Why not now?
April 1, 2011 (Friday)
This Sunday I will preach a sermon on one of the two men who were crucified with Jesus at the same time and place. One of those men pleaded for mercy and Christ gave it to him. The other man was unrepentant to the last breath. I’m going to talk about that man and his rejection of Jesus Christ in the sermon Sunday.
Crucifixion was a hideous and horrible form of execution practiced by the Romans. It was a method reserved for non-Romans. No Roman could be crucified, according to their law. It was too degrading and torturous to be used against a Roman citizen. But Roman law said it was fine for the Jews, who for some unknown reason have been persecuted throughout history. Of course, it was used not only against the Jews, but against anyone who was not a Roman citizen. The laws that protected human rights were “of the Romans, by the Romans and for the Romans.” The conquered peoples were under subjection as non-citizens.
We know that Jesus had committed no crime, and the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, was under no obligation to execute Him, but the Jewish leaders demanded the death sentence, and Pilate acceded, knowing he was convicting an innocent person. The two men who were crucified with Jesus, however, were indeed guilty of crimes.
We stand in awe of the defiance shown by the unrepentant thief. He had the opportunity of believing in Jesus as Savior, but he rejected Jesus to the very end.
How very sad that he was not the last person to refuse acceptance of Jesus. Millions of people are rejecting Him today.
Are you one of those who have been saying “No” to Jesus?
He continues to knock at your heart’s door. Won’t you open that door and let Him in today? In the words of an old hymn, “Why not come to Him now?”