Surprise Followers

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Surprise Followers

• (Luke 2339-56)

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Surprise Followers
One of the criminals who hung there hurled
insults at Him "Aren't you the Christ? Save
yourself and us! But the other criminal rebuked
him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you
are under the same sentence? We are punished
justly, for we are getting what our deeds
deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when You
come into Your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I
tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in
paradise."
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Surprise Followers
It was now about the sixth hour, and
darkness came over the whole land until the
ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the
curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus
called out with a loud voice, "Father, into Your
hands I commit my spirit." When He had said
this, He breathed His last. The centurion,
seeing what had happened, praised God and said,
"Surely this was a righteous man." When all the
people who had gathered to witness this sight
saw what took place, they beat their breasts and
went away.
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Surprise Followers
But all those who knew Him, including the
women who had followed Him from Galilee, stood
at a distance, watching these things. Now
there was a man named Joseph, a member of the
Council, a good and upright man, who had not
consented to their decision and action. He came
from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was
waiting for the kingdom of God. Going to Pilate,
he asked for Jesus' body. Then he took it down,
wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a
tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had
yet been laid. It was Preparation Day, and the
Sabbath was about to begin.
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Surprise Followers
The women who had come with Jesus from
Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how
His body was laid in it. Then they went home and
prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on
the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.
(Luke 2339-56)
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Surprise Followers

• Is there a wrong place to believe in Jesus?
• Are there people who are excluded from
  believing in Jesus?
• Is it ever too late to believe in Jesus?

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Surprise Followers
Yet to all who received him, to those who
believed in His name, He gave the right to
become children of God-- (John 112)
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Anywhere

• The fact that a convicted thief in the process of
  execution could be saved indicates that a person
  can be saved anywhere.

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Anywhere

• Jesus is crucified between 2 thieves
• The Mocking Command of Thief 1
• The Modest Confession of Thief 2
• Pilot testified to Jesus innocence Now, so does
  a thief.
• Simple faith simply expressed is enough! He
• Admitted his sin and guilt (vs. 40-41)
• Believed in Christ (vs. 41)
• Confessed his Dependency (vs. 42)

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Anywhere

• It makes no difference where we are, faith in
  Christ Jesus brings forgiveness because of what
  Jesus did on the cross - Anywhere.

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Anyone

• A thief, a Roman centurion, and two members of
  the Sanhedrin who had sought Christs death all
  were saved. Anyone can be saved by the blood of
  Christ Jesus.

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Anyone

• 4 Surprise Followers
• A thief crucified with Jesus
• A Roman centurion at the crucifixion
• 2 of the members of the Jewish Sanhedrin

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Anyone

• Anyone who dies without Christ will be in hell.
  Anyone who accepts Him will live with Christ
  eternally in heaven.

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Anytime

• The fact that we can accept Christ almost 2,000
  years after His death just as these did shows
  anytime is a good time to receive salvation.

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Anytime

• Though dying, Jesus quoted Scripture.
• Time makes no difference.
• The Bible is timeless.
• God is timeless.

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Anytime

• People in anytime period can accept Christ at
  anytime and experience forgiveness for their
  sins, because no matter what weve done, Jesus
  has already paid the price.

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Surprise Followers
It doesnt matter where you are Who you are,
or When you believe and trust in Christ
Because of what Jesus did on the cross, salvation
is available to anyone. It is never too late and
no one is ever too far gone to trust Christ.
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Surprise Followers
Yet to all who received him, to those who
believed in His name, He gave the right to
become children of God-- (John 112)