Sermon 26th June 2022 – 3rd Sunday after Pentecost Text: Luke 9:51-62 – Dealing with problem makers

 Sermon 26^th June 2022 – 3^rd Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Luke 9:51-62 – Dealing with problem makers

 

Last week I began by asking you a question of how do you deal with your problems. The context was the demon possessed man who was deemed too difficult to deal with so they dealt with their problem by putting him in shackles and then sent him off into the tombs to live. Out of sight out of mind. Today a different question is put to us – how do we deal with problem makers. When Jesus was confronted with rejection, his disciples, James and John, wanted to deal with the problem maker in their unique way – "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?"  But Jesus did not agree with their solution and turned and rebuked them.

 

Jesus rejects retaliation or violence as a response to problem makers and calls on us to do likewise. And in this reading we can see the real problem when we become judge, jury and executioner. The problem – when Jesus arrived the people did not welcome him. James and John’s response – let’s command fire to come down from heaven and destroy them. This is always the problem with human response by responding with retaliation.

How can you compare being not accepted with having fire coming down from heaven and destroying you. Jesus deals with this in the Sermon on the Mount when he says - “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell … if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.  Because it doesn’t usually end up being one eye for one eye. Even if retaliation could be meted out equally it doesn’t solve the problem. You hit me – I hit you back: It doesn’t stop there. As we find in war situations – that’s only the beginning. You come in with soldiers – we’ll come in with tanks. You see it in sport so often. A footy player roughly tackles his opposition player. He retaliates – and next moment every player on the field runs over and gets involved. That’s human nature – that’s what James and John example.

Again, we see in Paul’s writings concerning retaliation and warning against human retaliation: In Roman’s 12 he writes: Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

 

Paul knows that God’s wrath is justice and not revenge. How amazing it would be if this is what the church was known for? Being at peace with everyone. If our enemy is hungry, feed him and give him drink for his thirst. It’s interesting that Paul doesn’t say – you shouldn’t have enemies. I guess that’s something that is part of our fallen world – but we don’t have to live as enemies but live in peace and love. As Jesus said before his arrest – a new Commandment I give to you – love one another as I have loved you and by this everyone will know that you are my disciples. And that’s exactly what Paul said today - "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

That’s how we end wars and fighting and “devouring one another” – through love. And that’s not the end of it, Paul says.

 

When we move away from the standard of love it is replaced by destructive behaviour such as -  fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. Love was put in place by God to give us protection. God has given us love as a means to control our evil and destructive behaviours. And we’re not talking about the airy fairy love that we hear in our pop songs or the Hollywood image of love. No, this is a serious and deep life changing love that we are called to example: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Note that Paul refers to them as the fruit of the Spirit – not fruits of the Spirit. We don’t choose one of them – they are all part of the life of a growing Christian.

Just like fruit continues to grow and ripen so too these are to continue to grow in us but once a fruit drops from the tree – the source and energizer of love - it begins to decay and rot. And so too we are to continue to remain in Christ because our human nature will want to continue to move us back to those destructive behaviours that Paul listed. And we saw that in James and John and their response that didn’t show love or joy. It didn’t show peace or patience in those who rejected them. It didn’t show kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness – and certainly not self-control.

 

Love is hard work. Just look at love at work: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always  perseveres. Love never fails. Again, James and John did not show that to those who rejected Jesus. Love shows itself in ways that go way beyond human behaviour. As Paul says – God demonstrates his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. As Jesus exampled on the cross to those crucifying him – forgive them Father for they know not what they are doing. So different to Zechariah’s dying words in the Old Testament - Zechariah’s last words as he died were, “May the Lord see what they are doing and avenge my death!”

 

We don’t want to go back to that thought of thinking. Jesus has freed us from that desire for comeuppance.

And thankfully Christ has freed us from receiving our comeuppance – what we deserve. As Paul says - For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. As Jesus went to the cross he called on his disciples, you and me to pick up our cross and follow him. And sometimes that cross is to bear the burden of forgiveness for the sake of the Gospel, as Jesus exampled from the cross. Sometimes our best efforts are ignored and rejected and when that happens then Jesus also gave us the example in today’s Gospel reading: they went on to another village. The book of Proverbs has very sound advice in this situation also: Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you. Or as Paul says in 1 Corinthians - Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?

What would James and John have achieved by calling down fire and consuming them?

