I'm working on an idea that may not turn out, but here's where I am now. Luke includes 3 of the 7 last words: Forgive them, You (to a sinner) and I are going to be companions, and addressing God, into thy hands.... These are good examples of how to face death. but, Jesus is going to conquer death. Thus, these are good ways to face life. SY
Well, the idea of words for life didn't work out. As I worked on the sermon, it became "And the crowd stood watching." SY
I am h=going with the idea that we are willing to follow God, or anyone, as long as they are what we want them to be. But the minute that they are truly themselves, or they do not get what they want they turn on you. (Sounds a lot like church members, and some ministers.)
We try to put God in a box and do not like what happens when he does not stay there. Especially when he includes people that we do not like. And do we as pastors follow the crowd or lead them to the place that God wants them to be. (Where is God in the Creech trial?)
Grace, Peace and Love Greg in Memphis
It is interesting to see the passion and crucifixion described as a spectacle, one from which the crowd left, beating their breasts. It reminds me of the first Sunday of Lent ( I think) and the temptations, one of which is to provide a spectacle (waiting for the angels to come and tend God's Beloved). The spectacle is obscene. This week four people were killed by the State of Florida. The crowd may have been smaller, but the spectacle no less obscene.
This scene also reminds me of the sense of abandonment many people feel in deep grief - loss of God's closeness, deep disappointment when cures are not received -- other times when God appears to be sleeping on the job. It's a struggle some folks carry for a long time before any sniff of resurrection.
A day to hold up the promise, I think. Maybe a day to acknowledge the suffering in our congregations and point out who sanctified that suffering.
Just musing in Ontario
This scripture gives use a view of three ways to die. 1) Jesus, dying knowing that he is doing God's will and knowing where true life leads. 2) We have the criminal who calls for Jesus to save himself, not believeing that Jesus us the Son of God. 3) And then we see the second criminal defending Jesus and asking Jesus to remember him "when you come into your kingdom". Here we see that you can die one of three ways; following God's will, as Jesus did, repenting before you die, as the second criminal did, or continuing in disbelief as the first criminal did. I think this can preach.
Yours in Christ Preacherman in Indiana
A seed for a sermon thought focuses on the thief that prays a confession of his guilt, acknowledges that Jesus is the Messiah, that there is a kingdom after death, and ask Jesus for life while the three of them are there awaiting death Jesus in this moment, when most of us would be a little self centered in his own pain, focuses his attention on this one and promises to his effective today life after death. The compassion of Jesus for us, so great that he is willing to die. This reading also confirms for me that Jesus came not just as the son of man but also as the son of God. Because he cannot die until he offers his spirit up to the father. Through this action coupled with the promise to the thief we see that we also have a spiritual life within us that will continue on after the physical is dead. A life that unless we too shall confess, and accept Jesus shall otherwise die.
Does anyone have illustration ideas for this reading? Randy-Smyrna,TN