20230409 Luke 23:32-43 Easter is about Forgiveness
Easter is about forgiveness! Forgiveness is the center of the Christian life. We are forgiven people called to forgive others. Forgiveness is that excellent idea everyone likes until it is our turn to forgive. Easter is the celebration of divine forgiveness. We try to celebrate Easter every Sunday. After we confess our sins, we remember the assurance of the forgiveness of sins that we have in Christ. We also sing songs that focus on Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. This is the celebration of Easter! God forgives us because Jesus took our punishment by dying. We know there is no punishment left to pay because Jesus did not remain dead. God raised Jesus from the dead. All those who are in Christ through faith will also be raised from the grave. We will enjoy a bodily existence in the New Heavens and New Earth for eternity.
As we look at Luke 23:32–43, we will see that there is confusion about Jesus’ death. So, we should not be surprised that many in our day do not believe. Secondly, we will look at the reason Jesus came to die, which is for the forgiveness of sins. Thirdly, we will look at the implication of the forgiveness of sins. Jesus tells the thief on the cross, that they will be together in paradise.
SIOS: (1) There is confusion about Easter, (2) but we know that Jesus died for the forgiveness of sins so (3) that we can be with him in Paradise!
1 Luke 23:35–39 - There is confusion about the death of Christ
I grew up in a secular home. I knew that Easter was a combination of two things. Jesus died on the cross and was raised from the dead, and stomachaches. Stomachaches because Easter was the day of the year, on which I ate the most chocolate!Even when we have an accurate Easter theology, there can be confusion about the details. Skeptics ask questions, we struggle to answer. Such as, what kind of Father sends his Son to die? How does the death of one man lead to the forgiveness of sins for other people? Another intriguing concept is the way we benefit from Jesus’ atoning death. How is Christ’s righteousness credited to us on account of our faith? What about the following? At what point did Jesus pay for sin? Was it when he was on the cross and said: “it is finished?” Or was it when he was raised from the dead? Where did Jesus go? What was Jesus doing for three days? Some questions divide smart theologians. The Bible is not as clear as we wished on matters, we get curious about. What is sure is that it tells us everything we need to know.
In our passage, there is confusion about Jesus’ death. In Luke 23:35–39, we read that (1) the rulers scoffed at Jesus. They said, v.35 “He saves others, let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” (2) Then the soldiers said, v.36 “if you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” (3) V.39 one of the criminals by his side “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” These mocking statements are misguided. Jesus on the cross seems so out of step with the rest of his ministry. If Jesus is who he said he was no one fathomed that he could appear humiliated and helpless on a cross dying between two criminals.
In our passage, there is confusion about Jesus’ death. In Luke 23:35–39, we read that (1) the rulers scoffed at Jesus. They said, v.35 “He saves others, let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” (2) Then the soldiers said, v.36 “if you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” (3) V.39 one of the criminals by his side “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” These mocking statements are misguided. Jesus on the cross seems so out of step with the rest of his ministry. If Jesus is who he said he was no one fathomed that he could appear humiliated and helpless on a cross dying between two criminals.
Let us not judge the crowd too quickly. I can imagine a different version of myself. In this version, I am unregenerate. I was there 2000 years ago, in that crowd, wanting to see the miracle worker get off that cross. Crowds gather when they hope to witness something incredible. If this crowd heard of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, they would expect something great. If only it had not been for Jesus’ teaching over and over that he would suffer, die, and rise from the dead. He even told Peter that preventing his death was doing the devil’s work in Matt 16. Jesus had to die, but no one seemed to be aware. Isaiah prophesied about the great confusion around Jesus’ death.
Isa 53 foresees an individual who would be an Israelite. He would die to save his people. We read in Isa 53:3 that this individual would be despised and rejected by men. He would be a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering. v.4 Surely, he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. Isaiah’s prophecy is that people would misunderstand Jesus’ death. They would assume Jesus was cursed and his death accomplished nothing.
Isa 53 foresees an individual who would be an Israelite. He would die to save his people. We read in Isa 53:3 that this individual would be despised and rejected by men. He would be a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering. v.4 Surely, he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. Isaiah’s prophecy is that people would misunderstand Jesus’ death. They would assume Jesus was cursed and his death accomplished nothing.
