WORDS
Luke 23:34
You are leaving the church building and walking to your car in the parking lot. Adults are visiting and children are laughing and playing as you and your family walk by. Then suddenly you hear shots ring out and you see three, four, and five … maybe six people drop to the ground. And, you hear two more shots and see another person in the distance fall to the ground.
In the aftermath, you realize that two of your daughters were among those who were shot and killed. The last two shots you heard were fired by a security officer and a self-inflicted gunshot by the one who fired all the shots.
If that scenario seems vaguely familiar, it did happen in real life, several years ago in Colorado Springs. Events like that are happening far more often in society, today.
But, I would like to use that background to ask you, if those were your daughters, what would you say? What would be your reaction? Would you be able to forgive? And, yes, I recognize that none of us can truly say what our actions would be because we did not experience what the actual parents in this shooting experienced.
In the real experience, the minister of the church where the shooting occurred invited the parents of the shooter to the church to see where their son died. They drove from Denver where it was later learned that their son had killed two and shot four more teenagers at a Youth Ministry Outreach. The minister showed the parents the spot where their son died and after a period of time to allow them to reflect, the minister invited them into his study to talk about and process the events that had happened.
He then asked if they would like to meet the parents of the family of the two teenage girls who had been kicked. They said yes. And the same invitation was extended the other family members who saw their loved-ones gunned down. The also said yes.
During this meeting with the parents of the teenage girls, the minister said "What happened in that meeting ... was the most significant ministry moment I've experienced, maybe in all of my life." When they first entered the office, the two families embraced. They wept, and cried together and then they sat and prayed together.
Tears and pleas for forgiveness came as they met with the other victim’s families. Later, the security guard who shot the troubled young man was invited to join them. When she, who had undoubtedly saved many lives but had been forced to shoot their son, walked into the room, "the parents embraced her and hugged her and released her from any guilt and remorse. The dad looked at her and said, "Please know we're so sorry that you had to do what you did. We're so sorry."
The minister concluded with these words, "We can talk philosophically about repentance and redemption and going forward with God, but what I saw in that room in my office was the greatest testimony of forgiveness and redemption that I have ever seen. It was a testimony that God really can restore and redeem ."
None of us can say with certainty, what we would do under those circumstances. However, we can gain courage in reviewing the actions of Jesus. The conversation and shouts on that dismal Friday morning when Jesus was tried and executed were coarse and bitter:
“What shall I do with Jesus, who is called the Christ?”
“Crucify Him!”
“Why?”
“CRUCIFY HIM!”
And after spitting on him, striking him repeatedly, and mocking him they led him to the cross.
“He saved others but he can’t save himself.”
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
“Come down from the cross if you are the Son of God!”
“If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
“Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us.”
Caustic words … acidic with sarcasm and hatred. Wasn’t it enough that he was going to be crucified? Nails would pierce his hands and feet. Thorns would be pressed into his brow. His body would be flogged. But, the words … the insults that were hurled … had to hurt and bruise the spirit of Jesus. Self-righteousness poisoned the barbs, sneers and insults.
What would drive human beings to mock a dying man? Where was the respect, the reverence, the dignity of human worth? The words uttered that day were deliberate, intentional ones meant to wound and humiliate. Is there anything more hurtful than words meant to wound?
Words can break our heart. Words that wound can lead to medical complications. Words can bruise our feelings. All of this happened to Jesus.
Listen to Peter’s perspective on how Jesus responded in 1 Peter 2:23, “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when He suffered, he made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.”
Jesus could have rightly prayed, “Father, annihilate them. Wipe them out.” There was certainly on Old Testament precedent for this kind of prayer. What happened at Golgotha was unforgivable. They had crucified the Son of God. What could be worse than that?
Our text today reads, “Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they don’t know what they are doing.” The soldiers threw lots to decide who would get his clothes.”
As nails pierced his hands and blood splashed on the soldier’s hammer, we find Jesus, not wailing in pain, but wording a prayer of pardon and forgiveness. The request was not for himself, but for the very people who spoke words that wounded and called for his death. His first thought is to plead in prayer for those who are in desperate need of forgiveness. When mankind had done the worst, Jesus prayed, not for justice, but for mercy.
This verse is in the imperfect tense. What that means is that Jesus prayed repeatedly for their forgiveness. It wasn’t just a one-time request. When the nails tore through His tendons, sending jolts of pain rushing through His body, He closed His eyes and prayed, “Father, forgive them.” When the cross dropped into place between two criminals, He cried out, “Father, forgive them.” When they divided up his only earthly possessions below the cross, he exclaimed, “Father, forgive them.” As the religious leaders sneered at Him He replied, “Father, forgive them.” When the soldiers mocked Him, he shouted, “Father, forgive them.” When the sign, “This is the King of the Jews” was hammered above His head, he sighed, “Father, forgive them.”
