John 6 verses 25-35 The Bread of Life

When I was doing the research for this homily, I came across a story that I think fits in quite well with this morning's Gospel reading, so I'd like to share it with you. It might also serve as a warning to those of us who preach sermons!

An elderly minister was searching in his closet for his collar one Sunday morning before church. In the back of the closet he found a box with three eggs and a stack of $1 bills. He asked his wife if she knew anything about the box. She said that she did, and in fact she had hidden it there for their entire 30 year marriage. The minister asked "Why". She replied, "Every time I heard you preach a bad sermon, I put an egg in the box". The minister felt that 3 bad sermons in 30 years wasn't anything to feel bad about, so he asked her about the stack of money. She replied, "Every time I got a dozen eggs, I sold them to the neighbours for $1 ".

Jesus said, "I am the Bread of Life". Does that phrase cause images of cannibalism to run through your mind? It might.......if you are a person who, like most fundamentalist preachers, takes a literal interpretation of what the Bible says. However, as a minister I know once said, you can't take the Bible literally. You have to remember the context of the times during which the books of the Bible were written.

Although the Jews took the phrase "bread of life" literally, it actually refers to the spiritual food offered by Christ. By eating the spiritual food, we will have eternal life because we gain faith through the spiritual food He offers. This spiritual food is offered through Christ's human nature, which He gave up on the Cross to pay the price for the sins of the world. Man needs to receive the Grace and Spirit of Christ in order to ensure salvation. Spiritual happiness on earth and in heaven are expressed by eating and drinking. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:13 that those who partake of the Holy Spirit are made to drink into (or of) the Holy Spirit. Christ is the Living Water which sustains all of us spiritually. If we drink that water, we will never be thirsty spiritually.

There is an interesting comparison that can be made here to the Holy Eucharist. The physical food of bread and wine represents the spiritual food that Christ offers when we have faith in Him, especially when we remember the words of the Prayer After Communion as printed in the Book of Common Prayer-"...the spiritual food of the most precious body and blood of thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, assuring us thereby of thy favour and goodness towards us". By consuming the bread and wine, we are in effect partaking of His divine nature, so therefore we live in Him and He lives in us. When we eat Him and feed on Him and His words, we enjoy spiritual freedom.

When we find that God really cares about freedom, we are then free to care about the freedom of others. The love of God satisfies our hunger and thirst for love when we have faith in Him. When that hunger and thirst are satisfied, we begin to experience a glorious love for others, and we can then follow the Golden Rule-"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". When we partake of the spiritual food in faith, we can then go out and do our part to fulfill the Great Commission-"Go forth into the world and make disciples of all the nations". We fulfill this role by sharing God's love in practical ways such as volunteering in our church or community, or by helping the less fortunate as we do when we donate non-perishable items to the local food bank. When we are satisfied with God's love, we have assurance of eternal life, and when we eat the spiritual food, we are energized and charged by the love of God.

The phrase "bread of life" is an echo of the phrase " the living God", a reflection of Christ's divinity. There is support here for self-giving like Christ gave His life for us, but the life He offered for us on the Cross can only come from God. God is love, so the spiritual food God wants to give is the Love of God. Jesus is the love of God made visible. Like John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son...". To ensure eternal life, we must do three things:

• Continue to feed off of His body-that is, to keep partaking of the spiritual food He offers

• Continue to believe

• Keep His word

By doing these three things, we continue to do His will.

We continue to feed off of His body by regular attendance at worship services, especially when the Eucharist is not celebrated. We can't expect to attend church only a few times in our lives and expect that the small amount of spiritual food we receive at these times to sustain us all the time. Just as we need to partake of physical food on a regular basis in order to live, we must partake of spiritual food on a regular basis in order to live spiritually. That is why many of us attend church services on a regular basis. Those who attend church only for weddings, funerals, baptisms, Christmas or Easter only receive a small amount of spiritual food-an amount so small that spiritual life dies. On the other hand, those of us who attend church on a regular basis and worship in deep and sincere faith get so much spiritual food that we end up at a special place at the head table of God's Holy Feast.

Participation in the Lord's Supper is not absolutely necessary for eternal life. That is why we have services such as Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer. If we turn away from His teachings, especially by not attending church when Eucharist is not celebrated, or when the service is not from the Book of Common Prayer, or if the service is not from the Book of Alternative Services, we exhibit a lack of saving faith. The Eucharist is only part of our expression of faith just like the Last Supper was only part of the expression of the love Christ had for people and His disciples when he walked on the face of the earth. While the Eucharist is an important part of the spiritual food God offers, He also offers spiritual food at times when we celebrate Morning Prayer or Evening Prayer. The spiritual food offered through lay celebrants is just as important as the spiritual food offered through the priest and the Sacraments. Spiritual food is more than just the rites of the Eucharist. It is also offered through the prayers in all church services and the homily offered by the celebrant. Al we have to do receive the spiritual food is to believe in faith, and it will be offered to us in plenteousness.

