Easter Sunday 2019 - John 20:4-9

There is Joy in the Little Things

1. As proof of the resurrection   

2. To keep your faith in Jesus strong  

John 20:4-9 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. (ESV)

When something significant happens, we remember specific details. I remember the inside of the room where Micah was born. I even remember what was on TV that night, the national championship game for college football featuring Auburn vs. Oregon. I can’t match any other specific national championship games, dates, or opponents in the games since then. But thinking about that little detail brings me joy.

I remember the first night that I spent as a tenant in an apartment. The first official night that I have living on my own. Partly, because it was Fall and I was too scared to turn the heat up so I shivered in the cold.

When something important happens, the details are not lost. If it’s a good memory, those details give us joy. We hear John’s memory of Easter Sunday this morning, and it’s filled with little details. But they matter.

John gets specific about his race with Peter. They started at the same time. John got there first, looked in the tomb. Peter got there second, ran straight into the tomb.

John portrays the burial cloths. The linen strips that were around the body. The individual covering for the face. The fact that it was folded up neatly.

These details don’t seem important. One may wonder why with limited pages on which to share the resurrection of the story, John would record such things. But these are the details. These were the images that came into John’s memory as he thought about the Resurrection – that monumental moment, and he organically records them to transport us to the scene, as if we are there by his side. The details matter because they prove this is the testimony of an eye-witness.

The entire chapter of John 20 is about evidence – the right kind of evidence to believe. John records these words at the beginning when speaking of his own faith. The latter half of the chapter contains the memorable story about Thomas – who demanded physical proof and to whom the Lord said, “Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have believed.” And the final verse, John 20:31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

John is talking about why we can believe in the resurrection. It’s not about what we see, but what God says. John needed that reminder. Thomas needed that reminder. Every believer needs that reminder. Let us not minimize the importance of the minor details, for they are proof of Jesus’ resurrection. But let us also keep from making them more important than the very Savior who died and rose for us.

ESPN has a new sports feature called “Detail.” It takes a respected professional from a certain sport and gets their in-depth analysis of current players and games. It provides a detailed look behind the scenes at the customs, terminology, and inner workings of certain sports – the type of content that normal fans and viewers don’t get to see. It’s a good idea. [Paradox between our access to details today and our fatigue of details]

Imagine getting Jesus to “detail” His path to the cross – to give us the in-depth story, the behind the scenes look. He could share what He felt when Pilate questioned Him, or all the features of crucifixion that made it so agonizing. It would be interesting, but eventually it would probably be too uncomfortable. The death of Jesus is not a light-hearted thing like sports. We need that reminder so that we don’t get indifferent to what He endured but it’s also good to keep our space from the gory details.

There’s no interview with Jesus, but it’s almost as if we have one with John in His Gospel. He tells us here what it was like to witness the open tomb. He tells us what it was like on Easter morning. Running to the tomb in haste. Excitement and expectation. Shock and surprise. Some say that John was hesitant to enter the tomb, even though he arrived first. It fits well with Peter’s ambitious attitude to charge into the tomb. John saw what was there though, even though he didn’t immediately enter. We are given the details of the scene: John sees in verse 6 and then again in verse 8. Then he believes and finally he was reminded of the Scripture. But, what did John feel? That’s harder to put into words.

John was certainly questioning what to believe at the beginning. And so, his faith had to grow. He sees, believes, and then remembers what he knows in Scripture. That was the process for John. We get a fuller picture of how he felt about that at the beginning of his first epistle. There he writes, again as an eyewitness, saying,

1 John 1:1-4 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life-- 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us-- 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.  

Notice the end result – joy. Full joy. Joy was what John felt on Easter. That’s what we receive when Scripture is at the root of faith. Think of how many times Jesus directed the crowds of people to believe in His Word, not just in the signs He performed. John gives his own example here. Thomas’ comes later in the chapter. There is more to trust than seeing, it’s about what God has done and continues to do in His Word. When our faith is enriched by the Word of God, there is joy.

John’s words in his first epistle sound very familiar to something Jesus said on Maundy Thursday. He told His disciples: “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11). It’s no stretch to think that as John reflected upon what he saw and what the Scriptures had said, he was reminded of these words that Jesus spoke. We, too, should be reminded of the same when we hear John’s testimony and when we reflect on what Jesus did for us. He wants us to feel joy – full and complete joy.

So, why don’t we always feel this same joy? Where is the Easter joy of our Savior most of the year? It’s easy to have it today, but what about the rest of the time? Why is it that we often feel burdened and distressed in our faith, as if it’s a weight to bear in this unrelenting world? Of all the feelings in life, joy indeed seems to be most minor of all details that gets forgotten about.

Well, maybe we lose our joy by forgetting the small details that prop up our Savior more clearly in His Word. John hung onto what he saw and what he felt because it was such a monumental moment in his life. He was there. He witnessed it. It was an unforgettable experience. We don’t have that. In terms of shock value, the resurrection of Jesus doesn’t make as deep of an impression for us as it did to those who saw it. This is why we need to hang on all the more to what we have been given, the Word of God.

