You Will Be My Witnesses

 May 13, 2012

 

This coming Thursday is a significant church year holiday, but many folks don’t even realize it. There will be nothing in the papers, no sales at the stores; very few churches have worship services to remember the day. But what happened on that day is important for us as the followers of Jesus Christ. What holy day am I talking about? Thursday will be forty days after Easter, the day of the Ascension.

The implications of the Ascension for us are immense. We speak of it every time we profess our faith using the Apostle’s Creed: He ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God the Father almighty. The Ascension tells us the Jesus is still living. He went into heaven bodily. At the Right Hand of God He is still working for our benefit. He has assumed His position of power, ruling the world. He sends men to preach His Word, and He pleads our case. Jesus reminds the Father that He has paid the price for our sins, so that through faith, they will no longer be held against us. From there He will return to announce the final judgment, taking the faithful to himself.

This final chapter of Luke’s Gospel, from which today’s text is taken, records the reactions to Resurrection. The first 43 verses all deal with the events on Easter day and the way different followers of Jesus reacted to the proclamation “He is Risen.” First of all, they did not believe it was true (11). There was also confusion (12); Then came excitement (32), but also fear and worry (37-38); When Jesus showed them His hands and feet, there was tentative joy and amazement (41-42). That is where the events of Easter Day end. We know from the book of Acts that Jesus was with His disciples off and on for a period of 40 days after that. During that time, He spoke to them and reminded them of His teachings. At the end of that period came today’s text, the record of His Ascension. Notice what their reaction is now:  they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.

There is something else here important for all of us. Before Jesus ascended, He told His disciples you are witnesses of these things, referring to His Ministry and work of redemption. There is an old legend that when Jesus ascended into heaven, the angels were talking to Him. Since He still bore the marks of His sufferings, Gabriel said, “Master, you must have suffered terribly for men down there.” Jesus replied, “I did.” Gabriel asked, “Do they know how much You loved them and what You did for them?” Jesus answered, “Oh, no, not yet. Right now only a few of them in Palestine know.” So Gabriel asked, “What have you done to let everyone know about it?” Jesus replied, “I asked Peter, James and John, and a few others to make it the business of their lives to tell others about me. Each one who hears about me will tell someone else, and eventually, everyone will know what I did for them.” Gabriel was a bit skeptical, since he knew what men were like. “What if Peter and the others get tired? What if those who come after them forget? What if way down in the 21st century, people just don’t tell others about You? Have you made any other plans?” Jesus answered: “I have no other plans. I’m counting on them.” You and I know of Christ because those who went before us let the Spirit work through them. It is now our turn to be the witnesses Jesus wants us to be.

You have probably heard the story about a woman who was in a house that was being flooded. A rescuer came up to the house in a boat and offered to take her to safety. She refused saying, “The good Lord will take care of me.” A little while later, she was on the second floor because the water had risen so high. Another boat came by, offering her assistance. She again refused: “I’m trusting in the Lord.” Before too long, she was on the roof, and a helicopter came by. They dropped a basket and pleaded with her to get in. She stubbornly maintained that she didn’t need their help–she was trusting in God to help her. The water rose still higher, and she drowned. She went to heaven and asked, “Lord, I was trusting in you–what happened?” God replied: “I sent two boats and a helicopter–what do you want?”

There is a point here. When Jesus told His disciples that they were to be His witnesses, He promised to send the help they would need. He sent it — His Holy Spirit. That may not have been what they were expecting, or how they thought it should be done, but that was God’s plan. That is the same help you and I need to be His witnesses. We may not always see the hand of God assisting us and recognize it as such. We often ignore the obvious. But God’s Spirit will work through those who believe in Jesus.

Another part of the problem we have in fulfilling Christ’s command to witness is that we view it as a chore from which we will receive little joy. We tend to think of it as a task that we have to do! We try to carry out our witness through our own means, based upon our fluctuating emotions, using our own programs and strategies, or relying on sociology or demographics. If this is all you’ve got, if this is your basis, you will fail. Those things are not powerful enough. They ultimately lead to disappointment and frustration.

How should we witness? The secret is not in a program, or even in organization. Our witness needs to begin at the cross. If you do not proclaim that the suffering and death of Jesus Christ was to pay for the sins of all men, then you have nothing of lasting value to share with the world. Your witness must be sincere and come from your heart, but it must also be according to the Word of God. If you share empty words and promises of men, then you are wasting your own and everyone else’s time. As followers of Jesus, your witness must be by the power of the Holy Spirit (WHAT MY FATHER HAS PROMISED): He alone is able to lead men to the knowledge of the truth. And in order to witness for Jesus Christ, you must know who He is: God’s Son, the Savior of the world, the only hope of forgiveness and salvation.

The best way to be a witness for Christ is to simply realize that you are a witness. You will reach people for Christ by living as His Child with the Spirit of God living and working in you. When you apply the knowledge that the life of Jesus Christ was lived for you, that the death of Jesus Christ was died for you, and that the Resurrection was for you, it changes you. Jesus will be seen by others through you. You will be His witnesses by simply living with this confidence. Hearing the message that you are a sinner who has been forgiven through the merits of Jesus Christ, and applying that to your life in all situations, You are His witnesses. You live in hope and joy.

In order to know who you are as witnesses, you must remember who Jesus is. Knowing that He is your Savior from sin and death, you will understand that you are His witnesses, and let that dictate how you live. How much easier life would be if we would just remember who we are? What difference would it make if you did everything aware of the fact that you are a witness for Christ?

• What if you dated as his witness, and chose marriage partners that way?
• What if we drove as witnesses for Christ? I bet the insurance rates would go down and you would see less rude gestures!
• What if you did your job as a witness for Jesus Christ? Do you think your job situation will improve or get worse?
• What if you Shopped and Played golf and mowed your yard and did the dishes as a witness for Jesus? What would be different?

All of life would be enhanced. And it is possible, if we will use the help the Spirit of God offers. The problems come when we forget that we are His witnesses. We should remember who we are. We live in the certainty not only of the Resurrection, but also of the Ascension; our Lord lives and reigns in heaven; He has gone to prepare a place for us; while we are here, we are to live as His witnesses. God grant this.

Preach the Name of Jesus

“Preach the Name of Jesus.” That is not the most original title for a sermon. It is a necessary thing, but it is also pretty obvious, isn’t it? It happens every week in countless churches around the world, including those is this community, doesn’t it? Of course it does. But if you think this passage is only speaking about what happens in church on the weekend, you’re sadly mistaken. The vast majority of people that come to worship spend about one hour per week here. If they come to Bible Class, too, that is about two hours per week. Since there are 168 hours in a week, 2 hours is less than 2% of your time in any given week. Less than 2% – And that is for those who go to Church! Preaching the name of Jesus is not to be relegated to less than 2% of our time.

