Fifty-eight percent. Fifty-eight percent of Christians [those are people who (1) have an established church home or (2) label themselves ‘Christian’] will attend Easter service. That’s according to a 2013 survey (https://lifewayresearch.com/2013/03/26/survey-one-in-five-americans-undecided-about-easter-church-attendance/). So, that means 42% percent of Christians will stay away from Easter worship. Remember, these are Christ-ians. People who make a place for the Word of Christ in their hearts! People who ponder the teachings of Christ! People who claim Christ is important to them! One out of every three Christ-ians will stay home Easter Sunday!
Now granted, some may want to worship Easter Sunday, but just cannot. Poor health keeps them homebound. Family emergencies pop up. Work keeps them on the road or in the business Sunday morning. Still, only a tiny fraction of Christians fall under those unique circumstances. One out of every three Christians will stay home Easter Sunday. Do you know how many unchurched plan to attend? Forty-one percent, with an additional 20% who are undecided. That means, even among non-Christians, about one out of every three will stay home Easter Sunday. So, what does a survey like this reveal? It is not that you thump your chest boasting about your superior worship attendance. It is not for the snarky little comment, “Well, those people hate Jesus. They’ll get what’s coming to them.” A survey like this asks: “What is the purpose for you coming to worship on Easter?” The prophet Zechariah answers that question for you this morning. He prepares you for Easter by placing your attention on a King and on his work. See Your King Come! He enters in humility. He establishes a kingdom of peace. Those two things do not seem to go together. A king and humility? Zechariah preaches: Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation… This is it! This is what the people want! A king! A respected ruler! An organized and strong government! But, gentle(?) and riding on a donkey(?) What kind of king rides a donkey? Donkeys are so short; a king cannot tower over a crowd. In fact, a donkey’s dull gray coat blends into the scenery. Not to mention, this animal is a lumpy beast of burden! There is no splendor, no symbol of power and might and respect here. A king flaunts power. He marches down main street on a majestic white stallion. Glistening golden plates hang off that stallion; a plume of feathers is strapped to its head. Its bulging muscles twitch with might. Its height holds the king up for all to see. What kind king would ride a donkey? King Jesus. The disciple Mark tells you that Jesus is the fulfillment of this Old Testament prophecy. Jesus enters Jerusalem riding on a colt, the foal of a donkey (Matthew 21:1-11). A royal court of nobles, ambassadors, and soldiers do not surround him. Rather, twelve simple fishermen toddle behind. No city leader rolls out the red carpet with a grand announcement and strikes up the band for this triumphal parade. Rather, random crowds lay palm branches and cloaks [jackets] on the ground. They shout, “Hosanna! Save us, Lord! Blessed is he!” The donkey does not march to the steps of Herod’s palace or Pilate’s governor-house. Rather, the donkey carries Jesus one step closer to the cross. You see, Jesus is a different kind of King. That’s important to remember. Do you want to know why one out of every three Christians will stay home this Easter Sunday? Because Jesus is not the King they want. So many crave a king who satisfies personal wishes. A king who makes life on earth better. A king who stops all hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and fires. A king who pours wealth into homes so that no one will ever worry about money again. A king who taps a sick body and grants instant healing. A king who silences enemies of Christianity. That’s the kind of king so many crave. You know that— because if it were not true, then more would be here on Easter worshipping the King who conquered Satan. Jesus is a different kind of King. He may not be the King the world wants, but remains the King the world needs. A King you (and I) also need. Zechariah’s words are meant for you also. He prepares our hearts for Easter by placing your attention on King Jesus and his work. Even though you intend to worship on Easter (and many more Sundays afterwards), you can still lose focus on the kind of King Jesus is. It happens when the mind wanders in worship because it considers this timeless message of forgiveness “stale” and “boring!” Eyelids close because “you’ve heard this all before.” Your mouth fights holding back a *sigh* during the shouts of “Alleluia!” Maybe your heart craves a message you want to hear. Like, “How to be a better parent.” “How to manage your money” (really, so that you can have more money). “How to silence people who insult your faith” (because you really just want to feel better about what you believe). Your sinful nature (and mine) may not openly reject King Jesus. You still intend to worship on Easter. Yet, inside, even our hearts can dredge up discontentment. It considers the work of Jesus “stale” and “boring.” Soon, like one out of every three Christians, you will search for a king that makes you feel happy for your short life on this earth. You will stop following the King who rules eternally. That is why Zechariah preaches these words. He shows you the King God chooses to send. A King who comes to you, righteous and having salvation… You see, Jesus does not come for political control or earthly wealth or popularity. He is King unlike any other king this world has ever seen. He comes to fight the prince of this world— the devil— and to fight for your freedom (and mine). That’s what verse 10 says: 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. Now, a few Old Testament references appear here. Ephraim is a tribe of Israel, but they are feisty nation, quick-tempered, and managed a powerful military. If you upset them, that army would march out either to intimidate or fight you. The thought that a nation next-door could fight you, end your life, enslave you, or take away your property makes you feel nervous. Powerful, snorting war-horses, watch them pound down your city street and you may feel a little uneasy. If you watch tanks roll down the streets, yes, you would feel safe, but you are also reminded that your nation has enemies. Enemies can attack, capture you, enslave you, kill you. Jesus comes to bring this unrest to an end. He marches into Jerusalem, humble. He lays aside the power and prestige he has as God; he makes himself nothing. Instead, he takes on human flesh and submits to the will of God. For his thirty-three-years of life, Jesus fights your battles. He refuses to worship Satan for the fame, kingdoms, and glory of this world (Matthew 4:8-11). When Peter fights to free Jesus from his captors, Jesus orders, “Put the sword away! I have not come for a kingdom” (John 18:10-11). Even Pilate asks Jesus, “Where is your kingdom?” Jesus explains, “In heaven” (John 18:36-37). Jesus lays aside the things our world considers important and puts on the suffering and pain the world considers shameful. Yet, in God’s eyes, the pride and power of this world are shameful— because arrogant pride worships yourself, not God. See Your King Come! He enters humbly into Jerusalem. See Your King Come to die for those who fight against him. Yes, that includes the soldiers who stretch him out on the cross. That includes those who mock him. That includes the disciples who run away to save their lives. That includes you (and me) for the times we find Jesus to be “boring” and “stale.” Jesus fights to save your life. See Your King step out of the tomb on Easter Sunday. See Your King Come to put his righteous and blameless life on you. See Your King Come, holding the keys to free you from death and hell. The King who humbly submitted to death on a cross has become the King who establishes a kingdom of peace. Zechariah continues: 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. You see, the peace Jesus brings is not earthly peace where every war stops, hunger ends, and every nation unites together. Jesus comes to bring peace into your heart. Peace enters your life through the Word of God. [Jesus] proclaims peace to the nations, to people. He rises from the dead, appears to his disciples, and breathes: Peace be with you (John 20:21). Jesus breaks the hostility between you and God. That means you have peace knowing your sins are forgiven. In the Lord’s Supper, Jesus gives you his body and blood, assuring you that he paid the price for your forgiveness. So, you can depart in peace. Why? Your sins are forgiven; you have peace with God. Live unburdened, knowing that God will remember your sins no more. He will not bring them up again when you enter heaven. You can stand before God and he will examine you head to toe, but you do not need to be worried. Jesus has removed that stain and God will find nothing on you. The Song of Simeon praises God for the peace he brings. Simeon waited years to see the Savior. By the time he holds baby Jesus in the temple, he is an old man. Yet, once he sees Jesus, he confesses: “God, I can leave this life in peace because you kept your promise of sending Jesus. When I die I will open my eyes and see you in heaven.” So, after receiving Holy Communion, you sing that same song: Lord, now you let your servant depart in peace, according to your Word. For my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared for all people… You are confessing: “God, we have seen and have tasted the promise that you did keep a promise of a Savior. So, we can leave in peace. We can leave this house of worship knowing that you are with us, that you love us, that you will be with us. Should it come, we can depart this life in peace.” His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. His peace has come down from Calvary, spread throughout the middle East, through Europe, across an ocean, and has reached your heart here in central Michigan. Pay attention to the work of your King. See him fill you with the most priceless treasure this world will ever hold. See him offer and give you something no other king can ever give: Peace from guilt. Peace of eternal life. Peace of knowing God lives with you now. Zechariah points to a King unlike any other king this world has ever seen. He points past the worldly king one out of every three Christians search for. He holds up the King God sends you. A King who fights for his subjects. A King who suffers shame and humiliation willingly for his subjects. Zechariah points you to a King who chooses to make enemies citizens. A King who brings peace into your heart. “What is the purpose for you coming to worship on Easter? Stand ready for Easter by placing your attention on a King and on his work. See Your King Come! He enters in humility. He establishes a kingdom of peace. (from our midweek Lenten service)