 

Now they have another opportunity to go back later and share the Gospel when the time is right. Now they have something to pray about. Let us also see rejection and injustice as an opportunity to pray and give an example of love and, as Peter says, always be prepared to give the reason for the hope we have with gentleness and respect.

Sermon 19th June 2022 – 2 Sunday after Pentecost Text: Luke 8:26-39 – Out of mind out of sight

 Sermon 19^th June 2022 – 2 Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Luke 8:26-39 – Out of mind out of sight

 

How do you deal with your problems? Many people like to sweep them under the carpet – out of sight out of mind. But just because you can’t see the dirt doesn’t mean it’s not there. It’s still under the carpet. So too, if we turn off the TV news, stop reading the newspapers and listening to others, especially on Social Media, you could almost have lived your life normally over the past couple of years. But it doesn’t mean the Covid crisis didn’t exist. If you don’t drive a car, have a mortgage or enjoy eating lettuce you might not even know there’s a cost-of-living crisis. But it still exists for many. If you just looked at the weather over the past week or so you wouldn’t consider climate change or global warming to exist. It’s winter- it’s cold. And that’s how many people deal with their problems.Out of sight, out of mind. If it doesn’t effect me, I don’t care.

 

It was certainly how the people of the Gerasenes dealt with their problems. There was one of their citizens possessed by evil spirits – a legion of them. They couldn’t control him so their solution was to keep him under guard, bound with chains and shackles. Out of sight, out of mind. Problem solved. But the problem didn’t go away. He would break the bonds and be driven by the demons into the wilds.

 

Society also works in similar ways at times. If we don’t see the homeless then they don’t exist. In fact at times we’ve heard of councils moving people on from their homeless shanties to clear up the streets – problem solved. In Jesus’ times that’s how they dealt with other problems. Lepers were cast out of the town so they wouldn’t infect us. When the woman was caught in adultery – let’s drag her out of here and stone her to death. Problem solved – she won’t commit adultery again.

Not sure what ever happened to the male in that situation. In fact when Jesus ate with sinners and tax collectors they were shocked. Why would you do that? So too when the disciples came back from getting supplies they were shocked to see Jesus speaking with a Samaritan woman – why would you do that? Jesus had a ministry of inclusion especially of the outsiders and disenfranchised.

 

And that’s what Paul speaks about also in our 2nd reading from Galatians: As many of you as were baptized into Christ you have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. In Jesus there is no division. We don’t cast people out or remove them from society.  We include them. There is no sending away but rather inviting in. This poor man who was chained and sent away would never get better, only worse. He would never get to experience the compassion and love needed to feel welcomed.

 

Then Jesus shows up in the place of the tombs, the place of the dead.  For starters Jesus shouldn’t have been there. It was Gentile territory. It was in pig farming territory, remembering that pigs were considered to be unclean. The demon possessed man presumes Jesus will be no better than his fellow neighbours.  “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” But Jesus is not there to torment him but to help him. And he begins by giving him his identity back. Instead of being the crazy person who runs around naked and tormented, Jesus says to him: "What is your name?" Not “what’s wrong with you” or “how long have you been like this”. “What is your name?”

 

Just like Jesus we too are to be a place where people come to find their identity. Not based on whether they are male or female, Jew or Greek, slave or free. But given an identity as a child of God. And with that identity given to him by Jesus he resumes his life again. The people who had banished him to the tombs find the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And so too we are charged with that ministry of restoration. Not once a person has got their life back on track but in the midst of their turmoil as Jesus did. Jesus didn’t send him away to sort out his life but gave him his dignity back by accepting him as he was. But in that acceptance his life didn’t stay the same. Just like the woman caught in adultery who was told to go and sin no more. Or Zacchaeus who changed his life, not because Jesus condemned him but accepted him when others wouldn’t. The people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner. Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

 

We too, as redeemed children of God, are given the ministry of acceptance of the person. And let us always remember - God demonstrates his own love for us in this While we were still sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Jesus deals with his demons by casting them into a herd of pigs. Notice in that Jesus distinguishes between the sin and the sinner. To the sinner Jesus offers acceptance. But to the sin he casts it out. Like the woman caught in adultery – go – and sin no more.

