February 24, 2008

"You Will Be with Me in Paradise"

Isaiah 53: 12, Luke 23: 32- 43; text v. 43 

When I was student teaching American History one series of history films that I would show my students had the catchy title, "You Are There."  Narrated by the then popular news anchor Walter Cronkite, these films would attempt to help student imagine what it was like to actually live through some of the important events of history.

 In order to understand Jesus' words to this criminal, it is helpful for us to use that technique this morning, to place ourselves at the foot of not only Jesus' cross but of his cross as it stood in between the other two crosses.  And we must look over Jesus' head and read those words that Pilate ordered the soldiers to put on that sign, written in three languages, Aramaic, Latin, and Greek, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews."  As you consider those words, think about them as a Jew who is longing for the Messiah to set your people free from the tyranny of Rome.  And realize how Pilate is mocking your hopes.  "You long for a king-here he is!"  You think you are a great people.  You're scum! And your king is scum!  Here he hangs among the condemned criminals.  Get over your false hopes and empty dreams.  Because is the way they will end.

Imagine what it must have been like as Jew growing up with promise of the prophets.  "Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be not end.  He will reign on David's throne."  Perhaps you were one who had seen Jesus' miracles and you thought, "Maybe this man-maybe he's the one."  Or, perhaps you were one who had shouted "Hosanna" as he rode into Jerusalem on that donkey.  But, now here's where it ends. 

Yet, some of here this morning probably don't have to imagine all that much.  For as you stand at the foot of the cross, you too are struggling with the seeming disconnect between the promises of God and realities of your own life.  As you look at the sign, "The King of Jews," maybe you think about the words from The Apostles' Creed, "he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty."   Maybe you remember my telling you from this pulpit that Jesus conquered Satan and sin on the cross and is now reigning in heaven.  Or maybe you remember Paul's words in Colossians 2: 15,

"Having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."

Or maybe you recall his sweeping words in Ephesians 1: 20 and following,

"he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. ²²And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church."

And as you remember this, your heart is crying out, "Lord, if you are king, then why is that bully at school picking on me, why did the evil one do what he did to my family; why did he allow that person to do what he did to me, why do I feel I'm losing my fight against alcohol or sex, why do I feel such guilt and shame?  Or maybe you struggle with problems in the church, with the hypocrisy of some its leaders or with its decline in our community.  There was a time, not that long ago, when almost everyone had meaningful connection with a church and most went to church on Sunday.  Now, most don't.  And maybe someone you love is among that new majority. 

And if that isn't enough, the jeers of the crowd are getting louder.  I think of all the articles I've read from agnostic writers who assert the uninformed fallacy that Darwin somehow disproved the Bible.  I still remember a young woman in my office asking for a grocery card from our church.  When I spoke with her about Jesus, she sneered and said under breath, but loud enough that I would hear, "fairy tales."  But, maybe the sneering voice you hear is not from someone else at all, only a soft whisper inside your spirit.  "You think that God is in control and the he cares about you; he loves you he forgives you: fairy tales."

Maybe the words of the Psalmist in Psalm 42 describes how you are feeling as you stand at the foot of the cross,

My tears have been my food

            day and night,

            while men say to me all day long,

            "Where is your God? 

And then as you listen to these mocking voices, you hear two others: the voices of the two criminals

In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.  (Matthew 27:44)

  Have you ever wondered why some who were born and raised in God-fearing homes turn bad?  These two undoubtedly had God-fearing parents who brought them up in way of the Lord.  They were circumcised and taught that they belonged to God.  Their parents and the rabbis taught them the law of Moses and promises of the prophets.  Yet, they turned their back on all that.

It makes me think of some of the kids I went to Christian High with.  They had Christian parents; they went to my church.  They had all promises of God and they were taught to know and love the Lord. But, they turned their back on all that.  At ball games they got drunk and sniffed glue and aerosol propellants.  Later, some of them experimented with illegal drugs.  And they made fun of church and Jesus and everything that was holy.  Do you know the kind of kids I'm talking about?  How could this happen?  I thought God made a promise to them in their baptism.  Isn't Jesus on the throne; how did Satan get them?

Even in intense pain and knowing he is about to die, the one criminal laughing taunts Jesus. 

"Aren't you the Messiah?  Save yourself and us."

Think about those last two word, "and us."  Could it be that he was superstitious enough to want to cover all his bases?  Maybe.  But it is more likely that he was saying to Jesus, "Some Messiah!  You're one of us now."   Certainly he implied it.  "Jesus, you are just a crook like us!"

