JESUS: A LIFE OF SUFFERING

Transcript

1 JESUS: A LIFE OF SUFFERING Wednesday before Passion Sunday (Year B) March 21, 2018 Lessons Isaiah 50:4-9a Psalm 31:9-16 Philippians 2:5-11 St. Mark 14:1-15:47 (or St. Mark 15:1-39 [40-47]) Processional Gospel St. Mark 11:1-11 (or St. John 12:12-16) Pastor David J. Risendal drisendal@stplc.org facebook Dave Risendal Twitter: drisendal Saint Peter Lutheran Church 9300 East Belleview Avenue Greenwood Village, CO / facebook.com/stplc Prayer of the Day Sovereign God, you have established your rule in the human heart through the servanthood of Jesus Christ. By your Spirit, keep us in the joyful procession of those who with their tongues confess Jesus as Lord and with their lives praise him as Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Sermon Grace to you and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Amen. An old story describes the time when a young pastor, serving a congregation which had always provided grape juice instead of wine at communion, tried to change that practice. He made an impassioned plea to the congregation and was meeting some fairly stiff resistance. So he decided to meet one-on-one with those who were most opposed. During his visit with one elderly saint, he described how Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding in Cana, and how he blessed a cup of wine and passed it around the table at the last supper. Finally, he asked, Jesus drank wine. Why shouldn t we? The old saint answered adamantly, Vell dat s the one ting I don t like about Yesus! I start with that story tonight because this week I m reflecting on what it is that we like about Jesus. What do we find most compelling about Jesus? What is the one thing about Jesus which most inspires us? Some of us are attracted to his wisdom; how his teaching can bring us to a place we never imagined going. Some are touched by his healing power; 1 Romans 1:7, 1 st Corinthians 1:3, 2 nd Corinthians 1:2, Galatians 1:3, Ephesians 1:2, Philippians 1:2, Colossians 1:2, 1 st Thessalonians 1:1, 2 nd Thessalonians 1:2, Philemon 3; New Revised Standard Version Bible ( 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America).

2 Wednesday before Passion Sunday Year B (March 21, 2018) 2 how he is able to bring health and wellbeing to people who are suffering physical illness. Some are awed by his apparent power over spirits; how he restores people to their right minds and to their communities. Some are impressed with his courage; how he stands up to the political and social and religious authorities of his day. I wonder, sometimes, how many of us are inspired by his suffering? In a culture that adores strength and power and success and youth and vibrance, suffering isn t often admired. More often it is considered a sign of weakness. If she were stronger, she would have healed up more quickly. If he were stronger, he would have won victory instead of suffering defeat. This way of thinking even seeped into the church s practice. For many years there was no mention of suffering at all during worship on the next two Sundays. We d gather on Palm Sunday to rejoice with the people of Jerusalem as they welcomed Jesus into their city for the last time. Many Bibles gave this story the heading, The Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem. Then we d gather again a week later on Easter Sunday to rejoice with his followers as God raised him to new life, announced the victory over death, and promised the same to all who believe in him. Eventually, the church realized that so few people were attending worship during the days between these two Sundays that the suffering and death of Jesus was almost entirely absent from our Holy Week commemorations. This practice began to seem completely out of step with how our four Gospel accounts describe Jesus mission as, at least in part, having to do with suffering and dying; a sign of God s deep and abiding love for us. So now, on Palm Sunday, we also think of it as Passion Sunday; a day to reflect on what happened between entrance and resurrection. We remember how Jesus was betrayed by Judas, and abandoned by Peter and the others; how he was arrested; how he was tried and beaten by Pilate; how he was humiliated by the soldiers who held him captive; how he was turned over to be crucified; how he suffered on the cross, surrounded by criminals and humiliated by onlookers; and how it was on the cross that he finally took his last breath and died. In our lunchtime conversation about this today, we mentioned how some of us might be tempted to write a different ending to the story. Perhaps line it up with our favorite superheroes. The crowed derided him, challenging him to save himself and come down from the cross, and sometimes that seems like a pretty good idea. What if he had done just that? Wrenched himself free from the nails, lowered himself down to the ground, stood tall and looked the Roman Centurion straight in the eye, and then walked off into the sunset? Wouldn t that have been impressive? Wouldn t some have responded to that, and believed in his claims to be God? Imagine how word would have spread. But this isn t what Jesus does. Instead, as Paul writes, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death even death on a cross. 2 It is in the suffering and death of Jesus that we see the lengths to which God is willing to go in loving us. We are not forced into believing in Jesus. We are not manipulated into adopting certain beliefs and dogmatic commitments in order to be right with God. We are not frightened with the threat of eternal punishment to make us turn towards God. 2 Philippians 2:6-8, New Revised Standard Version Bible, opp. cit.

