Text: Luke 23:26-43
Intro: In some respects, these three crosses are alike. All three men suffered agonizing pain, raging thirst, nakedness and shame. One man is dying in sin; one is dying for sin and the other dying to sin
    A. Notice the love the women showed for Jesus v. 27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women,
        which also bewailed and lamented him.
        1. And what He said to them v. 28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep
            for yourselves, and for your children.
        2. We should weep for our own sins, and the sins of our children, that were the cause of his death;
        3. One should be concerned about the condition of his soul, Nicodemus.
    B. The Lord foresaw the destruction of the city of Jerusalem and the miseries that would fall upon its inhabitants in.
        1. Fulfilled A.D. 70.
    C. He looked down from that day to this very hour and seen that the world was going to grow worse and worse v. 29-30.
        “For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare,
        and the paps which never gave suck. ~ Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover
        us.” 1. Rev. 6:15-17 None of these men wanted to see Jesus but were trying to hide from Him. (Verse 16)  “And said
        to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of
        the Lamb:”
        2. This is one of the greatest pray meetings to ever take place upon the earth, but there will be no mercy shown.
    D. Verse 31 “for if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?”
        1. Christ was a green tree, fruitful and flourishing;
        2. The anti-Christ will be a dry tree having no life to offer anyone.
        3. (Revelation 16:10-11) “And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of
            darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, ~ And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and
            their sores, and repented not of their deeds.”
I. The First Cross Represents the Age in Which We Are Living today, an Age of Doubt and Stealing.
    A. Men doubt God.
        1. That there is a God (Psa. 14:1    0.
        2. Doubt Hs ability to save (1 Tim. 1:15 Titus 2:11 0.
        3. Doubt His ability to keep one saved (Hebrews 7:25).  “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that
            come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”  (I Pet.1:5;  John 5:24)
    B. Doubt God’s Word.
        1. Doubt what the Bible teaches about man’s appointment with death (Heb. 9:27)
        2. Doubt the judgment of God (Romans 14:11). “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
            and every tongue shall confess to God.”
        3. Men try to take the gold out of heaven and the fire out of hell.
    C. Doubt His ability to provide (Phil. 4:19).
    D. Some doubt their salvation.
    E. Some even doubt why they are in the world.
    F. This man wanted to be saved from suffering but not from sin.
    G. He not only doubted God, but he was a thief.
        1. Men steal in many different ways
            a. From the government.
            b. From their fellow man.
            c. After he has stolen from every one else then he will steal from God.
                a) In tithes and offerings (Mal. 3:8-10).
    H. The man on the first cross live as a thief, he died as a thief.
    I. Many have died and are dying on the cross of rejection (John 8:24).  “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your
        sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”
II. The Second Cross Represents Acknowledgment That a Man Needs God (Luke 23:40-42). “But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? ~  And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.~ And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.”
    A. He recognized Jesus as Savior.
    B. He acknowledged his sin. (repented)
        1. He wanted to be saved from sin, not just suffering
    C. Salvation by grace through faith magnified, He didn’t have time to
        1. Be baptized.
        2. Become a church member.
        3. To do any good works.
        4. He cried for mercy and got an answer verse 43 (Eph. 2:8-10; Rom. 4:5).
III. The Third Cross-is the Cross-of Our lord Jesus Christ.
    A. Jesus suffered at every side at the cross.
        1. Human hatred did its worse (Isa. 53:3-6).
        2. Satan hurled his sharpest javelin.
        3. Hell vented its hottest rage.
        4. Until Jesus cried, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
    B. He who knew no sin suffered for me (II Cor. 5:21).
    C. He died to set us free from sin
    D. He lives that we might live
Conclusion: God has two ways of dealing with your sin. He’ll  forgive them in this life for Christ’s sake or punish you in hell for your sins. The choice is yours.