Go In Peace

It’s Not Delivery

In case you didn’t know, we consume a fair bit of pizza in the LeBorious household. Nothing fancy I assure you, for the most part it’s just Domino’s, but pizza is one of our go-tos for “it’s been a long day and we want quick, tasty food.” But one thing I can tell you right now is this - I always go and pick up the pizza. We almost never order delivery because it adds so much to the cost of the food. And you might be thinking to yourself “I mean, delivery fees have gotten higher but they aren’t that bad.” You misunderstand me though, on the rare occasion where we might order delivery I tip way more than any reasonable person should. And you want to know why?

Because I spent a few summers working as a delivery driver for Marco’s Pizza and I know the feeling of driving to deliver pizza and feeling like I got shortchanged by the person I was delivering to. I’ve been in that place and I never want to be the person who causes that frustration for a delivery driver. And since it’s not fiscally responsible for me to tip ridiculously well every time we order pizza, I just drive over and pick it up myself.

Shared Suffering

I share that with you because it gets at this idea that there is something to be said for someone commiserating with you. If you’re suffering through something, it can be helpful to know someone who has experienced similar suffering. Sometimes they can give you advice to reduce the suffering or to make it seem less bad, sometimes they can give you support or help you move forward, sometimes they can give you hope because you see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and sometimes it just helps to have someone who can commiserate, someone who can say “I know it’s hard, I know what you’re going through, and I’m here with you.”

Isaiah tells us “he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.” Christ understands when we feel insignificant or unlovable.

Isaiah tells us “he was despised and rejected by men.” Christ understands when we feel hated and alone.

Isaiah tells us he was “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” Christ understands when our hearts are broken and we lose the people we love.

When you look inward and find brokenness, Christ understands what it is to feel broken. When you look around you and feel alone, Christ understands what it is to feel alone. When you look at the world and feel hopeless, Christ understands what it is to feel crushed. Hebrews 4:15 reminds us “we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

Confession

And the hardest part to acknowledge - Jesus suffered all of this, He can understand all the pain we experience, because of us. It is for our sins He suffered, for our debts that He paid the price, and for our punishment He died. Earlier in the service you might have noticed that we skipped over something we usually do - a confession of our sins. It’s because I would like for us to confess together now instead, the sins we have committed of thought, word, and action, using the words of Isaiah.

Almighty God, I a poor miserable sinner, confess all my sins and shortcomings that have ever offended You and justly deserve Your punishment now and forever. It is my grief You bore, they were my sorrows You carried. It is my fault you were stricken, smitten by God and afflicted. You were pierced for my transgressions; You were crushed for my iniquities; You were burdened with the chastisement that brought me peace. We, Your people, have gone astray and turned to our own ways; and God laid on You the iniquity of us all. The grave I deserved was with the wicked, and that grave is where they placed Your body. I pray that in Your boundless mercy and for the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me. I don’t deserve it, but I ask for it anyway.

Absolution

Brothers and sisters in Christ, it was the will of God to crush Him. Out of the anguish of His soul He shall see and be satisfied; by His knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and He shall bear their iniquities. He bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors. We could stand before the throne of God and the Father could ask us, “why do you deserve a place by my side, why should you have a place in paradise.” We would have no answer, but Christ, seated at the right hand of the Father, declares for all to hear, “they have a place because I have paid their debt, I have suffered their punishment, there is nothing less to account for.”

As a called and ordained servant of Christ, by His command and with His authority I forgive you all of your sins. I forgive you for everything you have done wrong. I forgive you for everything you have failed to do right. I forgive you for every mistake you are aware of and every mistake you aren’t. This forgiveness is not mine, it is God’s through Christ Jesus.

Go In Peace

Go in peace, knowing Christ can identify with you in your suffering. Go in peace, knowing you are made right with God. Go in peace, knowing that relationship has been restored. Go in peace, knowing that your sins are forgiven. Go in peace, knowing that your place in eternity is secure. Amen.