Thief!

Mine are extra complicated because we moved last year, so I have to slog through 10,000 questions, gather a couple hundred forms, some electronic, some paper, enter it all in… and pay for the privilege of doing all that.

And if I do any of it wrong, there’s the threat of an audit hanging over my head for the next 6 years.

Public announcement:

Tick all the boxes

Do all the things right

Do none of the things wrong

Get it all done by Tuesday the 18th

Did you get it all done?

Did you do it all right?

… or else!

Church To-Dos

There’s a formula for life right there. “Just get it all done… and do it all right.”

It is possible for the “Christian life” to feel like an endless checklist of things to do.

Weekly church attendance, but just once a week? Those are rookie numbers.

Daily Bible reading

Thrice daily prayers, minimal

Service in ministry

Tithing and giving and donating, oh my!

Confessing and repenting and forgiving others… and seeking forgiveness...

And, oh, I forgot fasting and feasting, and silence and solitude, and...

Get it all done. And do it all right!

Road to the Cross

Those are good things. Great things, even. But let’s forget them all for a time.

Those are all important, but not as important as this:

Jesus, on the road to the cross. The divine appointment since the beginning. The reason the Word took on flesh and dwelt among us.

Betrayed by the kiss of a friend.

Condemned by the sin of us all.

He who was welcomed with “Hosanna” the week before, now the crowd cries out for his death.

Luke 23:18–27 ESV

18 But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— 19 a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. 20 Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22 A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” 23 But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will. 26 And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. 27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him.

‌

Luke 23:32–43 ESV

32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” 39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Every writer of the gospel mentions these two, crucified to each side of Jesus.

Thief #1

I get the first thief. This is the most natural reaction, maybe.

Luke 23:39 ESV

39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!”

This is human nature.

“If you are God, if you are the “Messiah” sent by God… then here are my expectations for you to act.”

Obviously if you have power you would use that power to save yourself (because that’s what I would do)… and oh, save me too… because that’s what I want.

And if you don’t act like I think you should act… well then clearly you aren’t God or the Christ (aka Messiah) at all.

God couldn’t possibly have a plan in mind beyond my expectations. right?

Pro tip: God always has a plan beyond your expectations.

(That’s just for free)

Why was he there? Who is this guy?

We call them “two thieves” because KJV translated it that way. Could also be “robbers” or “rebels” or “bandits.”

Roman citizens were exempt as it was a cruel, long, painful way to die. It’s actually where the term “excruciating” comes from “out of crucifixion.”

The Romans didn’t invent it, the Persians did it, then Alexander the Great brought it to his empire, and Rome picked it up. They used it for the worst.

Slaves, rebels, pirates and especially-despised enemies and criminals. If you’ve seen Spartacus, that was an example of mass crucifixion: a message to slaves everywhere and to rebels everywhere.

The goal was not just to kill, but to mutilate and dishonor, a standing sign to all entering and leaving the city, that these crimes were beyond the pale.

So these these friends… they weren’t repeat shoplifters.

More likely like Barabbas. “Insurrection and murder.”

We don’t know what they did, but it was bad enough that the Romans went to pretty extreme lengths to make an example of them.

But we know this for sure: they were sinners. And the wages of their sin? Death. … because we all are.

Thief #2

Luke 23:40–41 ESV

40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”

He answers the other thief. How ridiculous it is that one man hanging on a cross would mock or judge or condemn another man hanging on a cross.

We don’t know what they did… but they do.

There’s a sermon there. We are all sinners, condemned on a cross, our own sin and stupid destined for death… How ridiculous for us to judge and compare and mock one another for the sin and failing that condemn those while we hang condemned ourselves.

It’s just easier for us to hide that we are condemned criminals, under judgment for our sin and stupid. Hide it from others. Especially hide it from ourselves.

So the 2nd thief rightly rebukes the 1st. But then he makes the best move possible...

and he turns his attention to Jesus.

Luke 23:41–42 (ESV)

41 … but this man has done nothing wrong.”

42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus, Remember Me

That’s… it?

Those aren’t the words I expect. Here’s what I want the thief to say:

“Jesus, I recognize that you are the Son of God, fully human and fully God. I believe you were born of a virgin, free from original sin, fulfilled every prophecy of the Messiah, lived a perfect life, and are even now bearing the sins of all humanity. When you die, you die vicariously on behalf of all humanity, and me personally. I believe you are going to be raised from the dead, the firstfruits of resurrection, and ascend to the right hand of the Father in glory. I believe you will then come again to make all things new and usher in your eternal kingdom, bringing resurrection life to all who believe and call on your name.”

