Healing

            This Sunday, September 25th, I am going to offer an entirely new perspective on the story of Christ’s crucifixion.  In his account of Jesus’ execution, Luke describes a conversation between Christ and the two thieves who were crucified along beside him.  Luke writes:

“One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’ But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’”   ~ Luke 23:  39-43

            At least for me, the conventional reading of this story is to see it as a story of forgiveness.  That is, Jesus offers repentance to the thief who is remorseful.  While it is true that there is a strong element of repentance and forgiveness in the story, note that neither the thief asks for forgiveness, nor does Christ offer forgiveness. 

            We don’t know what kind of thief this man was.  For instance, was he a career criminal who had been robbing people for years before he was finally captured?  Or, was he someone who only occasionally robbed, when he was hungry?  Or, when his children were hungry?  When he robbed others, did he harm them further?  For example, did he beat up his victims?  (Remember that this is what happened to the man in the parable of the Good Samaritan; he was beaten to a pulp.)  Alternatively, was he kind and gentle with his victims?  We don’t know much about this thief. 

            There are certainly elements of repentance and forgiveness in this story.  Afterall, healing includes repentance and forgiveness.  Yet, there are other elements to healing.  Sometimes healing includes reconciliation in the face of a tremendous loss.  It is important to remember here the difference between curing versus healing.  For instance, to be cured of a cancer would include going into full remission and becoming cancer free.  By contrast, one can receive spiritual and emotional healing from cancer even when it continues to ravage the physical body. 

               I believe that fundamentally the exchange between Jesus and the thief, as they hang on the crosses, is a story of healing.  Fundamentally what Christ offers to the thief is the gift of healing, through the promise of joining Jesus in Paradise.  That is, Jesus offers reconciliation and an invitation for the thief to enter into the Kingdom of God.  Healing.

This Sunday, we will be exploring the concept and role of healing in the Christian faith.  We will learn about how God offers healing to each of us and how we can become instruments of God’s healing for others.

If you live in the Lincoln, Nebraska area, come, join us this Sunday, September 25th, at Christ United Methodist Church, as we focus on healing.  Our church is located at 4530 A Street in Lincoln, and our traditional worship services are at 8:30 and 11:00 on Sunday mornings.  Our service this Sunday will include the option of being anointed with oil as a symbol and practice of healing through the love of Jesus Christ.

Everyone is welcome and accepted because God loves us all.