February 16, 2021
Seven Last Words Series #2
The Word of Pardon
Episode 43

Luke 23:35-38 (NIV)
 35  The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One." 
 36  The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 
 37  and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself." 
 38  There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 

A study of the two men who were crucified on either side of Jesus. 

Luke 23:39 (NIV)
 39  One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" 

Luke 23:40-42 (NIV)
 40  But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 
 41  We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." 
 42  Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." 
 
Coming into a relationship with Jesus 

1. 1st of all, he acknowledged his own sinfulness.  Look again at the first part of the 41st verse.  Luke 23:41 (NIV)
    41  We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. …
2. The 2nd thing that we find in the words that were spoken by the thief is that he now grasps, comprehends, understands who Jesus is.  He testifies that Jesus is sinless.  Look again at the 41st verse. 
    
   Luke 23:41 (NIV)
    41  We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." 
3.  3rd, we can see in his words that he also recognized the deity of Jesus.  In the next verse (the 42nd verse) he says,
    
   Luke 23:42 (NIV)
    42  Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." 
4.  Then the next thing that we note here is that the thief believed that Jesus could save him. 
    
   Look again at the 42nd verse.  The thief cries out:
   Luke 23:42 (NIV)
    42  … remember me when you come into your kingdom." 
5. In this passage we find the 5th and final thing that the thief understood, and that is, he was aware that death was not the end of it all.  Luke 23:43 (NIV)
    43  Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

Here’s the 2nd word that Jesus spoke upon the cross.  It was the word of pardon.  
We can receive pardon – we can receive forgiveness for our sins and know that we are a part of the family of God (and one day will be in heaven) because of what Jesus did on Calvary.  He was the sacrifice for us.  He died for us