But don’t look at this as second best. For even Jesus directed His disciples, on the very day of His resurrection, to the same thing. John went back to what He knew about the Word, even when standing in the empty tomb. Thomas was gently reminded, even with his own hands in the Savior’s wounds– “Because you have seen you have believe, blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” In the upper room on Easter evening, Jesus told His disciples, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. 46 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,

Even Paul would write, For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Peter, upon recalling the details of another surreal experience that stuck in his memory, this time about the Transfiguration of Jesus, concluded that experience by writing, 2 Peter 1:19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (ESV)

God’s Word is not second rate – it’s the way to complete and full joy. We live in an age where people want to separate the resurrection of Jesus from His Word. There are indeed some who claim that He didn’t rise, yet they find some value in some of the words of the Bible. But more serious that this are Christians who think that the resurrection had nothing to do with the rest of the Word. Christians who want to say “Jesus is Risen,” but not that He is Creator, or that He calls us to repent, or that He tells me to take up my cross, or that He tells me not to gossip and lie, or to love my enemy, or to be on guard against greed. Have you become this kind of Christian? Do you see the gospel as most important, and the rest of God’s Word as secondary? We all do in some way and it robs us of our complete joy in Jesus.

In my experience, not just as a pastor, but also as a sinner – the times I have the least joy in my faith are times when I’m resisting God’s Word. Do you find that to be true in your life? Jesus tells you that He suffered, died, and rose again so that His Word would be fulfilled, which would mean that your joy may be full. He’s done it. It’s true and it’s there for you.

Your formula for joy is the same as John’s – see, believe, and know through the Word of God. The details matter. There is complete joy in the little things. They stuck with John because it was the most important of his life. He shared them in Bible so that you hear and feel what it was like. Because what the resurrection is about is complete joy in Jesus. And it’s yours. Amen.  

Good Friday 2019 - Matthew 27:57-61

The Stone that Spoke

1. “Authority” To those who killed the Christ  

2. “Hope” To those who were left in shock

3. “Obedience” Of a Son who kept His Father’s will

Matthew 27:57-61 Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. 58 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. 59 When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed. 61 And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb. (NKJV)  

The beginning of this week, Palm Sunday, is one of the few accounts that is recorded in all four Gospel books. Usually, that signals something that is very significant, as Palm Sunday undoubtedly was. However, only Luke’s account includes an interesting detail about Palm Sunday. At the very end, Luke writes, Luke 19:39-40 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." 40 But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out."

The Pharisees were present, at least some of them, on Palm Sunday too. But they weren’t shouting Jesus’ praises. Rather, they wanted Him to hush His followers. And Jesus told them if He did, even the stones would cry out. That’s a pretty amazing thought, and I have no doubt that Jesus meant every word of it. He certainly had the power to make it happen if he wanted. But, on Palm Sunday, no stones would be needed. The peoples’ voices carried the day despite the Pharisees’ complaints. 

There was a stone that would speak, though, albeit not in a miraculous way. As we’ve traced a line of mementos this season through our meditation of Jesus’ passion, we see one more here on Good Friday – the stone that sealed the tomb. This stone spoke a message without uttering a single word. The first message it spoke was to those who killed the Christ.

Part 1: “Authority” to those who killed the Christ

Those who wanted Christ dead must have been quite satisfied at the day’s completion. Not only had Jesus died earlier than expected, His burial was cut and dry. But the chief priests and Pharisees had an uneasy feeling in the back of their minds. They remembered hearing how Jesus predicted His resurrection from the dead. Of course, they scoffed at this notion, but they didn’t want some deception from the disciples to take place. So, in the verses immediately following our text, they requested that Pilate allow them to make the tomb more secure. He gave them freedom to do what they pleased, so the Pharisees and chief priests had the stone sealed and set a guard.

To seal the entrance to a tomb at that time was quite a process. It typically involved wrapping a thick robe across the stone disk and sealing it on the ends in wax. If anyone tampered with the tomb in any way, it would be revealed. Sometimes, the seal even was marked with the official imprint of the Roman empire to communicate that breaking it would be a punishable crime. One top of all that, the stones which were used to block the entrance of a tomb were purposely large, as our text indicates. These stones were rolled into a groove that angled downward. Therefore, it was much easier to set the stone in place, than it was to open the entrance up. Again, it was purposely designed this way to discourage grave robbers.

Once the stone was sealed, and a guard posted, the Pharisees and chief priests probably felt quite at ease. There was truly no way that the disciples would be able to steal Jesus’ body away. To the enemies of Christ, that stone represented victory for their cause – an absolute end to Jesus. However, God had a different plan in mind, and the stone would ultimately speak a much different message. What seemed to pronounce a fool-proof way to achieve the purposes of unbelieving men, actually became a testimony to God’s power and Christ’s authority as Lord and Savior.

For when the angel broke open the grave of Jesus on Easter morning, all the plans that were put in place to show man’s triumph over God’s Son, worked to the opposite effect. The efforts of the Pharisees and the chief priests only served as evidence against the lie they would create to explain away the resurrection, namely that Jesus’ disciples had stolen the body. Without even knowing it, they were doing God’s will and giving evidence that Jesus was the Savior. God, of course, knew all this in advance, as He is able to work through the mightiest efforts of those who oppose Him. And the religious leaders should have known the same, for Psalm 33:10-11 tell us The LORD frustrates the counsel of the nations; He thwarts the plans of the peoples. 11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation.

