You Will Be With Me (Pastor Greg Hudson, 08/09/25)

Have you ever seen a spectacle? I bet you have.

You may not realize it, but if you've ever been,

I don't know, driving down the interstate and

suddenly there's traffic and maybe there's some

unfortunate accident that took place up ahead.

Maybe it's on your side, maybe it's on the other

side, but as you get closer and closer to this,

even if it's on the other side of the road and

there's nothing blocking your lane, What do people

do? Slow down. And they look because they want

to see the spectacle. They want to see what is

happening. They want to see what took place.

It was a couple years ago now, I guess. Jolie

and I, we had gone down to Panama City to help

move my son. And I think we had left really,

really early. And we got there really, really

early before people had woken up. because we

left in the middle of the night to get down there

in the morning. And so they weren't awake yet,

and so we're like, well, let's drive over to

the beach. It's just about a five -minute drive.

And so we drove over there, and we saw a spectacle.

We saw a line. People were just lined up. And

we're like, what are they lined up for? I don't

know, but it must be good. And so we found the

first parking spot. We got out, and we got in

line. And then we said, What's this line for?

People are lined up. It had to be something good,

and it was. It was donuts. There was a donut

shop there right on the beach, and so people

were lined up, and so we waited our turn, and

we got donuts for everybody and took them back

because there was a spectacle. There was something

to see, and as we're celebrating the Lord's Supper,

the communion service, which of course took place

in the hours before the cross on that day there

was a spectacle there was a crowd and if you

look on your calendar you may see that day called

good friday but we recognize that in that moment

for for many of the people involved it was not

good and it was only as we look back on the results

of that that we can say yes that was a good day

that was a good Friday. But in the hours after

the Lord's Supper, John 13, it talks about how

Jesus took a basin and a towel and he bent down

and he washed the disciples' feet. And he said,

this do, you should do as I have done for you.

And so that's why in just a few minutes, we're

going to... Divide up. We're going to go, and

if you choose to participate, we're going to

wash one another's feet in something we call

the ordinance of humility. And in those events

leading up to the cross, as Jesus hung on that

cross, he is recorded as saying seven things.

And people kind of refer to it as the seven sayings

of the cross. The seven sayings of the cross.

And you may or may not remember, but at our last

communion, we looked at the first saying on the

cross where Jesus said, Father, forgive them,

for they don't know what they're doing, even

as they were beating him and abusing him and

nailing him to the cross. And today we're going

to pick up the story, and we're going to look

at the second saying, and we're going to be in

Luke 23. And we'll just be here for a few minutes

before we continue on with the rest of this service.

But in Luke chapter 23, There was a spectacle.

Luke 23 · chapter mention

And there were at least four different groups

of people that the Bible records that were involved

in this spectacle. They were looking at things.

They were seeing things. And we're going to start

in Luke 23, verse 35, and we're going to see

Luke 23:35

the first group. And it says, the people. That's

the first group. The people stood looking on.

Even the rulers with them sneered. So this group

has the people. It's got the religious leaders

of the day. And they're seeing this man hanging

from the cross. And this is what they say. He

saved others. Let him save himself if he is the

Christ, the chosen of God. This is kind of interesting.

Because these people had seen Jesus do miracles.

They had seen him heal the sick. They had seen

the lame be able to walk. They had seen the lepers,

their sores healed, their skin was brought back

like new. Some of them had probably even eaten

from the lunch that Jesus had fed 5 ,000 people

with just one boy's little lunch. They had seen

Jesus save people. They had seen miracles. And

yet, for them, it wasn't enough. They wanted

one more. And it's interesting how they say it.

They said, if you are, they said he saved others,

let him save himself if he is the Christ, the

chosen of God. He saved others, save himself

if he is the Christ. And they missed the entire

point that Jesus was on the cross because he

was the Messiah, because he was. the Christ.

They were saying, do one more miracle and come

down, and they were missing the point that Jesus

was on the cross because he was doing the ultimate

miracle of saving us through his death. And so

they missed the entire point of what Jesus was

doing there. Then it goes on, and we see another

group observing this spectacle. Verse 36, it

says, the soldiers, that's the second group,

the soldiers also mocked him. coming and offering

him sour wine and saying, if you are the king

of the Jews, save yourself. Now this was a group

of, you know, soldiers, hardened soldiers here.

They didn't know Jesus. They didn't know the

hope that the Jewish people had and some Messiah

that was going to come and save them. They were

just doing their job. It was not a pleasant job.

It was a job that involved torture and blood

and death. They were just doing their job and

reading a sign. Because the next verse says there

was a sign written over him, and in other Gospels

it says he is the king of the Jews. They just

read the sign. They didn't know anything about

this guy, and they didn't want to know him. Although

later we see at least one of these soldiers said,

behold. surely he is more than we thought, more

than we imagined. So they missed out on what

was happening as they observed the spectacle.

