4/24/11 - Easter Sunday - Luke 24:36-45

AMEN! SO BE IT!

The History of “Amen”

The Lord’s Prayer is familiar to every Christian. It is recited in almost every worship service, it is repeated in the home, it is taught by Jesus himself two different placed in the pages of Scripture. And the Lord’s Prayer is such a great prayer because it is so short and concise, but all-inclusive all at the same time. It covers a wide range of requests to our Lord in very few words. And whether you are partial to the old King James style of the Prayer with the “thys” and the “thines” or whether you prefer the modern English version, the Lord’s Prayer never changes. We begin with an address to the Father, we make our way through seven petitions (requests) to the Lord, and then we conclude with those familiar words of praise: “the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever.” But we add one more word that that ending, don’t we? We always close that prayer with an “Amen.”
Now the word “Amen” is not exclusive to the Lord’s Prayer of course. “Amen” is used to cap off almost every prayer that we say no matter what the content. But do you know where “Amen” comes from and why we use it so often? It’s not an American thing. And it’s not a phenomenon of the English language either. In fact, it didn’t even originate in the times of the New Testament apostles. The word “Amen” as a response of the people to a prayer or a song or the words of God was used all the way back in the worship life of the Old Testament believers. The prophets, the psalms, and even some of the Old Testament commands all used this word to confirm the truth of what had just been said. That’s what the word “Amen” means after all: “So be it because this is most certainly true.” And if that is what’s being said every time we respond with this simple word, then it is very fitting for us to sing “Amen” at the end of a song or speak “Amen” at the end of a prayer. “So be it! This is most certainly true!” There’s a confidence in that word, a sure conviction that God’s Word is true and it will not fail.

The Disciples’ Insecurity

Jesus’ disciples had certainly said “Amen” quite a few times themselves throughout their lives. And they had made some beautiful confessions of faith and bold statements of trust in their Lord as well. But on Easter Sunday evening Jesus’ disciples weren’t quite that confident. They should have been, but they weren’t all that convinced that God’s Word was true and it was never going to fail for them to utter anything like an “Amen.” Instead, they were hiding in an upstairs room of a house with the doors locked from the inside! Peter and John and James and all of the other living disciples were crowded in that room afraid for their lives! There were no “Amens!” or words of praise being spoken that night; whispers maybe and worries and conjectures, but certainly nothing bold and brave was coming out of their mouths. Their Leader had just been crucified, after all, and those who had murdered him might have been looking for his followers that night. And so the disciples were hiding in that room until it was a little safer to venture out into Jerusalem once again. But:
While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence. He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
While the disciples hid in that locked room Jesus appeared to them in the flesh! And they didn’t believe it! Jesus actually spoke to them and said, “Peace be with you.” And they still couldn’t believe it! Jesus showed them the nail holes in his hands and his feet. And they still couldn’t believe it! Jesus ate a piece of fish in front of them - and before any more doubts or reservations could be conjured up in their minds, Jesus “opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.” And he began to explain to them that his death and his resurrection was exactly what Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms had spoken about so many years before.
And yet these disciples struggled to come to terms with the fact that Jesus was actually alive and that what he had said had actually come true. Because it had looked so bad all weekend! From Friday morning through that Sunday evening, nothing looked like it had turned out the way Jesus had predicted it would. But now Jesus was standing right in front of them, talking and eating and breathing, and they couldn’t explain away this miracle to end all miracles no matter how hard they tried. Their Lord was alive without a doubt!

Our Insecurities

It always seemed strange to me that these disciples, who were closer to Jesus than anyone else on this earth, first of all didn’t understand that this had to happen and, secondly, that they had such a hard time believing it when it actually did! Didn’t they know better? Hadn’t they taken Jesus had his Word? Weren’t they aware that Jesus could do whatever he wanted to do and he would never let them down? How could they be so blind? How could they be so insecure and untrusting? But then I start thinking about my own life. And I start calling to mind all of those instances when I should have known better and when I should have simply taken Jesus at his Word and when I should have been aware that he could do whatever he wanted to do and that he would never let me down. And I quickly realize that I’m just like those disciples hiding in a locked room on Easter Sunday evening. Because sometimes I don’t exactly trust that the Lord will follow through with what his Word says. Sometimes I struggle to believe that everything is going according to plan - especially at those times when there seems to be no plan! Sometimes I start to question whether everything is going to be OK. Don’t you?
You are a Christian too, are you not? And so you should know your Lord better than most people on this earth. You have heard his Word; you have read his promises; you have believed in his Name. And so why is that when things aren’t going so well you start to doubt what he has said? Why is it that the problems you run into seem to overrule Jesus’ promises? Do you just have a “fair-weather” faith? Do you hop on the band wagon of God’s Word when things are going nicely for you but are ready to hop right off again when life takes a turn for the worse? Does everything have to go perfectly for you or does the Lord have to show you every little thing he has planned for your life before you will confidently and unwaveringly say: “Amen! So be it!” to what the Lord has in mind?
In the end are we really any different than those early disciples of Christ? Are we really any less insecure? Are we really any more dependable? When it comes down to it our faith is just as inconsistent and unpredictable as theirs was. We should be a little more steady on our two spiritual feet, but our lives have proven otherwise. We should always be willing to say “Amen! So be it!” to anything that the Lord allows to happen to us on this earth, but that would take a confidence and a contentment that most of us have rarely showed in our Lord.

Jesus’ Hands

And so look at his hands. Whenever you find yourself doubting his promises or worrying about your future or questioning his love, look at his hands. That’s what he showed his disciples on that Easter evening; and that is what he shows to you on this Easter morning. Look at the nail holes. Look at the dried blood. Look at the undeniable marks of a horrible torture by crucifixion. Did Jesus not promise that he would suffer for you? Did Jesus not promise that he would die for you? Did Jesus not promise that he would rise for you? And look what he did. Look what he did! He did everything he promised he would! He went through with the suffering and the pain and the torture and the death and the burial and the resurrection because that’s what he said he would do. He carried through with all of his promises because our lives depended on it. And that’s what we’re celebrating today.
This morning we are celebrating a fulfillment of promises and a victory with heavenly implications. We are celebrating forgiveness won and eternal life guaranteed. We are celebrating the kingdom, the power, and the glory of our Lord displayed like they have never been displayed before. We are celebrating Jesus’ hands. The hands that were folded together as he prayed so passionately in the Garden of Gethsemane. The hands that were bound as he was led away by the soldiers. The hands that were nailed to a piece of wood. The hands that bled. The hands that fell limp. The hands that were wrapped in burial clothing. But also the hands that were shown to the disciples three days later with those nail holes still in them. The hands that blessed the disciples with those words of peace. The hands that will one day take us home. We celebrate the hands of Jesus on Easter Sunday - once dead, now alive; once nailed, now never failing - never to let us go and never to let us down.

