The Three Cross of Easter
Intro: Just outside the city of Jerusalem there was a hill known as Golgotha. It is also called Calvary. One day three crosses were raised on this hill. Luke gives us an account of the events that occurred on that day.
Luke 23:39-43: “39 One of the criminals hanging beside Jesus scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving Yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” 40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this Man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” 43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with Me in paradise.”
Usually, we see a picture of only one cross. The one Jesus hung on because its significance is so much greater than the other two. But I believe that we miss so much of the story of Jesus' death and the purpose behind His death if we don’t look at all three of the crosses.
PRAY
Objective: So, on this wonderful Resurrection morning, I want for us to look at all three crosses because they represent so much.
Transition: First…… let’s look at the…….
(PP)I- Cross on the left…
On the cross on Jesus' left, we see the figure of a dying thief. He is in more significant physical anguish than the thief on Jesus’ right because of his scorn and hatred for Jesus. He said, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” He is mocking Jesus. The Savior is there for him, but he does not recognize his need for Jesus.
This reminds me.
Ill: of a man I met when I was a hospice chaplain. The man who died two days later….
Application: You see the gospel is a gift from God. And the gospel of eternal life needs to be cherished every day and throughout your life. Then one day you will get to fully realize just how wonderful this gift is. But it is a gift. And as all gifts, it must be received.
Application: So the man on Jesus left, his cross was a CROSS OF REBELLION.
This cross depicts the hatred that many have toward Jesus. It clearly illustrates the unbelief of the world at large has toward Jesus…
Sadly millions have perished on this cross of rebellion ever since that day all because they chose to reject Jesus’ love for them.…….
(PP) In John’s gospel, he wrote: “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30,31)
There is enough in this one gospel written by John to produce faith in Christ, which can lead to salvation. But people still refuse to believe.
(PP) Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6)
Application: Just as the old hymn says, “Nothing can wash away our sins, nothing but the blood of Jesus….. Nothing can make us whole again, nothing but the blood of Jesus.”
Transition: So, the thief on the left die, and chose eternal hell over eternal life… Now let’s look at the ……
(PP) II-Cross on the right…..
Again a man who was guilty, dying as a thief, yet instead of dying in his sin, he was (PP) “DYING TO SIN”. His was a cross of repentance.
This thief twists himself upon the nails to look at the center cross, but not to scoff in unbelief, but in recognition of who Jesus was.
Earlier this thief had joined with the other thief in accusations against Christ at the beginning of the crucifixion.
(PP) Matthew 27:44: “ And the robbers who were crucified with him also detested Him in the same way.”
But now we see a great change coming over this man. He becomes more and more aware that this Man was God Himself in the person of Jesus.
Notice his faith and reverence in the presence of Deity. To the other thief, he said, (PP) “Do you not even fear God?”
I believe that is the most important question that a person must answer in this lifetime. “DO YOU FEAR GOD?”
Application: You see folks, if you are a believer in Christ, fearing God does not mean being scared of God. We have no reason to be scared of Him. We have His promise that nothing can separate us from His love. We have His promise that He will never leave us or forsake us. But fearing God means having such a reverence for Him that it has a great impact on the way we live our lives. The fear of God is respecting Him, obeying Him, submitting to His discipline, and worshiping Him in awe.
Then this thief admits his guilt when he said, “We receive the due reward of our deeds.”
He expresses his belief that Jesus was suffering “wrongfully”. But “this Man has done nothing wrong.” And it was true….
Then there is his open confession of the Deity of Jesus. He calls Jesus “Lord.” A capital L….…..
We see genuine repentance and humility on the part of this dying thief. He says to Jesus, (PP) “Remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
Application: You see folks, repentance means: a change of heart. It means I am going in a different direction. In 2 Corinthians 7:10, it says, “Godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation not to be regretted.”
Transition: So it is clear that everything about this thief indicates his regret over his sins and a desire to be with the Lord.
Application: SO WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TWO THIEVES?
The first thief saw Jesus as only a man. The second saw Him as Lord. The first thief saw Jesus as a mock king. But the second saw Him as the “King of kings.” Just as the sign above Jesus' head said: “The King fo the Jews.”
Folks, this morning, we can understand better now why Jesus answered him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
And if you ever wondered what paradise is: Well it is not Tahiti or Hawaii… Paradise is that realm where the blessed dwells between death and the resurrection. It is a wonderful place waiting for the resurrection when Jesus comes back.
Transition: So let me conclude with a look at the……
(PP)IV-The middle cross….
This is the cross of redemption. Jesus our Redeemer dying for the sins of the world. By His blood, we can be brought back to God.
(PP) Ephesians 1:7 says, “In Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”
Folks, we cannot begin to imagine the torture of those nails driven through His hands and feet. There was also the shame associated with death on a cross.
It was reserved for the vilest of criminals. Added to this were all the mocking and verbal abuse from the mob. And the beatings and bloody torcher of the Romans.
But Jesus suffered for you and me–for our sins. He had no sin. Peter wrote, “Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness–by whose stripes you were healed” (1 Peter 2:24)
Our Lord was under no obligation to pay the debt for our sins. But someone perfect had to suffer for sin, so He was willing.
(PP) Peter reminds us, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the un-just, that He might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit” (1 Peter 3:18)
In perfect obedience, the Lord gave up heaven to redeem us by His death on the cross. To this middle cross each person today must look for salvation…………….There is no other way. Only the blood of Jesus can cleanse us of our sins.
Conclusion: If you haven’t will you consider apply that precious blood through your obedience to the saving gospel of Christ today? But remember, Jesus is no longer on the cross or is He in the grave. He is alive forevermore and is waiting in heaven for all who will place their faith and life in Him….