 

That’s our challenge. To distinguish between sin and sinner. As the old saying goes – love the sinner hate the sin. But I know that’s not always easy as the sin is so intrinsically part of the sinner as it was in this person. But it was Jesus love and acceptance of the sinner that cast out the sin and demons – not judgement and condemnation. The demon possessed man had lived a lifetime of judgement and condemnation which saw his condition grow worse. Perhaps beginning with one demon he became a person who had a legion of demons in his life. And just look how that love and acceptance changed him – not only his life but his love for God. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might go with Jesus;

He begged him. But notice Jesus’ response and that too will become our mission field. Jesus sent him away, saying, "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you."

 

As much as we need people to serve the church and become missionaries overseas – Jesus reminds us of the greatest mission field before us. Return to your home and tell how much God has done for you. We all have friends and family who we would love to see in a relationship with God and the church. Let’s begin with sharing how much God has done for us.

Let’s begin with a ministry of acceptance of the person. So often our mission has been – you should come to church and get right with God. You need to repent of your sins before it’s too late. Turn or burn as the street preacher would blast out on his bullhorn. But here Jesus encourages the man to share his experience with others. Do your friends and family know what God has done for you? Or do they just know what God demands of them? Do they know the peace and acceptance you have? Or are we living under and sharing what Paul refers to as the work of the law before Christ came: The law was our disciplinarian until Christ came. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.

 

Just like the demon possessed man was locked up in chains, so too we have often locked our church with chains excluding entry until you’ve met the standard we expect. But Jesus never set any standard - There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise.

 

Let us be people – let us be a church where people are accepted and welcomed and allow the transforming love of God to do its work not our judgement.

 

Sermon 12th June 2022 – Trinity Sunday Text: John 16:12-15 – Trinity - Best left unexplained.

 Sermon 12^th June 2022 – Trinity Sunday

Text: John 16:12-15 – Trinity - Best left unexplained.

The Holy Trinity is an interesting teaching of the Christian church. The word “Trinity” doesn’t appear in the bible so it has been disputed by many  denominations like the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Christadelphians. Many of the heresies from the early church were created by well meaning Christians wanting to explain the mystery of One God, three Persons. As a result the Creeds were written to keep the teaching pure and if you’ve never taken notice they are in 3 parts – I believe in God the Father almighty … I believe in Jesus Christ his Son … I believe in the Holy Spirit.

As the church grew the creeds had to become more descriptive as we see in the Nicene Creed to protect the teaching of Jesus being equal in the Godhead. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the father. Through whom all things were made. A church Father by the name of Athanasius went even stronger writing what is known as our 3rd Creed, the Athanasian Creed which begins: Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith. Which faith unless every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. And the catholic faith is this: that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Essence.

Muslims reject Christianity for worshipping more than one God or that God could have a son. Jews reject Christianity for suggesting that Jesus, a mere human, could be the Son of God and the promised Messiah. So you can understand that the Trinity has been an important doctrine of the Christian Church. But what is the importance of it for our everyday Christian faith? Do we have to fully understand it in order to believe it?

I believe in today’s readings, even though there is no reference to The Trinity, that we can understand that it’s the relationship of Father, Son and Holy Spirit and through Jesus’ death and resurrection the extension of that relationship is now given to us which is of vital importance and comfort.

First of all we see in Jesus’ words: All that the Father has is mine and that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. Whatever God the Father has he gives to Jesus his Son through the Holy Spirit is now given to us because we are children of God. There we see the unity of the Trinity at work but it doesn’t end there. The Holy Spirit takes what is Jesus’ and give it to us.

So not only is there unity in the Trinity, Father, Sona and Holy Spirit – BUT – we have been included in that unity because through Jesus’ death, as Paul says – we are heirs – everything Jesus has, we have. And that’s what Paul is describing in our 2nd reading: Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand. We have access to God. And that’s what the Book of Hebrews also describes: We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body.

The Curtain? You may recall that at his death it says that the curtain in the temple was torn in two. The curtain that divided the temple and would only allow the High Priest to enter the Most Holy Place once a year – on the Day of Atonement. But now, we can enter that Holy Place always. Not just at church – no, the Christian faith goes well beyond our worship on Sundays. But in our prayers, in our reading of the Word – the HOLY Bible – we have confidence that we come into the presence of God.

This relationship we now have through the Trinity means that we can truly “know” God. And there are differences in “knowing”. As we celebrate the Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, as you look at all the celebrations throughout the Commonwealth and beyond – there are millions, if not billions of people who know the Queen. But that doesn’t give you access to the Queen nor does she know you. But “knowing” God is on a whole different level. God invites you to speak to him – to touch him – and he knows you and in fact knows the very hairs on your head.

