John 18:33-37 Long Live the King!

Today we mark the church’s version of New Year’s Eve. Next Sunday marks the start of Advent and Year C in the three year cycle of readings from the Revised Common Lectionary. It is a day when we remember that Jesus is the king of our lives. It is not an ancient festival in the Christian calendar. In fact, it was only established by Pope Pius XI in 1925. It was established at a time when Europe was in chaos. Inflation was rampant, and colonialism was at its worst. The seeds of evil that would eventually grow into the Holocaust and World War II were being planted. Pope Pius XI established the Festival of Christ the King to declare that Jesus Christ is king. He is the goal of human history, the joy of all who hear, and the fulfillment of man’s aspirations.

The conversation between and Jesus and Pilate, which we heard from John 18:33-37 earlier, allows John to proclaim in his Gospel that Jesus is a king with a divine authority. Jesus was accused of plotting to overthrow the government, and he was being questioned by Pilate. This gave Jesus a chance to tell his side of the story. Jesus argues that his kingdom is founded on truth. This is in contrast to earthly kingdoms which are founded on power.

In fact, Pilate’s “kingdom” was based on power. In his mind, truth was what the powerful said it was-and the same is often true today. Jesus offered Pilate the same choice he offers us today-advance your status on earth or walk in the light of truth. The choice we make will determine which kingdom we will serve-God or man.  

Jesus saw the world differently that the way the world sees the world. He defied logic by the way he lived and by what he taught. He taught that truth is the cornerstone of healthy relationships and strong communities. If something or someone claims to be truth and has violent intentions or acts in a coercive manner, then it is not truth. Truth may be attacked but it cannot be harmed. It is not “of this world”. This is how the gospels speak of truth, and this is why John’s Gospel calls Jesus “the true and living way”.

Healthy relationships require confidence that both partners will tell the truth. We have to trust that individuals will do what they promise to do. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, especially with politicians. We often manipulate the truth to serve to serve our purposes-both by what we say and what we don’t say. In contrast, Jesus always speaks the truth.

It is hard for us to know what truth is in today’s world. To make matters worse, it is also hard for us to know who to trust. There are few honest heroes anymore. Just look at former Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. He had fame and fortune, but he lost it all because he chose to win by using illegal, unethical means. There are few authority figures anymore. Everyone seems to have his or her own agenda. Truth is essential to life. It is essential to a successful marriage. Society needs integrity in order to survive. Think of the terror that would exist if police officers were thugs. What would happen if pharmacists were to dilute our prescription drugs in order to sell contraband out the back door?

We must remember that we are citizens of another realm, with a different ruler and a different rule. When it comes to spiritual things, truth is Christ. We leave behind anything else that has power over us. We follow the one who gives us a freedom that no political power can grant. This kingdom is one where Jesus will rule over our lives and the new heaven and the new earth.

One day Jesus will return to earth to set up his kingdom-one where he will rule firmly and deal justly with sinners. Until then, his kingdom focuses on redeeming the hearts of the lost. So what does it mean to say Christ is the King of this world? It means that this is an unfinished world. There is unfinished business because the world is made up of unfinished people. Even when we are at our best, we are not all that Christ intends for us to be. Christ came into this unfinished world and made the ultimate sacrifice for us. He has commissioned us to be in his army to see that this unfinished world becomes the kingdom over which he will reign forever. 

Our gospel text focuses on part two of the dialogue between Pilate and Jesus. When Pilate asked Jesus if he was the king of the Jews, it was a political question. If Jesus presented himself to the people he was a rebel in Pilate’s eyes and needed to be dealt with accordingly. Jesus was a king, and indeed he is still a king. He is a king who has come to judge all earthly kings and kingdoms. He is the king of heaven and earth. He is full of grace and truth. He is our champion. He fights our battles for us. He leads us to victory over Satan and sin. He sets us up to lead his kingdom on earth until he returns. His kingdom occurs when we freely choose to serve him. This is in contrast to a worldly kingdom where power is obtained by self-centeredness and self-esteem. To love God is to become humble by paying the price of leaving people free to be who they will be.

Jesus does not wink at our sins. Paul reminds us in Romans 1:18-32 that even now Jesus is now pouring out his wrath against those who think they can make better sense of their lives than he can. As his ambassadors on earth, we have a duty to live consistently by our Christian faith and speak against anything and everything that is contrary to it.

This text is about the clash between the earthly kingdom and the heavenly kingdom. We have to choose which kingdom we will serve, but we must remember that if we choose to serve an earthly kingdom, we will lose the struggle, because just like Christ was victorious over death, he will be victorious on earth when he returns to set up his kingdom. Jesus was a king, but he was not a typical king. He was a servant king. The symbol of his kingdom is the cross. Jesus takes the worst we have to offer-and the worst form of torture imaginable-and changes it into life and hope.

The challenge of the kingdom is for each of us:

1.      To let God be God…in us

2.      To let God be God…in our church

3.      To let God be God…in our neighbourhoods

4.      To let God be God…in our lives, our families and in our world

In order to find meaning, peace and purpose in our lives, we must keep asking ourselves, “What is Jesus telling me to do with my life?” When we do ask and listen for the answer, then we are experiencing the power of his kingdom in our lives.  