AND

Psalm 2:1-4 Why are the nations in an uproar, And the peoples devising a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand, And the rulers take counsel together Against the LORD and against His Anointed: 3 "Let us tear their fetters apart, And cast away their cords from us!" 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them.

The stone spoke to the Pharisees and the chief priests that no matter how hard they tried and how much power they held, they could not thwart God’s plan.

[Could add in Caiaphas’ prediction as another example]

Part 2: “Hope” To those who were left in shock.

However, not all of the Pharisees hated Christ. Two of them were instrumental in His burial. Our text tells us about Joseph of Arimathea, a Pharisee who loaned his tomb for Jesus’ body. The Gospel of John informs us of another Pharisee, Nicodemus, who assisted in the task. Believers were also present during the burial of Jesus and the stone meant something to them too.

One can imagine the pain and shock that the believers felt, especially those who witnessed the crucifixion. Our text also tells us of the two Marys who watched the burial, sitting opposite the tomb. For those in grief, especially over the death of a loved one, having closure is extremely important. You can sense this from Joseph and Nicodemus, who almost see it as their duty to ensure that Christ’s body gets a proper resting place. You see it in the image of the women too, as they sit there in wonderment at Christ’s body being wrapped up and placed in the tomb. It’s almost as if they have to see it through to fully believe it. The stone certainly meant closure to the believers. There was no uncertainty about Jesus’ death and sacrifice from that point on.

Yet, a greater message was delivered by the stone that day – a message of hope. It wasn’t a message about death alone, but also about life. It would be the very same Marys who would first witness the stone removed on Easter morning. This moment on Good Friday was important in that respect. They saw the stone placed and set. They witnessed the body entombed. And that would mean something come Easter morning, as they saw all the pain they experienced reversed.

That’s the thing about hope. It’s often accompanied by pain or heartache. The low moments we experience give meaning and emphasis to the hope that we hang onto. For the believers, the stone of the tomb symbolized a finality to the death of Jesus, but it was a meaning far overshadowed by the new beginning that it meant on Sunday. Part of the reason they had such joy in the resurrection was because they had witnessed the seeming hopeless of the crucifixion. And God would have us reminded of the same truths each time we conclude Lent.     

Each you have felt deep emotional or physical pain, probably on a similar level as these believers. Some of you may even be going through something today, or recently, that has caused you to question God’s power. Perhaps you’ve sat by, watching in wonder as the Marys did, at how such a thing could happen. Left with lots of questions but no answers; the stunned silence that punctures the confident confession of the believer.

Let this story be a reminder of hope in Jesus. The tragedies and despairs of life are set within the background of His grace for each and every person. And even when we are at blame, when we’ve led ourselves astray, God restores. That had to have been on the mind of the believers, too, even in that moment. What more could Joseph or Nicodemus have done to protect Jesus? Had the Mary’s listened intently enough to Jesus while He was with them? Had He given them something needed that they forgot? Would they have another chance to see Him again? How had their sins brought Him to that point? These are the swirling thoughts within the heart of one who is entangled in the effects of sin. Jesus gives you hope to see through all that. The stone of His own tomb spoke a better word to the believers, as it does to us in each tragedy we face.

Part 3: “Obedience” Of the Son who fulfilled His Father’s promise.

Of course, that hopes rests completely on whether or not Jesus actually did what he said He would. The last word of the stone is “obedience,” and was given from the Son to His Father.

Go back to the Garden of Gethsemane. As Jesus agonized over the coming events, He prayed to His Father, “If it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done (Luke 22:42).” Jesus asked that if there was another way possible to atone for sins, outside of having to die, that it might be done. But even as He spoke these words, He surely knew the answer. The Father’s divine will – justice for sins – had to be done.

That sentiment alone is definite - unchangeable. There was no other way, and there was no way back. This is what was going to happen. So, we see the same finality in the stone. It was the end. There was no way around it. Just as it could not be moved by human hands, so it would not be avoided by divine will. The testimony of God’s Word made it so. There was no other way life could be restored in place of death – for God had promised long ago that this was the price to be rendered.

The final word of the stone was “obedience” – obedience from the Son to the Father. We see and appreciate the beauty of this thought. The Son of God, who owed nothing, would step in and submit where sinful mankind refused to. But that’s how it works with obedience. We see it as beautiful when displayed by others, but we resist and despise it when it calls upon our lives. It’s quite amazing that the message of the crucifixion endures today, because obedience is under attack in all areas of our culture – and there’s nothing more that Satan, and our sinful nature hates more, than a humble sinner who submits to God.

Jesus embraced the word of obedience from the stone of His tomb, the finality of divine justice from His Father, in love for those who wouldn’t obey – for us.

Despite the three words spoken by this memento, these were not the last words on the matter. For in three days, this stone which loomed so large in meaning and weight, would be cast aside. As powerful and encompassing as it sat on Good Friday, it would be an angel from God who held power over it in the Resurrection. As strong and important as the words of authority, hope, and obedience are – they can’t contain eternal life. And no amount of power in earth or hell could hold back what was coming out of that grave. And so, the stone fell, and so it faded to the pages of history.