A thick, solid oak door stares back, locked and shut. Two security guards stand stationed at each doorpost. Behind that door is the Oval Office. The President of the United States sits at his intricately carved, but imposing Resolute Desk. Red phone sits on desktop off to one side; the pen signing any bill into law rests on the other side. Here sits arguably the most powerful man in the world. Able to consider your concerns. Able to react appropriately to them. Able to make your wants happen. Yet, on the door hangs a sign: RESTRICTED. DO NOT ENTER. AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY. Try to barge into the room and you will be stopped by security. Flash your driver’s license, show your birth certificate, prove your United States citizenship, but those documents do not authorize you to enter. Even if you could break into that room someway, somehow, the President would have no idea as to why he should consider your requests; he does not know you. You simply do not have the qualifications, the privilege, or the right to enter. That door and that sign stand as a barrier, a reminder of your inability to approach the President freely and confidently. It leaves you feeling inadequate. That same feeling can flare up when you approach God. You pray, but it appears he does not listen. You worship, but he feels distant. You trust his eternal presence, but you question if he tends to more pressing matters. It leaves you wondering: Can you really approach the Almighty God freely and confidently? Feelings of inadequacy disappear as you focus on the work of Jesus Christ your Great High Priest. Jesus Our Great High Priest Makes Us Priests! Now, We approach God through Jesus and We approach God with confidence. That is a radical new truth for these Jewish Christians. You see, these Hebrews are familiar with Old Testament worship practices. Their relatives painted visual portraits of the [Old Testament] Tabernacle. The Tabernacle is the ornate tent that served as a house of worship. It could be packed up and moved as Israel traveled through the desert. When set up, it was about 45-feet long by 15-feet wide (about the size of our present-day worship space). Inside, a large, thick curtain divides the space into two sections. One section is the Holy Place, where any priest would offer incense, keep the lampstand lit, and the sacred bread stocked. The other section is the Most Holy Place. The Ark of the Covenant rests there. To approach the Ark is to approach God Almighty. Only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place. Yet, he could not enter whenever he liked; he could only approach one day each year (see Leviticus 16). Before he entered, he had to offer a sacrifice as payment for his own disobedience first. Stand in the Tabernacle facing the Most Holy Place and listen to the imposing curtain preach: sinners cannot enter. On Good Friday, Jesus split that curtain in two. You can now look into the Most Holy Place; you could walk through the curtain and into the presence of God! [W]e have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus… Jesus has sprinkled his blood as a sacrifice, a payment, that removes the stain of sin. He has dressed you in the robes of perfection. His life, death, and resurrection has made you right and blameless before God. Jesus Christ our Great High Priest Makes You a Priest. Because Jesus died and rose again, We can approach God through Jesus. Jesus is a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body. You know this; more than that, you believe this. Your baptism has brought this truth into your heart and life. And so, why that nervousness in approaching God? Why the worry that God does not pay attention to your prayers, that he might not be listening? Why the fearful dread that you are all alone to confront life’s challenges? Why the lingering doubts that even after you pray, even after worship, God might not answer you? Why does the question still appear in our minds: Can I really approach the Almighty God freely and confidently? That is a fear that often flares up, does it not? Sometimes it feels as though you stand before God only to see the sign hanging on heaven’s gate: RESTRICTED. DO NOT ENTER. AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY. Do you want to know why that feeling rises up? Because you are not seeing Jesus, the only and living way to the Father. You are trying to approach God on your own merits, as though God must listen to you because of who you are and what you are able to accomplish. It is as though you (and I) approach God thumping your chest, flashing your self-worth:“But God, it’s me! I go to church! I give money! Pay attention!” If think God only cares about you because of your behavior or your merits, then you will always be nervous in approaching him. You will never be confident that God will listen and respond. When you stare at yourself, you realize how inadequate you truly are. And you feel so unworthy to approach him. And you feel that God will not listen to someone who has done the things you have done. And you fear that the lack of an answer means God is angry with you and is either (1) ignoring you or (2) handing you trouble. And you tremble as though you walk through this life blind and alone. Remember, the high priest could not enter the Most Holy Place by himself. He needed a sacrifice for his own sins first. Without Jesus, you can never approach God with confidence. The thick curtain of sin separates you from him. Listen again as to why you can approach God at all. [W]e have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus. That little word “by” points to the tool (or instrument) used to approach Jesus. Just like you cross a river by means of a bridge, so also you approach God by the work Jesus completed for you on the cross. That means your confidence is not found in your efforts, but rather on what Jesus did for you. As you look at the cross, watch Jesus use his body to rip down the curtain of our sin. Just like the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place after offering a sacrifice for sin, so also you (and I) can approach God because Jesus is our sacrifice for sin. Jesus Our Great High Priest Makes Us Priests! We approach God through Jesus. Since Jesus is our way to the Father, We approach God with confidence. [L]et us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith… You approach God with confidence, without fear or apprehension or nervousness. Rather, you approach him in prayer trusting that he hears. You gather in worship, confessing your sins and trusting those sins have been removed as far as the east is from the west. You approach not doubting, but firmly confident that you now stand before God. This is bold, but it is Jesus who makes you bold to approach God at all. He points you to two great acts he has accomplished once and for all time. (1) [H]aving our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience… Look to the cross. Remember he did die as a sacrifice for your sin. His life has been applied to yours. His innocence wiped out your debt. (2) [H]aving our bodies washed with pure water… Remember your baptism. Why? You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ (Galatians 3:26-27). You are God’s child, people who have God’s ear. A good father pays attention the needs of his child. He considers your concerns. He can react appropriately to them. He can make your wants happen. And yes, sometimes earthly fathers fail us. So, how much more confident can you be in approaching God! Just like a child asks her father, knowing that he will pay attention to her needs, Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. When life’s challenges press you down, when failing health makes it feel as though God is distant, when life feels as though God has turned his back and plugged his ears, remember that God is faithful. The devil will always tempt us to despair and question God’s care. Yet, God is not a man that he would lie (Numbers 23:19). Access to him is open because he says it is open. You may approach him now on earth and live confident that you will walk before him in heaven. As if that is not enough reason to approach God with confidence, God hands you more encouragement. [L]et us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. As you gather for worship, you will grow closer to God. You will memorize his promises. You will continue squashing doubts. God will fill you with confidence to persevere in your Christian life. You will grow closer to God as you grow closer together. You join a group of people in worship public who confess the same faith you have. You receive spiritual encouragement from those who may struggle with the same feelings of inadequacy. You are energized to continue pressing on to your heavenly hope. All this because Jesus Our Great High Priest Makes Us Priests! We approach God with confidence. Jesus has ripped down the sign: RESTRICTED. DO NOT ENTER. AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY. By his death on the cross Jesus is the new and ever-present way to approach God. Jesus, your Great High Priest, ministers to your great spiritual needs by making you a priest. Sins removed. Access granted. Confidence to approach God any time, any place, for anything granted. Feelings of inadequacy disappear as you focus your attention on the work of Jesus Christ your Great High Priest. Jesus Our Great High Priest Makes Us Priests! We approach God through Jesus and We approach God with confidence. When it comes to the work of Jesus, you cannot remain neutral. That inescapable truth appeared in last week’s Lenten service. You can (1) cling to Jesus by faith. The world hated his teachings and so the world may insult you for believing those same teachings. You may suffer for following Jesus, but you will gain heaven. Or, you can (2) reject Jesus as Savior. Ignore his commands. Embrace the godless behaviors of the world and feel content that you blend into a Christ-less society, but you will spend eternity in hell. Those are the only two options. When it comes to the work of Jesus, you cannot remain neutral. You either side with him and his Word or you do not.
