Tre Ore 2009 – “Father, Forgive Them.”  Luke 23:33-35

 

      Grace to you and peace from God, our Father, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.  The text for our sermon meditation is taken from the Gospel account of St Luke, the 23^rd Chapter:

 

      "When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals-- one on his right, the other on his left.

      Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.  The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.""

 

So far the reading.

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

      How did you begin your Lenten journey this year?  Did you begin your journey by getting the smudge?  Do know what smudge I am talking about?

 

      I am talking about the smudge of ashes in the shape of a cross that marked your forehead.  The smudge of ashes that some received during the Ash Wednesday Service.  The smudge of ashes that was applied to those who came to the Lord’s altar by the pastor with these words:

 

      “Dust you are and to dust you shall return.”

 

      The words sound hopeless unless you know the context in which they are spoken.  Much the same as Jesus words as the soldiers mark his hands and feet with the rude iron nails.  Those rude iron nails will pierce Jesus precious hand and feet and hold those precious hands and feet to the altar of the cross.  Those rude iron nails will leave their mark forever on the hands that healed and comforted those in need.  Those rude iron nails will bind those precious hands and feet to the altar of the cross until there is no life left in them.  Such a scene would appear hopeless unless the words of Jesus were no heard.

 

      “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”

 

      Did you come forward to receive your smudge because you knew what you were doing, or did you come forward to receive your smudge because everyone else in the pew was going forward?  Are you offended by these questions, or are you examining your heart and actions so you know what you were doing?

 

      Our Lord always knew what he was doing.  In fact there was only one thing he did not know, but in a short time after being crucified Jesus would know that one thing fully.  St Paul writes of this one thing with these words:

 

      “The one not knowing sin through experience on behalf of us was made sin, in order that we become the righteousness of God in him.”

 

      The smudge on your forehead does not compare to what Jesus experienced upon the cross.  In his agony upon the cross, Jesus became sin.  This is no small matter, neither is it one specific sin, nor is it the sin of only one person.  When Jesus was made to be sin, Jesus was made to be every sin of every person who is born in every place and in every age.  Jesus was made to be every sin committed in the past, every sin committed in the present and very sin that will be committed in the future.  Jesus was made to be every sin that is known or unknown, every sin committed or every good work that is omitted. 

 

      Moreover, Jesus experienced the wrath of God, and the torment of hell for the sins he was made to be.  Now Jesus knows all things through experience.

 

      Now you know what the smudge of ash on your forehead means.  Now you understand the words spoken to you by the pastor, this past Ash Wednesday.  Now you know the meaning of the words spoken by Jesus as he is crucified.  Jesus knows sin and God’s punishment for sin.  His desire is for you to escape such punishment through faith in His sacrifice upon the cross.  Through such faith, you are led to confess your sin and see in this Jesus the grace of God which cleanses you from such sin.  Through such faith, you learn and hear that Jesus desires his Father to be your father.

 

      The smudge on your forehead is a reminder of your sinful mortality and the price Jesus paid to bring you to righteous immortality.  Indeed, we are dust and shall return to dust.  Yet, through the fulfilled will of the Father, we know the One who was made to be sin for us.  By his wounds, we are healed of sin and death, and by faith in this Son of God, we are made alive in righteousness.  In this same faith then, we stand forgiven and heirs of eternal life.

 

      Oh, may we, who mercy need,  Be like you in heart and deed,

      When with wrong our spirits bleed:  Hear us Holy Jesus.

 

Amen.