Saturday, March 30, 2024
The Dying Thief Luke 23:14-49
The Dying Thief
Luke 23:14-49 Salvation Is:
By Grace Alone
Through Faith Alone
In Christ Alone
Isaiah 53:3-5 (NLT)
He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.
Isaiah 53:3-5 (NLT)
Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins!
"He was despised and rejected of men, a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief. Surely, He has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows."
The King of the Jews
Yes he had heard that term about Jesus used often. Could this one be the Messianic King who was to come? That was what John the Baptist had been saying. That was what the popular opinion about Jesus was.
That was why the High Priest had wanted to silence Jesus.
John 7 : When they heard these words, some of the people said, "This really is the Prophet."41 Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "Is the Christ to come from Galilee?42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?"43 So there was a division among the people over him.44 Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.
45 The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, "Why did you not bring him?"46 The officers answered, "No one ever spoke like this man!"47 The Pharisees answered them, "Have you also been deceived?48 Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed."50 Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them,51 "Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?"52 They replied, "Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee."
John 11: 45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him,46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the Council and said, "What are we to do? For this man performs many signs.48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation."49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all.50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish."51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation,52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.53 So from that day on they made plans to put him to death. 54 Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples. 55 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves.56 They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, "What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?"57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.
He saved others Himself He cannot save
"He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!"
So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying,
He saved others: Lazarus raised from the dead.
Jairus' daughter from the synagogue in Capernaum raised from the dead.
Lepers healed.
Sick people healed.
Even demon possessed people healed.
He saved others.. Himself He cannot save? Maybe Himself He will not save…
Isaiah 53:3-5 (NLT)
Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins!
All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way, but the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
1. SALVATION IS BY GRACE ALONE
He knew there was nothing to commend himself to God.
"We are being punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve."
He needed grace, not justice from God. If he got justice he would be condemned forever in hell by God's justice.. Not he needed grace.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith...not by works so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
2. SALVATION IS IN CHRIST ALONE
"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
That's where he could look for grace. Jesus. Jesus name means Joshua or Saviour in Hebrew.
He needed a Saviour.. Jesus.. the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
He was wounded for our transgressions He was bruised for our iniquities.
He needed a Saviour to bring him pardon, one who would lay down His life for his sins.
3. SALVATION IS BY FAITH ALONE
You must Believe that Jesus can save you
What Must You Do?
Like the dying thief,
Turn to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Confess the Lord Jesus Christ.
Defend the Lord Jesus Christ.
Fully Confess Your Guilt
Direct Your Prayer to the Lord
