Today You Will Be With Me In Paradise! Luke 23:35-43``
Series: Lenten Sermons
March 29, 2024
Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
Good Friday Tre Ore Service at St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran Church, Evansville, Indiana. Sermon Text: Luke 23:35-43. Sermon: The 2nd Word of Jesus from the Cross: "Today You Will Be With Me In Paradise!" Preached 29-March-2024 by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
Episode Notes
Tre’ Ore Service 29-March-2024
Sermon Text: Luke 23:35-43 And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God." (36) The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, (37) and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself." (38) And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. (39) Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." (40) But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? (41) And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." (42) Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." (43) And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
Sermon Theme: “Today, You Will Be With Me in Paradise!”
I.N.R.I. “God helps those who help themselves!” a delicious little lie we tell ourselves. Some even think that it’s found somewhere in the Holy Bible. It is a religious lie first whispered by Satan to our parents in Paradise. “Improve Paradise, God doesn’t really love you - love yourself first- seize His knowledge - then you will know better - become your own gods - and make Eden better than He gave it to you.” “Help yourself....you will not surely die!”
Two men had helped themselves. St. Luke describes them as “criminals.” St. Matthew calls them “thieves.” St. Mark labels them “robbers.” St. John calls them “two others.” Helping themselves to the property of others brought God’s just judgment through the government. Sin only pays the wages of death. Adam and his wife followed Satan’s lie to steal paradise from our Creator - it only brought death, sin, shame, guilt, separation, contention, pain, labor, thorns, thistles, and a return to the dust.
What a failure - this Jesus of Nazareth. The Temple rulers now admit - “He saved others!” His miracles of healing, freeing the demon oppressed, and raising four day dead Lazarus were irrefutable. “Jesus, if you have such power - help Yourself. Then we’ll believe that you are the Christ, the Chosen of God.” Battle hardened soldiers mock Him, they know how to use power to preserve self and their comrades. Isn’t all fair in war? What a weak King of the Jews - self-preservation is the desire of politicians - Governor Pilate bowed to the mob’s demand to execute an Innocent Man - he didn’t want to lose his rule and power.
Rome place signs of the crimes the naked crucified had committed. It was a warning against rebellion - it was also proof that Rome sought justice. Jesus had taken the place of Barabbas, the insurrectionist, the murderer, but over His head the accusation read, ‘This is the King of the Jews! ‘ Pilate would get the last word in against the Sanhedrin. A King of murders, thieves, insurrectionists, tax collectors, prostitutes, sinners. Some paradise - more like a cesspool of the worst of all humanity. Come on God! Step aside, we can improve it - get out of our way! We’ll build utopia by our own reason and strength!
Even the dying criminals join in the mockery. “If You are the Christ, save Yourself, and us!” All we need is a break - get us out of this punishment - and we can set our lives straight again! Come on Jesus - don’t be unfair!
While the criminals screamed curses while the nails were driven through their hands, Jesus was silent as the Lamb led to the slaughter. Instead He prayed the Father to forgive! His prayer. His submission to His Father’s will. The mockery of others testifying what He had done and Who He Is - were the means by which God the Holy Spirit preached a sermon of repentance to open Paradise - restore Hope to us criminals.
One criminal listens to Jesus’ sermon - rebuking himself and his partner in crime - he confesses his sin - he has earned these wages of suffering and death. “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? (41) And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." Jesus has done nothing wrong - the Innocent suffers with the guilty. He has come to reclaim lost hopeless sinners into His Kingdom. The Messiah only comes to serve - to save poor miserable sinners.
Don’t help yourself! Flee from self - fix your eyes upon Jesus! Pray, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." God remember me in your mercy! Forgive me for “helping myself.” Psalms 130:1-5 Out of the depths I have cried to You, O LORD; (2) Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications. (3) If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? (4) But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared. (5) I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope.” King Jesus speaks His Word, “"Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
What Satan had stolen by lies, sin, deceit, and death - is restored us broken in the flesh and blood of our Crucified King!
Cling to Him! Lay your sins and the just sentence you deserve on Him nailed bearing your shame. Hear His Word breathing forth the Spirit of Truth to bring you back to your Heavenly Father. Today - I bring you Home! I rescue your body and soul from all sin, from death, and from the power of the devil with My holy precious blood and My innocent suffering and death! You are Mine - I save you! Hear My Promise! “I baptize you!” Joyfully on your deathbed sing “Death, you cannot end my gladness:
I am baptized into Christ! When I die, I leave all sadness To inherit paradise! Though I lie in dust and ashes Faith's assurance brightly flashes: Baptism has the strength divine To make life immortal mine.” Amen.