3 Wednesday before Passion Sunday Year B (March 21, 2018) 3 No, God does something much more vulnerable and ultimately much more powerful. God takes on humility. God becomes vulnerable and weak. God takes on death itself, and in doing so makes it possible for new life to have the final word. Had Jesus hauled himself down from the cross and made some grand gesture, it may have impressed a few people for a little while. But look what actually happens. As Jesus draws his last breath the curtain of the temple, which separated the people from the presence of of God, was torn in two, from top to bottom. In his suffering and death we are invited into the heart of God. All that seeks to keep us at distance form God is destroyed. And the Centurion that rough and tumble Roman soldier that Gentile outsider, sent by Caesar to keep Jerusalem in order that towering image of strength and might observing the suffering and death and humility and vulnerability of Jesus, exclaims, Truly this man was God s Son! This Sunday invites us into the holiest week of the church year. A week in which we we will walk along with Jesus during the last six days of his earthly life. A week in which we will behold his suffering and be inspired by his love. May we respond like that Roman Centurion. May we see in the suffering of Jesus the love and grace of God. And may we also exclaim in faith, Truly this man was God s Son! Amen. David J. Risendal, Pastor Gospel Lesson; English Text 3 15:1 As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. 2 Pilate asked him, Are you the King of the Jews? He answered him, You say so. 3 Then the chief priests accused him of many things. 4 Pilate asked him again, Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you. 5 But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed. 6 Now at the festival he used to release a prisoner for them, anyone for whom they asked. 7 Now a man called Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection. 8 So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do for them according to his custom. 9 Then he answered them, Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews? 10 For he realized that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed him over. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead. 12 Pilate spoke to them again, Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews? 13 They shouted back, Crucify him! 14 Pilate asked them, Why, what evil has he done? But they shouted all the more, Crucify him! 15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified. 16 Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governor s headquarters); and they called together the whole cohort. 17 And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. 18 And they began saluting him, Hail, King of the Jews! 19 They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him. 20 After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him. 21 They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. 22 Then they brought 3 A list of Bible lessons for the coming weeks is available at

