The Cross Shaped Key To Paradise! Luke 23:39-43

Midweek Lenten Service III                                                   10-March-21
Sermon Series Theme: Cross+Connections
Sermon Theme: The Cross Shaped Key To Paradise!
Sermon Text: Luke 23:39-43; John 20:19-23
 Catechism Text: “What Is The Office Of The Keys?”

I.N.R.I. “Stick and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me!” as a child taunting one another on the playground this was a popular retort to insults spoken by others. It was a lie. Words can hurt. God takes our use of words seriously. The second and eighth commandments hold us accountable for our words. The third commandment holds us accountable for hearing God’s Word preached and cherishing His spoken Word as sacred.  
    A demon had blinded a man and made him unable to speak. St. Matthew records in the 12th chapter of his gospel that Jesus heals the man casting out the demon so that he is freed to speak and can see. Immediately, the Pharisees accused Jesus of being in league with the devil. Our Lord warns them of committing the unforgivable sin blaspheming the Holy Spirit by closing their ears to His working through Christ’s Word. Further He teaches us, Matthew 12:35-37 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. (36) But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. (37) For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." Your words reveal whether you worship the only true and living God or if you are deceived by Satan and trust in a idol that cannot save. On the Second Commandment Dr. Luther taught, “As the First Commandment has instructed the heart and taught [the basis of] faith, so this commandment leads us forth and directs the mouth and tongue to God. For the first objects that spring from the heart and manifest themselves are words.”
        Words condemn us. Words save us. Words bring death. Words bring life. Words deceive. Words enlighten. Words make us captive to sin. Words free us through forgiveness. Therefore this evening let us repent for listening to lying words and cling alone to Jesus’ Word of forgiveness, life, and salvation. Learn well of the “Cross Shaped Key to Paradise.”
        Open your hymnal to page 326. “What is the Office of the Keys?”
Our Lord Jesus falsely accused by lying words breathed out by the High Priest. He is beaten and sentenced to the horrid death of crucifixion by unjust words spoken by Pilate. He ridiculed and scoffed by mocking words shouted by the crowds and soldiers. They place His cross in the center - accusing Him of being the chief criminal to be executed that Friday when Passover would begin. The other dying criminals crucified to His right and left also join in breathing out taunting words though in great agony. Pilate to taunt the Jews had a sign nailed over Jesus’ head listing His capital crime for which He must die: “This Is The King of The Jews.” Words bring life - Listen! (Vs.39-43) This is the only death bed conversion in all of Holy Writ. One so that we do not neglect to hear the life giving Word of Jesus until we are dying. One so that we do not despair on our death bed that it is too late to hear Christ Word which alone brings life by His Holy Spirit. Read again: W.I.O.T.K.? The dying thief doesn’t make a decision to come to Jesus. He was no better than his unrepentant brother who stubbornly resisted the Holy Spirit working through Christ’s preaching until death and hell swallowed him up. As the nails pierced Jesus’ hands and feet causing all the nerves in His arms and legs to erupt in severe pain - Jesus preached: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Unlike the other two criminals who most likely cursed their Roman executioners and even God. Jesus prays. Preaches forgiveness for those who pierce Him - for all of us whose sins nailed Him to the cross in our place.
        God the Holy Spirit works through Jesus’ preaching. Weeks before on the way to this final Passover in Jerusalem our Lord had asked His disciples who men said that He the Son of Man was. Remember their answers? Matthew 16:14-19 So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." (15) He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" (16) Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (17) Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. (18) And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. (19) And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."   They keys to open heaven or to shut it are entrusted to the Apostles. Forgiveness opens. Forgiveness costs. Matthew 16:21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Forgiveness is freely given to all sinners, but forgiveness cost the only sinless Man everything. He alone is the Lamb of God who is sacrificed to take away the sins of the world.  
        Hearing Jesus preach forgiveness as He prays through the pain of crucifixion - the Holy Spirit tenderly invited both dying criminals to look only to Jesus. The unrepentant thief only wanted Jesus as a get out of trouble free card, the other convicted and made alive by the Holy Spirit through Jesus’ preaching - wants only the Lord to remember him when He comes into His kingdom. Jesus preaches comfort for dying repentant sinners - that very day when he died - he would be with Jesus in paradise - Eden restored with the cross shaped Tree of Life at its center.  