But for this evening, to provide a proper backdrop to the gift of eternal life we joyfully embrace in three day, let us remember the stone’s meaning again and let us ponder and appreciate the impact of what it speaks through God’s Word. Amen.

Palm Sunday - Philippians 2:5-11

The Unobserved Kingdom of Christ

1. He suffered for victory

2. He has total control

3. His subjects become like Him

These are the ways that the kingdom of Jesus came up during His trial.

·       It was what they questioned Him about.

·       It was what caused senseless fear in the first Herod, and it was the second Herod mocked him for.

·       It was the title He rightfully claimed.

·       It was what puzzled Pilate.

·       It was the cry the soldiers mocked Him with, as they adorned Him in purple robe, and a crown of thorns.

·       It was what the Jewish leaders threatened Pilate with – “Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.”

·       It was what Pilate proclaimed to the crowd, “Behold Your King!” and on the cross “The King of the Jews.”

There was no more perplexing element to Jesus’ trial than the idea of how He was a king. So many people questioned Him, so many shouted the title, mostly in disdain, yet only Jesus understood the truth. The divergent opinions about Christ during His trial were largely shaped by what kind of King was perceived. The same divide continues to this day. Many people reject Jesus because they fail to understand the nature of His kingship. His is the unobserved Kingdom – at least, according to human sight and reason. Jesus’ kingdom is unlike any other and comes in only one way – by faith.

The Holy Spirit explains this reign of Christ as King in our text, from Philippians 2:5-11:

Philippians 2:5-11 Indeed, let this attitude be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. 6 Though he was by nature God, he did not consider equality with God as a prize to be displayed, 7 but he emptied himself by taking the nature of a servant. When he was born in human likeness, and his appearance was like that of any other man, 8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (EHV)

Part 1: He suffered for victory

The hardest thing for Pilate to understand at Jesus’ trial was why Jesus was treated this way if He really was a king. Not only was Jesus a king, He was the King of the Jews. But it was the Jews who were shouting “Crucify Him!” Another thing that Pilate didn’t understand was why Jesus didn’t put up a fight. Is there another example in all of history of a king who didn’t fight to keep His kingdom? To Pilate, Jesus seemed to not care.

Pilate tried to understand a little bit, but clearly he tired of it quickly. In the end, Pilate was more concerned with a different ruler – Caesar – than he was with this man from Galilee. Yet, how much Pilate missed. To think that Jesus didn’t care about His kingdom missed the point entirely. What Jesus was doing actually showed how much He did care. Jesus cared so much that He willingly suffered and died.

This was the only way the Kingdom of God could be established. It had to be gained in an immaterial way, without soldiers, battles, and wars. Even a diplomatic process wouldn’t be enough. Consider how Paul described the battle for the kingdom of God: Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

This passage was given in the context of the armor of God that Paul described – an armor that is meant for spiritual warfare. And those who fight in such a manner are subjects of a King unlike any other. Jesus’ kingdom was won by His suffering and death because that’s what it took to defeat the powers of darkness in the heavenly realms. The great accuser, Satan, is absolutely right to demand that God punish us with condemnation. God’s own Law stands as the record of truth against us and Satan can point to it without any rebuttal. Sin’s curse demands the payment of human life. And so, human life is what Jesus gave.

Paul writes in our text that throughout the process of His suffering, Jesus didn’t cease being God either – He simply set His divine power aside. Paul describes it in terms of parading around a symbol of victory – a prize. Jesus didn’t use His divinity as a way out of suffering. Rather, Jesus emptied Himself. Jesus took the form of a servant – like us. Jesus humbled Himself. Jesus was born as a human, and lived and died as a human. Jesus became obedient. We call these things the steps of humiliation – how Jesus lowered Himself to take our place, to suffer our punishment, and to die our death – because He had to meet us where we are at – in the pit of sin and condemnation.

This is a most fascinating and wonderful act of God’s love. Yet, it’s also unobservable to human sight and reason. The only reason we understand it for what it is is because the Holy Spirit has enlightened us by faith to see and appreciate the depths of our Savior’s love. But Pilate didn’t understand. The culmination of Jesus’ humiliation was death by crucifixion. In this very act of complete submission, both to His Father’s will and to the enemies who hated Him, Jesus gained the victory.

Part 2: He has total control

The text divides sharply between verses 8 and 9. The death of Jesus is the lowest point. From that point forward, the thoughts are lifted up. There’s a word for that which Paul uses – exalt. Christ was exalted in glory from His resurrection forward. He is no longer a suffering King, or a King who dies. He lives forevermore and has resumed His full authority as God.

Part of Christ’s exaltation is having total power as King. This power extends over even those who oppose and deny Him. So, Paul records, …at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

There’s an element of warning in these words about resisting Jesus in unbelief. We do well in our lives to pay attention. It’s important to follow Jesus and to trust in Him by faith because there is a final day of judgment when no person can escape the truth. Paul says that every knee with bow and every tongue will confess. For the believer, these things are already happening by faith – as a product of God’s grace and mercy in Jesus. For the unbeliever, they will happen, but not by faith – rather by God’s almighty power. These words are not some grand, utopian vision that all people will be saved and go to heaven regardless of what they believe. Jesus warned with His own words on earth against that false notion many times saying,

·       “He who does not believe will be condemned.”

