First Reading: Acts 2:14a, 22-32

^14aPeter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed [the crowd], ²²“You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know—²³this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. ²⁴But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. ²⁵For David says concerning him,
 ‘I saw the Lord always before me,
  for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken;
 ²⁶therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
  moreover my flesh will live in hope.
 ²⁷For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
  or let your Holy One experience corruption.
 ²⁸You have made known to me the ways of life;
  you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
 ²⁹“Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. ³⁰Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. ³¹Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying,
 ‘He was not abandoned to Hades,
  nor did his flesh experience corruption.’
³²This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses.”

Psalm: Psalm 16

 ¹Protect me, O God, for I take refuge in you;
  I have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, my good above all other.”
 ²All my delight is in the godly that are in the land,
  upon those who are noble among the people.
 ³But those who run after other gods
  shall have their troubles multiplied.
 ⁴I will not pour out drink offerings to such gods,
  never take their names upon my lips. 
 ⁵O Lord, you are my portion and my cup;
  it is you who uphold my lot.
 ⁶My boundaries enclose a pleasant land;
  indeed, I have a rich inheritance.
 ⁷I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
  my heart teaches me night after night.
 ⁸I have set the Lord always before me;
  because God is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. 
 ⁹My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spirit rejoices;
  my body also shall rest in hope.
 ¹⁰For you will not abandon me to the grave,
  nor let your holy one see the pit.
 ¹¹You will show me the path of life;
  in your presence there is fullness of joy, and in your right hand are     pleasures forevermore.

Second Reading: 1 Peter 1:3-9

³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, ⁵who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, ⁷so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ⁸Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, ⁹for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Gospel: John 20:19-31

¹⁹When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” ²⁰After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. ²¹Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” ²²When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

 ²⁴But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
 ²⁶A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” ²⁷Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” ²⁸Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” ²⁹Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

 ³⁰Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. ³¹But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

CHILDREN’S SERMON:  When I taught a nursery school  in Kenya, one of the songs that had hand motions and taught language was “Going on a Lion Hunt.”  Repeat after me

Going on a lion hunt, going to catch a lion.  (congregation echoes)

Put on your shoes (motion of putting on shoes)

Put on your hat (congregation puts on hats)

Let’s go

Oh no, tall grass. (place hands by face as if in dispair)

Can’t go over it (motion with hands trying to reach over tall grass)

Can’t go around it (motion with hands going out to left and right)

Can’t go under it (motion with hands scooping under)

We have to go through it ( motion parting grass, swish sound)

Going on a lion hunt, going to catch a lion.

Oh no, a river.

Can’t go over it, can’t go around it, can’t go under it, we’ll have to go through it (splash, splash, splash  swimming motions).

Going on a lion hunt, going to catch a lion.

Oh no, a cave.

Can’t go over it, can’t go around it, can’t go under it, we’ll have to go through it (make a creeping motion with your feet)

Oh No! A Lion!  Run.

Stomp your feet for retreating back through the cave.

Swim your arms for recrossing the river.

Swish your way back through the grass.

  (The children meet a lion and have to race home going running out of the cave, swimming back across the river, and swishing back through the grass.) 

 Whew!  We are safe at home.

Let us pray.  Lord may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you, my Rock and my Redeemer.

SERMON

         We are all on a lion hunt.  We all meet barriers to reaching that dream that is out there that we want to achieve.  Perhaps Mr. Wonderful doesn’t realize we exist.  Perhaps the ideal job is not delivering as we thought.  Perhaps a different doctor will give a more hopeful path to recovery.  Sometimes we meet barriers we just cannot jump over, go around, or dig under and we just have to go through as best we can.  Our disciples today have met a barrier.  They have followed Jesus believing he was the Messiah and expecting him to usher in the new kingdom, rid them of those bothersome Romans, and return the good life.  He could do it.  He had healed, fed, resurrected, taught and done so many wonderful, hopeful deeds.  But suddenly they met a barrier.  The crowd that shouted, “Hosanna,” on Palm Sunday turned to shouting “Crucify him” on Good Friday. They walked through the horror of Gethsemane, the injustice of the trial, the cruelty of the cross and the death of their leader and dreams.  Today we see them disoriented and hiding in fear.

           Last Sunday we heard the news, “He is Risen.”  We greeted each other with those words, “He is risen indeed.”  We hear Jesus is risen but the Romans are still in power and we still face death.  Houston, we have a problem.  During the Easter Season for the next six weeks we will look at the tension and reality that Jesus resurrected but we are still in this world.  We will be challenged to redefine the lion we are hunting for.  We use words for Easter like “conquered the grave,” “is alive,” or “saved us” but what does having a resurrected Savior mean to the nitty gritty of our everyday lives?

Inward to Outward

         Our first reading today is telling us how Peter gives a rousing sermon on Pentecost to an audience of people gathered in Jerusalem from all over the world.  People hear the sermon in their own language.  3000 become followers of the Christ.  Any pastor would be overwhelmed if 3000 people responded to the sermon!  Today we call it a revival when suddenly people are touched by the Holy Spirit, confess their need for salvation, and cry out to God.  There are reports that revival is “breaking out” around the United States today.  Even as revival broke out during the “Jesus Revolution” when I was a young adult in Los Angeles and as recorded in the recent movie by that name, revival is happening today.

         BUT…but we find our followers huddled behind closed doors in fear.  Something happened between Easter Sunday and Pentecost, between resurrection and revival.  We call it the Easter season.  We look at proofs that Jesus Christ is alive in our world today.  Easter Sunday starts with the women going to the tomb to anoint the dead body of Jesus.  They are looking inward at their grief.  They are locked within themselves and the events that have taken place.  The angels tell them that Jesus is risen.  Don’t look in, look out.

         The two people on the road to Emmaus meet a stranger who walks with them but they are so absorbed in the shock of the crucifixion they don’t recognize their companion.  Shocking events turn us inward in disbelief and possibly grief.  Easter teaches us not to look in but to look outside ourselves.

         That evening the followers gather behind closed doors in fear.  I am sure they are wondering if they would be the next to be crucified, the next to catch Covid, the next to be shot randomly in a public “safe” place.  When we meet barriers on the road to catch that lion, we turn inward with questions like how to get around the challenge, with fears of vulnerability, and with grief at the challenge.  The cross and Lent turns us inward acknowledging our limitations.  Easter and the resurrection challenge us to reframe our understanding and turn outward.

         The tomb is empty.  Life without Jesus is empty.  The Scriptures are empty unless we turn to the living Word that transforms our understanding of our history.  Our meetings are empty and perhaps fear ridden when we meet behind closed doors for fear of the forces that threaten to overwhelm us.  So I think the first thought for us to ponder this morning is to honestly ponder what doors, what barriers close us inside ourselves in fear of the future?  Perhaps we fear what the new pastor might be like.  Then again it can be illness, finances, family squabbles, and that is not to mention the national politics and random violence in our culture.  We all have “doors” that lock us inside ourselves in grief, fear, and vulnerability.  Easter challenges us to look outward to a new reality.  Jesus is risen.

Fear to Peace

         The followers meet with each other and do not isolate.  As they share their stories Jesus suddenly stands in their midst.  His first word is, “Peace.”  As we turn from inward chaos outward to Jesus, we are able to regain peace, not from finding the lion but because of Jesus’ presence.  Jesus gives us peace.  Peace comes not from achieving our goals but from realizing his presence in the midst of the struggle.  Our eyes and minds turn from inward preoccupation to outward awareness of who is with us and what he is saying.