I recently read a report by the African Institute for Contemporary Mission and Research. One of the topics in the report that surprised me is that although Africa has a wealth of natural resources, many of its people are dying as a result of disease and hunger caused by conflicts over the poor management of these resources. This famine prevents them from enjoying the banquet of God's Kingdom. Just like these people are suffering from both a physical AND a spiritual famine, we here in the Western world are experiencing a spiritual famine caused by declining church attendance. As I mentioned earlier, we need to continually partake of God's spiritual nourishment on a regular basis.

You might recall the parable of the woman at the well-the woman who had five husbands and was living in a common-law relationship with another man. She came to that well seeking the water that satisfied the physical thirst, but she found the water that quenches the spiritual thirst-namely, faith in Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Like many of us today, she was looking for something to satisfy physical needs, but unlike many people today, she found something that can satisfy our true spiritual thirst-namely, faith. As it says in Psalm 107:9 (New Living Translation), " He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things".

Have you ever been so thirsty that no matter how much you drink, you're still thirsty? I certainly know the feeling, and it makes me appreciate how long distance runners must feel especially on a warm day. There is a story about a long distance runner who foolishly decided to prove his stamina by running a race without drinking any water during the race. His foolishness resulted in permanent damage to his health. Just as the runner foolishly ignored his physical thirst, it is foolish for us to ignore our spiritual thirst. We need spiritual vigor in our lives to sustain us in faith, and the only way spiritual vigor can be sustained is for us to partake of the spiritual water God offers us on a regular basis.

God offers this spiritual food and water when we come to Him in faith by prayer. Prayer in faith is like the umbilical cord that attaches an unborn child to its mother. It allows us to draw nourishment from a source that we, like an unborn child, can't understand-namely, God our Heavenly Father. His love and nourishment so overwhelm us that we can't take it all in at once. You may recall the parable of the loaves and fish, especially the part where the disciples gathered up enough leftovers to fill twelve baskets. The leftovers represent the parts of God's spiritual food that we can't absorb all at once. That is why we need to keep partaking of the spiritual food He offers.

When we partake of the living bread and water, we are filled with power and strength, just like we are filled with power and strength when we partake of physical food. This power gives us the strength, wisdom and courage to walk with God in faith. The apostle Paul wrote, "I can do all things in Christ which strengthen me". When we have faith in God and partake of His spiritual nourishment, nothing is impossible for us!

There is an old adage that many computer users are familiar with-"garbage in, garbage out". It means that if we put garbage or wrong data into a computer, we will get garbage as a result. The same truth applies to the nourishment we receive. If we eat physical food that is not nourishing, our health will eventually suffer. If we put garbage into our soul by not partaking of God's Holy Nourishment, our spiritual health will suffer. Someone also said once that "A mind is a terrible thing to waste". That's true, especially if we foil our mind and soul with garbage. If we as believers focus our minds on what we want to mentally chew on, we will draw closer to God in faith, and be assured of both eternal life and God's holy blessings.

We must be careful however not to take God's blessings for granted. We need to keep relishing and noticing these blessings by continually partaking of His spiritual food. In Revelation 3:20, Jesus himself said, "If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me". Most important; however, is the need to be thankful for the spiritual food and the blessings it brings. We must always allow these blessings to draw us closer to God in faith, hope and love.

Mark 1:14-20 Answering God's Call

In Mark 1:14-20, we hear the story of the start of Jesus’ earthly ministry. He is beginning his ministry just as John the Baptist is ending his ministry. Both of them called on the people to repent. The main difference between both ministries is that while John the Baptist was a one man show, Jesus built a team. Jesus knew that he would not be able to do all of the work himself, so he went out and recruited his disciples. One would think that Jesus would have chosen educated people, perhaps even some of the religious leaders of his day, but Jesus chose ordinary, common people. Some might think his choice was unwise, but Jesus, like God, knew what he was doing.

God calls ordinary people like you and me to be the church, the body of Christ in the world today. God doesn’t necessarily choose those who are particularly gifted or capable or who are made of the “right stuff”. Jesus chose them because he saw qualities that were needed for successful discipleship:

       

1.      Diligence. Fishermen are always busy doing something. God needs people who are not afraid to work.

2.      Patience. It takes time to find a good school of fish, and it takes time and patience to win others to Christ. 

3.      Experience. Fishermen have an instinct for going to the right place and dropping their nets at the right time. Winning souls demands skills too.

4.      Perseverance. Fishermen have to go from place to place until fish are found. God wants people who won’t give up when things get tough. Fishermen have to work together, and God’s work demands cooperation.

5.      Courage. Fishermen often face danger from storms and other mishaps. It takes courage to reach out of our comfort zone and touch lives in the name of Jesus.

6.      Humility. A good fisherman keeps himself out of sight as much as possible. A good soul winner keeps himself out of the picture as much as possible as well.

7.      Faith. Fishermen cannot see the fish and are not sure their nets will enclose them. They have to have faith and trust in their fishing gear. Soul-winning requires faith and alertness too, or we will fail.

