23 Nov 2025, From the Lowest Place to the Highest Promise Luke 23:33–43, Christ the King Sunday.

Recently, my mobile has been on fire. Messages kept popping up. “Hi Do Young! We

are so proud of you.” “Hello, this is a huge job. We will pray for you.” Some people

even came up to me personally to congratulate me.

At first, I was a bit taken aback. Of course, some people… well, their eyes went very

wide, like this, and they asked, “Uh…? You? Do Young? …Really?”

Some reactions were quite funny. People would say, “I saw your name somewhere…

I can’t remember exactly where… but it seemed important…”

So, what happened? Why the sudden fame? It’s because my name appeared in New

Times, our Synod monthly magazine. Did anyone see it? Yes, it is true. I have been

elected as a member of the Nomination Committee to select the next Moderator for

the Uniting Church in SA. Believe it or not, only five members were chosen, and

somehow, I am one of them.

I have to be honest. At first, my shoulders went up a little bit. I felt… special. I

thought, ‘Ah… finally, the church recognizes my value!’ I thought, ‘God must have a

very special reason for putting me in this important seat.’ I felt like I had a little slice

of power.

And let me tell you, the dynamic was different. People who used to just say, "Hey! Do

Young!" were suddenly saying, "Oh, excuse me... Mr. Committee Member, sir?

Okay, I’m exaggerating a little. But I have to admit, I was enjoying it. I thought, ;Ah...

so this is the taste of power. So, throughout this month of November, we are meeting the nominees. These aren't formal interviews; they are casual yet confidential conversations. We just want to tell them, “You have been nominated,” and explain the timeline. We drink coffee, give them a small prayer cross, some chocolate, and a prayer card, and we listen to their stories. We pray for God’s will together.

After this meeting, they enter a time of discernment. They ask God, “Is it really me?

Am I called to lead the Uniting Church?” By the end of January, they will say Yes or

No. We are hoping to have a shortlist of at least three final candidates.

In truth, I find these meetings very precious. I dare say I even enjoy them, because I

learn so much. It is a privilege to walk with someone on such an important journey in

their life. Every nominee has a reason they were recommended, and I learn from

their ministry and faith. My role is not to judge them. I have no veto power. My job is simply to listen and help them hear God’s voice. Then came the twist. Last Monday, as I was driving back to the office after a meeting, suddenly, out of nowhere, I realized something. An “Aha moment.” “Why me? Why me, exactly?”

I have no PhD, and I don't claim to have deep spiritual insight. I am certainly not a

well-known figure in South Australia. Yet, here I am. Why entrust me with such a

significant responsibility? Why pick me to help shape someone else's future?

To find the answer, let me ask you this. What do you think are the chances of me

becoming the Moderator?

That is exactly the answer. It is because... the chance of me becoming a candidate

for Moderator is... ZERO percent. When I look at the many nominees who are

younger than me, I am even more convinced. In common sense, committee members cannot be candidates. So, who is the safest person? Who is the person that nobody will nominate? Who is the person that is absolutely no threat to anyone? It’s me!

So, I must say that I am not here because I am great. I believe God placed me here

simply because I am the most suitable and smallest instrument He could use for His

purpose. Friends, why am I sharing this personal story with you? Because asking; Why me?

It led my heart straight to today’s scripture. I thought about the two criminals hanging

on the crosses next to Jesus. And I found myself asking a different question: There were so many people... why them? Why did Jesus choose a criminal—a man with absolutely "zero possibility—to be the very first citizen of Paradise?

Let’s turn to Luke 23. We see Jesus on the cross. Flanked by two criminals, one on

His right, one on His left. This is Golgotha. Just outside the city walls. It is a garbage

dump. It is a place of execution. The air smells of sweat and blood. You can hear

Roman soldiers swearing, and people screaming in pain.

And yet... right here, in this darkness... this is the moment Jesus finishes His ministry

on earth. This is the moment He becomes the King of Kings to save the world.

Now, look at His royal court. Where are His loyal subjects? Where is Peter, who

swore to die for Him? Where are James and John? They are all gone.

Instead, who is by His side? Scripture tells us; They crucified Jesus, along with the

criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.

Think about it. Jesus and these two men were at the absolute lowest place.

Especially the criminals—socially rejected, morally bankrupt, spiritually hopeless. In

such a place of death, looking at a dying man... who would dare to whisper the

word... 'Paradise'

In that agonizing, shameful place, one of the criminals did something incredible. With

what was probably his last breath, he offered the shortest prayer in the Bible, saying:

Jesus, remember me... when you come into your kingdom. It was a simple acknowledgement of pure, absolute need. And Jesus simply answered with the greatest promise of all: "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."

Let’s be clear: this was not a reward for his last-minute good deed. This was totally,

100% Grace. In the lowest place, where he could do nothing, Jesus gave him the

highest promise.

We might say, “Wow, this guy is lucky. He hit the spiritual jackpot! He lived his whole

life doing whatever he wanted—sinning, partying—and then, five minutes before he

dies, he gets saved? That’s a good deal! Maybe I should live like that and just repent

at the end?”

On the other hand, some of us might feel this is unfair—perhaps even unjust. You

might think, God, this isn't fair! We serve, we give, we try our best... but this guy? He did nothing but bad things, and he gets the same Paradise as me? We might struggle with this thought, but we don't need to. Because in reality, today we need to look at Jesus, not the criminal. It doesn't matter what the criminal did in his past. What truly matters is that Jesus invited him. He invited him to Paradise.

From the lowest place to the highest promise.

The important thing is this: Faith is never a 'Give and Take.' It is absolutely not a

transaction. Think about it. If we tried to understand the Cross through the lens of

fairness or economics... I hate to say it, but none of us would survive.

We are loved only by God's overwhelming grace. So, we must ask: Where does this

grace flow?

Think about gravity. Just like water, God’s grace naturally flows downward. It pools in

the low places. Naturally, we hate these; low places. We hate failure, pain, and hitting rock bottom. We try so hard to avoid them. But paradoxically, that is exactly where the criminal

met Jesus. He received grace because he was at the very bottom, and Jesus was

right there with him.

Now, look at the two criminals. The height of the cross, the pain, the

location—everything was identical. Jesus was right next to both of them. But grace

flowed into only one heart.

The only difference was this: One turned his back, while the other used his last

ounce of strength to turn his face toward Jesus. And that... changed everything.

However, the story doesn’t end there. Look at verse 42 again. The criminal asks:

“Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And in verse 43, Jesus

answers: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

This short conversation is the highlight of today’s sermon. Did you spot it?

Look at the criminal’s words: When… Kingdom… Remember me. He is saying:

“Jesus, someday… in the distant future… if you make it to your Kingdom… please

don’t forget me. Just a little memory is enough.”

He is looking at the distant future. Maybe a future that might never come. He is

asking for the minimum mercy. Because he thinks, Surely not me...But Jesus’ answer? Today… With Me… Paradise! “No. You don’t have to wait. You are already with me.”

It is amazing: the man asked for a Kingdom; Jesus gave him Paradise. He said

"When" Jesus said "Today"said "Remember me" Jesus said "You are with me." Isn't this grace beyond our wildest dreams? Isn't this a gift beyond our imagination?

Receiving the highest promise... in the lowest place.

Dear friends, “Why me?” … Or perhaps, “Why you?” As we walk this journey of faith,

this question often rises from deep inside. “Why me, Lord? Why do you love

someone like me?” Usually, we ask this when we feel unworthy. When we feel

lacking. Or sometimes, looking at this broken world, we ask it in confusion.

But let’s think about that thief one last time. He was the one who really should have

asked, “Why me?” His life was a failure. His past offered no excuses. He was at the

absolute bottom.

But right there, in that Lowest Place, he met Jesus. And Jesus answered him there.

With a grace bigger than we can ever imagine.

And today, Jesus gives us the same message. Quietly, but clearly: “My love is not far

away. It is right here. Not because of what you did, but because I am next to you.”

I pray this message settles deep in your hearts today. Especially today. Because

today is Christ the King Sunday. Yet, we call Him King. Why? Because while the

world calls those with Power, Jesus is the King who rules with Love.

He is the King who didn't jump down from the cross to save Himself, but stayed

there... to finish the love story. He is the King who gives the Highest Promise in the

Lowest Place. And this… is the King of Advent we are waiting for.

Today, the church year ends. Next week, we begin a new journey: Advent. Advent

tells us: “The King always comes to the low places.” “The Light always starts in the

dark.” “The Promise bears fruit in the waiting.”

The story of the thief opens the door to Advent for us. In the lowest, most hopeless

place… he heard the highest promise: “Today, you will be with me in Paradise.”

So, dear friends, this Advent, let’s turn our hearts not to high thrones, but to Jesus

who comes to the low places.

Let’s put down our “Somedays,” and grab hold of His “Today.” Let’s not just ask

“Remember me,” but hear His voice saying “With Me.” Let’s not just wait for a future

Kingdom, but live in Paradise—His presence—right here, right now.

May that Grace flow deep into your heart... holding you quietly, but strongly, today.