Lent 5 Sermon

 

Lent 5 – March 20^th and 21^st, 2021 – John 8:42-59

In the Name of Christ the Crucified +
There are two stories, two competing narratives at work in our Gospel lesson today. There are two radically different ways of understanding the world and who you are at work here. And that is why there is a fight, that is why they are ready to stone Jesus at the end of the lesson. They had one story while Jesus was determined to tell another story. And as we see today, when there two different stories there will be conflict.

We come in today at the tail end of a discussion – a famous discussion. Earlier in this discussion Jesus says that He is the light of the world, and also He says the the truth will set you free. We'll get some more of this discussion later on in the year – but for where we are at today, Jesus' preaching was not pleasing to the people. Jesus was preaching that He Himself as the Messiah would enlighten them and rescue them from sin and death, that He would be their Savior. That wasn't the story that these people wanted to hear – and they gave Jesus guff, and there was back and forth until we get into our lesson today.

And do you see what story these folks opposing Jesus wanted instead? They wanted a story of greatness. The Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, 'if anyone keeps My Word, he will never taste death.' Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died?” Are you greater? Greater than Abraham, greater than the prophets? When they hear Jesus' preaching, the story that He is telling them of what will happen, they filter it through the idea of being greater. Because that was their story, how they told the tales of life. People are born, and then they strive to do great things and thus work their way closer to God, building up a tower unto Him on the basis of their works. You built up your legacy, you did great things – and that got you closer to God. It's a pulling yourself up by your own holy bootstraps approach to God – and it's a story, a way of understanding that they liked. You could figure out where you stand; I gave more last year to the temple than Moshe, I fast more often than Avram – I'm better, I rank higher, I am closer to God. I am greater than my neighbors – but I'll be pious and say that there's no way that I am greater than Abraham or the prophets – gotta keep a little bit of that humility that actually pushes me up a bit higher, higher than Sal because we know he's not humble. And so when Jesus preaches, they filter what He says automatically through a lens, through a way of understanding spirituality in terms of greatness. And they get mad, because it seems to be that Jesus is rubbing their face in the fact that He is greater than them.

This is not a foreign way of thinking to us. In fact, this is how we normally act and understand the world around us. Think on this – how often when describing a person to someone who doesn't know them do you use the word “great”? Oh, he's a great guy, oh, she's great with kids, so on and so forth. And actually, that's useful for life in this world, for a great many things. If someone is good as something, then they can be of benefit to you, and if they are not, you find someone else. Pastor Brown, he's good at reading Biblical Greek, but find someone else to work on your car. It's a very useful way of dealing with the day to day problems of life. However, here's the problem, here's where the sinful nature kicks in. We think this idea of “greatness”, of the importance of our works and what we do, determines our standing, not only in society but also before God. That it makes us “better” people. So think about it – how annoying is it when folks blow their own horn about how awesome they are? We can see it when others do it, and frankly we see it all the time – it might be decried as “virtue signaling” today, but there were other flavors of it in the past – making a good show, keeping up with the Joneses. All those public performances to show how good a person was – and they've always, always been annoying. Of course, we ourselves get sucked into it too, and we put on our shows, and we keep a brave face and don't admit our sorrows or weaknesses or hardships or struggles because if we are good Christians, if we are better than those people there, we shouldn't be having struggles should we? What a load of crock, but the thing is, even as we decry it in the world out there, we ourselves tend to play along with it, this toxic “good and great” game.

And the worst part of it is that it creep into our thinking for how we relate to God. We start to think that our relationship with God is based, is defined upon how great we are – or if we wouldn't be so crass to put it that way, upon how we've been behaving. If we are good enough. Or that perhaps we aren't – I couldn't walk into church, why lightning would strike the building. Sometimes we think that way about ourselves... and sometimes we think that about others. Come on, let's be honest – I'm sure most of you can imagine someone walking through those doors and you would instinctively do the huffy turn around sort of embarrassed and don't look at them what are they doing here look. I've seen it from up front. I've done it myself and hoped my poker face didn't give away too much. This is how sinners operate.

