(I want to listen to this sermon)

I think it would be true to say that we all like to hear good news especially if we are personally concerned.

Our text this evening contains some lovely words doesn't it? How reassuring you would find them if you were death rapidly closing its cold fingers around you this evening! Is there any of us here this evening wouldn't want to hear such words addressed to us individually? I wonder if we could find anyone in Herne Bay would not wish to think that such words apply to him or her.

We're at the end of Jesus' life on earth. He is dying and two other men are dying alongside Him.

Jesus has been crucified and there will be no other end than death. Just a few more hours are left. And yet even in such a situation Jesus is able to utter words of sublime hope and comfort to another dying man. This man too will shortly pass out of this world and into the next.

And, yes, Jesus' words make it very plain that there is such a "next". Death will not be the end for Jesus and nor will it be the end for the one to whom He addresses these tender words.

This is very important. We will all one day be called away from this world and as this world is NOT all there is we must make every effort to be sure that we are ready for such a moment.

And so Jesus underlines the tremendous importance of what He is about to say to the dying thief by a solemn word as He begins to speak: "Truly" or "Verily".

We need such certainties as we look ahead. We have no need of the vagaries of human probabilities or possibilities. Neville Chamberlain once came down some steps from an aircraft waving a piece of paper in his hand. He told the reporters that he believed it represented "peace in our time" but he was wrong and the world plunged soon after into war. The words sounded hopeful and encouraging but they weren't true and so brought no real valid hope to those who listened.

Jesus spoke from the cross and declared to the dying thief a "peace in our time" which was fully justified. He spoke the truth and He knew what He was doing and saying. He knew what lay ahead and so He solemnly prefixes what He has got to say with the word "Truly". No, possibilities here! No maybes here! Simple truth simply proclaimed! "Truly". We all need a sure word as we face death – here it is!

“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Jesus declares a number of truths here.

1.      Death may intervene but there is life after death and He can make promises about what will happen after death.

2.     He will soon be in Paradise.

The rabbinical schools of theology had built up complicated ideas concerning the after-life. In their scheme of things paradise was the intermediate home of the blessed. In the NT paradise is simply to be equated with heaven – the place where God dwells!

3.     He will not be alone in Paradise -the dying thief for one will be there too!

Now Jesus words are very encouraging and comforting but to whom are they applicable? Are they for everybody come what may or are there conditions that must be met?

With so much at stake we must look into this carefully.

After Jesus didn't speak often from the cross – seven words recorded for His six hours of suffering.

Let's look more closely now at what it was that draw such words from Jesus' lips.

The first thing to note is the fact that Jesus did not respond to everyone who spoke to Him not to everything that was said to Him.

1.      Jesus was nailed to the cross around 9am so Mark tells us. Jesus spoke to His Father in prayer around that time. Now it is nearly midday and we're about to Him speak for the second time.

2.     During the interval a whole variety of folk have spoken to Him:

1)      Jewish have been taunting Him as the crowds looked on

2)     Passers-by have derided Him

3)     Soldiers have mocked Him

4)    And the two criminals being crucified either side of Him have joined in with their railing.

3.     Jesus did not respond to any of these taunts or scoffing.

4.     So what was it that caused Him to break His suffering silence? He was engaged in a titanic struggle. He was bearing the wrath of God against the sins of His people in His own body – this was no small affair but a massive business. He was not about to waste His energy and His words to an unproductive end – what had He heard that now caused Him to speak so tenderly and with such encouragement?

5.     Well, He heard one of the two criminals speaking to Him. And this time it was no longer to mock or to scorn but He heard words of repentant faith!

6.     The words He speaks are then His response, not to the entire crowd, not to all the leaders of His people, nor to the passers-by. They weren't even words addressed to His two fellow sufferers. No, these words we're considering:

“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

were addressed to just one man – one of the two criminals dying alongside Him.

7.     And this comes out clearly from the verse itself: nb. Jesus speaks "to him" v.43 and when He does speak He says "I say to YOU singular, today YOU singular will be with me in Paradise."

What are we to make of this? What particular point am I trying to draw out?

Well, it appears plainly that Jesus responded to this particular man NOW when He hadn't responded to him earlier or to the other folk surrounding Him because this man was now addressing Him with simple faith. And our Lord is always sympathetic to those coming to Him in faith.