"Amen: This is Most Certainly True"

And so is it any surprise that the early Christians began to celebrate the resurrection of Christ on a yearly basis soon after the original event occurred? Is it any surprise that the early Christians picked Sunday on which to worship the Lord on a weekly basis because that was the day their Lord rose from the dead? Is it any surprise that Easter has been the largest and most popular celebration of Christians for the last two millennia? Easter is one big “Amen” after all! Easter is that great festival of the Christian church year where every truth of God’s Word comes together in one incredible instance. And God’s people come together to confirm that what Jesus has done is true and it is real and it is forever. There is no greater day than Easter Sunday. Because there is no greater moment than that first glimpse into that empty tomb. There is no greater feeling than to know that everything is going to be OK, that not one of God’s promises has failed, that our Lord lives and so will we. Amen to that, right? So be it! This is most certainly true! And let’s say that together, can we? Because it is a confession of faith in our Lord. “Amen! So be it! This is most certainly true!”
Your Lord rose today. He lives. This is most certainly true! So be it!
Amen.

4/22/11 - Good Friday - Matthew 27:50-54

JESUS DIED TODAY

There could be Nothing More Evil

Jesus died today. Actually, by this time of the evening, Jesus would have already been in the grave. Remember that Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus had to rush to get Jesus’ body down from the cross, clean it off, wrap it in spices and linens, and then place it in a cave before nightfall because the Sabbath day was to start at dusk. And so by 7 p.m. on that infamous Friday evening, Calvary would have already been deserted, the cross would have been empty, and the tomb would have been occupied.
Regardless of the time frame of the events, the Friday before Easter Sunday is always the day on which we commemorate the anniversary of the death of Jesus. And could we be commemorating anything more evil? Could there have been anything more evil than God’s creatures crucifying their Creator? Could there have been anything more evil than mortal human beings ripping life away from the Life-Giver? Could there have been anything more evil than a betrayal-induced, hate-motivated, corrupt-government-authorized, public torture of the only Innocent Person ever to walk the face of this earth? I can’t think of anything more evil, can you? The cruelty and the brutality and the downright nastiness of what happened to Jesus that day is sickening. And not just his death of course. We have to include the scourging he received from the soldiers, the crown of thorns pressed into his skull, the beating he took over the head with a wooden staff, the punches he received to the face from the Jewish leaders the night before, the spit, the mockery, the humiliation of hanging naked and battered and bleeding in front of his people. It was an awful 24 hours for Jesus. It was evil at its worst.

Remembering His Death is a Reminder of Our Sin

And that’s not something we like to think about, is it? Normally when we bring to mind a family member who has passed away or even do something to remember the anniversary on which a loved one has died, we think about the good things and the fun times and the happy experiences we had with that person, don’t we? We don’t like to bring up the unpleasant memories or any of the terrible things that we might have done to that person when they were alive. But here we have to. Here, on the day we remember the death of our Lord, we have to remember the bad things. We have to deal with the ugliness. We have to talk about us. Because on the anniversary of Jesus’ death our mistakes and our faults and our evils are never clearer.
That’s why Jesus was hanging there in the first place, wasn’t it? We failed him. That’s why he was screaming so loud from excruciating pain: those were the consequences of our sins causing Jesus so much agony. That’s why his own Father left him: he was supposed to leave us. That’s why Jesus’ heart eventually stopped beating and his lungs stopped breathing and his mind stopped functioning: because we messed up and we couldn’t do anything about it. We are responsible for Jesus’ pain there on the cross. We are the reason that God was a corpse for three days. And that’s not something nice to think about either. Remembering Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross isn’t something that should warm your heart and bring a smile to your face. It’s something that should upset your stomach a little bit and bring tears to your eyes. Jesus died today. The life of your God was taken away from him today. What an evil thing! And it was all because of us!

“Deliver Us from Evil”

The very last request we make of our Father in the Lord’s Prayer is: “Deliver us from evil.” And when we pray this petition I would imagine that most of us usually think of the Lord delivering his people from the evils of car accidents and the evils of diseases and the evils of murderers and the evils of natural disasters... And those evils are certainly all included in the 7th petition of the Lord’s Prayer. And the Lord undoubtedly delivers us from many of those unfortunate side effects of sin. But whenever you pray this petition of the Lord’s Prayer in the future, don’t forget to also think about the cross. Because nowhere else did the Lord “deliver us from evil” to such a greater extent than he did while hanging on those two pieces of wood outside of the walls of Jerusalem. There on the cross it was more than a deliverance from accidents or diseases or murderers or disasters. There on the cross it was a deliverance from the searing pains of hell and from a death that never ends and from an eternity of God’s hate and from the evils within ourselves. There on the cross Jesus actually delivered us from ourselves. He saved us from ourselves. Because the evil that festers within our sinful nature would drag us down to hell if not for the cross. It would condemn us if not for the cross. We were part of the evil! We were part of the problem from which we had to be delivered! And so whenever you pray: “Deliver us from evil” - include yourself in that last word. And then include yourself in that first word. Because you have been delivered. You have been rescued. You have been forgiven from all of the evils around you and from all of the evils within. You are saved. You are secured. But only because Jesus died.
“And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, ‘Surely he was the Son of God!’”

