From Text to SermonFrom Text to Sermon________________________________________________________________________________

THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTEXTTHE IMPORTANCE OF CONTEXTBrian M. RapskeBrian M. Rapske

9:00 am – 10:15 am9:00 am – 10:15 am

Before we begin…Before we begin…

Though very important, Though very important, care to care to context alonecontext alone will not deliver will not deliver God’s truth to human heartsGod’s truth to human hearts

Understanding is ultimately Understanding is ultimately a a gracious work of God’s Holy gracious work of God’s Holy SpiritSpirit upon us as we responsibly upon us as we responsibly and carefully study the Bible.and carefully study the Bible.

CONTEXCONTEXT THE T THE KEYKEY

Luke 23:26-43 Luke 23:26-43 & with focus to & with focus to

the Jesus’ the Jesus’ conversation conversation with the 2with the 2ndnd

criminal on the criminal on the crosscross

World World of the of the AUTHAUTH

OROR

World World of the of the TEXTTEXT

World World of the of the READREAD

ERER

BEHINBEHINDD

WITHIWITHINN

BEFOBEFORERE

HISTORICHISTORICAL AL

CONTEXTCONTEXT

LITERARY LITERARY CONTEXTCONTEXT

PERSONAPERSONAL L

CONTEXTCONTEXT

I. HISTORICAL CONTEXT

The Ancient WorldThe Ancient World

““A text is the product of an author, and A text is the product of an author, and the author is a product of an agethe author is a product of an age.” —.” —Tate, Tate, Biblical InterpretationBiblical Interpretation 10 10

• The author The author writeswrites from his experience from his experience and knowledge of his worldand knowledge of his world

• He He assumesassumes his readers share that his readers share that worldworld

… … but that is not but that is not ourour world world

• The strategyThe strategy—slip on a pair of —slip on a pair of ancient sandals; walk through as ancient sandals; walk through as much of the author’s world as will much of the author’s world as will help us understandhelp us understand

• Ask history-focused questionsAsk history-focused questions: : chronology, archaeology, geography, chronology, archaeology, geography, culture, literature, society, political culture, literature, society, political institutionsinstitutions

• The BibleThe Bible— remember, it’s a — remember, it’s a collection of collection of ancientancient documents, documents, from an from an ancientancient world, having an world, having an ancientancient logic logic

The Gospel of Luke…The Gospel of Luke…• written to a high status Christianwritten to a high status Christian• a 2a 2ndnd generation document (AD 57— generation document (AD 57—

62?)62?)

Luke 23:26-43 …Luke 23:26-43 …• Passage Passage description of an execution description of an execution• Simon Simon subject to requisition (Matt subject to requisition (Matt

5:41)5:41)• Crucifixion Crucifixion nailed to a frame or tree; nailed to a frame or tree;

called the “slaves’ punishment”called the “slaves’ punishment”

Luke 23:26-43 cont’d.Luke 23:26-43 cont’d.• Crucifixion Crucifixion So far only one 20 yr. So far only one 20 yr.

old 1old 1stst century Jewish victim’s century Jewish victim’s crucified remains have been found; crucified remains have been found; however, thousands died this way however, thousands died this way throughout the Roman worldthroughout the Roman world

• The sign The sign the the titulus titulus specified the specified the charges charges

• The charge The charge Jesus = Messiah/King Jesus = Messiah/King

II. LITERARY CONTEXT

The Divinely The Divinely Given TextGiven Text

Literary type…Literary type…

• The Bible The Bible NOTNOT a collection of a collection of 66 “books” but rather a 66 “books” but rather a collection of collection of literary typesliterary types

The question to ask…The question to ask…“ “ What type of literature What type of literature is this is this and and how will this influencehow will this influence the the

way I read it?”way I read it?”

Luke is a Gospel…so what’s a Gospel?Luke is a Gospel…so what’s a Gospel?• Not biography or history Not biography or history but has but has

some of those aspectssome of those aspects• Little of Jesus’ early life Little of Jesus’ early life more of more of

Jesus’ ministry, death, and resurrectionJesus’ ministry, death, and resurrection• Reflects early Christian proclamationReflects early Christian proclamation• Presupposes Christian beliefs/vocab.Presupposes Christian beliefs/vocab.• Luke 1:4 Luke 1:4 confirms Theophilus in his confirms Theophilus in his

ChristianityChristianity• Luke 23 Luke 23 delivers deeply on sufferingdelivers deeply on suffering

How does this passage hold together? What How does this passage hold together? What is its structure?is its structure?

