The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-28

for BateT-Day sinners-.Ihe Oio
story Presented in an Instructive |
and Attractive Light by the Pastor
of HOLY Trinity Lutheran Church in |
one Of His Discourses Yesterday.
At Holy Trinity Lutheran church
yesterday morning Rev. Charles Gs
Speker, the pastor, preached from st.
Luke, xiii :39-43, And one of the mai
factors which were hanged rallied on
Him, saying-If thou be Christ save
thyself and us. But the other answer
ing 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 or our
deeds; but this man has done nothing
amiss, and he said unto Jesus; Lord,
remember me when thou comest into
Thy kingdom, and Jesus said unto him,
Verify / say unto thee, today shalt thou
be with Me in Paradise" lie said:
OF Christ it had been foretold by the
prophet that He should be counted
among the evil dCers. And so 1t was full
filed, for no sooner had Jesus begun with
His public exercise of His office than
the Jews spoke of Him. as lie himself
| tells us. John came neither eating nor
drinking, and they say he hath devil.
| The son Of man came eating and drinking
| and they say, behold man guttonous
| and a wine bibber, friend of publicans
and sinners Again the Pharisees mock
| ingly said of Him, this man receiveth
sinners and eateth with them. BY wiuch
| they would have the impre ssion go forth
| that Christ was no better than those
| with whom He associated. They called
| Him samaritan. 1hey denounced Him
as a traitor, and said He biasphemcd.
| They handed Him over to Plate as one
| who had cUnspiled against the govern
| ment a rebel lie was not only classed
| with the evil doers in general but He was
reckoned among the criminals, the very
| outcastS OF humanity
| PROPHECY OF ISAIAH.
| The prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled.
| Jesus was cruCitied in place where the
| common criminals were executed, and
| two malefactors were crucitied with Him
The one on His right, the other on His
| left. Jesus in the middle, as though He
had been the worst of the three But not
| only on earth was He reckonCd among
| the transgressors, but also in heaven,
| for He was accounted the transgressor of
| all transgressors. On Him lay the sin OF
the whole world. The wages of sin is
| II,
| self the sin of the world, according to
| Divine Justice, he suffered death justly.
| The two men crucified with Him were
| called malfactors or thieves, who had
been guilty of that for which the law re-
quired the penalty of death TO be paid.
They hung there as result of their
crime. They died justly, having deserved
it by their acts. Although they both were
common criminals, they differed vast
| lN WA q hardened H.
ner, who, when he heard the rabble
around the cross mocking Jesus, also
rallied and Knocked Him. Facing death
He yet scoffed and sneered; he went
down to his destruction without repent
ance and the fear of God. But although
belinging to the same class and no doubt
having been a partner in crime with this
hardened sinner, the other is filled with
higher thoughts. His heart Is moved.
He opens his lips and reproves the mock
er, reminding him of the fact that now in
| that last hour it is time to let mockery
alone and think of God ana His judgment
to which both will so soon have TO APP
pear.
What a contrast we have. Whilst the
one was hardened and stubborn in his
wickedness, this one was repentent. He
was filed with remorse Terror Overcame
him at the thought of the coming judg-
ment, and Luke in his gospel tells us how
in all sincerity he turns upon the re-
viler and says, "Dost thou not fear God,
seeing thou art in the same condemna-
tion? and we justly, for we received the
due reward of our deeds; but this man
has done nothing amiss." Turning to
Jesus, he said: Lord remember me
when thou comest into Thy kingdom" "
And here we Rave an example of a truly
penitent and believing sinner. In him we
have the two parts of true repentance.
Confession and faith.
PROMPTED BY SORROW.
This confession was clearly prompted
by sorrow for his sins. Because he had
offended against God. therefore he was
willing and ready to bear the conse-
quences of his sins. If the sins would
only be forgiven and removed from the
sight of God. Not only did he confess his
own guilt, but he also defends the inno-
cence of Jesus. He has done nothing
amiss. Nowhere in the whole passion
history do we hear such a testimony as
this thief gave. Hanging on the cross
forsaken by all, guarded by the Roman
soldiers, me cked by the wealthiest of the
Jews-in the midst Of all that great gath.
ering there was but one man who lifted
up his voice in defense Of Jesus. 1t was
this malefactor.
The thief had true faith as the won.
derful prayer indicates. Lord remember
me when thou contest into Thy king
DOM. Reviled and slandered, called g
blasphemer by the scribes and Pharisees
hanging on the cross bleeding and about
to die-yet the thief recognizes in Him q
king and he humby asks the Lord to re
member him in His kingdom. No, hC
{ had no reference to an earthly kingdom
| for of what good would that be to him
He was about to leave this world; he saw
/, in Christ heavenly king, having a spir
itual kingdom; he recognized that jesus
was to establish heavenly kingdom anC
, | that He was to be a Saviour of the sou
a from death and sin and from hell. II,
also knew that the Lord would not estab
lish His kingdom by force of arms, bu
4 by sufferngs, for his prayer implies tina
: he regarded Jesus as just entering int
| His kingdom. He knew who and wha
I | Christ is and therefore is not offending
: with his lowlyness, but openly confesse
< Him before that crowd of murderers.
That which was hid from the wise AM
prudent unknown to the priest an,
: Levite. was manifest to this poor mlser
r able culprit-the saving knowledge o
I Christ Jesus. And SO the Lord at al
times preserves unto Himself a church
Z Il little flock of such as know Him a
q their shepherd, who trust in Him AM
n | confess Him before men even in the YER
face of death. If the great and wise vii
9 not confess Him, confessors will b
n found among the meanest of earth, yea
: even among the criminals.
s Jesus had been called the friend of pub
a leans and sinners. and though the,
meant it as a slander, yet they uttere
one of the grandest truths the world eve
+ heard. In all His work and life Jesu
= showed Himself the friend of the forlor
. and neuitent sinners. He went ahoui do