Jesus is Our Rock [9-13-26]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgX-i7OCVIg?is=3rYmkzHLzFK10OLQ

September 13, 2026

Luke 23:39-49

“Jesus is Our Rock”

There are two significant things Jesus says from the cross. We saw the first one last week:

And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

Jesus says this about everyone clamoring for his death. The crowds have turned on him. There is a huge contrast between their hatred and his forgiveness. It is grace and mercy from the cross.

With that in mind, let’s now turn to Luke 23:39-49:

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; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.

How does verse thirty-nine begin? More abuse, mocking, and derision heaped on Jesus. This time, one of the bad guys does the dirty work. He says, “If you’re who everybody thinks you are, save yourself and us.” What an absolute loser this guy is.

Here’s a reminder of the meaning behind Jesus’ nonanswer:

IN NOT SAVING HIMSELF, JESUS WAS ABLE TO SAVE OTHERS.

So far, in these verses, we see where nobody has any sense of clarity. No clarity at all. Everybody has a twisted, perverted understanding of what’s happening on the cross. Until. Until they see what happens when Jesus dies. Until they see how Jesus dies.

When Jesus dies…how Jesus dies…then the light comes on. Life comes out of death. Knowledge comes out of ignorance. Light drives away darkness. That’s where we’re led with the repentant sinner crucified next to Jesus.

I’m reminded here of verse one of that great hymn, “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”:

JOYFUL, JOYFUL, WE ADORE YOU,

GOD OF GLORY, LORD OF LOVE; HEARTS UNFOLD LIKE FLOW’RS BEFORE YOU,

OP’NING TO THE SUN ABOVE.

MELT THE CLOUDS OF SIN AND SADNESS;

DRIVE THE DARK OF DOUBT AWAY;

GIVER OF IMMORTAL GLADNESS,

FILL US WITH THE LIGHT OF DAY!

Let’s now look at all the players in these closing verses.

Luke gives us snapshots of three responses to the death of Jesus:

The Roman soldiers.

The crowd.

The followers of Jesus.

All three build off the response of the repentant sinner. Remember him. His

repentance grows out of his fear of God’s justice. He is mortified by his sin. He’s not hiding from it. How often do people do that? People downplay their sin. People justify their sin. “At least I’m not like…” “It wasn’t that bad…” “I’m only human, after all.” I love what Morgan Freeman once said:

“I hate when people say, ‘Act like an adult.’ Have you seen adults lately? That’s horrible advice!”

The repentant sinner knows his horribleness got him what he rightly

deserves. And so he boldly appeals to Jesus. He trusts Jesus will show

grace and mercy to him.

One final point about the repentant sinner. Notice what he doesn’t ask for. He doesn’t ask for deliverance from the hammer of legal justice about to come crashing down on him. He asks for salvation in the world to come. Which tells us a couple of things. First, he knows Jesus is who he says he is. He also knows only Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. And he knows that God’s atoning work through Christ will save him.

And then, what is the amazing affirmation he gets? It’s for us, too.

Salvation is not reserved for a distant future. Here’s something you might want to write down:

SALVATION IS AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY.

Jesus is the first to enter paradise. He makes it possible for all who believe in him. As one commentator frames it:

“Whatever {the man} expected when he made his request, the promise of Jesus is all out of proportion to it.”

G.B. Caird

In this brief snapshot from the cross, we have the affirmation that every person who trusts in Jesus Christ will be in his presence the moment after death. How beautiful is that?

That’s the primary point from these verses.

Now onto three brief responses to the death of Jesus. As we look at them, we also need to look into our hearts and ask what our response to the cross is. Amen?

First up…the centurion. Here’s the most important thing to know about

centurions. They are soldiers. They are the ground troops. They have proven themselves in times of challenge and difficulty. This particular officer is in charge of the soldiers responsible for these prisoners. And he most likely sees Jesus act as no prisoner has ever acted. Probably the most incredible thing he sees is that, even though Jesus is spat on, cursed at, taunted and physically abused, he never curses back or threatens them. The centurion must be wondering, “What kind of man is this?”

As Luke reports, the centurion comes to faith, praising God. He, too, will be with Jesus in paradise.

As the centurion and the others observe, here’s something else you might want to write down:

IN THE MIDST OF DARKNESS, JESUS FACES DEATH CALMLY.

Because of that, may that be true of us, as well, whenever our time comes.

Next are the multitudes who come together for the spectacle. The Greek word translated “spectacle” is theria. Can you hear it? “Theater; theatrics.” They show up for the show. How sick and twisted are they? They are there

to be entertained. To make a mockery of Jesus. But then God shows up. Darkness. Temple curtain torn in two. The mocking ends. The repentance commences. And what do you notice about their response? It’s all about turning from their wickedness. There’s no violence. No looting. Only peaceful lament. What does this event…and their part in it…say about the condition of their hearts and souls? They are changed.

The third group, all his acquaintances and the women who had followed

him from Galilee, have a different perspective.

All we’re told is they watch from afar. Remorse isn’t noted. No repentance to speak of. No new revelation embraced. They simply watch. Interesting, right?

They stand at a distance, watching these things. I don’t think it’s that they don’t care or are unmoved. I think they are shocked. These folks have been with Jesus a long time. They have seen and heard so much. They have been with Jesus for years. Listen to the glimpse we get from John 19:25-27:

“But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’ And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.”

That’s how close they all are. So seeing what happens to Jesus, they are

stunned into silent observation. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

Nothing wrong with that at all.

I think Luke wants us to understand that for many of those who love Jesus, they’re devastated by what happens. They cannot process it. I’m sure many of you have been there. When something horrible happens… when you’re crushed…you need time. It doesn’t mean you’re heartless or don’t care. It simply means you need time for your emotions to catch up. And as we’ll see, they will get there. They will get here.

But for now, they’re stuck. And then, beginning in chapter twenty-four, the

light will go on. Their confusion and sorrow will be turned into great joy.

It’s what we hear in the wonderful song, “How Can it Be?”:

I am guilty

Ashamed of what I've done, what I've become

These hands are dirty

I dare not lift them up to the Holy one

You plead my cause

You right my wrongs

You break my chains

You overcome

You gave Your life

To give me mine

You say that I am free

How can it be?

How can it be?

I've been hiding

Afraid I've let you down, inside I doubt

That You still love me

But in Your eyes there's only grace now

You plead my cause

You right my wrongs

You break my chains

You overcome

You gave Your life

To give me mine

You say that I am free

How can it be?

How can it be?

Though I fall, You can make me new

From this death I will rise with You

Oh the grace reaching out for me

How can it be?

How can it be?

And so we resonate with Paul when he writes in Romans 5:18-19:

Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.

Here’s the promise. Whether we’re with the repentant criminal, the centurion, the convicted crowd, or those who watch from a distance, your sin and confusion will be swallowed up in the glory of the resurrection.

And together, all those saved by the cross say:

SOLI DEO GLORIA…To the Glory of God Alone