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The Gospel reading for this week was a long one, stretching across two chapters in Matthew; Matthew 26:14 to 27:66. I chose to preach to several of the characters in the narrative and have included both the video and the manuscript for the sermon. If you look at the manuscript and listen to the video you'll notice that I dropped out some portions of the sermon. This was done for time considerations, unfortunately, the service was running long and I had to edit a bit in order to keep from running over too far.
In this writing I will only hit upon one of the points from the sermon which revolved around this part of the reading:
Matthew 27:3 (NRSV) When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders.
This verse takes one past the old question of, "would Jesus have forgiven Judas if Judas wouldn't have committed suicide?" and to the much better question of, "was Judas reconciled to God?" The verse in Matthew as translated by the NRSV indicates that Judas did in fact 'repent' and if he did so then by extension he must have been reconciled... in the sermon I stated the following:
"Since as you all know, I believe above all else that our God is a God of reconciliation, I also believe that since Judas repented and sought reconciliation, that he was then in fact reconciled to God.
This amazing display of grace has implications to us in our relationship with God. There is simply no betrayal severe enough, there is no wrong so grievous, no distance far enough, nor past anger so vile... as to separate us from the love of Christ, if we just turn... and return, if we just repent."
The idea that not only was Judas forgiven but that he was reconciled to God, is an interesting question and one that I will ponder more at a later time and perhaps at some point devote another blog post to it.
But for now, there is far, far too much to do for Easter, so...
Be a blessing to someone today!
In Christ,
Roy
"Since as you all know, I believe above all else that our God is a God of reconciliation, I also believe that since Judas repented and sought reconciliation, that he was then in fact reconciled to God.
This amazing display of grace has implications to us in our relationship with God. There is simply no betrayal severe enough, there is no wrong so grievous, no distance far enough, nor past anger so vile... as to separate us from the love of Christ, if we just turn... and return, if we just repent."
The idea that not only was Judas forgiven but that he was reconciled to God, is an interesting question and one that I will ponder more at a later time and perhaps at some point devote another blog post to it.
But for now, there is far, far too much to do for Easter, so...
Be a blessing to someone today!
In Christ,
Roy
Manuscript of Sermon given on April 9th, 2017 - Palm Sunday
On days like today, ministers the world over face a dilemma... how do we relate and relay a story that much if not all of our audience already knows by heart?
How do we proclaim the good news of the Gospels when for many of our hearers it may have become simply yesterday's news? We've all heard this before, countless times. This is the very real challenge that faces all ministers every Palm Sunday when year after year the cross stands before us, the pews are often more filled than normal, and our hearers are anxious to hear the gospel anew.
There is a challenge in preaching these old, old stories but also great opportunities. These stories have been told countless times and yet their power to convict and inspire us has not yet faded.
Today, as we listen to the Lectionary's Gospel selection, consider this... what if we draw our attention to those curious characters at the edge of the narrative? Is it possible that these characters, some minor and some major might point us to Jesus in some new way? Let us hear the reading and then, let's take a look at some of the actors involved in the Passion of the Christ.
On days like today, ministers the world over face a dilemma... how do we relate and relay a story that much if not all of our audience already knows by heart?
How do we proclaim the good news of the Gospels when for many of our hearers it may have become simply yesterday's news? We've all heard this before, countless times. This is the very real challenge that faces all ministers every Palm Sunday when year after year the cross stands before us, the pews are often more filled than normal, and our hearers are anxious to hear the gospel anew.
There is a challenge in preaching these old, old stories but also great opportunities. These stories have been told countless times and yet their power to convict and inspire us has not yet faded.
Today, as we listen to the Lectionary's Gospel selection, consider this... what if we draw our attention to those curious characters at the edge of the narrative? Is it possible that these characters, some minor and some major might point us to Jesus in some new way? Let us hear the reading and then, let's take a look at some of the actors involved in the Passion of the Christ.
Matthew 26:14-27:66
14Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15and said, “What will you give me if I betray him to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver. 16And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.
17On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 18He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” 19So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal. 20When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; 21and while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.” 25Judas, who betrayed him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” He replied, “You have said so.”
26While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; 28for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 30When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
31Then Jesus said to them, “You will all become deserters because of me this night; for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 33Peter said to him, “Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you.” 34Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” 35Peter said to him, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And so said all the disciples.
36Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. 38Then he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.” 39And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.” 40Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? 41Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42Again he went away for the second time and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. 45Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.”