It is the duty of us as Christians to represent Jesus here on earth. The church does best when it imitates Jesus who had no place to lay his head and who brought sight to the blind, helped the lame to walk, cleansed the lepers, made the deaf hear, raised the dead and brought good news to the poor. Just as Jesus’ power was in the cross, so the church’s most effective witness is in service and sacrifice to people in need. It is not in political connections, spectacular connections or great architecture.

When we are in Christ’s presence, we should feel a sense of humility. Christ is our friend and our big brother, but we can’t appreciate Christ’s friendship and Christ’s role as our big brother unless we acknowledge that he is our Sovereign, our Saviour and our Lord.

In John 18:37, the themes of John’s Gospel are restated-incarnation, glory, truth. John’s Gospel is more concerned with Jesus’ origin than his birth story. Although he was born of the Virgin Mary, the greater reality is that he came from God. He came from a great king, and he is a great king. He came into this world to show us a new kind of king. His was the power of love, not the power of the sword. He came to rule not from a throne, but from the cross. He came not on a great horse, but on a donkey. He came not catering to the powerful but catering to the poor and the less fortunate. He chose his inner circle not from the powerful, but from the lowly and the meek. He calls us to be just like him. He calls us to take command and wield authority like he did. He has called us to give instead of take. He calls us to love instead of judging others. He calls us to care instead of ignoring the plight of the less fortunate.

The truth to which Jesus testifies is the truth of the cross. Every since the dawn of Christianity it has seemed strange that a man would become king by dying on the cross. Paul called it the foolishness of the cross, but Jesus called it the truth.  

I’m going to close my sermon this morning with a story from World War II. Sportsman and best-selling author Pat Williams, in his book The Paradox of Power, tells about one man who deserved to bear the name Christian. In fact, that was his name, Christian X, king of Denmark during World War II. The people of Denmark remember him the way any of us would want to be remembered, as a person of character, courage, and principle. Every morning, King Christian rode without bodyguards in an open carriage through the streets of Copenhagen. He trusted his people and wanted them to feel free to come up to him, greet him, and shake his hand.

In 1940 Nazi Germany invaded Denmark. Like so many other European nations, this small Scandinavian country was quickly conquered. But the spirit of the Danish people and their king proved unquenchable. Even after the Nazis had taken control of the nation, King Christian X continued his morning carriage rides. He boldly led his people in a quiet but courageous resistance movement.

On one occasion, the king noticed a Nazi flag flying over a public building in Copenhagen. He went to the German commandant and asked that the flag be removed.
"The flag flies," the commandant replied, "because I ordered it flown. Request denied."
"I demand that it come down," said the king. "If you do not have it removed, a Danish soldier will go and remove it." "Then he will be shot," said the commandant.
"I don't think so," said King Christian, "for I shall be that soldier." The flag was removed.

On another occasion, the order came from the Nazis that all Jews were to identify themselves by wearing armbands with the yellow Star of David. King Christian said that one Danish person was exactly the same as the next one. So the King donned the first Star of David, and let it be known that he expected every loyal Dane would do the same. The next day in Copenhagen, almost the entire population wore armbands showing the Star of David. The Danes saved 90% of their Jewish population.

Later, the Nazis decided that all eight thousand Jews in Denmark would be rounded up and sent to concentration camps in central Europe. A German diplomat with a troubled conscience secretly informed King Christian of the Nazi plans. So the king organized a resistance effort that smuggled 7,500 Jews to Sweden within a single two-week period. The remaining five hundred Jews were rounded up by the Nazis and sent to an internment ghetto in Czechoslovakia. King Christian interceded on their behalf and all but fifty-one survived their treatment at the hands of the Nazis.

King Christian paid a price for his bold courage. The Nazis imprisoned him from 1943 until the fall of the Third Reich in 1945. An old man in his seventies, imprisonment was hard on his health. He died two years after his release, but he willingly paid the price for truth, as did other World War II heroes such as Corrie ten Boom. If people like King Christian, Corrie ten Boom and Jesus can willingly pay the price for what they believe in-namely, the truth-shouldn’t we as Christians also be willing to pay the price, especially when we are called by Christ to fight for the truth? After all, he is the final authority and power in the universe. Christ is King!

Bibliography

 

1.      Swindoll, Charles R.: Swindoll’s New Testament Insights on John (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan;  2010)

2.      Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NASV (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.; 2009)

3.      Pete Briscoe, “How to Live a Life that Defies Logic”. Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

4.      Jude Siciliano, O.P. “First Impressions, Christ the King (B)”. Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org

5.      Michael Youssef, PhD, “Thy Kingdom Come”. Retrieved from www.leadingtheway.org

6.      T.M. Moore, “Ambassadors from another Realm”. Retrieved from www.colsoncenter.org/thecenter/columns/viewpoint/15752-ambassadors-from-another-realm

