Place: Lurgan Baptist 21:7:2002

Reading: Luke 23:26-45

THE THREE CROSSES

Several years ago, one Saturday morning Dr. Donald Barnhouse was in his study working. Unexpectedly, the caretaker came in and announced there was a man outside to see him, giving him the man's card.

Dr. Barnhouse read the card, which indicated that the visitor was the captain of the Mauritania, the largest passenger afloat. Holding the card, Dr. Barnhouse went out to meet the man. The captain said, " You have a very beautiful church here." Barnhouse replied, " We are grateful for all that was done by our faithful predecessors a hundred years ago." The captain said,

" It is very much like the Basilica at Ravenna in Italy."

Dr. Barnhouse responded, " Well, it is an architectural duplication. In fact, years ago they brought workmen from Italy, and the ceilings and the marble columns and the mosaic were all done by Italian workmen. But that's not what you came to talk about. You didn't come to talk about architecture, did you ?" The man," No. Twenty three times a year I sail the Atlantic. When I come down the bank of Newfoundland, I hear your broadcast out of Boston. And as I came this week, I thought to myself, ' I've got twenty fours in New York. I'm going to get down and see Dr. Barnhouse.' So I took a train, hoping perhaps I would be able to meet you, and here I am."

Dr. Barnhouse was very direct as he said, " Sir, have you been born again ?" The captain replied, " That is why I came to see you about." By this time, they had reached a chalkboard in the prayer room, and

Dr. Barnhouse drew three crosses. Underneath the first one he wrote word " in." Underneath the third cross, he wrote the word " in." Underneath the centre cross, he wrote the words " not in." He said, " do you understand what I mean when I say those men who died with Christ had sin within them ?" The Captain thought and said, " Yes I do, Christ did not have sin within Him." Then over the first cross and over the third cross, Dr. Barnhouse wrote the " on." He said, " do you understand what that means ?" The Captain looked puzzled .... he didn't quite understand. Dr. Barnhouse said, " Let me illustrate. Have you ever gone through a red light ?" " Yes." " Were you caught ?" The man said,

" No." " Well, in going through that red light you had a sin in you. If you would have been caught, you would have had sin on you. So here the thieves bear the penalty of God." Then he wrote another " on," over Jesus Christ and said, " the one thief's sins rested on Christ by virtue of his faith in Christ."

Then Barnhouse said, " which one are you ?" Well, the man was a very tall, distinguished man of British birth, and as he stood for a moment Dr. Barnhouse could see that he was fighting back tears. He said to Dr. Barnhouse, " by the grace of God I am the first man." Barnhouse said, " You mean your sins are on Jesus ?" He said, " Yes, God says my sins are on Jesus." He shot

out his hand said, " That's what I came to find out."

Dr. Barnhouse invited him to lunch and further shared with him the things of God and the man returned to New York a glowing Christian. Now all of us like the thieves have sin in us, but we are divided when it comes to sin on us. Some this .... have the penalty of sin resting on them, others have by grace shifted it over to Christ. The great question is this, is your sin on you ? Or on Christ in whom there is no sin ? This .... I want you to come with me to Calvary for " there they crucified Him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand and the other on the left." ( 23:33 ) Three Crosses, three Men. One man died IN sin, one man died TO sin, one man died FOR sin. Over the first cross I want to write the word:

(1) REJECTION

For if some are saved in the hour of death others are not. Sometimes we forget that there were " two thieves." " One thief was saved that no sinner might despair, one thief was dammed that no sinner might presume." What became of this other thief who was crucified ? Why did he not turn from sin and call upon the Lord ? Why did he remain hardened and impenitent ? Why was he not saved ? Here were two men who had the same opportunity of getting good for their souls, two men who were placed in the same position, two men who heard and saw the same things, yet one died and went to heaven, the other died and went to hell. So over this first cross we can write the word REJECTION ! For here was a man who:

(a) DESPISED THE PRESENCE OF JESUS CHRIST:

You see, when they crucified the Lord Jesus they put Him between two thieves. ( 23:33 ) The Lord Jesus was in the midst. This was not only a fulfilment of Divine Prophecy ( Is 53:12 ) but a fulfilment of Divine Providence ! It was no accident that the Lord of Glory was crucified between two thieves. " Jesus in the Midst." This man could Hear His Prayer: " Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."

( 23:34 ) The Spirit of God could take that prayer and speak to his heart. Here is one who forgives. " Jesus in the Midst." This man could Read His Title: It was perhaps the first gospel tract that was ever written and it hung over the head of Christ. " This is Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews." ( Jn 19:19 ) Did that title not him who He was ? Jesus .... Saviour .... King of the Jews .... He is a Saviour who has a kingdom. " Jesus in the Midst." This man could Witness His Mockery: For milling around the cross the ruler and soldiers mocked Him. Do you hear what they said, " He saved others let Him save Himself .... " ( 23:35 ) My .... in hearing that he heard the message of the gospel. Christ saved others.

