St. Luke 18:31–43
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son
and of the Holy Spirit – Amen
Before we start Lent, there’s something we
need to get straight: Jesus went to the cross deliberately. This was part of
His plan. It was not merely some terrible accident. I think we know this on one
level, and yet on another level we don’t always get this. I’ve heard people say
they don’t like going to church on Good Friday because it’s too sad. Or they
don’t like images of Jesus on the cross because they feel sorry for Him. Now,
if this is our understanding then we need to re-adjust our thinking. The death
of Jesus was on purpose.
Look at what Jesus says to the
Twelve disciples. This was His third time predicting His passion and death. “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and
everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be
accomplished.” Jesus knew what awaited Him in Jerusalem, not only because
He is God and omniscient, but He knows because of what is written about Him in
the Old Testament Scriptures. The prophets had already laid out what the
Messiah would do and what would happen to Him. And now it was time for all
those prophecies to be fulfilled. Jesus said the prophecies would be
“accomplished” or “finished.” This is the same word Jesus says on the cross: “It
is finished.” This means all that is written, all that had been promised, all
that was required, was finished by the death of Jesus. In other words, God’s
plan was finished by the death of Jesus. Jesus knows this and so He goes to
finish it.
Jesus continues explaining to
His disciples: For the Son of Man “will
be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and
spit upon. And after flogging Him, they will kill Him, and on the third day He
will rise.” Jesus predicts that He will be “delivered over” or “betrayed.” So
who does this to Him? Our first answer is probably Judas who betrayed our Lord
for the thirty pieces of silver. But who is the one in charge of it all? Who is
the one handing over Jesus to die for the sins of the world? His Father. God
the Father delivered Jesus into the hands of sinful men in order to die in the
place of sinful men. His Father sent His only Son to do His will and finish
this plan. And Jesus, the truly obedient and loving Son, obeyed His Father’s
will. Jesus wanted the same thing as His Father and so He gladly followed the
plan. Jesus did not complain about it. He wasn’t reluctant. He went willingly
and He knew what He was doing. He accepted the mockery and shame. He accepted
the spit and the whip. He joyfully laid down His life, knowing what it would
accomplish. And He also knew the end of the story. Jesus predicts His death
three times, and all three times He mentions the resurrection. “And on the third day He will rise.” Jesus
has His vindication in sight. He knows His Father will not leave Him in the
grave. And He knows that because of His suffering and death we will not be left
in the grave either.
Now this is all what Jesus
understood and what Jesus explained to His disciples.
And yet… “They
understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did
not grasp what was said.” In other words, they had no faith. Oh sure, they probably had a general
faith in God and His power. But they
had no faith in the Crucified One. No
faith that God would save by His suffering and death. And no faith to ask this God for mercy. But then there’s this blind beggar who does have faith. He hears about Jesus of Nazareth and he
understands. He immediately calls
Jesus who He is: “Son of David, have
mercy on me!” Son of David is a title for the Messiah, the promised Savior
who would come from King David’s house. So
by calling Jesus of Nazareth the Son of David, this blind man was already
calling up everything that is written about the Savior by the prophets. He is summing up the Old Testament and
holding God to His promises. So also the Blind Beggar prays for mercy. It is a humbling thing to ask for
mercy. Before God we are all beggars. But this prayer for mercy is also a
song of praise. The Blind Beggar is
calling Jesus who He is. Jesus is the
One who has mercy. That is exactly
how Jesus wants us to think of Him. He
is the One with mercy and love for begging sinners. And He answered that prayer, He did that mercy, He loved that love
with His death on the cross.
Some don’t like hearing about
the passion and cross of Jesus, although they probably do like hearing about
the love of God. But you can’t have God’s love without Jesus’ cross. God
doesn’t love with general thoughts and feelings. He loves with specific deeds. God
loved the world by giving up His only Son. This is what 1 Corinthians 13 is all
about: it describes the love of God that is known in Jesus on the cross. Jesus
is patient and kind. He does not boast, nor insist on His own way, nor resent
those who do not love Him back. And in love He bears all things. He patiently
suffered for us. He did not object to His shameful treatment and He did not
brag about His power. He quietly, lovingly bore the sins of the world. This
love is as concrete as the bloody nail wounds in His hands and feet. And He
continues to love you in specific ways, with specific deeds. He cleanses you
with water and gives you His Holy Spirit. He speaks His Word to you and He
feeds you with His body and blood. You never have to wonder if God loves you. He
tells you the answer again and again.
The Blind Man took Jesus at His
Word. He cried out for what Jesus wants to give: mercy, forgiveness, love. That’s
what faith does. Faith says, “Be my Jesus. You alone have mercy for me, a poor
sinful beggar. Be this merciful, loving Jesus for me.” We are like a child who
asks his mother, “Do you love me?” He knows the answer. He’s heard the answer
many times before, but he asks again because he wants to hear it again. And the
Mother says, “Yes, I love you.” And the Mother doesn’t mind answering again,
because she loves the question and she loves to give the answer. So it is for
you who have faith in your Lord.
So before we start Lent, let’s
get something straight: We should be ashamed of our sins. But we are not
ashamed of the cross. We should be sorry for our sins. But we are not sorry for
Jesus’ death. He wanted to die. He did it all for you. He was betrayed, mocked,
spit upon, flogged, and killed because He loves you. This is not the cause of
sadness. This is the cause of our joy. And as we approach Good Friday, we do so
already knowing the end of the story. On the third day He rose. So let us hear
His Word and understand. This Lent, let us mourn our sin, but don’t mourn the
death of Jesus. Let us be blind to temptation and desire in this sinful world,
but don’t be blind to the cross of Jesus. And let us pray not only for physical
healing and temporal comfort, but pray for the love and mercy of Jesus that
endures forever.
In the Holy + Name of Jesus – Amen
