The Last Word

Theme: Jesus will announce where we have chosen to spend eternity.
Text:  Luke 23:32-43

Here’s a thought: Someone has concluded, "You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending."

The Lord is trying to teach me to humble myself and let others have the last word. When I disagree with someone, it takes a truckload of self-control not to keep the argument (aka discussion) going. I don’t know if I will have the chance to speak my final words to the Lord and my loved ones just before I die, but the Lord will have the last word on my eternal destiny.

We can listen in on the last words of dying men in Luke 23:32-43:
32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him [Jesus] to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals - one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” 38 There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don't you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” NIV

There were very different perspectives here at this place called the Skull, Calvary (Latin) or Golgotha (Aramaic). The three crosses represent:

Rebellion

Matthew and Mark refer to these two criminals crucified with Jesus as robbers or thieves in their Gospel accounts.

When I was a kid, my mom told me I could be anyone I wanted. As it turns out, identity theft is a crime.

Who Were the Two Thieves? Pinchas Shir addresses this question (https://weekly.israelbiblecenter.com/who-were-the-two-thieves):

Though people tend to use the terms interchangeably today, there seems to be a distinction between thieves (κλέπται, kleptai) and robbers (λῃσταί, leistai) in the ancient world. Thieves and burglars break into places and steal valuables, but robbery often refers to a violent crime in antiquity. Robbers, bandits, and raiders do not merely snatch goods; rather, they seize them by force after brutalizing or murdering their victims.

Executing common burglars, pickpockets, or marketplace thieves on crosses seems excessive. A gruesome public execution method such as crucifixion was reserved for more heinous [evil] criminals.

The brutality and public display of crucifixion were meant to cause humiliation and serve as a deterrent for would-be criminals. History points to crucifixion as the punishment of dissidents, political agitators, rebel fighters, religious adversaries, revolutionaries, and enemies of the state. The Gospels’ uses of “criminals” (κακοῦργοι; kakeurgoi) and “robbers” (λῃσταί; leistai) to describe those beside Jesus at Golgotha is more appropriate than calling them “thieves” (κλέπται; kleptai).

Jesus was crucified based on the perception that he claimed to be “King of the Jews,” which would have been seen as a possible political rival to Caesar and his Judean vassals [subjects]. The accusation was spelled out on the inscription above his head (cf. Matthew 27:37; Mark 15:26; Luke 23:38). After all, he invited suspicion when he drew huge crowds and taught about God’s Kingdom, which was clearly not the Roman Empire. Though Yeshua [Jesus] did not call for a revolution or violence, he could be perceived as having a political agenda. Even his Galilean company would make him suspicious because most Zealots and rebels came from that region.

So what sort of robbery would the two men next to Jesus have to commit to be worthy of crucifixion? Probably a violent one; the kind that involved murder or was politically motivated against the Romans. Granted, this is speculation (the Bible doesn’t mention the men’s crimes) but they might have been roadside robbers who ambushed Roman convoys. Under Roman law, such a crime against the state would make them worthy of such public suffering by crucifixion.

While the Gospels do not mention specific names, tradition tells us the repentant robber was named Dismas, and the unrepentant robber was Gestas. The names Dismas and Gestas are first found in the apocryphal or writing outside the Bible entitled “The Gospel of Nicodemus,” which historians typically agree was written in the 4th century.

Those who passed by hurled insults at Jesus. The chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. Matthew 27:44 and Mark 15:32 tell us that the robbers crucified with Jesus joined in and echoed the insults and mocking.

According to the Gospel of Mark 15:25-37, Jesus endured the torment of the crucifixion from the third hour (about 9 a.m.) until his death at the ninth hour (about 3 p.m.). These two criminals had up to six hours to watch, listen to and think about Jesus. What would they do with “the king of the Jews” nailed to the cross between them?

Gestas taunted Jesus with the crowd and continued to taunt Him until he breathed his last breath. He hung to the cross and what was left of his pride and rebellion, hurling insults at Jesus, “Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” He was still trying to devise a way to save himself and escape this mess.

Gestas tells Jesus to take him down from the cross. He hangs on to this world until the bitter end of his life. He was an enemy of the emperor, and he thought his salvation from certain death could only be found in power. He felt justified and would shake his fist at the world if it wasn’t nailed to the cross.