47While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49At once he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. 50Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. 51Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 52Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?” 55At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56But all this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
57Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, in whose house the scribes and the elders had gathered. 58But Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; and going inside, he sat with the guards in order to see how this would end. 59Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death, 60but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward 61and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’” 62The high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?” 63But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” 64Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, From now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy. 66What is your verdict?” They answered, “He deserves death.” 67Then they spat in his face and struck him; and some slapped him, 68saying, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who is it that struck you?”
69Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant-girl came to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70But he denied it before all of them, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” 71When he went out to the porch, another servant-girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72Again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.” 73After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you.” 74Then he began to curse, and he swore an oath, “I do not know the man!” At that moment the cock crowed. 75Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
27When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus in order to bring about his death. 2They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor. 3When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4He said, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” 5Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. 6But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money.” 7After conferring together, they used them to buy the potter’s field as a place to bury foreigners. 8For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one on whom a price had been set, on whom some of the people of Israel had set a price, 10and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”
11Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” 12But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. 13Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?” 14But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. 15Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. 16At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. 17So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. 19While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.” 20Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. 21The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” All of them said, “Let him be crucified!” 23Then he asked, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!” 24So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” 25Then the people as a whole answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”
26So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified. 27Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. 28They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. 32As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his cross.
33And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), 34they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. 35And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots; 36then they sat down there and kept watch over him. 37Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” 38Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads 40and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, 42“He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. 43He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, ‘I am God’s Son.’” 44The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way. 45From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 46And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” 48At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. 49But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.”
50Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. 51At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. 53After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. 54Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!” 55Many women were also there, looking on from a distance; they had followed Jesus from Galilee and had provided for him. 56Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
57When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. 58He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth 60and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. 61Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb. 62The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63and said, “Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64Therefore command the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception would be worse than the first.” 65Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can.” 66So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.
14Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15and said, “What will you give me if I betray him to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver. 16And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.
17On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 18He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” 19So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal. 20When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; 21and while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.” 25Judas, who betrayed him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” He replied, “You have said so.”
26While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; 28for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 30When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
31Then Jesus said to them, “You will all become deserters because of me this night; for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 33Peter said to him, “Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you.” 34Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” 35Peter said to him, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And so said all the disciples.
36Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. 38Then he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.” 39And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.” 40Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? 41Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42Again he went away for the second time and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. 45Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.”
47While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49At once he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. 50Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. 51Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 52Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?” 55At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56But all this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
57Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, in whose house the scribes and the elders had gathered. 58But Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; and going inside, he sat with the guards in order to see how this would end. 59Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death, 60but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward 61and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’” 62The high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?” 63But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” 64Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, From now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy. 66What is your verdict?” They answered, “He deserves death.” 67Then they spat in his face and struck him; and some slapped him, 68saying, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who is it that struck you?”
69Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant-girl came to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70But he denied it before all of them, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” 71When he went out to the porch, another servant-girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72Again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.” 73After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you.” 74Then he began to curse, and he swore an oath, “I do not know the man!” At that moment the cock crowed. 75Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
27When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus in order to bring about his death. 2They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor. 3When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4He said, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” 5Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. 6But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money.” 7After conferring together, they used them to buy the potter’s field as a place to bury foreigners. 8For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one on whom a price had been set, on whom some of the people of Israel had set a price, 10and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”
11Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” 12But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. 13Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?” 14But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. 15Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. 16At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. 17So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. 19While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.” 20Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. 21The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” All of them said, “Let him be crucified!” 23Then he asked, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!” 24So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” 25Then the people as a whole answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”
26So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified. 27Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. 28They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. 32As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his cross.
33And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), 34they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. 35And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots; 36then they sat down there and kept watch over him. 37Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” 38Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads 40and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, 42“He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. 43He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, ‘I am God’s Son.’” 44The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way. 45From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 46And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” 48At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. 49But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.”
50Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. 51At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. 53After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. 54Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!” 55Many women were also there, looking on from a distance; they had followed Jesus from Galilee and had provided for him. 56Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
57When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. 58He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth 60and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. 61Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb. 62The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63and said, “Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64Therefore command the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception would be worse than the first.” 65Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can.” 66So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.
First, let's look at those responsible for Jesus' execution, it is a conspiracy of empowered cowardice and derelict duty. Caiaphas and his co-conspirators have predetermined the outcome of the show trial and now only need the pretense of "evidence." They arrange for false testimony but still cannot find a way to condemn the innocent Jesus. Ultimately, it takes Caiaphas' direct involvement to inflate already trumped up charges of blasphemy, but the office of the high priest cannot put someone to death. To achieve his ends, Caiaphas turns to Pilate whose primary job was keeping the peace. Pilate attempts to defuse an increasingly rabid crowd but eventually defers to their passions rather than justice. When Pilates washes his hands, he does nothing to minimize his complicity. The wheels of politics may be the proximate cause of Jesus' death, but Matthew's readers are fully aware that God continues to work in the background. The conspiracy around Jesus' death is a powerful reminder of the political implications of following Jesus to the cross.
