Grace Evangelical-Lutheran: Luke 23,32-49. Good Friday

Saturday, April 16, 2022

Luke 23,32-49. Good Friday

Luke 23,32-49 2322

Karfreitag 32

Anastasia and Basilissa, Martyrs under Nero 66

15. April 2022

1. ℣ Surely He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows:

℟ He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities (Isaiah 53,4a.5a).

O Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, You have borne the guilt of sinners and were laden with the sins of the earth, comfort us this day that You gladly suffered the Passion of Your crucifixion, so that we now stand before God the Father as spotless and righteous as You ever are. Amen. (A Lamb Goes Unclomplaining Forth elkg 414,1; lcms 438,1 Paul Gerhardt 1607-76).

2. »Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with Him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on His right and one on His left. And Jesus said: „Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.“ And they cast lots to divide His garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at Him, saying: „He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!“ The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up and offering Him sour wine and saying: „If you are the King of the Jews, then save yourself!“ There was also an inscription over him: „This is the King of the Jews.“ One of the criminals who were hanged railed at Him, saying: „Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!“ But the other rebuked Him, saying: „Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.“ And he said: „Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.“ And he said to him: „Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in paradise.“ It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said: „Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit!“ And having said this He breathed His last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying: „Certainly this man was innocent!“ And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. And all His acquaintances and the women who had followed Him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.«

3. All of the Gospels record at least 1 of the 7 statement Jesus spoke while being crucified. Luke records for us 3 of those 7. The 1. is:

4. »Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.« This is a plea for God the Father’s mercy. The Roman soldiers don’t know they are crucifying an innocent man. They know that Pilate has found Him guilty of sedition and has sentenced Him to death. They know little to none of the particulars of His trial. They are tasked to carry out corporal punishment, and they do so. Sins of ignorance are still sins; just as the excuse „I was just following orders“ does not absolve one of committing a crime against humanity. These soldiers have innocent blood on their hands, and Jesus extends forgiveness to them.

5. Every man, woman and child is as guilty as these Romans. Jesus is being crucified for them, for us, for you. An innocent man dies in place of the guilty. Jesus is on the cross for us, bearing all our sin and suffering the fate that is rightly ours. Each one of us is a little Barabbas — set free at Jesus’ expense. This indeed was the plan of the Father and His Son. Jesus crucified is the reason He was born 30 years earlier in Bethlehem. The Triune God’s Heilsgeschichte (salvation history) was fulfilled on Karfreitag. The next words Luke records for us are:

6. »Truly, I say to you: today you will be with Me in Paradise.« The Jews referred to a quarter of heaven in or above the 3. heaven with the designation of Paradise. (2. Corinthians 12,4; Revelation 2,7) The lxx translates „garden of Eden“ as „paradise of Eden“ because literally paradise refers to an enclosed orchard or garden with fruit trees. It is similar to פךה : to bear fruit. It is a future place of happiness. The insurrectionist on the cross next to Jesus asked Him to remember him when He entered into His kingdom, and Jesus replied: »Today you will be with Me in Paradise.« To be in the presence of God is to be in paradise. Jesus promised Dismas that he would dwell in God’s presence for all eternity.

7. The promise given to Dismas is the same promise given to all who confess Jesus to be the Christ: though you now suffer, one day you will be with Jesus in paradise, in His presence and enjoying eternal life. Jesus was crucified to open up this paradise to all believers. Sin demanded a sacrifice; Jesus was that sacrifice; paradise is the fruit of Jesus’ sacrifice. Thus we sing in the Te Deum: When You had overcome the sharpness of death, You opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers (lsb 224). The final words spoken by Jesus in Luke’s crucifixion account is:

8. »Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit!« This is a cry of trust. Jesus is displaying His confident trust in the Father as the one who redeems, rescues and delivers the believer (Just 944). Jesus is rejoicing in His Father’s salvation (Just 944).

9. Jesus’ 3 words recorded in Luke are words of forgiveness, comfort and confident trust in God (Just 945). Jesus is in complete control and to the end He is the Savior (Just 945). The Roman centurion testified to this when he »praised God, saying: „Certainly this man was innocent!“« Jesus is the Righteous One who suffered and died to make each one of us righteous.

10. What language shall I borrow

To thank Thee, dearest Friend,

For this Thy dying sorrow,

Thy pity without end?

O make me Thine forever!

And should I fainting be,

Lord, let me never, never,

Outlive my love for Thee (O Sacred Head, Now Wounded lsb 450,5 Bernard of Clairvaux 1091-1153).

This is most certainly true.

11. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4,7). Amen.

12. Let us pray. O Almighty Father, Eternal God, for us You sent Your Son and let Him suffer the pain of the cross, so that He might drive away from us all the terror of the evil foe. Move us to joyfully give thanks for His suffering through which we have received forgiveness of sins and redemption from eternal death. Amen. (Martin Luther, Die Gebete Luthers, #14; Stratman 38).

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

All Scriptural quotations are translations done by The Rev. Peter A. Bauernfeind using the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 4. Edition © 1990 by the Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, and the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 28. Revised Edition © 2012 by Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart.

Grace Evangelical-Lutheran

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

Saturday, April 16, 2022

Luke 23,32-49. Good Friday

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