Nor should it be just something for those who are in full time church work or who lead a worship service. Everyone of you who hear repentance and forgiveness of sins proclaimed to you in Jesus name have the responsibility to proclaim that to others. I know you’ve heard it before, but being a follower of Jesus is not a spectator sport. It means doing something, being involved in the mission, sharing the Good News of life and forgiveness. Do you “Love to Tell the Story of Jesus and His Love?”

The truth of the matter is that none of us – none of us – have done this as well as we should. That, however, is among the sins you confessed earlier in this service and heard God’s Word of forgiveness proclaimed to you. So put the guilt over past shortcomings behind you. As the forgiven people of God that we are, how can each of us carry out this task of preaching the name of Jesus?

Get the Message Straight

You know that preaching the name of Jesus means more than just telling other people His name. It means telling people who He is and what He has done for them. Jesus summarized it this way for His disciples on that first Easter evening: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷ and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations. That is the old, old story we sang about a few minutes ago. Jesus loved each of you enough to die in your place, so that you might live with Him forever. Remembering this is why we confess our sins, receiving the forgiveness He earned for us. That old, old story is made new every day in our lives. It is our reason for hope. It is our source of comfort. It gives us strength in our living. You know that because Jesus lived a perfect life, died to cleanse you from your sin, and rose to defeat death, you are assured of life everlasting with Him. That is what we are to share as we preach the name of Jesus.

Share the Message

So how do you do it? You probably all agree that it sounds good in theory, that it looks good on paper, but how in the world are you going to implement it in your life? The direct approach is to speak the words, actively telling the story. His name should be always on our lips, and we should be prepared to share the reason for the hope that is in us. His name is on our lips because He is in our hearts. And because He is in your heart, His presence should be evident in your living. Your life will be influenced by the knowledge of everything Christ did for you.  

You preach the name of Jesus when you are an image of Him for the world to see. I once heard someone describe it this way: Think of your life is a blank piece of paper. Place that blank piece of paper over Jesus and trace everything. It should be a complete tracing, so much so that all your actions are directed by what He would have done. He is to be the model. In Him we live and move and have our being. He will be evident in everything, even a simple act of kindness.

In Acts 4, Peter speaks of an act of kindness he had shown. By God’s power, Peter offered healing to a crippled man. I would say that qualifies as an act of kindness. And we all do little acts of kindness every day. But listen to how Peter used that act of kindness to share the message of Jesus as Savior.

That is why it is so important for us to preach the name of Jesus. He is the only name by which we can be saved.

You can do this in your life. You are given the opportunities to speak your faith every day. You can share with others the reason for your kindness and actions. The question is, “Will you?” More often than not, we get so caught up in our own lives that we neglect the preaching of Jesus. A long time ago I heard a pastor share the story of his own daughter who ran a flower shop. She made arrangements to take off early one beautiful spring afternoon shortly after Easter. She was going to meet her husband for a picnic. Right as it was time for her to leave, a couple came in to pick out a wreath for a child’s casket. They took their time looking at all the different arrangements, and the young lady found herself growing more and more impatient as the time she was to meet her husband came and passed. When the couple finally made their selection, she hurriedly threw it together and rushed it out to try to finish up. The couple took their time examining it, and she found herself thinking, “Come on, already. Hurry up so I can leave!” Finally, the man took out his checkbook, and as he started to write the check he looked at the young lady and said, “He would have been our first grandson.” As she was sharing this with her father, she said, “Here I was so happy in my life, and I had just heard the Easter story of victory proclaimed again, yet I was so wrapped up in myself that I didn’t even think about sharing it with those people who were hurting and needed to hear the Good News.”

How many people do we encounter every day who are hurting and hungering for the Good News that is found only in Jesus Christ? More than you will ever know. Could your acts of kindness and compassion be the way for you to share with them the faith you have?  Could giving them one of those witness coins open the door for you to share the Good News of our Savior? You better believe it could. And a few simple words is all it takes to plant the seed, to let the Spirit work in their hearts. You can also invite them to attend worship with you to hear God’s love and promises shared here in this community of believers. I know many of you are wondering whether or not you can really do this. You can if you remember that Jesus is with you. He told those first disciples,

We may not be eyewitnesses as those first disciples were, but we have seen His power in our lives. And we have the same power from on High, the Holy Spirit, clothing us. That is why we can confidently preach the name of Jesus in our living and speaking. Let’s sing one more stanza of that hymn in which we pledge to tell that old, old story to others.

I want to tell the story as it was told to me 

And live my life for Jesus for all the world to see.

I’ll preach the name of Jesus in everything I do

So that my friends and neighbors may come to love him, too.

I want to tell the story so all can share the glory

And know the old, old story of Jesus and His love.

Responding to God’s Love in Jesus Christ

Last Sunday Cheryl, Jane Bronstad, Starr Jordan, Cleo Cline and I went to the Spring Event for the Dal-North Zone of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League at Prince of Peace in Carrollton. As part of that event, some of the ministries of Prince of Peace were shared. One lady talked about a mission trip she took to China with members of that congregation. But the other two ladies shared how they started ministries in the apartment complexes where they live. They invited the children into their homes for crafts and Bible Study and games and singing. Instead of bringing the children to church (and many of them would not go to a church) they are taking the church to the children. And many of these kids come from single parent households. It was encouraging to hear about the ways in which these ladies (and their husbands) where blooming where they were planted.

Too often we think of mission work as something that happens far away and is done by other people. That is part of it, but our Church is involved in mission here, too. And, after all, you are the Church. In all our efforts, we are simply responding to God’s love for us. When Jesus spoke the words of our text, he was already in Jerusalem. If He had been here, He would have said, beginning in Denison. His message is clear. Proclaim the Gospel to all nations, but don’t forget about the people who live next door! Mission work, like charity, begins at home, “at Jerusalem.”

An old Baptist hymn reminds us what our attitude should be:

Lord, Lay Some Soul upon my heart, And love that soul through me;

And may I bravely do my part To win that soul for Thee. (OSB #8)

 

You and I are the ones who have heard that Good News that Jesus Christ has paid for sin and conquered death and the devil through His life, death and resurrection. We are the redeemed children of God who have taken that message of forgiveness and eternal life to heart. So now what? You need to respond to God’s love by becoming personally involved in God’s Mission, making it your mission.

You may ask, “How? How can I be involved in missions?” At least I hope you will ask yourselves that, because the rest of my message to you today has to do with the answer to that question. And I am going to answer that question by listing eight broad categories. There will be some overlap in a few places, but I think you will get a pretty good answer to the question, “How can I be involved in missions?”