         Resurrection is not just about Jesus being alive and so we will be alive in heaven.  Our text gives us more texture than our joyful Easter greetings about the defeat of death.  Jesus tells the followers they are now being sent outwards.  They become followers with a purpose.  Life is meaningful and the events we walk into are not random nor are they punishment sent by God because we skipped church or didn’t tithe enough.  We are a sent people.  We have purpose and meaning.  That does not mean the barriers, the tall grass, the rivers, and the caves we will be challenged to pass through should not scare us but we are not alone.  We go in community with other followers, with Christ, and also with the Holy Spirit that he breathes into us. We are sent and we are not alone.

         Secondly Jesus tells us that the key to looking outward, to unlocking fear is forgiveness.  This seems like a random statement in the text but it is important.  The followers fear life and possibly potential disaster.  When life does not go the way we expect, it is easy for fear to take residence in our hearts and for us to turn inwards.  Forgiveness frees us to turn outwards.  God will bring justice.  Forgiveness is not easy but it is the Easter message of the resurrection.  We are forgiven and we are called to forgive.

         Let us think this morning of some situation we would rejoice that Jesus enters into with us this week because he is alive and active.  Is there a person we would love to have a heart to heart chat with?  Is there an encounter that has us terrified that we need to remind ourselves that we are not alone?  Then again there may be a situation we need God’s help us to forgive. Perhaps we need to ask for prayer for the “lion” we will be facing this week. Certainly we need to pray about the lions our country is dealing with!

Seen to Unseen

         The crucifixion was a highly visually impacting experience.  The tomb could be seen and the rock feared.  The gathering behind closed doors was a three dimensional experience.  That which is seen whether it is the pictures of war on the news, the documentaries on disease, or the absence of a beloved at gatherings impacts our sense of reality.  The resurrection moves us from that which we experience with our physical senses to that which we experience with our spiritual senses.  Thomas was not with the other followers that first Easter Sunday.  The others reported about seeing Jesus and believing, but Thomas was unconvinced.  He wanted to touch and feel Jesus to know the truth.  And there we have the rub.  We want to see and believe.  Learning to believe and trust that which we cannot see, which goes through closed doors, which gives commands that are counter intuitive is sooooo hard.  It is a journey of growth.  There is a reason for Easter season because for most of us we don’t just jump from believing to living the faith.  The reality of the resurrection, of maturing, of truly grasping what relationship with Jesus means, takes time.

         I think all of us who were ever married know the “I do” did not at all explain the reality of living into that relationship.  The first day of work while exciting to have a job, needed to become a work routine.  The check deposited after payday is not the bank balance later in the month.  Jesus closes our text today acknowledging the challenge of going from inward to outward, of going from fear to peace and of going from seen to unseen.

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

         We are going on a lion hunt.  We want to achieve those goals, defeat those lions that scare us, and be heroes and heroines.  But we will encounter barriers.  There will be tall grass, rivers, and caves that we cannot go over, around or under.  We will have to go through.  That lion we finally meet will be bigger than we thought and often scarier.  True security comes when we retreat away from the inward fears to the reality of the risen Christ.  When we turn over the fears that paralyze us and receive the peace Christ gives us.  And when we learn to trust his unseen presence with us daily in the lives of our community, his presence in his Word, and learn to use the key of forgiveness that unlocks the future.  The Lord is risen and walking with us as we venture out to tackle lions!

Let the people of God say, “AMEN.”

Introduction

Friday of Holy Week starts on Thursday evening as Jesus and the disciples leave the Upper Room and walk to the Garden of Gethsemane.  John does not record Jesus praying in the Garden probably in the wee hours of Friday morning.  In John 14 – 18, John records all the comforting Jesus gives to his followers on the way to Gethsemane.  Jesus is going to prepare a place for us.  He is the vine giving us life.  The world does not understand Jesus and will not understand us. Jesus’ prays for his followers, even us. 

         Our readings this evening pick up at John 18 with Jesus’ arrest in the Garden, trial, and crucifixion. Interwoven in the narrative is the honest account of Peter’s denials, political posturing, popularity reversals, and horrific suffering.  The journey this evening reflects the reality of life in the earthly kingdom that is being redeemed by our Savior.  Peter is forgiven, God is a just judge, family is bigger than biological with deep connecting bonds, and someday pain and suffering will end.  Covid-19 will not win, corrupt politicians will not rule forever, hatred, prejudice, and racism will be defeated by faith, hope, grace and love. The Holy Spirit will guide, counsel and intercede for us.   We depart silently, this evening, grieving the suffering we are walking through. 

         Biblical text will be followed by a hymn.  I will share a link to YouTube but I realize you must click on the link or copy it into your address bar on your devise.  Ads may come up but be patient, click the “skip ads” arrow when it shows.  Enjoy the music and then click the red circle in the left top corner to end YouTube and return to your script.  I hope that works.  Welcome to a virtual Good Friday service, walking with Jesus to and through the cross experience.

Let us begin in the Name of the Father, +the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Amen. I invite you to light a candle that we will blow out at the end of the service as we are not at the altar to strip it.

First Reading: Isaiah 52:13–53:12

 ¹³See, my servant shall prosper;
  he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high.
 ¹⁴Just as there were many who were astonished at him
  —so marred was his appearance, beyond human semblance,
  and his form beyond that of mortals—
 ¹⁵so he shall startle many nations;
  kings shall shut their mouths because of him;
       for that which had not been told them they shall see,
  and that which they had not heard they shall contemplate.
 ^53:1Who has believed what we have heard?
  And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
 ²For he grew up before him like a young plant,
  and like a root out of dry ground;
       he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
  nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
 ³He was despised and rejected by others;
  a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity;
       and as one from whom others hide their faces
  he was despised, and we held him of no account.
 ⁴Surely he has borne our infirmities
  and carried our diseases;
       yet we accounted him stricken,
  struck down by God, and afflicted.
 ⁵But he was wounded for our transgressions,
  crushed for our iniquities;
 upon him was the punishment that made us whole,
  and by his bruises we are healed.
 ⁶All we like sheep have gone astray;
  we have all turned to our own way,
 and the Lord has laid on him
  the iniquity of us all.
⁷He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
  yet he did not open his mouth;
 like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
  and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
  so he did not open his mouth.
 ⁸By a perversion of justice he was taken away.
  Who could have imagined his future?
 For he was cut off from the land of the living,
  stricken for the transgression of my people.
 ⁹They made his grave with the wicked
  and his tomb with the rich,
 although he had done no violence,
  and there was no deceit in his mouth.
¹⁰Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him with pain.
 When you make his life an offering for sin,
  he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days;
 through him the will of the Lord shall prosper.
  ¹¹Out of his anguish he shall see light;
 he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge.
  The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous,
  and he shall bear their iniquities.
 ¹²Therefore I will allot him a portion with the great,
  and he shall divide the spoil with the strong;
 because he poured out himself to death,
  and was numbered with the transgressors;
 yet he bore the sin of many,
  and made intercession for the transgressors.