The Effects of Jesus’ Death

Jesus’ death itself wasn’t a good thing. But what happened because of his death was. Things started splitting in half! The temple curtain, the rocks, the tombs of believers… And these things started splitting in half because what Jesus did through his death truly was earth shattering! The sting of sin was sterilized, death and the devil was defeated, and evil - in every form - was ended. This was no normal death! This wasn’t the usual end to an everyday life! In fact, it wasn’t the “end” at all. Jesus’ death was the beginning of life for those who had longed for his coming; it was the beginning of forgiveness for those who would believe; and it was the beginning of a peace that the world at that time had not yet known. The temple curtain splitting in two, the rocks splitting apart, and the tombs splitting open proved it. Jesus’ death had opened the way to life. And nothing was ever going to close it again.
I’m sure you’ve noticed that the hymns are in a minor key. And our worship has a somber tone about it. And Christians for centuries have gotten rid of the Hallelujahs and the candles and sometimes even the singing during this anniversary of our Lord’s death. Because Jesus died today. But that is also why we have hope. Jesus’ death is why we are here tonight as Christians. Jesus death on Friday afternoon is why we can look ahead to Sunday morning. Because we know what’s coming. We know that the tomb that is holding our Savior’s dead body on this Friday night will soon be holding him no more. We know how Jesus will prove to us that his death earlier today actually worked. And so look forward to that celebration. Anticipate what is to come. Because Sunday morning’s dawn is going to shed a glorious new light on this Friday evening darkness. Jesus died today. But we wouldn’t have an Easter if he didn’t. And we wouldn’t have forgiveness either.
Amen.

4/21/11 - Maundy Thursday - Mark 14:37-42

DON'T TAKE TEMPTATION LIGHTLY

Christ’s Warnings to His Disciples

Jesus had warned them. Jesus had warned his disciples about what was to come. On the very night in an upstairs room of a house where he would give out the blessing of the Lord’s Supper for the very first time, Jesus warned Peter that he would fall into sin before the rooster crowed early the next morning. Jesus warned all of the disciples that every one of them would run away from him in the very near future. Jesus even warned them that one among their number would actually betray their Lord and hand him over to his enemies. Jesus had predicted these things to his chosen twelve as they all sat around the dinner table that night so that they might be prepared for what would happen later that evening and what would carry over into the next day. Jesus didn’t want his disciples to go into the next few hours completely blind because he honestly didn’t want them to fall into temptation.
And so after supper they got up from that table and Jesus led them out to a place beyond the walls of Jerusalem where he had often spent time with his disciples in the past: the Garden of Gethsemane. And after taking Peter, James, and John aside so that they could stay up with him and pray, Jesus went just a little farther through the olive grove in order to present his pleas to his Father in private. And the writer Mark records for us, “Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. ‘Simon,’ he said to Peter, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.’ Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him. Returning the third time, he said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.’”
Jesus had warned these three disciples yet once again: “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” Because Jesus realized what was about to happen. Jesus understood what temptations the disciples would soon face. And he did not want them to take these temptations lightly. He wanted them to be alert. He wanted them to pray for strength. He wanted them understand how dangerous the next few days would be to their faith. Of course, the disciples must not have realized how serious or how close those temptations actually were because instead of taking Jesus’ advice to “watch and pray” they fell asleep three separate times.

“Lead Us Not into Temptation”

“Lead us not into temptation…” we pray in the 6th Petition of the Lord’s Prayer. But it would almost seem as if Jesus did lead these disciples right into the teeth of temptation that night! Because Jesus was the one who had brought them out to the Garden in the first place. Jesus was the one who had allowed them to be there when Judas arrived with the mob. And Jesus was the reason why Peter had wandered into the courtyard later that evening and ended up denying his Lord. Jesus didn’t seem to be doing anything to keep his disciples away from the temptations that attacked them. And that’s right: Jesus didn’t do anything to prevent those temptations from attacking his disciples. But Jesus did not lead them into temptation. It wasn’t Jesus’ desire that they would fall into sin. It was Jesus’ desire that they face those temptations and stand firm. He didn’t tempt them himself; he even warned them, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” He knew that these temptations were right around the corner for his disciples. He knew they would be challenged by them. And he knew they needed help.
And, in fact, that’s what the 6th Petition of the Lord’s Prayer is all about, isn’t it? We do not say: “Lord, take all temptations away from us.” No, there will always be temptations that haunt us in this life. And so instead we pray, “Lord, lead us not into temptation.” And he will not. The Lord will not steer us in the direction of a temptation so that we fall. He never wants us to fall. He never wants us to sin. And so he will continue to strengthen us and encourage us and warn us through his Word about the temptations to come - just like he did for his disciples on that late Thursday night.

Failing to See the Danger

I would hope that we take the Lord’s warning about temptations a little more seriously than the disciples did that evening. I would hope we understand how dangerous they are. I would hope we understand how close they may be. I’m just not so sure we do. I, for one, usually go about my day to day business not all that worried about the temptations that I may face, not too concerned about the sins I might fall into, not even all that aware of what dangers might be lurking just outside my peripheral vision. And that’s a dangerous thing to do: To continue into the unknown without making sure that my footing is secure and that my protection is solid; without constantly going to my Lord in prayer for help and to his Word for guidance and to his love for the forgiveness that I’m most certainly going to need. I really do hope that you have proven to be a little more conscientious about the dangerous temptations out there than I have been.
Because do we think this is a game? Do we think that temptations and the many sins that result from those temptations are no big deal? Of course they’re a big deal! They are damaging to our faith! They are potentially harmful to our salvation! And they are direct violations against the Word of our dear Lord. Falling into a temptation every now and then is not OK. Dabbling in a little sin here and there is not OK. Accidentally tripping over something that entices your sinful nature is not OK. It is life-threatening. It is serious.