Learn

Personal education is essential if you want to be involved in God’s Mission of making disciples of all nations. Some of the learning needs to come from God’s Word. Other learning will take place by looking at the world around you. Here are some of the questions you should ask yourself:

• What is God’s view of the world?
• What is God’s goal for the world?
• Who are the people God cares about? Where are they?
• What is our church doing in God’s world?
• Who are the missionaries? What do they do?

Pray

Don’t ever underestimate the tremendous power you have at your disposal, being able to make your requests known to God with the assurance that He will hear and answer. Make a prayer list and refer to it each day. Lift up the needs of the lost along with your own requests. Here’s a starter list:

• for world evangelization
• for missionaries, their families and the people they serve
• for unbelievers you know
• for yourself to be a better witness
• for your Pastor, that he might be a faithful minister of God

Give

The two most precious things in our world today are time and money. We don’t part with either of them easily. But those are the very things that prove useful in carrying our God’s mission. So you need to give.

• money to this congregation to support LCMS Mission Work. Maybe some of you don’t know, but the first 10% of each week’s offerings is designated for world missions and sent in for that purpose. By your offerings, you are supporting Mission Work here and around the world.
• money to special mission projects that you know about. Some of you support the projects of the LWML. Each quarter here at Grace we support a mission project through our Sunday School and Mid-Week offerings. Some of you have other missions that you support on a regular basis. That is how you respond to God’s love.
• time to learn more about God’s Mission. Most people don’t know what is going on and won’t even take the time to learn.
• time to tell others about Jesus. This is perhaps most tragic, that people actually say, “I don’t have time to speak to others about Jesus. I’m too busy.” I ask you, and I want you each to answer this for yourself: What is more important that sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ as Savior with someone who does not believe in Him?

Serve

God wants His children to have the heart of a servant. Jesus gave the example, washing the feet of His disciples. Have you looked at ways you can serve?

• caring for missionaries and their families
• participating in servant events
• participating in relief efforts
• in the congregation – find something that needs doing and do it!
• In your neighborhood – find something that needs doing and do it!

Tell

Speaking your faith, letting it be a part of who you are and your conversation, doesn’t take much effort at all. You believe that Jesus has died to pay for your sins, and that has made a difference in your life. I think you will find that you can quite easily tell others about that:

• your family members – do you have relatives that have not heard?
• your friends
• your neighbors – are you sure they know Jesus Christ is the only way to life and salvation?
• others until you can go or because you can’t go.
• others and support them by praying, writing, giving and asking for ways to help

Send

Go

When Jesus told His disciples to make more disicples, He said to do it by baptizing and teaching. But He said there was something they had to do before that: GO! Go yourself. You can do it. There are numerous short and long term opportunities. And you really can do it. We had a lady for Grace go to Argentina for two years. We supported a yound lady who went to Hong Kong for a year. Some of our members have been going on Servant events around the country. Some of our members are seriously contemplating careers in church work. You can do it, too. But it doesn’t have to be going far away for you to be a part of God’s Mission.

• right now to people you know who need to hear about Jesus
• wherever the Lord directs you to make disicples.

Celebrate

Part of being followers of Jesus and knowing of His love is rejoicing in that Good News. We need to be sure to celebrate:

• with God’s people around the world
• that Jesus is alive
• that you are a child of God
• that God has a wonderful job for you to do.

 

Let none hear you idly saying, “There is nothing I can do,”

While the souls of men are dying And the Master calls for you.

Take the task He gives you gladly, Let His work your pleasure be.

Answer quickly when He calleth, “Here am I, send me, send me!”

Touch Me and See

Today’s Gospel lesson has a lot of good stuff. So much so that I decided to spend more than one Sunday thinking about this passage with you. Today is the first of four messages on this text, and we begin by considering Jesus words, “Touch me and see.”

A study was done about 50 years ago to determine the importance of human touch and the lack thereof. In a South American orphanage, Rene Spitz observed and recorded what happened to 97 children who were deprived of emotional and physical contact. A lack of funds meant there was not enough staff to adequately care for all the children, aged 3 months to 3 years old. Nurses changed diapers and fed and bathed the children, but there was no time to hold, touch and talk to them as a parent would. After 3 months, many of them showed signs of abnormality. In addition to a loss of appetite and being unable to sleep well, many of the children had a vacant expression in their eyes. After five months, the deterioration was even more obvious. They would whimper and contort their faces in obvious pain. Now when a doctor or nurse would pick up a child, it would scream in terror. 27 of the children died in the first year, but not from a lack of food or health care. They died from a lack of touch and emotional nurture. Seven more died in the next year. Only 21 of the 97 survived, and most of them suffered serious psychological damage (Charles Sell, Unfinished Business, Multnomah, 1989).

As difficult as that is to hear, and as hard as it may be for you to imagine, what if you had to live without the touch and love of other people? What would your life be like? Then take it a step further: What must it be like to live without the touch and love of Jesus Christ? What if you lived without His presence because He had stayed in the tomb? That is not the case, because He is Risen. He invites all of you to be touched by Him, by His promises and presence and peace. Yet there are many in our world who live without His touch.  Jesus wanted to make sure His disciples knew that He was alive.

He was alive. This Good News would have an ongoing and everlasting impact, not just for those first disciples, but for us as well. It changes the way we live. It changes the way we die. It changes the way we worship. It changes the way we work. The Resurrection changes everything.

Of course the disciples had their doubts. Right after Jesus showed them His hands and feet, this passage tells us they still did not believe. I think it is safe to say the same problem plagues many of you sitting here today. Doubts creep in. You find yourself doubting like Thomas and the other disciples after the Resurrection. And Jesus knows that. Even after you hear the Good News in Bible Class and Church and Sunday School and home devotions, sometimes you still don’t fully believe for a variety of reasons. Satan will play on those doubts and fears. But Jesus says to you: “Touch me and see. I’ll show you. My resurrection is for real.” And we all need that reassuring touch.

During a severe thunderstorm, a mother tucked her small son into bed. She was about to turn out the light and leave the room when his trembling voice asked, “Mommy, will you stay in here with me tonight?” Smiling, she gave her son a reassuring hug and said, “I can’t dear. I have to sleep with Daddy.” As she turned out the light, she heard her son say, “That big sissy!”

We all crave a reassuring touch, no matter who we are. So how does God provide that for us today? Jesus says Touch me and see, but how is that possible for those of us who are removed by time and space from those post-resurrection appearances of our Lord?

In our worship and our singing today, we have affirmed that we believe in our God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We have asked that He would open our eyes to see Him and feel His touch. We get that reassuring touch in many ways. Perhaps the most obvious touch comes from His Word.

He opened their minds not for the sake of wisdom or intellectual stimulation, but so that they could fully understand His death and resurrection, repentance and forgiveness. He was touching them with the reassuring news that His life was for them, His death was for them, and His victory over death was for them. He touches us with that same message, telling you that through faith you obtain everything He did for you. God wants to open your minds to understand His Word. He calls you to repent and receive His forgiveness. Through His Word, you touch and see Jesus.

