Roll Call.good friday 2024
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, 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 God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
But the other criminal rebuked him. “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.”
Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
Pray.
Introduction
Introduction
I have always hated roll call. For two reasons. 1) I hate watching awkward things take place. 2) my name guarantees the repetition of some terrible jokes. Tonight we might not want to have our name called in this roll call, but there is even grace there.
I want to spend some time tonight focusing on this statement.... “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” In particular I want to ask the question....who is them? Forgive who, Jesus? I think the only way we can do that is to see who is present in the story. A gospel “roll call” if you will.
Roll Call:
Religious Leaders
We began this week with Jesus riding in on the colt on that Palm Sunday and engages in teaching throughout Jerusalem and in the temple. This is where we find the religious teachers.
Key text:
The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.
For two whole chapters of teaching and parables Jesus is casting judgment on the Temple, the religious leaders, the sadducees, the teachers of the law. The ones that care more about appearances and legality than real heart change.
Religious teachers, religious ones....are you here?
Present.
2. Judas
Key text
And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.
The one who would betray Jesus with a kiss later in the narrative. The zealot who apparently became frustrated when Jesus refused to be the “Powerful king he desired.” Pressing Jesus into a box of his expectations.
Judas! The betrayer....are you here?
Present.
3. Disciples
Could the “them” pertain to the rest that were at that meal? Maybe not just Judas.
Key text
When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.
It’s not all about the ones we love to make the villains in the story. For this group it is the followers of Jesus. The ones who have been with him all along and on the final night when Jesus desired for them to “keep watch,” they lacked the urgency to stay awake. Apathetic at best....at worst too focused on themselves to see the suffering Jesus was already enduring.
Disciples! Are you here?
Present.
4. Peter
This continues with a specific disciple. Perhaps the one that Jesus kept closest and mentored most intimately, Peter. Of all of the people, “them” is not Peter, is it?
Key Text:
About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”
Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Too worried about the repercussions of being a follower of Jesus. Pressured by his self-concern and maybe doubt all of a sudden that Jesus was really who he claimed to be.
Peter! Are you here?
Present.
5. Pilate and Herod
Then the Roman rulers. Pilate and Herod, two rulers of different jurisdiction. In Jerusalem at the same time. They have their turn with Jesus....
Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death.
So Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.
These two men could even be accused of being sympathetic to Jesus. At the very least they are intrigued. Afraid to act too harshly and afraid to not appease the crowds. Job security and popularity remain top of the list. It is even apparent that Pilate’s insides are telling him to act justly here.....
Pilate! Herod! ....are you here?!
Present.
6. Barrabbas
A harrowing court room scene takes place just before his final journey to the cross.
But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)
Jesus, dies a murderer’s death on behalf of a murderer. Barrabbas never seems to acknowledge Him. Already known to be guilty, he is unrepentant, cold, and has nothing to lose.
Barrabbas! ....are you here?
Present.
7. Simon of Cyrene
What do we know of Simon? Not much. The man who was “seized” to help Jesus carry the cross.
Key Text:
As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.
He was on his way in from the country. I wonder where he could have been before this moment. What was he doing that he was not already there and watching. Surely all of Jerusalem is watching at this point, but maybe not. Here is Simon wondering in from the country and he finds a parade of people and this man suffering.
Simon, for me, is completely unaware. Or would rather see to something else.
Simon! ....are you here?
Present.
8. The Roman soldiers
What about the soldiers charged with carrying out this whole ordeal. Immediately following the trial taking him to the place where it would be done. Sure some might have been victim to their duties as a soldier and not the least bit excited about this…like the centurion that would believe in just a few verses....but what about the ones who mocked, spat, and laughed during it all. What about the ones who according to verse 34.... “divided up his clothes like souvenirs.”
Roman soldiers! ....are you here?
Present.