Understanding God as Trinity is not about holding the correct opinion on God’s nature.  It is the starting place for truly knowing him.  To believe in and have a relationship with God, building a real friendship with God.

It enables us to worship our Heavenly Father and know that we stand, not as peasants or unimportant mortals, but as his beloved children, as coheirs of his Heavenly Kingdom: as the beloved creatures to whom he gives all that he has – As Psalm 8 says: - When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place— what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?

This is to truly know God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Not getting the explanation right but getting the relationship right. And the amazing thing about leaving the details and explanations to God is that we don’t limit God to our explanation. That’s the beauty of leaving it as a mystery. And that’s what Jesus said in our Gospel reading. "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth;

Too often we limit God by our limitations. Think of when Paul was taken into heaven and given a glimpse of Paradise in 2 Corinthians: I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. Was it because Paul was told a secret and wasn’t allowed to tell us or was it because there were no words in our limited vocabulary and understanding that could give proper understanding of what he saw and heard. Was it too much for us to bear right now?

The amazing thing about our relationship with God is that it is only limited by us. So when we pray, forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us – it is saying that our understanding of God’s forgiveness in our lives is limited to our forgiveness of others. It’s not limited by God The love we experience from God is only limited by the love we show others. That’s why Jesus says – love one another as I have loved you. And, love your enemies. And that’s why the Trinity is not to be explained or described but rather experienced. Always you’ll find that Jesus wants us to experience what he has experienced from his Father. Love one another as I have loved you. As the Father has sent me so I am sending you. The Father and I are one.

In Jesus Christ, we see everything there is to see about a Father’s love.  And in Jesus we experience everything there is to experience of the Father’s love.

And, as Paul says, God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. That’s the Trinity at work. Whether we understand it or not. Whether we can explain it or not. Sometimes the best things are left unexplained. Because as soon as we explain something then we limit it to that explanation. But when it comes to the mystery of God – the Holy Trinity – Jesus says that he has more to give to us than we can possibly bear and that includes the love of God that he pours into our hearts.

Sermon 5th June 2022 – Pentecost Sunday Text: Acts 2:1-21 – Healing or hurting Words

 Sermon 5^th June 2022 – Pentecost Sunday

Text: Acts 2:1-21 – Healing or hurting Words

 

There is the old saying that “the pen is mightier than the sword”. Often we associate that saying with harm that can be done through the words we speak or write. A sword can cause physical injury – even death. But that’s the end of it. A person can even heal from the physical injury. Words, however, can go on forever and can be difficult to heal. The words we speak and write don’t go away. They go on in memories and they go on in history.

 

In the Old Testament the sword was the main means of the people of God. Israel would go out and defeat their enemies with many times the instruction being to take no prisoner as the enemy was put to the sword.

What we see at Pentecost and the New Testament Church is a shift of power and authority from the sword to the Word. In the first instance we see this with the birth of Jesus that he is the Word of God made flesh.

In the beginning was the Word – the Word was with God and the Word was God; the word became flesh and dwelt with us. So that is the first power shift – God’s Word coming to dwell with us in human form.

At his Ascension Jesus commissions his disciples with authoritative Words: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them – use your words - to obey everything I have commanded you. The Word, again, becoming the central means by which God will now achieve his purpose for the world – not the sword. Last week we also heard at the Ascension that the word was what the disciples were commissioned with. Go to all nations proclaiming repentance and forgiveness of sins. Proclaiming – the word. God’s power and authority revealed in words – I forgive you all your sins.

 

Likewise today, it is the word that is central to the church’s mission – we call it “Word and Sacrament” ministry. The Sacraments – Baptism and Holy Communion – are God’s Word in action. As Luther reminded us – how can water achieve such great things – it is not water alone but water together with God’s Word

Likewise with Holy Communion – how can eating and drinking achieve such great things – it is not the eating and drinking but believing these words – given and shed for me for the forgiveness of sins.

 

Today, on the day of Pentecost we hear God give power to the Word as the Holy Spirit comes, as promised. “Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability”. So now, filled with the Holy Spirit, the disciples are able to proclaim God’s Word with boldness with immediate effect. And so we hear that after Peter’s sermon the people react to his words - When the people heard his words, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

 

We too have been given the boldness to speak God’s Word. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians: We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. As if God were speaking through us.

