This is a standalone sermon for Easter. Download the sermon slides or view the sermon manuscript. See the digging deeper notes.

The two criminals who were crucified next to Jesus offer us two different responses we can make toward God.

Stories of injustice rightly make us angry. When a person is sent to jail for a crime they didn’t commit, we are right to feel outraged. The Bible shows us that Jesus was an innocent victim, but through this injustice, God worked out his plan for our salvation.

Jesus Was Unjustly Condemned to Death

Crucifixion was the most severe type of Roman execution. It was painful, public and humiliating. It was reserved for the worst criminals. Although he was crucified, it is clear that Jesus had nothing wrong. Pilate, who sent him to his death, even said as much:

Luke 23:4 Pilate turned to the leading priests and to the crowd and said, “I find nothing wrong with this man!”

Similarly, one of the two criminals who was crucified next to Christ proclaimed his innocence:

Luke 23:41 “We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.”

Jesus was an innocent man who was executed. Does this mean that the end of his life was tragic and meaningless? Not at all. Although evil people condemned him to die, this was also God’s plan all along (Acts 2:23). Through the crucifixion, God would save people from their sins.

Jesus Rescues People Who Are Ready to Receive Help

Jesus understood that he would be crucified and he went along willingly with the plan. This didn’t mean that going through with the cross was easy. Jesus was humiliated and mocked by many who witnessed his execution. In Luke 23, three groups of people mock Jesus: the religious leaders, the soldiers and one of the criminals on the cross next to him. They all say the same thing: If you are a savior, save yourself.

Yet the other criminal had a different attitude:

Luke 23:42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

He saw Jesus differently. He knew that Jesus truly was the savior. His death on the cross would pay for his sins. Even though it looked like Jesus was losing on the cross, he was God’s chosen one who would reign over God’s kingdom.

We see in these two criminals two different ways to respond to Jesus. The first criminal is our most natural response. We ignore God, push him away, and try to live life on our own terms. But the second response is the only one that leads to salvation.

Jesus Offers You Salvation Today Too

What is Jesus’s reply to this criminal about die? As he admitted, he’s deserving of death. He has no time to be a good person, go to church, or even get baptized.

Luke 23:43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Jesus’s reply is that this man can expect to spend eternity in heaven. Jesus tells him that he will experience paradise, living in the presence of God. And this is not a far off hope. “Today” he will be in paradise. As soon as he tastes death, he will be with Jesus for all eternity. This is a powerful example of the fact that salvation isn’t found through our good works but through God’s mercy. And this offer of salvation is available to anyone who will accept Jesus as their savior. What about you?

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Key Points:

  • Jesus was unjustly condemned to death.
  • Jesus rescues people who are ready to receive help.
  • Jesus offers you salvation today too.

Quote This:

Luke 23:39-43 One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

See Also: Holidays, Sermonlink

Talk About It
  1. What is your initial reaction to this topic? What jumped out at you?
  2. Give an example of injustice that bothers you. Why do stories of injustice bother us so much?
  3. Why is it important to realize that Jesus was an innocent man who was condemned to die?
  4. Read Acts 2:23. How was the crucifixion of Jesus the result of both human choice and the plan of God?
  5. Read Luke 23:42. What is the criminal on the cross asking Jesus to do? What was the typical response to Jesus at the crucifixion?
  6. How do these two criminals represent two ways we can respond to God? How have you been like the first criminal, pushing God away and living life on your own terms?
  7. Read Luke 23:43. What does Jesus mean by “paradise” and “today”? What does this teach us about the experience of Christians immediately after death?
  8. How does this story teach us that salvation is by grace and not our works (Ephesians 2:8-10)?
  9. Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
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