Introduction
In Isaiah 64 verse 1, we hear the prophet cry out to God: “O that You would tear open the heavens and come down”. This was Isaiah’s response to the plight of humanity. And, if Isaiah was anything like us, he would also have been carrying some form of heartbreak in his own life. Isaiah correctly interpreted, that if anything was really going to change for the better in this world – then God would have to come here and sort it out.
The world was created in love with hope – humanity given responsibility, yet also freewill. Unfortunately, people continually chose themselves and their own interests above God, and everything and everybody suffered accordingly. And history has shown that humanity would NOT be able to fix themselves! “O that You would tear open the heavens and come down”!
Well, in the fullness of time, God DID tear open the heavens and come down. Jesus, the Anointed One, the Son of God, member of the Holy Trinity – the Community of God – entered the world and took up residence amongst humanity. And that one incarnation of grace DID change everything! NOT that the world became a better place overnight necessarily, but Jesus brought the capacity to change people’s minds and hearts back to God’s ways – and in so doing, transform all sorts of circumstances and behaviours.
And those who chose to follow Jesus … could then form themselves into the church; which could, at her best, offer the world a higher vision of ethics and morals, as well as compassion and service in the community.
The Suffering Servant
Earlier in Isaiah (in chapter 53) there was another vision of how God would ultimately act to redeem the world. This would involve God’s Son being a suffering servant. This would NOT only display what the grace of God meant, and bring an offer of forgiveness and the lifting of burdens to humanity – but this would also indicate that any and all human suffering would be wholly understood in the heavens.
We could NOT say, not for too long anyway, that God doesn’t understand. For those who may tend to think this way … we have Isaiah 53. This is where we read that Jesus would become human in every way, that he would be, “despised and rejected”, that he would suffer affliction and oppression, that he would carry the burden and weight of all our transgressions, his body being “crushed” along the way.
A Great Impression
We would have to be impressed with Jesus. And we would have to be so thankful to God for this intervention on our behalf. As we read the various Gospel passages about the crucifixion, as we engage deeply with the words and the scene, and as we place ourselves at the foot of the cross – we can sense our sins being lifted.
And if we ever think that we are too bad, or too lost, or feel too ashamed … to ever be forgiven, then we need to hear Jesus forgiving even those who put him on the cross, and also those who were mocking him in a vast variety of ways. Jesus simply said, “Father, forgive them; for they do NOT know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34)! A lot of our transgressions are likely to be unthinking – but having come to terms with their cost, and considered this matter seriously – such extraordinary forgiveness can also be received by us!
An Available God
It was thought that God was inaccessible – removed from everyday life – too ‘holy’ to be approached by any ordinary person. Only the high priest could go through the curtain into the ‘Holy of Holies’ in the innermost temple and seek forgiveness for the people. But Jesus showed that God was different to this view of things.
Jesus went so far as to touch people with leprosy, and be anointed by women of poor reputation. Jesus partied with the worst of sinners, while strongly challenging those who would criticise him for this. Jesus was a person for the people – all those who would have a view toward becoming humble, repenting, and having their lives changed. Even when Jesus was tired, he made himself available to huge crowds, and healed many from their troublesome ailments. It turns out that God wants to be very available and easily accessible.
So, there, that day, crucifixion Friday, we read that, “… the curtain of the temple was torn in two [from top to bottom]” (Luke 23:45, Mark 15:38). Heaven opened, the body of Jesus was ripped apart, and now, as a result, old barriers were torn down! Now, most assuredly, there was open and free access to God – Jew, Gentile; slave, free; male, female – everybody … equally. We only have to call out his name … JESUS … and there he is!!
We only have to accept Jesus’ open invitation into His Kingdom. There are now, if we release our sin into the scope of Jesus’ forgiveness, NO barriers between us and God. The shame that tends to separate can be dismissed – past history can be put behind us! The curtain of the temple has been torn in two [from top to bottom]!
This is the beginning of deep personal relationships with our Creator God. There is now NO reason why we cannot maintain and grow a life-long relationship with Jesus! We are free to gather in faith-filled communities, worship God, remembering such sacrifice and service through sharing in communion, encourage one another, pray, share in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and teach one another more about the wonder of knowing Jesus.
In such community as this, we can come to lead transparent lives, always ready to confess any failures. For, the world needs a church where there are NO cover-ups, and where there is NO need for any secret confession boxes – just clear loving mutual accountability to one another under God.
And we can be on mission, bringing the truth and the power of the message of the cross, through deed and word, to all those who will be prepared to see and listen! It all starts here … at the foot of the cross. It starts when we concede we need change – we need saving. Our transgressions against God and others are still on top of us – our burdens are just too weighty. So, we kneel, and cry out to Jesus, ask for forgiveness and a new start – and that’s what we will get!
Conclusion
One of the two guys on the crosses near to Jesus … realised that all the mocking that was going on toward Jesus … was completely wrong. How could you mock this Jesus, when he had done nothing wrong. And he said words to the effect … “look at people like me – we deserve some form of punishment … but NOT this Jesus”! This guy on the next-door cross, wanted to escape all this negativity and hopelessness; and he believed that when Jesus forgave his tormentors … that this was God speaking. He also had come to see, in wanting to be a part of Jesus’ Kingdom … that this Jesus would be able to, in some way, conquer death. We might also sense here … real regret, and thoughts of a wasted life.
Desiring salvation, this man cried out to Jesus, “Jesus … remember me when you come into Your Kingdom”. A modest, humble, sincere, believing request … that at some point, Jesus would … indeed … remember and save him. Jesus’ response, of course, brought much more than this – Jesus promised that from today, from this very moment, a life had completely changed – from the depths of despair … to an experience of “Paradise” (Luke 23:42-43). At Calvary, two men met that day … on adjoining crosses – both in agony. Yet, One was dying as a gift to the other – the innocent dying for the guilty. A connection was made; and a relationship began!! Praise God. This can be our experience as well. Amen!
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