Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-03-31
CHR|ST'S SECOND
WORDS FROM CROSS.
TOPIC FOR SERMON.
TODAY SHALT THOU BE WITH
ME IN PARADISE" is SUBJECT
FOR REV. ESSMAN'S SUNDAY
NIGHT DISCOURSE.

sunday night Al the Baptist Church
was a pre-EaStern service with appro-
pirate music. Rev G. w. Chessman
preached on the subject. The Second
Word from the Cross Text Matt.
% 39-42 He said
The second word from the cross
was a divine word of pardon to poor,
penitent malefactor Today shalt
thou be with me in paradise The
gospel narrative of the dying thief
regeneration is fragmentary, but We
may read between the lines.
The penitent malefactor noted the
striking contrast between Jesus and
his railing enemies. He heard the
jeering taunt, He saved others; Him
self He cannot cave. He heard the
sarcastic jibes. II Thou be the Son o.
God, come down from the cross. He
heard the coarse jests and unblushing
profanity OF the Roman soldiers. And
over against this dark background He
noted the wonderful poise and silence
of Jesus. Reproached, Jesus re
peaches not; unjustly punished, He
accuses not; reyiled, He reyiles NOT
again. He is dying with tranquil
majesty; He has a truly kingly bear
ing. The only word the malefactor
has heard from His lips is the word.
Father forgive them, for they know
not what they do 1t is prayer for
His crucitiers.
A strange thing happens. When
one of the bandits rails at Jesus the
other one rebukes him 'Dost thou
not fear God. seeing thou art under
the same condemnation. We receive
the due rewards of our deeds, but this
man has done nothing amiss.'
What music it must have been to-
the ears of the suffering. lonely
Christ when all His disciples had
fCrsaken Him and fed to have this
voice amid the frightful discords OF
the cross raised in His behalf One
word of testimony 10 His euiltless-
ness in His dying hours; the word OF
a dying thief. man esteemed no
more than common vermin by those
around the cross.
The malefactor did not know il,
but he had fulfilled a condition OF sal
vation; he had confessed his sin toI
the Christ who had authority to for
give men OF their sins. He did not
know that beside him was one who If
We confess our sins is faithful and
just to forgive Us cur sins.
How sudden and surprising is his
request. Lord, remember me when
thou contest into thy kingdom What
a strange place to talk about king
doms, What tragic irony. One His
disciples dreamed Of His coming into
/ kingdom. but not by way OF the
cross. What meant the malefactor liz
ais request? How shall we explain
he request? The only explanation
that satisfies me Is a supernatural
one. 1t was divinely revealed TO this
penitent thief that Christ was enter
ing a kingdom; that death did not end
all Flesh and blood did not reveal IL
TO him any more than it revealed TO
Peter that Christ was the Son OF the
living God.
The answer of Christ to this re-
quest is the second word from the
cross, Today shalt thou be with Me
in paradise The repentant sinner,
confessing his sins, finds a wonderful
Savior. How fitting that one who in
his lifetime was ever seeking and saw
ing the lost, should in His dying hour
bear with Him into eternity the re-
deemed soul of a poor, penitent male
factor. For such as this thief Christ
died. For shining men Christ died.
This is a faithful saying and worthy
of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus
came into the world to save sin
ners.'
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