God calls the unlikely and he says, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men”. Discipleship involves taking a leap of faith into the unknown while at the same time trusting Jesus to lead us to the right destination. Jesus took the strengths and weaknesses of the first disciples and taught them how to be his servants working in his power. He does the same thing for us today. He takes our strengths and weaknesses and uses them to do his work in our world. We are Christ’s eyes, ears, hands and legs. Only then do we become really useful to our fellow man.

Mark’s Gospel captures the sense of urgency that Paul conveyed to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 7:29-31. Jesus was operating under a sense of urgency. He had too much to do and not enough time to do it. He had a sense of immediacy. He had an immediate message that required an immediate response because the message was so life-changing and so wonderful that the people who heard it could be immediately moved to repent, respond and react. That was the reason why the disciples answered his call without hesitation.

What response will we make to Jesus when he enters our lives and invites us to “repent and believe”? He announces a call and invites us to answer with a new way of thinking and acting. He doesn’t spell out in detail what he expects of us. He doesn’t give us a rule book explaining how we are to behave. Instead, he comes and announces a new time and invites us to follow and trust him. We don’t have a roadmap into the future, but we follow Jesus who leads us there.

We must answer the call right away when he calls us. Only then will we be enriched spiritually. Jesus will teach us just like he taught the disciples, and just like the disciples in turn taught the people. The response will be immediate when we know by faith that Jesus’ death on the cross has conquered our sins and defeated Satan. We belong to Jesus because he sought us out, just like he sought out the first disciples. We are to spread the Good News that Christ loves people-not just deacons and elders, not just choir members, and not just Sunday school teachers. He loves all people, and we are called to love people like noisy neighbours, beggars on the street, or the homeless alcoholic. We are called to make Christ’s love known to them, and the only way to do that is to love those people as Jesus does.

We are the same as the disciples. We are all the same no matter our education or ability or experience or enthusiasm. We remain sinners who need to repent and hear the Good News of acceptance and forgiveness in Jesus Christ. We need to hear over and over again about God’s love for us in Jesus’ life and death and resurrection. We need to be reminded that we are called to repent and believe and follow. Repentance loosens our hold on things of this world and tightens our grip on the things of God’s world. It involves embracing the source of life itself.

Bibliography

1.      Charles Spurgeon’s Evening Devotional. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com

2.      Matthew Glowacki, “Following Him”. Retrieved from www.lhm.org/dailydevotionsprt.asp?date=20100716

3.      Mark D. Roberts, “Follow Me!” Retrieved from www.TheHighCalling.org

4.      Pastor John Barnett, “Are You Fishing for Eternal Souls?” Retrieved from www.dtbm.org

5.      Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions, 3^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (B), January 23, 2000”. Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org

6.      Charles Spurgeon, “Fishers Follow Him”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com

7.      Exegesis for Mark 1:14-20. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com

8.      The Rev. Beth Quick, “Immediately”. Retrieved from www.bethquick.com/sermon1-22--6.htm

9.      The Rev. Dr. J. Bennett Gareas, UMC, “Follow, Follow, Follow”. Retrieved from www.day1.org/529_follow_follow_follow.print

10.  Dr. Philip W. McLarty, “Fishers of Men”. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com

11.  The Rev. Dr. James D. Kegel, “The Good News of God”. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com

12.  John Shearman’s Lectionary Resource, Year B, Third Sunday after Epiphany. Retrieved from www.lectionary,seemslikegod.org/archives/year-b-third-sunday-after-epiphany

13.  Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions, 3^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (B), January 22, 2012”. Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org

14.  ESV Study Bible. Part of Lessonmaker Bible Software package

15.  Wycliffe Bible Commentary. Part of Lessonmaker Bible Software package

John 3:1-17 No Greater Love

A 14^th century monk announced to the people of his village that he was going to preach the greatest sermon ever preached on the love of God. He urged everyone to attend. At the appropriate hour, the cathedral filed with young and old alike. Throughout the service, everyone anticipated the monk’s great discourse. However, when it was time for his sermon, the monk did not enter the pulpit. Instead, he went to the candelabra, drew a long burning candle from its stand, and walked to the highest part of the altar where there hung a sculptured form of Christ nailed to the cross.

The monk silently lifted the candle until the glow of its flame rested just below one of Christ’s pierced hands. He held the candle there with his back to the congregation. Then, shifting his weight, he moved the candle below Jesus’ other pierced hand. Slowly he moved the candle to Christ’s side where the spear had pierced it. Finally, the monk dropped to his knees in prayer, holding the glimmering light so that the glow fell on Christ’s nail-pierced feet.

After a moment, the monk stood up and turned toward the people. Holding the candle before him so that the people could see the gentle tears on his face, he said, “My beloved people---this is my sermon on the love of God for you.” And he dismissed them with a benediction!