Of course, there are others ways you can see and touch our Lord. He touches you with His peace and power and presence in Baptism. He touches you with His presence in Holy Communion. You can feel His peace in the fellowship of other believers. These things allow you to touch and see Jesus.

 Those first disciples took this encounter with their Risen Savior to heart. John wrote about it in his first letter. Listen to all the times he makes reference to hearing and touching and seeing Jesus

John wanted others to touch and see Jesus the way he had. He knew that our Lord could touch people with His grace even though He was not visibly present. His peace and presence and power are available freely today through the Word and Sacraments and through the fellowship of faith.

Last Sunday I spoke to you about the eyes of faith that see through the fog. Another way that is expressed in Scripture is in Paul’s letter to the believers in Ephesus.

 

In Scripture, the heart was considered to be the entire inner life of a person, the place of thought and wisdom. All that was in the heart. While we now know that thought takes place in the mind, we still use this same terminology at times in English. Someone might say “I know in my heart it is true!” meaning that you know it on the deepest level possible. That is what Paul was praying for here, and what Jesus wants for you as well: to know and believe on the deepest level possible that He is alive, that He loves you, and that He died and rose again for you. Touch and see.

What’s Blocking Your View

April 15, 2012  

John 20:19-31

I didn’t know! You’ve heard those words in a variety of situations.

• ·        It might be about someone who has died. “Did you hear Uncle Bill passed?” “No, I didn’t know!”
• ·        Perhaps you are just finding out that a friend has an illness. “Frank is in the hospital with cancer.” “I didn’t know he was ill!”
• ·        Sometimes you might say those words when you are looking for an excuse. “Why didn’t you clean up your room before the company came over?” “I didn’t know I was supposed to!”
• ·        But most often that phrase is an admission of ignorance. “I didn’t know!” You are telling someone that you did not previously have the information he or she is sharing with you. “I didn’t know.”

Ignorance is not always seen as a bad thing. The old saying “Ignorance is bliss” might lead you to believe that ignorance is to be preferred. However, just because you think everything is fine does not mean that it is! Ignorance is not truly bliss. You may be ignorant of the fact that you have a water leak under you slab, and be happy thinking that everything is fine. But eventually you will discover that things are not as blissful as you believed.

A long time ago somewhat explained it to me this way: “Being ignorant is not a sin. Staying ignorant is.” It is one thing to not know something because you have not had proper information shared with you through no fault of your own. It is an entirely different matter to be confronted with true information and then chose to ignore it.

There is a lot of trivial information in this world, some of which is interesting to me. I used to read newspaper columns about Odd and Little Known Facts. One such tidbit that I came across said that a dense fog covering seven city blocks at a depth of 100 feet is composed of less than one glass of water. Think of that – one glass of water creates enough fog to cover seven city blocks twice as tall as this building! Something as insignificant as the contents of this glass can keep people from seeing things as they really are.

Fog can be compared to the state of being ignorant. You can’t see things around you when you are in a fog. And for that reason, fog is also like the things most people worry about. Your worry about and fear the unknown. If those things were reduced down to their true size, you could probably fit them into this glass. Our fears usually don’t amount to much. And they block our view. But it can be difficult to have that perspective when you are engulfed in a fog.

I remember a fishing trip several years ago. Jim Bronaugh and I set out early on Lake Texoma on a Wednesday morning. I remember it was a Wednesday because we had Lenten services that night. As we arrived at the lake, it was totally socked in with a dense fog. I don’t think we could see 10 yards. I thought the fishing trip would be scrubbed. I didn’t think there was any way we could go out on a day like that. But Jim had other ideas. He knows the lake pretty well, and he assured me everything would be fine. We launched the boat and slowly headed out of the marina. I didn’t have any idea where we were or where we were going. It was a good thing I wasn’t driving the boat. Jim puttered along until he had us right up next to one of the islands. On my fifth or sixth cast a huge fish exploded out of the water toward my lure, but missed it. That was an awful feeling. Jim told me to keep after it. Two casts later, the fish came back, and this time he didn’t miss. About thirty minutes later we netted the biggest fish I’ve caught so far at Texoma, a 27 inch striper. If I had let my fear and uncertainty keep me from going out on the boat that day, I would not have caught that fish! Thankfully, I had enough faith that Jim knew what he was doing to get into the boat. Some might argue that it was foolish, especially if you know Jim. But it certainly paid off. And I thought it was interesting that about the same time I got that fish to the boat, the fog lifted!

Being in a fog can cause you to proceed with caution, and that is good. But to let that caution turn into fear that overwhelms you is not good. Worries and fears drain us of energy and serve no real purpose. Worry is just a form of fear.

Today’s Gospel lesson tells us what was going on that first Easter evening. The disciples were gathered together behind locked doors because of their fear of the Jews. Jesus had been crucified, and they were afraid the Jewish leaders might come after them next! The women said something about Him being alive, but their anxiety and worry kept them from believing. It was into their fog-like fear that Jesus comes, showing Himself to be alive. They were all doubters at this point. They were not seeing things clearly. Their fear was blocking their view. Thomas is saddled with the label of being the doubter because he doubted a week longer than the rest of them. But on that first Easter, they were all in the fog. They didn’t believe Jesus was alive, even though the women had told them. Luke’s Gospel tells us that those two Emmaus disciples had come to tell the others that they had seen Jesus alive just before the Lord appeared to them. But they were still acting in ignorance. They had been told, but did not believe. Their fear was controlling them. It was like a fog blocking their view of what had happened that morning.

After they saw Jesus for themselves, they believed. Thomas would come along the next week and be convinced by seeing Jesus, too. And Jesus tells him

In a way, Jesus is saying, “You let that fog of your fears keep you from seeing with the eyes of faith. Those who believe with the eyes of faith that sees through the fog will be blessed.”

In Acts 3 we see how Peter was changed by the Resurrection of Jesus. He was empowered and emboldened by Jesus to tell others that “He is Risen” and that changes everything. After Jesus used him to heal a cripple outside the Temple, Peter was sharing this message of the living Jesus with the crowd that gathered. Peter says that he knows the Jews were living in foggy conditions when they crucified Jesus.

They were acting from ignorance, fear and worry. But Peter is trying to lift the fog, to help them escape their ignorance by telling them that Jesus is their Risen Lord and Savior as well. He loves them so much that He let Himself be killed in order to pay the price our sins demand. That He did everything we need to be saved is confirmed beyond all doubt by His resurrection. So Peter tells those who killed Jesus that His love is big enough to forgive even that. He had come so that everyone could be forgiven and receive the undeserved gift of eternal life.