To be honest, that truth does not always settle so well. The devil continually whispers that you can force God to follow your beliefs. The struggle to deny your self-centered cravings is fierce. So, God strengthens you in this struggle. See The Cross Reveal Jesus’ Glory as he comes to divide, to conquer, and to draw. Listen to our reading from John 12:20-33. 20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. 23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. 27 “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. 30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. Did you catch the absolute single reason Jesus comes to earth? The reason he is born Christmas Day? The reason he lives under the Law of God, in complete obedience to the Ten Commandments? The reason you will get to celebrate Easter in just a few short weeks? The only reason you can say with confidence: “Heaven is mine!” [The reason:] Jesus comes to draw all people to himself. Just after three years of ministry, Jesus makes a startling announcement: The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. His entire life has been leading up to this very moment. Good Friday is just a few days away. He knows what approaches him: death. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. It’s true, a single wheat seed remains a single wheat seed. Yet, if it falls into the soil, it decays and breaks down. That seed will sprout and it will reach towards the sun, push out leaves, and produce many more wheat seeds. The single seed produces many seeds. Jesus is that single wheat seed; he carries the single perfect life God wants. The only way lives— that’s your life (and mine)— can be found pleasing in God’s sight is for the one Seed to fall and die. The Cross will Reveal Jesus’ Glory. On the cross you will see Jesus keep the promise made to Adam and Eve and the world. He comes to purify you (and me) from sin. That means, he comes to divide you (and me) from the sin that caused him to come down in the first place. Embracing the thoughts, the decisions, the behaviors that God calls “wrong” can actually divide us from him. The man who loves his life will lose it… Jesus is not condemning taking care of your health. Rather, he asks: “Which do you love more: (1) My words, or (2) Your words?” Are you still making excuses to defend the ways you abuse your body— even though God calls you to live a pure life? Is your heart bloated with pride? Do you boast and brag about the achievements of you [grand]child because it looks good for you? Do you find comfort in your net worth, believing wealth provides real security? Have sports and school events taken priority over your time spent with God? The man who loves his life so much that he puts his wants (and wishes) over God’s commands will lose [his life]. Pleasure, fame, and fortune will not follow you after death or get you into heaven. [T]he man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. “Hating life” does not suggest self-abuse (or neglect) or finding fault with everything in this world. Instead, the matters of this world come second to God. In a world jam-packed with time commitments, do you still find a few minutes with God in prayer and devotion? When a friend pressures you to hand your body over to sin, do you stand up and say: “No”? When someone hurts you, are you quick to forgive as Christ forgave you? This is a difficult truth. You cannot love both God and this life. You will love one more than the other, and the object you love will become your G/god. Embracing the thoughts, the decisions, the behaviors that God calls “wrong” can actually divide us from him. This is why Jesus comes. You see, if you (and I) had no spiritual needs, then Jesus has no reason to come. If Jesus had never come, then it shows the world has no sin. We needed no Savior. We are perfect. By the simple fact that Jesus comes at all it demonstrates there is something wrong with the world and with us. This is how The Cross Reveals Jesus’ Glory. It divides you (and me) from the seductive pleasures that lead to death. The Cross Reveals Jesus’ Glory as he comes to conquer our greatest enemy. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. The “prince of the world” is the devil. He does not rule the world or control it. Rather, he rules in the hearts of people. He tries to lure us away from our Creator, tempting us believe that life will be just fine apart from God. Yet, Jesus comes for this reason: to conquer that lie. “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” The grain seed trembles at the thought of plunging into death. Jesus even sweats drops of blood in Gethsemane pleading, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39). Yes, the dreadful anticipation of pain ripping through the body, the fatigue, the insults cause him to shudder. Yet, something even more repulsive stands in front of him: the cross. The object upon which he will hang under God’s thunderous anger, with your love for this life draped across him. And Jesus comes to conquer the eternal effects of your wandering choices. When Jesus closes his eyes in death, it looks like the prince of this world has now become king! All the forces of Satan sneer and snarl and gleefully think they have won. The smug chief priests gloat and the calloused soldiers sneer at another execution and the passersby wistfully shake their heads. Yet, on Easter’s early morning, Jesus breaks out of his tomb alive. The debt of sin has been paid in full. This world’s prince has been dethroned! No longer can the devil demand you spend eternity in hell with him. He cannot point to your actions and scream, “But God, she disobeyed! Punish him! Damn her!” He cannot hiss that he is equal to God. He can do nothing. When Jesus is lifted up on the cross, he signs on the dotted line for your release with his blood and gives to God what you and I cannot: perfect obedience. God has accepted that payment. Now, you are free to enter heaven— and the devil cannot stop it. The Cross Reveals Jesus’ Glory, because on the cross Jesus conquers the devil and draws you to himself. You see, you cannot live neutral to the work of Jesus. Either you follow him in faith or you reject his Word for your life. Yet, the power to follow Jesus does not come (or even start) from you. Jesus draws you to himself. [W]hen I am lifted up from the earth, [I] will draw all men to myself. Through the Word and at your baptism, the Holy Spirit created the faith in your heart to look up at the cross and believe. The One lifted up makes payment for sin. When Jesus is lifted up from death, you see the payment has been accepted. When Jesus is lifted up into heaven, you see a victorious King establish his eternal reign. Now as you look at the cross, you see it Reveal Jesus’ Glory. That’s why you are here today. You are not ashamed of the One whose life fell to the ground so that you can have life. You are not willing to sacrifice life with Jesus so that you may indulge in the world. You are here to be reminded of the great lengths of love Jesus endured to draw you to himself forever. You are here to be strengthened with the Word so that you can fight against the fallen prince of this world. You are here for the Holy Spirit to still strengthen your faith so that you follow Jesus with an undivided heart. When it comes to the work of Jesus, you cannot remain neutral. You can (1) cling to Jesus by faith. The world hated his teachings and so the world may insult you for believing his teachings. You may suffer for following Jesus, but you will gain heaven. Or, you can (2) reject Jesus as Savior. Ignore his commands. Embrace the godless behaviors of the world and feel content that you blend into a Christ-less society, but you will spend eternity in hell. Those are the only two options. When it comes to the work of Jesus, you cannot remain neutral. You either side with him and his Word or you do not. By God’s mercy alone, Jesus is lifted up to draw you to himself. Jesus accomplishes what he promises to do. As you look up at the cross, you see how he has joined you to him. So, you follow with an undivided heart. When it comes to the work of Jesus, you cannot remain neutral. That inescapable truth appeared in last week’s Lenten service. You can (1) cling to Jesus by faith. The world hated his teachings and so the world may insult you for believing those same teachings. You may suffer for following Jesus, but you will gain heaven. Or, you can (2) reject Jesus as Savior. Ignore his commands. Embrace the godless behaviors of the world and feel content that you blend into a Christ-less society, but you will spend eternity in hell. Those are the only two options. When it comes to the work of Jesus, you cannot remain neutral. You either side with him and his Word or you do not. To be honest, that truth does not always settle so well. The devil continually whispers that you can force God to follow your beliefs. The struggle to deny your self-centered cravings is fierce. So, God strengthens you in this struggle. See The Cross Reveal Jesus’ Glory as he comes to divide, to conquer, and to draw. Listen to our reading from John 12:20-33. 