It is important to note that the words in the Gospel of Matthew have often been used to support anti-Semitic activities. The true irony of this is that the Gospel of Matthew is actually the most Jewish of any of the four Gospels and any attempt to condemn Judaism as a whole through the use of Matthew's words is not only anti-Semitic but also unchristian. Let us never forget that our Lord was a Jewish Rabbi.
Next up, we have the actors in this drama that never intended to be a part of the narrative, I imagine that neither Jesus Barabbas nor Simon of Cyrene could have anticipated the role they would play in this story. As an insurrectionist, Barabbas could not and would not have anticipated a pardon after committing crimes against the political order. An immigrant or sojourner from northern Africa, Simon could not have anticipated being commissioned to help in the crucifixion of a presumed criminal. We know little about these two characters. Other than early church legend about Simon and his sons becoming Christians, we know very little about how their interaction with the passion affected either Barabbas' or Simon's lives. Whether as an innocent bystander or a jailed criminal, the path of God's Son may cross our own path at the most unexpected and remarkable moments. How will we react when we are freed from our prisons? How will we react when we are conscripted to carry the burdens of ministry and faith?
Many of you have heard me comment on the importance of names in the Scripture, and many have also heard me comment on the significance of Jesus Barabbas name and the decision by the crowd to choose Barabbas. Bar as a prefix in a name in Jesus time meant “son of” Abba meant “Father”. Barabbas is literally “The Son of the Father”, literally... Jesus “the son of the father”. We like the crowd that day have a choice to pick the path of violence and reliance upon our own abilities and efforts or to place our fate and faith in the hands of the one sent from our Father above, Jesus “the son of the Father”, the Father above... Jesus a man of peace and grace. The crowd that day picked the path of Barabbas, the path of violence, the path of self-reliance. Let us today pick the path of Jesus who is the Christ, the path of love, grace, reconciliation and peace.
It is worth mentioning that the cheering crowd that greets Jesus on that first 'Palm Sunday' is not the same crowd that calls for the release of Barabbas. The crowd in the Palace would not have been the common folks, the crowd would have been the upper crust, so to say of the Jewish nation.
Let's consider now the two criminals. We are told that Jesus dies between two bandits. These condemned criminals must have been found guilty of a crime far more serious than mere thievery. In some significant sense, they must have disrupted the fragile social order imposed by Rome, it's often believed that their crime was taking part in insurrection or plotting against Rome. I have often suggested that perhaps these men were followers of the Jesus Barabbas that we discussed a moment ago. Matthew 27:44 notes only that these two bandits derided Jesus along with the crowds that gathered to witness the executions on that fate-filled day. Unlike Luke, Matthew does not record the confession of guilt and hope for redemption of one of the two companions of Jesus on the cruel crosses.
In Matthew, the portrait is stark. At the end of his life, Jesus dies alongside two convicted revolutionaries who mock Jesus with their last gasps of breath. At the end of his life, Jesus faces a virtually unanimous public shaming (with the exception of course of the women disciples who are there), there is a veritable consensus around Jesus' guilt. We, however, know how the story ends. We know that Good Friday becomes Easter Sunday, that death does not have the final word but that life reigns through the resurrection. On Palm Sunday, all indications are that Jesus' guilt is evident, that Jesus deserves the shame of the cross. Easter is the ultimate redemption of Jesus' innocence and God's mission.
Now, we come to the witnesses on that awful day, the women disciples that I mentioned already and the centurion. One of the most striking consistencies among the Gospels is the shared tradition that a number of female followers of Jesus persevered to the very end. Though deserted by the disciples, Jesus is not totally abandoned in this moment of darkness. The light of recognition also emerges from an unlikely source. A centurion, a representative of Rome's willingness to deploy violence in the maintenance and expansion of its empire, is witness to both Jesus' death and his true identity. Having seen Jesus' body give out after a torturous and shameful execution, the centurion recognized who Jesus truly was: God's son. Though not a witness of Jesus' healing miracles, his impassioned mountaintop sermon, or the dazzling transfiguration, the centurion bears witness to the latest in a long line of crucifixions he has seen, and yet sees here in this crucifixion the hand of God himself, and declares that Jesus was no mere criminal, but “truly the Son of God”.