·       “Whoever does not confess Me, I will not confess before My Father in Heaven.”

·       Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. (John 3:18)

The moment described here by Paul is a matter of God’s glory at the end. All people will recognize Jesus as King and submit to His authority – some willingly, some unwillingly. This is certainly a warning for us to take Jesus seriously and to take our faith seriously. This is not a game.

But it also reveals that another unobservable aspect of Jesus as King is that He has total control. Total and complete power has always been an illusion for kingdoms of the world. We could debate what earthly authority throughout history has been the most powerful, but one indisputable fact is that total power is unattainable by men. Many have craved it, some have even claimed to have it, but it never sticks. The kingdoms of the world come and go and always will until the end of time.

Many people mock Christ’s kingdom. It seems weak and unstable. The church of today is a fleeting thought in our culture – to many a subject of scorn. Observation says it’s anything but powerful. Yet, Christ is in total control and the day is quickly approaching when all people will observe that.

Part 3: His subjects become like Him

The warning is real and true – but we do not go around preaching only messages of disaster, obedience, and pending judgment. God has given us a better message, and it’s part of His Son’s kingdom – the ability to become like Him. A person cannot become like Jesus by effort or by being forced into it. It’s something only God Himself can grant and He does so through the message of sins forgiven.   

Kingdoms of the world grow their numbers and spread their boundaries by many different means. The Romans of Jesus’ time conquered much of the known world through warfare, but they didn’t exterminate indigenous civilizations. They helped them assimilate into the Roman empire which was really an ingenious method of expansion. Today, the most powerful nations expand their influence by diplomatic means or by extending financial pressure such as trade embargos and tariffs.

An unobservable aspect of Christ’s kingdom is that it is expanded by grace and love – not any threat of military or political force. No one would consider that power could be gained by being self-sacrificial and caring; or by denying oneself for the sake of others. Yet, that’s precisely how Jesus brought the kingdom of God to each believer. The verification of that gift is that God tells that we become like Jesus, as if we are reigning with Him.

2 Timothy 2:12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

The way God describes the blessed fact of citizenship in His kingdom is not something that can be imitated or duplicated. Only Christ can offer the ability to reign with Him. What that means is that we are privileged to follow in His footsteps. As one who has been redeemed and cleansed by Christ’s self-sacrificial love, we share that same blessing with others. That’s how the kingdom of God is spread.   

Luther once described it this way:

“As our heavenly Father has in Christ freely come to our aid, we also ought freely to help our neighbor through our body and its works, and each one should become as it were a Christ to the other that we may be Christs to one another and Christ may be the same in all, that is, that we may be truly Christians....

“But alas in our day this life is unknown throughout the world; it is neither preached about nor sought after; we are altogether ignorant of our own name and do not know why we are Christians or bear the name of Christians. Surely we are named after Christ, not because he is absent from us, but because he dwells in us, that is, because we believe in him and are Christs one to another and do to our neighbors as Christ does to us. But in our day we are taught by the doctrine of men to seek nothing but merits, rewards, and the things that are ours; of Christ we have made only a taskmaster far harsher than Moses.”

Palm Sunday is really a fitting day to think of the king of King Jesus is. He rode into Jerusalem on a baby donkey. He had no accompanying warriors or magistrates. He was praised and adorned with shouts from commoners and children. Lowliness was the theme of the day. Yet, the procession was the most important in history. God Himself was going forth to suffer and die – to gain a kingdom like no other. For your blessing and to His honor – Amen.

Lent 5 - Numbers 21:4-9

The Circumstance Does Not Dictate the Meaning

Sometimes we act like people can make mistakes or cut corners if they’re under a tough situation or a lot of stress. We sympathize with them and say that it’s only natural that they failed or did something wrong. Could anyone expect more of them? Sometimes we apply that to our faith too. If we’re stressed or scared, we think we have a good reason for not trusting God. We argue that if God would just let up a bit and make things easier, we’d be better Christians. But God strengthens us through the trial. He works for our good in the bad. And He doesn’t let us off the hook.

In our text for this morning, the Israelites were in a moment of heightened stress. Not just ordinary stress, but a high level of stress. Should the Lord have taken it easy on them? We might say so at first glance but would that have really helped them? Instead of complaining about what was going on, God wanted them to trust in His will and remember His promises. The same applies in our lives. We shouldn’t get special treatment just because there’s a lot going on. God doesn’t let up – in His faithfulness or in His love. The circumstance does not dictate the meaning – the Lord does. A situation does not become important or unimportant based on what we’re going through. The Lord provides meaning to it, whether we see it as mundane or extraordinary. Something isn’t wrong in one setting and okay in another just because we’re under a lot of pressure or stress. How would that play out in life?

·       Would you tell your teenager, go ahead and drink while underage and drive your car home just because you’re under a lot of pressure to conform?

·       Would you be okay if your boss lied to you about a promised bonus or treated others better than you out of favoritism just because he was under a lot of stress?

The circumstances of life in which you find yourself are important, but they never are the single determinant to the meaning that your life has. How much more this is in true when it comes to faith in Jesus. Consider our text from God’s Word for today, which tells us of a very difficult circumstance:

Numbers 21:4-9 Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. 5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread." 6 So the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died. 7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD that He take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. 8 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live." 9 So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.

