Sunday
April 14th 2019 Palm Sunday (Cycle C)
How Do You Relate To Jesus?
The tie in
between today’s readings: The People in the Passion
It
began in the mind of the Trinity in eternity past before the foundation of
creation. So radical an idea it blindsided the hosts of heaven. The plan went
into effect at the Incarnation and reached its’ climax at the Crucifixion. The
brilliantly absurd humiliation campaign of God Almighty as described in today’s
reading in Philippians 2:6-8 was absolutely necessary in order to redeem a
fallen human race. His act of love for us also gives us glimpses into
attributes that otherwise would have remained hidden. Besides humility, we see
grace, mercy, patience, and loving kindness so unexpected from a God who must
be holy and just. The Psalm 22 and Isaiah 50 references about Jesus’
crucifixion agony also show us that our God is courageous. Having seen how the
Lord relates to us in our condition, I want to use the players in today’s
gospel reading, Luke 23:1-49, to reflect on how we, as fallen human beings,
respond to the Father’s courageous, humble, unspeakable gift: Jesus Christ.
Don’t look for historical accuracy. Just focus is on general character traits.
Be honest.
Pontius
Pilate
A sycophantic politician, Pilate showed his lack
of core beliefs with the cynical, “What is truth?” sneer in John 18:38. Because
of his heavy handed methods of keeping the peace, Rome received many complaints
about our governor. Pilate is on thin ice. So he knows it’s gonna be a long day
when Jesus, the chief priests, and a crowd show up at his doorstep before
breakfast. He tries to avoid the problem with a series of ducks and dodges,
even his wife tells him to let Jesus go, but to no avail. In the end, the
Jewish rulers threaten to go over Pilates head and report him to Rome. What
else can a self seeking, spineless, pragmatic kinda guy do? He washes his hands of it all and seals his
reputation in history by condemning the innocent Son of God to death in order
to save his own skin. Maybe he should have listened to his wife. Bringing it
forward to today, when the crowd you’re with is amoral, atheistic, and
anti-Christ, what do you do? Rock the boat by standing strong in your faith?
Say that you never knew Him by keeping your silence? Go to the bathroom? It’s a hard place to be even for the best of
us, but we must be ready to give an account of our faith in love.
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Herod
Herod had many questions and had always wanted to
meet Jesus. These weren’t honest questions leading to belief, though. They were
more the mocking prove to me challenge questions of the skeptic. Jesus did not
answer nor did He put on the early morning magic show that Herod anticipated.
He sent the Lord back to Pilate, unamused. Are you the skeptic? Are you the
type who will not believe unless he sees? Does Jesus have to walk through the
wall for you before you confess Him as your Lord? Don’t hold your breath.
First, seeing is not believing, believing is seeing. Miracles bolster faith;
they don’t produce it. Second, Jesus Christ does not do tricks nor does He cast
His pearls before the contemptuous. He will, however, guarantee answers to the
true and honest seeker. Which one of these two types are you?
Barabbas
Guilty and condemned to death, Barabbas is the
illustration of the sinner being acquitted from his consequences by Jesus who
became his substitute. Jesus is his get out of jail free card! Barabbas is
understandably overjoyed by his unbelievable luck. The question is does he
mistake luck for grace? Most church members have an idea of sin forgiveness
through Christ’s sacrifice, but it stays on the contractual level. God loves
me. He provided an insurance policy protecting me from Hellfire. I “believe”
and get it free because my Savior paid the premium for my policy on the cross.
When I sin, I am always forgiven, covered by my Jesus policy. Of course I say
that I’m sorry, duh! No real contrition. No repentance, just an unlimited
Christ tab for vices committed. This superficial salvation understanding of the
gospel is tragically misinformed. There must be a true transformation in the
believer to want to live according to God’s will. Believing without a changed
life is a deception. Satan is laughing. Do you think that faith in Christ is
just taking advantage of a good deal when you see one? Examine yourself to see
if you really love God. Hunt for a true understanding of the gospel and God’s
grace for you in Christ. Be truly born again.
Simon of
Cyrene
Jesus doesn’t look like He’s gonna make it. The
soldiers pull an onlooker out of the crowd, Simon of Cyrene, and force him into
carrying the cross. He reminds me of the pew sitters. Roll in every Sunday,
pretty much have their own spot reserved, week after week, year after year no
other involvement with the Body of Christ besides singing the songs, praying
the prayers, and dropping a few bucks in the plate. There for what they can get
out of the service, they have to be guilted or cajoled to give any service of
their own. If this is you, turn it around. Look for opportunities to
participate in church life: join a Bible study, teach a class, sing in the
choir, whatever gifts you have and time will allow. You will grow closer to
other believers and to God in the process.
The Thief
on the Cross
Almost an add on incident, the thief on the cross
is the exception to the rule of all who limit the dispensing of grace to
sacramental ceremonies. No Baptism, no Communion, but with a last minute
confession, skips to the front of the line of heaven’s turnstile. At the same
time he is the inspiration to anyone who wants to live for the Devil and then
slide into heaven on a deathbed conversion. I, myself, think that he is a
marvelous example of salvation being a God thing. In Matthew 27:44, the Bible
notes that at the start, both thieves on either side of Christ were insulting
Him along with the crowd, as if they didn’t have enough troubles. Then,
miraculously, one of them does a total 180, rebukes his partner in crime, and
has his “come to Jesus” moment. The Messiah promises him that he will enter
Paradise. What made the difference? God
spoke to his heart. The Lord uses a variety of scenarios and circumstances to
get our attention away from the noise of this world. Many of our “Why me?” or
“How could this happen?” trials could be just that. Listen for His still small
voice. As the Bible says: “If you hear His voice today harden not your heart”
(Hebrews 3:15). By the way, if you are counting on a deathbed
conversion...aaaah, good luck with that. Even if you get the opportunity, the
Almighty will not take too kindly to the fact that you really don’t want to be with Him in heaven; you just want to avoid hell. Understand this, in all things salvation: the heart is the heart of the matter. Where is your heart toward God today?
Almighty will not take too kindly to the fact that you really don’t want to be with Him in heaven; you just want to avoid hell. Understand this, in all things salvation: the heart is the heart of the matter. Where is your heart toward God today?
The
gospel ends with the crowd dispersing. Jesus Christ has died on the cross for
their sins and ours. He rose from the grave on Easter Sunday, triumphant! The
humiliation of the Almighty is over! The Father has exalted the Son so that
every knee will bow and tongue will confess Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:9-11).
How does Christ’s sacrifice on the cross affect you? Do you see yourself in any
of our portraits? Are you like the crowd, standing far off, not even in the
picture? Do you want to make a change? There’s room at the foot of the cross
for you. Get the picture. Come to Jesus.
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