Year A 2017 2nd Sunday in Lent

Text: John 3:1-17 – The journey of faith

Our Bible reading today includes one of the most well-known bible verses – John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

It is often referred to as the Gospel in a nutshell.

It contains everything necessary for salvation.

The verse is in response to a dialogue between Nicodemus and Jesus where they are talking about being born again.

It seems that Jesus is critical of Nicodemus because as a Pharisee he doesn’t seem to know too much about living a Spirit filled life with God.

It intrigues Jesus - Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? (John 3:10)

But what we often forget or fail to realise is that this is not the only time that we hear about Nicodemus.

We hear about him on 2 more occasions and what we see in him is growth in his faith because of his dialogue with Jesus.

So it seems that Nicodemus has taken to heart what Jesus has said and as we look at his progress in faith it also shows us that people take time in their faith journey.

In his first encounter Nicodemus is seemingly unsure and frightened.

He is a Pharisee so he may fear being associated with Jesus in a similar way that Peter let his fear deny Jesus 3 times.

He knows about Jesus and what he’s done and acknowledges that he has come from God.

But he’s afraid to admit it and comes to Jesus under the cover of darkness.

Nicodemus here seems to be a seeker but he is conflicted.

He’s seen what Jesus is doing and he wants to believe.

But maybe he’s worried about what the cost of that would be if others found out.

There may be people like Nicodemus all around us.

They know what Jesus offers but maybe they’re afraid of what it might mean.

Will others make fun of them?

Are they afraid of walking into a church and not knowing anyone?

Will they feel like everyone’s looking at them because they don’t know what to do – they don’t know the language of church and what things mean?

I remember my own experience when I started going to church.

Standing in the corner because no one would talk to me because they were in their own groups.

I had no idea what this thing was that they were all going down to the front to do.

I found out it was called Holy Communion but I wasn’t allowed to attend because I wasn’t a member.

I can see why Nicodemus came under darkness and I don’t find his responses about entering your mother’s womb a 2nd time funny or strange.

We know what Jesus means when he uses language like born again, redemption, salvation, sanctification – but would a person coming in off the street understand?

Jesus speaks with Nicodemus and relates his coming death to what he would be familiar with – the lifting up of the bronze snake to provide healing for the Israelites.

Maybe we too need to look at how we relate our faith at times to the experiences of the people we are trying to link with, even our own family.

We know today that to many people the church and its message seems irrelevant but they are looking for what the church offers in different places.

They are happy to speak to a psychic or clairvoyant to find out their future when Jesus says he is the one who was, and is and is to come – he makes the unknown future known.

They are happy to seek out anything that will prolong their life or make them look younger while Jesus offers eternal life.

They will spend a fortune on counselling when Jesus says come to me all you who are weary and burdened.

Maybe we need to look at what and how we are communicating.

Because when we next see Nicodemus we see a change in him.

In Chapter 7 of John’s Gospel we see Nicodemus actually defending Jesus.

The temple police went to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not arrest him?” After giving their reason, Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, asked, “Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?”

Something has changed in Nicodemus.

He’s no longer needing the cover of darkness but is willing to defend Jesus publicly even though he is still a Pharisee.

We come across many people who may fit this description – people who support the church but may not identify as part of it.

We might called them lapsed members.

We might call them people who bring their children to be baptised and we never see them again.

We might call them people who want a Lutheran funeral for their parents who are good Lutherans but we’ve never met them before.

We might call them people who want a Christian wedding but we might not see them again until they come looking for baptism for their first child.

We might call them people who come to our Community Meal and Soup and singing and are happy for us to say grace and sometimes insist on it but don’t go to church.

We might call them the Christmas and Easter members.

They are the ones who ask us to pray for them when difficulties strike them even if they never pray themselves.

These are the ones we become cynical about and question why we bother.

But here we see why we bother.

They might not fit our understanding of a Christian but as Jesus once said to the disciples who were complaining to him:

Master,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.” “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”

Nicodemus has become one who is not against us, as are many around us.

I love that line in John Kleinig’s song, because we bear your name that says:

“Let us acknowledge those as friends who use your name to right a wrong but have not joined us yet”.