Chronologically, the book of Leviticus covers about a month. By contrast, the book of Numbers spans almost 39 years. This gives us an indication into why there are many important and influential events are found in the book of Numbers. The name “Numbers” was derived from the two numberings, or censuses, of Israel that are contained in the book. Topically, a better name for Numbers might be “Tension” or “Failure.” This is a book hat contains a lot of problems – the problems that God’s people had in following Him. The momentum that Israel had in the book of Exodus, as they began their journey home from Egypt, had been abruptly halted in Numbers. They were on the doorstep, but they were also tested more intensely than they had been before. Consider some of the stressors and difficulties we’re told about in Numbers, leading up to our text:

·       40^th year of wandering – now on the cusp of the Promised Land

·       King of Edom was not allowing passage – other Canaanite kings in the way.

·       Two rebellions already – Sons of Korah (swallowed up by the earth – religious leaders) – entire assembly of people – over 15,000 dead.

·       Miriam and Aaron rebelled.

·       Moses failed and would not be allowed to complete the journey into Canaan.

·       Israel refused to enter Canaan at their first chance.

·       Miriam and Aaron have both died.

Our text is one of the last events before Israel crossed into the promised land, thus the heightening of expectation from God. His people had been here before, when the spies scoped out the land and its kingdoms, and the people lacked the trust to move forward. Fast forward to the next generation, after wandering around in the wilderness for nearly 40 years. God didn’t want another failure to happen again so things got tense. This is a lesson in judgment over unfaithfulness but even more so of God’s mercy and forgiveness. We might think the judgment is powerful but it pales in comparison to the effect that the Lord’s compassion has on people.

The trouble is, faithlessness balks at the gift of compassion. The Lord was also generous, caring, and protective of His people. But He was also harsh because He didn’t want them to slip into unbelief. All of these thoughts set the stage for the event here on the plains of Moab. The tension and stress of the time had its effect on the people of Israel. We see three indications of that in our text:

1. Verse 4 tells us that the soul, literally the life of the people, became discouraged. This word literally means shortened. Think of our saying when we witness someone who has an outburst of anger – that they have a “short fuse” or that they’re “short-tempered.” The people of Israel had run out of patience.    

2. Verse 5 tells us that they “loathed” the bread God had given them – the manna from heaven that had sustained them throughout their journey. This was not simply indifference, or coming to the dinner table and preferring something else. They abhorred this bread. They were no longer satisfied with God’s provision. They hated it. They were incensed with anger.

3. And when we’re told that the people spoke against Moses and God, the word used is not the typically Hebrew word for normal talking. This is a word with a stronger force – to speak in a demanding way.

The people of Israel were fed up with their circumstance. And they believed that it gave them the right to defy God, to complain, and to demand that He give them something different. In reality they were wrong about their complaint. They may not have liked the Lord’s plan, but they still had food and water. The manna ensured that they wouldn’t starve. Just in the previous chapter the Lord provided water for the entire camp when Moses struck the rock (what proved to be his fatal error). God had supplied their needs and here they were, about to take possession of their own land which they had lost hundreds of years before – and they were angry and complaining. The problem wasn’t that they were in need; it was that it they wanted something else. The circumstance didn’t determine right or wrong, nor had God’s grace faltered – Israel allowed their perception to be skewed.   

The same is true about our complaints. The Lord provides for us, it’s just that He doesn’t always do it the way we want Him to. We allow our circumstances to dictate what we believe and how we treat God. If we believe we’re being mistreated, or held out on by God, we feel justified in complaining and demanding. Can you imagine your children acting that way? If you provided for them, gave them everything they needed. If you accomplished things for them that they couldn’t achieve themselves; only to hear them complain and demand differently?

Well, it happens with our children, doesn’t it? And we did the same thing to our parents. Because children don’t always grasp the proper meaning. They allow their limited understanding of the circumstance to dictate the meaning for them. Perhaps we’re better at avoiding this as adults, but it’s the same thing we do to God when we get impatient with His plan, His will, and His Word. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more stressful and tension-filled situation than we have here in Numbers 21. It’s certainly more than we’re typically up against when it comes to our earthly lives. But that didn’t justify how the people of Israel responded. And we’re not justified in our moments either.

Think about the big picture for the moment. Our Heavenly Father has secured eternal life for us in heaven. He sent His only Son to die a criminal’s death in our place. He has created our lives and given us, freely, every needed earthly and spiritual blessing. On top of that, God protects us daily from evil – even without our request. He gives us a 24/7 communication lifeline through prayer, which we typically throw on the back shelf in favor of television, our phones, and whatever else captures our attention for the moment. God has done all of this for us already – and much, much more. And the evil we experience in our lives is a product of human hands, not God’s. Despite all of this, we still have trust issues with God. We still believe that we know better – just because we’re going through a lot. What more must God do to prove His faithfulness and mercy to us?     

I’m not trying to sound calloused and unsympathetic. The struggle of sin is real and I know you all go through a lot. What I’m trying to do is remind that God is never the villain. You must fight and resist the urge to lash out against Him just because of the circumstance you’re in, because no matter what you’re going through I can guarantee you one thing – it doesn’t change the meaning of what God has done for you.

