(Luke 23:33-43) A Deathbed Conversion

(Luke 23:33-43) A Deathbed Conversion

Series: Sermons in Luke
Ref: Luke 23:33–35

Deathbed confessions are an interesting revelation to the public – the more famous the individual, the more stunning the confession.

I think of Thomas Cromwell’s deathbed confession that he had played a role in bringing charges against Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII. Charges that included infidelity and treason; on his deathbed, Cromwell confessed that they were fabricated charges – an innocent woman had been put to death so that King Henry could marry again.

I have read that the outlaw Jesse James confessed to a number of murders and robberies that had never been tied to him. He regreted his crimes and the pain and disgrace he’d caused his own family.

In 2004, the famous Jewish musician, Naomi Shemer admitted on her deathbed that her best selling song about Jerusalem was a tune from an old Spanish lullaby which she had plagiarized.

In 2018, Chris Spurling confessed that his famous Loch Ness Monster photograph was fabricated. He’d used a toy submarine to which he attached a molded long neck and small head. He convinced his friend, a medical doctor, and had the doctor develop the photograph, which added to its credibility. That photograph created a firestorm. I read of one man who had devoted 20 years of his life to gathering proof of the Loch Ness monster’s existence. Well, at the age of 94, dying of cancer, he confessed the truth that it was all make-believe.

Then there’s the confession that solved a murder mystery. In 2009, James Brewer had moved away and taken on a new identity. He’d gotten married and became active in his community. Thirty years later, after he suffered a serious stroke and was told he had very little time to live, he called for the police and gave them all the details they needed to solve the mystery. The only problem, for James, was that after his admission, instead of dying, he completely recovered. He’s now serving time in Tennessee.

Deathbed confessions work out a lot better if you die after you confess.

I don’t believe there’s any better-known deathbed confession than the one God included in the record of scripture. Nearly everyone you meet – whether they grew up in church or not – know something about the man hanging on a cross next to Jesus.

We call him the dying thief.

Augustine wrote that this scene is where the cross becomes a classroom”. (SOURCE: Eugenia Scarvelis Constantinou, The Crucifixion of the King of Glory (Ancient Faith Publishing, 2021), p. 276)

I agree – this is where the Lord Jesus will teach us some wonderful truths about the gospel, with this dying man’s final confession.

We’re in the Gospel by Luke, chapter 23. Let me arrange our study of this amazing demonstration of the gospel under five headings. I’ll call the first one:

The Arrangement

Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him (Jesus), and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Luke 23:32-33

One on His right – that would be the republicans. One on His left – that would be the democrats. In light of the election, I couldn’t help but think that when I read this – they both need the Savior. It won’t matter what party you belong to, but whether or not you’ve been pardoned. By the way, we’re not told which thief is gonna get saved – but we do know, they both needed it. And that’s the mission of the church – not to build a party – but to lead people to the Prince of Peace.

Now we’re not told here who arranged for Jesus to be hung between these two partners in crime. Luke refers to them with a common word for law breakers. Matthew calls them robbers – you could translate it in our vernacular, gangsters. They were members of an organized group of men who were willing to murder Romans as well as Jews who collaborated with the Romans. (SOURCE: Adapted from Charles R. Swindoll, The Darkness and the Dawn (Word Publishing, 2001), p. 139)

The gospel of Mark uses the same word for these two men as he does for Barabbas – these men had blood on their hands.

The Jewish leaders might have arranged for Jesus to be hung on a cross with these men, rather than alone, as a way to humiliate Him. To effectively declare that Jesus was just as wicked as these criminals were. What we do know is the fact that because Jesus was put to death with criminals was nothing short of prophetic fulfillment – that the Suffering Savior – the Messiah – would be numbered with the transgressors (Isaiah 53:12). In fact, Mark’s doesn’t want us to miss it – he puts it this way:

And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “He was numbered with the transgressors.” Mark 15:27-28

This is another reminder that mankind ultimately isn’t in control of history. These people are responsible – they are accountable – they are exercising their free will – but God is moving everything according to His divine arrangement. Jesus isn’t just gonna die – He’s gonna demonstrate deliverance to a man who doesn’t have long to live. Now following the arrangement, we encounter:

The Abuse

And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” Luke 23:35

Matthew’s gospel adds that the religious leaders – the Sanhedrin – the Supreme Court Justices of Israel – were out there – Matthew writes:

They mocked him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself...let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him…For he said, “I am the Son of God.” Matthew 27:40-43

By the way, the justices of the Israel’s supreme court didn’t leave their homes and walk up to a crucifixion scene to mock someone they’ve put on death row. Supreme court justices to this day, don’t crowd the Witness Room to watch someone die whom they’ve refused to release at the midnight hour. But these justices did. They just couldn’t leave Jesus alone. Matthew records that even the two criminals initially joined in the abuse and reviling of Jesus.