Just like Nicodemus – who is still a Pharisee but has come out to defend Jesus.

Let us look for ways that we can encourage and interact with those who have not joined us yet to encourage them to continue their journey in faith.

The final appearance of Nicodemus is at Jesus’ death in chapter 19.

He is with Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews.

So different to the chosen disciples who were locked away for fear of the Jews.

He asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. (John 19:38)

Nicodemus comes to join Joseph to take away Jesus’ body for burial.

Nicodemus has done more for Jesus than Jesus’ own disciples have done.

They all fled but here is Nicodemus with Joseph, a secret disciple, who is also frightened but prepared to let everyone know that they are followers of Jesus.

Peter, who declared he would stand by Jesus to the end, was too afraid to say he even knew him.

Here is a person we could have written off at the beginning of his search.

Coming under the safety of darkness now in view of everyone carrying Jesus’ body to be buried.

The Christian life is a journey.

And we are all at different stages on the journey with Jesus and may take different ways with him.

It’s easy to cut people off during the journey because their journey is different to ours.

They have taken a different route to salvation that we think is the normal path.

Paul’s journey was different to that of the other disciples and they were afraid at the start of his journey:

Annanias had grave doubts about God’s choice:

Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument.

We don’t know who God has chosen.

They may not look like us and how we have come to faith.

Will we prevent them baptism because we doubt they will return?

Will we doubt them a Christian burial because we’ve never seen them in church before and deny an opportunity to bring a message of hope to the mourners?

Will we refuse them Holy Communion because we don’t know what’s in their heart and what they believe?

It’s difficult because we don’t want to cheapen the holy things of God.

But maybe among them is a Nicodemus or Paul and if they are presenting themselves to the church whether it be baptism, marriage, burial or the Lord’s Supper, then perhaps this is the beginning of their journey.

We may not see them the following week, we may not seem them next Christmas or Easter.

But maybe we will see them in Heaven – the smouldering wick that God did not snuff out (Matthew 12:20).

That smouldering wick of belief, that bruised reed (Matthew 12:20) that mustard seed (Matthew 13:31-32) is all that God is looking for,

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

Year A 2017 - 1st Sunday in Lent

Sermon 5^th March 2017

Text: Matthew 4:1-11 – Living with temptation

It is interesting that immediately after such an important moment of Jesus' life – God’s public announcement at Jesus’ baptism – this is my Son whom I love – that he then faced a major upheaval in his life.

God's Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness for 40 days where he was tempted by the devil.

There is an old saying that comes to mind in this – with friends like this, who needs enemies.

It seems a strange path for God’s Holy Spirit to lead Jesus on just after God had publicly declared his love for Jesus.

So often I hear people struggle in their faith – if God loves me then why does he allow me to suffer.

It might seem strange but blessings and temptation are not opposites but are often part of the same experience.

We see it often in Jesus’ parables –:

“The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat (Matthew 13:24,25).

Or the parable of the sower:

When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. (Matthew 13:19)

It’s hard to comprehend when going through those wilderness experiences wondering why God allows it to happen.

What Jesus’ experience shows is 2 things:

Temptation is a part of the Christian life journey.

But, it also shows, God provides strength and a way out of temptation.

Let’s look at them in this light:

Turning rocks into bread

What is the temptation here?

The temptation is that Satan targets our weaknesses.

After 40 days of fasting Jesus weakness was his hunger.

The temptation was easy to discern.

Have Jesus’ provide for his own needs and he breaks his reliance on God.

God was the one who sent Jesus into the wilderness by the leading of the Holy Spirit.

And God will provide for Jesus sustenance as we hear at the end of the temptation – “Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him”. (Matthew 4:11)

We all have our weaknesses where temptation comes knocking.

Satan found it with Adam and Eve with the temptation to “be like God”.

Satan thought he had found it with Jesus in his hunger.

Even when he was writhing in pain Satan tempted Jesus to end his suffering - to come down from the cross without any concern at all for Jesus’ suffering.

He knows your weakness.

Maybe you’re not aware you have a weakness.

Maybe you don’t notice your temptation.