7.      Dr. Philip W. McLarty, “What is Truth?” Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com

8.      The Rev. Dr. Wiley Stevens, “Thanksgiving in Three Tenses”. Retrieved from www.day1.org

9.      Lectionary Homiletics, Oct./Nov. 2012 (St. Paul, MN: Luther Seminary)

10.  Exegesis for John 18:33-37. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.org.

11.  King Duncan, “Christ the King”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

12.  King Duncan, “Held Hostage”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

13.  King Duncan, “What is true and Who Can You Trust?” Retrieved from www.esermons.com

14.  King Duncan, “A Strange Kind of King”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

15.  Steven E.  Albertin, “Having the Last Word”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

16.  John Shearman’s Lectionary Resource, Year B, Season after Pentecost, Reign of Christ. Retrieved from www.lectionary.seemslikegod.org/archives/year-b-season-after-pentecost-the-reign-of-christ.html

17.  Roland McGregor, UMC, McGregorPage #886, Pentecost 25, 11/25/12. Retrieved from www.mcgregorpage.org

18.  Daniel B. Clendenin, PhD, “Yes, I am a King”: The Anti-Politics of Christ the King. Retrieved from www.journeywithjesus.net

 

John 18:33-37 Jesus, the Servant King

Hello boys and girls!

Today is a very special day in our church year. It’s Reign of Christ Sunday, and that’s the day when we celebrate the fact that Christ is the King of our lives. Now there are good kings and there are bad, evil kings.

Today is also the church’s version of New Year’s Eve. Next Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent. Not only does it mark the beginning of another year in the life of the church, it also marks the beginning of the season where we prepare ourselves for the birth of Jesus. In other words, we prepare ourselves for Christmas.

Now, at the risk of upsetting your parents and grandparents, I’m going to ask you a question. Are you starting to get excited for Christmas? Well boys and girls, I’m going to tell you a little story about someone else who got excited.

How many of you have seen the movie “The Lion King”? Well then, you might remember that Simba was anxious to become king because he did not want anyone to tell him what to do. He didn't want to hear anyone saying, "Do this" or "stop that." He wanted to be free to run around all day doing everything his way.

It wasn't just that Simba didn't want anyone to tell him what to do; he was also looking forward to telling everyone else what to do. Just listen to what he says! "I'm going to be a mighty king so enemies beware! I'm going to be the main event like no king was before. I'm brushing up on looking down. I'm working on my ROAR! Oh, I just can't wait to be king!"

I think that Simba had a very poor idea of what it means to be a king. You see, the real role of a king is to look after the needs of his people. A good king is more concerned with caring for his people than he is in being served. [1]

During his last days on earth, Jesus was arrested and put on trial. When he was asked by Pilate if he was a king, Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world." I’m going to speak more about the conversation Jesus had with Pilate when I deliver my homily to the adults later on in this morning’s service.

Yes, Jesus was a king, but he wasn't interested in running around free and doing things his way. He was only interested in doing the will of his Father. In other words, he did what his Father told him to do.

I’m also going to tell you a story about someone else who did not like being told what to do. It’s about a boy named Johnny. Now Johnny's father took him to the park to play in the big sand pile. "Johnny," he said, "you stay here and play in the sand while I sit on the bench over there." So, his father took his newspaper and sat on the bench. Johnny took his little shovel and put sand in his bucket.  Then he went over to a girl who was also playing in the sand.

"Want some sand?" he asked. "Okay," the little girl said. Johnny put his shovel in the bucket and scooped out some sand. "Hold out your hand," Johnny said to the little girl. The little girl held out both hands, and Johnny poured the sand into her hands. It ran down her arms and through her fingers and she laughed.

"You want some more sand?" asked Johnny. "Okay," said the little girl. So, Johnny took another scoop of sand, but this time when she put out her hands, he poured the sand on her head. She began to cry. Her mother came right over. She got down so she could look right in Johnny's eyes and said, "That was not nice. If you can't play nice, you may not play in the sand pile." You know what Johnny said back to the lady? He said, "You aren't the boss of me."

That night when Johnny and his father were getting ready to say prayers, they talked about what had happened that day in the sand pile in the park.  "That lady isn't the boss of me," Johnny said again. 

"Who is the boss of you, then?" said his father. "You are,” said Johnny. "And who else?" asked his father. "I don't know," said Johnny.

"What about Jesus? Is Jesus the boss of you?" asked his father. "I guess so," said Johnny.

"So what would Jesus say to you when you dumped sand on the girl's head?" asked his father. "I don't know," said Johnny. "Think again," said his father.

"Maybe he would tell me to stop," said Johnny.

"That's good," said his father. "I'm proud of you. You know what Jesus would say. Now, what would you do if Jesus said stop?" "I would stop," said Johnny.

"So, maybe that lady was telling you for Jesus," said his father. "Did you think about that?"

"No," said Johnny. "I didn't think about that." "Johnny," said his father, "you know when we bow our heads in church; you know what that means?" "It means we are praying," said Johnny. "Yes," said his father, "and it also means Jesus is the boss of us."[2]

Boys and girls, Jesus was born to be king, but his kingdom is not on this earth -- it is in heaven. He only came to earth to make a way for us to live with him in heaven.

Let’s bow our heads and close our eyes for a moment of prayer. Dear God, thank you for being our king. Thank you for telling us what to do, what to say and what to think. Give us the wisdom to always obey you, even though at times we don’t want to.  We ask this in the name of your son our Saviour Jesus Christ, AMEN

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[1] “Crown Him King!” Retrieved from www.Sermons4Kids.com

[2] Children’s Sermon for Pentecost 26, 11/25/2012. Retrieved from www.mcgregorpage.org

Luke 13:10-17 For Every Rule, There Are Always Exceptions

Have you ever noticed that every time you turn around, there seems to be another rule for you to obey? Have you ever noticed that some of these rules seem to be foolish? Well, I certainly have in both cases. To make matters worse, there are cases where no exceptions can be made to these rules, even when the exception is justified.