“Jesus, I believe you have saved a sinner like me and purchased forgiveness for my sins in your blood.”

“Jesus, I acknowledge you as my Lord, I place you on the throne of my life, and will follow you into right living and right relationship with God.”

Those are all right words. Those are all true things.

What does the thief actually say? What does he “get right?”

“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Maybe we can count the previous statement as a measure of confession, an acknowledgment that he is a sinner, justly condemned “receiving the due reward of his deeds.”

But this. He doesn’t say the “right words.”

When was he baptized?

How long did the thief prepare?

How many things did he get right?

When was he baptized?

What was his devotional life?

That very day, he is with Jesus in paradise. In the end, it really is this simple: Jesus is Lord and Savior.

And Jesus says “this very day...

Today in Paradise???

Jesus laid down his life at the moment of his choosing, the Father’s choosing. He laid down his life. And declared “Tetelastai… it is finished!”

John tells us that because it was the Sabbath, the soldiers came up and broke the legs of the two thieves, that they would die and their bodies could be taken down before the Sabbath.

So indeed, the thief died that same day.

The thief died that same day. On “that same day” Jesus says, he is with Jesus in paradise.

How does that work??? This is one of the places our theories of “after life” get wrecked.

Does Jesus mean “the next thing you see after closing your eyes today will be paradise...” and the man wakes up in resurrection on the day of glory?

Does he mean that the thief will have enter some kind of temporary spiritual existence, free from the body, like it says the martyrs cry out from the throne of God… and Jesus himself will escort the thief into Paradise, perhaps interrupting his other work in the grave for three days...

Scholars argue and question… and that’s fun.

The thief didn’t. He didn’t care about all of that.

He turned to Jesus, and asked “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Willing to wait, trusting that Jesus knew the right moment.

And Jesus gives him the simple promise. The Kingdom is so much closer than you realize. Today.

Even leads with “Amen” aka “Truly...”

Jesus, Remember Me

There are so very many reasons to “get all the things right.”

We pursue righteousness in this life… not to earn salvation but because it is “life and life abundant.” It is an invitation to life as God meant it to be, to us as we were created to be. It’s hard to see it at times, but all of God’s commands are for our good, as well as for His glory.

We engage in spiritual disciplines, not to earn anything, but because they are the ways God has given and people have used for thousands of years to grow in understanding, in knowledge and wisdom, in faith and practice, grow to know God and follow Him. Fasting, Bible study, Sabbath keeping, Praise and Prayer in a thousand ways, Silence and Solitude, Journaling, Confession… all of it to seek his face.

Even some of our most sacred endeavors. Eucharist or Communion. Baptism. POWERFUL symbols of the presence of God, symbols commanded and carried out by Jesus himself, by the disciples and the whole of the early church.

And “church” itself. It is “super hip” right now to be “spiritual but not religious” or “into Jesus” but not a part of a local body of believers. That sometimes happens for a season, but God always, always calls his people to follow Him in community. Nobody is called to follow alone. He is building “us together” as His temple, as the Body of Christ, He created us and calls us to be in community.

These are good things. Beautiful. Necessary, even, in a sense, to good and rich and fruitful life.

But in the biggest and most profound way possible: it’s all extra.

Our time in this life isn’t even a sliver, a splinter, of eternity to come. Will you spend eternity in what Jesus calls “paradise?” Or either eternal conscious torment or deconstruction and non-existence.

And what determines where you go?

“Remember me, Jesus.”

The thief, the sinner, turns his heart towards Jesus. Doesn’t matter how far away he is. Doesn’t matter how last minute it is. Doesn’t matter that he doesn’t “get the words right.” Doesn’t matter that he didn’t get the rituals right. Doesn’t matter that he didn’t make it to church ever, or read the New Testament ever.

Only this matters: Jesus remembers him. Jesus claims him.

Today, you will be with me in Paradise.

He breaks time, he breaks the plan, he breaks expectations… but that’s what Jesus does.

When the day comes when you stand before the throne of God, and there’s the book of life, the list of all your deeds, good, bad and ugly.

All that matters is this: if Jesus stands up and says to His father: “she’s one of mine.” “He belongs to me.”

“Oh, I remember them.”

So it’s this simple:

Turn your attention to Jesus.

It’s good to say the right words, to understand who Jesus is, to declare him as your Lord and Savior.

But know this: he knows your heart. Is your heart turned toward him? Is it submitted to him, bowing before him, declaring him King?

Is Jesus your Lord and Savior?

You don’t have to “understand” all the things.

You don’t have to “comprehend.”

But know that you need Him. Fall into grace.

Related Media

Related Sermons