Jesus’ Victory over Temptation

Do you think Jesus took temptation seriously? He foresaw the temptations that the disciples would face and he warned them that night no less than four separate times. He prayed in that Garden like no one has ever prayed before - Luke even says that his sweat was like drops of blood pouring off his brow because he was praying so hard. And then when Jesus came back and found his disciples sleeping, he left and prayed again. And then again. Whom do you think he was praying for? He was certainly praying for himself and what he was about to go through. But that also means he was praying for you. And he was praying for me. Because just moments after he returned to his disciples for the third time, it started. His “Passion,” his suffering, started. Judas came. Jesus was arrested. He was tried in the court of the high priest. He was made to stand before Pilate. He was questioned. He was accused. He was beaten. He was flogged. He was mocked. He was led. He was crucified. Do you think there were a few temptations that Jesus had to face during all of that? Of course there were! Hundreds of temptations every step of the way. And Jesus was ready for them. Jesus was ready for those temptations because he took them seriously. And so he prayed and he forged ahead and he suffered and he won. He battled and he conquered every temptation because his disciples certainly couldn’t do it! They had slept and had run away and had denied and had failed. And we certainly can’t do it either! Sometimes we sleep and run away and deny and fail. And so Jesus did it himself. Because he not only took those temptations seriously, he took our salvation seriously. And if winning our salvation, our eternal life, meant undergoing those temptations and suffering the effects of sin and experiencing death itself and being smacked in the face by the devil, then that was what he was going to do. He was willing to take it all so that when we fall into temptation now, the punishment has already been paid for and the consequence has already been carried out. By his victory Jesus has effectively declawed any temptation and has taken the venom out of the serpent’s fangs. Those bites still hurt of course, but they are not deadly. The fight can be rough for us at times, but it will not be fatal.
And so continue to ask the Lord to help you through these bites and these fights of the devil’s attacks. Ask him to guard you against the temptations that will plague you in this life. Ask him to strengthen you against sin’s potency. Ask him to protect you from the dangers that you do not yet know about. And thank him that he already has. Thank him that he took temptation so seriously that he was willing to take all of your temptations for you. And thank him that he took your salvation seriously enough on that Maundy Thursday evening that you never have to worry about again.
Amen.

4/17/11 - Palm Sunday - Zechariah 9:9-10

PEACE WITHOUT WAR

War is a Part of Our Culture

This last Tuesday was the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the American Civil War. For over four years we fought against each other. More than 625,000 people died. And this country has never been the same since. Of course, that wasn’t the first major war we were involved with. The United States of America, as way we know it today, was founded on war: the American Revolution. And ever since then war has been an integral part of our culture. the Mexican-American War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, and a number of other wars and battles that have been intertwined in the short history of this country. There have been so many wars, in fact, that the last war is never too far behind us and another one is always on the horizon. There is hardly a generation that goes by that does not see their country at war. Because war is used to promote and preserve the privileges that we enjoy the most: like freedom and justice and peace.

The Israelites Longed for Peace

Peace is a big thing for us, isn’t it? We want to feel safe; we want to know that our borders are secure. We don’t want our lives to be disturbed and we certainly don’t want to have to worry about invasions or attacks. We want to lead peaceful lives for the most part and avoid bloody and lengthy confrontations with other world powers. Which is exactly what the Israelites wanted five centuries before the days of Christ. In fact, God’s Old Testament people during those days might have longed for peace even more than we do - because they didn’t have it.
It was about 520BC and a sizeable group of Israelites had recently arrived back in the Promised Land after their 70 year exile in Babylon. Jerusalem, their capital city, was in ruins. Its walls were crumbled, its temple had been burned to the ground, and there was nothing to protect it or its inhabitants from being attacked again. And on top of all that, there were not enough people or the organization to have an actual army, the nations around the land of Israel did not want them to be there, and they were still ruled by the Persian Empire who could do whatever they wanted to them whenever they wanted to do it. The Israelites were small and weak; they were outmatched and incapable of protecting themselves. They certainly wanted peace but they didn’t have the means to get it. They undoubtedly longed for and prayed for peace, but it was hardly something that seemed realistic considering the situation they were in.

Peace is the Mark of the King

And so when they heard the words of the prophet Zechariah that are recorded for us in the middle of chapter nine of his book, the Israelites must have been completely shocked! Because listen to what the Lord says to them understanding the difficulties they were in the middle of dealing with:
“Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the war-horses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.”
Their King was coming! And not just a normal, everyday king who would eventually prove to be inept and ungodly and unable to protect his people like so many of their kings had been in the past. No, this King would be righteous, this King would be free from the oppression of foreign nations, this King would proclaim peace. Peace! This King would actually proclaim peace to the nations! The chariots and the war-horses and the bows used in battle would be done away with! And this King’s kingdom would begin at the great River Euphrates, right in the heart of the Persian Empire, and spread out over the globe to the ends of the earth. God’s people would finally be able to live quietly and securely, without fear and without apprehension about what was to come. Because their King would rule the world and would impose nothing on his people but peace.
Of course, this “peace” that their King would bring wasn’t going to be an earthly kind of peace. It’s not as if all wars suddenly stopped when he arrived and all fighting was forever over. And we know that this is not the kind of peace the King was to bring because these very verses of Zechariah chapter nine are quoted twice in the New Testament - both on Palm Sunday when Jesus rode into Jerusalem “on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Jesus was that King predicted over 500 years before, of course. He was the righteous one. He was the conqueror that would proclaim peace to the nations. And it was a different kind of peace. It was a peace from death and a peace with God and a peace of mind from the guilt and the hurt and the final effects of sins that would be taken away. It was a spiritual peace and an eternal peace. A peace that the people of Israel hadn’t known before. A peace that only this King could produce. And that’s the peace we are celebrating today.

The Peace of Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday is always a great celebration: Jesus riding through the city gates on the back of a borrowed pack animal, his disciples clearing the way, children singing, his followers throwing their coats and palm branches on the ground as a “red carpet” for their Lord, the joy, the gladness, the energy these people had shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” The King of Peace had arrived, after all! Zechariah’s Christ had come! Of course there was singing! Of course there was a celebration! And that’s why we celebrate and sing and gather together to worship on day like today: Because he’s our King of Peace too! He’s our Christ! He’s our Messiah! And we need that peace and long for that peace just like those Israelites did 2500 years ago!
Palm Sunday is the day on which Jesus came to Jerusalem to win that peace. And five days later he did. Five days later he died. Seven days later he rose. And that is exactly why this week after Palm Sunday is called “Holy Week.” It is the holiest week of the year. These are the last days of Christ’s suffering. These are the final few hours of his life on earth. Palm Sunday is really the beginning of the end of Jesus’ quest for the peace that we will enjoy for all eternity.