For example, Greyhound bus lines had a rule that no pets were allowed on their buses. One late night at a rural truck stop in Florida, a Greyhound bus driver kicked an 87 year old woman off his bus. Her crime was that she was returning from her birthday party with her present: a tiny puppy named Cookie. The driver refused to make an exception, and so this poor elderly woman was left about 80 miles from her home at 3 in the morning. Can’t you hear the driver justifying his actions? “We have a rule. We have a rule”.

A security guard who was summoned by the driver called the police to escort her away, and that only added to the woman’s fright. What could have been a terrifying ordeal for the woman, who walks with a crutch and has trouble seeing and hearing, instead became an inspiration. After getting her a sandwich and something to drink, police from five different jurisdictions teamed up to ferry her home. “I’ve never seen so many people so nice with me, an old lady,” she said. “They gave me love, respect, attention. Love has a lot of names, “she continued, “compassion, respect, friendliness”. Greyhound apologized and gave her a refund. The unidentified driver, who was a 20 year Greyhound veteran, was suspended.  

The synagogue leader in today’s Gospel reading was also obsessed with obeying rules; specifically, the rule about keeping the Sabbath holy. The Jews, especially the Pharisees, were so obsessed with keeping God’s Commandments that they came up with all sorts of rules that governed what they could and could not do on the Sabbath. Included in the list of things that could not be done on the Sabbath was healing a sick person. Healing was considered work, and a good Jew could not do that type of work.

The Law did allow animals to be untied for a few hours on the Sabbath, but the synagogue leader objected to Jesus’ freeing of the bent woman from her bondage on the Sabbath. In other words, in the mind of the synagogue leader, freeing animals from bondage was more important than freeing people from the bondage of sin and illness. By healing the woman on the Sabbath, Jesus’ actions are considered to be within the intention or spirit of the Sabbath, and they enhance Sabbath observance instead of destroying it.

Physical ailments can do far more than bend a back. They can rob us of our livelihoods and cause bankruptcy. They can take us away from our families. They can even cause severe depression. For example, in 1971, in Plano, Texas, a woman by the name of Linda gave birth to a boy she named Lance. She did what many mothers do with boys. She molded his character and temperament by involving him in a variety of sports. He soon showed an aptitude as an athlete and by the age of 13 his skills were confirmed when he won the Iron Kids triathlon-a combination of swimming, biking and running. Three years later at the tender age of 16 he became a professional triathlon athlete. When most children were trying to compete at their local high schools, and entering amateur competitions, Linda’s boy was making money as an athlete.

He worked hard and sometimes his training would take him to the edge of the state to the Oklahoma border where he would call his mom and ask her to come and get him. In one of the three skills of the triathlon-biking-he was excelling beyond the skills of men twice his age and experience. At the age of 18 he qualified to train with the U.S. Olympic team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. His behaviour nearly cost him his high school diploma but private classes were arranged which enabled him to graduate. He continued to excel in his chosen sport and gained recognition around the world, until something happened that made him change his focus.

In 1996, he was forced by pain to quit a race. Tests revealed advanced testicular cancer which had spread to his lungs and brain. The once athletic and vibrant young man underwent three operations and the most aggressive form of chemotherapy. Now his career was the least of his worries. Doctors said he had a 50/50 chance of survival and the cancer left him scarred physically and emotionally. He said that the ailment completely changed his life and his priorities. Sickness, real sickness, rearranges life. But there is more to the story. That young man won his battle with testicular cancer and rekindled his passion for biking. In case you haven’t figured it out, I have just told you the story of Lance Armstrong, seven time winner of the Tour de France biking race.  

One of the key points of the Gospel reading is the issue of keeping the Sabbath holy. What does it mean to keep the Sabbath holy? Does it mean keeping the entire day free from doing anything but worshipping God, as the synagogue leader would argue, or does it mean setting aside one hour for worshiping God and then spending the rest of the day doing what we please, as our modern society might argue? The synagogue leader was like the Pharisees in that he was so caught up in obeying the letter of the Law of Moses and the Jewish rules that he could not see the spirit of God’s Law-namely, caring for others. When we care more for following rules that than we do for the welfare of people, especially those who are made in God’s image, we miss the whole point of repentance. Romans 13:10 explains, “Love is the fulfillment of the law”.

Acts of compassion are holy work, and holy work was allowed on the Sabbath. After all, if holy work was not allowed on the Sabbath, what would the synagogue leader do? His work was holy. Our lay readers and priests have to do holy work on the Sabbath as well, so what would we do for worship services if they could not work on the Sabbath? In Mark 2:27, Jesus argues that “The Sabbath was made for humankind and not humankind for the Sabbath”. In other words, we must not lose sight of the person in need. For example, what do you think would happen to the sick, if paramedics or people in the medical profession did not work on the Sabbath? What would happen if firefighters or police officers refused to answer emergency calls on the Sabbath?