John 3:1-17 is one of the most famous of all the Bible passages, and includes what is perhaps the most-quoted Bible verse. It all started at night when Nicodemus came to see Jesus. Nicodemus makes three appearances in John’s Gospel, and by the third time we see that the seed of truth Jesus planted in his heart had finally taken root. Although Jesus had been condemned by Nicodemus’ colleagues, it no longer made any difference to Nicodemus. He knew Jesus was the true Messiah-the hope of Israel and the world. But that’s in his future. To understand how this happened to him, and how it can happen to us, we need to step back and focus on how Jesus planted the seed of truth into Nicodemus’ heart.

Why did Jesus meet Nicodemus at night? Was it because Nicodemus had a busy schedule? Was it because the Pharisees often debated theology at night? Was it the way Nicodemus operated? The real reason was because of the feat of the consequences if the Pharisees found out that Nicodemus was talking to Jesus. After all, Jesus and the Pharisees did not see “eye to eye” regarding theology or the correct interpretation of the Law.

As a Pharisee, Nicodemus belonged to the most prominent religious group in Israel, and was a highly-respected teacher. He observed all the laws of cleanliness and piety, yet Jesus told him that it’s not enough for one to be physically clean-water is not enough for true purification. Rather, a person’s nature also needs to be cleansed-or sanctified-by the presence of the Holy Spirit.  

Background and upbringing are never enough to give anyone an extra push to get into heaven. A good example of this is Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham. Raised in the spiritual greenhouse of the Graham home, Franklin went through the right motions: baptism, regular church attendance, and exposure to a steady diet of the gospel. But deep inside, Franklin knew he was hollow.

One evening Billy Graham confronted him. “Your mother and I sense that you’re struggling in your heart, Franklin. You need to face the truth; you need to make your own decision. Until you do, you won’t have peace”. Franklin was so upset by these words that he ran from the truth. He ran to several Middle Eastern countries trying to fill his life without committing to Christ.

One night in Jerusalem-the very place where Jesus had his conversation with Nicodemus-Franklin decided Jesus was right. He prayed, received him into his life, and was born again. Now, he was more than the son of Billy and Ruth Graham. He was a child of the living God. (In fact, Franklin often refers to the story of Nicodemus when he issues his altar call during his festivals).

What does Jesus mean by being “born again?” The new birth is an instantaneous spiritual experience, which occurs when the Holy Spirit leads a person to understand what Jesus Christ did on the cross to provide forgiveness for their sins. We are born again the moment we accept that Jesus Christ is the only one who can redeem us and we confess him as our Saviour and Lord. When we are born of the spirit, we get a new father and a new nature. We don’t have to walk in the likeness of our earthly father any more. We can walk in God’s likeness and become more like him every day.  

Sometimes our idea of heaven is distorted because we think of it in earthly terms. Yet heaven is a place for those who love the Lord-where everything revolves around his majesty, power and glory. Every person in heaven will praise and worship him. If someone refuses to honour and serve him on earth, they won’t like heaven. In fact, they will feel completely out of place.

Jesus refers to the account in Numbers chapter 21. The people of Israel faithlessly complained against the Lord, and he sent poisonous serpents among them. Many of the people died. When the people finally repented, God told Moses to set a serpent on a staff so that everyone who looked at it would live. In the same way, those who face the penalty of death for their sins can look upon Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and receive eternal life.

What does it mean to believe in Jesus? Does it mean that intellectually we agree with the fact that he was born in Bethlehem and that he was a great teacher? Yes, but there’s even more to it than that. To have faith in Jesus Christ means believing that he is God, and that fulfills  the purpose of John’s Gospel (to prove that Jesus is the mind of God in human form). It also means believing that he saves us by his death and resurrection. If we continue to believe that we can earn our salvation, we have never been truly born again. However, when we truly place our faith in him, we receive his gift of eternal life.

When Jesus says that all judgment has been committed to him, he assures us that he did not come to earth to judge us, but to save us. What that means is that we are already forgiven. When we place our faith in Jesus, we are accepting that he has already fully and successfully taken our punishment upon himself. But those who reject Jesus also reject his provision and must bear the full penalty for their sins.  

I mentioned earlier that by the time of Jesus’ crucifixion, Nicodemus had accepted Jesus as the Messiah. How do we know he arrived at this decision? Well, it was the custom of the Romans to take the bodies of those who had been crucified and throw them on the city’s trash heap. Yet after Christ’s body was removed from the cross, Joseph of Arimathea claimed his body, prepared it for burial, and placed it in a new tomb. Nicodemus was there. He brought myrrh and aloes and spices and assisted in Christ’s burial. These spices were supposed to be saved for Nicodemus’ own burial, but he gave them to Jesus as an offering of love and devotion. John 19:39 tells us that these spices weighed about 100 pounds, which was enough for a great king. Nicodemus acknowledged that Jesus is the Son of God and treated him with great respect. We also know that according to the Law of Moses, no one could touch a dead body because that would make him unclean. That didn’t matter to Nicodemus because he knew that in his eternal life, he was completely unblemished.

