Luke 23, offered to the Harmony Presbyterian Church on November 24, 2013
There is something peculiar about the telling of the Gospel story this morning. I mean – as Luke tells it.
In both Matthew and Mark at the end while Jesus is on the cross, Matthew & Mark, both in very judgmental ways, provide accounts of how Jesus was taunted especially by the leaders of the Jewish people and the Romans guards. In their accounts, they squarely place blame for what is happening on these two groups of people.
In Matthew, he tells us, “The chief priests, the leaders, and the teachers of the Law of Moses also made fun of Jesus.” They said, “He saved others, but he cannot save himself.”
Marks tells us that the soldiers who nailed Jesus to the cross gambled for his clothes and also nailed a sign over his said reading, “This is the King of the Jews”. They did not do this to honor him but to mock him. That is how both Mark & Matthew record it.
In John, John weaves a tight theological connection between the death of Jesus on the cross and that of the sacrifice of the Passover lamb on what John tells us is the Passover holiday for the Jewish people. John says to us, “The next day would be both a Sabbath and the Passover. It was a special day for the Jewish people.”
Luke however, neither seeks to place blame on the Jews and the Romans nor does he seek to make theological connections. Rather, Luke goes in a completely different direction, and it is one most appropriate for this Christ the King Sunday.
What is it that Jesus does that Luke wants to bring to our attention? Did you catch it? It happens twice. Did anyone hear it? Let’s read it again. The first is in verses 34-35. Let’s pick it up right before that…
“…they nailed Jesus to a cross.” [The execution had begun.] “They also nailed the two criminals to crosses one on each side of him.” [This gruesome exhibition of state justice was a spectacle that was meant to instill fear – not only in those being executed but in the people, as well.]
Here in the midst of this horrid show, Jesus says, “Father, forgive these people! They don’t know what they are doing.”
Then again in verse 43. Let’s pick it a line earlier, The criminal said to him, “Remember me when you come into power.” Here while the life is draining out of him, Jesus replied, I promise that today you will be with me in paradise.” First, he forgives and now he gives comfort. At this moment when he is just a brief time from expiring, Jesus seeks to give comfort to a man who is obviously frightened and afraid. “…you will be with me in paradise.”
What Jesus has done here becomes Luke’s focal point. It becomes a powerful message.
Jesus forgives.
Here he is, the King of Kings, dying as the result of being brutally beaten by Roman soldiers at the behest of the Jewish leaders. These are the two groups that Matthew and Mark have bitterly accused of being responsible for Jesus’ crucifixion and death. But Luke doesn’t go there. Luke turns us in a different direction. He shows us why Jesus is God’s Messiah. Luke tells us what it is about Jesus that is so extraordinary. He shows us a man breathing his last breath. And what does that man do? He forgives.
With all the horrible things going on around and happening to Jesus, Luke could bring us to focus on Jesus’ pain and suffering but instead Luke directs our attention on forgiveness.
Now, I find this extraordinary. This is Christ the King Sunday in our lectionary. Next Sunday we begin the advent season. Thursday is Thanksgiving. We’ve got a lot going on. And let’s face it, we would all like to hear a nice warm and fuzzy “Thanksgiving” themed sermon. It is easy to gloss over or miss the significance of what this Gospel lesson is telling us. But if you stop for a while and listen, you can hear the Spirit stirring beneath the surface. You can see the ripples on the water moving out from the center washing over us.
This Sunday is supposed to be glorious celebration of who the Christ is. Christ is King. Like the crowds in Luke’s narrative only a couple of days before, we should be waving banners or palms and singing “Hosanna, Hosanna, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” This is our Christ. This is our King.
But why then does our lectionary bring us to the end, to Jesus’ death? Is there no other passage we can read this Sunday? Can’t we read again the story of the procession into Jerusalem? Can’t we read the stories of all of that pomp, and victory, and glory? Why does Luke bring us to his end? Why his crucifixion story?
It is because we need to see what kind of King Jesus was. He was not a king of triumphant marches through city gates that we saw on Palm Sunday. He was not a victorious king who rides on great white steeds. He was not a king that would lead great conquering armies. He was not that kind of King at all.
He was a King who never forgot who he was and whose he was.
He was the Son, the begotten of the Father. They are of the same Spirit. He had the Father’s heart. And to the end he showed the Father’s love and compassion. He did not call upon armies of angels to rescue him from the cross. Instead, he prayed for the forgiveness of the people who were beating and taunting him and he gave comfort and forgiveness to the fearful man at his side begging for some solace before his death. He showed mercy.
Now it is easy to gloss over this because we take it for granted how great and wonderful Jesus is and was. But taking the story for granted is exactly what Luke won’t let us do. If Luke’s understanding of the story of Jesus was just a rehashing of what we expect and already know, he could have used the same narrative as Matthew and Mark. He would have blamed the Jews and Romans and satisfied our baser instincts to assign blame and exact justice.
But it would not be the kind of Justice the Father expects from us.
No. Instead of pointing a wagging finger and telling us that is where the blame lies, Luke tells us to look at our King. See – really see – what he does and what he is about.
Love, Compassion and Forgiveness.
Now, we as Americans are preparing for Thanksgiving Day. It is a singular holiday in our culture. At the same time, we as Christians are preparing for the rebirth of the Advent Season and the coming of the Christ, again on Christmas morn.
How does Luke prepare us to do that?
How does this lesson from Luke prepare us for Thanksgiving & Advent? How does seeing our King as a beaten, dying man help to prepare us for Thanksgiving and Christmas and make our celebrations of these times meaningful revelations of the Light of Christ?
Look upon the King, Luke tells us. If not for his forgiveness, we would have nothing. If not for his forgiveness, we would not be giving thanks. If not for his forgiveness, we would not have the rebirth of Christmas. If not for his forgiveness we would not have new life.
“I am the life and the way. Without me, you have nothing.”
Here’s another thought I would like you to think about. Luke understood it. Luke knew it. And as a follower of Christ, he could have done nothing with it. He could have kept that understanding of who the King was for himself like a light hidden securely under a basket. But he didn’t. He wrote his Gospel and uncovered that light for us and that light flooded the darkness with God’s love, compassion and forgiveness.
Luke didn’t hide it. He shared it with you. Now, what will you do with it?
