1. Which Thief Are You? John 19:16-18 The Story of Two Thieves The King of the World

2. The Story of Two Thieves  The Crucifixion  A most horrible death  Scourging first  Horizontal bar bound to the victim’s back  Led through the city by the executioner and four centurions  Placard of accused crime was carried in front  Stripped of clothing that became soldiers’  Fixed to the cross Which Thief Are You? John 19:16-18

3. The Story of Two Thieves  Three died that day at Calvary  John does not emphasize the crucifixion.  Fulfillment of prophesy  Jesus’ words on the cross  Accompanied by two thieves  The thieves were guilty of robbery but, most likely, they were insurrectionists too.  They were suffering the same horrible pain. Which Thief Are You? John 19:16-18

4. The Story of Two Thieves  Insults were added in the thieves’ presence.  Matthew 27:40 Which Thief Are You? John 19:16-18

5. Matthew 27:40 (ESV) 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”

6. The Story of Two Thieves  Insults were added in the thieves’ presence.  Matthew 27:40  Luke 23:35 Which Thief Are You? John 19:16-18

7. Luke 23:35 (ESV) 35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!”

8. The Story of Two Thieves  Insults were added in the thieves’ presence.  Matthew 27:40  Luke 23:35  Mark 15:32 Which Thief Are You? John 19:16-18

9. Mark 15:32 (ESV) 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.

10. The Story of Two Thieves  Insults were added in the thieves’ presence.  Matthew 27:40  Luke 23:35  Mark 15:32  Matthew 27:44 Which Thief Are You? John 19:16-18

11. Matthew 27:44 (ESV) 44 And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.

12. The Story of Two Thieves  Insults were added in the thieves’ presence.  Matthew 27:40  Luke 23:35  Mark 15:32  Matthew 27:44  Luke 23:39 Which Thief Are You? John 19:16-18

13. Luke 23:39 (ESV) 39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!”

14. The Story of Two Thieves  The miracle of salvation begins.  God begins a work in one thief’s heart.  Luke 23:39-43 Which Thief Are You? John 19:16-18

15. Luke 23:39-43 (ESV) 39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

16. The Story of Two Thieves  The miracle of salvation begins.  God begins a work in one thief’s heart.  Luke 23:39-43  One thief begins to understand Jesus.  He rebukes the other.  Faith grows within him and salvation comes to this man. Which Thief Are You? John 19:16-18

17. The Story of Two Thieves  This becomes our example of the great transfer and transformation that takes place on the cross.  There was sin in the thieves.  There was sin on the thieves.  There was no sin in Jesus.  There was our sin on Jesus. Which Thief Are You? John 19:16-18

18. The Story of Two Thieves  The believing thief did three things. 1. He recognized his spiritual need for a Savior. 2. He recognized Jesus as Savior. 3. He committed himself to Jesus as his Savior.  Have you recognized this need in your life and put your faith in the only one who can be your Savior? Which Thief Are You? John 19:16-18

19. The King of the World  The title given to Jesus on the cross is recorded in all of the Gospels.  John tells us it is written in three languages.  This may account for the slight variations in the Gospel accounts.  John records this so we may understand that, while Jesus is the King of the Jews, He is also the King of the World. Which Thief Are You? John 19:16-18

20. The King of the World  This world’s Savior  John 1:9-12 Which Thief Are You? John 19:16-18

21. John 1:9-12 (ESV) 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

22. The King of the World  This world’s Savior  John 1:9-12  John 1:29 Which Thief Are You? John 19:16-18

23. John 1:29 (ESV) 29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

24. The King of the World  This world’s Savior  John 1:9-12  John 1:29  John 3:16-17 Which Thief Are You? John 19:16-18

25. John 3:16-17 (ESV) 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

26. The King of the World  This world’s Savior  John 1:9-12  John 1:29  John 3:16-17  John 3:19-21 Which Thief Are You? John 19:16-18

27. John 3:19-21 (ESV) 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

28. The King of the World  This world’s Savior  John 1:9-12  John 1:29  John 3:16-17  John 3:19-21  John 4:42 Which Thief Are You? John 19:16-18

29. John 4:42 (ESV) 42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

30. The King of the World  This world’s Savior  John 1:9-12  John 1:29  John 3:16-17  John 3:19-21  John 4:42  John 6:32-35 Which Thief Are You? John 19:16-18

31. John 6:32-35 (ESV) 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

32. The King of the World  Salvation is for all!  Colossians 2:13-14 Which Thief Are You? John 19:16-18

33. Colossians 2:13-14 (ESV) 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross

34. The King of the World  Salvation is for all!  Colossians 2:13-14  Jesus is Lord over all!  Hebrew tells us He is the King of religion.  Greek tells us He is the King over science, culture, and philosophy.  Latin tells us He is the King of law and government  Latin tells us He is the King of law and government. Which Thief Are You? John 19:16-18

35. Application Which thief are you? Have you called upon the name of Jesus to “remember you in His kingdom”? If not, will you call upon His name now? If you have called upon His name, have you made Him Lord of your life? Which Thief Are You? John 19:16-18