When you have that knowledge, that certainty, that faith, it changes you. God wants your life to be transformed by His love. He tells you not to let fear and worry block your view of life as it is under His control.

That perfect love is Jesus Christ, God’s love that came to earth as one of us to free us from our slavery to sin and death and fear and worry. And that love incarnate told us how our lives should be changed by our faith in him.

There is so much fog all around us, and we are the ones who know and believe in Jesus. Imagine what it is like for those who have not been led to faith. Their worries and fears surround them and cripple them. They may feel blissful and secure in their ignorance, not knowing that without faith in Jesus they are doomed to an eternity of torment. But it does not have to be that way. God has made it possible for everyone to be forgiven for Jesus’ sake. In Acts, Peter was trying to make sure the Jews didn’t STAY ignorant.

You have that assurance in your life. As we continue to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, we need to remind each other not to let fear keep us from living lives as God’s trusting children. We need to be emboldened in the same way Peter was to share what we know and lead others through the fog of fear that blocks their view. We want them to join us as those who are blessed by believing that because He lives, we live also.

 

 

 

 

 

Easter Sunrise Message

April 8, 2012  Easter Sunrise

Lee Strobel is a Christian author. In one of his books he wrote: I hope I have more success in explaining Easter than my brother-in-law did a few years ago when he was trying to explain it to his 5-year-old son Sean. They were sitting in church on Easter, and just before the service began, my brother-in-law pointed to the cross and said, “See the cross? The people put Jesus on the cross. The people killed Jesus.” Sean looked around very nervously, then asked cautiously: “These people?”

Out of the mouths of babes come words that put it all in perspective. Easter is all about Jesus – crucified and risen again. But Easter is all about you!  You put Jesus on the cross. You put Him in the tomb. And it was for you that He rose again. That is what brings us together today to rejoice!

There should be no doubt that Jesus truly died. The graphic descriptions in Scripture make that point very plain. Of course, there will always be those who doubt this.  One lady wrote to a question and answer forum. “Dear Sirs, Our preacher said on Easter, that Jesus just swooned on the cross and that the disciples nursed Him back to health. What do you think? Sincerely, Bewildered. 

Dear Bewildered, Beat your preacher with a cat-of-nine-tails with 39 heavy strokes, nail him to a cross; hang him in the sun for six hours; run a spear thru his side…put him in an airless tomb for 36 hours and see what happens. Sincerely, Charles.

By all accounts, Jesus died. He was buried. They all thought it was over. That is why those women were making their way to the tomb – they knew He was dead and wanted to honor his memory by providing a proper burial. They didn’t expect to find Him alive. But that is exactly what they found.

I want to talk to you for a minute about possums. They are an ugly creature, aren’t they. In the last couple of weeks, I’ve seen quite a few of them dead on the roads. And then I ran across an article that maintains that possums are smart animals. You wouldn’t think so because you hardly ever see one except when it’s dead on the road. There’s a joke that goes, “why did the chicken cross the road? To prove to the possum that it could be done!” But possums, it turns out, are smart. They won’t enter a hole if there’s just one set of tracks going into it. Think about that. They won’t enter a hole if there is just one set of tracks going into it because they know there’s something in there. But if there are two sets of tracks, one going in and one coming out, the possum will enter and not be afraid. 

Isn’t that a message for Easter? We can enter the grave without fear. We don’t have to fear death because there are tracks coming out of the tomb. Jesus went into the tomb but He came out again on the third day, this day. Paul preached the proclamation of Easter: “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” It is not there because our Lord rose in victory over death for our sake!

Bruce Larson was a well known Presbyterian minister. He once said, “The events of Easter cannot be reduced to a creed or philosophy. We are not asked to believe the doctrine of the resurrection. We are asked to meet this person raised from the dead. In faith, we move from belief in a doctrine to the knowledge of a person. Ultimate truth is a person. We met him. He is alive.”

This is the message that we need to hear one Easter. You meet Jesus. He is alive. Jesus is risen!

The story of Easter is the story of Jesus.  It is the story the world needs to hear, and we need to tell.  It is the story in which we find our place, for it is our story.  It is a story that goes on, it lives because He lives.

 

A Frayed Knot

April 8, 2012  Easter

(This sermon is in large part based on a sermon posted by Kevin Jones from the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection:   http://lcrmarion.org/worship/a-frayed-knot-2011-easter-sermon/)

People should be given 6” pieces of string as they enter worship.

 I know you’ve been wondering why I gave everyone a piece of string when they arrived today. Take it out now and I’ll tell you a story. There was once a piece of string who was very hungry. He decided that he would treat himself to a great dinner. So he went to the fanciest restaurant in town and walked up to the host and asked to be seated at the finest table for one. The host looked down his nose at the little string and sneered, “We do not serve your type here!” and told him to leave. The string turned and walked sadly out of the restaurant. Once outside he was determined to get his fancy meal and he struck upon a plan. The little string bent himself over in half and made a loop. Then he twisted around and poked his head up through the loop. Reaching up, he untwisted his top. Then did the same to his feet and walked back into the restaurant. Again he approached the host and asked for the finest table for one. The host squinted at the little string and said, “Aren’t you that string that was just in here a moment ago?” The string responded, “No, I’m a frayed knot.”

That’s the message for you today. You heard it in the Gospel reading. It is the point of the resurrection. Be not afraid: Be a frayed knot (afraid not).

The word “afraid” appears in this short lesson four times. Twice it describes the fear that people were experiencing and twice the people are told, “Do not be afraid.”  You need to hear that message today. So many things in our lives make us afraid. Let’s see why you are told to be afraid not.

Matthew’s Gospel is the only account where the stone is still in place as the women approach the tomb. The angel appears and rolls away the stone to reveal an empty tomb. Then the angel sits on the stone with his dazzling white clothes. The Roman guards are so afraid that they pass out. The angel ignores them and speaks to the  women. This may be an example of first century Jewish humor. The big tough soldiers faint while the women stand strong. The message here is that we need not fear earthly powers. The Roman soldiers represent earthly powers. In Jesus’ day, Rome held all the political power, all the economic power and all the military power. In the presence of God’s messenger and the news of new life, all these powers cannot stand. They pass out. They faint. So in the face of earthly powers you should be a frayed knot (afraid not)

 The second thing, and the most important message of this story, is that we don’t need to be afraid of God’s judgment. Many people and preachers are eager to tell you that God is unhappy with you. They remind you that you have done wrong, you have thought wrong things, and believed wrong. They tell you that God is fed up with you and angry with you and has to punish you. They want you to be afraid of God’s judgment. That is the message of the Law, and it is part of the message of God’s Word. But it is not the final word. At both the birth of Jesus and His resurrection, the heavenly messengers tell us “Be Afraid Not!” The message that the angel brings today is not a message of punishment but one of love, grace, mercy and forgiveness. Be Afraid Not!

