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TRANSCRIPT:

The dean of our cabinet, Kris Mutzenberger, assigned each of us a chapter from Adam Hamilton’s book on Luke. She told me she gave me the last chapter called “Crucified with the Outlaws” because I grew up and serve in western North Dakota where there used to be real outlaws running around in our history. Outlaws in old west days were probably not as prominent or prevalent as western movies or novels present them to be.

No matter. I want us to look at this very unusual and uncommon attribution given to Jesus at the end of Luke’s Gospel.

In Luke 22:37, following his last supper with his disciples, we hear Jesus saying, “I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in relation to me: ‘And he was counted among criminals.’ Indeed, what’s written about me is nearing completion.”

Jesus, a criminal? Other Bible translations use different words here. Rebel, transgressor, lawless… Either way, it is interesting to note how Jesus’ impending crucifixion and death was a shameful way to die. Capital punishment is a ruling government’s way of giving a person a final black mark on his or her reputation forever. Such a sentence cannot be undone or erased from someone’s record.

I remember years ago, reading an article about how our view of the cross has turned into sentimentality rather than the scandal it truly was!

What I remember most from the article was the author’s suggestion that we stop wearing gold crosses and take down our beautiful and decorative wood crosses hanging in our sanctuaries. He suggested instead to imagine people beginning to wear gold miniature electric chairs around their necks and displaying electric chairs or lethal injection beds at the front of our sanctuaries.

Eww! How tacky! How macabre! How ghoulish! Who wants to come to church and be reminded of a form of capital punishment every Sunday?

Well, that’s exactly what a cross is! We just don’t think about it that way anymore. The cross has lost its shock and scandal in our day and age. In many ways that may be okay because we could get really morbid about it. But let’s be sure we are thinking about it sometimes. This message is one of those times.

Throughout our weeks together we have been considering how Luke’s emphasis has been to remind us how much Jesus paid attention to the least, the last and the lost. Or, as Hamilton expresses it: the outsiders, the outcasts, and the outlaws.

The first two are easy for our hearts to go out to. Who wouldn’t want to be sure that outsiders and outcasts feel loved? But outlaws? Aren’t they deserving of our scorn? Shouldn’t they be shamed and ridiculed? After all, their actions are against the norms of proper society and order, aren’t they?

A sense of righteous justice seems to be acceptable against an outlaw or guilty criminal. When someone is found guilty, we usually have great confidence that this has been decided in an orderly manner. We are fortunate in this country to have courts of law presided over by judges and justices who are accountable to constituents through elections or reviewed by higher courts in an appeals process. Our trial by jury also makes us confident in convictions when twelve jurors have determined beyond a reasonable doubt that a person is guilty of a crime he or she has been charged with.

Hamilton tells us that Luke uses a particular word to identify the two who were crucified on either side of Jesus at Golgotha.  The word Luke uses means someone who has done evil deeds. Matthew and Mark use a different word. Their word refers to someone like an armed and violent bandit. These are the type of people who are willing to use violence to accomplish their deeds and don’t care about anyone who gets in their way. In many ways they were seen as terrorists.

Humanity is no different now than it was back in Jesus’ day. Nations invaded weaker nations and put them under their control to acquire their resources for themselves. Lives were of little value when an empire was on the march to conquer a land. Does this sound familiar? Can we think of any nation invading another nation for their resources and goods?

The Romans of Jesus’ day had invaded and now controlled Judea. They were willing to give some latitude in local rule and allowed each region to practice their religion. But watch out if you ever resisted a demand of the Roman government! Rebellion in large and small ways was not tolerated by the Roman army. This is exactly why the practice of crucifixion was invented. It was to be a deterrent to any who dare cross the will of Roman rule.

Most likely the two men who were crucified with Jesus had acted in some violent way against the Romans. According to Roman law, their actions were deserving of death. Rome didn’t put up with rebellion whether it was on a large scale or just a couple guys taking potshots at a few Roman soldiers in some back country like Judea.

These are the kind of folks Jesus was lumped in with at the end of our gospels. Was Jesus a radical Jewish rebel like these men? Was he opposed to the Romans? Had he committed acts of violence against the occupiers of his homeland? No. He had done none of those things. If you recall, Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, could not find any reason to put Jesus to death. The religious leaders tried to make Jesus out to be someone who had spoken against the Roman powers. Whatever they said, Pilate wasn’t buying it. He wanted to release Jesus, but the crowds had already been stirred up into a frenzy and demanded he be crucified.

Pilate folded to their demands and handed Jesus over to be crucified even though he believed him to be innocent of the charges. Talk about a miscarriage of justice! But this is what unchecked power can do. Innocent people get hurt or killed.

After the sham trial, the soldiers mock Jesus, spit on him and scourge him with whips. They didn’t know he was innocent. A Roman governor had pronounced judgement and that was good enough for them. Now was the time to have a little fun with this condemned man. Who cares what we do to him! He’s going to die soon anyway!

In the course of the day while Jesus is hanging on the cross, Luke records for us a conversation Jesus has with two criminals. One on his left and one on his right approach Jesus in very different ways. The first is like the abusive Roman soldiers. He too mocks Jesus and taunts him to do something dramatic to get them out of this predicament. “Come on, Jesus!

If you are truly a savior, get us off of these crosses!” This criminal decided Jesus couldn’t really be a savior. How can a real savior allow himself to be so mistreated?

The other criminal took a different approach. He somehow sensed something unique about Jesus. Maybe he was affected by how Jesus treated his abusers? What kind of man can ask God to forgive his tormentors? Who can say, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”? This criminal seemed to realize that it takes an extraordinary kind of grace to say what Jesus said from the cross.

This criminal’s words are found in Luke 23:40-42. He says to the other criminal,“Don’t you fear God, seeing that you’ve also been sentenced to die? We are rightly condemned, for we are receiving the appropriate sentence for what we did. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

He then turns to Jesus and says, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

What a contrast in ways to respond to Jesus! One is cruelty and ridicule; the other is kindness and humility. The second criminal’s request is responded to with graciousness and compassion from Jesus.

In Luke 23:43, Jesus says, “I assure you that today you will be with me in paradise.”

What grace and mercy! When a sinner calls out to Jesus he doesn’t care if it isn’t in a proper format. He doesn’t care if it isn’t according to four spiritual laws. He doesn’t care whether she is baptized or has taken communion. All Jesus cares about is a heartfelt plea from someone who knows he or she can’t undo anything except by God’s grace!

Maybe you feel you are beyond God’s mercy and grace promised to us in Jesus Christ. I assure you…you are not beyond God’s salvation!

1 John 1:9 tells us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Romans chapter ten, verses eleven through thirteen says, “¹¹ As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” ¹² For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, ¹³ for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

And then there is John 3:16 and 17. Two verses that sum up the Good News for all people, including outlaws or even you or me.

“¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”