And the third group is actually just an individual,

verse 39. Then one of the criminals who were

hanged blasphemed him, mocked him, taunted him,

saying, if you are the Christ, Save yourself

and us. So this criminal blasphemed. Again, we're

told in other Gospels, mocked. And he said, aren't

you the Christ? Aren't you the Messiah? If you

are, get down from that cross. And while you're

doing it, get me down too. Save me. And so it

seemed like he wanted Jesus, but only in order

to get out of his current situation. I'm about

to die on this cross. I don't want to be here.

Save yourself. Save us. Save me as well. So he

was observing the spectacle and missing out on

the point. And then there's one more group, one

more individual. We'll call him criminal number

two. In verse 40, it says, but the other, the

other criminal, answering, rebuked him, rebuked

criminal number one, saying, Do you not even

fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?

And we indeed justly, for we receive the due

reward of our deeds. We've done wrong. We've

done the crime. Now we've got to do the time.

In this case, give their life. He's saying we

deserve this. We're getting what is owed us because

of the way we lived and because of the life that...

because of the things that we've done. But he

says, but this man has done nothing wrong. Don't

you fear God? This man has done nothing wrong.

And he has seen Jesus face the abuse, face the

mockery. He'd seen the calm response. Perhaps

he'd heard Jesus in verse 34 say, Father, forgive

them. He'd seen something different in this reaction

of Jesus on this day. And then there's this incredible

request. Verse 42, then he said to Jesus, he

says to the criminal, leave this guy alone, he's

done nothing wrong. But then he said to Jesus,

Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.

Here he is hanging on a cross, bloody, nearing

death. And that thief in that moment recognizes

that this isn't the end. This isn't the end of

the story. There's something beyond this current

situation. There's something that could give

him hope even as he was nearing death. And then

we get to the second saying of the cross, verse

43. And Jesus said to him, Assuredly, I say to

you today, You will be with me in paradise. Now,

I've got to pause here for just one moment, because

being how we're in an Adventist church here,

we like to make a point of making sure that everybody

knows that the punctuation in Scripture was not

there until hundreds of years later, and so you've

got to make sure everything lines up. And so

this statement, He can't be saying to you, I

say to you, today you will be in paradise, because

that doesn't line up with the rest of Scripture.

Because historically, people lived on the cross

for four days, seven days before they would die.

And so it's likely that criminal didn't die that

day. But we know biblically in the Gospel of

John, on Sunday morning after the resurrection,

when Mary came and threw herself at Jesus' feet,

his feet, Jesus said, whoa, whoa, don't touch

me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father.

So Jesus couldn't be saying, today you're going

to be in paradise with me, because Jesus didn't

go on that day. And so I think the proper way

to look at this is Jesus saying, I say to you

today, while we are both in this situation, while

our lifeblood is draining out of us, while we

recognize that our breath is growing shallow

and our muscles are hurting and our backs are

shredded from the whips, even today in this horrific

situation, I can give you hope. I can give you

some assurance even when all seems lost. And

I'm telling you today that you will be with me

in paradise. And we have to make sure that in

our zeal to talk about commas that we don't miss,

The incredible promise of hope. That there is

hope for a future. That there is hope for an

eternity. Because this thief, he is never going

to get the chance to say I'm sorry. He's never

going to get the chance to pay back the things

that he took. He's never going to get the chance

to go to church. to be baptized, to pay tithe,

any of those things. He's never going to get

the chance to do any of that, but he appeals

to Jesus, may I be with you in paradise? And

Jesus says, I give you the promise. You're going

to be with me. That is the ultimate goal. That

is the ultimate promise of hope that you will

be with me in paradise. And we too can have that

same promise. of eternity. And no matter what

your life is facing right now, you can have an

assurance that Jesus is with you today and that

you will be with him for all eternity. And you

can have that assurance even right now. Let's

turn over to 1 John chapter 5. This will be our

1 John 5 · chapter mention

last passage that we look at before we go into

the next section of our worship. 1 John, back

by Revelation. The book that we're studying on

Wednesday evenings for our time of Bible study

and prayer meeting. 1 John 5, verse 13. 1 John

1 John 5:13 1 John 5:13

5, verse 13. It says, These things I have written

to you who believe in the name of the Son of

God that you may... What's the word? You may

know that you have eternal life. and that you

may continue to believe in the name of the Son

of God. We can know, just as Jesus said to the

criminal, you will be with me in paradise. We

read in Scripture that we can know that we have

eternal life. How? Well, if we go back just two

verses, verse 11, 1 John 5, 11, this is the testimony

that God has given us eternal life, and this

life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life.

