IT'S TIME TO EAT THE DONUTS

“IT’S TIME TO EAT THE DONUTS”

LUKE 23:33-38, 44-47

33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.

34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing.

35 And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah 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."

………………….

44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon,

45 while the sun's light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two.

46 Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." Having said this, he breathed his last.

47 When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, "Certainly this man was innocent."

I always tell people that there’s no such thing as a bad sermon. That’s because when the sermon is over you either walk away from it renewed or wake up from it refreshed.

I think it’s safe to say that no one was sleeping during a speech that was given on November 19, 1863. Do you remember what happened on November 19, 1863? That’s the day Abraham Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg Address. The speech was only about 3 minutes long, but it was undoubtedly one of the greatest speeches in our nation’s history. In that speech Lincoln said they were there to dedicated a portion of that battle field so that those who gave their lives “shall not have died in vain…”

Now take those words and go back to that hill in Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified. Then ask yourself this question. Did Jesus die in vain? It certainly seems that way when you look at the people who were there that day. The first thing Jesus said from the Cross was “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” More than anything else that’s what Jesus wanted. He wanted his life, death and resurrection to bring people closer to God. He wanted his life, death and resurrection to bring people closer to God’s grace and forgiveness.

Unfortunately, the words of forgiveness that Jesus uttered from the Cross fell on deaf ears. After Jesus uttered those words of forgiveness people didn’t start to beat their breasts. They didn’t say to themselves, “What have we done?”

In fact things didn’t get better. They got worse. Jesus said, “Father forgive them…” and the soldiers cast lots for his clothes. Jesus said, “Father forgive them…” and one of the soldiers offered him a little sour wine. Jesus said, “Father forgive them…” and the religious leaders scoffed at him. Jesus said, “Father forgiven them…” and the people mocked him.

The words of forgiveness that Jesus uttered that day fell on deaf ears. So, for the people who were there Jesus did die in vain. What about you though? Did Jesus die in vain for you? “Father forgive him…” “Father forgive her…”

Over the years I’ve come to the conclusion that there are three unhealthy ways you can react to those words. You can react to those words with excuses, entitlement or empty self-esteem.

Let’s start with the excuses. Some people feel like they don’t need to be forgiven because no matter what they do they always have a good excuse. It’s like the guy who won a contest a few years ago. The contest was sponsored by the League of Police Officers out in Indiana. The contest was for the best excuse for speeding. The man who won the contest was stopped while speeding down the road in a van full of screaming kids. When he was asked why he was speeding the man said he was trying to get away from all the noise behind him.

You see all kinds of excuses these days. You see it in the child who says, “Yes I hit him, but he hit me first.” You see it in the person who says, “Yes I cheated a little on my income taxes, but what’s the big deal. Everyone does it.” You see it in the person who says, “Yes I do loose my temper, but it’s the only way I can make her or him listen to me.”

A good excuse though usually does you more harm than good. That’s because after everything is said and done you really don’t need the Jesus who said, “Father forgive them…” When you’re full of excuses it’s true. Jesus really did die in vain.

Sometimes it’s excuses that get in the way of the words of forgiveness that Jesus uttered that day. Sometimes it’s a feeling of entitlement. Entitlement is when you do something wrong but you don’t worry about it. Why don’t you worry about it? Because you know that God is going to forgive you. After all that’s God’s job. It’s God’s job to love you and forgive you. A Sunday School teacher saw that way of thinking one day while she was sharing the story of the Cross and crucifixion with her class. When she got to the words, “Father forgive them…” she asked the children a question. “What do those words teach us?” she asked. Immediately a little boy raised his hand and said, “They teach us that it was Jesus’ job to die for our sins and it’s our job to sin.”

When the entitlement mentality takes over then it’s true. Jesus really did die in vain. Then there’s the problem of empty self-esteem. Empty self-esteem is when you don’t feel like you’re good enough to be forgiven. Maybe you wrestle with that feeling yourself from time to time. Instead of letting God forgive you for something that you did or should have done you hold on to the guilt. You hold on to the shame. You hold on to the remorse and regret. God can forgive you, but you just can’t forgive yourself.

When that happens it’s true. Jesus died in vain.

There’s a story about a teacher at a Catholic High School who found a very unusual way to help his students appreciate the words of forgiveness that Jesus uttered from the Cross. It all started when Brother Christianson confronted a student who had an attitude and a reputation for being a bit of a trouble maker. The student’s name was Steve. “So,” Brother Christianson, “You think you’re pretty tough, don’t you?” Steve’s nodded his head and replied, “Yeah, I do.” At that point Brother Christianson surprised Steve and asked him if he thought he could do 300 pushups. Brother Christian told Steve that he needed him to do 300 pushups in sets of ten in class the next day. It was for a lesson that he wanted to do. “Can you do it?” Brother Christianson asked. “I need you to tell me you can do it.” After a little coaxing Steve agreed to try. So the next day, Brother Christianson walked into the class with three dozen delicious donuts. He then went to the girl sitting at the first desk. “Cynthia,” he said, “would you like a donut?” Cynthia said “yes” of course. “Steve,” Brother Christianson said, “would you please do ten pushups so that Cynthia can have a donut?” Steve quickly did the 10 pushups. Brother Christianson put a donut on Cynthia’s desk and then went to the next student. “Joe,” he said, “would you like a donut.” Joe also said “yes” and again Steve did 10 pushups. That’s the way it went all the way down the first row of desks. Half way down the second row though Steve began to feel the effects of all those pushups. So when Brother Christianson came to Scott, who happened to be the captain of the football team, the answer was a little different. Scott said that he did want a donut but asked if he could do the pushups himself. “No,” Brother Christianson said, “Steve has to do them for you.” When Scott then said he didn’t want a donut Brother Christianson turned to Steve. “Steve,” he said, “would you please do ten pushups so Scott can have a donut that he doesn’t want.” Scott tried to stop Steve from doing the pushups but Brother Christianson wouldn’t let him. “Look,” Brother Christianson said, “This is my class and my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don’t want it.” Now the students were beginning to get a little angry. “Jenny,” Brother Christianson said, “would you like a donut?” “No,” she said emphatically. “Steve,” Brother Christianson said. “Would you please do ten pushups so Jenny can have a donut she doesn’t want?” Steve did the pushups and kept on doing them even though his arms were aching and the sweat was pouring off his face. By now all the students were saying “No,” and leaving the uneaten donuts on their desks. On and on it went. By the time they got half way down the last row it was obvious that Steve was in a lot of pain. “Linda,” Brother Christianson said, “would you like a donut?” Too choked up to speak, Linda just shook her head. “Steve,” Brother Christianson said, “would you please do ten pushups so Linda can have a donut she doesn’t want.” Finally, Brother Christianson went to the last student and said, “Susan, would you like a donut?” With tears in her eyes she pleaded with him. “Brother Christianson, can I please help him?” Now with tears of his own Brother Christianson replied, “No. He has to do it himself. Steve, would you please do ten pushups so Susan can have a donut?” Steve mustered up the last of his strength and then after the last pushup was done he collapsed on the floor. Brother Christianson waited a few moments before he reminded the class of all the pain and suffering that Jesus went through on the Cross and how he still managed to say, “Father forgiven them…” It was a gift that Jesus gave us right before he died and yet Brother Christianson said, “so many of us leave the gift on the desk uneaten.”

Did Jesus die in vain? Not if you forget the excuses and the entitlement and let yourself be loved enough so that the words that Jesus spoke from the Cross are you too. Amen.

Rev. Dr. Richard A. Hughes March 4, 2007