20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. 23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. 27 “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. 30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. Did you catch the absolute single reason Jesus comes to earth? The reason he is born Christmas Day? The reason he lives under the Law of God, in complete obedience to the Ten Commandments? The reason you will get to celebrate Easter in just a few short weeks? The only reason you can say with confidence: “Heaven is mine!” [The reason:] Jesus comes to draw all people to himself. Just after three years of ministry, Jesus makes a startling announcement: The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. His entire life has been leading up to this very moment. Good Friday is just a few days away. He knows what approaches him: death. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. It’s true, a single wheat seed remains a single wheat seed. Yet, if it falls into the soil, it decays and breaks down. That seed will sprout and it will reach towards the sun, push out leaves, and produce many more wheat seeds. The single seed produces many seeds. Jesus is that single wheat seed; he carries the single perfect life God wants. The only way lives— that’s your life (and mine)— can be found pleasing in God’s sight is for the one Seed to fall and die. The Cross will Reveal Jesus’ Glory. On the cross you will see Jesus keep the promise made to Adam and Eve and the world. He comes to purify you (and me) from sin. That means, he comes to divide you (and me) from the sin that caused him to come down in the first place. Embracing the thoughts, the decisions, the behaviors that God calls “wrong” can actually divide us from him. The man who loves his life will lose it… Jesus is not condemning taking care of your health. Rather, he asks: “Which do you love more: (1) My words, or (2) Your words?” Are you still making excuses to defend the ways you abuse your body— even though God calls you to live a pure life? Is your heart bloated with pride? Do you boast and brag about the achievements of you [grand]child because it looks good for you? Do you find comfort in your net worth, believing wealth provides real security? Have sports and school events taken priority over your time spent with God? The man who loves his life so much that he puts his wants (and wishes) over God’s commands will lose [his life]. Pleasure, fame, and fortune will not follow you after death or get you into heaven. [T]he man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. “Hating life” does not suggest self-abuse (or neglect) or finding fault with everything in this world. Instead, the matters of this world come second to God. In a world jam-packed with time commitments, do you still find a few minutes with God in prayer and devotion? When a friend pressures you to hand your body over to sin, do you stand up and say: “No”? When someone hurts you, are you quick to forgive as Christ forgave you? This is a difficult truth. You cannot love both God and this life. You will love one more than the other, and the object you love will become your G/god. Embracing the thoughts, the decisions, the behaviors that God calls “wrong” can actually divide us from him. This is why Jesus comes. You see, if you (and I) had no spiritual needs, then Jesus has no reason to come. If Jesus had never come, then it shows the world has no sin. We needed no Savior. We are perfect. By the simple fact that Jesus comes at all it demonstrates there is something wrong with the world and with us. This is how The Cross Reveals Jesus’ Glory. It divides you (and me) from the seductive pleasures that lead to death. The Cross Reveals Jesus’ Glory as he comes to conquer our greatest enemy. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. The “prince of the world” is the devil. He does not rule the world or control it. Rather, he rules in the hearts of people. He tries to lure us away from our Creator, tempting us believe that life will be just fine apart from God. Yet, Jesus comes for this reason: to conquer that lie. “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” The grain seed trembles at the thought of plunging into death. Jesus even sweats drops of blood in Gethsemane pleading, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39). Yes, the dreadful anticipation of pain ripping through the body, the fatigue, the insults cause him to shudder. Yet, something even more repulsive stands in front of him: the cross. The object upon which he will hang under God’s thunderous anger, with your love for this life draped across him. And Jesus comes to conquer the eternal effects of your wandering choices. When Jesus closes his eyes in death, it looks like the prince of this world has now become king! All the forces of Satan sneer and snarl and gleefully think they have won. The smug chief priests gloat and the calloused soldiers sneer at another execution and the passersby wistfully shake their heads. Yet, on Easter’s early morning, Jesus breaks out of his tomb alive. The debt of sin has been paid in full. This world’s prince has been dethroned! No longer can the devil demand you spend eternity in hell with him. He cannot point to your actions and scream, “But God, she disobeyed! Punish him! Damn her!” He cannot hiss that he is equal to God. He can do nothing. When Jesus is lifted up on the cross, he signs on the dotted line for your release with his blood and gives to God what you and I cannot: perfect obedience. God has accepted that payment. Now, you are free to enter heaven— and the devil cannot stop it. The Cross Reveals Jesus’ Glory, because on the cross Jesus conquers the devil and draws you to himself. You see, you cannot live neutral to the work of Jesus. Either you follow him in faith or you reject his Word for your life. Yet, the power to follow Jesus does not come (or even start) from you. Jesus draws you to himself. [W]hen I am lifted up from the earth, [I] will draw all men to myself. Through the Word and at your baptism, the Holy Spirit created the faith in your heart to look up at the cross and believe. The One lifted up makes payment for sin. When Jesus is lifted up from death, you see the payment has been accepted. When Jesus is lifted up into heaven, you see a victorious King establish his eternal reign. Now as you look at the cross, you see it Reveal Jesus’ Glory. That’s why you are here today. You are not ashamed of the One whose life fell to the ground so that you can have life. You are not willing to sacrifice life with Jesus so that you may indulge in the world. You are here to be reminded of the great lengths of love Jesus endured to draw you to himself forever. You are here to be strengthened with the Word so that you can fight against the fallen prince of this world. You are here for the Holy Spirit to still strengthen your faith so that you follow Jesus with an undivided heart. When it comes to the work of Jesus, you cannot remain neutral. You can (1) cling to Jesus by faith. The world hated his teachings and so the world may insult you for believing his teachings. You may suffer for following Jesus, but you will gain heaven. Or, you can (2) reject Jesus as Savior. Ignore his commands. Embrace the godless behaviors of the world and feel content that you blend into a Christ-less society, but you will spend eternity in hell. Those are the only two options. When it comes to the work of Jesus, you cannot remain neutral. You either side with him and his Word or you do not. By God’s mercy alone, Jesus is lifted up to draw you to himself. Jesus accomplishes what he promises to do. As you look up at the cross, you see how he has joined you to him. So, you follow with an undivided heart. The Cross Reveal Jesus’ Glory as he comes to divide, to conquer, and to draw. (from our midweek Lenten service)
Jesus needs to work on motivational speaking. Now, he does not appear to have much difficulty gaining disciples. He finds Peter and Andrew, James and John in their fishing boats, and simply says: “Come, follow me,” and they follow him! (John 1:39-41) He travels throughout Galilee, preaching and teaching, and large crowds listen to him! (Matthew 4:23) But then, he reveals what believers can expect from the world because they put his teachings to work in their lives:
You feel this pressure inside, almost like a tug-of-war raging inside of you. On the one hand, you feel this desire to follow Jesus without shame. You prepare to endure insults and name-calling and ridicule and any other unfavorable things that could come your way. After all, you do love Jesus; he has called you to faith. Still, as much as you love him, you wish your confidence could be a little stronger. You do not know if you would stand up in a hostile room and openly admit that your life reflects the teachings of Jesus. You are not so sure if you would confess your faith if it meant losing your life. So, how can you possibly cling to your faith in the face of ridicule? Remember this: Jesus Our Great High Priest Serves at a Great Altar He bore our disgrace so that We may offer sacrifices of praise. These Hebrew [Jewish] Christians needed the same reminder. Remember, they face intense pressure to give up their Christian faith. Many who share their flesh and blood [their ethnicity] practice Judaism. That means mom and dad still worship in the synagogue and read only the Torah (first five-books of the Bible). Their neighbors elevate the teachings of Moses and Elijah the prophet, treasuring these words more than the words of Jesus. Friends and co-workers do not share the belief that Jesus is the Savior of the world. Instead, they’re still looking for the coming Messiah. To further complicate matters, these Jews live in the Roman Empire during a time when Christianity is not embraced. The Roman Emperors are ramping up persecutions against Christians. Some lose their property because they worship Jesus. Others get arrested. Still others stare down the sword. There’s immense pressure to give up on Christianity and to return to Christ-less beliefs. Do you know that feeling? The United States government will not arrest you because you are here tonight. They will not confiscate your property. They will not beat you, imprison you, or kill you. Yet, your government has passed laws that contradict your Christian beliefs and politicians may pressure you to change your beliefs to fit their wants. You no longer can expect to call same-sex marriage “wrong,” without hearing insults flung back at you. Pro-choicers will accuse you of standing against healthcare if you label abortion as “murder.” Un-Christian ideas may not only be introduced into schools, but forced upon children to memorize. You know such worldly teachings are wrong— but when actually confronted with the reality to stand up against it, you may opt to tolerate un-Christian ideas so that you do not face trouble (or punishment). Or, following Jesus can put you at odds with those nearest to you. You explain to your friend: Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved (Mark 16:16).Yet, she argues that all people will be saved— regardless of what people believe or if they believe. She even calls you “narrow-minded” and “elitist” for saying such things. God’s Word is in your heart, and so you remind your [grand]child to honor the marriage bed (Hebrews 13:4). Yet, your [grand]child rejects you. He calls the Bible “outdated.” She points to her friends with the excuses: “Well, no one gets married anymore.” “We’re just trying things out.” “Yes, we have a child together (and are legally bound to that child for 18-years), but we just don’t want to commit quite yet.” You tell the grocery-store clerk that you go to church— and she just stares at you as if something is wrong with you. And you feel ashamed. People will treat you differently because of your connection to Jesus. Family may hate you because God’s Word exposes their behavior as “wrong.” You may face prosecution, jail time, or death— because you obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29). It is difficult to live this way because it means you will not always feel happy. You may lose friends. You may lose popularity. You may lose your life. Do you know how to make all the shame go away? Ignore Jesus’ teachings. Change Jesus’ teachings. Ask the world what you should believe. And you will be happy— at least, for a while. You will have success, fame, and popularity on earth, but one day life will reach its end. Then you will stand before a perfect Judge and he will see that you loved this world more than you loved obeying him. We need encouragement to persevere in our life of faith, just like these Jewish Christians did. So, the writer of Hebrews reminds you: We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat. (The tabernacle is temporary place of worship before the temple is built). In the Old Testament the High Priest carrie[d] the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering… Life is found in the blood; without blood you cannot live (Leviticus 17:11). Once a year the high priest slaughtered, not a sinner, but a goat. He sprinkled the blood on the Ark of the Covenant, handing over a life as payment for the lives of people (see Leviticus 16). Then the bodies are burned outside the camp, symbolizing the removal of sin. Yet, this great Day of Atonement pointed Old Testament worshippers to the work of Jesus Christ. We have a new altar— and this altar is a cross. On the altar of the cross, Jesus also suffered… Think about that! Jesus also suffered— for what? He has done nothing wrong! Instead, the Jewish nation to whom a Savior is promised, rejects their Savior. Religious leaders call the teachings of Jesus, “Wrong.” They arrest the Son of God, put him on trial, and falsely accuse [God!] of evil. The disciples are so ashamed of him they flee. Even a dying thief scoffs at him! Then, the government, established by God himself, abuse innocent life. Whips rip his back open. Roman soldiers nail Jesus to a cross and then taunt him: “Come down if you are the Son of God!” Do you realize Jesus could have avoided the cross? The moment he sees Judas the betrayer coming, he could have ran away. He could have given the answers the high priests expected. He could have called down legions upon legions of angels to fight for his freedom. Yet, if Jesus abandoned the cross, then how would you be saved? So, Jesus, our perfect sacrifice, also suffered outside the city gate. He carried our sins on his back. Our feelings of embarrassment for following him. Our desire to tolerate Christ-less beliefs. Our pursuit for worldly pleasure. Our thoughts of quitting our faith. He carries them outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. That is what you are now. Holy. Innocent. Without fault or guilt. Forgiven. Jesus Our Great High Priest Serves at a Great Altar. He bore our disgrace so that We may offer sacrifices of praise. As you look at the cross of Jesus, you are confronted with this inescapable truth: (1) Cling to Jesus, expect the world to ridicule and insult you, endure some trouble in this life, but gain heaven. Or, (2) Ignore Jesus’ teachings, condone the world’s god-less ways, feel content that you blend into a Christ-less society, but spend eternity in hell. You see, Jesus endures disgrace, but gloriously rises above disgrace forever and ever! He has made the same promise to you. Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. You will stand out in this world because you put Jesus first in your life. But you will stand out in this world because you love Jesus— the One who gives you eternal life. Faith focuses you attention on what you are living for. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. So, what more is there for a Christian to have? You already have it all! You have heaven! So, what value does money have? You spend it today, but it does not follow you into heaven! What value does popularity have? It’s here today for jobs, relationships, and friendships, but popularity leaves when you leave this earth. What value is health? We preserve it as we remain stewards of God’s gift of bodies, but we will have perfect health in heaven! You realize there is nothing more valuable, nothing more important than the perfect life given for you on the cross. Everything else in this world pales in comparison. There is nothing more to gain. We already have it all! So, you are free to give all! Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. You give God sacrifices of praise. You already do that! You sing songs which retell God’s promises and hymns which express your confidence that God will keep his promises. You may not sing, but you openly give God credit. You confess to the world around you, “Thank God!” “I prayed to God!” “God is good!” You give God credit for what his power in your life. The words out of your mouth leads others to respect God, or at least notice what God has done. You offer sacrifices of praise. Following Jesus in faith sounds daunting— at first. Persecution? Hatred? Family rejecting and opposing your beliefs? Yes, all those things may happen, and they may hurt. Yet, you are following Jesus by the way of the cross. Those little pains you feel, remind you to lift up your eyes and remember why you suffer: because Jesus suffered for you. Jesus suffered to set you free from sins. You believe this. You hold it dear in your heart. You make sure nothing rips it out of your life. Yes, when the cross presses into you, lift your eyes up to Jesus, and gladly follow him because you are traveling to your enduring city and your Almighty God. So, how can you possibly cling to your faith in the face of ridicule? Remember this: Jesus Our Great High Priest Serves at a Great Altar He bore our disgrace. We offer sacrifices of praise. Good guy chases bad guy— climbing stairwells, sprinting down hallways, dashing around corners, kicking open door after door until... he finally corners him. Gun drawn and aimed directly at the heart of a man who killed an agent. Finger on the trigger because this man shot at him. Bullet in the chamber because this man committed countless crimes.
