Proper 29/C (11/20/2022): Ps. 47; Mal. 3:13-18; Col. 1:13-20; Luke 23:27-43.

Wood

“[I]f they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” (v. 31).

This is a parable of the Church and the Last Day. Jesus, on way to the cross was accompanied by weeping “Daughters of Jerusalem”. Pilate had declared Jesus innocent (Lk. 23:14; also, vv. 4, 15, 22, 41b); still the crowds insisted on his crucifixion (v. 21). Along the “Via Dolorosa”, the Way of Sorrows, the “Daughters”, representing the populous, were experiencing “buyer's remorse”.

Perplexed at sin’s implacability, Jesus exclaimed: “[I]f they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” The “green wood” is the Church’s time of God’s mercy for Christ’s sake; but when repentant faith is no more wrath’s “dry time” will arrive.

Concluding his earthly journey, the Son of Man’s parable grapples with the mystery of sin. Divinely omniscient, Jesus in his humanity marveled that man had chosen the way of death (Dt. 30:15-20), unworthy of God’s likeness.

God’s response to irrationality was to affirm his Son’s joinder with sinful men in their chosen way of death, to be crucified propitiation as source of forgiveness and cleansing to reveal God’s heart toward man. On the cross Jesus became God’s “Green Shoot”, new Life for those receiving God’s grace.

On the cross Jesus, Jesse’s branch, was abandoned by his associates, disciples, and by God. On account of sin Jesus became the “Crucified One”, the “Abomination of Desolation” as God’s judgment on sin. Forty years hence destruction would come on the “Daughters” and specifically to their high priest (Mt. 26:64); portent of the Last Day (Mk. 13:14; Lk.5:35, 17:22, 19:43); Jesus therefore tells the “Daughters” they should weep for themselves (Lk. 23:28).

Jesus, about to be cut-off from the “land of the living” (cf. Ps. 27:13), is source and substance of the Church’s “green wood”, inviting in the Resurrection sinners to repent and follow him as way of Life.

Before concluding this “last Sunday”, we join Jesus to ponder sin’s mystery; that Adam, a creature under Satan’s delusion might equal the wisdom of his Creator’s word. Adam’s desire for equality with God was gist plaguing the Colossae congregation; a heresy that elevated created beings, “thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities” and men claiming “wisdom” apart from God’s incarnate word.

Paul pushes back: “all things were created through Jesus and for him” (Col 1:16b, 17). Malachi, marked man’s conclusion, that God is unfair, allowing evil-doers to prosper. Men saw God’s mercy, patience, and grace inferior to the immediacy of man’s desire, as today.

Yet God is different, entirely “other” from his creatures; there will not only be consequence for Satan, Adam, and Israel’s rebellion; still, God provides a solution, a way of escape, for men who will be bound to his incarnate Son.

Today we celebrate that solution, “an eternal gospel” (Rev. 14:6) in the “Green Wood” of God with us. Jesus suffered violent men, intent on his destruction, deemed a crucified thief, who themselves would steal heaven’s gospel (Mt. 11:12). That God is “other” than his creation is manifest, committing his “Green Branch” to destruction at the hands of “violent men”.

New Israel, God in Christ, the one faithful Man was spliced to the world’s dry wood for salvation’s prayer, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Lk. 23:34). Until that moment, “ignorance of the law was no excuse” in heaven and earth. But Jesus pleads for the world and his persecutors; taking into himself, not only sin but our ignorance of God’s love.

Still, man’s attempt to destroy the “Green Wood” remains: mocking witnesses; false religious leaders, executioners, weeping “Daughters”, and thieves on either side of Jesus’ carcass, all proclaim Jesus’ body and blood “King of the Jews”.

The criminal on Jesus’ right was acute observer of circumstances, what lawyers call the “res gestae”. Jesus prayed for our absolution; Pilate and Herod’ declared him innocent; Rome posted his kingship; the mockery of self-righteous violent men all bought about this thief’s witness (23:41b) whose Absolution stood before God through the world’s one and only guilty man, the Man Jesus. For all others there is only a single sin, unbelief in God’s grace for Christ’s sake.

The thief on Jesus’ right discerned his sin apart from his atoning Creator on the cross, with nothing to offer God against his own destruction except his new found friendship with the “King of the Jews”, seeking a blessing, “remember me when you come into your kingdom” (v. 42).

Jesus responded, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (v. 43) affirming association with his Creator-King in death’s joining; the first sinner (v. 41a) to enter God’s new eon and reign; union through the “Green Wood’s” reconciliation of men to God.

“Christ, the visible form of the invisible God did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped” (Col. 1:15) rather he made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant in divinity and humanity (Phil. 2:6, 7).

But the criminal on Jesus’ right grasped what Jesus extended in his bloody baptism; absolution for a new likeness to be a son of God, bridging the gulf in the new creation. What Adam and sinful men covet, equality with God, we by Baptism into Jesus’ death are gifted a new nature toward our Creator in the way of Life. Amen.

pem.