Peace is Allusive

But we have that peace right now. It’s not just a promised peace; it’s not just a future peace that we will receive one day in heaven; it’s a real peace that our King grants to us right now as we live our lives on this earth. So why do we sometimes act as if we don’t have it? Why do we sometimes act as if everything isn’t taken care of or as if something has been left undone? We concern ourselves with so many of the alleged “problems” of our lives that we have a habit of downing ourselves in the details. We worry and we fret and we drive ourselves crazy over the little things in this life that end up being meaningless when it’s all said and done and, on the other hand, they’re already planned for and taken care of by the Lord anyway. Our Palm Sunday King has given us peace! He rode into Jerusalem that day to make everything right! He entered into the heart of enemy territory to fix the problem. So what is the problem? What’s the fuss? Why can’t we simply trust that our King has made everything OK? “Oh, but my life is complicated and this has to be done and this has to be taken care of and this has to be fixed and this has to be rectified!” Really? It does? Jesus’ peace is not enough? Jesus’ peace isn’t sufficient to soothe those worries and calm those fears? Of course it is! The peace your King has given you covers every aspect of your life. He takes care of it. He holds it in his hands. He wraps your life up in a nice little package and makes sure that everything that happens to you in this world works out according to his will. Do we really need to doubt that the Lord will do what he says he will do? “Thanks for the peace, Lord, but it looks like I’m going to have to take care of this thing myself… I appreciate your promise of peace, Lord, but this little problem is bothering me and I’m going to have to do something about it… I realize that you have proclaimed peace to me, Lord, but I’m not so sure that it applies to this part of my life because things aren’t going so well…” No! There are no “buts” in peace. There are no “buts” in peace. The peace your King gives you is final and all-inclusive. When your King gives you peace that means that you receive rest from your troubles and relief from your pain and a release from your problems. Not that you won’t have troubles and pain and problems of course, but you don’t have to worry about them. You don’t have to lose any sleep over them. Because so what? So what if unpleasant things happen in this life? Your King has arrived and has given you eternal peace! So what if your plans do not go according to schedule! Your King has arrived and has given you eternal peace! So what if your life is not all that it’s cracked up to be? Your King has arrived and has given you eternal peace! There’s no reason to ever be unhappy. There’s no reason to ever be stressed out. Your Palm Sunday Messiah has made everything alright.

Peace without War

And he has made everything alright because his work didn’t stop on Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday was just the grand entrance into the arena. What happened inside that arena on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday and Easter Sunday was what the King really came for. He wasn’t there in Jerusalem that day simply to be praised and worshiped and gushed over; he was there to eventually be tortured and to be hated and to be murdered. Our King was there to die.
And that’s the difference between the peace our King has won for us compared to the peace any other leader can give from any other country in any other era: peace in this world is always brought about by war. But not the peace of Christ. There was no war that week he entered Jerusalem on a donkey. There were no battles; there was no fighting. There were soldiers involved, but they just pinned Jesus to a plank of wood, they didn’t lead an attack. There were enemies all around, but Jesus did nothing to defend himself against them. One spear was drawn and used, but only to strike Jesus’ corpse in the side to see if he was already dead. Our King won peace without war. He secured our forgiveness without a fight. Victory rested in his death; and triumph in his resurrection. And now they’re ours. Victory and triumph belong to those of us who even doubt sometimes and worry on occasion and struggle to find the peace that our King gives; because victory and triumph don’t depend on how strongly we can cling to our King. Victory and triumph depend on what our Palm Sunday King did to become our Easter Sunday Savior. And what he did in between those two Sunday mornings we look forward to this week. This is the number one greatest week in the Christian church year. This is the week of our peace. And so come back this Thursday and see what your King did to win peace through his sufferings. And then come back again this Friday and see what your King did to win peace through his death. And then of course come back next Sunday so that you can see the peace he won for you with an empty tomb. Come and see this peace for yourselves. Come and enjoy this peace your King freely gives.
Amen.

“The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” - Phil. 4:7

4/10/11 - Lent 5 - Romans 8:11-19

GOD IS A FAMILY MAN

Family Comes First

God is a family man. Out of all the things he is involved with in this world: the detailed organization of the stars and the planets, the earthquakes and the tornados and the other acts of nature on this earth, the changing of the seasons, the preservation of what he has created, war, the economy, politics… Out of everything God occupies himself with on a day to day basis, his family comes first. He calls himself the “Father” after all and the second person of the Triune God is referred to as his “Son.” And when this Father created the first two human beings, Adam and Eve, he made them “in his own image” Scripture says. Not physically, of course, but spiritually and psychologically this first married couple was similar to the God who created them. But he not only created them, he crafted this world for them and came down and talked to them on a regular basis and doted over them because they were his family and he wanted to share his love. Even after Adam and Eve disobeyed the Father and had to be sent away from that Garden, the Lord still loved them. He punished them but he also promised to send them a Savior that would rescue them from the ultimate effects of their sin. And over the years and throughout the millennia The Father made sure that everything in this world and every event in this life worked toward that end. He wanted every one of his family members, from Adam and Eve on, to join him again in the Paradise that had once been thrown away. That was his number one concern. That still is his number one concern. Because God’s family comes first.

An Unlikely Adoption

Realize, of course, that not everyone is part of God’s family. Those who do not believe in him are not included in that very special group. Which means that every one of us here was automatically outside of God’s family from the very beginning because we did not start as believers. No one is naturally born with that distinction. No one is biologically blessed as a child of God from birth. Not anymore. Not since Adam and Eve passed their contaminated sinful nature down to their children and from their children to their children and down through the generations. And so just like every other person that has ever existed on this earth, we did not now God as our Father at first, we did not believe that God could be our Father, and we did not care. We were filled up to the brim with sin to the point of overflowing. We were actually enemies of God because of that sinful nature - and nothing more.
And so the fact that we are now children of God is incredible! The fact that we are sitting here this morning in God’s house as a part of his family is almost inconceivable! Because how could that possibly happen? How could it be that we went from enemies of God by our very nature to children of God beyond a doubt? Well, what is the only way a child can become a member of a family without being born into that family? The only way is through adoption. And that is exactly what happened to us. The apostle Paul describes for us the spiritual adoption process that our Lord went through to make you one of his own.
“Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”

In order for you to be adopted you received the gift of the Holy Spirit. Whether the Spirit worked through the gospel at your baptism or the Spirit worked through the gospel when you read or heard the words of the Bible, God sent the Holy Spirit into your heart, convinced you that he paid for your sins when he sacrificed his Son on a cross, and officially adopted you into his family through faith. And now, because of what Jesus did for us when he took our place and what the Holy Spirit did for us when he worked faith in our hearts, we can boldly cry out, “Abba, Father” in complete confidence that God truly is our Father and that we are his grateful children. We can be proud and honored that we are now members of his family - especially when there was a time when we were anything but. But… as his children, sometimes we end up acting more like children than we should.