The words we use are powerful. And they are powerful to heal or to hurt. They can cut to the heart or they can heal the heart. And as we see with Peter, sometimes a word is needed to cut to the heart just as a surgeon’s scalpel needs to cut deep in order to heal. But sometimes the hurt is already there and what is needed is the word to heal even when we might think a word of judgement is needed. Like the woman caught in adultery. She had her accusers – the Pharisees had caught her and applied the Law of Moses. She was hurt.

Jesus uses a word – not against her but against her accusers. Whoever of you is without sin may cast the first stone. They were cut to the heart. They dropped their stones and walked away. As they leave Jesus uses a word to heal her – to heal her heart – neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more. Words to hurt her had already been applied – now words of healing were required.

 

As we look at our society today we are hearing more and more of the hurt people are carrying. The pain they are bearing. The heaviness of heart particularly in this post lockdown era. We hear of victim blaming a person rather than healing being offered. At Pentecost God sent to us his Holy Spirit. As we read about the work of God through the Holy Spirit, just listen to some examples:  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. (2 Corinthians 1:3,4). From today’s Gospel - I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

 

I find it sad that often the general public usually see the church in 2 ways. They either see us as moralistic – we judge and condemn. Or they see us as a charity. In times of need they will come to us for physical support.

Now that’s not a bad thing. It’s part of what we do. But what about the spiritual work? The spiritual healing?

Think of the Beatitudes:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

 

That work, as Paul says – highlights that we are children of God, heirs to the eternal Kingdom of God. That everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. In John’s version of the coming of the Holy Spirit he shows that the work of the Holy Spirit is the work of peace: Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

And it’s a peace that comes through them proclaiming forgiveness of sins with God.

 

The words we use are powerful. Isaiah says about the Word of God we speak: my word that goes out from my mouth will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. So let us be aware of the words we speak – that they are healing words. Let us take the advice of James - My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak. As the old saying goes – you can’t unring a bell – likewise you can’t unsay words that have caused hurt. If there is conviction needed then the Holy Spirit will do that work also. In fact there are plenty of people outside of the church to do that work – especially Satan, the Accuser.

 

Let us remember on this Pentecost Day, the Holy Spirit is our comforter so we can bring comfort to others.

And no greater comfort comes that knowing all my sins are forgiven as I call on the name of the Lord and be saved.

Sermon 29th May 2022 – Ascension Text: Luke 24:44-53

 Sermon 29^th May 2022 – Ascension

Text: Luke 24:44-53

 

Today we celebrate the end to Jesus being with his followers after his resurrection.  In Luke’s Gospel Jesus takes his closest friends to Bethany.  Here Jesus tells them that the time had come for the final stage of reconciling us to God.

He commissions them to keep telling all the people about the good news that they have witnessed because the generations to come need to hear what happened.  As he said to Doubting Thomas – blessed are they who believe without seeing.

He raises his hands and blesses them as his final physical action. And while he was blessing them, he was carried up into heaven - ascended.  Gone. And despite his promise to send them “power from on high,” imagine how alone they must have felt. And just like the resurrection – this is new territory that they are entering.

 

The ascension is celebrated on the 40th day after Jesus’ resurrection which would make it last Thursday.

And because of the busyness or life and work it’s tempting to ignore the story of the Ascension altogether because it has passed. Unlike Chrismas – the Ascension never happens on a Sunday – always on a Thursday. It’s hard getting people to church on a Sunday morning let alone on a Thursday night. And what is the significance of Jesus floating away like that.

What is there to celebrate with Jesus departing. The significance and the celebration is in the word – Ascension,

Ascension in one sense means to go “up” as we see in the physical sense in our reading that Jesus went “up” into the clouds. But the ascension here is not a physical ascension but a royal ascension as when a King ascends to his throne.

Such as Psalm 47 - God has ascended with a mighty shout. The LORD has ascended with trumpets blaring.

Whereas Jesus was lifted up to the cross when he was crucified now God lifts him up to ascend to his throne in heaven to sit at God’s right hand.

 

So we see this is a power shift from his physical presence on earth to now his spiritual rule over the earth. And that’s what Paul is describing in his letter to the Ephesians where he writes: God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. And what’s really important for us to understand is that this is a completely different power and authority to how we usually understand power and authority. And this is probably one of the biggest struggles that the church has had to understand. Because we have associated our power and authority too often in human understanding. So when our physical presence declines we believe the church is in decline. When our numbers decline, When our influence declines.