4 Wednesday before Passion Sunday Year B (March 21, 2018) 4 Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). 23 And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take. 25 It was nine o clock in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The inscription of the charge against him read, The King of the Jews. 27 And with him they crucified two bandits, one on his right and one on his left. 29 Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 save yourself, and come down from the cross! 31 In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32 Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe. Those who were crucified with him also taunted him. 33 When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 At three o clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani? which means, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 35 When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, Listen, he is calling for Elijah. 36 And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down. 37 Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, Truly this man was God s Son! [ 40 There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41 These used to follow him and provided for him when he was in Galilee; and there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem. 42 When evening had come, and since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Then Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead for some time. 45 When he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. 46 Then Joseph bought a linen cloth, and taking down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body was laid.] 4 Gospel Lesson; Greek Text: 15:1 Καὶ εὐθὺς πρωὶ συµβούλιον ποιήσαντες οἱ ἀρχιερει ς µετὰ τω ν πρεσβυτέρων καὶ γραµµατέων καὶ ὅλον τὸ συνέδριον, δήσαντες τὸν Ἰησου ν ἀπήνεγκαν καὶ παρέδωκαν Πιλάτῳ. 2 Καὶ ἐπηρώτησεν αὐτὸν ὁ Πιλα τος σὺ εἰ ὁ βασιλεὺς τω ν Ἰουδαίων; ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς αὐτῳ λέγει σὺ λέγεις. 3 καὶ κατηγόρουν αὐτου οἱ ἀρχιερει ς πολλά. 4 ὁ δὲ Πιλα τος πάλιν ἐπηρώτα αὐτὸν λέγων οὐκ ἀποκρίνῃ οὐδέν; ἴδε πόσα σου κατηγορου σιν. 5ὁ δὲ Ἰησου ς οὐκέτι οὐδὲν ἀπεκρίθη, ὥστε θαυµάζειν τὸν Πιλα τον. 6Κατὰ δὲ ἑορτὴν ἀπέλυεν αὐτοι ς ἕνα δέσµιον ὃν παρῃτου ντο. 7 ἠ ν δὲ ὁ λεγόµενος Βαραββα ς µετὰ τω ν στασιαστω ν δεδεµένος οἵτινες ἐν τῃ στάσει φόνον πεποιήκεισαν. 8 καὶ ἀναβὰς ὁ ὄχλος ἤρξατο αἰτει σθαι καθὼς ἐποίει αὐτοι ς. 9 ὁ δὲ Πιλα τος ἀπεκρίθη αὐτοι ς λέγων θέλετε ἀπολύσω ὑµι ν τὸν βασιλέα τω ν Ἰουδαίων; 10 ἐγίνωσκεν γὰρ ὅτι διὰ φθόνον παραδεδώκεισαν αὐτὸν οἱ ἀρχιερει ς. 11οἱ δὲ ἀρχιερει ς ἀνέσεισαν τὸν ὄχλον ἵνα µα λλον τὸν Βαραββα ν ἀπολύσῃ αὐτοι ς. 12 ὁ δὲ Πιλα τος πάλιν ἀποκριθεὶς ἔλεγεν αὐτοι ς τί οὐ ν [θέλετε] ποιήσω [ὃν λέγετε] τὸν βασιλέα τω ν Ἰουδαίων; 13 οἱ δὲ πάλιν ἔκραξαν σταύρωσον αὐτόν. 14 ὁ δὲ Πιλα τος ἔλεγεν αὐτοι ς τί γὰρ ἐποίησεν κακόν; οἱ δὲ 4 St. Mark 15:1-39 [40-47], New Revised Standard Version Bible, opp. cit.