And last but not least, we have the Betrayers: Judas and Peter. These two may seem like an odd pairing, but their individual betrayals are there none-the-less. Peter, we know, will become an influential leader in the early church. In contrast, Judas has sold out the Son of God for the price of a common slave. And yet Matthew parallels their betrayals of Jesus. Both are one of the twelve. Both are present at the supper. Both betray Jesus. Their similarities then largely cease. Judas meets a famously untimely demise by his own hand. The fact that Peter's fall is not irreversible is relayed in the concluding chapters of Matthew, as well in the closing verses of the Gospel of John, and in the wider Christian tradition. At the moment when faith was most severely tested and the cost of discipleship was highest, both Judas and Peter fail. They remind us that at the cross there is but a thin line between faithfulness and treachery. We are constantly tempted to cross that line. In a very real sense we have to wonder... at the dinner, Jesus said “one of you will betray me”, was he speaking of Peter... or of Judas. We do know that later, Jesus specifically tells us that Peter will deny him... not once, but three times.
We must trust as followers of Christ that repentance is always possible, even for Judas. Both Judas and Peter regret deeply their betrayals of Jesus and yet their lives take wholly separate directions. What do we make of their divergent paths?
As we've already mentioned, Peter is 'reinstated' in the final verses of John, no call is made for forgiveness nor is any forgiveness asked for, it's just there freely given and almost given as a foregone conclusion. What there is though is that back and forth “do you love me” and then instructions are given of what should be done as a result of that love of Christ.
Of course in the case of Judas, the wheels of grace seem to be blocked by his suicide. Which brings forth that long debated point of would Jesus have forgiven Judas, and then even the debate of, has Jesus forgiven Judas. How we answer the first part of that query, certainly dictates how we deal with those around us who have wronged us. I for one firmly believe that had Judas not taken his own life, that he would have been openly forgiven after the resurrection and who knows, he may well have been reinstated as a disciple... much the same way that Peter was. In the second part of my query which was “has Jesus forgiven Judas”, remember in the scripture here in Matthew that it states that Judas “repented” before taking his life. As we have discussed before, in past sermons, to repent means to turn and return to God. Not just to simply ask for forgiveness as is often thought. Repent is much more that simply asking for grace it is an effort at the very least, for reconciliation.
Since as you all know, I believe above all else that our God is a God of reconciliation, I also believe that since Judas repented and sought reconciliation, that he was then in fact reconciled to God. This amazing display of grace has implications to us in our relationship with God. There is simply no betrayal severe enough, there is no wrong so grievous, no distance far enough, nor past anger so vile... as to separate us from the love of Christ, if we just turn... and return, if we just repent.
Romans 8:31-39 New International Version (NIV)
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns?No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake, we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
It is important to note that the words in the Gospel of Matthew have often been used to support anti-Semitic activities. The true irony of this is that the Gospel of Matthew is actually the most Jewish of any of the four Gospels and any attempt to condemn Judaism as a whole through the use of Matthew's words is not only anti-Semitic but also unchristian. Let us never forget that our Lord was a Jewish Rabbi.
Next up, we have the actors in this drama that never intended to be a part of the narrative, I imagine that neither Jesus Barabbas nor Simon of Cyrene could have anticipated the role they would play in this story. As an insurrectionist, Barabbas could not and would not have anticipated a pardon after committing crimes against the political order. An immigrant or sojourner from northern Africa, Simon could not have anticipated being commissioned to help in the crucifixion of a presumed criminal. We know little about these two characters. Other than early church legend about Simon and his sons becoming Christians, we know very little about how their interaction with the passion affected either Barabbas' or Simon's lives. Whether as an innocent bystander or a jailed criminal, the path of God's Son may cross our own path at the most unexpected and remarkable moments. How will we react when we are freed from our prisons? How will we react when we are conscripted to carry the burdens of ministry and faith?
Many of you have heard me comment on the importance of names in the Scripture, and many have also heard me comment on the significance of Jesus Barabbas name and the decision by the crowd to choose Barabbas. Bar as a prefix in a name in Jesus time meant “son of” Abba meant “Father”. Barabbas is literally “The Son of the Father”, literally... Jesus “the son of the father”. We like the crowd that day have a choice to pick the path of violence and reliance upon our own abilities and efforts or to place our fate and faith in the hands of the one sent from our Father above, Jesus “the son of the Father”, the Father above... Jesus a man of peace and grace. The crowd that day picked the path of Barabbas, the path of violence, the path of self-reliance. Let us today pick the path of Jesus who is the Christ, the path of love, grace, reconciliation and peace.
It is worth mentioning that the cheering crowd that greets Jesus on that first 'Palm Sunday' is not the same crowd that calls for the release of Barabbas. The crowd in the Palace would not have been the common folks, the crowd would have been the upper crust, so to say of the Jewish nation.