Sermon Text: Luke 23:35-43 And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God." (36) The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, (37) and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself." (38) And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. (39) Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." (40) But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? (41) And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." (42) Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." (43) And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
Sermon Theme: “Today, You Will Be With Me in Paradise!”
I.N.R.I. “God helps those who help themselves!” a delicious little lie we tell ourselves. Some even think that it’s found somewhere in the Holy Bible. It is a religious lie first whispered by Satan to our parents in Paradise. “Improve Paradise, God doesn’t really love you - love yourself first- seize His knowledge - then you will know better - become your own gods - and make Eden better than He gave it to you.” “Help yourself....you will not surely die!”
Two men had helped themselves. St. Luke describes them as “criminals.” St. Matthew calls them “thieves.” St. Mark labels them “robbers.” St. John calls them “two others.” Helping themselves to the property of others brought God’s just judgment through the government. Sin only pays the wages of death. Adam and his wife followed Satan’s lie to steal paradise from our Creator - it only brought death, sin, shame, guilt, separation, contention, pain, labor, thorns, thistles, and a return to the dust.
What a failure - this Jesus of Nazareth. The Temple rulers now admit - “He saved others!” His miracles of healing, freeing the demon oppressed, and raising four day dead Lazarus were irrefutable. “Jesus, if you have such power - help Yourself. Then we’ll believe that you are the Christ, the Chosen of God.” Battle hardened soldiers mock Him, they know how to use power to preserve self and their comrades. Isn’t all fair in war? What a weak King of the Jews - self-preservation is the desire of politicians - Governor Pilate bowed to the mob’s demand to execute an Innocent Man - he didn’t want to lose his rule and power.
Rome place signs of the crimes the naked crucified had committed. It was a warning against rebellion - it was also proof that Rome sought justice. Jesus had taken the place of Barabbas, the insurrectionist, the murderer, but over His head the accusation read, ‘This is the King of the Jews! ‘ Pilate would get the last word in against the Sanhedrin. A King of murders, thieves, insurrectionists, tax collectors, prostitutes, sinners. Some paradise - more like a cesspool of the worst of all humanity. Come on God! Step aside, we can improve it - get out of our way! We’ll build utopia by our own reason and strength!
Even the dying criminals join in the mockery. “If You are the Christ, save Yourself, and us!” All we need is a break - get us out of this punishment - and we can set our lives straight again! Come on Jesus - don’t be unfair!
While the criminals screamed curses while the nails were driven through their hands, Jesus was silent as the Lamb led to the slaughter. Instead He prayed the Father to forgive! His prayer. His submission to His Father’s will. The mockery of others testifying what He had done and Who He Is - were the means by which God the Holy Spirit preached a sermon of repentance to open Paradise - restore Hope to us criminals.
One criminal listens to Jesus’ sermon - rebuking himself and his partner in crime - he confesses his sin - he has earned these wages of suffering and death. “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? (41) And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." Jesus has done nothing wrong - the Innocent suffers with the guilty. He has come to reclaim lost hopeless sinners into His Kingdom. The Messiah only comes to serve - to save poor miserable sinners.
Don’t help yourself! Flee from self - fix your eyes upon Jesus! Pray, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." God remember me in your mercy! Forgive me for “helping myself.” Psalms 130:1-5 Out of the depths I have cried to You, O LORD; (2) Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications. (3) If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? (4) But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared. (5) I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope.” King Jesus speaks His Word, “"Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
What Satan had stolen by lies, sin, deceit, and death - is restored us broken in the flesh and blood of our Crucified King!
Cling to Him! Lay your sins and the just sentence you deserve on Him nailed bearing your shame. Hear His Word breathing forth the Spirit of Truth to bring you back to your Heavenly Father. Today - I bring you Home! I rescue your body and soul from all sin, from death, and from the power of the devil with My holy precious blood and My innocent suffering and death! You are Mine - I save you! Hear My Promise! “I baptize you!” Joyfully on your deathbed sing “Death, you cannot end my gladness:
I am baptized into Christ! When I die, I leave all sadness To inherit paradise! Though I lie in dust and ashes Faith's assurance brightly flashes: Baptism has the strength divine To make life immortal mine.” Amen.
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