Resting on the Sabbath is a good idea. It is a necessity in our hurting world, especially when restaurants, stores and gas stations are often open 24 hours a day. It is common for people to work 60 or more hours a week. Many families don’t even eat meals together any more-they eat in shifts. Even children feel the hectic pace of our modern society. They are so busy with sports, school, part-time jobs and extra-curricular activities that they need Blackberries or day planners! No wonder therapists and counselors are so busy these days. We all need time to sit back, relax and catch our breath. That’s why our rector is on vacation as I speak.

In my opinion, the worst thing that has happened in our society, especially in this province, was the legalization of Sunday shopping a few years ago. Most stores are open six days and six nights a week. If people are so busy that they can’t get their shopping done during that time, then they need to take a long, hard look at their lives. Sunday has become just another day in people’s lives, and our churches have become a casualty. One only has to look at the financial challenges that many of the churches in our area face to see that this is true. In fact, this is one reason why there is only one Anglican parish in this area now instead of two.  

The Gospel reading is also a comment on how authority can be so rigid at times. Ordinary people often suffer at the hands of rigid authority, especially in countries such as North Korea, Cuba or China. They have felt the sting of authoritarian pronouncement from on high. They are delighted relieved and freed when those in authority are put in their place. For example, many of you may remember the celebrations that took place in Iraq when Saddam Hussein’s government was overthrown by U.S.-led forces a few years ago.

Jesus was not breaking any of the Old Testament commandments. In the eyes of the Jews, especially the synagogue leader, Jesus broke the commandments and rules they had set to make certain that they did not break any of the commandments, especially the one about keeping the Sabbath holy. These laws allowed the Pharisees to avoid love’s obligations. Jesus argued that people’s needs are more important that rules and regulations. We are encouraged to take time to help others, even if it means compromising our public image.

In the eyes of the Jews, Jesus was a radical. What he was saying and doing went against their rules and traditions-rules and traditions that they used to hide themselves from the true meaning of God’s laws and love. Jesus was arguing against the status quo. He was trying to upset the routines that the Jews enjoyed. The Jews were in a rut, and Jesus was trying to push them out of the rut toward a loving relationship with God.

We are the same way. Sometimes we get very comfortable with our lives and we don’t want to change. It’s like wearing a comfortable pair of shoes-IT JUST FEELS SO GOOD! We often don’t want change or like change because we like things the way they are. Change can be hard no matter what the change is-even if it is as simple as buying a new car. It takes time for the buyer to adjust to the locations of the gauges, levers and buttons on the new car. Change can be painful, but sometimes it is necessary. Our own parish is a good example. The amalgamation of our former parishes and the resulting changes that were necessary were painful for some, but they were necessary for us to survive as a part of God’s family.  

The Jews confused their rules with true worship. We are the same. We often feel that we can’t worship God unless we obey the liturgy to the letter or use the liturgy from the Book of Alternative Services or the liturgy from the Book of Common Prayer. In our Gospel reading, the synagogue leader appears to have confused religion with Christianity. I’m sure most of you have heard of the late Pastor Perry F. Rockwood or have heard the radio programs “Prophecy for Today” or “The People’s Gospel Hour”. Now I personally disagree with most of what he says, but I do agree with one comment that ne made during one program. He said, “Religion is man’s attempt to reach God. Christianity is God’s attempt to reach man”.

By concentrating on religion and the laws, the Jews lost the ability to reach God. God had to reach man by coming to earth in the form of Jesus Christ. He emphasized that in order to have a relationship with God only two rules had to be obeyed-love God and love people. We are called upon to obey the same two laws if we want to have a relationship with God. We will have restored our relationship with God if we love people, and show it by doing things in faith such as comforting the less fortunate (even on the Sabbath. By doing these holy things, we will be obeying the commandment to “Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy”.

This story is about freedom. For the woman, she was freed from the disease that left her crippled and bent over for eighteen years. For us, it represents freedom from tyranny, oppression, abuse, discrimination, inferiority and other forms of sin and slavery. In the words of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Junior, “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty!! I’m free at last!” This freedom brings about the transformation we need to become children of God. The only way we can be transformed and freed is through faith in Christ. That faith will transform us and free us by giving us power to do God’s work in our world-and that is the true spirit of the Sabbath.

 

Bibliography

       1.      Charles F. Stanley, Life Principles Bible, NASV

2.      Exegesis of Luke 13:10-17. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org

3.      Pastor Steve Molin, “Maybe Resting on the Sabbath is Overrated”. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org.

4.      ESV Study Bible, part of Wordsearch Bible software program

5.      Life Application Bible Notes. Part of Wordsearch Bible software program

6.      Wycliffe Bible Commentary. Part of Wordsearch Bible software program

7.      Richard W. Pratt, “Sabotaging the Sabbath”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

8.      Mark Trotter, “Now Stand Up Straight”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

9.      Abingdon Commentary. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

10.  Brett Blair, “A Crippling Spirit”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

11.  King Duncan, “Busybodies”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

12.  The Rev. Robert M. Holmes, UMC, “Beyond Change to Transformation”. Retrieved from www.day1.org

 

Ruth 3:1-5, Ruth 4:13-17; Mark 12:38-44 Blessed are the Poor Widows

When I was preparing my message for today, I came across a story about a little boy who went to church one Sunday morning to get out of the cold. He had been trying to sell newspapers, but no one had passed by. He entered the church, hoping to pass an hour unnoticed in the back row. The minister delivered a powerful sermon about Jesus and his love for us. At one point during the service, they took an offering.