The two stare each other down— until the cornered man, in one last bout of desperation, darts to flee. A muscle flinches. A finger presses the trigger. The hammer strikes. The bullet fires from the barrel. A criminal slumps to the ground. Whether you are watching James Bond take down a super-villain or a detective bringing a criminal to justice on your favorite television crime show, you watch a tense scene like this and the first thought that floods your mind is?… “He got what he deserved!” If someone breaks the law, then consequences follow. Maybe that was your initial thought from our Old Testament selection. The Israelites traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. Picture (in your head) a map of present-day Israel; Mount Hor is just south and east of Israel. For over forty years the nation inched through the desert to reach the southern border of the Promised Land; they’re on the cusp of entering! All that stands between them and a new life is the nation of Edom. So, an Israelite delegation meets with the king of Edom. They request to use the public highway running through their territory. Israel promises not to use any water, food, grazing grass, or land to rest in— nothing belonging to Edom. In fact, you would never know Israel had even been there. But the king refuses. He even stations a powerful army along the border to deter Israel from marching in (Numbers 20:14-20). The only way forward into the Promised Land now is by heading backwards. In order to head north, the nation must travel south to skirt around the nation of Edom. Picture it: imagine driving to Midland from Clare, but [the city of] Coleman will not let you use HWY-10; you cannot go through the city. So, you must drive back to Clare, up northbound US-127 to Harrison, east across HWY-61 through Gladwin and to White Star, and then head south on HWY-30 into Midland. Do you know how irritating that would be? Your traveling time doubles. You use more energy, more gas. You get exhausted quicker! And as Israel restarts their journey, the people grew impatient on the way. Very soon that impatience boils over into criticizing and grumbling. They spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert?” Can you hear it? Fingers pointing, hearts whining: “God, life was excellent as a slave! You should have just left us there!” They quickly forgot why they left. Exodus 2:23 says: The Israelites groaned in their slavery[…] and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. You see, God did not yank Israel out; the nation cried for help and God answered them (2:24). In fact, right after Israel walks through the Red Sea, they rejoice in their newfound freedom! (Exodus 15) No one complains when God was in the act of delivering them. Only when life did not meet Israel’s expectation did the nation find fault with God. That’s why they gripe: There is no bread! There is no water! After all, they are in a desert. So, God provides water from a rock (Numbers 20:11). When the water is polluted, God purifies it (Exodus 15:23-25). Not to mention, every morning he sends manna. Manna— those little thin wafers of bread— litter the desert floor, and you could simply eat it or use it for any baking needs. Then at night, God sent in quail for meat (Exodus 16). You don’t find much water and food in the desert, but God makes sure to provide for them— and he does this for over 40-years. But they detest this miserable food!” “This food is for the dogs!” they complain, “We deserve so much better! God, [Y]ou brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert!” Wow… talk about ungrateful. They had lacked nothing! And so when you read: the Lord sent venomous snakes among them, you might think: “Yeah, those spoiled little brats got what they deserved.” Did they? If you ask me, I do not think they got what they deserved. They deserved so much worse. The minute they curse God, he could have zipped right into heaven. Left them all alone— crickets chirping, tumbleweed bouncing through the desert, abandoned and forsaken. “You don’t like my food? You don’t like me giving automatic victories over your enemies? You don’t like me freeing you for life in a brand new land you did not work for? Fine! Have it your way! If you don’t want me, then you don’t have me!” That’s what they deserve. Do you know what makes that a truly terrifying thought? It’s easy for me to point my finger at them and smirk: “Yeah… they got what they deserve!” Yet, are their complaints much different from mine?... from yours? Do you realize that God hands you daily bread? You pray for it in the Lord’s Prayer. Gas for the car, money for the rent, (at least?) three meals a day, multiple sets of clothes, a roof over your head and heat to fill the house, toys and video games and smartphones to put in your hands—and still, someway, somehow, out of the mouth comes: “Oh, gas went up $.20 (about $2.00 extra for 10 gallons). Woe is me! God, I have no offering because everything is just so expensive! I have nothing to give you because you gave me nothing!” Is that really true? Has God really handed nothing—like you’re scrounging through dumpsters just to make ends meet? Do you realize that God graciously brought you into his family of believers? He has called you to faith. He repeatedly stresses: “Your purpose in life is to enter heaven” (Luke 21:28; 1 Timothy 2:3-4). He promises: “I’m with you always—to the very end of life” (Matthew 28:20). And someway, somehow comes out of the mouth, “God, where are you leading me? Don’t you see the violence around me? Don’t you care about my health? Will you not finally silence the enemies who attack my faith?” You see, God is not upset that Israel complains (as though God is terribly annoyed listening to them). Rather, grumbling rejects God’s many promises; you refuse to believe that God is with you. Complaining accuses God of not giving good gifts; you fault God for your greed. This arrogance accuses God of not caring. “God, you led me into this world to just watch me die!” And you know what? God would be completely fair to leave you alone. He would be completely fair to let Satan’s bite of sin so thoroughly infect your heart and soul leaving you to die in hell. That would be fair. Yet, God Is Unfair! He does not treat us as we deserve. Catch that? God does not treat us as we deserve. What we deserve is death. Yet, God treats us as we do not deserve. The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” What the nation (and we) deserves is for God to say: “No! I’m done with you. You’ve grumbled too much. You’ve lost it. Sorry!” Yet, in his mercy, The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” Notice who answers Moses: the “Lord” (in all capital letters). That’s not a typo; the “Lord” (in all caps) is intentional. That name tells you two things about your God: (1) He will carry out his threat to punish everyone who rejects him. (2) He has compassion on those who turn from rebellion; God forgives (Exodus 34:6-7). God treats Israel as they do not deserve. When anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived. Understand, the bronze serpent did not heal (as though it contained a special power). For anyone to look at the serpent meant that they admitted their rebellion was wrong. They looked because they trusted God would heal them. God promised; people believed. Their act of looking demonstrated faith in the promises of God. God has spoken to you (and me) as well. Satan’s deadly venom so saturated your (and my) soul. That venom is what moves us to gripe and complain that God does not have our best interests in mind. That venom chokes our trust in God. So, God raises up his Son on a cross, giving us what we do not deserve. Jesus suffers the effects of Satan’s venom. He is bitten on the heel (Genesis 3:15). The One who never opens his mouth to complain dies for us who grumble. The One who trusted God above all things—even when he has no place to lay his head—dies because we fail to trust. The One in whom Pontius Pilate finds no moral fault is the One struck dead. Jesus removes death from you (and me). Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life (John 3:14-15). God raises up Jesus to rescue you from the death sin deserves. God treats you and me as we do not deserve. That’s why we call it “grace.” Grace means “undeserved love.” So, when you admit: “God saved me by grace alone,” you’re really saying, “God, you saved me by sending Jesus to endure my punishment. I don’t deserve that, but you still gave me Jesus.” When you hear: “You have been saved by grace, through faith,” God hammers home this point: Jesus did everything needed to save you. God’s grace enters your heart through faith. How do you know you have faith? Do not look to yourself—to your own morality (as though you deserve forgiveness). Do not think you made a decision to accept Jesus as Savior; you are conceived and born spiritually dead. It is God who creates life in you through baptism. Yes, it looks so simple! Splash a little water on someone’s head? How can that change anything? It changes nothing--except, except, God takes regular water and packs a powerful promise to it: He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5). God makes it clear: baptism saves you. Then, in the Lord’s Supper, he strengthens you faith. Yes, you receive a little wafer of bread and a shot of wine— but that’s not all. God makes it clear (in the Bible) that you receive the body and blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins (1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 11:25-29). Sound too good to be true? Yes! Yes it does! God is Unfair. He treats us as we do not deserve. Just think about that! God is Unfair! He does not treat us as we deserve. He treats us as we do not deserve. Holding that thought in your life every day changes the way you live. You recognize that you deserve no good gifts from God, but he still blesses you every day. It fuels your appreciation to receive your money, clothes, home, and food with thanks. Never griping, but living content with what God has given you. You recognize for all the times you left God, he never left you. You trust God’s guidance even when you do not know the future; you take him at his Word. What amazing grace! God has made you his child and assures you that you remain his. Inside of you now grows this gratefulness. Rejoice! Because God is Unfair! He does not treat us as we deserve. He treats us as we do not deserve. (from our midweek Lenten service)