The Roman soldiers – who were calloused to the entire event – this was just one more crucifixion – even they wouldn’t back off and leave Him alone – Luke adds here in verse 36:

The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” Luke 23:36-37

Then Luke reminds us that attached above Jesus was this inscription – written in 3 languages – and it read, “This is the King of the Jews.” And that only invited more hatred and reviling and mockery. “We’ve been expecting the Messiah – we’ve been waiting for our true King – but let this settle it once and for all – You, Jesus, are not Him.” Now all this mockery and reviling was meant for evil, but God the Father is going to use it for good.

Keep in mind that these two murderers knew very little about this Galilean rabbi. But just think of what they’re hearing – and reading – and learning. Listen to the statements that are being made – listen through the ears of a criminal who at some point grows quiet.

  • “He claims to be the Messiah”
  • “He says He is The Chosen One”
  • “He is the Son of God”
  • “He’s the King of the Jews”
  • “He’s the anointed Messiah”
  • “He saved others!”

He must’ve studied that placard hanging above the head of Jesus – “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews”. This is Jesus – Yeshua – Deliverer/Savior And instead of Jesus cursing back at the soldiers, and the judges who put Him on the cross – instead of venting His fury and rage against them for their cruel mockery – he hears Jesus repeating under His breath – over and over again – “Father, forgive them – they know not what they do.” “Father forgive them….”

This thief is thinking:

  • Who prays to God as if He were their Heavenly Father?
  • Who responds with compassion to those who act in cruelty?
  • And I know some of these judges – I would like to have slit some of their throats – these collaborators with Rome – these religious hypocrites who hold our nation hostage to Rome.
  • And why would the Sanhedrin come up here to mock him – to challenge him to come down from the cross – evidently He can, or they wouldn’t have come to see if He did!
  • These corrupt leaders are condemning a man for claiming to be their rightful King – and listen to Him – He’s praying for their forgiveness. Who does that?

It must be true! It’s all true.

We have the arrangement – the abuse – and now

The Admission

The Spirit of God, by the grace of God, he once was blind but now he sees: he believes what he reads – and what he hears. And keep in mind that he confesses his guilt and his faith in Jesus: before the darkness covers the earth; before the earthquake; before the Centurion professes faith in Christ; before all of this – just based on what he’s heard, and what he’s read. Before any of that occurs, he’s arrived by faith to this moment of confession(SOURCE: Adapted from Arthur W. Pink, The Seven Sayings of the Savior on the Cross (Baker Books House, 1958), p. 29)

He makes this incredible admission – verse 39:

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds...” Luke 23:39-41b

He just confesses that he knows: He is going to stand before God – “do you not fear God?” In other words, have you overlooked the fact that you’re dying too? He admitted that he deserved the judgment of God – “we are receiving the due reward of our deeds.”

But that wasn’t all He admitted – the last part of verse 41: “But this man – Jesus – has done nothing wrong!” He publicly admits what everyone knows is true. Before any of that occurs, he’s arrived by faith to this moment of confessionAdapted from Warren W. Wiersbe, Jesus’ Seven Last Words (Back to the Bible, 1981), p. 19)

Like the little child who saw the naked king parading around in his supposedly fine new clothes that only sophisticated people with good taste could see – designed by crooks – and the child said, “The emperor has no clothes!” Here you have the most unlikely person on the planet delivering the truth – the final blow to the Supreme Court justices, the nation Israel, the Roman government – Jesus hasn’t done anything wrong. Let me tell you, this deathbed confession was an incredible declaration. He declares the innocence of Jesus Christ. But for his own sake, this criminal makes a deathbed confession – he admits to his own sin and guilt before a holy God he knew he was about to meet.

He’s effectively saying to the other thief – as if to invite him to do the say: “I am a guilty sinner.” “I deserve to die for my sins.” “I will give an account one day to God.” “I have nothing good to offer God.”

Have you said those things to God? If you will, here’s the good news – “While we were sinners, Jesus Christ died for us.” (Romans 3:7) Something is happening in this hardened criminal’s heart – something miraculous – something marvelous. His cross now becomes a classroom where he demonstrates the genuine posture of a sinner who is confessing, repenting and now trusting.

Following this admission, the dying thief now makes this appeal.

The Appeal

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

This is one of the greatest testimonies of faith you will ever hear – which is why it’s recorded in scripture – lest we think it would never have happened. You have a dying man believing in a dying King. He’s studied that placard for some time now. He’s heard Jesus praying to His Father. He’s heard the accusations from corrupt leaders who are out of place here on Mount Calvary. What’s this about? It’s true.