But Satan does as God described him in Genesis in the form of a serpent - more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made (Genesis 3:1).

As Peter once described him: Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)

So we need to be aware where our weakness is.

We should not make excuses or deny but go to God for help.

God gives us confession – not so he can accuse us but so he can give us a way out.

In this temptation, as Jesus said, the way out is trusting that God will always provide even when it seems that our resources are depleted.

Our problem is that we want to solve our own problems and often turn to God in the very last instance.

Jesus could have turned rocks into bread but then he would have placed himself above God and his provision – as did Adam and Eve.

And so he replies – we do not live on bread alone but on the very word of God.

Where do you run to when you’re in desperate need like Jesus?

To yourself first or to God.

Testing God’s love:

The next command is about testing God’s love.

If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you … you will not strike your foot against a stone.

Do you ever wonder whether God loves you?

It sounds like a strange question to ask but so often Satan can really tempt me especially when I am feeling guilty about something I have done or not done.

Sometimes I feel guilty in my work as Pastor.

Am I visiting enough – am I caring enough – am I witnessing enough to get people to church – am I caring enough for our lapsed members and those who have had their children baptised.

So to make myself feel better I start to do more to show God how much I love him.

I stay later in the office.

I work my day off.

I run myself ragged doing more and more in the name of my work as Pastor to show God how much I love him and feel God is proud of me.

That’s when Satan really has me

Firstly because I can never do enough to make myself feel better.

But secondly my ministry becomes about me and not you.

I do things to make ME feel better rather than serving you.

Maybe there are times when you’ve questioned your faith.

Maybe you’ve questioned if God really does love you.

How have you dealt with it?

You don’t jump off a tall building to see if God will catch you.

If you want to know if God loves you and how much he loves you – just look again at the centre of the altar where you’ll find the body and blood of Christ.

That’s how much God loves you that he was prepared to sacrifice his one and only Son.

If you go anywhere else to confirm God’s love for you then Satan has led you astray.

That’s why in the Lutheran Church we hold Baptism and Holy Communion as central to our faith and vital to our teaching because this is where God has shown his love for you, as John tells us:

This is real love--not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. (1 John 4:10) and so we love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19)

And if we want to show our love for God, how do we show that love?

Not by jumping of a tall building but by loving one another as Jesus loves us.

The final temptation by Satan of Jesus is about our worship:

All this I will give you, if you will bow down and worship me.

Satan may not be so subtle and offer you the kingdoms of the world but he seems to offer us less subtle but very tangible things to lead us away from worshiping God.

You deserve to rest on Sunday.

You’ve worked hard all week – this is your only chance for yourself.

And doesn’t God want you to spend time with your family?

Do you really have to go to church to show God that you believe in him?

Others can become resentful.

I’m on the roster again.

They’re asking for more money.

They’re all hypocrites in church.

Satan works hard to break down our worship by turning church into work.

And sadly the church is often quite guilty of supporting that.

We have taken the focus of church at times away from worshiping God and tiring people out.

There are tasks that need to be done in the church but these are not our prime focus.

Our prime focus must always be serving God and being served by God.

Like Satan trying to take Jesus focus away from God we need to ensure that in all our activities and busyness that we are not taking our focus or the focus of others away from God and worship.

As I said, there are things we do and things that need to be done, that build up fellowship, but our sole reason for being here is to worship and the other things emanate from that.

When the others take prominence over worship is when we are led astray – and we burn out, we lose our enthusiasm, we lose our purpose.

As Jesus said; Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.

Whether it’s Bible Study, Community Meal, Car Boot Sale, Head 2 Heart, Soup and Singing – these are guided by our worship of God.

Temptation is Satan’s biggest weapon against us and so we pray to God to not lead us into temptation.

God doesn’t tempt us but when we take our eyes of God we are so easily led astray.

As James reminds us: When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; (James 1:13)

So we ask God to not lead us into temptation but to lead us to his word and worship.

And as Paul reassures us:

God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

So when tempted we look for that way out which comes through prayer, through God’s Word and Sacraments and through our worship.

Ash Wednesday

Text: Matthew 27:11-26 - His blood be on us and on our children!