Then, as the women leave the tomb, both afraid and filled with joy, Jesus appears to them and tells them to “Go and tell my brothers to meet me.” He calls them brothers. These are the people who betrayed, denied and abandoned Jesus in his hour of need just a few days earlier. They deserted him and now he calls them “brothers.” Jesus wants to be with them. So they meet Jesus on the mountain in Galilee. Jesus does not say to them:

• ·        “I want you to sit here on this mountain and think about what you did.”
• ·        “I think you owe me an apology.”
• ·        “If you confess these terrible things you did, then I will forgive you.”

No! Jesus comes out of the tomb having already forgiven them. He picks up where he left off. He doesn’t dwell on the past but puts the disciples to work continuing his ministry. “Go and make more disciples,” he says. “Continue what we were doing.” God doesn’t give up on us no matter how many times we get it wrong. Because of the faith you and I have in Jesus, we live in a state of grace, confident of the forgiveness is ours because Jesus not only paid for our sins with his death, but He rose again in victory to defeat death. So this is God’s judgment: You are forgiven. You are loved. So in the face of God’s judgment we can be a frayed knot (afraid not).

 So if we know that we are forgiven, we don’t have to be afraid of God’s judgment about the things in our past. And if we don’t have to be afraid of any earthly powers in this present age, that leaves only one arena: The future. As Matthew tells the resurrection story the angel tells the women to, “Go. Tell. He will meet you.” Out there. In the future. In the days to come. Jesus is already there, waiting for you. And as the women go, even before they get to the mountain and even before they get to tell, Jesus meets them. And he says, “Go. Tell. I will meet you.” Out there. In the future. I will be waiting for you.

You see, the resurrected Jesus is not bound to time the same way we are. Jesus is in the past, in the present and in the future all at the same time.  He’s out there in your future getting things ready for when you get there. He is preparing. He will meet you there as you go. And I’m not just talking about after you die.

• ·        I’m talking about later today at Easter dinner when you find yourself in the awkward and disagreeable conversation with that one relative you swore you were not going to get into this conversation with. Jesus is already there.
• ·        I’m talking about later this week when you have that difficult test, when you hear rumors that there will be another round of layoffs at work or when you get bad news from the doctor’s office.
• ·        I’m talking about later this year. Jesus is out there preparing for that time when you can be the grace and love and forgiveness of God to someone who is hurting or dying or despairing. Jesus is there getting ready to be with you when there are no words to say, but only a hand to hold on to.

This has implications for the way you and I should live our lives between now and the time we die.

Be not afraid. Live for the one who died and rose again for you. I want to share with you an example of not living for yourself that I came across just a few weeks ago. This story was in the March 20 “Athens Daily Review.” A man named Patrick Greene of San Antonio, a professed atheist, threatened to sue Henderson County over the display of a manger scene on the courthouse lawn. His experience with Christians was that they were narrow-minded individuals who had treated him unkindly throughout his life. He said, “My wife and I had never had a Christian do anything nice for us. Just the opposite.” But all that changed when the 63-year-old Greene learned he had a detached retina. He was forced to give up his Yellow Cab and prepare himself for impending blindness. His surgery would cost $20,000 and he didn’t have the money to pay his bills or buy groceries.

Jessica Crye, a member of Sand Springs Baptist Church in Athens, learned of his troubles on the Internet, and felt compelled to help. She went to her pastor, the Rev. Eric Graham, who contacted Greene to find out more about his needs.

Greene said. “First of all, I don’t want $20,000. That would be ridiculous, because there’s a chance the surgery would fail. On top of that, there’s a chance it could become detached again.” Greene told the pastor he had a more immediate need. “I said, if you really want to contribute something to help, we need groceries.” Greene said he was “flabbergasted” to learn that a group of Christians in Henderson County was reaching out to help an atheist, who in February had informed Commissioners Court that he would sue if the manger scene reappeared this year. “I told my wife about it,” Greene said. “They’re going to help us?”  Karen asked. Greene thought that if anything, he’d see $50, maybe $100.A few days later, the Christians made good on their promise, and sent a check for $400.  “I said I can’t believe it. I thought I was in the Twilight Zone.”

The money went to help pay the rent, and provide necessities from the grocery store. The contributions didn’t stop at $400 either. More money is coming in. Greene is so amazed by the generosity of the Christians in Henderson County, he’s sharing the story through the media, and is thinking about writing a book. “I’m going to call it the real ‘Christians of Henderson County,  Texas,’” Greene said.  “These people are acting like what the Bible says a Christian does.”

Now, rather than keep trying to keep the manger scene removed, Green said he’d like to add his contribution. “I have decided to show my appreciation to the Christian community for all their help, and I am going to buy a star for the top of the Nativity scene.  You people can figure out how to plug it in,” Greene said.

Because you and I know that Jesus died for us and that He is risen again, we need to be living for him the way the real Christians of Henderson County did. We have His promise to be with us every step of the way. Even we you come to your last breath, Jesus is already there. He went ahead of you into death so that we do not have to go there alone. Jesus will be there to lead you to new life: Resurrection Life. So face of the future. And be a frayed knot because the living, risen Christ goes with you. Amen

The King Comes

April 1 2012   Palm Sunday/Sunday of the Passion

Get ready for the emotional roller coaster that is Holy Week. It starts today with Jesus being given a King’s welcome. Cheers were going up as he entered Jerusalem. But before the cries of “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” could completely fade away, He was hanging from a cross and we behold the shocking outcome of His coming. The joyful cries of His triumphant entry become a stunned silence. Hopes and dreams change to devastating despair. But that is part of what it means to heed the call of John the Baptizer and REPENT. We must give up on ourselves and let God do His wondrous, miraculous forgiving. Life doesn’t always go the way we expect it to. And that is a good thing. You heard much of the account read to you already in this service. Let’s reflect today on how “Holy Week” Begins.

The entry of Jesus into Jerusalem was prophesied by Zechariah and Matthew makes reference to it in his Gospel:

We celebrate the coming of the newborn king at Christmas. That in itself is an amazing event. And on Palm Sunday, it appears as though He is coming into His own. As He comes into Jerusalem, He was hailed as a victorious King, which He would be. But the people had no idea how that was going to come about. They were rejoicing, looking forward to being a part of His kingdom, but they did not understand what that would mean for them. We have the advantage over them in that we know His entry into Jerusalem would lead to suffering and death. We know that it was because Jesus came to offer Himself in our place that our sins have been forgiven. We know that the King comes to do everything necessary for us to be saved. That’s the victory that is ours!

