Sermon 9th February 2025 – 5th Sunday after Epiphany Text 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

 Sermon 9th February 2025 – 5th Sunday after Epiphany

Text 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Today we reflect on some interesting choices by God for whom he believed would be good missionaries to take his Word into the world. Would we have chosen them? Let’s begin with one of the most influential missionaries in Christianity:  He wrote most of the New Testament with his letters of teaching and encouragement to the new and emerging churches. The Apostle Paul.  Known as the "chief of sinners," Paul did not consider himself either worthy or comparable to the disciples chosen by Jesus in his 3 year ministry on earth. He called himself  “untimely born (some versions “abnormally born”) because he was not chosen by Jesus during his earthly ministry but appeared to him from Heaven to call him. He continues: “For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God”. So Paul's life is a profound testament to the transformative power of God's grace and also comfort to ourselves as we sometimes consider ourselves “unworthy” of eternal life because of our sin and lack of faith. 

So who was Paul? He was known to the Jewish community as Saul of Tarsus. A man who was zealous in his dedication to God.  He was a Pharisee, zealous for the law, fervently persecuting the early Christians because he saw them as blasphemers.  He was present at the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, standing by approving as a faithful witness to the cruel act. Encouraged by the pleasure this brought to the Jews he decided to extend the persecution and obtained letters to go through the countryside and arrest followers of this sect known as “The Way” – Christians. And yet, despite this rejection of Jesus Christ, by his conversion he is able to proclaim to one of his young Pastors Timothy: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.”  Paul did not deny his past but openly acknowledged the depth of his sinfulness. And so it is a reminder to us to recognize and acknowledge our sins as the path to God’s grace.

His divine encounter would change everything.  On the road to Damascus, a blinding light surrounded him, and he heard the voice of Jesus asking, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”  In this moment, everything he thought he knew came crashing down.  Saul’s world was turned upside down, and he became Paul—a man called not just to cease his persecution but to be persecuted as God’s missionary especially to the Gentiles. God said - this man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” So not only must Paul testify to the one he rejected but he must proclaim him to a people he once shunned as unclean - Gentiles.

This powerful encounter reveals a fundamental truth that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace.  Neither Paul nor Gentiles. When we think of Paul, we see the depths of depravity met with the extremes of God mercy.  Our past does not define us – our future defines us – our future being eternal life in heaven.  

So what of the others in our readings? Well let’s look at Isaiah. Isaiah saw something that humanity was not permitted to see: I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. By God’s own declaration to Moses in Exodus he says: “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.” So Isaiah panics not just at this prohibition but because of his own unworthiness:

Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. But, again, God steps in: One of the seraphs – the angel of God - flew to Isaiah, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched his mouth with it and said: "Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out." And with this act of grace Isaiah is now ready for mission: "Here am I; send me!" This act reminds us of the body and blood of Christ that touches our lips from the altar to pardon our guilt. Again, like Paul, an act of God’s grace to choose someone who had deemed themselves unfit for mission to be God’s ambassador

And finally, in our Gospel reading, we have one of the most unlikely candidates to become one of the chief pillars of God’s missionaries in his letter to the Galatians: Paul himself said: God was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised … Peter, James and John, those esteemed as pillars. Jesus saw a lot of potential in Peter which we might not have. And indeed Peter didn’t either. When Jesus acts in grace Peter fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!: When Peter had had a bad night of fishing, feeling dejected – Jesus tells him to put out into the deep.

We might have scoffed. But Peter doesn’t: Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets. Peter ignored the physical evidence and trusted in Jesus – If you say so. And that’s what we need to do when what God asks of us just seems impossible. If you say so.

But just look at Peter’s track record. Sinking in the water when he loses faith. He is called Satan by Jesus – get behind me Satan. Misunderstands the transfiguration wanting to stay on the mountain top. Cutting of a soldier’s ear when Jesus told them not to fight back. And when an opportunity to defend Jesus comes he denies knowing him 3 times. 

These stories are all very encouraging in reminding us: First, that God’s grace trumps everything including the worst of sin and sinners. And secondly, that each of us if fit for the mission work God has called us to do even if we don’t think so as Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2: For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Paul’s story is a typical story: One of incredible grace.  From a persecutor to a preacher of the faith; from lost to found; from death to life. Their lives challenge us to contemplate our own journeys. Are we willing to acknowledge our flaws and failures? Are we ready to receive the grace that is freely offered? Are we ready to respond as Peter did – if you say so. Are we ready to respond like Isaiah – here I am Lord, send me.

As we reflect on Paul as the chief of sinners, let us remember that grace is not for the deserving, but for each one of us. It is a gift—the unmerited favor of God that can transform lives. May we embrace this grace, share it with others, and boldly proclaim the message of hope that Paul, Isaiah, Peter and many other witnesses - more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, all who dedicated their lives to spreading the Gospel so that we today could receive it and spread it to future generations..