      Through the office of the keys paradise is opened to us sinners by grace for Christ sake through faith in His sacrifice alone. Lutherans confess: “That we may obtain this faith, the Ministry of Teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments was instituted. For through the Word and Sacraments, as through instruments, 2 the Holy Ghost is given, who works faith; where and when it pleases God, in them that hear 3 the Gospel, to wit, that God, not for our own merits, but for Christ’s sake, justifies those who believe that they are received into grace for Christ’s sake.” Why did the one criminal repent and believe the Gospel and the other harden himself to hell? We don’t know. Faith isn’t our work, it is the gift of God the Holy Spirit through the cross preached. Never neglect hearing it - for it may be the day and word by which God the Holy Spirit has chosen to bless you with an increase of His gift of faith. To be remembered by your Lord Jesus in His Kingdom.
      Calvary, the cross, the Crucified King is all about forgiveness. St. Paul teaches you that Abraham believed God’s promise to him in Christ and it was “counted to him for righteousness.” Then he adds, “Romans 4:23-25 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, (24) but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, (25) who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.. Jesus dies for my offenses, for your offenses, for the world’s offense - our trespasses, iniquities, transgressions, and sins. All that separated us from our Creator and Father. He physically rises from the dead on Easter to preach that the sacrifice is accepted - we are declared “not guilty.” Listen: (John 20:22-25) Fearing death the disciples locked themselves away. Sounds like our world this past year. Jesus walks through locked doors with His living flesh and blood breathing comforting words of peace. He breathes forth Holy Spirit filled words which alone bring life. [LSB pg. 326 - Where is this written?]
          Only Christ’s Church on earth has the power to forgive sins. Psychologist may seek to heal the soul, but their words are lifeless - their forgiveness is a sham and only further enslaves sinners in their sin and self-deception. The civil government doesn’t have the power to forgive sins - it wields the sword ruling by law controlling outward conduct - but it has no legitimate power or jurisdiction over conscience, thinking, and the soul. It may legalize perversion, but it never can forgive, restore, and heal those mutilated by cultural lies. Only the Church on earth has the power to forgive sinners. Sinners who are crushed by their sins and realize they have only earned death and hell. Sinners who despair of all their own plans or power to free themselves from their punishment. Sinners who look only to Jesus crucified for their sin and suffering by their side - crying out, ‘Lord, remember me!” “Lord, have mercy upon me!”
    LSB pg. 326 Rt. Column - “What do you believe according to these words?’
The Office of the Keys is entrusted to Christ’s Church on earth - to our local congregation - but it is exercised through the “called ministers of Christ.” Sunday after Sunday your pastor in the “stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ” forgives you all your sins. He is Christ’s ambassador - announcing that which has been earned for you upon the cross and proclaimed by Jesus’ empty tomb. Words of forgiveness spoken - Jesus’ Cross Words. Jesus’ Easter Words. Forgive you all your sins. God remembers your sins no more - they are washed away with Jesus’ blood and forever buried in His grave. This is just as valid and certain, even in heaven, as if Christ our dear Lord dealt with us Himself.
      The Key can also lock the door to heaven. Jesus told the apostles that Easter evening that whoever sins they do not forgive, they are not forgiven. No pastor, no congregation can declare someone “forgiven” who mocks Christ crucified as a get out of trouble free card - that is as an excuse to continue in willful rebellion against God’s Holy Ten Commandments. If they will not turn away from trusting in man’s lying words. If they refuse to break their self deception and will not confess their sin. If they think that they don’t need Jesus who breathes forth His life giving Holy Spirit through His Word preached in the Gospel, poured forth in baptism, freeing in absolution, and fed in the Lord’s Supper - then sadly the pastor must be honest and tell them the truth - they are not forgiven - they will not see Jesus in Paradise - they have hardened their heart to Christ’s life giving Word and blasphemed His Holy Spirit. These true words may hurt. They are spoken in love - calling the sinner back to repentance and faith in Jesus. Better to hurt now and return, than to be comfortable and spend eternity in hell.
        “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” Jesus took the hurt of my sin, my rebellion, my stubborn idol I call “ME” and with two sticks shaped into His cross - He paid my price in full. He broke my stony heart by rolling away the stone from His tomb and rising to breath forth His Holy Spirit in His Church with words of forgiveness, life, and salvation. Listen and rejoice in the Office of the Keys. Fix your eyes on Jesus and pray - “Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.” Amen.