Which Thief Will You Be?

Luke 23:36-46
The soldiers also came up and poked fun at Him, making a game of it. They toasted Him with sour wine: “So you’re King of the Jews! Save Yourself!” Printed over Him was a sign: this is the King of the Jews. One of the criminals hanging alongside cursed Him: “Some Messiah You are! Save Yourself! Save us!” But the other one made Him shut up: “Have you no fear of God? You’re getting the same as Him. We deserve this, but not Him—He did nothing to deserve this.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You enter Your Kingdom.” He said, “Don’t worry, I will. Today you will join Me in paradise.” By now it was noon. The whole earth became dark, the darkness lasting three hours—a total blackout. The Temple curtain split right down the middle. Jesus called loudly, “Father, I place my life in Your hands!” Then He breathed His last.

As a child, he was not greatly loved by his parents. His father was cruel and beat him regularly. He would lie in bed at night wondering why his father hated him. He would wonder why he didn't receive the same love his friends did from their parents. He would wonder why the only attention he received was from his father's fists. But then again, he would think, this attention was better than none. And so he discovered ways to get this sort of attention. He began to get into trouble at an early age. He began to hang out with those people...you know the ones. They're the ones you and I avoid when we're in public places. They're unsavory. We're not like those people...are we? I mean, look at how they dress! Look at the things they do! Can you believe them? These are the people at which we sneer and turn up our noses.

These are exactly the sort of people with which he began to hang out. He would get together with them and get into all sorts of trouble. And while he was with them, he had to be tough. He began to build, brick by brick, a shell around his heart to protect it from ever feeling anything...especially while he was with his “friends.” Because if they were to see any sort of weakness—and surely, his emotions were a weakness—they would capitalize on his weakness....exploit it...and then he would lose the only source of respect and belonging he had.

It feels good to be respected. It’s wonderful to belong. Think of your sources of respect. Think of the groups to which you belong. How does it feel to be shown respect? How does it feel to belong?

Or maybe you don't receive respect...maybe you don't belong. Maybe you’ve been an outcast…a misfit…unloved and unwanted? Maybe you don't get to play in all the reindeer games...in which case, you'll relate to this young man of which we speak today.

As he grew, he sought his recognition from his “friends” by doing the things they challenged him to do. It started with small things, pilfering a loaf of bread or a small animal from a farmer. These were the things he did to gain acceptance from his “friends.” And the more things he did, the more respect they showed him. They challenged him constantly to do such things…they challenged him physically. And so he became more and more tough…able to beat up just about anyone. And as he became more tough, he also became more proficient at stealing. It became his craft at which he practiced. To compare him to other laborers, he would be considered a master in his craft. He was well-respected in the thieves’ guild. All knew of his thieving prowess. He was, by this time, seemingly untouchable.

Seemingly.

No one is invincible. No one is untouchable. This thief was hired by some wealthier members of society to steal from the temple coffers. He had the plan all worked out. He knew the different access points to the temple. He had researched the comings and goings of the priests and knew the ideal times at which to make his attempt. His plan was in place. The time set. The preparations made.

The night before his attempt, he lay in his bed, working through the plan one last time to make sure things would go off without a hitch. He discovered no glitches in his plan…except one. And it was a strange one…one he hadn’t felt in a very long time. It was supplied to him from a quiet, almost inaudible voice from deep within—his conscience. “To steal from the temple coffers,” it said, “wouldn’t that be like stealing from God?”

He tossed and turned as he slept. He began to sweat. His sleep was fitful and rest-less. For even this hardened man, with a heart to match his calloused exterior…even this man believed in God.

He woke early, just before dawn, with a start. He sat straight up in bed…looking straight ahead, chest heaving. He remembered his dreaming of the night before. He remembered the words from his conscience. And again, for the first time in a long time, he did something not familiar to him…he worried.

He sat there, embalmed in his worry—for God knows how long. And then, with a shake of his head, he roused himself from his worry and doubt. He crawled back into the shell of his hardened heart and re-donned his calloused exterior. He was tough. He was a master-thief. He could not be touched and there was nothing about which to worry.
He headed out from his abode to accomplish his task. He was prepared.

Sometimes we do things to self-destruct. Our sub-conscious gets in the way…or maybe it’s our conscience…or maybe God Himself. For the first time…maybe ever…he made a mistake. Everything had gone perfectly. His plan was masterful…but his hands were not. He dropped the container holding the temple offerings. Coins scattered everywhere on the floor. It made a noise which was easily audible throughout the temple. Priests came rushing in. Guards closed off exits. He was caught. And as the guards closed in, he fell to his knees in defeat. There was no escape.

Being caught at what he did best…getting beat at your own game…this brings humility to one’s life. As he knelt on the cold stone floor of the temple, he felt a burning inside him which he hadn’t felt since he was a child. He tried to choke it back, but it remained…in fact, it spread. The stony shell of his heart cracked at that moment, and something Eternal found its way in. Would it be enough?

He stood trial. His sentence was passed. His reputation preceded him to the trial and his sentence was the maximum…death by crucifixion.

The date was set…it was to be the weekend of Passover.

He heard that there would be two others crucified that day as well. Huh…at least he wouldn’t be alone. I mean, if he’s going to go down…he’s not going to go down alone. Right? Another heart attempt at shutting down from all emotion.

Crucifixion. “What a horrible way to die,” he thought, “but think of the attention I’ll get.” For crucifixions brought everyone out. They were a major event. All would gather at the Hill Of The Skull for such an occasion.

Who can say exactly what happened that day. For truly, not much is recorded in Scripture of the goings on regarding our thief. But we do know this one thing: on that day, with nails piercing his flesh, he recognized his need for a Savior.

What did it…or what will it take for you to recognize your need for a Savior? Have you grown so full of yourself…or so hardened…that you’re unable to admit that you need help? Have you been so wounded in life that you’ve closed down to all emotion because it just hurts too much to feel? Or have you become so self-reliant that you’re unable to rely on anything or anyone outside yourself?

At points in my life, I most certainly have. And it’s a terrible place to live. And lonely too. Thankfully, it didn’t take physical nails piercing my flesh for me to be able to cry out, “Jesus, remember me when You enter Your Kingdom.”

But I can tell you, what it took hurt just as badly. To admit one’s own shortcomings…one’s failures…one’s hurts…and yes, one’s sins…this pain pierces to the depths of your heart…yes, to the core of your soul.

Take a look at yourself in the mirror today. What are your shortcomings? What are your failures? What are the wounds that hurt you? What are your sins? Recount them. Say them out loud. Write them.

Now, can you honestly say you don’t need help? Can you honestly say, that in the face of these things, you can deal with all of them on your own? Can you honestly say you don’t need a Savior?

Our thief could not. For that day upon the cross, he found himself in dire need of a Savior. And his heart, with years of disuse and misuse, found itself broken. Tears streamed down his face. And while one thief scoffed, this thief defended. While one thief rode his hardened heart to Hell, the other let his heart break and for the first time, he found his strength in what, for so many years, he thought of as weakness.

Will you let your heart break today? Will you take the risk of feeling? Will you open up and admit your need for a Savior?
Our Savior, Jesus, was crucified between two common thieves. And we’re really not all that different from them if we’re honest. We’ve fallen short. We’ve screwed up. We’ve done things of which we’re not proud.

But in the end, the choice is ours.

Which thief will you be?

Be WILD For Christ!


Pastor Shane