Message
Luke 23:47
Our King Jesus Declared Righteous
Let’s start by putting ourselves at the foot of the cross.
You are the centurion who is responsible for overseeing the crucifixion of Jesus.
What sort of person are you?
You are a person with a real sense of justice.
That is what the Roman Empire prided itself on - bringing justice to the world. Law and order. Democracy.
There was a system of rights and protection. As a centurion you have proven you can protect those rights.
You are a person of deep spirituality.
Your own spiritual world-view is made up of many “gods” and you seek to appease them all. Apollo … and Hercules … Minerva. You knew the importance of worship so were comfortable allowing the conquered nations to follow their own “gods”. You serve Caesar the living “son of a god”.
You have been in Palestine a while.
You have seen battles and you have been on the front line. But now in Palestine it is more of a peace-keeping mission. So you have gotten to know the local customs and you have a bit an idea of the local religion. You can see the central place of worship, the Herodian Temple, from just about anywhere in the city.
Today you crucified a prisoner. A sign on the cross written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek identifies the condemned.
Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews.
He doesn’t look like a king! He certainly has not been treated like a king.
Yet this “king” has caused an uproar today.
You watched with interest the way Pilate dealt with Him
Pilate declared that Jesus was innocent – yet Jesus has still been condemned. It was one of those times when justice gave way to mob-pressure.
But Jesus didn’t say a word of protest.
You watched as the guards have a bit of sport with the condemned man.
By the end of the process Jesus is a physical mess. Bloodied. Bruised. His face is distorted. His back was ripped open.
But Jesus didn’t say a word of protest.
You watched carefully as the procession makes its way from the palace guard to the place of crucifixion. This could be a real point of conflict. It is a time of emotion.
Today it seemed like the whole city was out. People from all walks of life making their hate known.
But Jesus didn’t say a word of protest.
You oversaw the crucifixion. It is a painful way to die. A shameful way to die.
Stripped naked.
Left hand down … large nail … hammer … strike, strike, strike, strike.
Right hand down … large nail … hammer … strike, strike, strike, strike.
Feet crossed over and held down … large nail … hammer … strike, strike, strike, strike.
But Jesus didn’t say a word of protest.
Indeed Jesus keeps saying Father forgive them.
Then so much happened.
Three hours of darkness - the eeriest thing you have ever experienced. What did this prisoner do to upset the “gods” like that?
Then Jesus cries out … almost shouting ... My God, My God why have you forsaken me? More word come … It is Finish. What is going on? What’s finished?
And then it happened … the last moment.
Normally a crucified criminal dies quietly, in agony, almost unconscious. Jesus didn’t die like that at all. He has the energy to cry out in a loud voice of triumph Into Your hands I commit My spirit.
Then it happened. Jesus died and an earthquake shock the city.
What is this?
What do you say?
… …
What are the observations of the centurion - one of the closest witnesses to the most extraordinary execution he has ever been responsible for - what does he say?
Well what he says is so significant three of the four Gospel writers take note of it.
54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
(Matthew 27:54)
37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”
(Mark 15:37-39)
44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.”
(Luke 23:44-47)
Put that all together.
There is fear - the fear of realising that he is in the presence of deity.
There is a dawning realisation. This is a man who was the Son of God.
There is transformation … fear turns to praise …this Son of God is also a righteous man.
Do you know what that means?
It means the Centurion is the very first convert after the death of Jesus.
The man who was actually the most physically responsible for executing Jesus is a recipient of God’s divine grace.
The fear.
The dawning realisation.
The transformation.
Trusting in a righteousness that does not come from himself, but come from Jesus.
Expressing faith as he confesses his new-found knowledge that Jesus was the righteous innocent Son of God.
He got it. A pagan centurion understanding God’s justice because he knows justice works. Surely this righteous man was the Son of God.
He got what the whole thing was all about.
It was all about the Son of God … the righteous innocent Son of God … taking that place of those who do not deserve God’s favour.
So why talk about these things today … the day of Jesus Resurrection?
Because I want all of us to ask ourselves the question which is at the heart and foundation of our relationship with Jesus.
Do we get it?
Do we get that we have been fully forgiven?
I mean fully. Nothing that you have done, which you think is so terrible, can keep you separated from Jesus. There is no sin too great that can’t be confessed and dealt with.
You don’t have to hold onto it. You are not defined by it.
The righteous man who is the Son of God is risen … so that your past can be buried.
Do you get that?
Do you get that you can be a Christian who keeps stumbling.
There are days when you know you are far. Where the voice of Jesus is silent only because you are holding your hands over your ears and you are absolutely distracted and fixated. You have days when you wake up and wonder am I really part of the family.
Do you get that you can be that sort of person, and then come to Jesus in confession, and have all the weight and the guilt and the shame removed.
The righteous man who is the Son of God is risen … so that your daily struggles can be overcome.
Do you get that?
Do you get that you can be a person who has served Jesus faithfully since you were a young teenager. You helped in Sunday School. You showed hospitality. You literally helped build a church. You lead youth group. You were known for your pastoral care. You were a leader. You went to theological college. You are highly regarded in the Christian community.
Do you get that you can be that sort of person yet, ultimately, none of these works is what secures your place in heaven.
It only takes a confession of the mouth
A belief of the heart
Jesus is Lord.
The righteous man who is the Son of God is risen … so that your eternal secure is not in what you do, but in the fact that Jesus has done it all … it is finished.
Do you get that?
Do you get what we are seeing here?
This centurion literally crucified Jesus.
His team held the nails. His team picked up the hammer. His team a team of pagan non-Jewish Roman soldiers.
And he is the first convert.
If Jesus can bring salvation to the very ones who physically held the nails.
Then surely salvation is available for everyone!
This is the simple Gospel truth.
It is really good for us to be reminded again on this Resurrection Sunday.
Because it is so easy for us to make the simple complicated.
Today I just want you to celebrate the clear, simple, Gospel.
Do you get it.
If you don’t get it … please talk … let someone know.
Because if you don’t get what Jesus is really on about you’ve literally got no hope.
Do you get it.
If you do then join with the first convert - a Roman centurion who praised God and said, “Surely this righteous man is the Son of God … and he has given me salvation.”
Get it?
Got it!
Good.
Prayer
