What, for you as a Christian, is the most significant, solemn and sacred moment in the history of the world? Isn’t it the time when your Saviour gave his life for you? When he hung in agony on that cross, bearing all that was due to your sins and mine? When a darkness fell over that place, and his Father, it seemed, had turned his face away, and our Lord felt forsaken and alone? (Isa 53:4,10; Psa 22:1; Mk 15:34)

Yet, in the midst of such darkness there appears, as it were, an extraordinary light. Revealing to us how great is Jesus’s power to save – so that we can see why he died to save us – and so that we might know how we are to respond to our Saviour’s love for us.

Two men – both sinners like us.

Jesus was crucified between two criminals – Matthew and Mark call them robbers. Why did God arrange that? Because he’d already said his servant would be numbered with the transgressors. (Isa 53:12) Jesus had himself said he would be (Luke 22:37) Why? So we can see Jesus was taking the place our sins deserve. He was identifying himself with us sinners. These robbers had lived wicked lives. Now they were dying. They were on the brink of eternity. But, at first, they had no thought except to go on being wicked – to insult Jesus as his enemies were doing.

But God gave one man a changed heart. He turned to the Lord, and asked Jesus to remember him. It was a prayer for mercy and a prayer of trust. And he received an immediate, wonderful and loving response. Jesus gave the man an assurance that he would be with Jesus in paradise. That must mean he was pardoned completely, assured of his salvation – for he would be received as righteous! No-one else ever received such a glorious assurance as this robber did!

What a wonderful proof of Jesus’ love and power to save! When Jesus was so weak, he was still mighty to save. Racked with pain, he was still able to show his tender love for sinners. Dying himself, he yet conferred eternal life on this man. And so Jesus will do for any man, woman or child who comes to him in faith, confessing his own sin and unworthiness. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith... not by deeds... (Eph 2:8) This man had done nothing of which he might boast. He was not a churchgoer. He had received no sacrament; he knew no priest but Christ himself. His Christian life on earth lasted only an hour or two – but he knew himself forgiven, loved, accepted and assured of heaven. We are told about him so that none should despair of being a hopeless case. Jesus is able to save completely those who come to God through him (Heb 7:25) – for Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever. (Heb 13:8)

But if there are those here who do not yet trust Jesus as Saviour, who’ve never committed their lives to him, I have to say this – if you think you will put off to a more convenient time making a decision to trust and follow the Lord – think again! There were two robbers. Why didn’t the other one turn to the Lord? We can’t answer that. We can’t say he was a worse man. Both were sinners. Both hung beside Jesus, saw him suffer patiently, without insult or curses. Both heard him pray for his murderers.

This also was written for our benefit – to warn us. A few people may repent on their deathbeds – but not everyone. Repentance and faith are God’s gifts – we can’t summon them up at will. Don’t flatter yourself you will do it at the last, and so save yourself! Beware of presumption. Don’t abuse God’s mercy and compassion – and his loving offer to you right now.

The work of the Holy Spirit.

Now – lest you should dismiss this man’s prayer as something superficial – I want you to see that – brief as this man’s experience was – it bore all the hallmarks of the Holy Spirit’s work in his life. Evidence that must appear in the life of any genuine believer.

1. How evident his FAITH was! He knew Jesus was innocent, that he’d done nothing wrong – and he said so, publicly. He believed Jesus was God’s chosen King, the Messiah – and that Jesus would receive kingly power and reign. And he prayed to Jesus. And when did he do this? When all others abandoned Jesus – the crowds were silent – their rulers sneered at him – the soldiers mocked him – and his fellow criminal was insulting Jesus – and most of Jesus’ disciples had deserted him. When Jesus was dying in agony on the cross, bloody and mangled, like one from whom men hide their faces (Isa 53:3) – THAT was when this man believed!

Jesus’ disciples had seen his mighty signs and miracles – the dead raised, lepers healed, the blind given sight, the dumb speech, the lame power to walk. His enemies acknowledged, he saved others! His disciples had seen thousands fed – him walking on the water – heard him speak as no other had ever spoken. This robber probably had seen none of these things. Yet he believed and trusted Christ. He saw no majesty, no power – only a crown of thorns – yet he looked forward to Christ’s kingdom. That’s why I say this man is Christ’s greatest trophy! Let me ask then – where is your faith – and mine? Have we experienced the powerful call of Christ to trust in him?

2. How evident was his SENSE OF SIN! He says to his companion, We are punished justly, for we are getting what our sins deserve. He makes no excuse, no attempt to justify himself. He speaks humbly, conscious of his own sin – as do all God’s children. As the old Prayer Book puts it, We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done. Do we feel the reality of our own sin?

3. How evident was his LOVING CONCERN for others! He rebuked his fellow, tried to stop his insults, and bring him to a better mind – Don’t you fear God? When the Holy Spirit changes a man or woman – he changes their selfishness into a concern for the souls of others.

Just as the Samaritan woman left her water-pot and went and told her fellow-villagers, Come.. could this be the Messiah? (John 4:29) Just as Paul at once began to preach, that.. Jesus is the Son of God. (Acts 9:20) Do we have a like love and concern for those who do not yet know Jesus as their Saviour? This man showed his faith,

his humility, his concern for others. What evidence will we leave behind that we committed our lives to Jesus as Saviour and Lord?

Do not grieve as those do who have no hope!

There is one further thing I must draw attention to. Jesus said to this man, I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise. 1. You will be with ME. Believers in Christ are with the Lord when they die. Paul expressed the same truth, when facing the possibility of his execution – or of his release – I’m torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far...(Phil 1:23) We don’t know all we’d like to know about what follows death – but we shall be with Christ – and that’s enought! As David said, You will fill me with joy in your presence. (Psa 16:11) Paradise is where Jesus is. Is that where you would be happy? Do you or I fear to die? If you are a believer – remember – Jesus is there!

2. TODAY you will be with me. People sometimes talk of dying as if we are setting out on a long journey, or voyage, into the unknown. They are wrong! As soon as we die we are – either with Christ – or separated from him for ever. That is a very solemn thought. We have no Scriptural warrant for any other view. Jesus gives the man – and us, as believers – his word, I tell you the truth! Our loved ones who died in faith are with the Lord, in paradise. We should not weep for them, however much we grieve and are sad – we weep for ourselves.

By the same token, we may say that only a breath separates us from eternity. Once, in another context, David said to his friend Jonathan, There is only a step between me and death (1 Sam 20:3) and that is true for us all. The very day we go – we depart for ever. We’re not told of any possibility of conversion beyond the grave. Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgement. (Heb 9:27) Are we ready for that? The wonder of the gospel is that God loves us so much that he sent his only Son to die instead of us, bearing for us the judgement on our sins – so that we need never bear it. Will you refuse Jesus’ dying love, like the unrepentant robber – or will you turn to Jesus and live?