When our presence in public declines – we believe that this relates to our power and authority. That cannot be further from the truth.

 

The power and authority of Jesus and of the church is seen in things that can’t be measured by human means. Jesus shows his disciples just what that authority looks like. He says that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in my name to all nations. You are witnesses of these things. It is very easy for the church to focus on earthly principles.

To begin to measure our achievements in the same way worldly businesses measure achievement. To some extent it’s important as we need to pay our way in the world. But when that becomes the drive – when that becomes the measure of a successful church – finances,, attendances, popularity – then our mission is based on flawed logic. Jesus has already given us our power and authority – as St Paul says: God has put all things under Jesus feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

 

It is natural to want to see results for the work we do, just like the disciples in our first reading. "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel? They wanted results NOW. To which Jesus responded - It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. It’s very tempting, and it’s very natural to want to see instant results. We get impatient and we want to try something else. We’ll look at what others are doing and if only we did what they are doing we’d have the same success. Let’s try another program – another Pastor. But this is where we need to trust God and his plan for us.

 

We have been given our mission – to proclaim God’s forgiveness in the world and we are his witnesses as we have experienced God’s forgiveness firsthand. And so the question we need to keep asking ourselves – are we doing that?

Are we being examples of forgiveness. If we want to achieve fullness of God then we need to put our complete faith and trust in him and at times that will mean God leading us through the wilderness as he did for Israel – to be led through the valley of the shadow of death but not being afraid because our Good Shepherd is with us. The Ascension is about trusting in God who has placed all things under Christ in the Heavenly Realms and also in the church which is his body. If we look at the world we will miss that because we will panic – we will fear. Wars, pandemics, climate emergencies. But when we keep our eyes on Christ we will allow his Holy Spirit to guide every step we make.

 

It’s about waiting – it’s about trusting. We are not always that good at waiting.   We tire out if we do not get quick results. 

Waiting in lines, waiting at the lights, at the doctor’s office, online, on the phone – being constantly reminded that our call is important. Waiting is not what we do well.  Why is waiting so hard?   Because it means someone else, or some other power, is in charge, not us.   Jesus tells the disciples to, “wait”. Wait for the promise of the Father.”  He doesn’t want them to go off spreading the news of his resurrection yet because on their own steam they are a small, fearful community that has no power on its own.   Look what happened to Peter when he thought he could do it on his own: He sank in the water.

He denied knowing Jesus.   The disciples also flee when things get tough.

 

So, the disciples and we, must be patient and trust God. At times we need to restrain ourselves and trust in God’s timing.  The fulfillment will come at God’s timing, not our own.  We are action-oriented – we are results driven – that’s human nature. We have our projects and plans, we want to get on with things.  Even when our plans and intentions are noble and serve a good purpose sometimes God doesn’t figure into them. Jesus urges his disciples to trust in God’s plan even when that seems not how we should be doing things. Remember how many times Jesus told people he had healed – don’t tell anyone – and it was the first thing they did.

 

Jesus is never in a hurry. When he instructs his disciples he starts at the beginning to remind them of God’s plan. Jesus had to remind them, by interpreting the scriptures “beginning with Moses and all the prophets,”. He reminds them that sometimes suffering and difficulty is part of God’s mission.   And that’s when we can be tempted to try something else, like Peter – never Lord, this will never happen to you.

 

Our mission is to be witnesses. And we will be witnesses to Jesus by the integrity of our lives and the commitment to his ways.  Loving one another as he loves us. Loving and forgiving our enemies. Witnesses at work, with our families, in school and in sports, in our churches., etc.,  By human standards these may not seem effective. Our attempts will be ignored, dismissed – and we will feel like giving up. We become tempted to try another way. But we are urged to be patient and to wait as the Holy Spirit strengthens us and encourages us to keep the course. To keep witnessing to what we have experienced – the forgiveness and grace of God.

Sermon 15th May 2022 – 5th Sunday after Easter Text Revelation 21:1-6 – The New Creation

 Sermon 15^th May 2022 – 5^th Sunday after Easter

Text Revelation 21:1-6 – The New Creation

 

On Good Friday we focused on the 7 last words of Christ. And one of those 7 words of Christ was – It is finished. It is finished, as we heard, was not a cry of defeat but a cry of completion. Like when you’re working on a jigsaw puzzle and you study and anguish because all the pieces look the same. But slowly and surely the picture starts to take shape and the remaining pieces are easier to place. And then, then the final piece is there and you have the pleasure and honour of placing that piece and triumphantly proclaiming – It is finished.