Let's consider now the two criminals. We are told that Jesus dies between two bandits. These condemned criminals must have been found guilty of a crime far more serious than mere thievery. In some significant sense, they must have disrupted the fragile social order imposed by Rome, it's often believed that their crime was taking part in insurrection or plotting against Rome. I have often suggested that perhaps these men were followers of the Jesus Barabbas that we discussed a moment ago. Matthew 27:44 notes only that these two bandits derided Jesus along with the crowds that gathered to witness the executions on that fate-filled day. Unlike Luke, Matthew does not record the confession of guilt and hope for redemption of one of the two companions of Jesus on the cruel crosses.
In Matthew, the portrait is stark. At the end of his life, Jesus dies alongside two convicted revolutionaries who mock Jesus with their last gasps of breath. At the end of his life, Jesus faces a virtually unanimous public shaming (with the exception of course of the women disciples who are there), there is a veritable consensus around Jesus' guilt. We, however, know how the story ends. We know that Good Friday becomes Easter Sunday, that death does not have the final word but that life reigns through the resurrection. On Palm Sunday, all indications are that Jesus' guilt is evident, that Jesus deserves the shame of the cross. Easter is the ultimate redemption of Jesus' innocence and God's mission.
Now, we come to the witnesses on that awful day, the women disciples that I mentioned already and the centurion. One of the most striking consistencies among the Gospels is the shared tradition that a number of female followers of Jesus persevered to the very end. Though deserted by the disciples, Jesus is not totally abandoned in this moment of darkness. The light of recognition also emerges from an unlikely source. A centurion, a representative of Rome's willingness to deploy violence in the maintenance and expansion of its empire, is witness to both Jesus' death and his true identity. Having seen Jesus' body give out after a torturous and shameful execution, the centurion recognized who Jesus truly was: God's son. Though not a witness of Jesus' healing miracles, his impassioned mountaintop sermon, or the dazzling transfiguration, the centurion bears witness to the latest in a long line of crucifixions he has seen, and yet sees here in this crucifixion the hand of God himself, and declares that Jesus was no mere criminal, but “truly the Son of God”.
We must trust as followers of Christ that repentance is always possible, even for Judas. Both Judas and Peter regret deeply their betrayals of Jesus and yet their lives take wholly separate directions. What do we make of their divergent paths?
As we've already mentioned, Peter is 'reinstated' in the final verses of John, no call is made for forgiveness nor is any forgiveness asked for, it's just there freely given and almost given as a foregone conclusion. What there is though is that back and forth “do you love me” and then instructions are given of what should be done as a result of that love of Christ.
Of course in the case of Judas, the wheels of grace seem to be blocked by his suicide. Which brings forth that long debated point of would Jesus have forgiven Judas, and then even the debate of, has Jesus forgiven Judas. How we answer the first part of that query, certainly dictates how we deal with those around us who have wronged us. I for one firmly believe that had Judas not taken his own life, that he would have been openly forgiven after the resurrection and who knows, he may well have been reinstated as a disciple... much the same way that Peter was. In the second part of my query which was “has Jesus forgiven Judas”, remember in the scripture here in Matthew that it states that Judas “repented” before taking his life. As we have discussed before, in past sermons, to repent means to turn and return to God. Not just to simply ask for forgiveness as is often thought. Repent is much more that simply asking for grace it is an effort at the very least, for reconciliation.
Since as you all know, I believe above all else that our God is a God of reconciliation, I also believe that since Judas repented and sought reconciliation, that he was then in fact reconciled to God. This amazing display of grace has implications to us in our relationship with God. There is simply no betrayal severe enough, there is no wrong so grievous, no distance far enough, nor past anger so vile... as to separate us from the love of Christ, if we just turn... and return, if we just repent.
Romans 8:31-39 New International Version (NIV)
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns?No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake, we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We can look further and try and divine just what was Judas' motive for betraying Jesus. Certainly, there is the implication that it was done for greed, but the return of the money to the Temple seems to undermine that theory at least to some degree. I have to wonder if Judas didn't believe that once confronted by an armed force that Jesus would call down a legion of angels to initiate the first battle of the destruction of the worldly powers, namely the Roman Empire that had taken over the Holy Lands. In this way, he really wasn't much different in his understanding of who Jesus was then Peter, who drew his sword perhaps thinking he was going to strike the first blow in this angelic battle. It would seem to fit Peter's personality that he would want to be 'first'. But they both mistook what kind of Messiah Jesus was, a mistake that was all too common then... and sad to say still is today.
Let us please close with a prayer...
Let us please close with a prayer...
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