Ungrateful and Disobedient Children

Because children sometimes take their parents for granted, don’t they? They are used to receiving constant care and attention; they are accustomed to getting food and clothing and the basic necessities of life from their parents, but children don’t often thank their parents or show any gratitude for what they do. Children might not truly appreciate their parents until they are parents themselves and can look back at all of the things their parents actually did for them over the years. And on top of all that, children can act very ungrateful as well. They oftentimes ignore their parents, disobey their parents, and even blatantly disregard what their parents want and say. And so not only do children fail to recognize how much their parents sacrifice for them, they even disrespect their parents by their actions and their words.
Whether you have children living in your house right now or not and no matter how young or old you might be at the moment, every one of us is or once was at one time a child of a parent. And if I asked you to write down the most unruly and disappointing things you did as a child to your parents, that list might be a long one for most of us and probably not too flattering. Some of our words and some of our actions as children were not commendable at all and we’d be embarrassed if other people were aware of what we did and said.
But if I asked you to write down the most unruly and disappointing things that you have done as a child against your heavenly Father, would that list be any better? Not a chance! It’d be longer and darker and even more appalling! What we have done and what we have said against our heavenly Father throughout our lives is disgusting. We have ignored his Word at times; we have disobeyed his commands more than we’d like to admit; and we have blatantly disregarded what he wanted on numerous occasions. We have been very ungrateful of what he has done for us, haven’t we? We have been very unappreciative of what he has sacrificed for us. We may very well be his children, but we should be a little embarrassed about what kind of children we have been to the Father who has worked so hard and has done so much for us.

A Father’s Forgiveness

But he is still our Father. And that’s important. Because that means that God is not our boss and he is not our employer; he is not our supervisor and he is not our governing authority. He is not an unapproachable holy God whom we cannot possibly address with our pleas and our needs and our confessions; he truly is our dear Father. He cares for us; he longs for us; and, most importantly, he forgives us. Because that’s what a father does: a father forgives. And so whenever we let him down we can come to him and cry out, “Abba, Father” in full confidence knowing that he not only hears us but he forgives us as well and holds us again in his arms.
“Abba” is simply the Aramaic word for “father.” It’s not really a special word or a term that refers to something other than the word we use for “dad” or “father,” but it is something special because of who used that word in Scripture. In the Garden of Gethsemane, just moments before Judas Iscariot led the chief priests’ posse to the place where Jesus and his disciples had gathered, the Son of God prayed, “Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will” (Mark 14:36). Jesus himself used the Aramaic word and the Greek word for “father” as he addressed his heavenly Father on that night before his crucifixion. And now here, in the book of Romans, the Lord says that we are able to address the Almighty God in the exact same way, “Abba, Father, you are the one I can turn to when I need help. You are the one I can go to when I am lost. You are the one I can count on to love me and forgive me and be there for me when I have not really loved you.” And he will. Our “Abba,” our “Father” will love us and forgive us and be there for us even when we have not exactly loved him as we should. Because he knew we would be this way!
He knew what he was getting when he signed those adoption papers at our baptism. He fully understood that we were saturated with sin and prone to rebellion and overrun with spiritual diseases and disorders that would affect us for the rest of our lives. And he realized how we would act even after we were brought into his family. He foresaw the problems and he was aware of the difficulties that we would cause for him and bring upon ourselves down the road. But he adopted us anyway. He wanted us to be his children no matter what we had done or what we were going to do. And so now whenever we ignore him or disobey him or blatantly disregard what he wants, he forgives us. Because he knows that he’s going to have to! And he wants to. He wants to keep us as his children. He wants us to stay in the family. He wants to show us his love. And whether we deserve it or not: in the end he’s going to give his children his inheritance.

The Inheritance

Because “If we are children,” Paul writes, “then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.” The children receive the inheritance. Not the neighbors, not the employees, not even the friends, but the children of the Father receive the inheritance. Why? What have the children done to gain that inheritance? What have the children accomplished to earn that inheritance? What have the children proven to win that inheritance? Nothing, right? The children receive the inheritance simply because they are his children. There are no requirements to meet other than being a child of the one who has something left to give. And our Father certainly has something left to give! He has a celebration waiting us that we only get a hint of at an Easter Sunday worship service. He has a feast prepared for us that we only get a taste of as we stand in front of his altar at the Lord’s Supper. He has a life of glory and majesty and perfection all ready for us that we only get a glimmer of at baptism. Our Father has heaven in store for us, an eternity of Paradise that is incomparable and never ending. And that incredible inheritance is waiting for us not because we are good people or faithful followers or loyal servants who honestly try hard and do our best, but simply because we are his children. Good or bad, trustworthy or disobedient, long time children or adopted late in life, since we are members of his family through faith, his inheritance is ours.
There is an extreme comfort there, of course. Because in this world parents pass away and spouses don’t always stick around; children aren’t that reliable and family members of various degrees can’t always be counted on. But you will always remain a child of God; and he will always be your Father. You are just as precious to him today as you were on the day he adopted you. And nothing will make him happier than the day on which he takes you home. Your Father is looking forward to that family reunion. I know I am. And I can’t wait to meet you there.
Amen.

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.” - Psalm 33:12

3/30/11; 4/6,13/11 - midweek lent - Luke 23:33-34

FORGIVENESS DOESN'T COME EASILY

The 5th Petition

The Lord’s Prayer is composed of an address at the beginning, a doxology at the end, and seven petitions (or requests) in the middle. But there’s one phrase in this prayer that is not like the others. Can you catch it? “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.” There is one phrase that does not call to the Father or praise the Father or ask of the Father. There is one phrase in this famous prayer taught to us by Jesus himself that actually speaks about what we do. And it’s contained at the end of the 5th Petition: “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” And so we are asking our Lord in the 5th petition of the Lord’s Prayer to forgive our sins against him just as we forgive other people who sin against us!
Now wait a minute. I’m not sure if I like that. I don’t mind asking the Lord for blessings and praising the Lord for his kingdom and his power and his glory, but I’m not sure if I like that little phrase at the end of the 5th petition that refers to what I’m apparently doing on a regular basis. I want my sins forgiven; there’s no doubt about that! But to ask the Lord to forgive my sins just like I forgive others? Can’t I just skip that last phrase? Can’t I just move onto “Lead us not into temptation” and ignore the part about the forgiveness I’m supposed to be freely giving out? Because now I feel guilty. Now I feel a little ashamed. Now I feel a little hypocritical if I’m asking for forgiveness from the Lord but have no intention of forgiving those who sin against me.

