Sinner and Saint

Seeing is Believing

Easter 2, 2014

John 20:19-31

“Seeing is Believing”

 

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

 

 

            Seeing is believing but believing isn’t seeing. Does that make sense? We live in a world that demands proof before it will truly believe. For many, Christianity just doesn’t make any sense because you can’t see Jesus, you can’t see His miracles, you can’t see His victory over death. In a world where science reigns supreme…if you can’t reproduce a miracle…it couldn’t have happened. It is no doubt that when a world only believes what they can see that Christianity is exclaimed to be a dying religion. The problem for many is that seeing is believing…and they aren’t seeing anything that affirms their faith that Jesus is Lord or that there is even a God.

            But what is so difficult in believing what isn’t seen? Is that such a preposterous idea? Here's an example: The Cubs are going to win the world series! (You're all thinking "I'll believe it when I see it!) Year after year after year…Cubs fans believe that this…this is the year! Of course this is said after our beloved Cubbies blew it again. The point being…true Cubs fans believe without seeing. Even if you're not a Cub fan... do you trust that when you enter a dark room that the light will turn on when you hit the switch? I can't explain how electricity works...or why a light bulb will turn on...but I trust that it will. That is the same with Christianity. True Christians believe without seeing. We believe by faith. We trust because we have seen and felt God's love and grace upon us.

            In a bunker near Cologne some hunted men had hidden for a time during World War II. This inscription was on the wall: “I believe in the sun even if it is not shining! I believe in God even if He is silent. I believe in His love even if it is hidden.” This is how the sorely afflicted person hallows the name of the heavenly Father. But Christ, who taught us to pray in trust to His Father and ours, grants us grace to instead say: “I believe in the light, for Christ is the light in darkness; I believe in God, for He spoke in Christ and is not silent; I believe in love, for love appeared on the cross!”

           Very often it’s hard to have hope; it’s hard to believe in Jesus. When a loved one is robbed of their life while in the prime of their life…it’s hard to have hope and faith in Christ. When you lost your job and can’t make the credit card payments, car payments, or mortgage payments…it’s hard to have hope and faith in Jesus. When your marriage is broken, your relationship with your children is failing, when your friends have left you it’s hard to have hope and faith in the Lord. When life is a constant battle and you are on the losing end over and over again it’s hard to believe in God. Faith is never a constant. Fears and doubts grow stronger. Do you truly believe? Seeing is believing and all that you see is sadness, failure, and hopelessness.

           At these times we resemble Thomas who doubted his brothers in the faith, who doubted reports that Jesus was alive, who doubted that Jesus had risen from the dead. “Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” (John 20:24-25)

            Thomas didn’t see Jesus so he wouldn’t believe that he appeared to the others or that he truly was raised from the dead. It just couldn’t be true…who has ever seen a Resurrection like that of Jesus. Thomas was so adamant that he laid down three conditions. If not met, he will not believe, a firm denial. Unless he could see the nail marks in his hands, touch where the nails were and touch his side he simply wouldn’t believe. He believes himself to be so right that he knows better than the rest; that he wasn’t deceived like the rest, he wasn’t as gullible as the others were.

            How often we are like Thomas. God if you would just give me…or show me…or help me this once…I will believe, I’ll change my ways, I’ll go to church every Sunday… It sounds like our children at the store or right before their birthday or Christmas. Mom, Dad…if you just get me this one thing…it’s all I want. I promise I won’t ask for anything else…I’ll be good…I’ll clean my room…if you just give me this new toy. Kids…do your parents ever fall for that? Parents…if you have ever given in…do your kids keep that promise? How often we put demands on God to make…without ever intending to keep our end of the bargain. But hey…seeing is believing isn’t it?

            “A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:26-29)

            Now we see the love of Jesus for those whose faith is weak, wanders, is thought to be lost. We see God’s love for us who often fall away. Jesus who cast out the demons of Mary Magdalene and brought her to saving faith, Jesus who forgave and restored Peter after he denied him three times now comes to Thomas. Jesus meets all of Thomas’s demands. Humbled and brought to repentance Thomas replied “My Lord and my God!”

            Our lives are filled with problems, heartaches, pain, suffering, lack of faith and doubt. Jesus comes to us who have denied him with our lives and restored us, He drives out the demons that each of us has and strengthens us, He shows us His love and creates a living faith. Here in this place Jesus comes to you in His body and blood showing us the marks from the nails and the wounds he endured. Here he offers us forgiveness and strength in himself. Here in this place we come face to face with our Lord and He gives what we desperately need.

             As you have doubts in this life, and you will…and I have. Know Jesus' love for you. If ever you question God’s love I beg you to look around you. See the love He has for you! See the love He has given you in the miracle of your child’s birth. See the love He has for you in your husband and wife. See the love He has shared with you through your parents. See the love He has for all those He has carried home to be with Him in paradise. God’s love surrounds us in all of creation. All of this is for you. And when that wasn’t enough…God gave us His Son who died on the cross. Jesus gives Himself to you this day in His body and blood. Jesus makes you a child of God through the waters of Baptism. Blessed are you who have not seen but have believed!

            My brothers and sisters in Christ, “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” (Job 19:25-27) Jesus lives! The Victory is won! You are forgiven! The Lord is Risen! He is Risen Indeed Alleluia! 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.

He is not here

Easter, 2014

"He is not here"

Matthew 28:1-10

 

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

   

            The Lord is Risen [He is Risen indeed. Alleluia.] An old minister [not my dad] who had conducted Easter services for 50 consecutive years was one day asked by a young minister, "Tell me, which one of the 50 Easter seasons gave you the biggest thrill?" Promptly the old pastor, with a broad smile, replied, "My first." When asked, "Why the first?" he said, "Because it was all so new to me." He continued, "It is regrettably sad but unfortunately true that with the years we are inclined to miss much of the terror and the triumph of those momentous days in Jerusalem because we know the end before we begin to read the story."

          The Lord is Risen [He is Risen indeed. Alleluia.] That sentence should never get old...but it does. If I were to use it a hundred times this morning...I'm certain many of you would get annoyed with me, the phrase, and stop speaking the wonderful refrain that Jesus is risen indeed. For many church is boring and the "same old same old." Even Easter has lost its luster and excitement...what happened to the tingling down the spine on Easter morning? Do we know the story of Easter so well that it just doesn't mean as much to us now?

          "Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay." (Matthew 28:1-6)

          Look at those windows. Do you see those graves? They are filled with the remains of many loved ones; family and friends. Each one of us has mourned the death of loved ones. We have been overcome with grief. The women that rose early to tend to our Lord's body were overcome with grief too. They were so overcome they forgot about the stone and the guards that would block the entrance to the tomb. They just wanted to tend to the corpse of Jesus. They, like us, had mourned the loss of loved ones. They too knew that the graves outside of Jerusalem were filled with the remains of those that had died. They walked that first Easter to Jesus tomb fully expecting Jesus corpse to be there.

          Imagine what they went through that first Easter morning. They didn't wake up excited for the day. They weren't joyfully anticipating the resurrection. They were mourning. They were in grief. Jesus was dead. End of story. But it wasn't the end of the story. All of the sudden there was an angel...and the tomb was open. The joyous news was proclaimed by the angel "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay." (Matthew 28:5-6) Their sinful fear of the angel and what was taken place was overtaken by faith...faith that produced pure joy, peace, and hope in the Resurrection.

          Not only did they see that angel and the empty tomb...but Jesus himself appeared to them in the flesh. "And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me." (Matthew 28:9-10)

          What a first Easter! Do you think that the wonderful message that Jesus lived got old to them? Do you think a few years later that these women sat back thinking that the first Easter was great...but that's just old news...or the "same old same old?" You've seen an angel you've seen them all. A guy rose from the dead...no big deal. What's so important about an empty tomb anyway?

          Saint Paul gives answer to that question. "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished...But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:17-18, 20-22) That is the joyous news of Easter that should daily give us a shiver down our spine as we rejoice in the Resurrection of Christ and the promise that we too and all of our loved ones will rise from the dead. That is the news that gives us life and hope. That is the news that brings us peace and gives us joy.

          My dear brothers and sisters in Christ. You may not know this about your Pastor...but you will get to know it. Your Pastor gets emotional at times. This past week I had the wonderful privilege of putting my dear son Aaron down for a nap. I read him a couple of stories and then sang to him a hymn...a hymn that was sung at his baptism...a hymn that put tears in my eyes as I sung to him.

          The hymn is "God's Own Child, I Gladly Say it" and the words that caused tears to well up are these: "Death, you cannot end my gladness: I am baptized into Christ! When I die, I leave all sadness To inherit paradise! Though I lie in dust and ashes Faith's assurance brightly flashes: Baptism has the strength divine To make life immortal mine. There is nothing  worth comparing To this life-long comfort sure! Open-eyed my grave is staring: Even there I'll sleep secure. Though my flesh awaits its raising, Still my soul continues praising: I am baptized into Christ; I'm a child of paradise!"

          No we don't like to talk about death. No we don't like to think about life without those we love...or what they will go through when we die. Yet the truth remains that we will all die and that our remains will fill our graves. But it is by faith that we may joyfully sing those hope filled words. We have a sure and certain hope.

          "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:3-4)

          The Lord is Risen! [He is Risen indeed. Alleluia] Those are the words that give us a tingle down our spine on Easter...because Jesus is not in the grave...He has risen...and so will you and all the saints that have died before us. 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.

Love...as I have loved You

Maundy Thursday, 2014

John 13:1-17, 34

"Love...as I have loved You"

 

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

 

            Our world desperately needs to be loved. When troubles abound and fears persist we often feel abandoned and alone. At the close of World War II an American soldier was on sentry duty on the outskirts of London on Christmas morning. Later in the day, as he walked to the city with a few GIs, he came to an old gray building with a sign: "Queen Anne's Orphanage."

          To see what sort of Christmas party might be going on inside, the soldiers knocked on the door. An attendant told them that all the children in the orphanage had lost their parents in the London bombings. The soldiers went inside, and seeing no tree, no decorations, and no gifts, they gave out as gifts whatever they had in their pockets--a stick of gum, a coin, a stubby pencil.

          One soldier saw a boy standing alone in a corner. He went to him and asked, "My little man, what do you want?" Turning his face up to the soldier, the little boy answered, "Please, sir, I want to be loved."

          It was the Thursday, Maundy Thursday as we now call it, during the week of Passover. Jesus would be meeting with His disciples to celebrate the Passover meal. A meal that would mark the best of times and the worst of times. A meal that recalled the bitter suffering of the Israelites as they were slaves in Egypt; a meal that recalled God's wrath on His enemies; a meal that recalled God's faithfulness in saving His people...even after His people began to believe that God had abandoned them.

          Soon the Disciples would feel that sense of abandonment as their Lord would be arrested, beaten, and murdered on a cross. So on this night, the very night He would be betrayed, Jesus meets with His Disciples one last time.

          "Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.” When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another." (John 13:1-17, 34)

          On the very night that our Lord would be betrayed ...Jesus shows His Disciples how much He loves them and all His children. Jesus shows them that He came...not to be served...but to serve His people. While the Disciples did not understand what our Lord was doing...Jesus was still lovingly teaching them His love. Love by serving. Love by helping others even when they don't want help. Love your enemies. Love those that persecute you. Love by serving those that despise you. Love as Jesus has loved you.

          But this is the very night Jesus would be betrayed! When we get betrayed we think of ways to get revenge...to punish our betrayer...to get even. This was the very night Jesus would be given over to be killed. Yet our Lord's mind isn't set on His impending betrayal. His mind isn't set on His impending death. Jesus' mind isn't set on revenge or judgment. His mind is set on love.

          Jesus fully knew what was going to happen...even as the Disciples were utterly confused at the situation. Jesus was ready to go to the cross where He would give Himself over to death on the cross out of love for us. On that Thursday of Passover, Maundy Thursday, He would serve His Disciples by washing their dirty, smelly feet...and would then give them His very body and blood in the Lord's Supper to wash away their wretchedness; their very sin.

          On the very day that He would be betrayed, handed over to His murderers, be mocked and beaten, and prepare to die...Jesus had you on His mind. Jesus was born to serve you...by allowing Himself to die on the cross for your sins. Jesus' mind was set on loving and saving you. Everything that our Lord did on this night was done for you.

          As we mourn the sight of our Lord being betrayed...as we feel downtrodden by the guilt of our own sin that caused our Lord to die...as we cry at our own betrayal of Christ by our sin...come to the Lord's table this day. Come to the place our Lord gives us His very self...His body and blood. Come to the place where Jesus' love flows freely in the forgiveness of your sins. Come, take and eat...be strengthened and forgiven...as Jesus continues to serve you.

          Christ Jesus loves you to death...death on the cross. He truly shows us how to love your enemies and those who persecute you. Love by serving. Love by sharing Christ. Love as Jesus loves you. 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.

Ride on...to die

Palm Sunday, 2014

John 12:12-19

"Ride on...to die"

 

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

 

             "Ride on, ride on, in majesty! Hark! all the tribes hosanna cry. O Savior meek, pursue Thy road, With palms and scattered garments strowed." Today is the day we celebrate our Lord's triumphal entry into Jerusalem as king. The crowds that had seen and heard Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead came to praise and coronate Jesus.

          "The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” (John 12:12-13)

          What a glorious day! It might not be as extravagant as one of the British Royals being crowned...or as grand as the President visiting a city...but this was still a big event. Just look at how our Lord enters the city. He enters riding...a donkey. Wait. That doesn't sound all that impressive.

          Instead of having security forces, police and military escorts or protection Jesus had 12 Disciples…two of them being sent to get the transportation… a colt the foal of a donkey. While there was a large crowd that came out for the coronation...it certainly wasn't the whole city. The Romans didn't pay this ruckus any attention. Even the religious leaders ignored the event...except to ridicule Jesus and His disciples. They would complain to each other as they watched the event "You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him." (John 12:19) And with that hurried their plans to kill Jesus. Not much of a coronation after all... not much of a triumphal entry.

          This should have been an exciting...grand...glorious event...but even Jesus' mood seems to be downcast. As Luke records: "As [Jesus] approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you." (Luke 19:41-44)

          In the midst of being praised...even as "the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness" (John 12:17) Jesus wept for the people. As Scripture records: "the reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign." (John 12:18) The people came out to praise Jesus because of the miracles he performed...not because they had faith that Jesus was the Messiah.

          There in the very midst of God's chosen people was their promised Savior. Yet they did not know him; they did not believe He was the Christ. The Disciples were also confused and did not understand what was taking place. Even the religious leaders got it all wrong. All of them should have realized what was taking place. The prophet Zechariah foretold: “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zechariah 9:9)

          Instead of believing that Jesus was the Son of God, the promised Messiah, the Savior of the World...the crowds, disciples, and religious leaders either rejected Jesus or didn't understand. So yes, Jesus wept over His people. Jesus would bring them peace for eternity but they rejected. Jesus knew what would happen to them…Jerusalem would be destroyed; the people killed; and unbelief reigning over them. Today cities are still destroyed, people are dying, and unbelief reigns. Jesus still weeps over His creation that continues to reject. Christ had come for us all…and we as sinners ended up yelling “Crucify Him!” instead of praises fit for our King. Did you hear that? We yelled “Crucify Him!” We yell it by our sinful thoughts, words, and deeds. We yell it by neglecting our calling as Christians…to proclaim the truth about Jesus…We yell it by neglecting the Sabbath day and not keeping it holy… by these and all our sins we continue to yell “Crucify Him!” Every one of us is guilty for Jesus death.

          Today, Palm Sunday, marks the sad and mournful beginning of Holy Week as it leads to the crucifixion of our Lord. By our sin we have rejected Jesus and shouted Crucify him like all the rest. Yet today also marks our Lord's triumphal entry into Jerusalem. By faith we shout "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" (John 12:13) We rejoice greatly even at this time of mourning because we know what Jesus came to do and what He brings.

          "Ride on, ride on, in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die. O Christ, Thy triumphs now begin O'er captive death and conquered sin." Today is a coronation. Today is a joyful day. Because Jesus came to die for our sins and conquer sin, death, and hell. Jesus brings with Him peace and salvation! Through His death we are redeemed; we are forgiven. Through Jesus our shouts of crucify him are forgiven and forgotten.

          “Ride on, ride on in majesty.” Our King has come and ridden to death. Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Jesus has taken your sins to the cross. He has died for them. You are innocent in His sight. Do not mourn as the world mourns…for we know that even as Jesus died for our sins…He has risen. Let us joyfully look forward with repentant and thankful hearts to the victory of the resurrection and the empty tomb!  Come this day to the Lord's table...and join in the feast of victory for our God. Receive your pardon and your peace in Him. 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.

Better for one man to die

Lent 5, 2014

"Better for one man to die."

John 11:17-27, 38-53

 

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

 

  

             What a beautiful and powerful portion of Scripture we have heard this morning in our Gospel lesson. In the midst of Lazarus dying and Martha running to Jesus in the midst of mourning we hear our Lord's words: "Jesus said to [Martha], “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” (John 11:23-26)

             Jesus would go on to weep over the death of Lazarus. He wept for Lazarus...and for what happened to creation. Jesus wept over the fact that His beloved people suffer and die. He wept for His people that mourn the loss of loved ones. He weeps for us. But unlike anyone else...Jesus could and did something about this. He raised Lazarus from the dead...just as He will raise all the saints that have died before us. He raised Lazarus just as He would rise from the dead.

             But where did this miracle get Jesus? Did thousands upon thousands hear about this and believe that Jesus was the Christ? Did the religious and political leaders give praise for what Jesus did do for Lazarus...and could do for the people? No.

             While it is true that many came to believe in Jesus...there were others that went straight to the Pharisees to report what happened. "So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” (John 11:47-48)

             These men...these religious leaders saw and heard what Jesus had done. Many saw the miracles of Jesus with their own eyes. But instead of believing...they feared for their future. They feared that everyone would turn to Jesus...believe in Him...trust in Him...and that they would lose out on what was most important to them: their status; their position; their power. The religious leaders just could not believe in Jesus...for they believed in themselves. Their love of worldly things were far too important.

             The world still struggles with this. There are many times that worldly things are far more important to us than God. Truly, every time we sin, we show that this is what we believe. Whether we decide that our particular habitual sin...really isn't a sin...or doesn't harm anyone or believe that God will forgive us anyway so why worry about it...we put that sin...before God. But really it's more than that. We get tempted to want more and more. We are tempted by what others have. We are tempted to say things just to get our way. We want better things; a better house, a better car, a better job...a better life. We are even tempted to sleep in on Sunday. Shocking, right? The world is fine with God...as long as God doesn't impede on the world's lusts and desires.

             Caiaphas, the high priest of Israel at the time of Christ, hated Jesus for all Jesus did and stood for. Sure, Jesus healed the sick, gave vision to the blind, and even raised a man from the dead. But that meant nothing to Caiaphas...because those signs and wonders took away from his own prestige and power. And so Caiaphas turns to the other religious leaders and says, "You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” (John 11:49-50)

             Certainly we would never say or think such words! Or would we. Maybe we express the same truth to a lesser extent. I realized this early Saturday morning when Aaron woke up very early in the morning. In my sinfulness; in my desire for sleep...the thought came to mind that it would be better for one person to wake up and deal with Aaron than for everyone to lose sleep. We certainly do live by the attitude of "better you than me." The truth is that we are no better than Caiaphas or the other religious leaders of the Jews found in our text.

             But right there in the text before us is the truth. Caiaphas was right. It IS better for one man to die than the entire nation perish. Those words are harsh. Those words aren't ethical. These words don't sound fair. These words should make us upset. But these words are the Gospel truth. "It is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” (John 11:50) That is indeed the heart and soul of the Gospel.

             God sent His Son to be our Savior. No, Jesus didn't die so that people could maintain their status...their power or prestige, their wealth or prosperity, their worldly wants and desires. But Jesus did come to die on the cross so that all people...ALL PEOPLE...would be saved and given the riches of Heaven itself.

             It was better for one man to die than for all of us to perish on account of our sins. Christ’s death was totally unjust, and there was no guilt found in Christ except the guilt He took from us. We are the ones who deserve what He suffered, but that is the reason we give thanks to God.

             The Law, which demands punishment for sin (and the wages of sin is death), that Law had to be fulfilled. Justice had to prevail. And God’s justice did prevail. As Paul says in our Epistle lesson, in Christ you have been set free from the Law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2) And as we have learned: it is better that one man should die for the people rather than the whole nation perish.

             We continually thank God that He is not merely a God of justice, but rather, He is a God of mercy, grace, and forgiveness. The message of the Gospel is not a message of justice, but it is a message of love. God offered His Son as a sacrifice for our sins because He loved us; there is no other reason for what He did.

             Whenever you feel unworthy. Whenever you wonder if God really loves you. Whenever you doubt your own value. Hear this again. God loves you to death! Death on the cross. God loves you enough to give up His Son to death to save you. You are worth that much to God. Your value; your worth...is Christ dying on the cross. That is the love of God for each one of you.

             Give thanks to God that He has the power to raise the dead, as He raised Lazarus, and as He raised Christ Jesus. Through your Baptism, your old sinful nature was drowned and you were raised anew in Christ. So as Christians we greet each day confident of the future we have through the death of one man: Christ Jesus -- confident in His words, “I am the Resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die.” (John 11:25-26) 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.