2 Luke 23:34 - Jesus had to die for the forgiveness of our sins
Isaiah 53 foresees confusion about Jesus’ death. It also presents its real significance. There can be no confusion among us on the meaning of Jesus’ death. Isaiah 53 reads, “… upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds, we are healed.” In other words, Jesus offers the forgiveness of sins.The Jews had the OT foreseeing this event. The disciples had even less of an excuse. Jesus foretold his suffering, death, and resurrection on numerous occasions. One of these was at Jesus’ last supper. In Matt 26:28, Jesus explained that the wine is his blood, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. In 1 Cor 15:3-4, Paul states that the gospel is of the most importance. This good news is that “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” It is excellent news that Jesus did not save himself or get off that cross.
In our passage, Jesus reveals his agenda. In Luke 23:34, he says: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” These words are among the most powerful in the Bible. He utters these words on behalf of those who are killing him and mocking him. Jesus forgives his killers. He shows love towards his enemies.
We have many concerns in this life. They can be financial, medical, or relational. Jesus came to solve our spiritual problem. We are all sinners. Our sin separates us from God. Jesus came to die for the forgiveness of sin. He makes it clear in this passage that he even wants to forgive his killers. He declares that no one is beyond the love of God. God’s grace is greater than our sin (Rom 5:20). Easter is about divine forgiveness. This radical forgiveness is the pinnacle of Christ’s ministry. Forgiveness becomes the mark of those who follow Jesus.
In Acts 7, as Stephen finished his speech, the crowd was stoning him. Before dying in Acts 7:60, Stephen says: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” He is dying like Jesus, with forgiveness on his mind. This is an incredible plea. It is the testimony of the Christian Church. Radical forgiveness flows from the radical forgiveness Jesus showed us on the cross. Dylan Roof is a white supremacist who entered a church, he killed people. At his trial, the families of the victims forgave him. In 2018, a police officer, Amber Guyger, went home. But she entered the wrong apartment. She thought a stranger was in her home and shot him dead. She shot the man who lived in that apartment who was minding his own business eating ice cream in front of the TV. At her trial, the victim’s brother, a Christian said – “I love you and I forgive you.” It is what Christians do. It is what we do. It is also a journey that we are all on. We all need to learn to forgive more.
Jesus offers forgiveness. Those who understand they are forgiven can forgive others. That is what Christians do. You may be in a challenging situation. And you may be feeling anger or even hatred towards someone. Life is a journey. God does not expect perfection right from the beginning. We will only be fully sanctified, made perfectly holy on the other side of death, or after Jesus returns. Forgiveness can be a process, but it is not optional. After the Lord’s prayer, Jesus says, unless you forgive, my Father in Heaven will not forgive you. If we ever think God does not know what he is asking, know that he does. This is what Easter is all about. God takes forgiveness so seriously that he even sacrificed his only son.
I am assuming that some of us hold grudges. I am assuming that you have a parent or a sibling who has told you hurtful things. Statements or actions have shattered your relationship. In an ideal world, when someone hurts you, you can approach them and show them how they hurt you. They would respond by embracing you, apologizing, and trying hard to be more sensitive. Forgiveness and apologizing are hard. We cannot control whether those who have hurt us will apologize. Nor, whether those we have hurt will accept our apology. Paul tells us in Rom 12:18, “as long as it depends on us, live at peace with all people.” God is calling us to this.
If you want to bear witness to a friend, family member, or stranger, Luke 23:40–43 outlines how to be saved. We admit we are sinners, believe Jesus is the Son of God, and commit to making him king of our lives. The thief acknowledges he is a sinner. He believes that Jesus has a kingdom and authority over the afterlife. He has committed his life in the hands of Jesus.
In our passage, Jesus reveals his agenda. In Luke 23:34, he says: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” These words are among the most powerful in the Bible. He utters these words on behalf of those who are killing him and mocking him. Jesus forgives his killers. He shows love towards his enemies.
We have many concerns in this life. They can be financial, medical, or relational. Jesus came to solve our spiritual problem. We are all sinners. Our sin separates us from God. Jesus came to die for the forgiveness of sin. He makes it clear in this passage that he even wants to forgive his killers. He declares that no one is beyond the love of God. God’s grace is greater than our sin (Rom 5:20). Easter is about divine forgiveness. This radical forgiveness is the pinnacle of Christ’s ministry. Forgiveness becomes the mark of those who follow Jesus.