Psalm: Psalm 22 

 ¹My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
  Why so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?
 ²My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer;
  by night, but I find no rest.
 ³Yet you are the Holy One,
  enthroned on the praises of Israel.
 ⁴Our ancestors put their trust in you,
  they trusted, and you rescued them. 
 ⁵They cried out to you and were delivered;
  they trusted in you and were not put to shame.
 ⁶But as for me, I am a worm and not human,
  scorned by all and despised by the people.
 ⁷All who see me laugh me to scorn;
  they curl their lips; they shake their heads.
 ⁸“Trust in the Lord; let the Lord deliver;
  let God rescue him if God so delights in him.” 
 ⁹Yet you are the one who drew me forth from the womb,
  and kept me safe on my mother’s breast.
 ¹⁰I have been entrusted to you ever since I was born;
  you were my God when I was still in my mother’s womb.
 ¹¹Be not far from me, for trouble is near,
  and there is no one to help.
 ¹²Many young bulls encircle me;
  strong bulls of Bashan surround me. 
 ¹³They open wide their jaws at me,
  like a slashing and  roaring lion.
 ¹⁴I am poured out like water; all my bones are out of joint;
  my heart within my breast is melting wax.
 ¹⁵My strength is dried up like a potsherd; my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
  and you have laid me in the dust of death.
 ¹⁶Packs of dogs close me in, a band of evildoers circles round me;
  they pierce my hands and my feet. 
 ¹⁷I can count all my bones
  while they stare at me and gloat.
 ¹⁸They divide my garments among them;
  for my clothing, they cast lots.
 ¹⁹But you, O Lord, be not far away;
  O my help, hasten to my aid.
 ²⁰Deliver me from the sword,
  my life from the power of the dog.
 ²¹Save me from the | lion’s mouth!
  From the horns of wild bulls you have rescued me.
 ²²I will declare your name to my people;
  in the midst of the assembly I will praise you. 
 ²³You who fear the Lord, give praise! All you of Jacob’s line, give glory.
  Stand in awe of the Lord, all you off-spring of Israel.
 ²⁴For the Lord does not despise nor abhor the poor in their poverty; neither is the Lord‘s face hidden from them;
  but when they cry out, the Lord hears them.
 ²⁵From you comes my praise in the great assembly;
  I will perform my vows in the sight of those who fear the Lord.
 ²⁶The poor shall eat and be satisfied,
  Let those who seek the Lord give praise! May your hearts live forever!
 ²⁷All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord;
  all the families of nations shall bow before God.
 ²⁸For dominion belongs to the Lord,
  who rules over the nations. 
 ²⁹Indeed, all who sleep in the earth shall bow down in worship;
  all who go down to the dust, though they be dead, shall kneel before   the Lord.
 ³⁰Their descendants shall serve the Lord,
  whom they shall proclaim to generations to come.
 ³¹They shall proclaim God’s deliverance to a people yet unborn,
  saying to them, “The Lord has acted!”

Second Reading: Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9

¹⁴Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. ¹⁵For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
 ^5:7In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. ⁸Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; ⁹and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

Gospel: John 18:1–19:42

¹[Jesus] went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered.²Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples. ³So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers together with police from the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. ⁴Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to him, came forward and asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” ⁵They answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus replied, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. ⁶When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they stepped back and fell to the ground. ⁷Again he asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” ⁸Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.” ⁹This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken, “I did not lose a single one of those whom you gave me.” 

Hymn:  Jesus, Name Above All Names

(Naida Hearn from Palmerston North, New Zealand went to her “wash house” to do the laundry one day in 1970.  She carried a list of names for Jesus she had written down for years.  She put the list on the window sill and opened her mouth and started singing, inspired by the Holy Spirit.  She left the laundry and went to the house and wrote down the song and returned to do her laundry. The song spread in New Zealand and came to the USA to bless many.) 

John 18: 10-14

¹⁰Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. ¹¹Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?”
  ¹²So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him. ¹³First they took him to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. ¹⁴Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people.

Spoken Hymn:  “May the Mind of Christ, my Savior”

May the mind of Christ, my Saviour,
Live in me from day to day,
By His love and power controlling
All I do and say.

May the Word of God dwell richly
In my heart from hour to hour,
So that all may see I triumph
Only through His power.

May the peace of God my Father
Rule my life in everything,
That I may be calm to comfort
Sick and sorrowing.

May I run the race before me

Strong and brave to face the foe

Looking only onto Jesus

As I onward go.

(We know little about Kate Wilkinson, author of this hymn who was a member of the Church of England and involved in the Keswick Deeper Life Movement.  The song has inspired people facing difficult times like Covid-19.  The song was published in 1925 when she was 66 years old. Christ said, “Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me.”)

John 18:15-32

  ¹⁵Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, ¹⁶but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, and brought Peter in. ¹⁷The woman said to Peter, “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” ¹⁸Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing around it and warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming himself.
  ¹⁹Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. ²⁰Jesus answered, “I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. ²¹Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said.” ²²When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” ²³Jesus answered, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?” ²⁴Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
  ²⁵Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They asked him, “You are not also one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” ²⁶One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” ²⁷Again Peter denied it, and at that moment the cock crowed.
  ²⁸Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate’s headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover. ²⁹So Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” ³⁰They answered, “If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” ³¹Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.” The Jews replied, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death.” ³²(This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.)

Hymn:  Just As I Am:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zucUa13ciOM

(This hymn by Charlotte Elliot, 1789-1871, is said to have influenced more people than any sermon ever preached.  At age 30 she became an invalid for the rest of her 82 years.  An Swiss evangelist, visiting her challenged her that she could come to Jesus just as she was, distressed, an invalid. Peter denied Christ.  Witnesses lied.  Politics.  We are all guilty of falling short and come to this story, just as we are. These words inspired this famous hymn and she was later considered one of the finest English hymn writers.)

John 18:33-19:12

  ³³Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” ³⁴Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” ³⁵Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” ³⁶Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” ³⁷Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” ³⁸Pilate asked him, “What is truth?”

  After he (Pilate) had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no case against him. ³⁹But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” ⁴⁰They shouted in reply, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a bandit.
 ^19:1Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. ²And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. ³They kept coming up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and striking him on the face. ⁴Pilate went out again and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him.” ⁵So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” ⁶When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him.” ⁷The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God.”
  ⁸Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever. ⁹He entered his headquarters again and asked Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰Pilate therefore said to him, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?” ¹¹Jesus answered him, “You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” ¹²From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor. Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the emperor.”

Spoken Hymn: This is My Father’s World

This is my father’s world
And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres

This is my father’s world
Oh, let me never forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong
God is the ruler yet.

This is my father’s world
Why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is king, let the heavens sing

God is the ruler yet.

(Maltbie Davenoirt Babcock, a minister in Lockport, New York, at the turn of the Twentieth Century and author of these words, would walk beside Lake Ontario.  He always left home telling his wife, “I’m going out to see my Father’s world.  What is truth and where to find it?  God is ultimately kings in all circumstances.)

  ¹³When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat on the judge’s bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew Gabbatha. ¹⁴Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He said to the Jews, “Here is your King!” ¹⁵They cried out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate asked them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but the emperor.” ¹⁶Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.
  So they took Jesus; ¹⁷and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. ¹⁸There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. ¹⁹Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” ²⁰Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. ²¹Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’ ” ²²Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” ²³When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. ²⁴So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.” This was to fulfill what the scripture says,
 “They divided my clothes among themselves,
  and for my clothing they cast lots.”
²⁵And that is what the soldiers did.
  Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” ²⁷Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.
  ²⁸After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.” ²⁹A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. ³⁰When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Hymn: Were You There When They Crucified My Lord  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhGYD1svTM4

(This is one of the most famous African American songs that arose from their communal experience of slavery and was first published  in 1899 in William E. Barton’s Old Plantation Songs in the section “Recent Negro Melodies.” Originally it had four stanzas: 1) Were you there when they crucified my Lord?; 2) …when they nailed him to the cross?; 3) …when they pierced him in the side?; 4) …when the sun refused to shine. The United Methodist Hymnal, along with many other songbooks, includes a fifth: “…when they laid him in the tomb.” The series of questions are meant to function as a prompt to memories that go beyond recall to bring incorporation into our present lives and to that become part of our story.)