One of the ushers stopped right in front of the boy and held out the offering plate. After a long pause, the boy asked the usher to put the plate on the floor. Then the little boy did something unusual. He stepped into the offering plate, first one foot and then the other. He slowly looked up and with tears streaming down his cheeks said, “Mister, I don’t have any money. I haven’t sold a single newspaper today, but if Jesus did all that the minister said he did just for me, I will gladly give my life to Him”.

The story of Ruth and Naomi and the Parable of the Widow’s Mite provide some very interesting contrasts between the Christian’s way and society’s way. Both are stories of how God uses the culture of Jesus’ time to do his will in our society and teach us how we are supposed to care for each other.

In Old Testament times, the Law of Moses stated that the poor, orphans and widows were to be cared for, but in most cases the care that was provided was the bare minimum that was required. For example, farmers who grew grain were to leave the grain in the rows at the edges of their fields for the widows and orphans, but that was it. The farmers did not have to take the grain to the widows, nor did they have to bring the poor to their fields so they could pick the grain.

That was what Ruth and Naomi were doing in the field. They were picking the grain that was left for widows such as Naomi. Now Naomi had a big problem. Not only was she a widow, but both of her sons were dead, so it was just Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth. Naomi was planning to go back to her homeland, and Ruth was going to go with her, so Naomi decided to play matchmaker by encouraging Ruth to “introduce” herself to her distant relative Boaz, who happened to own the field that they were working in. Ruth followed Naomi’s advice, and the result was that she and Boaz married and became the parents of Obed, who became the father of Jesse, who became the father of King David…and from that lineage of David came Jesus. God took a bad situation for Naomi and used it to fulfill his purpose.  

Jesus later used another widow to fulfill his purpose-namely, to teach us the value of giving to God’s work. The Parable of the Widow’s Mite took place in Jerusalem during the week before Jesus’ crucifixion. Jesus taught his disciples to beware of those who act pious and holy on the outside but who are evil and corrupt on the inside. He used the example of the scribes. They wore long flowing robes and enjoyed the privileges of their position. They enjoyed the adoration they received from the ordinary people in the street, and they had the best seats in the synagogues. They also used crooked schemes to force widows out of their own homes.

Even today, those in power sometimes lose compassion and take advantage of others, including widows, orphans and the poor. They do not have a heart to love and serve God. In fact, they often stand between us and God. In contrast, both widows revealed faith in a caring God. He will not overlook them, and he does not overlook us. The widows encourage us to hold on to our faith in a God who will not disappoint us. 

Jesus always championed social justice, which means caring for the less fortunate in society. He and the disciples were sitting in the area of the temple treasury. The treasury contained thirteen trumpet-shaped chests where people could deposit their gifts and the temple tax. Jesus could see how much money people gave. He could see the large sums of money that the scribes and the wealthy gave, and he could also see how much the widow gave. He used a comparison of the gifts to illustrate their significance.

The wealthy gave out of their abundance. That is, they gave out of what they had left after they paid their bills and purchased the necessities of life, including food. In contrast, the poor widow gave all that she had. By putting all of her money into the temple treasury, the widow probably had to go without food for at least one meal. In Jesus’ eyes, she gave more than all the rich people simply because she gave everything to God.

Many large donations are given at least in part because of the public relations value. Jesus doesn’t condemn large gifts from wealthy people, but he does say that the effect of the widow’s small donation is even bigger than any large donation because she gave out of what she had. She put God first and she is a good example for us to follow. We must always put God first.  

God gives us resources to use, including money. In return, we have to manage these resources in God’s best interests-including caring for the poor. Let me give an example from my own life. I am the treasurer for the local food bank. My duties include receiving cash donations from people and recording them. I can’t get into specifics because of confidentiality, but I can tell you that the donations I see are a good example of the Parable of the Widow’s Mite. Some people give more than others, which is understandable given different income levels, but I can tell you that there are cases where the donations come from people who do indeed give most if not all of what they have. In addition, my mother and I also make separate donations to the food bank each month. These are also sacrifices for us because of her fixed income as a senior citizen and my low income from part-time work, but like the widow, we give out of all that we have.

Love and giving describe our lifestyles and what we were made for. Life is meant to be lived outward to the world, not inward to ourselves. God has hardwired us for generosity. When we live generously, it shows in our faces and in our lives. People in the health care profession are a good example. They show genuine care and compassion for their patients. They are not in the profession just for show. They are in the profession because they care.  They are not working just for the paycheque. They are working here because they genuinely care for the residents, and it shows in the way they do their work.

God measures giving not by what we give, but by what we keep for ourselves. He measures the gift by the sacrifice involved. That is why Jesus valued the widow’s gift. She sacrificed her well-being in order to show her love for God-just like Jesus showed his love for us by dying on the cross to save us. Ruth also sacrificed her own plans for her life to stay with her mother-in-law, and God rewarded her by making her the great-grandmother of King David. If Ruth, the widow, Jesus and health care professionals can make sacrifices for others, surely we can make sacrifices for others.