In Acts 7, as Stephen finished his speech, the crowd was stoning him. Before dying in Acts 7:60, Stephen says: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” He is dying like Jesus, with forgiveness on his mind. This is an incredible plea. It is the testimony of the Christian Church. Radical forgiveness flows from the radical forgiveness Jesus showed us on the cross. Dylan Roof is a white supremacist who entered a church, he killed people. At his trial, the families of the victims forgave him. In 2018, a police officer, Amber Guyger, went home. But she entered the wrong apartment. She thought a stranger was in her home and shot him dead. She shot the man who lived in that apartment who was minding his own business eating ice cream in front of the TV. At her trial, the victim’s brother, a Christian said – “I love you and I forgive you.” It is what Christians do. It is what we do. It is also a journey that we are all on. We all need to learn to forgive more.
Jesus offers forgiveness. Those who understand they are forgiven can forgive others. That is what Christians do. You may be in a challenging situation. And you may be feeling anger or even hatred towards someone. Life is a journey. God does not expect perfection right from the beginning. We will only be fully sanctified, made perfectly holy on the other side of death, or after Jesus returns. Forgiveness can be a process, but it is not optional. After the Lord’s prayer, Jesus says, unless you forgive, my Father in Heaven will not forgive you. If we ever think God does not know what he is asking, know that he does. This is what Easter is all about. God takes forgiveness so seriously that he even sacrificed his only son.
I am assuming that some of us hold grudges. I am assuming that you have a parent or a sibling who has told you hurtful things. Statements or actions have shattered your relationship. In an ideal world, when someone hurts you, you can approach them and show them how they hurt you. They would respond by embracing you, apologizing, and trying hard to be more sensitive. Forgiveness and apologizing are hard. We cannot control whether those who have hurt us will apologize. Nor, whether those we have hurt will accept our apology. Paul tells us in Rom 12:18, “as long as it depends on us, live at peace with all people.” God is calling us to this.
3 Luke 23:40–43 - The forgiveness of Easter makes a way for us to be with Christ in paradise
More often, I go out of my way to stress a different angle of the Christian message. I stress that Christianity is not about having a good thought toward God to get a one-way ticket to heaven. I stress that God saves us to live as his saved people. He saves us to be his people, his treasured possessions. We are loved to love and blessed to bless. We are a means to fulfilling God’s will, the Great Commission. However, we can also long for paradise. This is where Christians go to be with Jesus after death. We will be there with Christ until he returns to earth to inaugurate the New Heavens and New Earth. After that, we will receive new bodies and live in the New Heavens and New Earth. In our passage, one of the criminals on Jesus’s side acknowledges his sin. He understands that his sin deserves punishment. He believes that Jesus is innocent. He asks Jesus, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And Jesus tells him “Today, you will be with me in paradise.”If you want to bear witness to a friend, family member, or stranger, Luke 23:40–43 outlines how to be saved. We admit we are sinners, believe Jesus is the Son of God, and commit to making him king of our lives. The thief acknowledges he is a sinner. He believes that Jesus has a kingdom and authority over the afterlife. He has committed his life in the hands of Jesus.
The forgiveness that we receive through the events of Easter changes everything. If paradise is where we are heading, this life is the worst thing that is going to happen to us. Kathy Keller said, “While God may not protect you from every bad thing that might, has, or could happen to you- ultimately, through the resurrection, you are safe.” We look forward to being in paradise with Jesus. In paradise, we begin our enjoyment of Christ’s presence as we have never before. Believing in this reality changes how we live in the present. It helps us keep our priorities straight. It helps us get through harder times. Like Paul, we consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us (Rom 8:18). We become quicker to forgive. Christian, if anything were to happen to you today, today you will be with Christ in paradise. Encourage one another with these words.
There is confusion around Jesus’ death. Yet, we can know with certainty that he died for the forgiveness of sins. Because we know divine forgiveness, we can freely confess our sins and forgive others. We can endure all things in this life since our eternity by Jesus’ side is secure.
CONCLUSION:
Easter means that there is hope beyond the grave. Jesus died and the thief died. Now, they are together in paradise. Because of Easter, Death does not have the final word. Jesus endured the cross for the joy that was before him (Heb 12:2). This joy understood the forgiveness of our sins. It anticipated our place by Jesus’ side for eternity. There is life after death. This is our hope, and it changes everything.There is confusion around Jesus’ death. Yet, we can know with certainty that he died for the forgiveness of sins. Because we know divine forgiveness, we can freely confess our sins and forgive others. We can endure all things in this life since our eternity by Jesus’ side is secure.
Comments
Post a Comment