He who does not have the Son of God does not

have life. And I've written these things to all

that believe in the name of the Son of God that

you may know that you have eternal life. So let

us hear that word of Jesus from the cross. Today,

no matter what is going on in your life, you

can have the assurance that you will be with

Jesus in paradise. It's our time now that as

we practice our communion service, as we celebrate

the Lord's Supper, some may not have done this

before, but as we look at John chapter 13, where

John 13 · chapter mention

Jesus washed the disciples' feet, we do that

practice. And if you choose to participate, we're

going to have three different places that you

can go. And please someone correct me if I say

this wrong, but I believe the gentlemen are going

to go up to the fellowship hall. And the ladies,

if you want to just be with ladies, are going

to be in the primary Sabbath school room. And

then if you would like to participate with...

Ladies are going to be in the youth room. Sorry

about that. Thank you. And if you would like

to participate with your spouse, go into the

primary Sabbath school room. I flipped those.

So men up, ladies to the youth, couples to the

primary room. And we will go there and participate

in this ordinance of humility. just to remember

the humbleness that Jesus had for us. And in

a small way, remember a cleansing that we receive

from the blood of Jesus. And then we'll gather

back here, and when we come back, let's try to

sit every other row if we can. That'll just make

it a little easier to pass things out. And in

the Adventist church, we practice an open communion.

Everybody that has accepted Jesus as their Lord

and Savior is invited to participate with us.

So let's have a prayer, and then we will divide

up and gather here soon. Dear God, we thank you

so much that you've given us a promise that we

will be with you for eternity in paradise. And

Lord, as we move to this next section of our

worship, let us remember how you became a servant,

how you humbled yourself, and let us humble ourselves

before each other. Let us remember how the blood

of Christ cleanses us, cleanses our sins in our

heart. And may we remember that your blood continues

to cleanse. And be with us as we go from this

room and return soon. In your name we pray. Amen.

So, gentlemen, up the steps to the fellowship

hall. Ladies to the youth. Couples to the primary

room. And then we'll gather back here. So it

was at that night before the cross. at a Passover

meal that Jesus brought his disciples together

and created something new using some of the elements

from the Passover meal. If you were at Sabbath

school last week, we talked about Passover meal.

It included what kind of bread? Unleavened bread.

And we have that here. It included bitter herbs.

We don't have any bitter herbs. It included a

lamb that was sacrificed and roasted. Where's

the lamb? Well, Jesus himself is the lamb. And

the bread and the juice of the vine represent

the body and the blood, represent the suffering

of the bitter herbs and the sacrifice that was

made. And so we're going to read some verses

from 1 Corinthians 13, and then we'll pray over

the bread and the wine, and we will distribute

those and then partake of this Lord's Supper

together. 23 and 24. For I received from the

Lord that which I also delivered to you, that

the Lord Jesus, on the same night in which he

was betrayed, took bread. And when he had given

thanks, he broke it and said, Take, eat. This

is my body, which is broken for you. Do this

in remembrance of me. And continuing to the next

verse. In the same manner, he also took the cup

after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant

in my blood. This do as often as you drink it

in remembrance of me. If the congregation will

remain seated, we will kneel as we pray over

these elements at this time. Father God, you

are love. And in love, you gave us Jesus. And

Jesus was willing to sacrifice himself. And his

body is represented, the bread here. And in partaking

of it, we partake of him. You have promised to

give us the son to live within us. And as the

son, he lives with you. And by faith, we live

with you. And we thank you. For the bread. In

Jesus' name. Amen. Lord, we thank you for this

remembrance. That it's your blood. Your blood

that was put on the doorpost so many years ago.

That protected those people inside. And it's

your blood that saves us. Your sacrifice. We

thank you for it. the shedding of your blood.

We ask this in your name. Amen. The Lord Jesus,

that same night in which he was betrayed, took

bread. And when he had given thanks, he broke

it and said, Take and eat. This is my body. And

Jesus took the cup. He said, this is my blood

of the new covenant. Drink ye all of it. These

symbols point to the entire plan, the entire

history of salvation. They look back at a lamb

slain from the foundation of the world, that

Jesus died for the sins of the world. But then

we also recognize that all of us have sinned

and are falling short of the glory of God. And

we appreciate the grace and the blood that covers

our sins. But it also looks to the future. Because

in 1 Corinthians, it says, For as often as you

eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim

the Lord's death until he comes. So it's looking

forward. to the future. And Jesus said he would

not drink of the fruit of this vine until he

can drink it with us in his kingdom. So as we

remember these symbols, let us remember the all

-encompassing presence that Jesus has for us.

Let's pray together. Dear God, we thank you so

much for this service. We don't do it all the

time. Help us to remember what you have done

for us. Help us to remember that even though

we stumble, we make mistakes, that you love us,

that you lift us up, that you invite us to be

with you. And Lord, we can't wait for that day

when you come again and we can drink with you

in the kingdom that we may be with you in paradise.

In your name we pray. Amen.