Yet, in his scoffing words, we hear echoes of the prophet Isaiah,

          Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,

            and he will divide the spoils with the strong,

            because he poured out his life unto death,

            and was numbered with the transgressors.

But, as we hear these words from Isaiah, it is important to note that the Messiah would not conquer by calling an army of angels and forcing his enemies to bow before him.  He would conquer by remaining on the cross, by suffering and dying and by being counted as a transgressor. 

Surely, he could have come down from that cross and wiped the smile off every one of those mocking faces.  He could have cleaned up on those criminals, those taunting Jewish leaders, and those cruel soldiers.  And he could have forced everyone to bow before him.  But, if he did that, none of us would have a chance. 

The human Jesus was tempted, but instead he said to his Father, "not my will, but yours be done."  And as we see him on the cross, we hear the words of Psalm 42,

⁹              I say to God my Rock,

            "Why have you forgotten me?

            Why must I go about mourning,

            oppressed by the enemy?"

¹⁰            My bones suffer mortal agony

            as my foes taunt me,

            saying to me all day long,

            "Where is your God?"

And in deep anguish he cries from hell's depths, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?"  And he stays on the cross.

And because of that he conquered.  He raided Satan's kingdom and took his spoils.  What evidence do we have that this is so?  We hear the voice of the other criminal-the one on his right.

"Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."

Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

The Father, who saw his obedient Son fulfilling his will, sent his Spirit to touch the heart of this condemned man, causing him to confess his sin and pray for grace.  The Holy Spirit gave him the eyes of faith so he could see that Jesus is king, realize that he is conquering, and anticipate that his kingdom is sure to come.

And then we hear Jesus, before plunging into hell's darkness, proclaiming his victory. 

"I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

Our English Bible's didn't quite translate the original correctly.

A better translation is,

"Amen! Today,  you will be with me in Paradise, or  "Most certainly! Today, you will be with me in Paradise.

I will be there and you will be there, today!  My victory is sure!

Paradise is a Greek word, based on a Persian word that means "a walled garden."  Before that criminal died Jesus gave him a preview of what was in store for him.  He would soon open his eyes in the Garden of Eden, surrounded by the presence and love of his Lord.

And the promise Jesus gave to this criminal, is the same promise that you and I must hear in our fears and doubts, above all the taunts of the unbelieving people and evil spirits. "Your end is sure, for I have conquered.  You will be with me in Paradise."

People of God, the same Jesus who died on that cross to give us and all who believe that wonderful promise, also made some pretty strong statements about what would be in store for those who believe in him.  Listen to so some those statements.

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."  Luke 9: 23

"All men will hate you because of me". Luke 21: 17

In this world you will have trouble John 16:33

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution."   Revelation 2: 10

Stand again at the foot of the cross and know that believing in him means that we too must bear a cross too.

But if we bear that cross, we also hear him say,

I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

As I think about that I think about my Grandpa Dykstra.  He never was rich or famous.  They lost the only house they ever owned during the Great Depression.  Yet, he spent his life helping poor people and street people know the love and grace of Christ.  He was a lay missionary who worked with the down and out in street missions in Chicago and later Grand Rapids, MI.  Now, you would have thought that the Lord would have blessed my saintly grandpa with a long healthy life.  He didn't.  At age 64 he contracted hepatitis.  He spent the last year of his life wasting away in bed.  I can still see grandpa suffering in that bed.  One time when my parents and all the other adults went downstairs to allow my sick grandpa some time to rest, I sneaked up to his bedroom and we talked.  He told me stories from his life and how God had guided and blessed him. He told those stories with such vivid detail that I imagined myself in them. Why did my grandpa have to suffer? What great kingdom purpose did it serve?   I don't know.  But, I know that today he is with the Lord in paradise.  And I know that many former drunks and addicts and petty thieves are there with him and I know that someday the nine year old grandson who is now a 53 year old man will be joining him there.

And if some of you this morning are expecting me to explain to you why you must bear the cross you do or why you must suffer what you are suffering, I can't.  I can't explain what great kingdom purpose it will serve nor will I try.  Instead, let us together hear our Lord's call to stand beneath his cross.  And as we turn our heads to our left, we see suffering criminal hanging on the cross next to him.  Yet, a great peace has come to his tormented face.  And we hear our Lord say to him

 "Most certainly! Today, you will be with me in paradise." 

And we know his victory.  For that's his promise to us too.

AMEN!