Pentecost Friday - Devotion in Exile

Lection for Friday after Pentecost 

Numbers 27:12-23      Luke 23:26-56

Our reading from Luke today finds Jesus fulfilling the Scriptures in His innocent suffering and death on a hill outside of Jerusalem. He had carried His cross from the Praetorium… When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” (vv. 33-34)

Forgive who? Forgive the soldiers who had abused His body with the whip, and now had nailed Him to the cross? Yes, but there is more!

Forgive the Jews who had hollered, “Crucify Him!”? Yes, but there is still more!

Forgive those who had mocked and jeered Him as He trudged past them bearing His awful burden? Yes, but there is much more!

Forgive those who were leaders in the church of that day, those who set up the sham trial, the Jewish leadership? Yes, and there is still more.

For a moment, let us recall a portion the text you clicked on above, and have already read.

One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” (vv. 39-43)

On that day, on that hillside, there was one individual who had heard the Word of forgiveness Jesus has spoken. The Law’s condemnation was only to plain to him, it kept his hands from folding in prayer, it kept his knees from bowing before Jesus, for it physically restrained him from moving by the use of nails. His sins mad him confess that he was suffering justly. He was receiving – in his own flesh – what he deserved for his sinfulness.

On the other hand, he also knew the righteousness of the One crucified next to him, “This man has done nothing wrong.” So in his repentance, he asked the Righteous One for forgiveness, “Remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” At his repentance, Christ pronounces him forgiven, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”

Faith sees self as a sinner and trusts in Christ. That is repentance!

“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Jesus begs His Father – for you – and for me!

Which person acknowledges, without being told, that their sinfulness nailed Christ to the cross? None! What is more, even we who know it, do not gladly and willingly acknowledge it. It is something we would rather not discuss in polite company. No one brags over beer, “Yeah, I crucified Jesus!”

We will at some point be laid low by death (unless Christ returns before that day), but as Christ came into His kingdom by the way of the cross, He knew you – your sin – and the Father’s desire was to grant you an eternal place in His kingdom, a place in paradise.

What joy it is to know that even then, as He suffered upon the cross, Jesus had you on His mind! He does so today as well. He speaks to you in His Word. He feeds you at His table. He promises you who trust in Him, a place in His paradise.

Let us pray:      Merciful Savior, give us the comfort that comes from seeing that our helpless-mess to sin has been left in Your capable hands on the cross.  Help us to look to Your cross and resurrection and see our eternal hope of everlasting glory in You Kingdom. Amen.