  ³¹Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. ³²Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. ³³But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. ³⁴Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. ³⁵(He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.) ³⁶These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, “None of his bones shall be broken.” ³⁷And again another passage of scripture says, “They will look on the one whom they have pierced.”
  ³⁸After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. ³⁹Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. ⁴⁰They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. ⁴¹Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. ⁴²And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

Hymn:  When I Survey the Wondrous Cross   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsBiaBTFADI

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First Reading: Exodus 12:1-4 [5-10] 11-14

¹The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: ²This month shall mark for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. ³Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth of this month they are to take a lamb for each family, a lamb for each household. ⁴If a household is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join its closest neighbor in obtaining one; the lamb shall be divided in proportion to the number of people who eat of it. [⁵Your lamb shall be without blemish, a year-old male; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. ⁶You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembled congregation of Israel shall slaughter it at twilight. ⁷They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. ⁸They shall eat the lamb that same night; they shall eat it roasted over the fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. ⁹Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted over the fire, with its head, legs, and inner organs. ¹⁰You shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. ] ¹¹This is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it hurriedly. It is the passover of the Lord. ¹²For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both human beings and animals; on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. ¹³The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
 ¹⁴This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance.

Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 

 ¹I love the Lord, who has heard my voice,
  and listened to my supplication,
 ²for the Lord has given ear to me
  whenever I called.
 ¹²How shall I repay the Lord
  for all the good things God has done for me?
 ¹³I will lift the cup of salvation
  and call on the name of the Lord. 
 ¹⁴I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
  in the presence of all God’s people.
 ¹⁵Precious in your sight, O Lord,
  is the death of your servants.
 ¹⁶O Lord, truly I am your servant;
  I am your servant, the child of your handmaid; you have freed me |from        my bonds.
 ¹⁷I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving
  and call upon the name of the Lord.
 ¹⁸I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
  in the presence of all God’s people,
 ¹⁹in the courts of the Lord‘s house,
  in the midst of you, O Jerusalem. 

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

²³For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, ²⁴and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁵In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” ²⁶For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

CHILDREN’S SERMON:  Place a bowl, a candle and a spoon in front on the alter. Turn to your neighbor and share why we might need a bowl of water, a candle, and a spoon.

Let us pray.  Lord may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Gospel: John 13:1-10

¹Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. ²The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper ³Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, ⁴got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. ⁵Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. ⁶He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” ⁷Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” ⁸Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” ⁹Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” ¹⁰Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” 

Sermon Part 1 – A Bowl of Water

           The evening opens with Jesus humbling himself and washing the feet of the disciples.  Peter objects.  Jesus finally responds,  “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.”   Without the washing away of sin, our relationships with God and people are dysfunctional.  Why are forgiveness and daily repentance so important?

FOREGIVENESS – A Bowl of Water

         Walter Wangerin Jr wrote a book, As For Me and My House, that I have given to all my children when they married.  While about marriage, it really is talking about all our relationships with others.  His seventh chapter is on forgiveness.  Conflict with others is unavoidable.  But how to resolve it is the dilemma.  For relationship to be restored we must do the work of forgiveness – for our sake.  Whether the pain is with someone deceased, someone distant, or with someone close, broken relationships drain us. It often takes a miracle to find reconciliation, God washing our feet.

         Wangerin shares: “Forgiveness is not just forgetting, it is not automatically healed by time, is not a change of heart on our part, and certainly is not just turning to the other and saying as our parent demanded “I forgive you,” Forgiveness requires a realistic evaluation; reflection to decide if our pride was hurt or if there was truly a sin committed.  Realistically name it.  Next, breathe deep and remember our own forgiveness.  I sacrifice my rights as “forgiveness places the burden of         reconciliation upon the one who suffered the mess (pg.99)” Then if possible the offended goes to the other and in clear words followed by actions that live out forgiveness, seeks forgiveness. 

         Jesus comes to the disciples, even Judas whom he knew would betray him, and washes their feet.  He knew they needed to be washed to start the evening.  Their feet were dirty.  We start our service with confession and forgiveness in this truth.  Let us know act out that process.  Take your fingers, as if they have water you want to shake off and I invite you now to shake water on your feet, or wash your hands, or dab your wet fingers marking a cross on your forehead to symbolize washing your thoughts, or on your ears to symbolize what you listen to, or on your lips for better speech, or even perhaps on your heart for grudges harbored.  Tonight we have the opportunity to get real with God about places in our lives that we know we need Him to wash.

         Let us pray with king David:

C:   “Have mercy on me, O God; according to your unfailing love, according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.  Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.  For I know my transgressions and my sin is always before me.  Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. (Psm 51:1-4)”

Hymn: Let Us Break Bread Together

Gospel:  Matthew 26: 26-29

²⁶ While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” ²⁷ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; ²⁸ for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. ²⁹ I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

SERMON – Part 2 – Light the candle

Lighting the Passover candles was one of the two duties for women in the Old Testament.  Our feet are washed and we now sit at the table with Jesus.

PRESENCE – A Candle

This evening let us put aside questions of Communion being a sacrament or an institution of remembrance.  It is a ritual of intensification.  We are living out our faith, as we understand it. We do not need to discuss bread, unleavened or potato chips, or of wine, fermented or unfermented.  Tonight we are in the presence of Jesus who has just washed our feet, and now invites us to commune with him.

         Jesus assures us that whether we are battling for our lives with Covid-19, overwhelmed by anxiety for the unseen danger that threatens our loved ones, or just plain bored from the continual catastrophic news on TV, Jesus has covenanted with us to be present.  Please hear these verses.

         “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will   fear no evil for you are with me (Psm. 23:4)”

         “He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not          slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor         sleep. (Psalm 121: 3,4)”

            ¹⁰ do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God;  I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my      victorious right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)”

         The Great Commission ends with, “And remember, I am with you       always, to the end of the age. (Mt 28: 20)”

Congregation:  Lord, thank you for your presence represented by this bread and wine of communion to strengthen us for our journey. May we remember your sacrifice and presence with us. Amen.

Hymn: Amazing Grace on You

Gospel: John 13: 31b-35

  ^31b“Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. ³²If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. ³³Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ ³⁴I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. ³⁵By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Sermon — Part 3  – A Spoon

         We come to the end of Maundy Thursday and Jesus starts to turn his face to the Garden of Gethsemane, his trial and Calvary.  The meal is finished and he turns to the disciples and gives them a “new commandment.”  Maundy is the word from which mandate or command comes.  ³⁴I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.”  This is not a “new” command in the sense of being different.  This is the summary of the law and the prophets.

         During Lent we have encountered Jesus as “the Word,” “the light of the world,” the one who came to his creation and gave to all who received him the power to become children of God.  We have followed Jesus as he dealt with Nicodemus and did the impossible, helped him to see he could be born again.  Jesus gave security and new life to the woman at the well with a past, rejected by men but seen in the light of God’s love.  Jesus literally created eyes so that the man born blind could see the truth of his deity better than those who had physical sight.  Jesus now says the heart of the law is not rules to keep God happy like the laws of the kingdom of this world but the heart of the kingdom of heaven is love, God’s love for all. 