I find it safe to assume that people crave objective certainty. Most want to deal with facts that are not distorted by personal feelings. Facts provide an undeniable truth to which you can respond appropriately. For example, you’re rocking in your La-Z-Boy one night, watching the evening news, when all of a sudden your mind dredges up the high dollar amounts on some bills you just received. Now anxiety seizes you; you’re not sure if you have the money to pay those bills. When you’re confronted with a problem you can rely on one of two things: (1) your subjective feelings or (2) objective facts. “Subjective” means that you attempt to find truth based on your feelings. So, you try to convince yourself that you have enough money to cover your expenses just by how you feel. But you’re still afraid. Your mind races, heart pumps, panic washes over you. Why? Because your emotions cannot definitively prove that you truly have money. You may feel rich (even though you are truly poor) or you may feel poor (even though you are truly rich). You cannot use your emotions to provide absolute certainty. Your feelings may be wrong; your feelings can change. If you want to end that fear, then you must place your emotions on an objective reality. “Objective,” meaning that you deal with facts. If you panic over your financial situation, then get up out of your La-Z-Boy, walk over to your checkbook, flip it open, and look at the dollar amount. Then ask yourself: Is the dollar amount in my checkbook bigger than the amount on the bill? If so, then you do (indeed) have enough money to pay your bills. You do not need to be afraid. So, when a problem confronts you, you can rely on either (1) your subjective feelings or (2) objective facts. That applies to just about anything in life. You may feel your friends hate you and live as though your feelings are true. Yet, when your friends say, “We love you!” you have a truth on which to rely. You may feel you got called into the office for punishment. Yet, when you hear, “Good job!” you can rest assured that life will be pleasant! When you deal with facts, you can react appropriately. That is always important to remember. When it comes to the matter of how you stand before God, there remains the ever-constant temptation to rely on subjective feelings. Does God really forgive every sin because of what Jesus has done? God does not hand you an answer that relies on your ever-changing feelings. No, he uses one unchangeable, undeniable event in order to fill you with a certain and lasting hope. Jesus Christ is Our Self-Sacrificing High Priest! He abolishes the need for ongoing sacrifices. He establishes his once-for-all sacrifice. That truth can never be repeated enough. Remember, the first readers of this letter are Jewish Christians. Friends, family, and co-workers who follow Christ-less teachings are pressuring them to stop following Jesus. So, the writer of Hebrews repeatedly stresses: Jesus Christ is Superior. Jesus Christ is superior to any other high priest because Jesus is the Son of God (Hebrews 1:1-3). Jesus Christ is superior to any other high priest because Jesus is the source of eternal life (5:7-9). Jesus Christ is superior to any other high priest because he withstands temptation and removes your (and my) stumbling into sin (4:14-16). There is no doubt that Jesus is the powerful, perfect Son of God. But what about his work? Is Jesus really enough to forgive sin and to remove any fear that you would spend eternity in hell? If you are like me, you automatically blurt out: “Yes! Jesus is enough!” Yet, if you are like me, you also realize those words are easy to say, but difficult to believe. You see, when you do wrong, the natural reaction is to find peace inside of you. You yell at your spouse and she starts crying. You feel absolutely devastated. How do you make that guilty-feeling go away? You do more good to outweigh the bad! You run out to the florist, buy a nice bouquet of a dozen long-stemmed roses, and give them to her. Yes, this gesture show your remorse for harsh words. Yet, there remains a part which hopes the buying of flowers will undo your harsh words. Or, you are a jerk on the road or at the restaurant. People see the way you act. So, how do you repair your reputation? Compare yourself to others! If someone thinks you’re mean, then they should see how your next-door neighbor acts. You go to church; he doesn’t. You give money to charity; he gambles his money away. You volunteer; he thinks volunteering is a waste of time. Your friends like you, which more than what others can say about him. Even when you do wrong, you fight to look better, as though somehow guilt will no longer exist just because you found another guilty person. Or, you simply try to find comfort in how you live now. You’re controlling your drinking better. You made mistakes in your first marriage, but you have now corrected them. You once worried all the time about money, about your kids, about all sorts of things, but now you don’t worry so much. Look at all the changes you have made! God must appreciate your efforts in improving your morality! What you are really doing is offering a sacrifice of your works to God. God looks at your efforts and says: “Not enough.” Not enough because God demands no sin. That why our reading says: Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them. Which sounds odd. The Old Testament is chocked full of sacrifices. Burnt offerings. Sin offerings. Guilt Offerings. Fellowship offerings. Grain offerings. A priest offers a sacrifice each morning and each evening (Numbers 28:3-8). There are sacrifices for the once-a-year Passover. In fact, some estimate that over public 1,200 sacrifices were offered each year— about four each day! (That number does not include sacrifices made by individuals for single-family units.) God commanded sacrifice. So, how could God not desire or be pleased with them? The answer is found in the next verse: Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, O God.’ ” God makes it clear: the Old Testament sacrifices did not remove sin. The life of an animal was not the price needed to remove your guilt, nor was it the price God wanted. God wants complete obedience to his commands. All those Old Testament sacrifices pointed forward to the One who would offer such a sacrifice on your behalf. When Christ came into the world, he said[…] I have come to do your will, O God. The writer of Hebrews points you to Jesus’ humanity. Remember, he is like you (and me), tempted in every way. Yet, the thoughts flowing through his mind are never tainted with hate, resentment, or revenge. His words never tear down reputations, criticize, or deceive. His actions do not hurt or bow down to another object of love. Jesus Christ remains the blameless Lamb of God— carrying the perfect payment God seeks. You know Jesus is perfectly obedient. God himself says: “This is my beloved Son, with him I am well-pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Pilate finds no charge against him (Luke 23:14). The high priests cannot agree on charges (Matthew 26:59-60). Even a dying criminal admits: “He has done nothing wrong” (Luke 23:41). Jesus is without blemish or defect. Like the lambs of old, the Lamb of God loses his life to settle the debt you (and I) owe God. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Those Jewish Christians could be certain that Jesus Christ is their superior High Priest! Jesus offered what God wanted: perfect obedience. Since Jesus has completed that payment, there remains no more need for animal sacrifices. So, [Christ] sets aside the first and he establish[es] the second. Jesus offers his life (1) as the sacrifice God wanted and (2) as they only sacrifice you will ever need. You can be completely certain about that. The Jewish high priests had to keep offering sacrifices because they were never enough to pay for sin. Their job never ended. If you try to find peace in your own actions, you will never stop searching. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. In raising him from the dead, God proves that Jesus’ life is enough. He brings Jesus into heaven, demonstrating that Jesus needs to offer nothing more to save you. That means, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Did you catch that? You have been made holy! Jesus has cleansed you from every fault and all shame. God sees you without shame, without guilt, without blemish. God sees you as perfect. God sees you as holy. Yes, I know, you are not perfect. Neither am I. So, how can God call you (and me) “holy?” Better yet, how can you be sure that you are “holy?” Do not look for the answer in yourself. If you stare at your own morality, you will never find holiness. You are holy because of the work of Jesus. Look at yourself with the life of Jesus draped on you and be confident that you stand forgiven. When the devil comes around again and starts poking at you, when he starts stirring up past shame, when he reminds you of a high-school event or that one time you launched the most hurtful words to your friend, do not look to yourself to find relief. Look to Jesus. Say: “He died for the purpose of removing my shame, my guilt, my wrong. This is true because God himself says so. This applies to me because God himself says so— and God cannot lie.” That is an objective fact. Thank God that he does not place your status on your ever-changing feelings. Rather, God uses the unchangeable, undeniable sacrifice of his Son to fill you with a certain and lasting hope. Jesus Christ is Our Self-Sacrificing High Priest! He abolishes the need for ongoing sacrifices. He establishes his once-for-all sacrifice. You keep coming back! …Every week! Even after hearing the things you hear and saying the things you do! You’re here!