11 Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?” 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

15 Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. 16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. 17 So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus[b] Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. 19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.” 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. 21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?”[d]All of them said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 Then he asked, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”

Pilate Hands Jesus over to Be Crucified

24 So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood;[e] see to it yourselves.” 25 Then the people as a whole answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.

It would seem that Pilate tried very hard to get Jesus freed.

He tried to reason with the people believing it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over.

He tried to have Jesus released under a clemency provision that allowed him to release one prisoner at this time of year – but the people chose Barabbas instead.

He begins to panic when his wife pleads with him not to have anything to do with this innocent man because of a dream she had – even she knew he was innocent.

Finally Pilate succumbs to the demands of the people but exonerates himself allowing for Jesus to be put to death by crucifixion but symbolically washing his hands as a sign that he has nothing to do with it.

Is it that easy to excuse what he has done?

I’m going to allow you to put him to death, but I’m washing my hands of his death.

Isn’t that what we do sometimes when it comes to the things we do wrong?

We wash our hands of our guilt.

We might do that by making excuses – it wasn’t my fault, someone else started it, they deserved it, it was an accident, I was affected by drugs or alcohol.

Our legal system strives for more lenient sentences by finding some mitigating circumstances – it was his upbringing, he stole to feed his gambling addiction.

I always find it amazing that when reporting on a crime the police and media have to say the person “allegedly” committed the crime, even if there is clear video of the person doing it.

Finding an excuse for doing something wrong may entitle you to a more lenient sentence in criminal law – and may even get a person off a conviction.

Not getting caught may mean you don’t have to face the punishment or consequence of what you did wrong.

But there is something that “washing your hands” of doing wrong cannot do.

It cannot relieve a guilty conscience.

Many times we see someone confess to something they did years ago even though they got away with it because their guilt cannot let them forget it.

Or the sense of relief you sometimes hear from them as they feel the weight off their shoulders not having to run from their guilt any more.

In our bible reading, washing his hands of Jesus’ death won’t exonerate Pilate.

In fact we are reminded of it every time we confess our faith.

“He suffered under Pontius Pilate”.

In Judas we see the full extent of his guilt as he tried to buy his way out of his remorse by giving back the money by which he betrayed Jesus but ends up taking his own life.

But we do find comfort in our bible reading albeit the people had no idea what they were saying.

When Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified, the people cried out:

“His blood be on us and on our children!”

We can make excuses that may get us off the hook.

We may be able to keep some things secret in our life.

But our guilt can never be ignored.

And we must never underestimate the damage guilt can do.

It can cause physical and spiritual damage.

The physical damage it causes can create sleepless nights – depression – loneliness as we withdraw from friends and family – it can break down relationships.

The spiritual damage it can create is in our relationship with God.

Just look at Adam and Eve who tried to hide their guilt by hiding from God.

That’s what guilt can do.

If we know we’ve hurt someone, even if they don’t know it we will avoid them because every time we see them it reminds us of our guilt.

So too as we come into God’s presence we are reminded of our guilt and it turns us away.

King David, as he tried to hide his guilt and shame after committing adultery with Bathsheba and ordering her husband’s death, felt the full effect of his guilt in sin when he wrote Psalm 32:

Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

Not blessed is the one who does no wrong or who gets away with his sin.

He continues:

When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.

Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.

I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.

God invites us to come to him – not to be punished but to be comforted through forgiveness from the blood of Christ shed for us.

And even though the people had not intended its meaning in such a way the saying is true for us in Jesus’ death:

“His blood be on us and on our children!

In this Lenten journey take time to reflect on your sin.

Read your Small Catechism and Luther’s explanation to the 10 Commandments which show us that we have not loved God with all our heart or our neighbour as ourselves despite our best attempts to believe we’ve done nothing wrong.

Even if you can totally justify why you acted in such a way, your guilt at some stage will return and convict your heart.

Your guilt is Satan’s greatest weapon.

God wants you to know the sweet comfort of his grace and mercy which does not just cover up sin, which is all our excuses do.

God’s grace and mercy wipes away our sin and guilt forever as God remembers our sin no more.