Human reaction, so often, is to strike back … to get even, but Jesus did not retaliate. Did you grasp what Jesus did do? He “entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” Oh, how much better off our world would be if we truly left the judging up to God. Too often, we want to pigeon-hole, and label and judge others, but that is God’s call – not ours.
Because Jesus did not retaliate it showed his total trust in God. Do we have that kind of trust in our actions with our fellowman today? How Jesus, with a body wracked with pain, eyes blinded by sweat and blood, lungs gasping for air, could speak on behalf of misguided and evil religious leaders and even criminals, is beyond our comprehension. Never, never, never … has there been such holy restraint and love been demonstrated.
How could he do it? From my weak, indulgent human side – I don’t know! But, I do know that all of a sudden my wounds seem very painless. My grudges and hard feelings are suddenly childish .
You don’t have to look very far today to find people who are mad, angry and tired of the sad state of living. Some reach a breaking point and say, “I can’t take it anymore!” Then they take control by pulling a knife or pistol or using their vehicle as a weapon. Sometimes there are even cheers for vigilante justice. “They had it coming – that’s the way to do it!”
But, is it? Is that really the way to do it? Those are human emotions. That’s trying to correct the behaviors of others with human might. It was not the way of Jesus. Did he have a right to be angry? By the world’s standard – YES. The irritation of being mocked … the frustration of being betrayed by one of your own … the aggravation of seeing so-called holy men scream crucify … all added to the humiliation.
How do we harness anger, frustration and resentment? A good option is found in the example of Jesus. Have you ever wondered how Jesus kept from retaliating? Have you ever asked how he kept his emotions and speech in check?
Listen again to his words, “Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they don’t know what they are doing.” Here’s the answer. Notice the second part of his statement – “they don’t know what they are doing.” How could Jesus look at this bloodthirsty, revenge-seeking crowd and see them as victims? We see their anger and hatred, but Jesus saw their confusion and misguided temperament. His heart reached out to them because he saw them as “sheep without a shepherd.”
“They don’t know what they are doing” was his comment. And when you think about it, they didn’t know. They had allowed human emotions to boil over and be stirred by mob-mentality. They were so mad and angry that they couldn’t see that they were venting their emotions on God and killing his only Son.
It is easy to see their mistakes – but what about us? We too, as much as we hate to admit it – are also sheep without a shepherd. We continually play tag with the realities of disappointment – disease – and, death. Many folk cannot even get along with their own mates. Some constantly change jobs in search of the perfect position. We search, but no one has found the real “fountain-of-youth.” Others in the throes of pain wish for a miracle cure to heal their disease. And funeral homes continue to remain on call 24/7/365.
When I paraphrase the Apostle Paul’s words, “I do not know what I am doing ,” I think he speaks for all of us. That of course doesn’t justify the inebriated hit-and-run driver or the senseless killings of innocent women and children by terrorists. But it does help explain why they do the miserable things they do.
Our uncontrolled anger and frustration won’t better our families or the community in which we live, but sympathetic understanding and love of Christ in our hearts will. Once we see the world and ourselves for what we are, we can help. Once we understand ourselves we begin to operate not from a posture of our self-interest, but of compassion and concern. We long at others, not with a cynical gaze but with a heart opened by God’s love, grace and mercy.
In our world of darkness, Jesus calls us to be light-bearers. It is through our trials and disappointments that we are enabled to step in among those who are struggling and hurting. Paul’s advice is our encouragement, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ”
Whom has God placed in your path to be comforted by His Word and His love? When we begin to understand ourselves and see others as Jesus did, there is something that nudges us to reach out to them the way Christ reached out to us. As we step into Monday and the rest of this week what can we do to spread the aroma of Christ?
Today, if you were given advance information that Jesus would return sometime in the next 12 months, how would it affect your thoughts and actions? If you knew Jesus was coming back within the year - and you haven’t made your decision to be His child - would you make that decision today?
- Would you decide it’s time to act on your faith that Jesus is the Son of God?
- Would you be willing to repent of your sins and turn your life toward Jesus?
- Would you be willing to make Jesus the Lord and Master of your life?
- Would you be willing to surrender your life to Him, by allowing yourself to be buried in the waters of Christian baptism?
If we can assist you in making a decision, we invite you to come forward right now as we sing the invitation song.
Resources used in preparing this sermon:
Sermon by Jim Kane, Redemption and Restoration in Real Life, September 2008, Sermon Central
Max Lucado, No Wonder They Call Him Savior, Multnomah Press, 1986
Romans 7:15
1 Corinthians 1:3-4