Grudges & Revenge

Because it’s not all that fun to forgive, is it? It’s much more sinfully gratifying to hold a grudge and wish revenge on that person. When someone is less-than-nice to you, when somebody doesn’t like you, when a person says something to hurt you, when a family member has done something that has really upset you, when you are stabbed in the back… you don’t want to forgive them, do you? You want to stay mad at them for a while! You want to them to have to pay for it! You want to hang it over their head for a few days or weeks or months because that’s what they deserve! They don’t deserve your kindness or your compassion right now and you certainly aren’t going to let them off the hook that easily!
And yet we come to the Lord in prayer - his Prayer - and we pray, “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us” as if we do that without fault. “So let me get this straight,” the Lord might say to us. “You want me to forgive you for every single one of the thousands of sins you commit against me every day, but you don’t want to forgive this one sin that someone else has committed against you. Is that what I’m hearing?” “Oh, but it was personal!” we cry. “And I don’t take it personally when one of my own children breaks my law?” the Lord responds. “But they hurt me!” we argue. “And I am not hurt when you ignore my words?” our God patiently explains. “But they aren’t even sorry for what they did to me!” we complain. And the Lord just shrugs his shoulders and says, “Most people aren’t. In fact, I remember a few times when you were not sorry for some of the sins you committed against me! And neither were the guys who nailed me to the cross or the Jewish leaders that mocked me or the soldiers that scourged me or the crowds that condemned me. But that didn’t stop me from Calvary.” “But Lord!” we whimper. “Forgiveness is so hard!” “Yes it is,” says the Lord. “Yes it is. And you don’t know the half of it. I’m the one who has the nail holes to prove how difficult forgiveness actually was.” Our God does have the nail holes; and we have his words that tell us the story:

Forgiveness Doesn't Come Easily

When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” “Father, forgive them.” These were not just mere words. This was not something Jesus said but didn’t really mean it. Jesus was in the middle of earning it! Jesus was in the middle of bleeding to death for this forgiveness that he wanted so badly for those who were murdering him. And it wasn’t easy. Pain never is. Suffering for someone else never is. Dying never is. But Jesus was willing to go through with it all to gain forgiveness for the sins of every person in this world. Even for those who physically pounded the nails into his hands and feet. Even for those who saw his miracles and refused to believe. Even for those children of his who even now withhold forgiveness from others at times for completely selfish reasons. Jesus went through with that horrible torture and the punishment of hell itself because he doesn’t hold a grudge. And Jesus doesn’t wish revenge on those who harm him or ignore him or disobey him either. Jesus forgives. That’s just what he does. That’s what he did. And so now whenever we pray, “Forgive us our sins,” we know that he already has.

Instant & Permanent Forgiveness

Isn’t it nice that the Lord doesn’t hang your past mistakes over your head? Isn’t it refreshing to know that he doesn’t make you pay for them? Isn’t it incredible that he doesn’t stay mad at you until you make it up to him in some way? His forgiveness is instant! There is no waiting period. There is no background check. There is no fine print about conditions and restrictions that may apply. And Jesus’ forgiveness is permanent too! It doesn’t expire and he will never take it back. The sacrifice he made on that cross and the forgiveness that resulted from it is yours for as long as you live. Your sins are gone. Your punishment is over.
And if that is the kind of forgiveness that Jesus gives to you and if that is the kind of forgiveness that Jesus so graciously gives to me even though we don’t come close to deserving it, what kind of forgiveness do you think we should give to those who sin against us? A conditional forgiveness? A delayed forgiveness? A temporary forgiveness? Or an instant and permanent forgiveness with no strings attached? It’s not going to be easy, of course. Forgiving someone who has hurt you or who harms you or who even hates you with that kind of forgiveness isn’t going to be simple. But when we remember that it was Jesus’ blood that fell to the ground not only for us but for that person as well; and when we remember that it was Jesus’ death given up on the cross not only for us but for that person as well; and when we remember that it was Jesus’ love that moved him to offer himself as a sacrifice not only for us but for that person as well; the forgiveness that we are to give should flow a little more freely and gladly, shouldn’t it? Because Jesus did not hold forgiveness back from us. Jesus did not hold forgiveness back from anyone. How could we?
“Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” This is possibly the most comforting petition in the entire Lord’s Prayer, but also the most challenging. One that gives us the most joy, but also implies the most effort. Not that our efforts prompt Jesus to forgive us, but our efforts to forgive are motivated by the forgiveness our Lord has already given. And so we can continue to pray this 5th petition of the Lord’s Prayer with confidence. Because although we may be far from perfect in keeping the second part of this plea, that is exactly the reason why we pray the first. “Please forgive us our sins, Lord, as we try to forgive in the exact same way those who sin against us.”
Amen.

4/3/11 - Lent 4 - Matthew 20:17-28

FOCUS!

The Historical Focus of the Season of Lent

For well over 1700 years Christians across the world have celebrated the season that we are in the middle of right now: the season of Lent. Our English word “lent” doesn’t mean anything special - it comes from a word that refers to the “lengthening” of days - but the focus of Lent has always been something special. From very early on, even before the Council of Nicaea met in 325 AD, believers regularly took part in a 40 day fast each year that lead up to the festival of Easter. The Sundays during this time period weren’t counted in the 40 days because each Sunday was supposed to be a “little Easter,” and so 40 days before Easter fell on what we now call “Ash Wednesday.” Now the believers back then wouldn’t completely deprive themselves of food during that time, of course, but their meals and their gatherings were simplified; and their worship took on a somber tone as well because their focus was on the sufferings and death of their Savior in comparison to the sinfulness of mankind. It was a solemn time of year, a quiet preparation for the great resurrection celebration to come after those 40 days were over.
Even during the time of the Reformation of the 1500s, when worship life was reconstructed for the common people and the harmful traditions and ceremonies that had crept into the church were thrown out, the season of Lent was still retained because the believers of that time thought it very important that the gospel stories about the sufferings and death of Christ as well as the hymns that were written about them and the psalms that predicted them should be heard and sung every year. The unnecessary requirements and riturals of Lent were done away with, but the focus on our sins and the torment that the Savior went through because of our sins never changed.