9. The two criminals
And finally the two people that would die on either side of Jesus. Both rightfully convicted as one points out.... “we have been punished justly, but this one has done nothing wrong.” One criminal choses to be bitter and out of desperation or anger cast insults at the one who is supposed to be God.
The other finding a different side of desperation, ready to look for a different perspective.
Criminals on the cross! …are you here?
Present.
Now why is this significant?
Why is it important to know who all was there?
Because When Jesus laid it down it was for everyone. The violence of the cross and the magnitude of the God-man of Jesus giving himself in this way so completely... speaks of the depth and the colossal weight of sin in the world. From apathy to murder. From child abuse to human trafficking. The damage in the world and in relationships.
Think about every lash on his body for a moment. Broken marriages. Adultery. Gossip. Wrongs. Cheating. Lying. Self-centeredness. Spit, mock, dividing his clothes....
as we devour his stuff instead of his grace.
Friends when Jesus was begging God for another way in that Garden he knew that this had to be the way. That this was the only way to atone for each one of these people. To set things right for all the wrong. At the very core of who we are, we know that injustice requires something to set it right. and in this life man cannot even do enough to find the justice to set things right.
And to press this even further. This death was more than just for the perpetrators. It’s for the victims as well. If we were to extend the roll call we would see blind beggars, prostitutes, widows, orphans, the broken hearted, those in mourning.
I love this quote....
“Nowhere did it become more evident than in the Cross that this God is in fact a God on the side of the weak, sick, poor, underprivileged, oppressed, even of the irreligious, immoral and ungodly.”19
If you find yourself in that place today, there is healing available.
Which brings me to my next question..... Who can be the justice for the wrong and the forgiveness for the wrong doers?
Who could possibly die for the victims AND in place of the victimizers?
Only Jesus.
Fleming Rutledge writes:
Forgiveness is not enough. Belief in redemption is not enough. Wishful thinking about the intrinsic goodness of every human being is not enough. Inclusion is not a sufficiently inclusive message, nor does it deliver real justice. There are some things — many things — that must be condemned and set right if we are to proclaim a God of both justice and mercy. Only a Power independent of this world order can overcome the grip of the Enemy of God’s purposes for his creation. Jesus Christ, “the heir of all things” (Heb. 1:2), offered himself to be the condemned and rejected Righteous One. Giving himself up in full knowledge — after Gethsemane — of what would happen to him, and in perfect union with his Father, he went to Golgotha carrying his own cross, upon which he was nailed, “despised and rejected by men” (Isa. 53:3). At the historical time and place of his inhuman and godless crucifixion, all the demonic Powers loose in the world convened in Jerusalem and unleashed their forces upon the incarnate Son of God. Derelict, outcast, and godforsaken, he hung there as the representative of all humanity, and suffered condemnation in place of all humanity, to break the Power of Sin and Death over all humanity.
So I close where we began. With the roll call, only 12 were present at the meal, but all receive the invitation that this meal invokes: So who is present. Who is them, Jesus?
Is there any religious leaders here…worried about appearance and surface level monotony?
Is there the disciples who are just apathetic?
That have fallen asleep.
Is there any that have mocked this movement. Too zealous. Too weird. Too much?
Are there those that have tried to fit Jesus into your own box. Created him in your image?
What about the ones that have blatantly broken this relationship with sin? Caught, but still justifying it.
What about you who is hurting and desperate. No where else to turn.
Tonight we answer the roll call. Name some names. Are you present?
That is what the criminal on the cross chose to do. and he found Christ.
Christopher Smart:
Oh, with what gladness and surprise
the saints their Savior greet;
nor will they trust their ears and eyes
but by his hands and feet,
those hands of liberal love indeed
in infinite degree,
those feet still free to move and bleed
for millions,
and for me.
Rutledge, Fleming. The Crucifixion: Understanding the Death of Jesus Christ (p. 612). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.. Kindle Edition.
Reflection. I cannot call out present, for you. Only for me. I invite you to do that in the coming moments. As he says once more, in his final moments,
forgive them.