We Call him Saviour part 4 A tale of a crucified crook

The tale of a crucified crook

Luke 23: 42,43

42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. ( [KJV])

Tonight's lesson we are going to deal with more words around the cross. Last week we looked at a mob full of hatred but Jesus saw them differently than we would. He spoke words of wisdom and love from the cross, Father forgive them for they know not what they do.

This evening we want to look at the tale of a Crook, that was crucified along with Jesus and he made a request as he was hanging there next to our Lord and savior.

The only thing more outlandish than the request was that it was granted. Just trying to picture the scene is enough to short circuit the imagination. Can you imagine a flat nosed ex-con asking God's son for eternal life? Now trying to imagine that appeal being honored. Some would think that steps beyond the realm of reality and enters absurdity.

But as absurd as it may appear, that is exactly what happened. That thief who deserved hell got heaven, and we are left with a puzzling riddle.

What was Jesus trying to teach us? What was he trying to prove by pardoning this strong-arm, who in all probability had never said grace, been to the temple, much less done anything to deserve this pardon Christ gave him?

Well I've go a theory but to explain it, I have to tell you a story that you may not believe:

It seems a couple of prowlers broke into a department store in a large city. They successfully entered the store, stayed long enough to do what they came to do, and escaped unnoticed. What is unusual about the story is what these fellows did. They took nothing. Absolutely nothing. No merchandise was stolen. No items were removed. But what they did was ridiculous.

Instead of stealing anything, they changed the cost of everything. Price tags were swapped. Values were exchanged. These clever pranksters took the tag off a $395.00 camera and stuck it on a $5.00 box of stationary. The $5.95 sticker on a paperback book was removed and placed on an outboard motor. They repriced everything in the store!

Crazy? You bet. But the craziest part of this story took place the next morning. ( you are not going to believe this.) 

The store opened as usual. Employees went to work. Customers began to shop. The place functioned as normal for four hours before anyone noticed what had happened.

For four hours! Some people got some great bargains. Others got fleeced. For four solid hours no one noticed that all the values had been swapped.

Hard to believe? It shouldn't be, we see the same thing happen every day. We are deluged by a distorted value system. We see the valuable things in our lives peddled for pennies and we see the cheaper smut go for millions.

Here are a few examples that made the news in 1986, when this commentary was written. If we were to look at today's news we would even be more shocked.

The Salesman who defended his illegal practices by saying " let's not confuse business with ethics."

The military men who sold top-secret information (as well as their integrity) for $6,000 dollars.

The cabinet member of a large nation who was caught illegally dealing in semi-precious stones. His cabinet position? Minister of Justice.

The father who confessed to the murder of his twelve year old daughter. The reason he killed her? She refused to go to bed with him.

Why do we do what we do? Why do we take the blatantly black and white and paint it gray? Why are priceless morals trashed and senseless standards are obeyed? What causes us to elevate the flesh and degrade the soul? What causes us to pamper the skin and pollute the heart?

Our values are mixed up. Someone broke into the store and exchanged all the price tags. Thrills are going for top dollar and the value of human beings is at an all time low.

A person doesn't have to be a philosopher to determine what caused such a sag in the market (sin). It all began when someone convinced us that the human race is headed nowhere. That man has no destiny. That mankind is in a cycle, born, live, die and it's all over. That there is no rhyme or reason for this absurd existence. Somewhere man got the idea that we are meaninglessly trapped on this puny mud heap and there is no destination. (wonder how that got started, snake, garden, disobedience, ring a bell) Someone said the earth is just a spinning mausoleum and the universe is purposeless.

The Creation was incidental and humanity has no direction. Pretty gloomy, wait it gets worse. Then they say if man has no destiny, then he has no duty. No obligation, no responsibility. If man has no destiny, then he has no guidelines or goals. If a man has no destiny, then who is to say what is wrong and what is right? Who is to say that a husband can't leave his wife and family? 

Who is to say you can't abort a baby inside the womb and leave it in a suitcase on the side of the road. Who says you can't kill your neighbor over a tree branch that hangs over in your yard. Who says you can't have child after child, after child out of wedlock, live with someone. Who says you can't get high, and take the money from the family and the mouths of your children so you can have your next fix? Who says you can't spend the last of the rent money to buy another bottle of whiskey, vodka or gin and a 30 pack chaser? Who says you can't step on someones neck, ruin their family, their name, their life just to make your way to the top? It's your value system against mine. There are no absolutes, No principles, no ethics. No standards.......let me rephrase the no standards part, standards change, principles and morals do not......AND GOD DOESN'T CHANGE HIS PRINCIPLES AND MORALS.....

All things have no meaning, it is everyone for them self. Man has no destiny, you live and you die and that is the end. So life is reduced to weekends, paycheck, quick thrills and grab all you can because you only live once......The bottom line is disaster.

Those that do not believe there is a God and that he doesn't exist, that He did not create the heavens and earth, then there disappears the possibility of an eternal heaven, if God doesn't exist then everything that we mentions above is permitted, the killing, the hating, the stealing, the immoral things that are done then indeed are okay.

