In the 13th chapter of Luke, Luke writes about sin and punishment. In this passage Jesus asks, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans?3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. 4 Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did?”
Often, during this time of the year (Lent), as we make our journey to Jerusalem and the cross, we contemplate our sin. Some people will eliminate something for their lives to feel at least some of the pain that Jesus felt on the cross, and we assume that the crucifixion is God punishing Jesus for our sin.
Instead, I’d suggest that the cross is not about punishment but instead is about identification, solidarity and love.
Rather than imagine that God must punish someone – and that we’re just lucky Jesus was around to take that punishment – what if instead we recognize that God’s answer to sin isn’t punishment but instead is love.
What if we see in Jesus that God loves us enough to take on our lot and our lives fully, identifying with us completely?
If this is the case, then, in the cross we see just how far God is willing to go to be with us and for us, even to the point of suffering unjustly and dying the death of a criminal.
And in the resurrection we see that God’s solidarity and love is stronger than anything, even death itself.
So rather than see the cross as punishment for sin, we can look at the cross as God’s loving act of mercy and forgiveness by doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.
As we make our journey to the cross of forgiveness, may we see in Jesus love, mercy and forgiveness and may you find the peace that passes all understanding.
A blessed Lent to you all.
