Dear Christian friends:

Today is the last Sunday of the church year. One more year of our life now ends. Our member and friend, Raymond McCarthy died early Friday morning at St. Vincent's Hospital. This church year was his last church year on earth.

When we see the church year end and when we see our friends die we are reminded of our own death. We know that our time is short.

Most people do not want to think about death or talk about it. We fear death. But really we should not fear death. We Christians can die with hope and peace.

In our text we read about a man who died with a peaceful heart. He was one of the two criminals who were crucified with Jesus. Let us attend to our text and learn from this man how to die with peace.


If we intend to die peacefully we must learn to accept death.

The one criminal, named Testus, who was crucified with Jesus accepted his death. The other criminal hanging on the cross to the left of Jesus, named Dismus, did not accept his death. He joined with the Jewish church leaders and the soldiers in laughing and mocking Jesus. He wanted Jesus to prove His power and free him from death on the cross. Jesus did not listen to Dismus' prayer. Dismus was not sorry for his wrongs and sins. Dismus did not want to accept his punishment and death.

Many people today are like Dismus. They refuse to confess their sins and wrongs before God and men. They become angry and upset and complain when they must suffer sickness, pain and death. They are cross with the doctors and nurses. They are cross with old friends and family members. Some even curse God and the pastor. Don't do like Dismus. He is a very bad example. He did not die with peace and hope. He died with anger and bitterness.

Do like Testus. He accepted ase punishment and death on the cross. Testus confessed that he should get punished with crucifixion and death because “he did bad".

Like Testus, we all must confess:

"I deserve suffering and death because
I have done bad. I am a sinner before
God and men."

This also the Bible teaches us.

"By one man (Adam) sin entered into the
world and death came with sin."
(Romans 5:12)

God says,

"There is none that does good,
no, not one." (Psalm 14:3)

Therefore we must accept suffering, pain and death, like Testus. We deserve that and worse. The Bible teaches about suffering and punishment in hell after death. (Luke 16:19-31 and Matthew 25:46)

But we must not despair during sickness, suffering and death. Like Testus, we can die with peace and hope if we believe in Jesus our Savior and King. Testus believed that Jesus was the promised Savior from God. They mocked Jesus about that.

Pontius Pilate, the Jewish leaders, and the soldiers and Dismus did not believe that Jesus was the Savior, the King of all. But Testus believed that. Testus confessed to them, "Jesus has done nothing wrong." (v. 41b)

Then Testus looked to Jesus with faith and said to Him, "Lord, remember me when You come again You come again as King." (verse 42)

The Holy Spirit helped Testus to believe in Jesus. Testus had noticed how Jesus accepted the crucifixion. Testus saw how Jesus did not complain or say bad words to the soldiers when they nailed His hands and feet to the cross. Testus heard what Jesus prayed while He was hanging on the cross:

"Father, forgive them; they don't know
what they are doing." (verse 34)

Testus could see that Jesus was a perfect Man. He believed that Jesus was God's Savior and the King who will come to judge on the Last Day.

Like Testus, we must believe in Jesus and accept Him for our Savior and King. Then we can die with peace and hope, not fear! Jesus did not free Himself from the cross, although He easily could have done that if He had wanted to. He didn't want to. He wanted to stay on the cross, so that He could suffer our shame, our punishment, so that God could forgive us and let us be with Him forever in heaven. (Isaiah 53:)

Jesus said to the dying Testus,

"I tell you the truth, today you will
be with Me in paradise (heaven)" (verse 43)

Testus died with peace and hope. Jesus forgave his sins and accepted him into heaven.

Like Testus, you and I can die with peace and hope if we believe in Jesus Christ. Then we know how to die correctly.

If we know how to die correctly, we will live correctly while waiting for death. We will live to confess Jesus to all men.

Testus confessed Jesus to those who were mocking Jesus. He spoke directly to the other criminal, Dismus, but the Roman soldiers and the Jewish leaders below heard what Testus confessed. Testus made a beautiful confession and defense for Jesus:

"We are sinners; we deserve death and
worse; Jesus has done nothing wrong;
He is the Christ the Savior and King.
He dies for us!"

Like Testus, if we know how to die rightly we will live rightly. If we know how to die with peace and hope, then we will have faith and strength to live for Jesus while we wait to die. We will not be afraid or ashamed to confess Jesus before the world, especially to those who mock Jesus. Like Testus, we will be brave and tell all men about Jesus our beautiful Savior.

Do you know how to die peacefully? If you do, you will now live for Jesus as you wait for death. You will not keep silent when others mock Jesus or when they say wrong and evil things. You will speak and defend your dear Lord and Savior.

"If you declare with your lips
(or hands), "Jesus is Lord,"
and believe in your heart that
God raised Him from the dead,
you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)

The dying Testus is a good example for us: He shows us how to die with peace and hope and also how to bravely confess Jesus before men. Let Testus be your example! Let Jesus be your Savior and King.

Amen.