  Take the spoon in your hand.  It can be held out to reach for and drink the water of forgiveness.  It can also be turned upside down so that the water poured over the spoon flows outward to those around.  Jesus in these words is telling us to take that spoon and dip it into the bowl of water to give water to others, to plants in your house, to wash hands or feet, to bless others and to live as forgiven people. 

Jesus in this “new” command reframes the Ten Commandments, not to give a different commandment but to give us a new perspective and way of understanding the Ten Commandments.  Have “no other gods before me,” is “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your strength.”  Do not swear is now to use God’s name to express love and blessing, not for cursing.  We go to church to refocus on what is important and eternal.  We honor family and commitments.  We don’t take life, we give life.  We don’t objectify the other for our lusts but honor and respect others’ bodies.  We don’t take but we give to others.  We don’t tear down others but build them up.  We rejoice in other’s accomplishments.  Matthew has Jesus answering the question about the greatest commandment in the Law by saying, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.”

As we look at the bowl of water that represents how we have been forgiven, as we look at the candle and remember that Jesus is with us all the time, we also look at the spoon as a symbol of how we now relate to others. Are we treating others, as we would hope Jesus is treating us.  He touched the leper; he didn’t toss the rock at the woman caught in adultery.  He talked with an adulterous woman at the well.  He cast out demons.  He chose disciples from ordinary people like you and me.  Now he summarizes the Law, not in the 600 plus rules that must be followed to please God, but in a simple command to love as Jesus loves, who gave his life for others.

A bowl of water, A candle, A spoon

Tonight we bow in the tremendous knowledge that we are forgiven, we are guardians of God’s light, and we are the spoon to feed others God’s love. 

Let the people of God say, “Amen, Thank you, Lord”

First Reading: Ezekiel 37:1-14

 ¹The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. ²He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. ³He said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” ⁴Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. ⁵Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. ⁶I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord.”
 ⁷So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. ⁸I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. ⁹Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” ¹⁰I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.
 ¹¹Then he said to me, “Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.’ ¹²Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. ¹³And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. ¹⁴I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord.”

Psalm: Psalm 130

 ¹Out of the depths,  I cry to you, O Lord;
 ²O Lord, hear my voice!
  Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.
 ³If you were to keep watch over sins,
  O Lord, who could stand?
 ⁴Yet with you is forgiveness,
  in order that you may be feared. 
 ⁵I wait for you, O Lord; my soul waits;
  in your word is my hope.
 ⁶My soul waits for the Lord more than those who keep watch for the morning, more than those who keep watch for the morning.
 ⁷O Israel, wait for the Lord, for with the Lord there is steadfast love;
  with the Lord there is plenteous redemption.
 ⁸For the Lord shall redeem Israel
  from ^| all their sins. 

Second Reading: Romans 8:6-11

⁶To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law—indeed it cannot, ⁸and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
 ⁹But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. ¹⁰But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.

Gospel: John 11:1-45

¹Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. ²Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. ³So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” ⁴But when Jesus heard it, he said, “This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” ⁵Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, ⁶after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.
 ⁷Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” ⁸The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?” ⁹Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world. ¹⁰But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them.” ¹¹After saying this, he told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.” ¹²The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right.” ¹³Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. ¹⁴Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. ¹⁵For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” ¹⁶Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

 ¹⁷When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. ¹⁸Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, ¹⁹and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. ²⁰When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. ²¹Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. ²²But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” ²³Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” ²⁴Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” ²⁵Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, ²⁶and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” ²⁷She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”

 ²⁸When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, and told her privately, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” ²⁹And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him. ³⁰Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. ³¹The Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary get up quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going to the tomb to weep there. ³²When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” ³³When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. ³⁴He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” ³⁵Jesus began to weep. ³⁶So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” ³⁷But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

 ³⁸Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. ³⁹Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days.” ⁴⁰Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” ⁴¹So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for having heard me. ⁴²I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.” ⁴³When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” ⁴⁴The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

 ⁴⁵Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.

CHILDREN’S SERMON:  One of my favorite songs comes from Rogers and Hammerstein’s musical, Cinderella is “Impossible.”  Whitney Houston, the godmother sings to Brandy, Cinderella, who is unable to attend the ball.  Turn to your neighbor.  What were so impossible, the barriers that kept Cinderella from going to the ball?  https://www.google.com/search?q=impossible+song+in+Cinderella&oq=impossible+song+in+Cinderella&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i22i30l2j0i390l2.8087j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:46e28d2c,vid:o_5eho0zcrs

(Actually the young Julie Andrews sang the song in 1957! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FWQJex02TM)

“Impossible for a plain yellow pumpkin to become a golden carriage.
Impossible for a plain country bumpkin and a prince to join in marriage.
And four white mice will never be four white horses.
Such fol-de-rol and fiddle dee of course is
Impossible!

But the world is full of zanies and fools
Who don’t believe in sensible rules
And won’t believe what sensible people say
And because these daft and dewey eyed dopes
Keep building up impossible hopes impossible
Things are happening every day!”

Let us pray.  Lord, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, my Rock and my Redeemer.

SERMON

         This Lent we have been looking at our texts through the lens of the challenges Satan gave to Jesus at the Temptation.  Satan challenged Jesus to prove he was God by doing the impossible: turn rocks into bread (our wants or hungers), jump from the steeple of the Temple (security), or worship Satan to gain the world without the cross (power).  We have looked at people who also wrestled with these challenges.  Nicodemus wrestled with the impossible concept of being born again to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  The woman at the well wrestled with unquenchable thirst and her search for security in five failed marriages.  The man born blind, without eyes, was given eyes to see and faced the religious power systems as he declared his faith that power for good comes from God.  Today’s text again summarizes with these three themes before we enter Jerusalem on Palm Sunday next week.  The Kingdom of this World tells us things are impossible and Jesus calls us to faith and the Kingdom of Heaven that he is ushering in.  Impossible?  Let’s see.  We might be one of those “zanies and fools” that believes God can do the impossible.

“Lazarus is dead.”

         Jesus is not in Jerusalem yet but his friend, “the one he loved,” the brother of Mary and Martha whom we hear about throughout his ministry, this Lazarus, is sick.  It would seem Jesus is in northern Israel in the Galilee area and having heard the news tarries two days longer and then turns his face to Jerusalem.  There is no indication that Jesus is unaware of the seriousness of the illness or that he is overwhelmed with the business of ministry. His disciples are not pestering Jesus that he should go see his sick friend.  In fact, the disciples seem to question his trip to Jerusalem because it might be dangerous.  The text indicates that Jesus is purposely tarrying for the glory of God and for us to learn a lesson. 

         The text informs us that the disciples have missed the point again.  The disciples are thinking about Jesus’ reputation that might lead to conflict.  Jesus clarifies.  Lazarus is dead, not sleeping.  The impossible to cure has happened.  They have hit “the wall.”  Cinderella knows she will never go to the ball unless her godmother helps.  Can you hear Satan gloating, “Jesus, change this rock into bread, if you are God.”  Satan is taking a victory lap.

         This reminds me of our many prayers for God’s help and how often we think he is off in Galilee doing something else.  As our situation worsens, it is so easy for us to jump to the conclusion that God doesn’t care.  So before we go further let us think of some unanswered prayer on our heart that Satan would like us to think that God is tarrying elsewhere.  Are there times we sit on our stool by the fire despairing that our dreams will come true?  Be honest.     

