3rd October, 2010
Written By Rev Law Hui Seng
Posted By Teresa Han
Luke 23:26-42
Main Idea: The need for human kind to repent
Objectives: a. To teach the meaning of repentance so that we all repent from our unholiness. b. To help the congregation to see the repentant and unrepentant people from Jesus’ perspective.
A. Introduction
- Today we will read the last 2 social principles of the Methodist Book of Discipline, Peace and World Order; and Political Life.
- May we read it with a mission to transform our society with scriptural holiness? I shall focus on the criminal and restorative justice but I will not be that specific as it is.
- On the criminal and restorative justice, the book of Discipline says, “In the love of Christ, who came to save those who are lost and vulnerable, we urge the creation of a genuinely new system for the care of restoration of victims, offenders, criminal justice officials, and the community as a whole. Restoration justice grows out of biblical authority, which emphasizes a right relationship with God, self, and community. When such relationships are violated or broken through crime, opportunities are created to make things right.”
- I will imply from that point and emphasize on the scriptural holiness of repentance, something the whole society, including you and me need so much.
- Today, if you think you do not need repentance in your life right now, you are wrong and I am sorry to say to you your life will not get better. If you have sin in your life and not repent, how can God bless you and you get better.
- I pray that you will not think that only the criminals need to repent and you do not need to repent. I pray that at the end of my sermon, everyone of us will feel the need to repent from something that is not right in the eye of God, or according to the word of God, the bible.
- I pray that Jesus uses me to enlighten you on the subject. The passage that God impresses on my heart is Luke 23:26-42. May this passage inspire you to go for repentance and help you to help people to repent?
B. What is the difference between the two criminals?
- As we face the great passage of Jesus’ conversation with the criminals, we must thank God for it inspires us to see the criminals and all who those evil or sinful people in a very different light. How do you see the criminals in our society?
- Most of us see them as people who have broken the laws and deserve punishment? Some of us who are more compassionate will see them as victims of modernization and environment. Some see them as they deserve many more times of punishment. Some even see them as hopeless cases. I do not blame you for all such perceptions. We may have been trained to perceive them like this.
- Jesus’ experience today at the cross must challenge us to change our perceptions about the criminals. I have done the reflection and meditation from verse 26 till verse 46. I thank God for the great the communication between me and Jesus in this valuable passage. Only Luke recorded the conversation between Jesus and the 2 criminals; Matthew only mentioned there were 2 robbers crucified with Jesus. Thank God for the precious record in Luke.
- I asked the question in meditation, “What is the difference between the two criminals?
- You see the difference in these 3 verses, 39,40 and 41. The one in verse 39 says, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!? You can see even in hour of death, he was full of pride and unbelief. He still believed he was in control of the situation. Out of pride, he challenged Christ to come down from the cross like others. He insulted Jesus.
- The other criminal in verse 40 says, “Don’t you fear God … since you under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” You see the difference. This man on the cross before he died, he repented. He confessed his wrong, his sin. He feared God. He was remorseful; felt regret about the crimes he committed. He even urged his fellow criminals to do likewise. The first criminal was unrepentant and the later criminal repented!
- No wonder Jesus gathered all His strength in the dying moment, to declare and respond to the 2 criminals, and (especially to the second one) who might have committed the same crime and sin in verse 43, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” You see how Jesus forgives the criminal and accepted him into the paradise.
- Our God accepted repentant people into paradise and of course, heaven eventually. Theologically, paradise is believed to be a temporary place where all those who repented and saved in the arm of Jesus will end up there first before the great judgment by Jesus when He comes the second time.
- Now let us see how Jesus further sees the sinners of this world in verse 34 in his dying hour, suffering hour in great pain. Those are His most powerful words, precious and valuable words, words worth our attention; words that must transform our lives; words that must shape our perception of the criminals and sinners like you and me and all others out there.
- Jesus says in verse 34, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” This is most inspiring for personal relationship with God. It teaches me and I pray that it also teaches you on how we must see the sinners in us and all others.
- The great implication is this, no matter how evil and sinful we are, God is all the time forgiving towards us. Can you see the criminals and sinners in this light? Then, it will help you to do a lot of evangelism and missions. When you see people as those who are qualified to be forgiven by God, you will be so powerful for Jesus, you will Christ disciples to help them to know God and become Jesus’ disciples.
C. Applications
- We need to repent from our unholiness, e.g., unwillingness to recognize our sinfulness like pride, greed, self-centeredness, etc. The way to do it is to do self examination of everything you say and do. Watch out for your own attitudes, hearts, mindset, perceptions, personality, and character. See if there is any flaws, come to Jesus and repent.
- How Jesus sees a criminal should help us to minister to both the repentant and unrepentant people. You will love everybody, even your enemies if you obey Jesus’ teaching.
D. Conclusion May Jesus help you to repent from our unholiness. Only then, we can help others to repent.
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