 

Bibliography

1.      Matthew Henry concise Commentary. Part of Lessonmaker 8 Bible Software package.

2.      Wycliffe Bible Commentary. Part of Lessonmaker 8 Bible Software package.

3.      ESV Study Bible. Part of Lessonmaker 8 Bible Software package.

4.      The Rev. Francis Wade, “Against Giving”. Retrieved from www.day1.org

5.      Exegesis for Mark 12:38-44. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com

6.      McKenna, D.L and Ogilvie, L.J., The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 25: Mark (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982)

7.      Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions, 32^nd Sunday (B)”. Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org

8.      Steve Preston, “Great Riches”. Retrieved from bibletalk@freegroups.net

9.      Bishop Kenneth L. Carder, “The Lavish Gifts of the Poor”. Retrieved from www.day1.org

10.  Micah D. Kiel, “Mark 12:38-44, Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, Year B”. Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org/preaching_print.aspx?commentary_id=1418

11.  Dr. Philip W. McLarty, “The Widow’s Might”. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com

12.  “Giving our All”. Retrieved from http://sermons4kids.com/giving_our_all_print.htm

 

 

 

 

Luke 12:49-56 Fire! Fire! Fire!

Three men died and were waiting to receive entrance through the Pearly Gates. The first man said to St. Peter, "I was a preacher of the gospel, serving faithfully for over 50 years". Peter told him to step aside for further consideration. The second man said, "I was also a preacher of the gospel; I served my church faithfully for 40 years". Peter told him to step aside for further consideration. The third man stepped up and said, "I was not a preacher, just a government worker with the Canada Revenue Agency for 6 months". Peter told him to step right in. The first minister objected, "Why does he get to go in before two ministers?" Peter said, "The truth is, in six months the Canada Revenue Agency agent scared the devil out of more people than either of you did in a long lifetime!"

Jesus' harsh words to the crowds about not being able to interpret the signs of the times were a good wake-up call for those who were gathering to see the spectacle of this upstart preacher-man from Nazareth, but not quite seeing that He was the long-awaited Messiah. These words were meant to reorient their lives to what was important. That is, to reorient their lives to ever be seeking what God is up to right here, right now. We look at the rumblings of war, of earthquakes, of hurricanes and wonder if the end times are upon us. When all the while we are to be looking not there, but at Christ, at the hope he offers, the forgiveness he bears for us and for all people, the promise that his Spirit will roam this earth until Christ himself comes again.

Jesus' words remind us that we need to set fire to the old so that the new can emerge, just like new life emerges from the destruction of a fire. God's love is often bad news to people of privilege and power because Jesus provides a higher authority than the law of the land or religious practice. For example, Christ's birth was a threat to King Herod's power. The church's spiritual source of wisdom, without hesitation or apology, asserts that a nation which fuels its economy on greed (that is, at the expense of others' basic needs) is a nation under God's judgment. The sword of divine justice hangs over all of us.

The gospel was compared to fire because it violently changes the face of things. Fire is the emblem of discord, contention and calamities. If fire refers to judgment, this happens when our godlessness is revealed to us as we inflicted pain and death on the innocent Son of God. Fire is both a source of destruction and a source of rebirth or new life.

Jesus uses the metaphor of fire's destructive power to urge us to follow him and give up our earthly lives. We are materially rich and spiritually poor. Money has begun to obscure some of our more important values. Society has reached new lows in terms of public morality, whether it be sex scandals or traditional values. We are apprehensive in spite of advances in science, medicine, agriculture, communications and so on. Is our fear due to our spiritual poverty? We are afraid because of the emptiness in our lives. We have a God-shaped void that has never been adequately filled.

God is with us regardless of what the future brings, but we have to regain our connection with Him. We need to focus less on our earthly, material resources for security and more on the Rock of Ages. God carves men and women to be with Him forever. He fills them with good things; makes them to love, care, learn and grow; and fashions them into what he was and is. We can do God's work with confidence, but we have to let go of our sinful nature. It entangles our lives, distorts our vision and robs us of spiritual vitality and stamina.

Choosing to love and follow Jesus will create division and conflict. The sword of division about which Jesus spoke is the result of Christ-like love. To love people as Jesus did is to stand for something. To stand for justice is to stand against injustice. To stand for truth is to oppose hypocrisy and falsehood. To be a Christian is to love all that Christ loved and to be an enemy of all that crucified him. To follow him is to make enemies. Jesus was awarded a cross, and he bids us to take up our cross and follow him. We all have worth in the eyes of God, regardless of social status, income, etc. He calls all of us to love each other as he loves us. If we cannot love our neighbour, whom we have seen, we cannot love God, whom we have not seen.

Neutrality toward Jesus is not possible. Jesus said in Matthew 12:30, "He who is not with me is against me". Jesus gives us a choice-accept him or reject him. The choice we make has consequences. If we accept him, we risk alienation from friends and family. If we reject him, we face eternal damnation. Either choice causes division-either us from friends and family, or us from God. Today, Christian churches, once open to every passer-by, are being kept locked because they are being vandalized and looted with a vicious contempt.