We can learn from Nicodemus’ example. Jesus is always there for us, night or day. In his perfect timing, he will answer our most confounding questions. Regardless of our status, nothing is more important than the life of Christ within us. Finally, we learn that no matter how great our sacrifice, it can never compare to Christ’s sacrifice for us.  

Jesus came into the world-fully God and fully man. He perfectly obeyed God’s law and perfectly fulfilled God’s will for his life. He died in our place and as our substitute, paying for our sins. He rose from the dead on the third day and ascended into heaven. He will return one day to establish his kingdom on earth. In the meantime, we are commissioned to preach the gospel to all people everywhere. There’s no one alive who doesn’t respond to the power of love. Letting go of someone you love is never easy, but it is necessary for them to grow into mature adults. Those of you who are parents know how difficult this can be.  That’s what faith teaches and Christ demonstrates.

God takes us at any time. It doesn’t matter is we come to Christ as young people or on our deathbeds or at any other point in time. He loves us regardless of our feelings or what we have done or have failed to do-or what anyone has done to us. Reborn people humbly value others above themselves, are quick to forgive, patient, kind, gentle, faithful and good, self-controlled, have a peace that passes all understanding, and have an infectious joy and desire to share the good news of salvation.

Jesus was lifted up in shame before the world. But while the people of Moses’ time only had glimpses of God’s future plans to send Jesus to die on the cross, we today are blessed to be able to look back at that remarkable act of love. We must remember what it was like before Jesus came into our lives with his presence and power. We must never forget. We must never lose sight of where we were when he came and just how far he has brought us.

                                                                  Bibliography

1.      Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NASV

2.      Exegesis for John 1:1-17. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com

3.      Dr. Randy L. Hyde, “The Gospel at Night”. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com

4.      Robert H. Schuller, “Jesus is Lord, Part III”. Retrieved from www.hourofpower.cc

5.      Dr. Ray Pritchard, “Share the Gospel? What Gospel?” Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com

6.      Bishop E. Earl Jenkins, “Needed: A New Birth”. Retrieved from www.streamingfaith.com

7.      Robert H. Schuller, “The Love of God”. Retrieved from www.hourofpower.cc

8.      Mary Southerland, “Satan’s Plan”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com

9.  Dr. Howard Sala, “The Tremendous Power of Love”. Retrieved from www.guidelines.org

10.  Robert H. Schuller, “Love that Liberates”. Retrieved from www.hourofpower.cc

11.  Max Lucado, “3:16”. Retrieved from www.hourofpower.cc

12.  Richard Inness, “Will God Ever Reject Me?” Retrieved from www.actsweb,org

13.  Gerritt J. Bomhof, “Wind”. Retrieved from www.thisistoday.net

14.  Skip Heitzig, “Holy Edge”. Retrieved from www.christianitytoday.com

15.  Neil Anderson, “In Christ”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com

16.  Dr. Jack Graham, “Daily Embracing the Remarkable Gift of Eternal Life”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com

17.  Steve Preston, “Is That God?” Retrieved from www.freegroups.net/groups/bibletalk

Luke 2:22-40 Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

Have you ever heard of the old saying, “Good things come to those who wait”? If so, the story of Simeon, Anna and the baby Jesus in the temple in Lune 2:22-40 is a good example. The coming of Christ involved all manner of waiting on God. A young maiden, a dying man and an old widow all model hearts yielded to God.

The tale of Simeon and Anna is a tale of grace. Anna’s name means “grace”, an early reminder by Luke that his gospel is a story of God’s free gift of self to us through Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Simeon and Anna are recognized and graced by God. That is why the aged Simeon, over a long period of waiting and from the numerous children brought to the temple recognized God’s salvation in Christ.

Simeon and Anna waited for years for the coming of the Messiah. In Simeon’s case, the centre of his joy was the privilege of being God’s servant, and in return, God let him see the salvation of the world as it dawned. Simeon saw the baby Jesus as the fulfillment of all the hopes and dreams of the Jewish people throughout the years. In the Old Testament, God promised Moses that a prophet would come who would be unlike any other prophet. God promised David a son who would reign forever. God told Isaiah that a son would be born of a virgin and he would be called Emmanuel-God with us. The Prophet Micah predicted that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.

Anna was an eighty-year-old widow who stayed close to the temple and served God through fasting and praying. In return, God blessed her by allowing her to see the Saviour of the world as a tiny, newborn baby. God fulfilled the promise he made to Simeon that he would not die before he saw the Messiah. When God fulfilled that promise, Simeon uttered the words that are part of the funeral liturgy in the Anglican Church-the Song of Simeon, also known as the Nunc Dimittis-“O Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which hath been since the world began”.

Simeon and Anna are symbolic and representative figures. The world has never been without people like them, people with a forward look in whom there burned a great hope, people on tiptoe, the flame of freedom in their souls, the light of knowledge in their eyes, living in hope and expectation that a great day was coming when wrong would be righted, when justice would be done, when God would reveal his arm and bring salvation to mankind. One night over two thousand years ago, the Word became flesh in a baby born in Bethlehem. One day, it will become flesh again when Christ returns to set up his kingdom here on earth.

