Golgotha: A Place of Simple Love
Luke 23:44-49
It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s
light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father,
into Your hands I commit My spirit!” And having said this He breathed His last. Now when the centurion saw what
had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” And all the crowds that had assembled
for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. And all His
acquaintances and the women who had followed Him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, have you ever noticed that when people tell you directions
they tend to either use landmarks or science? The landmarkers are the ones who use objects to
direct your way. Stores, trees, fences, houses of a certain color or shape all become part of the
directions. For the scientists the directions are a little different. Scientists tend to give directions
through street names, the number of the block that you are on, and compass points. Each creates
a certain kind of follower. Followers of the scientists need street signs, numbering systems, and
compasses. Followers of the landmarkers only need to be able to see what is obvious.
In his Gospel, Luke has been rather scientific in his approach. When he tells us of
Christ’s birth, he opens for us a world of kings and kingdoms. It was in the days of “Caesar
Augustus . . . while Quirinius was governor of Syria” that “all went to be registered, each to his
own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the
city of David, which is called Bethlehem.” It is also Luke who tells us approximately when Jesus
began His ministry. It was around the time of John the Baptist. It was “in the fifteenth year of the
reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being the governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of
Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and Traconitus, and Lysanias tetrarch of
Abilene, during the high priesthood of Anna and Caiaphas.” This is all part of history. We are
aware of the political situation, divisions of kingdoms, and locations of cities.
But notice the difference now. When Luke moves to the crucifixion, he begins to use
landmarks. He points to creation and the temple. What he tells us touches the very foundation of
life on earth and eternal life with God. He first notes that from the sixth hour to the ninth hour
there was darkness over the land. Then he tells us the curtain of the temple is torn in two. You do
not need a map to know what is happening at the crucifixion. You do not need to know the
difference between a governor and tetrarch. Luke wants all people to see what is happening so
that all can believe in the graciousness of God.
Some churches can turn religion into a science. Turn on the TV and listen. You have your
choice of religious systems. There are rules for living and promises for the future. If you just
believe strongly enough, then God will bring healing. They will tell you what to do with your
money, how to dress, and how to pray in the Spirit.
And then you turn off the set and are faced with the complexities of life. A teenage
daughter no longer talks to you. An ailing father struggles to live alone. There is talk of your job
being eliminated. Your spouse has been home from work later than normal several times lately.
There is that little pain in the body that may be nothing, but are you really sure? And you wonder
what you have to do to make God work in your life. But the more you try the more you wonder
whether there is a God at all. Faith becomes harder to find than Traconitus. Depression abounds.
Perhaps you have come today tired of trying to get God to work in your life. You have
tried to follow all sorts of rules. You have book after book on how to have a happy life. You
have stopped saying prayers because they do not seem to work. You are tired of the struggle,
worn out by the complexity, and deep down afraid that God is not there. Listen to Luke.
Luke speaks today for all who have been lost in a religious system. Let me first make
clear, though, that Luke is not saying you should not belong to a confessional church body. But if
you have been lost in the rules imposed on our behavior, the Christian bookstore teachings, the
politics of church, or the promise of some evangelist on TV, listen to Luke.
He points to something as important and central to religion as the temple. He says, to
understand what is happening at this crucifixion, think about worshiping where a huge curtain
separates the people from their God. When that curtain is ripped, the way of worship has
changed. God is no longer hidden, needing to be reached by the blood of sacrifice. He does not
need our religious activities, our efforts to find Him. He comes to us and forgives us by the death
of His Son. On the cross God opens the door to eternal forgiveness. The sacrifice of Jesus opens
God’s heart to you. Jesus suffers the punishment of sin that you might receive the love of God.
Do you still need directions? Luke points to creation. To understand what is happening at
the crucifixion you simply need to live in a world where the sun rises in the morning, makes its
way across the sky, and sets in the evening. But in the middle of this day the sun stops shining.
The way of the world has changed. The power of darkness has come close to Jesus and, for a
moment, creation bows its head and closes its eyes. There is night like no other when Jesus dies
for a fallen creation.
But then there will be a morning like no other – when Jesus rises and brings about a new
creation and a never-ending age. Jesus comes to you today, takes the wrath of God for you, that
you might awaken in a new creation. There, you will never faint or grow weary, for you Savior is
alive. Even the landmark of the sun tells of the significance of the crucifixion.
But for those who need words, Luke offers another landmark. As Luke tells the story,
there are many reactions to our Lord’s death. The crowds beat their breasts. The women stand
afar off. Joseph asks for Jesus’ body. Yet there is one strange reaction: the Roman centurion.
Seeing our Lord’s death he says, “Certainly this man was innocent.” It has the meaning that
Jesus was righteous. The centurion’s is the only voice between the crucifixion and resurrection.
While the lips of Jesus are silent in death, it is the centurion alone who praised God.
Praise is what happens when Jesus performs wonders and miracles. The shepherds saw
heavenly wonders, saw baby Jesus, and praised God. Funeral-goers at Nain praised Jesus for
raising a widow’s son. A leper and a blind man praised Jesus for their healing.
Now, when you would think wonders are over – Jesus is dead on a cross – Luke records a
word of praise. Why? Luke wants you to see a wonder beyond all wonders. God has made a
marvelous exchange. In exchange for your sin, He has given you His righteousness. In the place
of all sinners, He has punished a righteous man. Regardless of the complexity of your life, your
decisions and indecisions, or even the self-help books on the shelf, one thing remains certain: the
righteousness of Jesus saves you from sin. The cross is a place of praise. God looks at our lives,
sees our sins, and yet chooses to call us righteous for the sake of His Son. This is Jesus’ work,
obedience, love, and grace – not ours. It is fitting that we praise Jesus dying on the cross.
Without it we are lost and condemned.
Life is complex. Emotions, health, job markets, friends, and even churches change. It is
not all bad, but it is not all good. We try to balance every aspect of life, and find ourselves
failing. There do not appear to be easy answers. And then we falter. Sins and failures spring to
the fore. But even in our weaknesses, God remains a Savior bringing us salvation.
As long as we live and as long as we struggle, there is one thing that does not change.
Others can point to your sin, but you can point to your Savior. The heavens, the temple, and the
people proclaim that on the cross is the glory of God. God has made Golgotha a place of praise.
Today, God opens the kingdom of heaven. In Christ, He forgives your sin. Though our lives and
issues seem complex, God’s simple answer is the cross. It did its work because God was doing
His: saving you and giving you eternal life. Amen.