Admitting our sin is one of the hardest things we have to do but God invites you to come to the cross and let Christ’s blood be on you.

Year A 2017 The Transfiguration

Sermon 26^th February 2017

Text: Matthew 17:1-9 – Listen to HIM.

Over the past few weeks we have heard Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. It has had some challenging commands like turning the other cheek and loving your enemy. We heard that being angry breaks the command “do not murder”. They were hard and challenging. Now we hear one more command directly from God himself. And while it may not seem that difficult on the outside, as we live out our lives it can become quite difficult and challenging. The command was: This is my Son; listen to him!”

There are times when it is easy to listen to Jesus. When he says things that we agree with like: God loves the world so much that he sent his one and only son so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. When Jesus says – I am the resurrection and the life whoever believes in me shall not die but live forever. These are quite easy to listen to and take to heart.

But it was some of the challenging things in his Sermon on the Mount that made it difficult to “listen to him”.

Things like: Seeking reconciliation instead of revenge,  Loving your enemies, Praying for those who hate you, Giving to the needy without expecting a reward, Not judging others. These are not so easy to “listen to him”.

The Transfiguration was to give Peter, James and John strength during those times when it was difficult to keep following Jesus and listening to him. How did it give strength? By revealing the true identity of Jesus as God’s Son by showing them his glory. So that despite what their eyes are about to see when Jesus is arrested and put to death; Despite what they themselves are going to experience after Jesus’ death including rejection and persecution – they know that what they believe in and what they are witnessing to is God’s power and glory that is hidden behind rejection and unbelief in the world.

From here the next step of Jesus’ mission journey was the walk to the cross. Peter had already signalled to Jesus that he did not want to go down that path – and who could blame him when Jesus told his disciples that he must be handed over to be put to death: Peter didn’t listen to Jesus. He wanted things to stay the same with the crowds cheering Jesus on.

He wanted Jesus to listen to him.  “Never Lord – this shall never happen to you”! (Matthew 16:22). So too, when Peter experienced the Transfiguration on the mountain top seeing Jesus speaking with Moses and Elijah he was more than happy to stay there:  He wanted Jesus to listen to him. Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah (Matthew 17:4).

It’s easy to think like Peter and try to take a snapshot of life and stay there. And when life changes it’s tempting to look back and wish things were the way they used to be. Israel was a perfect example. As soon as their wilderness journey got difficult they complained wishing they had not listened to Moses and wanted to go back to Egypt. Even though the work was backbreaking slavery, knowing that their stomachs would be filled was worth it. Likewise, going forward for us can be difficult too.

Things are changing in the church – they’re not what they used to be. We don’t have the young ones taking up leadership roles. We don’t have the amount of people worshiping as we used to. We pine for the way things used to be. Do you remember when we had dozens in our Sunday School? Do you remember when we had big Confirmation classes? Do you remember when our children willingly came to church? Do you remember when we sang the liturgy every Sunday to the pipe organ?

It’s easy to become disheartened about the future when we pine for the past. It is so tempting to listen to other voices that sound so convincing about how things should be done. Those voices have been there from the beginning of time trying to convince us to go our own way rather than listen to God. It began with Adam and Eve who were tempted to not listen to God when Satan created doubt in them listening to God: “did God really say” (Genesis 3:1) It continued with the voice of Satan trying to get Jesus to listen to him – “if you are the Son of God turn these rocks into bread (Matthew 4:3). The voices continued and intensified as Satan pulled out every last trick to get Jesus to listen to him – “if you are the Son of God come down from the cross and we’ll believe in you” (Matthew 27:42). And the voices continue today which have led many people away from the church. “The church is irrelevant – you’ve got better things to do – you’re too busy – you can worship God without the church – the bible is 2000 years old – the bible is written by men, not God”

St Peter reminds us that we need to clearly listen to God’s voice over against what he calls myths. He says: We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, (2 Peter 1:16)

Notice he calls them “cleverly devised myths”. These are not voices that sound way out and farfetched. No, like the simple doubting question of Satan to Eve – did God really say, so too these other words can sound so tempting. Even words such as – “it’s the 21st Century” – “everyone’s doing it” – it’s not really that bad – just try it”.