         Let us now sit in this moment for a few seconds and not jump to the resurrection that we know is coming.  History has only revealed that.  If crossing the border from Mexico into the USA is hard for refugees, death is an insurmountable border to turn from.  It is impossible to reverse, short of a miracle.  I do not think the lesson here is to tell us to pray that people don’t die.  Death is God’s escape route out of this world of sin and suffering.  But Jesus did allow this scenario, as he will now turn to Jerusalem and the cross.  We now come to a scene of grief everyone had been praying Jesus would prevent.  Perhaps the lesson is that God is working out a bigger plan than my desire for someone to live and I cannot see that picture because history has not revealed it to me.

         When faced with the temptation to turn rocks into bread, Jesus answered Satan, “Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”  When life seems impossible we need to turn to God’s word.  Death is never welcome and watching a loved one decline or experiencing our own aging limitations is not fun.  Finding the money to pay that sudden bill can swamp our faith.  Challenges like finding a spouse, surviving a divorce, passing a test or dealing with a wayward child can all feel impossible.  Life is like that but it does not mean that God does not see and is not working.  The impossible might be possible with God.

“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. “

         Jesus and crew arrive at the home of Lazarus who has now been dead and buried for four days.  Mourners are gathered.  Martha goes to meet Jesus and laments, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”  Bad things happen to good people and it is so easy to think that if only God had been present then hard times would not have happened.  We read that faith can move mountains and are so tempted to shift our focus to the size of our faith that did not move our mountain.  Satan whispers to Jesus and to us that we can do impossible things like throw ourselves down from a steeple and God’s love will protect us from the realities of life.  Lazarus need not have died.  The marriage need not have failed.  The car accident need not have happened.   We have come to equate security with comfort and blessing.  We think if Jesus had been present, if we believe in God and trust, then the painful outcome could have been avoided.  Martha and actually Mary too are right that the presence of Jesus gives us security but that does not mean success.

         Secondly, Martha and we also assume that if we have enough faith, Lazarus would not have died and we would not have to face dark days.  If Jesus had been present, Lazarus would not have died.  In the United States we have not had to face a war like Ukraine that seems so unfair, or earthquakes like Syria that kill so many innocent, or… you can name it.  For the majority of us illness, old age, finances and “ordinary” challenges bring us to our knees and draw tears of lament.  Our culture focuses on youth and good times and it is hard to get our souls around lives that involve so much hardship and still affirm a God who is all-powerful.  This text forces us to face that security is not the same as success and bounty. 

         When Satan tempted Jesus with this thinking, Jesus replied, “Do not put your God to the test.”  In the Message it is translated, “Don’t you dare test the Lord your God.”  I would offer that we are most secure when we trust that God IS present and events ARE unfolding within his awareness.  That is hard to say because it implies the truth that I am the creature and he is the creator and admits I don’t understand everything.  That does not make God the author of evil but it does confess that God is able to make all situations work for good and that we trust him when we don’t understand life because he has our back.  Both Martha and Mary bow and profess their faith that Jesus can work in the impossible and are willing to trust that resurrection is in Jesus.

“Unbind him, and let him go.”

         Lazarus has died.  It is impossible in the kingdom of this world for that to be reversed as much as science works to find ways.  Time marches on.  Rocks do not just turn into bread.  Those of us like Martha and Mary caught in the backlash of the impossible are tempted to reason that things would not have gone like this if we had the security of God’s presence.  The third temptation, though, is power.  Satan invites Jesus to worship him and Satan says he will then give Jesus the world.

         Jesus settles the questions swirling about that deal with our hungers, our insecurities and who has the real power and is worthy of worship.  Jesus calls in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”  God has the power to reverse the impossible.  God keeps us secure.  God is the ultimate power in all situations, even the impossible.  A pumpkin can be turned into a carriage.  Four white rats can become four horses.  Cinderella can go to the ball despite all the barriers.

         Lazarus will still have to die again!  Jesus will still have to go to Jerusalem and the cross.  We will all most certainly walk the valley of the shadow of death but our text today affirms that Jesus has power over the impossible, power to change rocks to bread, and power to keep us secure in horrible situations.  We do not need to fear.  We can enter Jerusalem next week and finish our walk to Calvary and we can trust God for the future.  He is the resurrection.  Satan, be gone.

And the people of God said, “AMEN!”

First Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1-13

¹The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” ²Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ ³Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you.” ⁴Samuel did what the Lord commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, “Do you come peaceably?” ⁵He said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
 ⁶When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is now before the Lord.” ⁷But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” ⁸Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” ⁹Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” ¹⁰Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” ¹¹Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” ¹²He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; for this is the one.” ¹³Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.

Psalm: Psalm 23

 ¹The Lord^| is my shepherd;
  I shall not be in want.
 ²The Lord makes me lie down in green pastures
  and leads me beside still waters.
 ³You restore my soul, O Lord,
  and guide me along right pathways for your name’s sake.
 ⁴Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil;
  for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 
 ⁵You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
  you anoint my head with oil, and my cup is running over.
 ⁶Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
  and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 

Second Reading: Ephesians 5:8-14

⁸Once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light—⁹for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. ¹⁰Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. ¹¹Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. ¹²For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; ¹³but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, ¹⁴for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
 “Sleeper, awake!
  Rise from the dead,
 and Christ will shine on you.”

Gospel: John 9:1-41

¹As [Jesus] walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. ²His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” ³Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. ⁴We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. ⁵As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” ⁶When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, ⁷saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. ⁸The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” ⁹Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” ¹⁰But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” ¹¹He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” ¹²They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”
 ¹³They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. ¹⁴Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. ¹⁵Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” ¹⁶Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. ¹⁷So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.”
 ¹⁸The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight ¹⁹and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” ²⁰His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; ²¹but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” ²²His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. ²³Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
 ²⁴So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.” ²⁵He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” ²⁶They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” ²⁷He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” ²⁸Then they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. ²⁹We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” ³⁰The man answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. ³¹We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. ³²Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. ³³If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” ³⁴They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out.
 ³⁵Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” ³⁶He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” ³⁷Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” ³⁸He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him. ³⁹Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.” ⁴⁰Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?” ⁴¹Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.”

CHILDREN’S SERMON:  Turn to your neighbor and share.  Is a zebra a white horse with black stripes or a black horse with white stripes?  There are many children’s stories explaining zebra.  One said that zebra was lazy at creation, sleeping, and when the creator finally found him, he was punished by making his stripped pajamas become his skin.  Another one told of zebra running through the tall grass from lion.  The grass sliced up his shadow into stripes and so zebra picked up his sliced shadow and wears it to this day to hide from lion.  When lion spots a zebra to stalk, a group of zebras run toward lion and lion cannot see where his original zebra is.  The stripes also look like heat waves rising from the plain and lion cannot see zebra very well in the evening.  Is zebra white or black?  We debate. Today we will see people debate if a man born blind can be made to see.  Who has power to create eyes out of mud?

Let us pray:  Lord may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, my Rock and my Redeemer.