I mean, how does our worship service begin? After our opening hymn, you stand up and the first thing out of your mouth is… “God, I confess that I am by nature sinful... God, I disobeyed you. I chose to do wrong and ignored the right. I deserve your wrath, your anger; God, I deserve to go to hell.” What a way to build self-esteem, right? An admission of guilt? Then there’s the sermon. Each sermon takes a Bible-reading, explains cultural traditions and simplifies Jesus’ teachings; it takes the core truth taught and compares your life to it. You hear applications to your life, reminding you that you are not as perfect as you might think you are. Wow! Who wants to hear that? Isn’t “church” a place to learn how to live a happier Christian life? That we stop talking about the gospel and actually live it? Now, we could stopping talking about “sin” and “evil” and “bad.” We could just start service with: “Yes, you aren’t perfect, but that’s ok! No one’s perfect here. Just forget about the bad things you do. Know that Jesus loves you!” We could sing something upbeat to get our hearts pumping, our minds excited, and our emotions raging. We could do all those things, but we still zero in on this issue of “sin.” Why? Well, for the same reason Jesus does. In our reading, you watch Jesus arrive in Jerusalem for the Passover celebration. This once-a-year festival reminds believers that God rescued them from slavery in Egypt. This rescue also pointed forward to a spiritual rescue. God would send a Savior to lead people out of spiritual slavery and into the freedom from sin’s deadly consequences (Exodus 12). When Jesus steps into the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. Now, a few things first. The temple breaks down into two major parts: (1) the temple itself and (2) the courtyard of the Gentiles. Only Jews could enter the temple building, offer their sacrifice and worship. Some Gentiles [non-Jews] also trusted in Jesus as Savior. They worshipped in the courtyard surrounding the temple. Passover worshippers are pouring into Jerusalem. Some travel long distances. Instead of dragging your sacrificial sheep across the desert road, you could purchase your appropriate sacrifice in Jerusalem (see Deuteronomy 14:24-26). In addition to the sacrifice, God required paying a temple tax (Exodus 30:12). Since many worshippers lived in the Roman Empire, they had Roman coins. Pressed into those coins is the image of the emperor—an emperor who claimed to be god. Such an arrogant boast stole glory from God. So, those entering the temple would exchange their Roman coins for Jewish coins. Then they could pay the required temple tax. You see, selling animals and exchanging money was not wrong. Yet, there’s two things wrong about the actions taking place here. (1) Where this business is conducted. Normally, you bought animals and exchanged money outside the Gentile courtyard. Now, someone brought this business into the place where Gentiles worship! Imagine someone bringing the barn into your church. As you pray, a cow bumps into you. You lift your eyes up to heaven in prayer and cannot help but notice a sheep pooping just a few feet away from you. The lemony-pine smell of your incense blends in with the swampy stench of sweaty cattle. You try to meditate, but someone shouts: “Exchange your money here! Low transaction fees!” What could possibly move someone to bring business inside a church? Well, that leads to the second issue: (2) The motivation behind this business. Money took precedence over the worship of God. Instead of assisting people in their worship, the Passover became a convenient tool to make money. No wonder Jesus made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!” Here’s the point: God is serious about all of his Word. The Jews felt that because they had the temple, the sacrifices, the Word, they had the freedom to behave however they desired. They put their trust in what they had, not why they had it; they rejected the need to change their hearts. Do you see why we still address sin? Jesus demands your heart. And yes, I know, you are a Christian; the Holy Spirit already lives in your heart by faith (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Yet, worldly filth can clutter it up. Greed. Pride. Arrogance. The stubbornness to refuse admitting that you are wrong. That your lifestyle actually does not match up to God’s commandments. That your cursing and swearing should not be. That your thoughts need to change. Your heart can get filled up with all this filth. If this spiritual filth remains there, then, like these Passover-marketers, you find no reason for Jesus. If you do not think you have sinned, then you do not need someone to remove that sin. When, by chance, you need spiritual certainty, you begin placing your trust in something other than the Savior. You point at your church membership: “All is well because I completed [Adult] catechism class. I never worshipped, but I completed the steps.” You point at your family history: “My great-grandfather built this church. I may not include God in my life, but I want him included at my funeral.” You point at your service: “I planted the flowers. Grandma cooked the dinners. We gave a big offering. I always lent a hand. Yes, I may have created every excuse to stay out of worship, but how dare you question what I believe!” Do you see what happens? If you forbid God’s Word to cut into your heart, you will simply whip at Jesus to leave. You, like those Passover-businessmen, will believe God’s Word does not apply to you. For many, the most shocking thing about this account is Jesus’ demonstration of anger. Does he lose control? Is he being too mean? Does he sin? Focus on something far more shocking than that: Jesus stays in the temple. I mean, do you recognize Jesus could have done nothing? He could have left greed destroy the moneychangers. He could have watched people buy an animal in order to simply fulfill a ritual; go through the empty motions of meeting God’s demand. Jesus could have just left the temple. He could have left those hearts so polluted with worthless filth that would only lead to destroy— but he does not. Jesus does not sin here. Zeal for [God’s] house consume[s him]. Jesus’ anger reveals just how much he hates sin. He does not overlook wickedness, he deals with it. So, he cleanses the temple from becoming a house of greed. More than that, he cleanses the temple of the heart. In case you think I am overstating things here, just look at how seriously Jesus treats the Passover. He, the Son of God— the Alpha and Omega, First and Last, Beginning and End— celebrates the Passover. He has to; he is born to keep God’s law (Galatians 4:4). As a boy, he and his parents went to Jerusalem for the annual Passover festival (Luke 2:41). You watch him celebrate the Passover in this reading. Then on the night he is betrayed, Jesus again celebrates the Passover. This is not some mindless ritual; he wants to worship. He does worship with a heart full of love. More than that, Jesus holds this intense desire to meditate, learn, and speak God’s Word. The temple of Jesus’ heart is perfectly clean. If you (and I) still think God does not care that much about our actions, then you better look at the cross. God is serious about all of his Word. He is serious about his commands. He is serious about punishing the law-breakers and those who scoff at sin. God remains so serious about all of his Word that he punishes Jesus. Jewish leaders succeed in destroying the temple of his body. After all, they rejected Jesus as Savior; they had no use to worship him. So, they got rid of him. And for three days his body lay under a heap of rock. Then, three days later, just as Jesus promised, God rebuilds his temple. Jesus rises from the dead! He preaches forgiveness to sin-burdened hearts. He ascends into heaven to rule a spiritual kingdom. He rules now, using his Word to rule your heart. Yes, that same Word God has placed into your life. As you remain in the Word of God, zeal for God’s house starts to consume you. It does in three ways. (1) You hold this sincere, intense desire to grow closer to God. You make it a priority to worship. Sunday mornings are not an empty-minded ritual; this is not something you do for the sake of doing. Sunday mornings, much like the Old Testament Passover, focuses your attention on a God who delivered you from sin’s damning effects. Sunday mornings are a chance for you to be reminded that Jesus (and only Jesus) has cleaned your heart from all moral filth. So, you can leave here happy; you can leave in peace. God, in Jesus, forgives you! You are set free from obeying the Ten Commandments in order to earn eternal life. You have been released from hell, free of charge! With happy hearts you serve God. How? By shaping your thoughts, words, and actions to the Ten Commandments. You live to serve God not because you must, but out of thankful love for him. Zeal consumes you, meaning, (2) you want to pay attention to what God teaches. Yes, we start service with an admission of guilt. You hear about “sin”—not because I hope to make you feel bad and little about yourself. Not because we love dwelling on the past. Rather, because the moral filth that still plagues us will start whipping at Jesus to leave. So, you listen to Jesus. You compare your behavior to his Word. God uses the Bible to strengthen you to whip out sinful habits. He points at your baptism, reminding you how the Holy Spirit now lives in you and equips you for a life of service. In the Lord’s Supper, your trust in Jesus as Savior grows so that you may remain in the one true faith until you see Jesus in heaven. Finally, your intense love for God moves you to (3) promote the need for worship. Chances are, you will not walk past cattle-sellers and moneychangers on your way out today. You probably will not ask a moneychanger to respect God’s house a little more. But, you will come across those who downplay the importance of worship. You may have a child who has not worshipped for years, but sighs with contentment: I’ve been baptized and confirmed. My name’s still in the book. That’s what God wants.” You may have a friend who thinks that simply by joining a church, God is now happy with him. You may hear someone say: “I believe in God, but I don’t need to worship.” Your zeal for God moves you to address these mistaken ideas. You do not need to flip over tables and chase out animals. Yet, flip false ideas on their head. Chase out excuses. Remind everyone how Jesus has set you free so that you can worship him. That’s what keeps you coming back. No, not stopping all talk about “sin” and “evil” and “bad.” Not by starting service with: “Yes, you aren’t perfect, but that’s ok! No one’s perfect here. Just forget about the bad things you do. Know that Jesus loves you!” Not by manipulating our emotions. What keeps you coming back is zeroing in on this issue of “sin.” Jesus cleanses the temple of your heart. By his Word, by baptism and Holy Communion, he lives in your heart. With him living in your heart, you have the peace of spiritual freedom. You have the joy to serve him now all the days of your life. |
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