Simeon also told Mary of the suffering and death Jesus would have to endure for all of his people. Most people thought of the redemption of Jerusalem and God’s people in terms of freedom from Roman rule, but some had a vision of an even greater redemption-a vision of spiritual renewal. God’s salvation is for all of us, but not all of us will accept it, just like some people did not accept Christ and his teachings and salvation. Those who reject Christ are already condemned.

God’s salvation doesn’t mean that we will never suffer troubles, illness, rejection or death. It happened to Jesus. It happened to Mary. It will happen to us, but if we endure hardships with faith, we will have a great future. It takes faith to know a blessing from God. It is the joy of celebrating God’s goodness in the midst of our chaotic, suffering world.

As life passes us by, how do we grow old in such a way to end well and finish awaiting Christ’s message, “Well done, good and faithful servant”? Since many of us will end our earthly pilgrimage alone with our spouse preceding us, how will we finish when we will be alone and old for some of those years? We are never too old, weak or sick to make a difference. Our attitude and behaviour will make a difference. Like Anna, God will guide us to share the story of Jesus with everyone we meet.

We have also been  told of the coming Christ. Like Simeon and Anna, we are heirs of a promise. We are prompted by the same Spirit. We long to see the same face. To do so successfully, we must wait forwardly, patiently and vigilantly. When we look at Jesus’ face, we will know that it is time for us to repent and come home to our heavenly Father, just like Simeon knew it was time for him to go to his heavenly home when he saw the face of the baby Jesus.

We have just come through the seasons of Advent and Christmas, and during those seasons we, like Simeon and Anna, had to wait and prepare for the coming of the Messiah. God works in a time zone where a day is as a thousand years. For those who have walked the long road of faith, who have held the long cord of life in their hands and felt all of its frays and burrs, but also found it very sturdy, for those who have waited on the Lord while holding on for their lives, they have received the reward of joy.

When our dreams don’t come true in a day, we, like Simeon and Anna, need to keep in mind that God is still at work. He is still wrapping the package. He is still preparing the gift to fit our needs. We need to pray, not just for the gift, but also for patience to wait for God’s unveiling. As we practice faith, hope, attentiveness, submission and patience, we see the Christ child.

Like Simeon, our eyes have seen God’s salvation. When we receive the bread and wine during Holy Communion, we are holding Christ’s very body and blood, which was nailed to the cross and poured out for our forgiveness. We have seen it with our own eyes and felt it with our own hands and on our tongues. Having been saved, we glorify God and depart in peace to share Christ’s salvation throughout the world.

Bibliography

1.      Stanley, Charles F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NASB ( Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers: 2009)

2.      “Jesus: The Consolation of Israel”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com

3.      Pastor Bob Coy, “Anna”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com

4.      Exegesis for Luke 2:22-40. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com

5.      Pastor John Barnett, “Simeon and Anna: Single-Hearted Devotion”. Retrieved from www.dtbm.org

6.      Phil Ware, “Heartlight Daily Verse”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com

7.      Max Lucado, “Waiting Forwardly”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com

8.      Jill Carattini, “Remember Me”. Retrieved from www.rzim.org/Slice

9.      Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions: Feast of the Holy Family”. Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org.

10.  David Timms, “Sacred Waiting”. Retrieved from www.ChristianityToday.com/global/printer.html?/moi/2011/006.december/22.22.html

11.  Jamieson-Fawcett-Brown Bible Commentary. Part of Lessonmaker Bible software package.

12.  Matthew Henry Concise Commentary. Part of Lessonmaker Bible software package.

13.  Wycliffe Bible Commentary. Part of Lessonmaker Bible software package.

14.  ESV Study Bible. Part of Lessonmaker Bible software package.

15.  MacArthur, John: MacArthur Study Bible, NASB (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006;2008)

16.  Larson, Bruce; Ogilvie, Lloyd J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 26: Luke(Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc., 1983)

17.  The Rev. Dr. Ozzie E. Smith. Jr. “A Sight for Certain Eyes”. Retrieved from www.day1.org/1125-sight_for_certain_eyes.print

18.  The Rev. Beth Quick, Sermon 12-29-02. Retrieved from www.bethquick.com/sermon12-29-02.htm

19.  The Rev. Dr. William K. Quick, “Seeing and Believing”. Retrieved from www.day1.org/702-seeing_and_believing.print.

Mark 10 verses13-16 God's Cleaning Agent

I'm going to take you on a short walk down memory lane. Some of you may have heard of a singer/songwriter from the 1970s by the name of Ray Stevens. He was famous for writing and recording comedy songs such as "Bridget the Midget", "Ahab the Arab", "The Streak" and many others. He did record a few serious songs, the most famous of which was "Everything is Beautiful". That particular song starts with a group of children singing words that tie in nicely with the topic of my homily tonight. The verse goes something like this:

Jesus loves the little children

All little children of the world

Red and yellow, black and white

They are precious in His sight

Jesus loves the little children of the world.