SERMON

         We started Lent this year singing with Maria, “Let’s start at the very beginning,” as we turned back to the Temptations of Jesus and reminded ourselves that Satan loves to attack us through our hungers (turn rocks to bread), through our need for security (throw yourself down from the temple and God should protect you), and through our desire for power (worship Satan and he will give us the world).  We pondered Nicodemus as a “hungry man” for whom being born again seemed like a challenge to turn rocks into bread – impossible.  Last week you looked at the woman at the well who was thirsty but who also did not seem to have true security.  Five men had rejected her and she met Jesus who knew all about her.  Would he reject her too?  Today our text focuses us on the story of the healing of the man born blind.  For sure we will see rocks turn into bread as Jesus spits into dirt to make mud and new eyes are created!  For sure we will see issues of security as the parents pass the buck of truth when questioned by the Pharisees and our man is kicked out of the temple.  And for sure we will be faced with threats to our sense of power.  Whew, a heavy text worth pondering today.

         Our man today is not like Nicodemus, a “good guy,” a Pharisee coming to Jesus with a difficult theological question.  Nor is he like the woman at the well, an ordinary woman with “a past”.  Our man stands on the edge of the faith community because he was born blind.  And so the passage opens with Jesus reaching out to a man who cannot even see him and is not a believer.  The disciples ask the question, “Who sinned, the man or his parents?”  Is the zebra black or white?  We know this question of who is to blame for the problems in our life!  If God has all power and loves his creation, why do bad things happen?  Bad things happen to good people and we search for causes.  Wars, earthquakes, pandemics and famines impact innocent people and we pray that life is not random.

         Amazingly, Jesus affirms that neither the man is guilty of sin so punished with blindness, nor were the parents being punished for their sins.  Parents with children differently abled know the parent’s journey and battle with guilt. Jesus seems to be saying that good people get hurt for no fault of their own and as we hear that, the little voice of doubt on our shoulder whispers, “So what benefit is there in believing in God?”  Where’s the power?  Somehow the answer, “he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him” is questionable salve for the wound of grief and guilt. But let’s not give up yet, keep listening.  Our text first confronts our hungers, our hunger for light.

“…I am the light of the world.”

         The blind man does not approach Jesus asking for sight.  Jesus approaches the man who lives in darkness.  It was impossible for the man to cure his situation because he was born blind, without eyes.  Jesus had to spit into the dirt to make mud to make eyes.  Jesus does the impossible.  He turns rocks into bread.  It is God’s character to do good, not evil.  Jesus says he is the light of the world. Even like our man, we are born separated from God and God comes to us in the incarnation, in his Word, and in community to bring light into our lives and to help us deal with the darkness we live in. We are not sinners because of what we have done but because of who we are.

         God does not always work on our timeline, though.  Because we do not see the answer, does not mean that God is not answering or will not answer.  Because we do not understand the dynamics does not mean that God is not present.  Because we do not have the life we want, does not mean that we are not growing and developing in ways we do not understand and does not mean that God is upset with us.  Blindness is not good and is painful, but God is working to bring light.  Our Psalm reminds us that Jesus is not only the light but also the Good Shepherd who knows our hunger and who is leading us to good pastures. So when the Evil One’s whisper raises doubt that God is not meeting our hungers and God is allowing us to be blind, we can remember that Jesus is the light of the world.  He can create eyes out of mud.  Jesus saw the man and he sees us.  Zebra is black and is white and we live in that tension of dark and light.

“Is this your son, who you say was born blind?

 How then does he now see?”

         Our lives unfold in community and so questions of security are whispered in our ears.  We wonder not only what God thinks but also what others will think.  In fact, people can cruelly confront and hurt us for our sins that they think cause problems for others.  Faith is something meant to live out in ways that impact the world but the world does not always understand.  The people watching are not sure the seeing man is the same as the blind man.  The Pharisees are not sure that healing, while pointing to God, might not be a trick as it was done on the Sabbath, breaking the law.  Confusion results in the community.  Often we are slow to share our faith for fear of misunderstanding.  We know we are still sinners and we don’t want others to think we are some sort of “radical or bragger.”

         The parents of the man born blind are called and questioned by the Pharisees.  They have walked the journey with their son, scrutinizing their own lives as to what they did wrong, struggling to help him grow, and now called to testify. During crises we are challenged to make choices that impact our families and neighbors.  We are often shy about sharing our testimony of God’s work in our lives.  Maybe Satan doesn’t temp me to throw myself down from the temple steeple but questions about how finances will last as I juggle care for my husband in memory care enter my mind.  Will God be there at the end of the valley of the shadow of death?  Perhaps a child marries someone we don’t particularly like and we wonder what the future will look like.  Of course stepping into a new job or a new pastor is a leap of faith that feels pretty scary.  The parents affirm their son’s blindness but they are afraid of the repercussions from the religious power structure. Often we are held accountable by powers that have not walked in our shoes, who do not understand our life journey, and being questioned and asked to account for our faith is very scary and life feels insecure.  The parents admit their son was born blind but tell the Pharisees to talk to their son who is of age.  The zebra is black and it is white and we often defer to science to answer “why” questions.

         The blind man who has always been suspect by the religious system and who has never seen Jesus stands on the truth of his experience and does not try to make religious rules out of that which he does not know.  He knows he was blind and now he sees.  The zebra is black and the zebra is white.  The man openly gives credit to God.  Ah, that we could be so brave and see so clearly the difference God makes in our lives.  May we trust God as he leads us who see through a glass dimly, into our future and may we trust him when we feel insecure.

“I came into this world for judgment

 so that those who do not see may see,

 and those who do see may become blind.”

         In our text today we meet a man who is powerless.  He is the victim of factors beyond his control.  He is condemned by society as blindness is a proof of sin somewhere.  He is excluded from spiritual rituals.  He is reduced to begging as a way of life.  We also meet Pharisees who have social power but who are confused and powerless to explain the cure of a man born blind.  The parents who have authority and power cave under the fear of social power and pass the buck when confronted by the Pharisees. Jesus steps into the mess of this world and through the healing of the blind man demonstrates the power of the creator as he makes eyes that see, even on the Sabbath.  Jesus reveals himself to the man who now “sees.”  The man worships Jesus, not because of popular pressure but because he knows and he sees the truth of whom Jesus is.  The text confronts systems of power.

         The Living Bible translates John 9:39

         “³⁹ Jesus then said, “I came into the world to bring everything into the         clear light of day, making all the distinctions clear, so that those who       have never seen will see, and those who have made a great pretense        of seeing will be exposed as blind.”

         Again we are confronted with the kingdom of this world that appear to our physical eyes to have power – the power of government, the power of finances, the power of talent but that power does not create “light” and seeing.  Only God and the kingdom of heaven can do that.  We can debate how the zebra became black and white or how its stripes protect it. Perhaps evolution gives some insight but for those who have “eyes that see,” we say God creates.  God heals.  God brings life and protects us from all other powers.  Jesus is the light of the world.

And the people of God said, “AMEN!”

First Reading: Genesis 12:1-4a

  ¹The Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. ²I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. ³I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
 ^4aSo Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him.

Psalm: Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills; my help comes from the Lord. (Ps. 121:1, 2)

 ¹I lift up my eyes to the hills;
  from where is my help to come?
 ²My help comes from the Lord,
  the maker of heaven and earth.
 ³The Lord will not let your foot be moved
  nor will the one who watches over you fall asleep.
 ⁴Behold, the keeper of Israel
  will neither slumber nor sleep; 
 ⁵the Lord watches over you;
  the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
 ⁶the sun will not strike you by day,
  nor the moon by night.
 ⁷The Lord will preserve you from all evil
  and will keep your life.
 ⁸The Lord will watch over your going out and your coming in,
  from this time forth forevermore. 