So if we would benefit from the words of comfort that Jesus directed to this particular man we must be careful not to ignore the way in which this man did in fact come to Jesus. There was a time when this criminal was joining in the mockery and the scorning – at that time he didn't hear any of a comforting nature on Jesus' lips. But then a change came that altered his whole perspective on things and he addressed Jesus in a totally new way. I wonder has any such change ever occurred in your life? If it hasn't then why on earth do you think that you are entitled to draw any comfort from words that are not intended for such as you?

We are nowhere told quite what it was that brought about the change in the heart of this thief. Did he know anything about Jesus before the events of that fateful day? We don't know.

Was He touched by the way Jesus had prayed for His tormentors? Probably, but we are not told in so many words.

Was he able to read the inscription that had been nailed over Jesus head – "This is the King of the Jews" and did that have a profound affect upon him?

Was it a mix of a variety of factors these and others?

One thing is certain: the Spirit of God was at work as the clear evidences of His work are present in this man's transformation – doesn't this man speak justly of sin, righteousness and judgment?

This man has come to faith, to a remarkable faith indeed. Let's examine this faith more closely.

a)    He goes against the flow – everyone else is mocking and scoffing at Jesus but this man suddenly stops and apparently alone goes off in a new direction. He wasn't surrounded by people exuding a warm vibrant faith that he found contagious – not a bit of it! It is in the midst of rank unbelief and hardness of heart that this man comes to faith.

b)    He goes against appearances – Jesus is being crucified as if in weakness and failure. Jesus' own disciples have not understood how He could suffer and die and yet this man is able to see through to the heart of the matter. Jesus is a King just as it is written of Him! There is no kingdom for the eye to look upon but boldly and daringly this man recognizes that Jesus will indeed come in or into His kingdom. Pilate had snorted with incredulity when the kingship of Jesus had been mentioned to him and yet this man openly acknowledges it as an unavoidable fact.

c)     His faith is expressed publicly. Have you noticed this? This man is unashamed of Christ! In speaking up for Him he risked drawing more hatred and mockery upon himself but stand up is just what He does.

d)    He has come to clearer views of God than ever before – the prospect of death may sober a man but that doesn't necessarily lead to the response this man made. A fear of God had come upon him – yes, he's suffering severely now for his past misdemeanours but that is as nothing compared to falling into the hands of the living God!

e)    And so he rebukes the other thief who continues to hurl his insults at Christ. As he does so he recognizes their guilt, they deserve what they're getting but not Him, not Jesus. He has come to understand that Jesus has done nothing wrong, no crime to answer for.

How do I compare in my response to the Lord Jesus with this man? And how do you? Do we know anything of such convictions and such transformations? Please God that we may because it was these convictions and these transformations that led this man on to cry to Christ for mercy. This criminal has yet more to teach us – it is not enough to have experiences, profound as they may be; it's not enough to have feelings and convictions however well-founded if they do not serve to bring us humbly to Christ! This man does not stop at rebuking error and declaring truth He casts himself totally upon Christ for mercy.

f)     v.42 “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Were the words he used as he came to Christ. You don't have to use the exact same words but have you come to Him with any?

The man isn't asking for much is he? Just asks to be remembered. He has nothing to plead in his favour, he can't offer to do anything – he has only hours to live. But he casts himself on Christ for mercy.

That is what causes Jesus to break the long silence He'd been maintaining hitherto. A cry of faith of a helpless man. Oh, how our Lord is moved by such cries. In Isaiah ch.53 the sufferings of the Messiah are laid out in prophecy for us – the peace that He secured is the subject of Is.54 and then in Is.55:1-3 we hear a glorious invitation. This criminal on the cross responded to such an invitation – listen to Isaiah's words:

“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David."

 See how quickly Jesus responds to this cry of faith.

See too how His response goes generously beyond what this man was actually asking for! How typical of our divine Lord and Saviour – the One Eph 3:20 "who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think."

Paul wrote to the Christians in Corinth quoting again from Isaiah 1Cor.2:9 "But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined."

So Jesus gladly responds to this man and utters words of tremendous comfort. The man has merely asked to be remembered at some unknown time in the future by Jesus. Jesus responds  with a "Today" and no, He won't remember him – you only use these words when someone is absent – no need to remember him because he'll be there with Jesus!!

My friends these are wonderful truths. We must not twist them to our own destruction however. They are truly wonderful for those who are entitled to hear them – those who come with a like faith to Jesus.

Let us all come and let us all rejoice in the grace and loving generosity of our Lord!

Amen.

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