Lenten Midweek Worship February 21, 2024
“He Was Numbered Among The Transgressors” Luke 22:24-38
Rev. John R. Larson Ascension Lutheran Church Littleton, Colorado
Have you ever watched a car wreck happen? It was a number of years ago when I was driving from Littleton on I-25 south toward Colorado Springs that I watched a crash happen right before my eyes. It was a snowy evening and I hadn’t quite gotten to Castle Rock and I observed a driver driving much faster than the speed limit, and much faster than the other drivers heading that direction, and most importantly, much faster than a snowy evening would warrant.
He was about 100 yards ahead of me. I was in the second to the right lane and he was in the fast lane, two lanes to my left. In an instant he hit a patch of ice, or something slick, and he lost control of his car. He slid to his right and now his car was going sideways. He hit another car and a piece of metal from that car slid across the highway. Amazingly, maybe miraculously, those two cars were able to get over to the right shoulder and I don’t think anyone else was involved in the accident. If I was sleeping prior to that accident, I now was wide awake.
What is written in Luke 22 is like watching a wreck about to happen. You see it and you can’t do anything about it. “A dispute arose among them (the disciples) as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.’” (Luke 22:24-27)
They should have known better, like that driver on I-25. But they didn’t. They were arrogant. They were selfish. They wanted to be the one who ruled over the others. These 12 had been together for three years. They had been with Jesus for three years and this is how these grown men acted. They argued about who was the greatest among the Twelve. Pitiful.
Remember this was at the Passover meal. This was the evening when Jesus, their Lord and Master, had washed their feet. And they had one concern – their position and their power.
There was another wreck coming and Jesus wanted to warn Simon Peter about it. Jesus looked at Simon Peter and said, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31-32)
Jesus knew the wreck was coming. But Simon Peter insisted that no accident was ahead for him. “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” (Luke 22:33) Peter said, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” (Matthew 26:33) “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” (Matthew 26:35)
But Jesus knew different. “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.” (Luke 22:34) Peter had gotten it wrong before. Jesus had told them of His plan for redemption. He was going to go to Jerusalem and He would suffer much and be killed and then rise again on the third day. But Peter got into the face of Jesus. “Never Lord!! This will never happen to you.” (See Matthew 16:21-23)
The wreck was coming and Jesus saw it. All the apostles would be challenged to be the servant and not the lord. Peter would not just fall but he would fall apart.
I wonder how many wrecks you and I have been in? Usually wrecks aren’t single person accidents. They hurt so many others. Classmates. Co-workers. Family. Spouse. Kids. Former friends.
Jesus knew about the wreck. He saw it coming. He knew that the time to help those who didn’t know what lay ahead of them was that day and the next day – Good Friday – and on Easter morning. In our reading from Luke 22 Jesus says, “It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.” (Verse 37) As we watch the wreck unfolding before our eyes, we see God’s plan unfolding, and we see God using evil to move His plan forward toward good.
Jesus puts lives back together. He would put the lives of Peter and the other apostles back together again. Peter didn’t think he’d ever speak against Jesus. He knew that he couldn’t ever deny that he knew and followed and loved Jesus. But he fell flat on his face. Jesus, who works with people who are involved in terrible choices and decisions and sins in their lives, told Peter, “And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” In John 21, following the promised resurrection of Jesus, Jesus tells Peter how he is going to strengthen his brothers – “Peter, feed my lambs.” “Peter, take care of my sheep.” (See John 21:15-17)
Jesus didn’t give up on the Twelve in their arrogance. He didn’t give up on Peter in his pride and self-sufficiency. Jesus was numbered with the transgressors – that is – He suffered for their sins. And then Jesus came to His own and gave them the Holy Spirit so their life would be one of witness and change and service and love.
He hasn’t given up on me or you, either. He is ever faithful to us. Today, yesterday, tomorrow.
If at any time you have witnessed an accident, after the accident you find yourself wide awake. You might even stay awake for hours after the accident. If on that evening I was starting to feel sleepy on I-25 heading toward Colorado Springs that accident woke me up. I was alert and probably a better driver than just a few minutes before that accident.
During Lent we are becoming more alert, more awake. We see our Lord Jesus clearly, we turn to Him in faith, and delight in serving Him and truly falling in love with Him and others. Amen!!
(The outline and many of the thoughts and words for this sermon come from the Lenten sermon series titled, “You Meant It For Evil, But God Meant It For Good.” It was written by Dr. Jeffrey Gibbs and published by Concordia Seminary Press in 2022.)