Good Friday should be the focal point. It was a dreadful day, because the Lord of Life hung on a cross, dying. It was a dreadful day because we see the innocent and sinless One die on account of us. It is an unbelievable day that the King comes for this very purpose. It is an awesome day because the total effect of our sin is revealed in our Lord’s cry, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Yet it is also an attractive day, because we know the cleansing power of the blood that flowed from His wounds and His side.

Even though that is where we concentrate, let’s not skip by this day, Palm Sunday, too quickly. We need to pause to catch the greatness, the beauty and value of the moment. The entry of Jesus into Jerusalem was itself a fulfillment of prophecy. The King Comes! God comes in triumph to His people. He no longer was sending them a prophet or a messenger. The King comes Himself! He is present in our midst. He comes to rule among us. From our perspective, we know that the Jesus who rode into Jerusalem was truly the victor. We know that because we know that a week later He would be risen from the dead!

And don’t let His humble appearance on a donkey fool you. The one who rode into Jerusalem is God Himself. The King Comes! He may look meek and lowly, but the welcome given Him was entirely appropriate. He would be triumphant and victorious through His death that would pay for the sins of all people and His resurrection that would destroy death’s power over us.

The King comes so that you might receive Him. He came to be the Lord of your Life. He conquered the foes for you. He has destroyed all the sin in you that would create a barrier between you and God. He has done everything necessary to establish a relationship with you. He wants you to let Him live in your heart and your mind. The King wants to come to you.

This King comes as one who has already won the battle. He comes bringing the victor’s spoils. He comes to proclaim His triumph. All that He won He wants to share. He does not hoard the riches for Himself, but wants to spread them out for all. Get ready for the roller coaster ride again this week. Spread your garments before Him. Proclaim that He is your King. Watch with Him in the Garden. See Him on the cross. Receive Him anew into your heart and life this week, and behold in awe and wonder your King.

An Exclusive Feast

Little Billy came home from his first day of school and told his mother, “I’m the best looking kid in my class!” “Who told you that?” asked his mother. Billy replied, “No one. But I saw everyone else who was there.”  I think that must have been the smug attitude of the Pharisees. As we consider once again that Jesus Still Eats with Sinners, today we hear of yet another time that Jesus was eating in the home of a Pharisee. As usual, He was being closely watched. He questioned whether or not it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath and then did just that. He warned them that humility was better than pride and arrogance in God’s sight. And he criticized the host for not extending hospitality to the poor and physically challenged. One guest tried to smooth over the tension by saying “Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”  He no doubt assumed that he and the others present in this Pharisees’ home would be among those so blessed. The Pharisees believed that when Messiah came there would be a great banquet. Those who had been faithful followers of the Lord would get the positions of honor at this banquet, and the Pharisees assumed that meant them. It was in response to this attitude and the one man’s comment that Jesus told yet another parable. That’s the part of this text I want you to consider with me today.

A man who hosted a banquet and invited a lot of guests. Most of them accepted the invitation. When the meal was ready, the host sent the customary second announcement to each guest. In their culture, acceptance of the initial invitation meant they would show up when it was announced that all was prepared. But that was not what happened here. They all had excuses. A few examples are given. “I have to go see a field I bought.” “I need to test drive my new set of oxen.” “I’m married now and that changes things.” (While true, I’m not sure it was a reason not to attend the banquet.)

The host becomes angry and upset with his guests. He instructs his servants to go find people who would attend, regardless of social or economic standing. They invited the poor and physically disabled. They all came and there was room for more. So the host tells his servants to invite strangers and outcasts until the banquet hall is filled. Then the host closes with a chilling statement:  not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet. I would guess that there was an eerie, tense silence in the room after Jesus said that. Let’s consider the implications this parable has for those of us living in the 21^st century.

The Feast has been Prepared

The Feast is ready. The host has done everything necessary. All the guests have to do is show up. It is like when you go to someone’s house for dinner and you ask, “Can I do anything to help?” and they tell you, quite truthfully, “No, everything is ready. Just sit down and enjoy.” That is what God says, because He had a plan and carried it out. Everything is ready.

Scripture is all about how God has done everything for us. The message of Jesus is all about that. God so loved the world that He did what was necessary for us to be able to attend the heavenly banquet. In every aspect of our lives, God was there first, preparing things for us. And he invites us to come to Him. You either accept or reject the invitation.

The Invitation Must Not Be Rejected

While rejection is an option, it is not what God desires. When He invites you, He expects that you will accept. After all, He is not offering you anything that would harm you or be dangerous in any way. He wants only good for you, in fact He wants only the best for you. And that is what He offers. So why would anyone say no?

Let’s go back to the parable. Each of the excuses mentioned were legitimate actitvities of everyday life, but none of them was so pressing that they should take precedence over God’s invitation. And that is why the host gets so angry. His claim on their time was more important than any of the things they were doing. By putting other things ahead of God, they were violating the First Commandment.

It is at this point that our shoes may begin to pinch a bit. The question today is not so much whether our actions are immoral or illegal of sinful. It is rather, “What proper, decent and socially acceptable things are keeping you from responding to God’s higher calling? What things are you putting before God and His claim on your life? God wants you to understand that He should take priority over everything else. The God who loved you enough to provide His Son as the sacrifice for your sin should occupy the number one position in your life.

The Banquet Hall Will Be Filled

When the host hears of the rejections from the original invitees, He still wants to share His goodness. He brings in those who were of a lower social level. There was still room, so He invites foreigners and strangers and wanderers. The parable recounts exactly what Jesus did. He came to His own and His own received Him not. He went to His countrymen, the Jews, but was spurned by all the proper religious folks. So he goes to the fisherman, the tax collector, the prostitute, the children, and to all those the proper folk referred to as “sinners.” But it goes beyond that, past the blood line of Abraham. He extends His welcome to the Roman Centurion, the Samaritan Woman, and the variety of humanity gathered on Pentecost from every nation under the sun. No more boundaries, not walls of separation. No person was beyond being invited. God wants everyone to enjoy the banquet He prepared through the death and resurrection of Jesus to pay for sin. There is no other requirement for participation than a willingness to come.

You and I will be guests at that banquet because of our faith in Jesus. We are to be inviting others as well. The Holy Spirit wants to work through you to bring others to faith, ensuring them a seat at the table. The Host will fill His banquet hall.

Jesus spoke of an exclusive event. Only some were invited. Others sat outside with no hope of gaining entrance. But when those originally invited rejected the offer, things changed. It became exclusive in that those first invited were now excluded. This is a warning to all those invited. But it is also the cause for rejoicing for those of us who had no right to expect an invitation that we have now received. Jesus wants to eat with us – sinners. He paid for our sins, satisfied God’s judgment, defeated death and prepared the banquet. Now He invites you to attend. Because of your faith you will hear him say:

The Greater Thing

Last Sunday I sat in a worship service with granddaughters on either side of me, aged six and seven. That congregation gave children an activity bag as they entered, and these bags contained Bible story books for the children to keep. I looked at the one Jayden pulled out of her bag. It was the story of Jonah, which we have been working through in our Wednesday services this Lenten season. So I looked to the other side where Zoe was sitting. Her book was the story of Mary and Martha, which was the text I selected for today’s message months ago as we consider how Jesus Still Eats with Sinners. I don’t think that was a coincidence, but an affirmation from God for this series of sermons.

