I still remember as a boy going to Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles. Our church Boy’s Brigade group visited the museum there which houses magnificent paintings including one of the Crucifixion. That's where I first really thought about the repentant thief on the cross represented in the painting. Down through the years since then I have heard sermons about him – sermons that emphasized the legitimacy of "death bed" conversions, that baptism is not necessary for salvation, and that we either receive or reject Christ illustrated by the two thieves.
While all of that is important to consider, the theme that comes to my heart from our text is HOPE! The repentant thief not only was a robber, but he also taunted Jesus and yet was saved. This thief was already nailed to a cross and yet was saved. This thief had no opportunity to make amends to those he had wronged and yet was saved. Another way to say HOPE is - "It's not too late"! No matter how old you are, bad you are, or down you are; it is not too late to be saved! You can even be nailed to a cross and still get saved by believing in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.
This week we will consider the following: How Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecy by being crucified with criminals. How He died with sinners and for sinners. (That's good news for us sinners). Why the thief went from taunting Jesus to trusting Jesus. What marvelous promises and amazing grace Jesus offered this crucified criminal. Finally, beyond our hope for the future in Christ I want us to have the hope of transformation in the here and now. HOPE that it's not too late to find solutions to the challenges of our earthly "crosses"!
See you Sunday!
1. Study Isaiah 53:9-12. What could prophetically connect this passage with Jesus dying between two thieves?
2. Can you think of any significance to the fact Jesus died on the middle cross between the two thieves? Mark 15:27
3. Were the thieves the only ones who mocked Jesus? Study Mark 15:16-20, 29-32.
4. Do you struggle to think that such a sinner as this condemned criminal could be saved? Study I Timothy 1:15
5. The repentant thief was in good company with his prayer to have Jesus remember him. Study Nehemiah 13:14,22; Psalm 106:4
6. What does the Bible teach us about Paradise?
7. In Luke 23:43 I find Jesus making the repentant thief three promises - 1) Today... 2) you will be with Me... 3) in Paradise. Which one (s) stand out to you and why?