 

It’s such a great feeling when you accomplish any task or project and you can just sit back and admire the final product. In our reading from the Book or Revelation today that’s exactly what we see being revealed to John.

The finished work of Jesus for us. Let me read a portion of it again and give some commentary on the sections:

 

I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.

Most biblical scholars believe that John, the writer of this Book is the same as John the writer of the 4th Gospel. Remember how John begins his Gospel – in the beginning, the word was with God and the word was God and all things were created through him. John begins his Gospel with the same words as the Book of Genesis and the account of Creation – in the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth. In John’s Gospel and here in John’s Revelation he sees the work of Jesus Christ, the Word of God bring about the new creation – a new heaven and a new earth. And what is significant in their differences is in that very first observation – and the sea was no more. The sea was the place where evil hid – the pigs who had the demons cast into them rushing into the water because that was where they felt safe. Jesus walking on the water to show his authority. Jesus calming the sea that threatened the disciples telling it to “be quiet”. Here in the new heaven and earth, unlike the Garden of Eden where the Serpent was able to cause disobedience to God and bring evil – that cannot exist. As John says later in Revelation 21 - Nothing evil will be allowed to enter.

 

In Revelation 13 John sees the full extent of the seas - The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. We don’t know why God allowed Satan to tempt Adam and Eve but that will NOT be possible in the new Heaven and Earth where John says the tree of life will be restored without any forbidden fruit available to tempt us. In Revelation 22 he says: he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

 

Next John sees this: And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them;

 

Here again we can see the Garden of Eve restored but not with Adam and Eve as the first husband and wife but with the New Jerusalem prepared for her Husband. Let’s not get caught up on the gender issues of this but rather the symbolism. Jerusalem with a Hebrew word meaning – house of Shalom – house of peace. But the peace of Shalom is very different to peace as we understand it. As St Paul says – a peace that goes beyond all understanding It’s not about absence of war or absence of noise it’s Shalom. The forging together of God, humans, and all creation in justice, fulfillment, and delight.

Just as Adam and Eve became one flesh, so too we become one with God – something that was taken away from Adam and Even when they sinned and were separated as they hid from God. Instead of being one with God they were now one with evil as they ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. And in the Hebrew understanding of knowledge is where there is a marriage of 2 becoming one as we read where Adam “knew” his wife as a sign of that union. Adam and Eve, and all their descendants “knew” evil.

 

But now, through Jesus, we are one with God again through Shalom, the new Jerusalem, house of Shalom – house of peace – a peace that goes beyond all understanding – a peace the world cannot give. That’s what John saw.

 

And from this John sees the outcome. God will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away." This is it – this is the finished work of Jesus for us. No more death. Where O death is your victory – thanks be to God who gives us the victory over death. Everything associated with death is gone – mourning, crying, suffering – all gone. They are part of the Old Order – they are part of the first things that have passed away. Ironically it is death that must now suffer the agony of death. The wages of sin, death, is gone and the free gift of eternal life has begun.

 

And then we hear from Jesus himself: And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." Then he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life."

 

The final and ultimate “I AM” statement – I AM making all things new. I AM the Alpha and the Omega – the beginning and the end. And to link it to those words from the cross – it is finished – he repeats – it is done. Friends, this is our destiny. This is why we believe. As St Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians – if it is only for this life that we have hope then we are to be pitied more than anyone else. But we don’t hope for this life. This life is part of the old order of things whose destination is death. Our hope is in the new ordering of things – the new Heaven and Earth. The new Jerusalem where we will dwell with God and God will dwell with us. He won’t just visit in the cool of the evening as he did with Adam and Eve but we will gather around him day and night basking in his glory.

 

We have so much to live for and look forward to and we have the full assurance of reaching our heavenly home because the work of Christ is finished. Christ has been glorified and his words are trustworthy and true. Amen

Sermon 8th May 2022 – 4th Sunday after Easter (Good Shepherd) Text: john 10:22-30 – The Promise Keeping Shepherd

 Sermon 8^th May 2022 – 4^th Sunday after Easter (Good Shepherd)

Text: john 10:22-30 – The Promise Keeping Shepherd

 

We are well and truly in election mode with a Federal Election later this month.  And as always in the lead up to any election out comes the cheque book and the book of promises. I think by now we are all well aware that what is promised pre-election is not always what is delivered post-election. And there will be reasons given varying from we didn’t realise how much it was really going to cost or situations have changed.We don’t always believe their promises.

