839and we don’t have to either38900:22:46,839 –> 00:22:48,839Jesus gives us that invitation39000:22:48,839 –> 00:22:50,839that we heard a few moments ago39100:22:50,839 –> 00:22:52,839Put your trust in Jesus39200:22:52,839 –> 00:22:54,839trust him now39300:22:54,839 –> 00:22:56,839For the person who’s thinking about that today39400:22:56,839 –> 00:22:58,839What’s the next step?39500:22:58,839 –> 00:23:00,839Yeah I just wanna press this to you39600:23:00,839 –> 00:23:03,839Jesus Christ endured hell on the Cross39700:23:03,839 –> 00:23:06,839So you need, never know what that is like39800:23:06,839 –> 00:23:08,839and you can put your trust in him39900:23:08,839 –> 00:23:10,839as the thief did40000:23:10,839 –> 00:23:11,839The thief said to Jesus40100:23:11,839 –> 00:23:13,839Remember me when you come into your kingdom40200:23:13,839 –> 00:23:17,839Jesus responded to that simple request40300:23:17,839 –> 00:23:19,839You could come to Jesus Christ40400:23:19,839 –> 00:23:20,839You could put your trust in him40500:23:20,839 –> 00:23:23,839You could ask him to save you40600:23:23,839 –> 00:23:25,839and this is why he went to the cross40700:23:25,839 –> 00:23:27,839In order to bring that gift40800:23:27,839 –> 00:23:29,839freely to us40900:23:29,839 –> 00:23:30,839It’s the most marvellous gift41000:23:30,839 –> 00:23:32,839Why would anyone not come41100:23:32,839 –> 00:23:34,839and put their trust in Jesus Christ?41200:23:34,839 –> 00:23:36,839You’ve been listening to Open the Bible41300:23:36,839 –> 00:23:38,839with Pastor Colin Smith41400:23:38,839 –> 00:23:40,839and the dramatised reading of41500:23:40,839 –> 00:23:41,839Heaven, How I Got Here41600:23:41,839 –> 00:23:43,839the story of the thief on the cross41700:23:43,839 –> 00:23:45,839don’t forget, if you’ve missed any of the series41800:23:45,839 –> 00:23:47,839or you want to go back and listen again41900:23:47,839 –> 00:23:49,839you can do that by coming online42000:23:49,839 –> 00:23:50,839to our website42100:23:50,839 –> 00:23:53,839openthebible.org.uk42200:23:53,839 –> 00:23:55,839There you can hear any of the42300:23:55,839 –> 00:23:57,839previously broadcast messages42400:23:57,839 –> 00:23:59,839You can also find our messages as podcasts42500:23:59,839 –> 00:24:01,839Go to your favourite podcast site42600:24:01,839 –> 00:24:03,839search for Open the Bible UK42700:24:03,839 –> 00:24:06,839and subscribe to receive regular updates42800:24:07,839 –> 00:24:09,839Open the Bible is supported42900:24:09,839 –> 00:24:11,839financially by our listeners43000:24:11,839 –> 00:24:13,839and if that’s something you’d like to do43100:24:13,839 –> 00:24:15,839this month, if you’re able to begin43200:24:15,839 –> 00:24:17,839a new direct debit to the work of43300:24:17,839 –> 00:24:19,839Open the Bible in the amount of £543400:24:19,839 –> 00:24:21,839per month or more, or a spend43500:24:21,839 –> 00:24:23,839gift of £50 or more43600:24:23,839 –> 00:24:25,839we’d love to say thank you by sending you43700:24:25,839 –> 00:24:27,839two copies of the new43800:24:27,839 –> 00:24:30,640graphic novel of Heaven How I Got Here43900:24:30,640 –> 00:24:33,839along with the NIV Outreach Bible44000:24:33,839 –> 00:24:35,839This is our Easter giveaway bundle44100:24:35,839 –> 00:24:37,839and it’s ideal to give away44200:24:37,839 –> 00:24:40,839to family and friends this Easter44300:24:40,839 –> 00:24:42,839Full terms and conditions, and you can give online44400:24:42,839 –> 00:24:44,839at our website44500:24:47,839 –> 00:24:49,839For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith44600:24:49,839 –> 00:24:51,839I’m David Pick, and I look forward to you44700:24:51,839 –> 00:24:53,839joining us again next time on44800:24:53,839 –> 00:24:55,839Open the Bible44900:25:02,839 –> 00:25:04,839The Thief on the Cross definitely did not45000:25:04,839 –> 00:25:06,839live a good life45100:25:06,839 –> 00:25:08,839Find out what happened to him in the next45200:25:08,839 –> 00:25:10,839part of our series45300:25:10,839 –> 00:25:12,839Heaven How I Got Here45400:25:12,839 –> 00:25:14,839That’s Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith