Luke 23: 33-43 by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
November 20, 2015
Christ the King Sunday
33When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. [[ 34Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’]] And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!’ 36The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, 37and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’ 38There was also an inscription over him, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’
39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’ 40But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.’ 42Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ 43He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’
- Luke 23: 33-43
Smith wandered off the street into the church before worship started. As hundreds of people began to gather, only a few church members spoke to him. When Smith walked into the sanctuary and sat down the ushers asked for him to sit towards the back of the church. Some people avoided making eye contact with him. Some scoffed under their breaths. The liturgist opened worship and after the opening hymns were sung, hearts were being prepared to receive the Word.
And then an elder stood before the congregation to introduce the new pastor. While the elder was in on this, the congregation was not. Smith stood up and walked up to the front of the church to look upon his flock. The congregation was shocked. Not in a million years would these people have expected their shepherd to look as a homeless man, even if it was just a disguise.
For most of us, it is shocking to read Luke’s story of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior – as a marginalized man hanging on a cross just like the two criminals who were to be put to death with him. Luke remembers the leaders scoffed at him. The soldiers mocked him. One of the criminals derided him. No one would ever expected a righteous king to hang like a criminal. It was even offensive to imagine the Son of God publicly humiliated as an outcast. But the people who stood by watching, they were seeing the meaning of all this unfold.
Over the centuries people have asked why did Jesus die on the cross; what is the meaning? Since the middle ages three different theories surfaced to answer the question. However none of them are truly sufficient alone to explain the mystery of the cross.
The first theory is that Christ died on the cross as a Victor. God worked through Jesus’s obedient love to conquer the powers of sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:54; Colossians 2:15). While Scripture tells us we have victory through Jesus Christ, this theory is limited. Although the battle is won we continue to struggle with the human condition of sin. We long to fully experience the freedom from sin which we will fully know in God’s eternal presence.
The second theory is that Christ died as a ransom to pay a debt in which humanity cannot repay (Matthew 20:28; 1 Timothy 2:6). Humanity has incurred the debt because of sin. Although the debt is paid to satisfy God’s honor, the redeeming love of God is overpowered by image of a wrathful God. For many individuals this is problematic because the emphasis on God’s wrath makes God seem like a tyrant and unrelational.
The third theory is that Christ’s sacrificial love empowers moral influence (Luke 7:47). God reconciles the world through the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. And Christ’s example moves us to follow in Christ’s faithful obedience but this theory is limited too. While we strive to have the same mind of Christ, taking our eyes off the cross diminishes the seriousness of sin.
You and I are children of the Enlightenment era and we search for answers with logic and reason. But that was not Luke’s context. Nor did Luke go into great detail of the suffering Christ endured on the cross. The greatest meaning of Luke’s story is revealing who is Jesus from the very beginning of the Gospel to the very end. Knowing the One we confess as Savior is primary over the way we explain Jesus’ saving death.
For Luke, Jesus ushers in an upside down kingdom. When the Son of the Most High came into the world, he was to be recognized by his humble poverty (Luke 2:7). God worked through him to scatter the proud, bring down the powerful, and lift up the lowly (Luke 1: 50-53). This King did not search out the righteous ones but came kept company with the sinners and outcasts to the very end of his life in order to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). Jesus did not seek out his own interests to save himself because he was willing to lose his life for our sakes in order that we might experience salvation. (Luke 9:24).
As Jesus fulfills the Scriptures as Messiah to reveal God’s upside down kingdom, he does not assert his divine authority as might. Jesus does not seek vengeance or retribution upon all who are culpable of his death. Jesus humbles himself yet again with nothing short of mercy. Jesus prays forgiveness for the ones who do not know their need for it (Luke 23:34). Jesus extends eternal forgiveness to the unlikely one who boldly asks for it (Luke 23:43).
Today we gather around God’s Story and the Lord’s Table. And we are seeing new meaning as all this unfolds. Each time we break the bread and share the cup we remember that we are claimed in God's forever family and in the forgiveness of Jesus Christ. The cross moves us to see our actions as God truly sees them. Even though the human condition of sin condemns us, God loves us too much to let us live in bondage to it.
There is only One who is able to condemn; that is Jesus Christ our Lord. And yet Christ came and lived among us; Christ died for us; Christ rose for us; Christ lives in power for us; and Christ prays for us. Anyone who is in Christ is indeed a new creation. The old life has come and gone and new life begins because of God’s gift of forgiveness.
As Christ’s forgiveness changes our lives, we are also to live into the power of God’s mercy with others. We are to forgive as Jesus forgives. C.S. Lewis says, “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable in others because God has already forgiven the inexcusable in you and me.” That kind of mercy is needed today more than ever before in a culture that prioritizes the assertion of power over humility and meekness…. in a culture where many are still scoffed at, marginalized, and voiceless.
The bread and the cup nourish our bodies, hearts, and minds to work as the body of Christ to bring about God’s upside down Kingdom. We are to let go of our personal agendas and lose our lives for Christ’s sake in order to find true life. God’s gift of mercy empowers us to step out of our comfort zones to work for God’s justice. Let me just tell you on behalf of the Isaiah Bible studies here at the church - that it is not enough to just love Jesus.
God uses the cross to open our eyes to the injustices around us in our neighborhoods, our state, our country, and our world. Seeking justice for individuals, groups, and communities who have no voice is not easy work. It is not popular work. But following Christ’s compassion to lift up the lowly is the grit of the gospel. It is the mark of holiness, character, and integrity of our Savior.
Today we take the feast to the streets. We have an opportunity to bring a glimpse of God’s upside down kingdom today as we deliver Thanksgiving meals to neighbors in need. Just imagine the countless ways God might lead us in the ways of justice this upcoming year.
Today as we touch, taste, and experience God’s mercy again this morning, let us remember who Jesus is. May the bread we break and the cup we share strengthen us to boldly follow him.
In the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment