Sinner and Saint

Life Isn't Fair

Palm Sunday, 2013 (Sunday of the Passion)

“Life isn’t fair”

Luke 22:1-23:56

 

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

 

             “Life isn’t fair.” Bad things happen to good people. He didn’t deserve that. Those are words that we have often heard and said. If ever there was one person that could say life isn’t fair…it was Jesus. If ever there was someone that we could say didn’t deserve what He got…it was Jesus. Life isn’t fair for Jesus or us…and that is a good thing.

             His mother, Mary, stood at a distance, watching as his body was taken down from the cross and wrapped in a finely woven linen shroud. As the sturdy white fabric enveloped his lifeless remains, she strained to look upon her Son one last time. His head and body already covered by the cloth, all that remained visible were his once powerful hands. Like a snapshot frozen in time, they revealed the intensity of the suffering he had endured.

            Rigid and stiff, they lay folded across his chest, contorted fingers clenched tight. Just above the wrists, unbearably large gashes could be seen—the place where the nails had ripped open a hole in his flesh. The deep, dark crimson of his wounds looked all the more shockingly real against the impressive whiteness of the burial cloth.

             Consumed with sorrow, grief, and pain, Mary turned away from that dreadful image, certain those nails had ruined her life. Life, you see, doesn’t always turn out the way you might expect. Life isn’t fair. Yes, Mary knew that Jesus was her Lord and Savior…but Jesus was also her beloved son. No matter how much she knew He had to die for her sins…didn’t make His death any easier to take.

             Just a few days before, it had all been so different. Riding confidently into town, seated on a donkey, thousands of people waved palm branches and cheered his name. With great enthusiasm, they cried aloud, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! . . . Hosanna in the highest!” (Mk 11:9–10). The excitement, the energy, the passion for her Son was like nothing she had ever seen. Maybe the though arose that He didn’t have to die… that He could save them, lead them, be with them always!

             But then, suddenly, everything changed. He was betrayed, arrested, put on trial, and nailed to that terrible cross. Mary must have been shattered, she had nothing left except the haunting image of his stiff and rigid hands, the unbearably large gashes, the deep, dark crimson of his wounds. Those nails, you see, had ruined her life. Life doesn’t always turn out they way you might expect. Life isn’t fair for mothers that must bury their children.

             The older and older you get, the more you discover how true that statement is. The excitement, the energy, the wonder you experience as a child slowly fades away, leaving you with the mundane routine of bills, work, and family obligations. As you grow up, you come to learn that the hopes and dreams of your youth never quite seem to be fulfilled.

             We spend our lives thinking, If only my marriage were a little bit better; if only I could make a little more money; if only my children were a little more successful; if only I were just a little more attractive—then I would be happy. Then I would finally be content. Then I would get what I deserve. But all too often, loving marriages grow cold, exciting careers turn dull, gifted children lose their way, and youthful bodies grow old. And then, when we least expect it, tragedy strikes. Suffering, disease, and death disrupt our humdrum lives, waking us from our slumber and causing us to cry out in despair.

             “Why, God, would you allow this to happen? Why, God, does life always have to be so full of sorrow and pain and hurt?” These are the ultimate questions we all must face. These are the ultimate questions that can be understood only in light of the cross of Jesus Christ. For as we will soon celebrate at the end of this Holy Week, a few days after he died, Jesus rose again from the dead and appeared before his disciples in the Upper Room where they had been hiding. His mother, Mary, was there as well.

             Strong and full of life, Jesus raised his arms into the air; his hands opened wide, inviting all to see. Incredibly, just above both wrists, the large gashes left by the nails could still be seen, except now they looked—somehow—beautiful. Filled with wonder, joy, and awe, Mary stared at his wounds, realizing in that moment that the nails hadn’t ruined her life after all—the nails had saved her life. Life wasn’t fair…and that was a good, no great thing. The sinless Son of God that died when He should have been praised rose from the dead so that Mary, you, I, and all people that deserved God’s wrath and damnation would be found innocent in Christ as our sins have been forgiven.

             On the day that you stand before the Lord in glory, gazing upon his nail-scarred hands, you, too, will realize that everything you thought had ruined your life was actually used by God to save it. In that moment, every single thing that has caused you sorrow will not simply be forgotten, but will become for you an everlasting source of joy. Your cries of pain will one day be transformed into endless songs of praise. Your complaint that life just isn’t fair…we turn into a joyful thanksgiving that indeed life isn’t fair for you are saved and given heaven.

             For now, our sufferings may seem to bode the undoing of everything we hope for. But since Christ bears those scars for us, through the cross, we can be confident that our present suffering will one day be transformed into everlasting joy. Life, you see, doesn’t always turn out the way you might expect. It isn’t fair. Thanks be to God. Amen.

 

Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.

God Sent His Beloved Son

  Lent 5, 2013

Luke 20:9-19

“God sent His beloved Son”

 

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

             The scene is Jerusalem on the Tuesday before Jesus' crucifixion and death. Jesus is addressing the people but His words are aimed specifically at the members of the Sanhedrin; which included the 70 elders, the chief priest, and scribes. And he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants and went into another country for a long while. When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. And he sent another servant. But they also beat and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. And he sent yet a third. This one also they wounded and cast out.” (Luke 20:9-12)

             God entrusted the Covenant to His chosen people Israel since the time of their deliverance from Egypt. The people of Israel should have produced fruits from their faith. But they never shared the promise of a Messiah with neighboring people. Instead they rejected God and took for themselves false idols and followed their wicked rulers in idolatry. Over and over again God sent messengers to His people; prophets that called the people to repentance and proclaimed punishment and destruction if they did not repent. More importantly the prophets proclaimed the coming of the Messiah; the Savior of the world; the Son of God; and salvation and forgiveness through Him. The lineage of prophets would end with John the Baptist who prepared the way for Christ. How did God’s people treat the prophets? Hear our Lord’s Word: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” (Luke 13:34) God’s chosen people rejected the prophets…killed them…and stoned those God sent with messages they did not like. What more could our Heavenly Father do? He had sent them Prophets to proclaim His Word to them.

             “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’ And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?” (Luke 20:13-15)

             It is becoming clear to the people and the Sanhedrin that Jesus is speaking of God, that "the tenants" are the Jewish leaders, and that the "vineyard" is the people of Israel. The situation is tense and serious. God had sent his son whom He loved to the people even to the Sanhedrin; the tenants left in charge of the people. God truly wanted all of them to repent and be saved.

             The Sanhedrin, like the tenants in the parable, plotted a horrible crime…a murder. Christ had a perfect right to expect the fruits of repentance and obedience from His people but the Sanhedrin wanted the inheritance for themselves on their own terms.

             Then the owner “will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others."  When the people heard this, they said, "May this never be!"  The owner of the vineyard, God the Father, finally comes himself, but not to look for fruit. From verses 9-15 (the beginning of our text) we see the great love and long-suffering of the Father by sending his servants the prophets and finally his Son to them. Now the Father comes to judge. The punishment is proportionate with their crimes.

             But the people there gathered yelled “May this never be!” This cry meant that the people hoped and prayed to God that this terrible act would not happen. They didn’t want to see Jesus killed or the judgment on the religious leaders whom they respected. The people understood what was going on as well as the Sanhedrin.

             “Jesus looked directly at them and asked, "Then what is the meaning of that which is written: 'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone '? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed." (Luke 20:17-18)

             Jesus really cared for them. The parable has ended and Jesus now makes an emphatic point. It's as if Jesus says:  "You mean to tell me it won't happen? It will. It has been prophesied." Truthfully…if anyone should have known what was to take place it was the religious leaders! They should have known the prophecies concerning Jesus! They should have recognized who Jesus was and why He had come. But they rejected. The Jewish leaders could not stand the thought of someone taking the leadership from them. They did away with Him because of jealousy and envy as is pictured in the parable.

             “The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.” (Luke 20:19) The Jewish leaders react immediately. How sad it is that they show their true faith...they feared the people...instead of fearing God. Jesus knew what was going to happen…he wouldn’t be caught off guard. Jesus told them this parable as a final warning for them that they may repent and believe. As we know the plot to murder Jesus was acted out as the Sanhedrin itself rallied the crowds chanting “crucify Him!”

             My brothers and sisters in Christ. Far too many of us, of our loved ones, of mankind are in danger of ignoring and rejecting Jesus. For the majority of the world Jesus is still the stone the builders continue to reject. Many reject the need for a Savior. Many reject Jesus as ever being real. Many reject God altogether. We are coming upon one of the most joyous times in the Church Year with Easter. It is a time of celebration at the victory Jesus won on the cross being raised by the Father that first Easter morning. And yet Easter is a time of mourning for those that do not know this wonderful message. It is a time of mourning for those that ignore and forget Jesus the rest of the year. It is a time of mourning because we forget about Jesus during the week, fail to share the Gospel with others, and fail to act as we should. Faith is expected to bear good fruit.

             Each and every day God promises to be with us, to watch over us, and to take care of us. Each and every week God offers us forgiveness of sins, strength for the day, everlasting life through His Word and forgiveness and strength in Jesus very body and blood. God, in his long-suffering, has chosen to send us messengers. Pastors have been sent to the harvest before the coming of Christ on judgment day. It is out of love that God sends Pastors to proclaim His Word. The time to repent is now. The time to cling solely to Christ is now. God’s Word is for all people and especially for you. It is God’s promise in action for you! As sinful people clinging to Christ for forgiveness; remember God’s promise for you. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) The promise is for you. The victory has been won. You will not perish. God's promise of everlasting life in heaven is yours. They are yours in Christ Jesus who died and rose for you. Your forgiveness has been won. You are a child of the Heavenly Father. Amen.

 

Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen. 

God is Faithful

Lent 3, 2013

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

“God is faithful”

 

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

             “Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3) The Lord also spoke to Isaac: “Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father. I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” (Genesis 26:3-5) And the Lord spoke to Jacob: Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” (Genesis 28:14-15)

             What can we say about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? They are all fathers of the faith and the fathers of the nation of Israel. To all three God promised to bless them, make their family into a great nation, give them a land of their own, and bless all the families of the earth through them. God is faithful. God indeed blessed Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God made their family large and great…the Israelites. God blessed all nations through them…the gift of a Savior born in the lineage of King David: Christ Jesus the Lord. God is faithful.

             “For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness." (1 Corinthians 10:1-5)

             God had rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. He watched over them, guarded them, and preserved them. He gave them food, drink, and protection. He protected them as a great cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He showed them great signs and wonders through the plagues, parting the red sea, providing quail and manna, and water from rock. God blessed these people. He took them to the land He had promised to Abraham, Issac, Jacob…and all the people of Israel. But they did not believe. God would punish these people in the wilderness. For their wickedness they would not step foot in the promised land. But God was faithful. He would still lead their children to the promised land…they would still be given a land flowing with milk and honey. God was faithful.

             Though His chosen people would continually fall into disbelief, follow false idols, and reject the true God…God was faithful. Eventually the people of Israel would become so wicked that they were destroyed. Jerusalem and its temple were left in ruins while the people were taken captive by the Babylonians. The nation of Israel would never be the same. But God was faithful. God had promised them a land of their own…that He would bless them and protect them…as long as they remained faithful. While God was faithful…His people were not. While the nation of Israel crumbled…and their land was taken away…God remained faithful, remembered His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob…and sent us His Son to be our Savior.

             God is faithful in His promises to you. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20) “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 3:21) “Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:26-28)

             God is faithful. There are so many things our Lord has promised to His people. He promises us eternal life in heaven. He promises us forgiveness of sins and to be with us always. He promises us so many good things found throughout Scripture. He promises us these blessings even as we are unfaithful…just like our spiritual parents…the Israelites. We too doubt our Lord’s promises. We doubt our Lord’s Word found in Holy Scripture. We doubt the miracles He performs daily in our lives. We seek false gods…money, fame, prestige…and other false gods of our wants and desires. We are unfaithful.

             As Saint Paul warns us: “Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:7-13)

             God is faithful. He has faithfully sent us His Son to be our Savior. Jesus remained faithful unto death on the cross that we would be forgiven. While we are unfaithful Christ is faithful. As we fall into sin Jesus remained sinless. While we deserve God’s wrath upon…Jesus endured the wrath of God that we would be saved. God is faithful even when we are not. He has sent us a Savior to die for us. Jesus gives us His very body and blood for the forgiveness of sins. We have been baptized into Christ Jesus…which saves you…so that we will be raised just as Jesus rose from the dead. God is faithful. We know His faithfulness…as we look to the cross…and rejoice in the resurrection of our Lord. God is faithful. He is faithful to His children whom He loves so very much. He is faithful to you…His dear children. Amen.

 

Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.