Jesus also delivered a promise prior to his death saying that he would rise from the dead on the 3rd day. And like political promises, his disciples didn’t believe it. They went to the tomb on that 3rd day not to look for his risen body but a dead body – as the angels said confused by this – why do you look for the living amongst the dead. They went to the tomb and when they saw it empty didn’t even consider that maybe Jesus has risen from the dead.

But, unlike political promises, Jesus kept his promise. And what this means for us is that if Jesus kept his promise to rise from the dead then all the promises connected to that promise can also be trusted. And the huge promise made in today’s Gospel reading is - My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father's hand. The Father and I are one." Those beautiful promises – I give them eternal life and they will never perish. No one will snatch you out of my hand.

Sadly, today, our skepticism makes us question everything and distrust even the most trusted sources.

When the phone rings and the person on the other ends tells you they are from the bank and want your password because they believe you have fraudulent activity in your bank account most people just hang up. Or you get a text message to say you have a delivery waiting – just click here – most people just delete it. Or that email says you have won the lottery – a lottery you didn’t enter – just send us $39.99 processing fee and we’ll send you the millions of dollars you’ve won.

If it sounds too good to be true – then it is most likely NOT true. Haven’t we grown up in these modern times to consider everything as a scam? But let us remember one of the great “I AM” statements that came from Jesus’ mouth – I am the way, the truth and the life. And in John’s Gospel he says - “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Whatever Jesus has said – whatever Jesus has promised is truth – has always been the truth and will forever be the truth. So whether it’s John 3:16 – whoever believes in Jesus will not perish but have eternal life. Or in Mark 16 – whoever believes and is baptized will be saved. Or in Paul’s writings – whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. These are absolute and eternal truths that we should never doubt or be skeptical about.

Even as the world around us seems to be in an absolute mess. Even though the world continually tells us that the Christian faith is just a fairy tale and irrelevant. Even though there seems to be more and more attacks and criticism of the church Jesus remains as the one in whom our faith and trust remains.

So Jesus urges us to stand firm against all the attacks – He says - “… you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. Many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Does that scenario sound familiar?

Today Jesus shows his concern for the skepticism of his people. The people come up to Jesus and confront him:" How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly."  Jesus answered, "I have told you, and you do not believe”.

Today we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday. And what makes Jesus good is the fact that he is there for us always. Even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will not be afraid because you are with me. Earlier in this chapter, John 10, Jesus compares himself to the one who is NOT the Good Shepherd whom he calls the thief who comes only to steal and kill and destroy;  But about himself, as the Good Shepherd he says I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Being able to discern the truth these days is so difficult. We have disinformation. We have fake news. We have fact checkers and debunking. We have left wing bias – right wing bias – each accusing the other of not being honest. It’s really hard to know what to believe. But when it comes to knowing and trusting we can put all our faith in Jesus as our Good Shepherd. And the difference is, as Jesus says - I know my sheep. And we are safe in him no matter what is going on around us. No one can snatch us out of his hand.

Nowhere else can we feel as secure than in God’s loving and caring hands. But in order to hear Jesus’ voice we need to listen where he is speaking to us. Jesus speaks to us in our prayers. Remember, prayer is not only us speaking to God but God speaking to us. We need to hear and listen as God said in Jesus’ baptism and the Transfiguration. This is my Son whom I love – LISTEN TO HIM. We need to listen to him speaking to us through his word – in our Bibles and in our Worship.

Unfortunately there is a lot of competition to God’s word – our televisions, our music, our media. And unlike our Good Shepherd, they don’t know us in the same way the Good Shepherd knows us. They don’t have OUR interests at heart but their own. But sadly this is what most people listen to. It doesn’t take a lot of time to spend with God. Even 5 or 10 minutes in the morning and evening in prayer. A few minutes each day in his Word. And hour a week, an hour a fortnight, even an hour a month in worship – will make a difference.

But sadly so many Christians barely have an hour once or twice a year to spend in worship. Fortunately, as our Good Shepherd, Jesus had more than a few hours for us but his entire life. And Jesus continues to give us his life continues to hold us as his goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our lives until we are safe dwelling in the house of the Lord forever. And until we are there we are safe in his hands and no one can snatch us out of them. That’s a promise Jesus keeps.