Would you notice that he doesn’t say, “Jesus, remember me if you come into your kingdom” but “when you come into your kingdom.” (SOURCE: Clovis G. Chappell, The Seven Words (Baker Book House, 1952), p. 26) He doesn’t say, “Look Jesus, if everything works out and You really do have a coming kingdom – remember me!” No – I believe you are the King of Israel – and you have a kingdom coming – this thief has become a premillennialist – let me be a part of it!

Is he kidding? The evidence is entirely against his appeal. Jesus isn’t heading for a throne, He’s dying on a cross; there isn’t a diadem on His head, but a crown of thorns; He’s not welcomed by the nation, but rejected. Is the dying thief blind? No – this is the miracle of true repentance and faith: “Once I was blind, but now I see!” Maybe you’re saying in your heart today, “If I had more evidence that Jesus was really the Son of God and the coming King of a future kingdom, I’d believe in Him.” No you wouldn’t. You don’t lack evidence, you lack interest – you lack willingness to acknowledge what you already know – admit you are a sinner who is going to meet God, and you are not prepared to meet Him.

The Bible says, “It is appointed unto man to die once, and after that comes the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).  Against all the evidence – and the lack of evidence – this thief looks over at a blood caked, torn up, beaten, swollen faced, dying Jesus and effectively says, “I believe you are the long-awaited King – and when you come with your kingdom one day, would you remember me?”

I have read in ancient days this expression was used on tombstones where people wouldn’t have their names inscribed there, but just this phrase from the lips of a dying thief – simply this: Remember me. Helpless – hopeless – guilty – condemned – unable to change his past – and only a few hours to live into the future – “Lord, remember me.” And to that humble, repentant, genuine statement of faith, Jesus returns this amazing answer.

The Answer

And he [Jesus] said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43

In the original language, the word “today” is placed forward for emphasis – TODAY, you will be with me in Paradise. What a promise – and to a dying man! But get the irony of this answer. Jesus is in the process of being crucified for being a liar – an imposter. The Supreme Court has unanimously determined that He has blasphemed by claiming to lie about who He was – the Son of God. Now they’re listening to this exchange between Jesus and the criminal – “Will you remember me when you come back with your kingdom?”

And they would have expected Jesus’ deathbed confession to sound like, “Well, you know, I said all those things, but now that I’m gonna die, I oughtta come clean and tell the truth – I’m sorry for taking my claims to be the Messiah – the Son of God too far. I just got carried away. Listen, Pal, I can’t really do anything for you – that photograph of Me being the Messiah – well that was a fake!” Oh no . . . Jesus says, “Truly, I say to you – this is the truth – let me tell you the truth – I am who I said I am – and today you are going to enjoy paradise with me!

This answer from Jesus destroys at least 5 false teachings:

1. It destroys the false doctrine of baptismal regeneration. That is, the belief that one must be baptized in order to be saved. This new convert couldn’t experience the ceremonial washing devout Jews practiced. He couldn’t follow the Old Testament prophet John’s baptism signaling adherence to his message; this thief certainly couldn’t experience believer’s baptism either. Jesus didn’t holler down at the Roman soldiers – “Hey, would one of you go get a bucket of water – this guy wants to get saved.” Jesus did not say to him, “After you are baptized, I’ll remember you in the kingdom. No, you’re heading there in just a few hours.”

2. This answer also destroys the false teaching of soul-sleep, or spiritual limbo. This false doctrine teaches that believers are in a state of unconsciousness between death and the resurrection. (SOURCE: Pink, p. 44) The apostle Paul said, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” (2Corinthians 5:8) Jesus will soon say from the cross, “Father, into Thy hands I commit my Spirit.” There is immediate, conscious, transition from earth to heaven, immediately following death. Jesus didn’t say to this thief, “After you’re soul has slept for a few years, I’ll bring you up.” No – “Today!”

3. This answer also destroys the false teaching of purgatory. This false teaching says that after death you go through the fire of purgatory in order to be purified and prepared for the kingdom of heaven. Then I suppose this thief would have a lot of things that would need purging in purgatory. But instead, Jesus makes this man a ‘ wonderful example that upon salvation, you  are prepared and purified entirely and eternally. The apostle Paul emphasized this truth when he wrote to the Colossians who are still living, that by faith in Christ, they can now – I quote – “Give thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:12-14 You’re not paying for your sins – Jesus paid for them. You’re not waiting to be qualified for heaven – you are already qualified by the blood of the Lamb.