Are you greater than our Father Abraham, Jesus? Jesus tells another story, gives us another way of understanding how things play out. Your Father Abraham rejoiced that he would see My day. He saw it and was glad. You guys have the story of My friend Abraham wrong. It wasn't a story of how great Abraham was, and how he kept on improving and improving and getting closer to God by his works. No, that's not how Genesis goes. Abraham was old, he was 75 and still living with his dad – had what folks in the 21^st Century might call failure to launch. And God called him – out of the blue God calls to Abraham and his family and says that He will do great things for them and through them – you'll get your own land and all nations will be blessed in you. And Abraham goes – and in the chapters of Genesis we see Abraham do some great things... and we see him do some really stupid things. Seriously – half the time I don't know how Sarah his wife didn't literally kill him. But finally, when Abraham was old and worn, 99 years old and his wife Sarah 89, God gives them a child. Not when they are great, not when they are the peak of health and in the blossom of youth, but because God chose to do great things for them and bless them.

And later on, when that child Isaac had grown, God told Abraham to sacrifice him. This reiterates a point to Abraham – that Abraham was not in fact in control of his life, that Abraham himself was not in control of the fact that He was a father. The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away. And that idea is terrifying – because I'm not in control of that, and all my greatness, all my being better than you and all my following all the rules better than you doesn't change that.

And yet, Abraham goes. Takes Isaac. Why? Because instead of listening to his own stupid story of his own greatness, Abraham listened to the story that God had told him – the story of the promise, the story that through Isaac and Isaac's child and his child and so on and so forth that one day the Messiah, the Savior, the Redeemer of the world would come – Abraham's redeemer would come. And so Abraham goes, and he takes his son, and he gets to the foot of the mountain and says to the servants, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there to worship and come again to you.” Did you catch it – Isaac and I are headed over there, and Isaac and I are coming back. I'm not bringing you servants, because you'd be all panicked and mess things up – but I'm going up there to sacrifice Isaac, and I'm not sure how the story will go precisely, but I know it will end with both Isaac and me coming back down here because that's what God has said, and I'll listen to His Word, His story rather than dream up some tale of my own greatness.

And there, on that mountain, Abraham bound his son and was ready to sacrifice him – and then Jesus shows up. The Angel of the LORD, Jesus before He is incarnate and born of the Virgin Mary, tells Abraham to stop. Nope – the story doesn't hinge on the death of Isaac, it will hinge on the death of Jesus – and Abraham, I see that you fear God – that you are willing to listen and run with the Story God has told rather than being fearful and afraid that you aren't good enough or that you haven't done enough. It's not what you do for God, it is what God Himself will do for you. Jesus shows up, and Isaac lives. Your Father Abraham rejoiced that he would see My day. He saw it and was glad.

The time for the great story approaches. We are getting ready for it, for Holy Week, for Palm Sunday, for the Passion of our Lord – Sing my tongue the glorious battle. For Easter. And if you would understand these weeks to come, indeed, if you would understand every week here in this Church and who you are and how you relate to God, beat down those times when that selfish “greater” story pops up. There's never a time when Jesus plays the “who is the greatest game” without knocking it over. No – the real story, the true narrative is this. Even in your weakness and frailty and sorrow and sin and shame, whatever form it takes, for there are myriad ways that sin and death and sorrow can shake you, even in that, God Himself becomes man to come to you again, to restore what was broken, to rescue those who were lost, to give life to those trapped in death. Jesus, true God and true man, will do this – and it's not something you control, or earn, or merit, or influence. Nope – He simply has chosen to die and rise to win you life and salvation; you simply receive it – receive as you hear the story, as you taste it at the altar. God grant that we live in His story more and more! Amen. In the Name of Christ the Crucified +

Ephesians Overview

 (The following is a bible study from my time in Oklahoma entitled "Ephesians in One Hour" meant to be a general overview of the book with a few highlights.)

Ephesians in 1 Hour

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is unique among his epistles, because in Ephesians Paul *isn’t* trying to correct or fix an error the Church had fallen into. Corinth had tons of weird stuff going on, and so did Galatia, and so on and so forth. Thus, Paul’s other epistles tend to be very focused on a specific idea, a specific problem. Ephesians isn’t like that. Rather than trying to fix a problem, in Ephesians we just end up seeing a nice overview of the Christian faith. So, let’s look at how Paul takes us through the Christian faith in Ephesians.

1 – Paul’s Introduction – God at Work – Chapter 1

Paul’s letters generally begin with an introduction – a welcome and a greeting which sort of sets the tone for the letter. And Paul teaches very clearly that what goes on in the Church is always done by God.

