On this holy cross day, consider how foolish the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ is. Crucifixion was not the sentence given to an honorable man. Crucifixion was reserved for hardened criminals, repeat offenders, and dangerous threats to society. For not even Paul the apostle could have been crucified, as he was a Roman citizen and could not be sentenced to such a terrible death. The Christ was led to the slaughter like a sheep that was silent before the shears. When the cross was lifted, Christ began to suffocate until he gave up the spirit to our heavenly father. His time on the cross was filled with agony of body and spirit. For he was mocked by those who wanted his blood upon them, saying, “he saved others, but he cannot save himself.” Then, as Christ asked for water to drink, soldiers only gave him sour wine, showing they had no remorse for what they had done to him.
No matter how many times we consider the death of Christ, we will never know about the pain, suffering, and mockery that he endured for our salvation. As the world sees the death of a carpenter’s boy, the Christian see life eternal in the Son of God. As the Lord chooses what is foolish to shame the wise and what is weak to shame the strong. The world would like to explain away the crucifixion of Christ apart from the Bible. You will hear all kinds of reasons. He wanted to lead a revolt against the Roman colonizers. Or that Jesus no longer saw a need for the Old Testament scriptures. These are simply far-fetched and not biblical whatsoever. These somehow soften the crucifixion of Jesus because these interpretations take away sin from the death of Christ.
This is why the crucifixion is so scandalous, because it means our actions have violated God’s will and have offended God. Our offenses cannot be remedied by our own actions, as the book of Hebrews makes clear: “There is no forgiveness of sin without the shedding of blood.” How many people in this world have rejected God because they do not want to hear? Countless Christians have died because they want to bring the message of repentance and forgiveness through the cross of Christ. Not only in times past with the apostles, who all suffered for the gospel. Those who brought the gospel for the first time to distant lands long ago. But even in the present time, at a Catholic school in Minneapolis or a college campus in Utah. These people were slain because they held fast to the truth that there is one God who has sent his son to save man, and to be saved means to change your way, trusting in Christ. May God grant that we have faith, such as these.
Therefore, we can only cling to him as the dear Christ says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” For Christ could only be referring to his coming suffering and death, as he is the Son of the Father sent into the world to redeem what has fallen. The hour of Christ’s planting is coming. God, the Father, has sewn him into the good soil. That by his going into the ground, he may be glorified. He does not come to save himself; Christ is righteous and pure, being one with the Father. Christ comes into the world, making himself a little lower than the angels as he takes on human flesh and blood, so he may become the seed that goes into the ground. He comes for this purpose that man would be grafted into him.
Just as the sower does not plant seeds only to watch them die in the ground. Neither God has sent his son. The Christ is laid into the Earth that he may bring before the Father much fruit. These fruits are branches of Christ, the one true vine. Christ, who is the firstborn of those who have fallen asleep, now brings with Him all those who believe in Christ to the Father. Apart from the seed, a plant cannot grow or produce any fruit. So too, without Christ’s crucifixion and laying in the ground, we are still lost in our trespasses and sins. We would remain displeasing to the Father. It is only the blood of Christ in his suffering that is able to cover for sins.
Calvary is where the Son of Man is glorified. The Father speaks: “I have both glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” It is in this moment, the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ, that God fully glorifies his name through his son. As even the people of Israel knew the glory of God when they ate manna and quail from heaven. And how often do we emulate these people also? Instead of seeking God’s will and his gifts first, we decide what God has given is good or not. Or that He would be gracious in the way we desire Him to be.
Still, the glory of the Lord was not revealed in the fiery serpents that bit the people; God is glorious in his grace as he made Moses construct a bronze serpent. For when they looked upon it in faith, where the world would see only death, they were restored to life again. The Lord’s glory is made known in his salvation in the days of old and throughout the scriptures. Now, the Father says that he will glorify it again. Not with a serpent brought upon a pole, but the body of Christ upon a wooden cross with blood pouring out.
This is foolishness in the eyes of the world. But for God, this is how he desires his glory to be made known throughout the Earth. The dear Lord says, “And I, when I am lifted up from the Earth, will draw all people to myself.” It is in the hour that Jesus speaks of that the Son of Man is glorified, as he is lifted high upon the Earth, stretched out on a tree. This bloody man, who was beaten and scourged, is how God puts an end to sin. For God loves the world in this way that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. His life was taken away from the Earth so that the children of this world may be exhorted and glorified with him.
Dear friends, you also have been drawn up with Christ. For with him, your sins died in the body of Christ. Then he was putting the fertile ground cut from stone, that is, his tomb. And he was raised again, bearing much fruit. And finally, when he was lifted up once again to be seated, the right hand of God the Father lifted you up with him. First at your baptism, then daily in lives lived according to his grace, and finally on the last day, when you will be raised from the dead eternally.
Rejoice in the suffering of Christ, for it is wiser than all the wisdom of man and stronger than all the power of the world. That even when we wait for our Lord’s reappearance, we do not wait without purpose, for the Lord is soon coming to harvest the wheat. Even in the various ways that you suffer in this life, you have a God who has suffered all things for your good, as you are never alone. Today is the day of your salvation. And soon he will lift us up and draw us to himself.
St. John's and Grace Evangelical Lutheran Parish 