4. The Lord’s answer here destroys the false teaching that there is no life after death. Jesus promises Paradise to this dying thief – there is life after death. The New Testament writers used paradise as a synonym for heaven on two occasions. Paul talked about being caught up to Paradise – and given a tour of heaven (2 Corinthians 12). John describes heaven in Revelation 2 as a Paradise where the tree of life bears fruit for the redeemed to enjoy.

The word Paradise is a Persian word which means, a “walled garden”. When a Persian king wished to do one of his subjects a very special honor, he bestowed on him the title, “Companion of the Garden”. That meant that the individual was granted access where he could walk with the King. (SOURCE: Willam Barclay, The Gospel of Luke (Westminster Press, 1975), p. 287) Jesus is using a term that this man would understand.

But there’s more for us to consider. Warren Wiersbe made the interesting connection that the first Adam became a thief and was cast out of the Garden of Paradise. The last Adam – Jesus Christ, turns now to a thief and promises him entrance into the Garden of Paradise. (SOURCE: Wiersbe, p. 22)

5. The false teaching of faith plus works for salvation. Arthur Pink writes on this text: What could this thief do for Christ? He could not walk in the paths of righteousness for there was a nails through his feet. He could not perform any good works for there were nails through both hands. He could not turn over a new leaf, or promise to live a better life, for all he could do was die. (SOURCE: Ibid, p. 34) Paul made it clear – Not be works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us (Titus 3:5)

Think of it. He couldn’t offer a sacrifice in the temple. He certainly couldn’t join a New Testament church. He couldn’t get baptized, or give money to the Lord. He had no time or opportunity to get cleaned up, reformed, or even prove the reality of his repentance by spiritual fruit. He couldn’t set his criminal record straight, make restitution to the Roman government, apologize to those he’d hurt – or to the families of those he’d murdered. He could not do one thing for God, country, family, religion or mankind. He literally could not do anything but die.

Except – as a dying man – trust in the person of Jesus. And with a few hours left to live, he did.

This thief illustrates two lasting truths for us today.

First, the truth that:

As long as you are alive, it’s not too late to turn to Christ.

This dying thief turned to Christ on the last day of his life. The most unlikely convert, in the most unlikely place, believed near the end of his life. That’s why we should never say that we know for sure someone went to Hell. We don’t know what transpired between them and the Lord at the last possible moment.

Samuel Johnson was the famous author who compiled the Dictionary of the English Language in 1755. He was a committed believer and he was fond of quoting a hopeful epitaph for anyone who thought they had waited too long to ask God for mercy. He would quote this couplet as if written from a man who is fatally thrown from his horse to the ground. The couplet goes like this:

Between the stirrup and the ground,
I mercy ask’d, I mercy found.
I had just a second to live –
Between the stirrup and the ground,
I mercy ask’d, I mercy found. (SOURCE: Kent Hughes, Luke: Volume 2 (Crossway, 1998), p. 387)

But don’t fall into the trap of thinking that you’ll wait until you’re in the air! Don’t think that you’ll be like this dying thief and trust in Christ at the last moment. You don’t know when that last moment is. You don’t know the day you will die. So what are you waiting for? Ask Him to save you today! One author writes, The dying thief wasn’t saved at the last opportunity, but at the first opportunity he had. How many opportunities have you had already?

Here’s the second truth, revealed in the deathbed conversion of this dying thief: secondly,

No one is beyond the reach of God’s grace.

No one is too far gone. (SOURCE: Swindoll, p. 145) Perhaps you’ve heard of Mel Trotter, a man many would have considered far too gone. He was an alcoholic who cared only about one thing in life – his next drink. Even the needs of his wife and family meant nothing to him. In 1897, his little boy became deathly ill. He was given just enough money to get the medicine the child needed. Trotter went out and instead of going to purchase medicine, he went on a 10-day drinking binge and used up all the money. When he returned home, he discovered that his boy had only recently died. Before the funeral, Mel Trotter stole the shoes from his son’s body and later pawned them for more liquor. Filled with grief and shame, he left home, hopped on an open train car and arrived in Chicago during a bitter snow storm. He sold his shoes for a drink. Now, barefoot, broke, and drunk, he staggered towards Lake Michigan to end his life. However his path led him past the Pacific Garden Mission and he heard singing. He was invited in and when the Mission Director saw Mel, he stopped the singing, and asked the crowd to start praying for this barefoot man. That night Mel heard the gospel and believed in Christ. Three years later, in 1900, now reconciled with his family, he started his own rescue mission, and until he died in 1940, he started rescue missions in 40 cities, bringing thousands of people to Christ. (SOURCE: Ibid)

Mel Trotter was not too far gone. No one is, including you and me.

There is a fountain filled with blood,
Drawn from Emmanuel’s veins,
And sinners plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stain.

The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in His day;
And there have I, though vile as he,
Washed all my sins away.

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