Gestas thought he had the last word. He had taken matters into his own hands by hurting people and stealing from them. His hatred and greed stemmed from a selfish, rebellious heart. His last words reflected such a heart.

Jesus confronted the corrupt religious leaders in Matthew 12:33-37:
33 Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that men will have

to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. NIV

Rebellion can be as visible as killing and stealing to get what we want or as subtle as rejecting God and His offer of salvation. The mouth provides a window to the heart. What we say and do reflect our thoughts, motives and attitudes. Only one person – the Lord Himself – can judge righteously and perfectly. And He will ... one day.

How about you? Are you determined to do it your way? Are you sure of this direction to follow until your time here on earth is over?

The three crosses represent: Rebellion

Repentance

Tradition says that Dismas (sometimes spelled Dysmas) might have been the name of the unrepentant thief who asked Jesus to remember him in paradise. Dismas was canonized in the Roman Catholic tradition as a saint whose feast is celebrated on March 25th.

This criminal crucified on the other side of Jesus also had up to six hours to watch, listen and contemplate his future. While one tried to devise a way to escape this mess, the other had a radical change of heart. He had joined in the crowd’s jeers earlier, but he realized there was something surprisingly different about this “king of the Jews.” Unlike Gestas, Dismas took responsibility for his sins. In contrast, he could see that Jesus was innocent. A seed of faith began to sprout in his heart.

Watchman Nee (1903-1972) explained, “Faith looks not at what happens to him but at Him Whom he believes.”

After being silent, Dismas decided he had heard enough. While his life is fading away, he manages to rebuke the man who could have been his partner in crime and turn his attention to Jesus:

“Don't you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me

when you come into your kingdom.”

Dismas asks to be taken up from the cross. He turns toward heaven at the blessed end of a cursed life. He had tried everything but realized it had come to a dead end. He was out of options. He turned from his sin in desperation and acknowledged the One who had the authority to forgive. He had just one hope for a brighter future – Jesus.

We might think, “Wait a minute! Jesus didn’t pull out the four spiritual laws and take this man through a Gospel presentation. There was no sinner’s prayer. No altar call. No baptism. No Communion served. No church building. No stained glass. No confession booth. No music is playing softly in the background. No kneeling. No Scripture quoted.” The Lord is watching and waiting for people to turn to Him. He is not looking for fancy prayers but repentant hearts.

The Apostle Peter had denied knowing Jesus the night before the crosses went up, but he was later forgiven and renewed. Peter can write from experience later in 2 Peter 3:9-10:

9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. NIV

These two robbers represent two different views of who is in charge. One believed he was still correct, while the other suddenly concluded he was wrong. One remained stubbornly proud while the other prayed.

How about you? Have you realized that Jesus has done nothing wrong and can bring you to paradise? Will you turn to Him and ask Him to do it?

The three crosses represent: Rebellion
Repentance

Renewal

The temp agency asked the hopeful potential employee, “Can you do retail?”

The lizard replied, “Yes.”

It should come as no surprise that Jesus was crucified between two criminals. The prophet Isaiah described the suffering servant more than 700 years earlier in Isaiah 53:12:

12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. NIV

Because Jesus did nothing wrong, He was qualified to die instead of sinners. He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors. Both criminals would have heard Jesus say, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” One hardened his heart while the other softened. One remained cold while the other warmed.

Jesus had the last word after these crucified criminals had their last words. Jesus will have the final word after we speak our last words.

Someone has concluded, "You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending."

Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary explains:
Paradise is a place of exceptional blessedness, happiness, and delight; a descriptive name for heaven. Originally “paradise” was a Persian word meaning “a wooded park,” “an enclosed or walled orchard,” or “a garden with fruit trees.” Various commentators have pointed out that when a Persian king wished to bestow upon one of his subjects a special honour, he made him a “companion of the garden.” The subject was chosen to walk in the king's garden as a special friend and companion of the king. Thus, Jesus promised the thief that he would be a companion of the King of kings, walking with Christ in the garden of heaven.

Will we choose Jesus and go with Him to paradise? Will we die to ourselves and turn to Him for abundant, everlasting life? He’s waiting, watching and listening. You might say He’s dying to hear you say, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

The three crosses represent:

Rebellion
Repentance
Renewal

Jesus will announce where we have chosen to spend eternity.