COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH
SERMON NOTES 18 APRIL 2025 - MR JOHN WEIR
LUKE 23 VERSES 32 TO 43
As you read throughout Luke's gospel you read of a number of individuals transformed - in Luke 4 we read of Simon Peter's mother-in-law, in Luke 5 we read of the tax collector Matthew, in Luke 7 it is the centurion's servant, in Luke 8 it is the woman with the issue of blood for 12 years, in Luke 13 it is the woman bowed for 18 years, in Luke 17 you read of the 10 lepers, in Luke 19 it is Zacchaeus. This is why the Lord came. He came into the world to save sinners, to change lives, to heal the broken hearted. Maybe there is an individual here who needs their life changed. You need your sins forgiven, to get right with God. He can change your life for ever. He told Zacchaeus " For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." It all depends on how much you want it. Maybe you want to enjoy your sin and all the world has to offer. Perhaps you really want it. For those who are Christians, you remember the night you became a Christian and how you really wanted it. You didn't want to die in your sins. You wanted to go to heaven, to get right with God. The dying thief is the greatest miracle in the bible. A man who made it just in time. How he met the Lord that day. You never forget it. How you met the Lord, fell in love with him. When you meet Christ you are different, born again, born from above. That is a requirement to be in the kingdom of God. C H Spurgeon said he was the first convert of the cross. Millions have come ever since.
The way of the cross leads home
It is sweet to know
As I onward go
The way of the cross leads home
Maybe you need to come home tonight. There are many prodigal sons and daughters tonight. They have been brought up in church and all its organisations but now they are backslidden.
His plight. He was obviously a dying man. Caught and captured from his first crying. His life was slipping away. He was bound for hell. We don't know his age or his occupation. In Luke 23 verse 33 he was referred to as a malefactor. He was a criminal, a thief who was caught and sentenced to crucifixion. A terrible way to die. It is amazing that this was all prophesied by Isaiah. In chapter 53 verse 12 we read "Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors." Isaiah prophesied that he would die between 2 thieves. The King of kings and Lord of lords didn't die in a palace, there was no pomp and ceremony, not with the wealthy and rich. He died between 2 thieves. A holy man, lived in humility and holiness, an obedient servant. Crucifixion was a terrible way to die. Have we any idea of what he went through? The suffering he endured. "Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree." Scholars say this thief was part of a gang, he was easily led. We don't know his sin. He was in the wrong company. Maybe this man was asked to do some job he never thought he would be caught doing. "The wages of sin is death". "Sin when it is finished bringeth forth death." If you die in your sins without Christ you will be judged. "And as it is appointed unto men once to die but after this the judgment." Many say "I am going into the ground and that will be the end of me." The bible says differently. "After this the judgment." We have something in common with this man. We are also dying. Charles Swindoll said "everything hurts even when you get old. You sit in a rocking chair and are going nowhere, you go up the stairs and forget what you went up for and every day of the week you have medical appointments." Maybe even as you look back you realise you haven't done much for the Lord and you need to do more. Now is the time to start. Very soon we are going to see him. We get caught up in things that don't matter. When we get to heaven it will not matter what size of bank account we have or the house we own. Did you serve the Lord with the gifts and talents he has given you? Every day we live is precious. We need to do something for the Saviour.
His perception - verse 41 "And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds but this man hath done nothing amiss." Picture him as he realises Jesus was the spotless Saviour who could rescue him from eternal punishment. That is where we start - when we realise we cannot save ourselves. People say "I am a good person, do no harm to anyone." We all have sinned, that is why we need a Saviour. He deserved to be on the cross. He was a guilty sinner.
There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins;
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains:
Lose all their guilty stains,
Lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains.
There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins;
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains:
Lose all their guilty stains,
Lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains.
This dying thief realised Jesus took his place, became his substitute. He died for you. He died for the wretch like me. You know your sin and the things in your past, the things you are ashamed of. He hung and bled and died there for you. When I think of the things I have done and am ashamed of. The other thief was not moved. He was mocking the Saviour, blaspheming Jesus Christ - verse 39 "And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying If thou be Christ, save thyself and us." That word "railed" means mocking, blaspheming Jesus. "If thou be Christ, save thyself and us." He was not truly convinced that Jesus is the Son of God. He was mocking and ridiculing Jesus. Why did he not get saved? Why was this man's heart never touched. I don't know. It is the same when preaching - people experience conviction and others never see their need. You don't want the Lord in your life. You are not really fussed or care. He saw the sign above the cross, heard Jesus say "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." He even saw the change in the other thief. It was not enough. He was actually at the cross, beside the Saviour. His heart remained hard. This man was close to the kingdom. He was at the cross but he never made it. He wanted salvation on his own terms. Many are like that. Let us serve the Lord well. Christianity is not a hobby, The Lord expects total commitment. "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other: or else he will hold to the one and despise the other." A lot of people love the world and want a wee bit of church on Sunday morning. I trust you are living life totally surrendered to him.
His plea - verses 42 and 43 "And he said unto Jesus , Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." Notice the change in this man. He cries for mercy. Greek scholars say he cried over and over and over again because he really wanted it. The people who want God's salvation are in tears. They have counted the cost. They leave a meeting and then turn back again. They are then pouring their heart out to the Lord and want to be saved. Not a false profession, they really want it. That is what we need - conviction of sin, old fashioned conviction of sin. Their heart has been changed. That is amazing. The Lord can change the heart. Matthew and Mark both state that this thief first mocked the Lord but something happened to change his mind. From mocking and ridiculing now he is changed. Some think it was the Saviour's face he saw. Maybe it was something Jesus said that changed him. Maybe he remembered a prophecy from his childhood. Maybe he had a member of his family around the cross shouting at him to trust Christ. Maybe he realised he was going to eternity and did not want to die in his sins. It was personal for him. Maybe it is friends who are hindering you. Don't worry about anyone else. "The Son of God loved me and gave himself for me." That is why David could say in Psalm 23 "The Lord is my shepherd." I want you to be in the kingdom of God. Maybe you have invited people to come to the mission and they haven't come yet. It is good to worry about others but primarily worry about yourself. This man knew the Lord was the only one who could take him to paradise. Church cannot get us to heaven. A denomination cannot take us to heaven. Good works cannot take us to heaven. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." This man believed in paradise, in the kingdom of God. How come he knew about a kingdom? A dying man, a malefactor. Maybe someone spoke to him. Maybe someone is talking to you about Jesus, salvation, the kingdom of God. Maybe it is a Christian or someone in your family. You know something of the kingdom of God. It gives you hope. Think of some of the last words of some saints and scholars. D L Moody said "I see earth receding; heaven is opening; God is calling me." William Carey said "When I go say nothing of Dr Carey, speak of Dr Carey's Saviour." Robert Murray McCheyne "Live so as to be missed when dead." These men were ready to die. Now think of one of the last words of sinners such as Napolean Bonaparte who said "I die before my time." What are you trusting in when your time comes to a close? The Lord is the only thing that matters. You have time but are you ready to meet him? This man wanted heaven. He became a multibillionaire hanging on the cross. He started his day in prison and ended it in paradise. Picture the man on the middle cross. He died for you. He loves you. See him wearing the crown of thorns. The spear driven into his side. The nails hammered into his hands and feet because he loved you and me. If you reject that, God will reject you. That was his best. His only begotten son. He gave up his life for you and me so that we could be forgiven. Would you like a fresh start because tonight is your night. This is the good news of Good Friday. The thief had breakfast with the devil and supper with the Lord.
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