5 Wednesday before Passion Sunday Year B (March 21, 2018) 5 περισσω ς ἔκραξαν σταύρωσον αὐτόν. 15 Ὁ δὲ Πιλα τος βουλόµενος τῳ ὄχλῳ τὸ ἱκανὸν ποιη σαι ἀπέλυσεν αὐτοι ς τὸν Βαραββα ν, καὶ παρέδωκεν τὸν Ἰησου ν φραγελλώσας ἵνα σταυρωθῃ. 16Οἱ δὲ στρατιω ται ἀπήγαγον αὐτὸν ἔσω τη ς αὐλη ς, ὅ ἐστιν πραιτώριον, καὶ συγκαλου σιν ὅλην τὴν σπει ραν. 17 καὶ ἐνδιδύσκουσιν αὐτὸν πορφύραν καὶ περιτιθέασιν αὐτῳ πλέξαντες ἀκάνθινον στέφανον 18 καὶ ἤρξαντο ἀσπάζεσθαι αὐτόν χαι ρε, βασιλευ τω ν Ἰουδαίων 19 καὶ ἔτυπτον αὐτου τὴν κεφαλὴν καλάµῳ καὶ ἐνέπτυον αὐτῳ καὶ τιθέντες τὰ γόνατα προσεκύνουν αὐτῳ. 20 καὶ ὅτε ἐνέπαιξαν αὐτῳ, ἐξέδυσαν αὐτὸν τὴν πορφύραν καὶ ἐνέδυσαν αὐτὸν τὰ ἱµάτια αὐτου. Καὶ ἐξάγουσιν αὐτὸν ἵνα σταυρώσωσιν αὐτόν. 21καὶ ἀγγαρεύουσιν παράγοντα τινα Σίµωνα Κυρηναι ον ἐρχόµενον ἀπʼ ἀγρου, τὸν πατέρα Ἀλεξάνδρου καὶ Ῥούφου, ἵνα ἄρῃ τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτου. 22 Καὶ φέρουσιν αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὸν Γολγοθα ν τόπον, ὅ ἐστιν µεθερµηνευόµενον Κρανίου Τόπος. 23 καὶ ἐδίδουν αὐτῳ ἐσµυρνισµένον οἰ νον ὃς δὲ οὐκ ἔλαβεν. 24 Καὶ σταυρου σιν αὐτὸν καὶ διαµερίζονται τὰ ἱµάτια αὐτου, βάλλοντες κλη ρον ἐπʼ αὐτὰ τίς τί ἄρῃ. 25ἠ ν δὲ ὥρα τρίτη καὶ ἐσταύρωσαν αὐτόν. 26 καὶ ἠ ν ἡ ἐπιγραφὴ τη ς αἰτίας αὐτου ἐπιγεγραµµένη ὁ βασιλεὺς τω ν Ἰουδαίων. 27 Καὶ σὺν αὐτῳ σταυρου σιν δύο λῃστάς, ἕνα ἐκ δεξιω ν καὶ ἕνα ἐξ εὐωνύµων αὐτου. 29 Καὶ οἱ παραπορευόµενοι ἐβλασφήµουν αὐτὸν κινου ντες τὰς κεφαλὰς αὐτω ν καὶ λέγοντες οὐὰ ὁ καταλύων τὸν ναὸν καὶ οἰκοδοµω ν ἐν τρισὶν ἡµέραις, 30 σω σον σεαυτὸν καταβὰς ἀπὸ του σταυρου. 31 ὁµοίως καὶ οἱ ἀρχιερει ς ἐµπαίζοντες πρὸς ἀλλήλους µετὰ τω ν γραµµατέων ἔλεγον ἄλλους ἔσωσεν, ἑαυτὸν οὐ δύναται σω σαι 32 ὁ χριστὸς ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἰσραὴλ καταβάτω νυ ν ἀπὸ του σταυρου, ἵνα ἴδωµεν καὶ πιστεύσωµεν. καὶ οἱ συνεσταυρωµένοι σὺν αὐτῳ ὠνείδιζον αὐτόν. 33Καὶ γενοµένης ὥρας ἕκτης σκότος ἐγένετο ἐφʼ ὅλην τὴν γη ν ἕως ὥρας ἐνάτης. 34 καὶ τῃ ἐνάτῃ ὥρᾳ ἐβόησεν ὁ Ἰησου ς φωνῃ µεγάλῃ ἐλωι ἐλωι λεµα σαβαχθανι; ὅ ἐστιν µεθερµηνευόµενον ὁ θεός µου ὁ θεός µου, εἰς τί ἐγκατέλιπες µε; 35 καί τινες τω ν παρεστηκότων ἀκούσαντες ἔλεγον ἴδε Ἠλίαν φωνει. 36 δραµὼν δέ τις [καὶ] γεµίσας σπόγγον ὄξους περιθεὶς καλάµῳ ἐπότιζεν αὐτόν λέγων ἄφετε ἴδωµεν εἰ ἔρχεται Ἠλίας καθελει ν αὐτόν. 37 ὁ δὲ Ἰησου ς ἀφεὶς φωνὴν µεγάλην ἐξέπνευσεν. 