But he despised the presence of Christ ! Is that what you have done ? You see, God still works in His providence to set up situations for people to be saved. Has the Lord laid you low in order that you might think of Him ? Has God allowed peculiar trials to cross your pathway ? The death of a loved one, a friend ? Have your circumstances in life been such that you know God is speaking to you to draw to Himself, but you have dismissed His Presence ?

(b) DESPISED THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST:

" And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on Him .... " ( 23:39 ) This man was no different from those who bypassed the cross and cried, " Ah, thou that destroyest the temple and buildest it in three days, save thyself and come down from the cross." ( Mk 15:29 ) Think of it, a man on the brink of eternity, on the very precipice of hell, mocking the Saviour's person ! Yet has your action or attitude been any different from this

man ? The only time you take the Saviours name on your lips is not in prayer but in mockery. My .... thats where we are in our nation today. People are mocking sacred things. They are ridiculing the name of the Lord, using the name of my Saviour in vulgar profanity. My .... are you guilty of that ? Have you tried to belittle the Lord's person, the Lord's Word ? Having heard about sin, salvation, heaven and hell have you gone from this place sneering, mocking, laughing ? Irwin Long 1972

(c) DESPISED THE POWER OF JESUS CHRIST:

For he says, " If thou be Christ, save thyself and us."

If you are the Anointed One demonstrate your power !

I wonder is this one of the problems you have in becoming a Christian ? Are you unsure whether Christ has the power to save you ? Or maybe you're unsure that Christ has the power to keep you ? A preacher was talking to someone who said to him, " I'd like to become a Christian but I am afraid that I might sin after I accept Christ." The preacher responded, " How long since its been since Jesus died on the cross ?" " A long time," said the inquirer. The preacher said, " Its been about two thousand years. Now when Jesus died on the cross, did he die for sins ?" " Why, yes," said the person. " Well, were all of your sins at that point in time future ?" " Yes." The preacher continued, " does that mean all the sins you have committed ? Does it mean all the sins you may commit today ? Does it mean all you may commit tomorrow ? Does it mean that whatever sin you may commit, Jesus has already shed His blood on the cross for it ?" " Yes," said the inquirer " but does that mean that I can just go there and sin because Christ paid for it ?" " No," said the preacher,

" every time I sin now I know Christ paid for it at Calvary, and it makes me want not to sin anymore."

My .... do you doubt Christ's power to save you, to sustain you, to satisfy you ? Is this why you're rejecting the Saviour ? Yes, over the first cross (1) But over the third cross we can write the word:

(2) RECEPTION

The Bible says " But as many as received Him .... name." ( Jn 1:12 ) Now this man believed on Christ's name. Think of him for a moment ! At first he railed on the Lord Jesus, but then the reviling ceased from the lips of this dying man and a new look began to creep into his eyes.

(a) HE BEGAN TO LOOK AT THE SAVIOUR:

He looked at the face of the Son of God, that face so marred. He saw holiness there ! He saw peace there !

He saw Deity stamped on that noble brow. He lifted his eyes still higher and saw the crown of thorns the spiky emblem of the curse. He lifted his eyes yet higher and read the title the Romans had nailed to the cross, " Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews." ( Jn 19:19 ) My .... the more he looked the more thoughtful he became. Perhaps he began to remember the teaching of his boyhood days. Maybe as he groped back in his memory words he had memorised as a boy came flooding back,

" He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities." ( Is 53:5 ) Is this what the prophet Isaiah meant ? Had he been referring to the Messiahs being lifted up upon a cross ? And what was it he had learned as a boy about Moses lifting up a

servant ? Oh yes, the Israelites with the death virus in their veins had found life for a look at the serpent upraised on a pole ! Perhaps if he were to look at

Jesus ? My .... have you ever looked at Christ on Calvary dying in your room and stead ?

Have you ever got a vision of the sufferings that Christ endured in order to accomplish your redemption ? Have you ever realised that He died that you might live ? That He endured the wrath of God, that you might enjoy the love of God ? Some of you can look back to childhood days when you sat on your parents knee, and they told you " the old, old story of Jesus and His love." But this .... you're still despising His love, refusing His grace, neglecting His gift. (a) And then:

(b) HE BEGAN TO LISTEN TO THE SAVIOUR:

He remembered how He had said, " Father forgive them .... " ( 23:34 ) He listened too, what others were saying about the Lord Jesus, " He saved others, Himself He cannot save," " If thou be the Son of God come down from the cross." ( Matt 27:40-42 ) My .... he heard the gospel from the enemies of Christ and he believed !

1. He believed in the DEITY of the Lord Jesus:

For he cried, " Lord .... " Have you recognised who this is on hangs on the central tree ? Do you realise that this is none other than the Lord of Glory ? Have you fallen before Him and cried, " Lord .... "

2. He believed in the INNOCENCY of the Lord Jesus:

" But this man .... amiss." ( 23:41 ) Judas was moved to say, " I have betrayed innocent blood." Pilate testified,

" I find no fault in Him." Pilate's wife said, " Have thou nothing to do with that just man." And now that he hangs on the cross God opens the eyes of this robber to see the sinlessness of His lovely Son. My .... do you know something ? Thats why you, can trust Him this .... because He was the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.

