Palm Sunday, Sunday of the Passion
Luke 23:39-43
Jesus was tried many times. He was tried by the Jewish Council who found him guilty on made up charges. Pilate found him innocent, Herod found him innocent, and finally, even though he was innocent, Pilate sentenced him to death to appease the Jews. Then on the cross, there is one more trial by the two criminals hung to the right and left of him. One criminal hurled insults at him, "Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" Of course Jesus could not do that. Since he is the Messiah, the only way he could save the criminal is if he doesn't save himself. The other criminal spoke the truth in Jesus' defense. "Don't you fear God? You received the same sentence he did. Ours, however, is only right, because we are getting what we deserve for what we did; but he has done no wrong." Then he proclaimed his great faith in Jesus, "Remember me, Jesus, when you come as King!" When will Jesus come as King? Jesus answered that question when he said, "Today you will be with me in Paradise." Today is when the Kingdom of Jesus begins. Because today is when he conquers the devil and forgives sin, and in this way opens the Kingdom of eternal life. And the criminal is blessed because he will be "with" Jesus. If you remember the Christmas story, Jesus is called "Emmanuel" which means "God with us." Jesus is with us. He came to earth to be with people. He was with everyone, including the poor and criminals and outcasts. He is with us in our sin and death. And he is with us in our resurrection, too.
Jesus spoke of Paradise. It is a beautiful word to explain heaven. Originally, it was a garden of a Persian King. It was a beautiful, private garden where the king could walk and relax and talk with his closest friends. I suppose it had the same feeling of an old Japanese Garden in the palace of a rich feudal lord. I suppose it was a peaceful place like the Shikinaien Garden in Naha made by the Ryukyu King to entertain special guests from China. Only the privileged could enter there and be with the king. Jesus said to the criminal, "Today you will be with me in Paradise." He would be with Jesus in a privileged place; he would be with Jesus in peace and harmony.
The dialogue of the criminal and Jesus is loved by Christians. We feel in our hearts that he is speaking our thoughts. When we are punished, it is because we have been bad. When we die, it is because we are sinners. But Jesus was innocent of any wrong-doing. In faith we confess that we are sinners and that Jesus who was innocent took upon himself our sins and died on the cross as a sinner. And in this faith we confess that Jesus is our King. The thief on the cross was about to die, and Jesus was about to die also, so he might sound crazy when he says, "Remember me, Jesus, when you come as King." If Jesus is dead he can't be King. But this thief had the same faith that we have. He knew that Jesus would come as King in a powerful way that would conquer death and the grave. We know that too, and so we also say, "Remember me, Jesus, when you come as King."
And when does Jesus come as our King? Is it in the future, is it after we die, or is it right now? "Today you will be with me in Paradise." Jesus is our King today. Today we are with him in Paradise. I know this world sometimes seems more like hell than the Garden of Eden. But Jesus is with us today, he is our King today. In prayer, we have the privilege to be with Jesus in an intimate way. We can talk privately to him, just as if we were walking in a peaceful, private garden. We are with Jesus because he comes to us. He comes to us in the Bible, in the Sacraments, and whenever we hear the word of forgiveness spoken to us. He is with us when we are on our crosses: in the temptations and trials of this life, in the pain and sorrows of this life, in the time of death. And is also with us in the joys of this life, reminding us of what Paradise is like. Paradise is to be with Jesus.
Amen.
Let us pray:
@@@Heavenly Father,
@@@We come before you in prayer like the Penitent Thief on the cross.
@@@We know we are sinners and deserve the punishment we are given. At the same time, we know your love and mercy toward sinners. In faith we know you are our King, so, with the Thief on the Cross we too pray, gLord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.h (Thy Kingdom Come.)
Like the Thief on the Cross, we too are in situations that we cannot escape from. It is like we are nailed to our various crosses: disease, pain, habits, economic hardships, family problems, etc. We see no hope that we can save ourselves. By our own efforts we can do nothing. Our only hope is in Jesus. And so we turn to Jesus for help and rescue. With the Thief on the Cross we too pray, gLord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.h (Thy Kingdom Come.)
Lord Jesus, speak to us the same words you spoke to the Thief. gToday you will be with me in Paradise.h It is not Paradise if you are not with us. We know that you are with us, and so it is like Paradise. You are with us to guide and protect. Even in the midst of our trials, temptations, trepidations, and tempests, you are with us. From birth till death, you are with us. You are with us and so we have peace of mind, courage and hope. gLord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.h
Lord Jesus, when you were on the cross, you could have come down from the cross. It was not the nails that kept you there, but love. Because you love us you took our sin and grief upon yourself. By staying on the cross you stayed with us. You did not abandon us. Lord, we pray that we may be filled with the hope and joy of knowing that you always love us and are always with us. And so with the boldness and audacity of the Thief on the Cross, we too pray, gLord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.h (Thy Kingdom Come.)
Amen.
Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church