During the six
week period of Lent, we have been reflecting on “Jesus’ Words from the Cross.” These are the sayings of Jesus during his
crucifixion, as recorded in the four Gospels.
They are:
1.
Luke 23:34: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what
they do.”
2.
Luke 23:43: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in
paradise.”
3.
John 19:26–27: “Woman, here is your son. Here is your mother.”
4.
Matthew 27:46 & Mark 15:34 “My God, My God, why have you
forsaken me?”
5.
John 19:28: “I am thirsty.”
6.
John 19:30: “It is finished.”
7.
Luke 23:46: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
As we have reflected on these sayings from the Cross, we have asked one, central question: “What
do these sayings teach us about Christian discipleship in the twenty-first
century?” For Good Friday, we examine the last two of these sayings. First, in the Gospel of John, we have these
words:
After this, when Jesus knew that all was
now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.” A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a
sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.”
Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. ~ John 19: 28-30
It is interesting. In the original
Greek of the New Testament, the word which is translated into English as “finished”
is the Greek word, “teleo.” As a noun, the Greek word, “telos”
refers to one’s end or goal. As
a verb, “teleo” means to complete, as in to complete a task or a
project. Thus, as Jesus’ life ends,
suffering on the Cross, he proclaims that his ministry—his mission—on Earth has
been completed.
Earlier, before his arrest and crucifixion, Jesus seeks to prepare his
disciples for his death in Jerusalem.
To prepare them, Jesus says, “No one has greater love than this, to lay
down one’s life for one’s friends. You
are my friends if you do what I command you.” (John 15: 13-14)
Then, that is what Jesus did for us. In enduring the suffering and humiliation of
the crucifixion, Jesus demonstrated in a profound and poignant way the awesome,
incomprehensible depth of his love for us. Then, his work, his ministry, was completed.
So then, we might ask what does Jesus’ declaration that he
has completed his ministry on Earth teach us, who live in the twenty-first
century, about faithfully following him; that is, what does this saying
teach us about discipleship?
It seems to me that what this saying teaches is that, just as
Jesus had a purpose and mission, so also God has a plan for each of us as
followers of Christ. As Christian
disciples, God invites each of us into a junior partnership, in which we are
asked to help establish and expand the Reign of God throughout the Earth. The
work of building God’s Kingdom is not always easy. Sometimes it can be very hard and difficult. Yet, despite the hardships, the invitation to
join with God in building God’s Reign is also a profound privilege and
honor.
The second passage for reflection comes from the Gospel of
Luke.
It was now about noon, and darkness came
over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple
was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying
with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having
said this, he breathed his last. ~ Luke 23: 44-46
Luke records
that there was darkness over all the land from 12 noon to 3 pm. In the scriptures, the darkness points to a
distance from God; or, it points to a barrier which separates the created Order
from God. Then, come Jesus’ words” “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
Then, he died.
The word, “commend,” means to entrust
or give over with confidence. Jesus' prayer is actually a quotation from Psalm 31:5, “Into your hand I commit my
spirit.” Then, the psalmist continues by
adding: “You have redeemed me, O Lord,
faithful God.” Commenting on this
passage, the Biblical scholar Alan Culpepper suggests that we should see these
last words of Jesus as a “prayer of consecration” for his life.[i] Throughout his time on Earth, Jesus has set his
life apart and dedicated it to God’s service. Jesus has consecrated his life to God's work. Now, Jesus confidently gives his life back to God, with a serenity that
is possible only because of God’s deep and abiding love. Jesus accepts death easily because he knows
God will care for him. As the Apostle
Paul would later write, “For I am convinced that neither death…nor anything
else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God through
Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39)
In dying, Jesus gives us twenty-first
century Christians the fundamental key for living. God calls us to consecrate our lives to the
Divine and to become faithful disciples.
As we saw earlier in our analysis of Jesus’ words, “It is finished,” God
invites us to enter into an affirming, junior partnership, in which we join with
Christ in building and developing the Kingdom of God. We are called to dedicate and even consecrate
our lives to the work of establishing the Reign of God on Earth. This can be hard work sometimes. Yet, despite the difficulties, when we
consecrate our lives to serving God, then we can experience a joyful and
flourishing life with deep meaning.
There is also a second lesson to learn from
these last words of Jesus. When we
consecrate our lives to God, then we can face our own death with the same
serenity and confidence as Jesus on the Cross.
By dedicating our lives to Christ, then over time we develop a deep and
everlasting bond with the Divine. We
grow confident in our relationship with God as we fully experience God’s incomprehensible
love for us. As the Apostle Paul writes
in his second letter to Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished
the race, I have kept the faith.
Henceforth, there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness…” (2 Timothy 4: 7-8). As we grow in our faith, we become more
prepared to face our death, serenely, knowing that God will continue to watch
over us.
If you live in the Lincoln, Nebraska area and do not have a place of
worship, then I invite you to come and join us this Easter weekend, April 14-16th,
at Christ United Methodist Church. Our
worship services include:
Good Friday Service, April 14, at 7 pm. During this service, I will conclude our
reflections on “Jesus’ Words from the Cross,” with “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” This service will also include the Sacrament of Holy
Communion. It ends in semi-darkness with members of the congregation
encouraged to help “strip the church” of all its paraments and decorations, as
we remember that Jesus laid in a tomb for three days.
Easter Sunday, April 16th
Easter Services, 8:30 and 11 am, with
Easter Breakfast between Services
Join us for the
Flowers, the Music, & the Joy of Easter.
My proclamation is entitled, “Alleluia!” Our church is located at 4530 A Street. Our classic worship services are at 8:30 and
11:00 on Sunday mornings.
Everyone is welcome and accepted because
God loves us all.
[i]
R. Alan Culpepper, Commentary on the Gospel of
Luke in the New Interpreter’s Bible,
vol 9, (Nashville, Abingdon Press, 2002), CD-ROM Edition.
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