38Καὶ τὸ καταπέτασµα του ναου ἐσχίσθη εἰς δύο ἀπʼ ἄνωθεν ἕως κάτω. 39 ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ κεντυρίων ὁ παρεστηκὼς ἐξ ἐναντίας αὐτου ὅτι οὕτως ἐξέπνευσεν εἰ πεν ἀληθω ς οὑ τος ὁ ἄνθρωπος υἱὸς θεου ἠ ν. [ 40 Η σαν δὲ καὶ γυναι κες ἀπὸ µακρόθεν θεωρου σαι, ἐν αἱ ς καὶ Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ καὶ Μαρία ἡ Ἰακώβου του µικρου καὶ Ἰωση τος µήτηρ καὶ Σαλώµη, 41 αἳ ὅτε ἠ ν ἐν τῃ Γαλιλαίᾳ ἠκολούθουν αὐτῳ καὶ διηκόνουν αὐτῳ, καὶ ἄλλαι πολλαὶ αἱ συναναβα σαι αὐτῳ εἰς Ἱεροσόλυµα. 42Καὶ ἤδη ὀψίας γενοµένης, ἐπεὶ ἠ ν παρασκευὴ ὅ ἐστιν προσάββατον, 43 ἐλθὼν Ἰωσὴφ [ὁ] ἀπὸ Ἁριµαθαίας εὐσχήµων βουλευτής, ὃς καὶ αὐτὸς ἠ ν προσδεχόµενος τὴν βασιλείαν του θεου, τολµήσας εἰση λθεν πρὸς τὸν Πιλα τον καὶ ᾐτήσατο τὸ σω µα του Ἰησου. 44 ὁ δὲ Πιλα τος ἐθαύµασεν εἰ ἤδη τέθνηκεν καὶ προσκαλεσάµενος τὸν κεντυρίωνα ἐπηρώτησεν αὐτὸν εἰ πάλαι ἀπέθανεν 45 καὶ γνοὺς ἀπὸ του κεντυρίωνος ἐδωρήσατο τὸ πτω µα τῳ Ἰωσήφ. 46 καὶ ἀγοράσας σινδόνα καθελὼν αὐτὸν ἐνείλησεν τῃ σινδόνι καὶ ἔθηκεν αὐτὸν ἐν µνηµείῳ ὃ ἠ ν λελατοµηµένον ἐκ πέτρας καὶ προσεκύλισεν λίθον ἐπὶ τὴν θύραν του µνηµείου. 47 ἡ δὲ Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ καὶ Μαρία ἡ Ἰωση τος ἐθεώρουν που τέθειται.] 5 First Lesson; English Text: 50:4 The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. 5 The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. 6 I have my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. 7 The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; 8 he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my 5 St. Mark 15:1-39 [40-47], The Greek New Testament, Aland, Kurt, Black, Matthew, Martini, Carlo M., Metzger, Bruce M., and Wikgren, Allen, ( 1983, Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart).

6 Wednesday before Passion Sunday Year B (March 21, 2018) 6 adversaries? Let them confront me. 9 It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty? All of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up. 6 Second Lesson; English Text: 2:5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 7 Second Lesson; Greek Text: 2.5 Τοῦτο φρονεῖτε ἐν ὑµῖν ὃ καὶ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, 6 ὃς ἐν µορφῇ θεοῦ ὑπάρχων οὐχ ἁρπαγµὸν ἡγήσατο τὸ εἶναι ἴσα θεῷ, 7 ἀλλὰ ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσεν µορφὴν δούλου λαβών, ἐν ὁµοιώµατι ἀνθρώπων γενόµενος καὶ σχήµατι εὑρεθεὶς ὡς ἄνθρωπος 8 ἐταπείνωσεν ἑαυτὸν γενόµενος ὑπήκοος µέχρι θανάτου, θανάτου δὲ σταυροῦ. 9 διὸ καὶ ὁ θεὸς αὐτὸν ὑπερύψωσεν καὶ ἐχαρίσατο αὐτῷ τὸ ὄνοµα τὸ ὑπὲρ πᾶν ὄνοµα, 10 ἵνα ἐν τῷ ὀνόµατι Ἰησοῦ πᾶν γόνυ κάµψῃ ἐπουρανίων καὶ ἐπιγείων καὶ καταχθονίων 11 καὶ πᾶσα γλῶσσα ἐξοµολογήσηται ὅτι κύριος Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς εἰς δόξαν θεοῦ πατρός Isaiah 50:4-9a, New Revised Standard Version Bible, opp. cit. Philippians 2:5-11, New Revised Standard Version Bible, opp. cit. Philippians 2:5-11, The Greek New Testament, opp. cit.