This story of Mary and Martha should be familiar to you. It is likely so familiar that the jolt it is intended to give has been softened. But the jolt is there. The Lord Jesus praises the adoring, dreamy-eyed, meditative Mary sitting at His feet, and scolds the hustling, bustling, busy Martha. This is even more shocking when we realize that Martha was busying herself in an effort to meet the needs of Jesus. She had people in her home and was making sure they all had something to eat. At first glance, most of us would disagree with the evaluation of Jesus. If I had written this story, I would probably have turned it around. I’d have Jesus praise Martha and scold Mary for sitting there and doing nothing. Chances are that is the way you would write it, too. But you didn’t write the story, and neither did I. God did. And He must have had a good reason for writing it the way that He did. We want to discover that reason today, as we continue thinking about how Jesus Still Eats with Sinners.

When Jesus went to the home of Mary and Martha, He was associating and eating with sinners. Not that Martha was a bad woman. She was not a slacker or a delinquent. She was a close friend of Jesus. She loved Him. She was an energetic worker for the kingdom. She was active. In fact, that was the very thing Jesus said was wrong with her: she was too active. If Martha were a member of Grace Lutheran Church, we would call her a good church member without a moment’s hesitation. She would be the one always here working on everything she could. So what’s wrong with that?

When we examine what Martha was doing, we see that her action was not what was wrong, at least not in itself. She was trying to look after the needs of Jesus and the other people present in her home. They came to her home, so she was going to feed them. She was the model hostess. She was working hard for a good cause. She was simply trying to serve the Lord. Isn’t that what Jesus wanted? Hadn’t he said time and again that His followers should serve Him? The Lord wanted activity and he was going to get it because she was giving it. To all appearances, she was doing the right thing. She was so sure that she was doing the right thing that she asked Jesus to send Mary into the kitchen, too, so that she could be a good servant. And what did Jesus do? He scolded Martha for her activity and praised inactive Mary. Really?

Now, if Martha was not a bad person, and what she was doing was not bad, why did Jesus scold her? The answer lies in the choice that she made. Sometimes you hear about a person having to choose the lesser of two evils. That was not the case here. In fact, you could say that Mary and Martha both had to make a choice between two goods. There was the good of serving the Lord. And there was the good of sitting at His feet and listening to His Word. Both were good. But get this, and try to remember this: the good of hearing God’s Word is better that the good of serving God. Project and meditation–both are good–but meditation is better. Committee work and worship–both are good–but worship is better. To actively work for the Lord and to passively hear His Word–both are good–but given a choice, it is better for the Christian to be in the passive voice, if you will, receiving instead of giving.

Now, of course, the Christian is to do both. It should be both/and, not either/or. He or she works and worships, labors and listens, serves and is served. That is the ideal, that is the way it should be. This account of Mary and Martha comes right after the parable of the Good Samaritan, in which Jesus praises service to others. But while doing both, the Christian, remembering the story of Mary and Martha, is always aware that the worship is more important than the work, the listening more essential than the labor, and the being served is more blessed than the serving. And if a conflict arises between these two good things, serving the Lord and hearing His Word, like Mary, the Christian should sit at the Lord’s feet and hear His Word.

Why was Mary’s choice better than Martha’s? Because Jesus said so, and that should settle the matter. But it really was not just an arbitrary choice by Jesus. We find throughout the Scriptures the teaching that you cannot really serve the Lord unless He first serves you. You cannot actually do good things unless the good Lord first comes into you through His Word and manufactures those good things. You cannot be a man or woman of God unless you’ve first got God, and you can only get Him through His Word. You cannot be a fruit-producing branch unless you are first connected to the Vine. You cannot be a truly Good Samaritan until you have heard the Gospel message. You cannot be a Martha–at least a proper Martha–until you have been a Mary sitting and listening at the Lord’s feet.

And what is this message that is so important for us to hear? It is the message of the entire Bible, God’s revelation to man of Himself and of His plan for our salvation. I don’t mean just bits and pieces of the Bible, but all of God’s Word. You must hear that you are a sinner and be totally convinced that it is true. God’s Law must convict you of the fact that on your own merit you are worthless scum in His sight and deserve to be damned. We cannot go easy on sin or try to lighten its impact in our lives. You think and say hurtful things about your neighbor. You take things that are not rightfully yours. You place more importance on your possessions than you do on God. All of this is sin that makes you deserving of punishment. This is what the Bible tells you, but that is only part of the message. In His Word, you also discover that God is loving, that He wants to help you, and that He has provided for your deliverance from sin. This is not because you have deserved it or earned it, but purely out of God’s love. The message you will hear from God’s Word is that Jesus associates with sinners like you and me. Jesus came into this world to take your sin–all of your sin–on Himself and suffer the consequences so that you might be spared. 

All it takes is faith that trusts in Jesus Christ, and your sins are forgiven. This is the message that Mary heard at the foot of Jesus, and it is the same message we must hear. A literal translation of this passage would read that Mary “kept on hearing” the words of Jesus. It is not something to hear just once, but we must keep on hearing the Word of God. That is the better thing for us.

Both serving and listening are good, but listening to God’s Word is better. In our lives as Christians, there can be no output unless there is first input. To be sure, a person can do what seems to be good without God’s help. Our world is filled with hustling and bustling “do-gooders.” But without Christ’s help, their motives are all wrong and their methods are all wrong. We need to remember that God does not simply want us to do good things; He is even more concerned that we let Him do good things in us. He wants us to hear His Word so that we can believe and be assured that He does forgive us through faith in what Jesus did at Calvary. He wants us to know that when Jesus rose from the dead, He assured us the gift of eternal life. Jesus wants to be with you, like He was with Mary and Martha, like He wants to be with all sinners.

The overall message here is certainly not a condemnation of those who are busy serving in the Church. You are needed, in fact more of you are needed to help us be the kind of Christians God desires. But the point is that in order for you to be proper workers in the kingdom of God, you must hear and study and know His Word. All of the fuss and planning and preparations we make around here must be the result of having heard His Word and continuing to listen to what He has to say.  We must have a proper balance between laboring and listening, working and worshiping, being on a Board and being in Bible Study.  And the better thing is always, as our Lord told us, to hear His Word. It is the Word that we can understand already as small children and which we should grow in as adults. Through His Word, Jesus STILL spends time with sinners like you and me.

 

 

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