Because you see if man has no destiny and not duty the next logical thing (says the world) man has no value. If man has no future he isn't worth much. His worth in fact is about as much as a tree or a rock. No difference. There is no reason to be here so therefore, there is no value.

We have seen the results of this. Our system goes haywire. We feel useless and worthless. We freak out. We play games, we create false value systems. We say you are valuable if you are pretty or handsome. We say that you are valuable if you can produce. We say that you are valuable if you can slam dunk a basketball, or snag a pop fly. You are valuable if your name has Dr. in front of it or PhD on the end of it. You are valuable if you have a six figure salary and drive a foreign car.

So value is now measured by two criteria APPEARANCE and PERFORMANCE.

Where do that leave those who are physically and mentally challenged? Or the ugly or uneducated? Where does that system place the aged and handicapped? What hope does that offer the unborn child? Not much, not much at all. We become nameless numbers on a list. 

Understand that this is man's value system, it is not God's. His plan is much Brigitte. God with eyes twinkling steps up to the philosopher's blackboard and erases the never ending, ever repeating circle of history and replaces it with a line, a hope filled, promising, slender line. And looking over his shoulder to see if the class is watching, he draws an arrow on the end.

In God's book man is headed somewhere. He has an amazing destiny. We are being prepared to walk down the church aisle and become the bride of Jesus. We are going to live with him. Reign with him, rejoice with him as our savior, our king, our Lord.

To God we count, we are valuable, and what's more, Jesus came to become our ransom.

You see, if there was anything that Jesus wanted everyone to understand it was this: A person is worth something simply because he is a person (God's creation) That is why he treated people like he did. Think about it.

The woman that was caught in the act of adultery, he forgave her and told her to go sin no more. (not to go back and do it again, but to do it no more.) John 8:10-11

10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. ([KJV])

The untouchable leper who asked for cleansing, Jesus touched him Matthew 8:2-3

2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. ([KJV])

The blind welfare case that cluttered the roadside, Jesus honored him. Mark 10:46-52

46 And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimæus, the son of Timæus, sat by the highway side begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 48 And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. 50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. 52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way. ([KJV])

The worn out old windbag addicted to self pity near the pool of Siloam, Jesus healed him! John 5:6-9

6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? 7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. 8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. 9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. ([KJV])

And don't forget the classic case study on the value of a person by Luke. It is called the Tale of the crucified crook. If anyone was ever worthless, this one was. If any man ever deserved dying, this man probably did. If any fellow was ever a loser, this fellow was at the top of the list. Perhaps this is why Jesus chose him to show us why he came to Calvary. That no matter if you live in a fine home, have a clean police record, good job, well respected in the community or a thief hanging on a cross HE CAME TO DIE FOR YOU ......because you are valuable to him.

Maybe this criminal had heard Jesus speak. Maybe he had seen him love the lowly. Maybe he had watched him dine with the punks, pickpockets and potty-mouths on the street. Or maybe not. Maybe the only thing he knew about Jesus was what he now saw: a beaten, slashed, nail suspended preacher. His face crimson with blood, his bones peeking through torn flesh, his longs gasping for air.

Something, though, told him he had never been in better compny. And somehow he realized that even though all he had was prayer, he had finally met the one to whom he should pray. You know he was just asking to be remembered, Jesus said better yet you will be with me there. What a savior.

Now why did Jesus do that? What in the world did he have to gain by promising this desperado a place of honor at the banquet table? What in the world could this thief ever offer in return? I mean, the Samaritan woman I can understand. She could go back and tell what Jesus had done. Zacchaeus had some money that he could give. But this guy? What is he going to do, what could he give? NOTHING!!!!!

That's the point. Listen Jesus' love and grace does not depend upon what you do. It depends on what Jesus did for you.

Think about this for a moment. You are valuable just because you exist. Not because of what you do or what you have done, but simply because you are. Remember the next time you are left bobbing in the wake of someone's steamboat ambition. Remember the next time some trickster tries to hang a bargain basement price tag on your self worth.

The next time someone tries to pas you off as a cheap buy, just remember Jesus died for your sins and he wants you to come to his saving grace, you are valuable.

*****************Study guide/homework/ Q and A**************************

1. You are valuable just because you exist. Not because of what you do or what you have done, but simply because you are.

A. To what extent are people valued in today's culture? What gives a person value, according to today's standards? What affects society's view of the worth of the individual?

B. What do the following passages teach about the value God places on people:

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ([KJV])

Ephesians 2:4-5 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) ([KJV])

Titus 3:4-7 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. ([KJV])

I John 4:9-10 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. ([KJV])

C. Do we behave as if we have genuine value? If people truly believed they had genuine value, what problems in society would no longer exist?

2. Doesn't it make you smile to know that an ex-con is walking the streets of gold today, because he experienced grace. He knows it first hand, he was beside the savior on the cross. It does me because that grace didn't stop with just that ex-con, it was given to all who will accept it.

A.What do you think is most significant about the story of the crucified crook?

B. In Luke 23:32-43 What can you learn about the two criminals from this brief episode? Why do you think Jesus gave this criminal a promise of Paradise?

C. How do you think the crucified crook would explain grace in one sentence?

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