• V. 26V. 26 – Simon’s impressment– Simon’s impressment• Vv. 27-31 Vv. 27-31 – the crowd follows, women weep,– the crowd follows, women weep, Jesus Jesus

gives a prophetic wordgives a prophetic word• Vv. 32-34 Vv. 32-34 – crucifixion, – crucifixion, Jesus praysJesus prays, clothes , clothes

divideddivided• V. 35V. 35 – people watch and Jewish leaders mock– people watch and Jewish leaders mock• Vv. 36-37 Vv. 36-37 – soldiers mock– soldiers mock• V. 38V. 38 – notice of signboard above Jesus– notice of signboard above Jesus• Vv. 39-43Vv. 39-43 – 2– 2ndnd criminal rebukes 1 criminal rebukes 1stst, ,

confesses confesses Jesus, Jesus, Jesus gives a Jesus gives a great assurancegreat assurance

What key words will I be What key words will I be interested to explore further?interested to explore further?

• ““save” save” (23:25, 37, 39) and (23:25, 37, 39) and “remember” “remember” (23:42)(23:42)

• ““Christ” [a king] Christ” [a king] (23:2, 35, 39) (23:2, 35, 39) “King of the Jews [kingdom] “King of the Jews [kingdom] (23:3, 37, 38, 42)(23:3, 37, 38, 42)

• ““Paradise” Paradise” (23:43) (23:43)

What is the key instructional What is the key instructional focus? What is the ‘big idea’ in focus? What is the ‘big idea’ in the passage?the passage?

• Pursue the Pursue the overall thrust overall thrust and and persuasive logicpersuasive logic of your passage of your passage

• Luke 23 Luke 23 carries a powerful carries a powerful contrast between the many contrast between the many misperceptions of Jesus and one misperceptions of Jesus and one clear visionclear vision

III. PERSONAL CONTEXT

You and Your HearersYou and Your Hearers

“ “ We see things not as they are We see things not as they are but as but as we arewe are.”.”

• There is no privileged place of There is no privileged place of perfect objectivityperfect objectivity

• My personal context is not outside My personal context is not outside God’s view; but it’s not equatable to God’s view; but it’s not equatable to it eitherit either

Our Interest Our Interest appropriateappropriate application application• Application Application constrainedconstrained by intention by intention

encoded in the textencoded in the text• Within the above constraint there is Within the above constraint there is

creative freedomcreative freedom

What is the significance of Luke 23:26-What is the significance of Luke 23:26-43 for me and my hearers?43 for me and my hearers?

• If the “big idea” rests in the extremity If the “big idea” rests in the extremity of contrast between right and wrong of contrast between right and wrong perceptions of Jesus, a modern perceptions of Jesus, a modern question can be pressed upon question can be pressed upon believers today…believers today…

What do you see when you What do you see when you look at the man hanging on look at the man hanging on the cross?the cross?

A 20/20 Vision of

Jesus______________________________________________

Luke 23:39-43Luke 23:39-43

It’s great to be able

to see!

I used to have 20/20 vision,

and then…

Even after

eyesight fades, it’s still great to be able to see!

Luke 23:35-43in Context

Against all odds, God gives one of the least likely persons in the Gospel of Luke an amazingly clear vision of the true identity of Jesus.

I. Most People Were Blind (23:35-39)

• The People saw a tragedy

• The Jewish leaders scoffed

• The Roman Soldiers mocked

• The First Criminal railed

II. The 2II. The 2ndnd Criminal Had Clear Criminal Had Clear Vision (23:40-42)Vision (23:40-42)

• He He rebukedrebuked the other the other criminalcriminal

• He saw He saw his own guilthis own guilt and and Jesus’ Jesus’ innocenceinnocence

• He saw He saw his salvationhis salvation in Jesus in Jesus

““Jesus, Jesus, remember me remember me when you when you come into your come into your kingdom.”kingdom.”

“ “I tell you the I tell you the truth, today truth, today you will be you will be with me in with me in paradise.”paradise.”

What do you see as you What do you see as you look at the Man on the look at the Man on the

cross today?cross today?