3. He believed in the ABILITY of the Lord Jesus:

For he said, " Lord remember me .... " ( 23:42 ) He believed that Christ had the power to save him so he asked Him to do it. My .... that is how you are saved. Don't allow the devil to complicate it or confuse it. This conversation between the Lord and thief puts pay to the false views of salvation.

Some teach that to become a Christian a person must be baptised. Some teach a person must be christened or sprinkled. Some teach a person must partake of communion or pass through the ceremonies of the church. Now I ask you did the dying thief go through any of these things ? No ! He only a little while to live. His hours were numbered, his grave was ready yet he was saved because he believed Christ had the power to save him. Do you believe that this .... ? Have you ever therefore lifted up your heart and said, " Lord remember me .... save me by your grace ?"

4. He believed in the ROYALTY of the Lord Jesus:

" Lord .... kingdom, to your throne." My .... he saw beyond the cross to the crown, beyond the suffering to the sovereignty ! He realised that dead men do not have kingdoms, he believed Christ would rise again and he was offering himself to be a willing subject of the King ! Do you believe in a world to come ? Do you believe that there is life after death ? Are you prepared for it ?

My .... this man did not have a fraction of your chances.

He was not sitting in a comfortable seat, listening to God's plan of salvation. He was not surrounded for those who yearned for his salvation. He did not have a single page of the NT He was racked with fearful pain but he believed because he looked at Christ and listened to Christ. (1) (2) But over the centre cross ....

(3) REDEMPTION

One man died IN sin, one man died TO sin, but thank God one man died FOR sin.

" Was it for crimes that I have done

He groaned upon the tree

Amazing pity, grace unknown

And love beyond degree."

Paul sums it up like this, " In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." ( Eph 1:7 )

Redemption means " release as the result of the payment of a price." ( lutroo 1 Pet 1:18 Titus 2:14 ) To redeem means " to set free." ( lutron Mk 10:45 ) It means to " to liberate as setting a slave free from slavery." My .... have you been liberated ? Have you been set free from sin ? ( Jn 8:34 ) From Satan ?

( 2 Tim 2:26 ) You know:

(a) THE BASIS OF THIS REDEMPTION:

Is " His blood." " Through His blood." ( Eph 1:7 ) Christ's life and the giving up of His life in death.

( Lev 17:11 ) For only the precious blood of Christ could purchase us out of the slave market of sin for ever. Richard de Leon captured by his treacherous enemy in Europe as he returned from a Crusade in the Holy Land was thrown into prison. A colossal ransom was demanded for his redemption. But the people of England submitted to heavy taxation and paid willingly, and many rich nobles contributed large sums, that their king might be set free. Hence the term " a king's ransom," is used to describe an enormous sum of money.

A noble sacrifice but nothing in comparison to the sacrifice of Christ ! Think of it ! The Lord of Glory laying down His life: the Creator of the Universe being nailed to the tree He created: the Son of God suffering for the sons of men, not just wounded but giving His life shedding His blood for you and me ! Did you ever ask yourself the question: What have I cost the Saviour ? What price did Christ have to pay to secure my redemption ? My .... the price was great, the cost was immense for He gave His life, His precious blood, His all to secure your redemption ! And what is:

(b) THE BLESSING OF THIS REDEMPTION:

" The forgiveness of sins." ( Eph 1:7 ) Are your sins forgiven ? Are they blotted out ? ( Is 43:25 ) " What can wash away my sin nothing but the blood of Jesus .... "

My .... have your sins been put away by the blood of Jesus ?

Three Crosses ! Over the first cross the word Rejection.

Is that where you are this .... ? Still rejecting the Saviour. Over the third cross the word Reception. Over the centre cross the word Redemption. Several years ago in the USA there was a man sentenced to death. There were many who tried to persuade the Governor of the State to pardon him but to no avail. Finally, the Governor went to see the man and he took a pardon along with him in his coat pocket. The warden let him into the condemned man's cell and the Governor talked to him. He said, " I am a Christian and I have to come to help you. I have come to tell that Christ died for your sin's and can save you." The man said, " I don't know you. But others have come here to talk to me about the same thing. But I want no part of it and if that is why you came here you might as well leave." The Governor got him and asked the warden to let him out.

When he was gone the warden came back to the man and said, " You are the biggest fool I ever known." The man said " why ?" " Well, that man was the Governor of the State and the only man with the power to let you free." That prisoner took the bars and clenched his hands around and screamed, " Oh my God, he was the only one who could pardon me and set me free and I would not listen to him." My .... on that centre cross, Christ died to pardon you, to set you free. Will you listen to Christ, lean on Christ, look to Christ now ?