The disciples also needed God's spiritual fire or else they would die. They needed the fire of God's word to keep their hearts from freezing over and to keep the passion of their souls from cooling down. We are the same way. We have moments when our faith cools down. It is quite beyond our nature to have a burning need for the word of God. We all need the fire of God's word in our lives, or else we will grow cold.

Jesus was worked up because he knew his crucifixion was coming. He had a job to do before then-namely, to bring the message of God's Kingdom to the people and the people to God's love. As he was telling the disciples about living their lives in total commitment to God, he realized that his death was drawing near-and this stirred him up to the point where he became like one of the evangelists we see on television. In other words, he literally spoke of the fires of damnation, judgment and spirit. He brought God's judgment upon the people. He also divided families, communities and nations. What he did then is still happening today.

Jesus' demands for total allegiance divided families in his time, and can do so today. When he comes to announce the kingdom, there is division because the kingdom requires decision and commitment. The message of justice and healing was met with hostility. The fire Jesus came to kindle begins at home because our spouses and children are free to grow beyond their roles and beyond our expectations. God's way is not easy. Jesus' way and the world's way can't coexist. It's one or the other.

Jesus' baptism was nothing less than his own crucifixion and death. This baptism was baptism by fire. True baptism leads to resurrection, life and peace. Division and fire are for a season, not for an eternity. The fire of baptism leads to a new life. If we think of Christ as our example, we realize that we need to shape up. We are in desperate need of forgiveness and moral power. In the Middle Ages, the image of Christ had more fiery judgment than it does today. We need more judgment in the image of Christ today because of the sinful nature of the world. We have so eliminated the judgmental impact of Christ that there is no spiritual tension and conflict left. We need the fire of Christ's spirit today. What we treasure in Word and Sacrament is God's transforming power that finally makes us sensitive toward those who are different from us in any way.

Can we see ourselves as a great cloud of witnesses, willing to run the race that is set before us, following Jesus, who is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith? God calls the church to find the anger that lets it know it's still alive. Too often Christ is left for dead in this cold world. We often become desensitized to many of the things around us. We cannot understand the present time even though Christ is right in front of us. Some feel that the secular world's issues or the dirty business of politics shouldn't taint the sanctified holy life that we live together as Christians within the church community. That, my friends, is totally untrue. God's fire forces us to become concerned for social issues and justice-a concern that is contrary to the secular world. Jesus' teachings and actions challenged the status quo, and they still do. Jesus declares war on the world's injustices. The call to follow Christ is a call to relieve and, wherever possible, to remove the causes of suffering. It goes against what the world says is important.

Jesus' fire creates a new life in us that is better than the old one. It will cause conflict with the world and even with those we love, but it is better to be true to yourself rather than to someone else's notion of yourself. We are able to be fortified to truth, justice and inclusion. We symbolically attach ourselves to Jesus and the church. It means we belong first to Jesus and second to the world. It means we belong first to the church family and second to the human family. Jesus asks for-no, DEMANDS-this radical commitment-a commitment that seems radical to the world. It creates conflict, difficulties and struggles that strengthen us for our walk with Jesus and our mission in the world. God will help us overcome the struggles our new life will cause. The fire of the Holy Spirit burns away the dead branches that litter our lives and inhibit our spiritual growth. It also empowers our joining with Jesus. It is a sign that the church is alive and well, and that the family is adjusting to God's love and God's peace.

Being a Christian can make us feel like foreigners in our own land. It's as if we are carrying a passport from another place. And we are, for those who are first of all citizens of God's reign, Jesus' vision and values come first in our lives-all because Jesus has come to set a blazing fire on the earth, and that fire burns already in us. That fire is the kingdom of God, and that kingdom is more important than even one's family.

How can we live as faithful followers while keeping integrity with Christ's teachings? First, we can use the teachings as a benchmark of our faith. Does our faith cause problems with our families, friends or jobs? As we walk with God, people will disappoint us and let us down. Circumstances will be hard, and the enemy will hassle us. Second, we can consider these teachings as a backhanded compliment, especially if our faith causes some people to feel uncomfortable with us. Finally, we can consider these teachings as a goal.

Spreading God's Word won't hurt us. Sure, we will feel the pain of rejection, but without spreading the Word, we can't build the church. If our faith matters to us, we MUST make it matter to others. If not, then our faith is merely deathbed insurance. We can't hide because God will find us now or in the end. Some of you might remember a 1970s TV show called "Maude". One of Maude's favorite sayings was "God will get you for that". My friends, if we do not follow God's teachings , and if we do NOT spread the Good News of the kingdom and salvation, God WILL get us for that!

When we get tired of following Christ's teachings, all we have to do is follow the advice Paul gave in Hebrews 12 verse 2-"Keep your eyes on Him and keep on running to win". In other words, all we have to do is keep our eyes on the prize-namely, eternal life. Endurance doesn't mean casually accepting a setback and quitting the race of life early. Instead, it means doing whatever it takes morally and ethically to win. God wants for us the fullest, richest and deepest life we can have because he loves us. In return, he expects us to do Christ's work in this place, and in our own generation. In his name and by his power, we are to confront the world of evil and evil people. We are to discern not only what time it is, but what time it will soon become-and with the time we have left, we must get to work.