Grant Fishbook, Lead Teaching Pastor
Luke 23:32–42
32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, 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”.
39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
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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.”
A word of forgiveness
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34
A word of relationship
“Woman, behold, your son! . . . Behold, your mother!” John 19:26-27
A word of despair
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46; Psalm 22:1
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A word of humanity
“I thirst.” John 19:28; Psalm 69:21
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A word of triumph
“It is finished.” John 19:30
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A word of reunion
“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” Luke 23:46; Psalm 31:5
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A word of salvation
Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43
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Mark 16:2–7
2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
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Small Group Questions
- What’s something you enjoyed about this Easter season? What did Jesus do in your life?
- Have you ever been treated like a criminal? What happened and how did you feel?
- What do you learn about your own salvation and theological perspective from Jesus saving the thief on the cross?
- Which word from the cross speaks to your heart today?
- How can you make your life count for the living Jesus in the coming week?
- How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?