The Disciples’ Focus During the Last Week of Jesus’ Life

Jesus wanted his disciples to focus on their sins and his sufferings even before the season of Lent came into existence. Less than a week before his death Jesus pulled them aside and pointed his chosen followers to what we have been celebrating these past few weeks. Unfortunately, the disciples disregarded what he said because their minds were on other things. Listen to what Jesus wanted them to concentrate on and what the disciples got distracted by.
Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!” Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. “What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.” When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus predicted his suffering, death, and resurrection in the clearest of terms; but the disciples were more concerned with what spot they would get beside him in heaven! Jesus wanted them to remember he would offer up his life up as a ransom for all people; but the disciples were wondering about what great rewards they could get in Paradise! They were missing the point. They were forgetting what really mattered. They undoubtedly heard the words that Jesus was saying, but they were focused on other things.

Our Focus During This Time of Year

What has been your focus during this season of Lent? Have you been focusing on the important things or have you been distracted by everything else? Spring is here, after all! And this time of year affords plenty of outdoor opportunities to distract you from Christ’s sufferings and death! There’s sun to soak up and exercise to do and gardens to begin and trips to plan; last month there was St. Patrick’s Day and a Japanese Tsunami; there are still lingering questions about the economy, complaints about the government, the regular bills to pay, family problems, health issues, and a new church building project in the works. And so, when it comes right down to it, has this season of Lent been any different than any other month? Has your focus been narrowed on the cross this last month or has it gone by unnoticed? Has your mind been in tune with what your Savior did or is that old familiar story so old and so familiar that it’s really nothing special?
Focus! This is not the time of year to get distracted! This is not the season to lose concentration on what is happening in the worship life of your congregation! Focus! Jesus is suffering here! Jesus is dying here! Jesus is sacrificing himself for your sins right in front of your eyes through the pages of Scripture! And it’s not just a Sunday morning thing or a Wednesday night hiatus. It’s not something that should drop out of your consciousness when you close your hymnal after the final song is sung this morning. This is your salvation! It should ride home with you and go to work with you and make the trip with you to see your friends and family members. The subject of Lent should be intertwined with everything you do or say or think. Focus! Especially during this time of year! Especially during Lent!

Jesus’ Focus on Our Salvation

Focus on what Jesus focused on. While he was traveling up to Jerusalem with his disciples he understood what was coming. He even predicted it! He knew what kind of pain was imminent. He fully realized what was about to happen. And he was not going to be distracted. And so when the mother of James and John asked him a ridiculous question about her two sons sitting at his right hand and his left hand in the kingdom of heaven, he brought their focus back to the “cup” of suffering that he was about to drink. And when the rest of the disciples caught wind of James’ and John’s arrogant request, Jesus once again pointed them to the ransom price of his own blood. Jesus was steering his disciples away from themselves and back to their Savior because he didn’t want them distracted either. He was just days away from going to the cross, after all! He was on the brink of facing the worst torture anyone has ever experienced on this earth! And he wanted to make sure his followers were ready for what was to come.
When his sufferings did arrive, though, his disciples weren’t ready. They wavered; they hesitated; they ran away. But Jesus didn’t. He didn’t waver or hesitate. his godly love overcame his human fear. Our Lord did not lose concentration; he resolutely set out for his death and never looked back. Because there was nothing more important to the Lord than winning our salvation. There was nothing more important to the Lord than taking our place. There was nothing more important to the Lord than making sure we would have something to celebrate during the season of Lent. And nothing was going to stop him from carrying it out.

Our Focus for the Rest of Our Lives

I guess it shouldn’t surprise us that the early Christian church thought it a good idea to set aside a specific time to worship the Lord for what he did before Easter Sunday. And not only for a one-day festival, but for a 40 day fasting season! Of course, I would imagine that very few of you have been “fasting” during the 40 days of Lent like they did back then. And I don’t either. That style of worship has fallen out of favor in our culture - and we certainly aren’t required to do it. And you haven’t been preparing others for their baptisms during these last few weeks either, have you? In the early days of the Christian church this time period of Lent was also used to instruct those who wanted to be baptized so that they could be welcomed into God’s family by the water and the Word on Easter Sunday. And it would surprise me if you consciously connected the 40 days of Lent each year with some of the famous “40 day” stories of Scripture. But many Christians in those ancient times considered the 40 days of Lent as a remembrance of the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert being tempted by the devil, Moses’ 40 days on Mt. Sinai, and Elijah’s trip to Mt. Horeb that took 40 days to complete. The season of Lent used to be focused not only on the sufferings and death of Christ, but on a deep humility before a holy God, baptism into the name of Christ, and Scripture’s stories concerning the great heroes of faith.
Whether you fast or not, whether you are looking forward to a baptism on Easter Sunday or not, whether you bring to mind the famous “40 day” stories in Scripture or not, I would pray that your focus during this season of Lent is on what is most important. There is really no more important time in the Christian church year than right now. Because there is no other time in which we highlight what Jesus did for our salvation so clearly. There is no other time in which the seriousness of our sins is on display so vividly. There is no other time in which our victory through Jesus’ blood is celebrated with such passion and desire. Focus! Don’t let this season slip by! Don’t let it come to an end before you know what is happening! The joys of Christmas would not matter without what we are focusing on right now. The festival of Easter would not exist without what we are focusing on right now. And so enjoy it! Drink it in! And revel in the realization of how much Jesus had to give up in order to give you everything.
If you have missed out on the season of Lent so far this year, if your focus has not quite been where it should be because you have been distracted by the craziness of this life, it’s not too late. We have only had four midweek Lent services so far. And so we have two left before “Holy Week” arrives - the week preceding Easter that contains those two unique days on which we remember the Lord’s betrayal and his execution: Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. That means we have four special midweek worship opportunities, two Sunday morning services, and Easter Sunday itself before the season of Lent officially comes to a close. You also have the chance to work through the Word of God on your own at home. You have the privilege of praying to your crucified Christ and thanking him for what he has done. You have the ability to use your family devotion as yet another way to focus on your Savior and his sufferings. There are plenty of ways in which to appreciate this time of year. And so slow down. Settle down. Take a step back from the craziness. Make the most of this season by diving into his Word about what he has done. And focus your attention on a Savior who has always been focused on you.
Amen.

“May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.” - 2 Thess. 3:5