In Mark 10:13-16, the disciples try to prevent the children from coming to Jesus to receive his blessing. In his stern rebuke, Jesus reminds the disciples that the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Does this mean that the kingdom belongs to children, or does it mean that the Kingdom belongs to those who are LIKE children? I believe it's the latter.

So what does it mean to receive the Kingdom like a little child? There is an apparent contradiction that can best be handled by those who are like children. God is all-powerful, perfect and hates sin, but at the same time He is good, free and grace, and He loves us. Adults often have a hard time accepting this. They try to make Him politically correct, middle class, sensible and safe---but we all know that Jesus is none of these. Those who approach Jesus like a child accept him for who He is, not what they want Him to be. When Jesus says, "Come to me and receive...", children come running, wanting more. Adults, on the other hand, say, "What's the catch?" Those in spiritual poverty are the ones who have figured out that they are the ones who will be given the Kingdom of heaven.

So how do we become like children? We become like children through the sacraments of baptism and Communion. The water of baptism washes away the old life that is full of doubt, evil, etc. and cleanses us. Christ's "blood" gives us a regular spiritual cleansing that we need and get through the Eucharist. Baptism and the Eucharist represent a new beginning and a new life. Life starts with childhood-spiritually and physically. Both physical and spiritual children are naïve, full of wonder and trust. What can be more moving than a small child holding out their hands to you in complete trust you can pick them up? What can be more humbling than the way they ask you for something with a simple belief you can do it, or provide it, just like Jesus can?

In 1 Corinthians 13:11-13, Paul makes it clear that as we grow and mature, we put away childish things. We don't stop being childlike in the sense Jesus talks about---trusting, humble, willing to follow His commands. We stop throwing tantrums when we don't get our own way. We stop trying to "be boss" in every situation, recognizing that our knowledge is partial and that only God deserves to be in control.

The children were brought to Jesus by their parents because they were helpless. They couldn't do it on their own. Spiritual children are the same way. We need people to bring us to Jesus by being a Christ-like friend, by sharing what it means to follow Jesus and by carrying thanks to Jesus in prayer. We are challenged to bring people to Jesus so they can become spiritual children.

There is a story of a little girl whose mother had given birth to a baby boy. The little girl asked her parents to leave her alone with the new baby. They worried that she might want to hit or shake him, so they said no. Over time though, since she wasn't showing signs of jealousy, they changes their minds and decided to let her have her private conference with the baby. The little girl went into the baby's room and shut the door, but it opened a crack-enough to let the curious parents watch and listen. They saw the little girl walk quietly up to the baby, put her face close to his, and say, "Baby, tell me what God feels like. I'm starting to forget."

We must be like children in our service to God. We must trust and obey Him without fail. We must live as children of God SHOULD live. In Jesus' time, children were seen as nothings until they were old enough to be useful. Jesus appreciated and valued them for who they were and what they brought as children:

• A simple, unquestioning faith
• A trusting view of life
• Disregard for wealth and status
• Taking pleasure in the smallest things

What is our outlook as Kingdom people on life, possessions, people, those who might be neglected? It should be like a child's.

Children are honest and straightforward. They say what's on their mind without thinking or worrying about what anyone will think or say. If you remember Art Linkletter's show, "Kids Say the Darndest Things", you'll know what I'm talking about. They are an example of how we must be before God if we want to receive his blessings. In other words, we must have a childlike heart with simplicity, teachability, trust, forgiveness, responsiveness and humility.

Membership in the Kingdom is about grace. That's why Jesus says in Mark 10:15, "Truly I say to you, whosoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it". Baptism allows us to be like children. It washes away the dirt of our lives and replaces it with the childlike qualities of simplicity, teachability, trust, forgiveness, responsiveness and humility. It enables us to be reborn---to start over. Every child born into this world is born helpless. Every child born into this world is dependent on others for food, clothing, protection and education. Every Christian is born helpless. Just as children depend on others to survive, so Christians need Christ to survive. Helpless dependence is what the Kingdom of God is all about.

Children are good judges of character. They can sense a reason to fear or a reason to be at peace. They are drawn to people with pure hearts. The children in Mark 10:13-16 could sense that Jesus was pure in heart. Jesus hugged them and loved them. His love was passionate, open and emotive. Jesus was child-friendly, and his church should be too. In a day when children can be physically, sexually and emotionally abused, abandoned, ignored, and forgotten, we must remember the one we call "Lord" loves all the children in the world. If Jesus loves the children we, who are his followers, should also love the children.

It is abundantly clear that Jesus' attitude was welcoming, open, receptive, concerned for them, very much positive towards them. When they are excluded, he includes them. When they are rejected, he accepts them. When they are made to feel unwelcome, He opens his arms to them. We can enter the kingdom of God easily when we are like children. We can do it through:

1. Unwavering faith like a little child.

2. Knowing that Jesus' priority is our souls.

3. Dealing with sins in a positive manner.

We become part of God's family through baptism and the spiritual cleansing it gives us. Through the spiritual cleansing, we gain a new, child-like nature that allows us to be hopelessly dependent on Christ for salvation---the hopeless dependence children have. We must receive the Kingdom in weakness and powerlessness. We need to believe simply because our heavenly Father tells us, just like children do something when their parents tell them.