We need to be, more than ever, attuned to God’s word so we can discern whether or not it is God’s word speaking to us. We need to immerse ourselves in God’s word so we know that it is God speaking and when it’s not God’s voice we’re listening to. So sometimes it’s not that it’s difficult to listen to Jesus but rather it is difficult to discern whether or not it is Jesus we’re listening to. And sadly many Christians today are reading a lot of Christian books but not their bibles – so it’s very easy to be led astray. The books are good because they write into contemporary times but we always need to keep going back to God’s Word which is also written for contemporary times as Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. It’s so easy to listen to cleverly devised myths and believe that it’s God speaking because it sounds so good and true.

But we need God’s Word to be the foundation because only God’s Word provides comfort and strength during times of difficulty. That’s why God said – Listen to HIM.

Peter and the disciples were not going to find their strength after Jesus’ death from a cleverly devised myth no matter how great it sounded. When we are going through the depths of despair and facing real difficult challenges in life, the latest words of inspiration from the latest guru are not going to help us. Just think over the years how many different programs and ideas and self-help programs have been introduced in the church that are sitting on our shelves with piles of dust on them. Sadly, too many of our bibles are also gathering dust and we need to get them out and begin reading them again.

The Transfiguration is about sending us back to our beginnings because we tend to go off track so easily. And so the message at the Transfiguration is identical to the message that was spoken at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry – his baptism; This is my son whom I love.(Matthew 3:17) As much as the world is changing and as much as the church is changing to keep its message relevant it also needs to be grounded in Jesus. And as much as we would like the church to remain the same it must also go into the world with its message. And so Jesus told Peter he couldn’t stay there on the mountain top. They needed to go back down into the valley where there was work to do. The work of bringing God’s word to the people.

And so too we come here each week to experience the mountain top presence of God in his Word and Sacrament and we do it to strengthen us to go out into the world. But Jesus doesn’t send us alone. Just as he went down the mountain with Peter, James and John, so too he comes with us. And that’s why God said – listen to him. Because he is with you and he wants you to listen to him as he encourages you and gives you hope.

There will be other voices competing but remember – those voices didn’t die for you. Only Jesus has your interests at heart. But to listen to him you need to be where his word is spoken – in his word – in prayer – in worship. As you begin your Lenten journey this week may Jesus’ voice guide you and strengthen you for your journey throughout the 40 days of Lent and always..

Year A Palm Sunday

Text Philippians 2:5-11 – Jesus’ humiliation is our glory

Matthew’s Gospel was a Gospel that was specially written to a Jewish audience.

There are some indicators that support that idea.

The Family Tree in Chapter 1 shows Jesus family going back to Abraham – the father of the Jewish nation.

This is in contrast to Luke’s Gospel that was written for a non-Jewish audience that has Jesus’ family tree going back further to Adam – the father of all nations.

Matthew refers to the Kingdom of Heaven rather than the Kingdom of God, a safeguard against breaking the 2nd commandment of taking the name of God in vain – something the Jews still do today using the word Adonai instead of the name of God Yahweh when referring to God.

Matthew sets out to prove to the Jews that Jesus is the promised Messiah they had been waiting for – the Son of God.

Matthew’s Gospel is important for all of us because we too at times struggle wondering whether Jesus is truly the one in whom we can place all our hope.

John the Baptist struggled in his time of imprisonment and sent some of his own disciples to check with Jesus – are you the one we have been waiting for, or should we expect someone else (Matthew 11:3).

Last week we heard doubts by Mary and Martha because Jesus had not come to their help when their brother Lazarus was seriously ill, even though he had plenty of time to get there before he died.  (John 11:1-45)

Today also we see people starting to question whether Jesus really is the one.

People are questioning whether Jesus and the church really make a difference in our lives.

We began our service to the shouts of praise and support for Jesus as he rides into Jerusalem.

Here is the one they were expecting to take on the Roman enemy and restore their dignity and authority.

But surely they begin to question him – he comes riding on a donkey.

Some had always questioned Jesus – isn’t this Mary’s son?

Isn’t his father the carpenter?