Ephes. 1:3-10 (ESV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, [4] even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love

[5] he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, [6] to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. [7] In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, [8] which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight

[9] making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ [10] as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Let’s just list off all the things that God does here – the verbs for which He is the subject. He blesses, He chose us, He predestined us, He adopts us, He redeems us, He lavishes grace, He makes us to know His will. What is the image and understanding of our Christian life and the Christian Church that Paul is describing? Who is the One who does the stuff that makes everything happen in the Church – us or God? There is a reason we say that the Church is God’s Church. Yet, is it really a popular idea in the world to think of what happens in the Church as primarily God’s activity?

2 – Saved by Grace – Chapters 2-3

With this introduction and focus on God being at work, Paul then in chapters 2 and 3 lays out the story of salvation. Perhaps one of the most famous passages about this topic begins chapter 2.

Ephes. 2:1-10 (ESV)

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins

[2] in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— [3] among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. [4] But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, [5] even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— [6] and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, [7] so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. [8] For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [9] not a result of works, so that no one may boast. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

First of all, what is the implication of being “dead” in trespasses and sins? If you are dead, can you do anything to give yourself life? How pervasive is this death in the world out there?

Then Paul, having pointed out the law, moves to the Gospel. How many times does he mentioned being saved by grace? Why is it important that Paul points out that grace is a gift, not something that comes as a result or reward for works? And then in verse 10 we get a contrast to verse 2 – as Christians will we end up doing good works? Note here – the word for “walking” is much more of a “stroll” or “wander” – it’s just being out and about, rather than having to walk directly to a place. Do we have to know in advance what Good Works God will have us do, or will He simply lead us into them?

The depths of God’s working in us and through us is summed up at the end of Chapter 3.

Ephes. 3:14-21 (ESV)

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, [15] from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, [16] that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, [17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, [18] may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, [19] and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

[20] Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, [21] to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Note how there is a wonderful focus on how God causes every good thing, be it our salvation or our works. Is there anything in this passage that you end up finding to be a comfort to you?

3 – The Impact of Grace, a life of Unity and Love – Chapters 4-6

The rest of the book ends up being a discussion on what impact and effect grace has on our life, what the working of God in and through us tends to look like. The first key is the idea of unity.

Ephes. 4:1-6 (ESV)

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, [2] with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, [3] eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. [4] There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— [5] one Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6] one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

One of the mysteries of the Christian faith is our Unity in Christ – that we are not all just separate folk, each living for him or herself, but that we are joined together. How does this passage really start to focus us on our unity in Christ? Why is it so important for us to always remember that we are bound together in Christ and by Christ? What are some things in the Church that help teach and remind us of this unity – and are these things central to in the Christian faith?

After this, Paul really drives home that the center of this life of unity can be described as a life of love. 5:1-2 reads, “Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Everything about how we live can be summed up in showing love… love like Christ showed. And then there is the contrast – if you can’t think of Christ doing it… don’t do it. Then we do see more tangible examples of this, such as this famous one:

Ephes. 5:21-33 (ESV)

[Submit] to one another out of reverence for Christ.

[22] Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. [23] For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. [24] Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

[25] Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, [26] that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, [27] so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. [28] In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. [29] For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, [30] because we are members of his body. [31] "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." [32] This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. [33] However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Now we have the famous passage on marriage. First, a note about the word “submit” – it means in Greek “be ordered underneath” or “follow the lead of”. This isn’t a word about power and control, about being forced. In verse 21, all Christians submit to each other… out of love we follow where another needs to go. Out of love, husbands give of themselves for their wives (if Christ died for the Church, and husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the Church, what does that mean for husbands?). All of this is centered in love – which means service.

It is hard to show love in this world. We are constantly faced with temptations. And as such, we face temptation in this world with the protection of God:

Ephes. 6:10-20 (ESV)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. [11] Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. [12] For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. [13] Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. [14] Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, [15] and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. [16] In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; [17] and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, [18] praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, [19] and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, [20] for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Now we’ll spend some time looking at the whole armor (the panoply) of God. Let’s consider each piece and what it would do.

That’s Ephesians in a nutshell – a fine overview of how God blesses us with salvation and life in Christ Jesus.