Children find the kingdom of God quite easily and enter it quite easily. The kingdom of God is so vast that the only way we can understand it is to be like children---naïve, trusting in God, and full of wonder.We receive the Kingdom of God when we ask for it to come. When it comes, we will enter it, if we are like a little child. It is easy for children to have faith because their minds are not cluttered and they believe what they are told. We too must believe what we are told about the Kingdom. Believing is the foundation of faith. Baptism allows us to believe with an uncluttered mind because the spiritual cleansing we receive through baptism cleans out the clutter from our minds. Faith needs to be based on a strong foundational understanding of the Word-a foundation that is based on baptism. We can't see God, but we have faith that He is alive and living within our hearts as we look forward to the promises that are waiting for us---and we can only do this through the sacrament of baptism.

In Jesus' time, fathers were the ones who took responsibility for the spiritual growth and well-being of the children---just like our heavenly Father does for His children. The Kingdom is really about caring for the weakest, rather than engaging in political or military victories. It represents true greatness. The blessings God has for us in life belong to those who are like children. We can only come to Jesus in our humble state like children do, looking to Him and His grace alone. God designed us to be dependent on Him like children depend on their parents. Children represent the poor, the needy, the downtrodden, the ordinary just plain human beings. We are told to come to Jesus as a child---without prejudice, with nothing held back, with the innocence of a child---to experience God's love for us.

It is often hard for us to come to Jesus as a child---with innocent trust. We like our independence. We like to think of ourselves as sophisticated and in control. We are too childish in our self-esteem to be childlike. If God helps us today, we would be able to see with eyes of faith the truth behind the scenes. So much of life is beyond our control and we need God to protect and bless ALL of us---children and adults. Baptism doesn't save anyone, but bringing infants to Jesus does have spiritual blessings from God to the child-like faithfulness of the parents.

The touch of God on a child's life is like a divine tag in which Jesus says, "This child is mine. She may wander all over the world, but she has the tag, the early impression of Jesus in her life, the touch of Christ on her life". This touch comes through baptism into a new life in Christ. We do not make the rules about who comes to Jesus---Jesus does. We do not discriminate in who hears the gospel. We must reach all with it. Moreover, we must not place barriers in the lives of those who desire to come to Christ. We can hinder believers by our attitude, inconsistencies, hypocritical living, or by selling the a brand of religion that does not show God's grace and His free offer of eternal life. When we are dependent and trusting, there is a mutuality of bonding that can occur and allow the Spirit of God to flow into our lives in ways that are not blocked. Baptism removes everything that hinders believers.

We begin the proper training of children by making sure our heart is right with God long before they come into the world. When they come into the world, we begin to exert that influence upon their lives. Bringing children to Jesus is like bringing Him a diamond in the rough---a diamond that can be cut and polished and become of invaluable worth. We have a choice to make. Jesus can do the polishing and cutting, or our corrupt, sinful world can. (Pause)

Baptism gives us the spiritual cleansing that we need to begin our new life in Christ, but we also need the regular spiritual cleansing that is provided when we partake of Christ's body and blood through the Eucharist. Just like our clothes need regular cleaning, or our physical bodies need daily cleaning, our spiritual lives need the regular cleaning that we get when we partake of the Eucharist. We all need a good spiritual cleaning on a regular basis, just like Jesus cleaned the money changers and vendors from the temple. When Jesus saw evil in the temple of the Lord, He gave it a good cleaning. If Jesus inspects our lives, will be find things that need to be cleaned out ? Baptism allows the Spirit to get into every nook and cranny, every crack, every crevice of our souls and clean out the dirt of our evil, sinful, corrupt previous life.

It is never a pleasant experience when the Holy Spirit shows us what we need to change in our lives, but we aren't left to do all the work ourselves. In fact, on our own we can't overcome the sin that needs clearing out. We need God's power in order to change, and the Spirit works in us to make sure we do. The Spirit's job is started through the waters of baptism, and continues with the spiritual cleansings we receive through the Eucharist.

Jesus taught that we are to be nothing, and the less we are and the weaker we are, the better. The less we have of self, the more room there is for His divine grace. We are to be like children---weak, and having nothing. When a child believes in Jesus, it cares nothing for critical points. That is the way we must come to Christ. When we come to Him, He will make heaven our home, and He will take us in His arms.

I'd like to close my sermon tonight with these words from an email I received from Father Art last week. They accurately describe how we are to come to God like a child and not keep others from coming to him. The poem is entitled:

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, "Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking."

Each of us (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher or friend) influences the life of a child. How will you touch the life of someone today? Have you come to Him completely? Are you resting safe in His arms, or are you hesitating? Are you being hindered or prevented by someone or something in your life? There is no sorrow when we completely rest on Him like a child---a true child of God.