This New Life

For years now, I’ve been creating “dark-to-light” media presentations to open the Easter services at the churches I’ve been privileged to serve. Past presentations have included: “The Passion & the Glory”; “On My Cross”; “Shine, Jesus, Shine”; “Sunday’s Coming;” “After Darkness, Light”; and several others. Some years they’re tied to the Lenten sermon series we just completed. Other years they’re stand-alone presentations simply designed to fit the occasion.

This morning’s presentation was called, “Three Hearts on Calvary,” based on the story of the repentant thief on the cross next to Jesus. It features Don Francisco’s story-song, “Too Small a Price.” I’ve been wanting to do this one for a couple decades, but I never had the right tools or technology. Thankfully, this year I was able to take the plunge. I must have cried a river of tears pulling it together. It was an exhausting but exhilarating labor of love.

Two things made this year’s presentation extra special for me, personally. First, Francisco came to do a concert for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at West Virginia University back when I was a student on campus. That was right around the time God was awakening me to his gospel of grace in Christ, and Don was instrumental in my own conversion. (That may explain the river of tears during the creative process.) Second, our Easter Choir processed into the sanctuary during the choral climax of the song, triumphantly singing along with Francisco, which sent our spirits soaring:

Jesus is the Lord of all!
Jesus is the Lord of all!
Jesus is the Lord of all!
We have been redeemed!

Joy!
Joy!
Joy!

Jesus is the Lord of all!
Jesus is the Lord of all!
Jesus is the Lord of all!
We have been redeemed!

We then declared in unison, as believers all over the world are doing today, “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!” After that we worshiped the Lord with Charles Wesley’s “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today,” and then we continued with the rest of the worship service.

I hope you enjoy “Three Hearts on Calvary,” and I hope you have a triumphant Easter as well. Shoot me a note if you’d like to talk about the risen Christ and what he’s come to do for you.

Be blessed.

Post Photo Credit: Pixers

There’s a saint and a sinner on Mount Calvary. What separates them is Jesus. In Luke 23:35-43, we find Jesus hanging between two criminals—one a scoffer and one a brand-new believer. Having mocked Jesus earlier during the crucifixion (Mark 15:32), this “repentant thief” has a change of heart at some point, asking Jesus to remember him when he comes into his kingdom. Jesus responds with memorable words of grace and assurance: “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

With death approaching, the repentant thief begins to fear God and take responsibility for his own wrongdoing. Perhaps his heart was softened by the prayer of forgiveness that Jesus had prayed earlier (Luke 23:34). Showing both courage and confidence, he takes a public stand for Jesus, expressing his belief that Jesus would have a life beyond the cross. As a result, the man learns he would be spending eternity with Jesus in heaven. Nowhere in Scripture is it clearer that salvation is by grace through faith.

Throughout this series, we’re looking for both the “good news” and the “good life” in each of these sayings from the cross. That is, each statement has in it divine grace for us to receive (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) and a divine example for us to follow (1 Peter 2:21). Practical applications, then, abound from this second saying of Christ from the cross:

Jesus dies in the company of unbelievers, attracting them to God.
Believers should live in the company of unbelievers, attracting them to God.

Jesus dies refusing to retaliate for the insults and injuries inflicted on him.
Believers should live refusing to retaliate for the insults and injuries inflicted on him.

Jesus dies submitting to God’s agenda rather than to the world’s agenda.
Believers should live submitting to God’s agenda rather than to the world’s agenda.

Jesus dies speaking words of hope and encouragement to the hurting.
Believers should live speaking words of hope and encouragement to the hurting.

Jesus dies helping someone in a similar predicament as himself.
Believers should live helping someone in a similar predicament as themselves.

Jesus dies serving someone who is totally unable to return the favor.
Believers should live serving someone who is totally unable to return the favor.

Jesus dies joining God where he is at work, sharing the good news.
Believers should live joining God where he is at work, sharing the good news.

In short, the message of this second saying from the cross is twofold: Humble yourself to receive the gift of Jesus, and pattern your life after the death of Jesus. It’s still true today—what separates saints and sinners is Jesus. Thankfully, God in Christ can respond to the faintest cry in the last moments of a person’s life (cf. Rom 10:13). Including ours.

On a Personal Note

Don Francisco used to sing a gospel folk song called “Too Small a Price,” told from the vantage point of this repentant thief on the cross. Francisco came to a meeting of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in the Towers 3 dormitory at West Virginia University back in the day when the Lord was pursuing me big time. This song, more than all the others he sang that night, bore deep into my soul, and it was instrumental in my own conversion to Christ. I’ll place a recording of it below for those who may not have heard it.

Though the agony continued there it was still too small a price
To be allowed to hear those words, and to die beside the Christ.
– Don Francisco

Tag: Paradise

Three Hearts on Calvary

Thank God It’s Friday, Part 2: The Word of Assurance (Luke 23:35-43)

Sermon Resources:

“Too Small a Price” by Don Francisco