The people of Israel forgot that. So, God sent them this unusual and stunning plague -fiery serpents. The casual observer sees a vengeful God that sits as a tyrannical judge in fury and disdain for His people. The enlightened skeptic sees a cruel deity who delights in punishing His people. General human nature sees it as downright unfair and harsh. Hadn’t the people been through enough? What was the point to all this anyway? Does God really think that motivating through punishment is the most loving thing to do?

Everyone sees the meaning of this story the way they want to they forget to see it as God intended and planned it – as a testament to His love for sinners in Christ. God knew that no matter the circumstance, the meaning of His work as the Author of salvation would never change – and He will fight at all costs so that it doesn’t change in your heart. He didn’t want the people to lose that! So, He disciplined them in a harsh way. And it worked. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD that He take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. 8 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live."

God’s meaning remained intact, and His mercy held the day. What a strange story, though. It seems so different than how God works with us in our lives. But is it really? We should see deep connection between Israel’s situation and our own. And Jesus gave us the connecting clue:

John 3:13 "No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14 "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.

The bronze snake on the pole ultimately symbolized God’s Son on the cross. Israel saw the symbol – we see the fulfillment. The impact on each is the same – repentance and forgiveness through God’s substitute. Despite how strange this story sounds to our ears; it has the same blessing because we suffer from the same ailment.

No matter what any of us go through, no matter how bad it was for Israel – no one could handle what happened to Jesus. Talk about a stressful, hard-pressed circumstance – even to the point of death. Every outward observation of that circumstance indicated failure. Accused and bound, mocked and beaten, scourged and crucified. There was no hope with Jesus – no glimmer of light even as He was shrouded in darkness in the middle of the day. Everything seemed lost and hopeless but God’s plan never changed. The meaning of His mission and its impact for sinners never wavered – because it was God’s will.

It was true for Jesus’s and because of that, it’s true for us. Remember that no matter what you go through. Nothing changes God’s love for you. Amen.

Lent 4 - Galatians 4:21-28

Three Mountains – Three Meanings – One Man

  

Galatians 4:21-28 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. 23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written, "Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband." 28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. (ESV)

Some of you may have heard of, or seen, the documentary Free Solo, which won the most recent Academy Award for best documentary. This story chronicles the pursuit of a professional rock climber who attempts a feat which no one before has ever accomplished – scaling a 3,000 foot cliff face of solid granite – without a rope. That’s what free soloing is, it’s rock climbing without any safety gear.

As you can imagine, there have many free soloist fatalities in the past. Once you reach a certain height you know that one mistake can cost you your life. If you’re like me, you wonder why a person would do such a thing. Well, the documentary explores those philosophical questions that surround free soling. The main character gives some of his personal answers saying,

“It’s one of the few activities in life where you can experience perfection.”

“You need a ‘warrior mentality.’ You give something in your life 100% focus because your life depends on it.”

For the subject of the documentary, it’s about challenging yourself as a person and having the ability to accomplish something that no one else can. In fact, after this climber’s successful attempt at free soloing this rockface, many have called it the most significant athletic accomplishment in the history of the world – and it’s hard to argue with that assessment. It’s truly rare to witness something that has never been accomplished before, and probably will never happen again. You do see the focus, determination, resolve, and resiliency of the human spirit.

I think another reason for this documentary’s fascination and popularity is because it touches on spiritual feelings that all have.

·       Finding fulfillment and meaning in life

·       The pursuit of perfection

·       Wrestling with life and death

·       The effect that love has on the decisions we make

In these areas it hits close to home with any person of faith – even Christians. The main character gives his answers to these issues within his heart and one quickly finds that nature itself is his sanctuary, and the bond between man and rock is his practice of faith.

Yet, there’s another spiritual connection here. We see another man who ascended a mountain, with life and death on the line. One mistake would have lost everything. True perfection was necessary. His determination and focus could not falter for one second. And through His victory we find fulfillment and meaning in for our lives. This man was Jesus – and He climbed not just one insurmountable mountain, but three.

Our text tells us about the first. Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. Paul relates the story of salvation in Jesus in a very unique way here in this chapter. He uses an illustration – what our text calls an allegory. Paul takes a well-known story from the Old Testament and describes how it is symbolic of God’s truth in our lives.

The story was about Abraham, Hagar, and Sarah. I’m sure you remember it well. One of the biggest promises God gave to Abraham was that he would be a father – and a father of a great and large nation at that. The problem was that Abraham’s wife, Sarah, could not bear children. So, Abraham, under the guise of continuing to trust God, took matters into his own hands. He took Sarah’s servant, Hagar, and conceived a child with her. Perhaps with a little nudging and personal influence, Abraham could make good on God’s will. The problem was that one person cannot keep a promise for someone else. Without God leading the way, the promise given initially to Abraham would never be fulfilled.

So, Paul tells us what the results were and how they differed from God’s plan. Ishmael, the child born of Hagar, came about through human meddling, physical means, and was born into slavery. Isaac, the eventual true heir of Abraham from Sarah, was born according to God’s plan, by miraculous means, and was born in freedom. Abraham tried to take matters into his own hands and made a big mistake.

