Sixth Sunday after Pentecost (GA)

Luke 23:32-43

³² Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. ³³ And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. ³⁴ And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. ³⁵ And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” ³⁶ The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine ³⁷ and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” ³⁸ There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”

³⁹ One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” ⁴⁰ But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? ⁴¹ And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴² And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” ⁴³ And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Often thought to be the last temptation of Christ. For him to come down from the cross. For him to pull his hand through those nails. He could have sealed over those holes, or marks of his crucifixion. He could have show all the people all his glory, causing great death to cover Jerusalem in vengeance against those who would crucify him. But never the less this is not the King anyone expected. (Modern theologians can say all they want about people who should have known.)

The people mock him. The crucified mock him. The devil mocks him. The soldiers mock him. Their desires are for a King who would remove Roman oppression. They desired deliverance from their pain and suffering. He desires all God's plans to fail, and every hinderence to his rule be removed. The soldiers saw nothing of great importance.

Our desires lead us to follow our own truths. They lead us to conceive and give birth to sin, which leads to death when fully grown. Here death comes to stand before us all. Our judgement is just. We would be rightly condemned to suffer. We should be mocked for our failures. We stand in the way of what God desires, with our own plans.

Listen and see as the kingdom of Heaven draws near. The thief is paying attention. He recognizes this one is innocent. He is dying in the place of the nation. He is dying in the place of all sinners. He is dying to set us free. He is dying to over throw the devil. He therefore speaks desires to be saved not from his punishment, but from his eternal torment. He gets it! Jesus was not tempted, but only appeared to be tempted. His desires was pure and to die for you.