How can he be the Messiah?

Nevertheless they throw their support behind him – after all, there’s no one else.

“Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

But something changes.

Jesus doesn’t seem to fit the image they had created for him.

He’s arrested, he’s humiliated, he’s betrayed by his own disciples.

Are we really going to put our trust in him?

Get rid of him – crucify him.

Let’s find someone else.

In the meantime, maybe it’s not too late to get back on the good side of Caesar:

– crucify this Jesus character.

He’s not our King.

We have no King but Caesar (John 19:15)

It’s easy to put our trust and hope in Jesus when things are going well.

When the money’s there – when the work’s there – when our health is there – it’s easy to thank God for all our blessings.

But what about when things turn pear shape?

What about when God doesn’t come through with the goods.

What do we say then?

Matthew’s Gospel is important because it not only supports Jesus as the promised Messiah for the Jews, but he also reaffirms that despite what happens, Jesus is still the one that we are to put our hope in.

In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus is called “Immanuel”, God with us – a promise linked to our Baptism.

Maybe it didn’t look that way as he was tortured, humiliated, spat upon, and put to death.

Maybe it doesn’t look that way as we look at the state of the church with its declining numbers, the sexual abuse reports, the number of churches closing, the claims of irrelevancy in today’s “smart” technological world.

But it is only through Jesus that we have the hope of eternal life in death.

Paul reminds us that Jesus’ humiliation was in fulfilment of what was going to happen to the Son of God.

Christ willingly emptied himself of the glory that the people of his day were expecting and let the world do its worst to show that no matter how bad things get – God will always come out on top.

The world did its worst so that God could do his best.

Christ humbled himself, obedient to God his Father, even unto death.

The worst that the world could do – and still Jesus came out on top.

God exalted Jesus to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

When the world does its worst to you – when it takes away your possessions, your career, you hopes and inspirations, when it takes away your health and dignity, even your life – God is there to lift you up just as he lifted up his Son.

In Baptism, you are given the name that is above all names.

You are given the name – child of God.

And nothing can take that away from you.

Difficult times raise difficult questions for the Christian faith.

What was God doing while his Son hung there between heaven and hell; between life and death? Between the hosannas and the shouts to crucify -- the triumphal entry on Palm Sunday, to the not so triumphal exit on Good Friday -- where was God?

Where was God when I was going through my difficulties?

Where was God when I really needed him?

Well, believe it or not, God was there with you.

He is Immanuel – God with us.

Last week we heard about God’s compassion as Lazarus lay in the grave with his sisters and friends weeping.

While they were weeping – Jesus was there weeping with them.

That probably doesn’t sound like much.

But it fulfils God’s baptism promise to us – I am with you always till the end of the age (Matthew 28:20)

Maybe we expect more from God, just like the crowds expecting an almighty, all-conquering King.

Maybe we expect God to heal us every time we’re sick.

Maybe we expect God to find us a employment every time we lose our job.

Maybe we expect God to pay the bills when there’s not enough money for us to do so.

But that’s not what the Christian faith is about.

The Christian faith answers the question that no-one else can answer.

The Christian faith provides hope where no-one else can provide hope.

What happens when death arrives?

There is no pill that can answer that question.

There is no amount of money that can pay for that answer.

Only Jesus can answer that question for us.

And he does that by dying the death we will die but then rising from the dead and being exalted to the highest place in heaven.

And there he now sits, at the right hand of God, praying for us and paying for our sin so that when we die we will join him in heaven.

If you don’t believe that then you still have to answer the question – what happens when I die.

Everyone has to answer that question, and only Jesus provides hope as St. Paul says:

At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Paul’s companion Luke affirmed that when he said:

Eternal life is found in no one else other than Jesus, for there is no other name under heaven given to humankind by which we can be saved.” (Acts 4;12)

We vote out of office our leaders when we believe they are no longer offering what we want.

Sporting teams drop players, sack coaches, poach players from other teams when the side is losing.

But when it comes to the most important question we will ever face – what happens in death, there is no other option.

There is no other name by which we are offered eternal life.

So let us confess Jesus Christ as our Lord for there is no greater name nor hope in life.