The symbolic meaning for our lives is also described by Paul. Hagar and Ishmael represent those held under bondage by God’s law. They stand as a reminder of the very sin Abraham committed through them – trying to manipulate God’s will. The descendants of Hagar and Ishmael are those who try to earn salvation on their own terms. Sarah and Isaac represent believers – those who trust in God by faith. They rely on Jesus for salvation.

Paul also brings in a location here that correlates with Hagar and Ishmael – Mt. Sinai. Mt. Sinai was the place where God first gave the written law and where He established the Old Covenant with His people. The impact of Mt. Sinai came about long after Abraham, Hagar, and Sarah lived, but this connection remains. Those who attempt to achieve salvation by the old way – the way of the law – are stuck on Mt. Sinai just as they are descendants of Hagar. They are caught in the bondage of the law because they have tried to manipulate God’s way.   

A second mountain isn’t named in our text, but it’s certainly implied. What would correspond to Sarah in the same way that Mt. Sinai was connected to Hagar? Our Scripture reading gives us the answer. In contrast the Sinai, the writer records, “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels (v.22).” Mt. Zion was the mountain upon which the city of Jerusalem was established. It is also figurative in the Bible for God’s kingdom by faith – which we typically call the church today. Paul writes similarly, “but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.”

Mt. Zion stands in sharp contrast to Mt. Sinai. Instead of emphasizing condemnation and bondage under the law – the products of the Old Covenant for sinners – Mt. Zion emphasizes the New Covenant blessings which are given through Christ. This is the same division as the old vs. new Jerusalem in the verses of our text. Those of the old Jerusalem seek to establish God’s kingdom on their own terms, much like Abraham tried to do through Hagar, and like the Pharisees during Jesus’ time. They desire an earthly kingdom of their own devising. They believe that the realization of their own hopes and dreams will equate the glory and splendor of God’s kingdom established in Christ. But, they’re wrong just as Abraham was wrong.

God’s accomplishment in Christ cannot be duplicated by human effort. This shouldn’t be viewed as a sullen fact, but rather a joyous and blessed truth! No more work is needed. Jesus has secured the victory of our faith. He bestows that now freely through the New Covenant – by extending forgiveness of sins through His grace. This is a miracle on par with Isaac’s birth, and it’s what the church is to be about today. That’s what Mt. Zion represents as the true foundation of God’s city – the new Jerusalem. Those who are inhabitants by faith are born into the freedom of their Savior, Jesus – no more bondage under sin.  

Mt. Sinai and Mt. Zion both represent insurmountable obstacles to us. We can’t keep God’s law as He demands and so the curse of sin is always reflected in His law. The quest for God’s kingdom remains an illusion to us when we consider our own abilities and efforts to make it possible. Without Jesus, we would fall into the same pit as the Pharisee’s, relegating God’s vision of a kingdom to earthly passions for our own power. These are the mountains we cannot climb – yet to be with God we have to for there is no other way. These are the pursuits for which we lack the necessary focus on determination. One misstep means death. One moment of misguided trust and we lose a solid foothold. Standing at the base of a 3,000-foot granite faced cliff is but a mere metaphor of the task in ascending Mt. Sinai and Mt. Zion.

And so, God established a third mountain - Calvary. It seems strange that to conquer two other monumental obstacles, God would erect a third. Truly, at the very beginning there was no need for this task. If we had taken care of our business by just listening to God’s warning and trusting in His protection, none of this would have been necessary. The summit of God’s expectations and the summit of God’s kingdom would have remained within our grasp. But that fell apart when we trusted ourselves. Abraham’s story is but a microcosm of our own lives. How often have we attempted blind manipulation of God’s will? How quickly we interject our own thoughts into His holy Word. How desperately we want to walk the path to heaven our way. God established Mt. Calvary for you and me. That’s the only reason it was necessary.

Jesus had successfully free soloed Sinai and Calvary. He lived a blameless life. He sought and established the true kingdom of God, even at the very end of His life when His opponents shouted – “Show yourself to be the Christ and come down from the cross!” Jesus remained faithful on Mt. Calvary to you and me because we desperately needed it. He knew we couldn’t ascend Sinai or Zion – we were sure to plummet to eternal death in hell.

So, He gave Himself in our place. He died so we wouldn’t have to, when upon the cross He breathed His last on that third mountain. Talk about focus and determination. Talk about true perfection. Talk about life vs. death. Jesus succeeded in all these things not because His life with God depended on it, but because yours did. And He did what no one else could. He climbed the three mountains – of God’s justice, of God’s glory, and of God’s love. 

At the end of the Free Solo documentary, the main character says that he hopes he’s inspired young kids to do something amazing one day – perhaps he’s even inspired them to a greater accomplishment than his own.

What about us? What could do to improve upon what Christ did? What greater feat is out there yet to be accomplished? Well, nothing frankly. But that doesn’t mean we sit idly by. Instead of trying to do one better than Jesus – use what you have to tell His story. You all can tell the gospel message, that mankind’s greatest threat has been conquered. You can speak of Jesus’ determination and focus, of His unbelievable perfection in every thought, word, and deed. You can relate the story of certain death fading to unending life. As we consider the spiritual themes of fulfillment, purpose, service, accomplishment, and destiny – there is no greater calling for those who have their Savior’s love than to share His story. Amen.