Second Reading: Romans 4:1-5, 13-17

¹What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? ²For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. ³For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” ⁴Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. ⁵But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness.
 ¹³For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. ¹⁴If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. ¹⁵For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation.
 ¹⁶For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, ¹⁷as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”)—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

Gospel: John 3:1-17

¹Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. ²He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” ³Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” ⁴Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” ⁵Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. ⁶What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ ⁸The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” ⁹Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” ¹⁰Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?
 ¹¹“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. ¹²If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? ¹³No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. ¹⁴And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
 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.
 ¹⁷“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

Children’s Sermon   Turn to your neighbor and share.  When you have the munchies, what do you hope to find in your refrigerator or on your shelf?  Or when you are hungry, what fun restaurant to do like to go to?

Let us pray.  Lord may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, my Rock and my Redeemer.

SERMON

         Last week we “started at the very beginning, it’s a very good place to start” for the Lenten season and looked at Jesus’ temptation for our Gospel text and the temptation of Adam and Eve was our first reading.  Satan approached Jesus, “IF,” “IF you are the son of God,”  “If you are the Son of God, turn this rock into bread.”  He knew Jesus was hungry.  Satan approaches us, “If you are a child of God…”  Satan raises doubts about God’s word, God’s will, and God’s way.  In Lent we will see Jesus in situations that challenge people’s hungers, their sense of security and their feelings of power.  We are reminded in Lent that we face similar challenges to our faith. 

         In today’s text we meet a hungry man, Nicodemus.  Nicodemus was a Pharisee, not a drugie, not a beggar, not homeless, nor jobless.  Nicodemus is one of the respected leaders, educated, surrounded by fellow workers that respect him.  We would not label him a “bad guy” but a “good guy”- like we like to think of ourselves.  But something is not right in his soul. 

         We know that feeling when we just feel that dull anxiety or unease that drives us to the refrigerator to check out what’s there.  Perhaps your thing is the mall or the TV or the computer or your iPad. We hope that maybe someone has texted or emailed.  There is an itchy spot in our soul and I am going to call that itch, “hunger.”  Maybe it is not physical hunger but just a vague need for something we can’t quite put our finger on.  Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night, in the anonymity of darkness.  He acknowledges Jesus as a rabbi, teacher, and admits that the works of Jesus’ life prove the blessing of God.  Jesus is a prophet but what does that mean personally to Nicodemus and to us?  Jesus takes the lead and names the itch, Nicodemus’ question, in the unfolding encounter.

“…no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”

         Hunger drives us to choose between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world to find satisfaction.  I suspect that most of us are so immersed in Christian lingo that Jesus’ words sound totally logical.  After all, we made that choice at our baptism or at that mountain top experience.  Now a days,  “Being born again” is used by many to explain a spiritual moment of conversion.  Chuck Colson titled his book, Born Again.  Nicodemus was on the other side of that experience, though, without testimonials available on the TV, radio or podcast.  Nicodemus was pre-faith in Jesus.  Perhaps this describes our children or grandchildren, neighbors or friends. It seems Jesus is talking lingo that means something to some of us but that is confusing to others.

         Nicodemus counters with a question about physical birth and about the seeming impossibility for a human like him to be “born again.”  Before we dismiss this, let us reflect how many times we dismiss the word of God.  We don’t think it could apply to us but it is for those younger than us, for those unencumbered with spouses and children, or for singles.  We see ourselves old and defined by the events of our life.  We know we are not that person of our youth; we cannot re-enter our mother’s womb.  God’s word asks of us action as impossible as turning rocks into bread.  If we wanted to be honest we too would say, “How can that be?”  Forgive so-and-so?, tithe?, sing in a choir? or whatever.    

         Jesus clarifies.  The kingdom of this world will offer solutions that work by the rules of this world.  The kingdom of heaven is spiritual and offers solutions that are spiritual.  Then Jesus counters, “Do not be astonished.”  Perhaps we could translate that to, “O, you in the pew today, do not so easily dismiss the word of God, its power, or your value in the hands of God.”  Jesus does not respond to Nicodemus as “ye of little faith”.  Jesus does not diminish Nicodemus for his confusion or questions.  Jesus does not belittle Nicodemus because he was doubtful and lost.  Jesus deals with us gently when we are overwhelmed and searching for answers to our hungers.  Jesus gives an example to Nicodemus and us that is understandable.

^“.8The wind blows where it chooses…”

         The kingdom of heaven is like the wind.  We feel wind.  We know it is blowing but we only see the results of its work.  We don’t really know where it comes from and even if we had some scientific explanation it would not change the impact or our experience of its presence.  We cannot see God approaching nor can we put our finger on how he is working in our lives but without doubt we know we need air to live and Jesus is saying we need a vital relationship with God to really live!

         I’m sure you’ve heard that before so let me switch the question.  How would you describe the presence of God in your life?  How do you explain it to others?  Jesus used wind but he also used the analogy of light bringing illumination.  Light does not explain the dark night of the soul and those hard times when we just can’t feel or see God’s presence.  Jesus used salt as an example.  Salt brings out the flavor in life.  Again, life is often humdrum and demands perseverance.  Wind is not very personal and salt can loose its flavor.  Recently I have found a new word, “caregiver.”  As I sit with my husband as he declines from Parkinson’s disease and dementia, many days he is barely awake enough to recognize me.  Seldom does he even talk.  And yet from the smiles I know he is aware of my presence and appreciative.  King David called God his “Good Shepherd.”  I like, “The Lord is My Caregiver.”  How would you describe to another God’s presence in your life?  Light, salt, wind, good shepherd, caregiver, friend – quickly share with your neighbor.

Moses

         Jesus gives a second example to Nicodemus from Jewish history.  He points Nicodemus to Moses in the wilderness.   The people left Mt. Sinai and the giving of the law and were in the wilderness.  Life in the kingdom of this world is like living in the wilderness.  The people “grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses. (Numbers 21:4-9)” God sent poisonous snakes among them and many were bitten and died.  The people repented in the face of death, admitted they were wrong and asked Moses to intercede for them.  God had Moses mold a bronze snake, put it on a pole, and any who looked up to it, lived.  Being born again is like turning from grumbling against God to looking at the snake that has been killed, or we would say, Jesus on the cross.  Being born again is spiritual language to explain that change of allegiance from looking back to Egypt and turning to look up to God.

         We loose a lot of energy trying to define who’s a sinner, who is breaking what “laws.”  That means we spend time focusing outward on others and comparing ourselves and defining the rules.  We only need to look up to God about ourselves.  The lives of other people can be examples of how God’s wind blows and ordinary lives are changed.  My daughter once said to me when I reminded her, I too had gone to a senior prom, “Oh Mom, that was in the last century!”  Perhaps there is someone who has modeled Christianity to you.  You have seen the reality of “the wind” blowing in their lives.  Take a second to thank God for that person!

An eyewitness

         Lastly Jesus in essence tells Nicodemus that he, himself, has experienced what he is talking about.  “¹³No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.”  Ultimately it is the reality of the experience of faith in our lives that speaks.  We know that when that itchy feeling niggles at the back of our hearts and minds, that a donut is not going to give eternal satisfaction.  A new dress or a new car or a new house or a different living situation or different job is not going to satisfy the hungers in our lives or give us security or even increase our power.  We must learn to be able to share the reality of Jesus within ourselves.  I do not think there is a formula for a right way to share but integrity with our message of hope is important.  If it is real to us, and we truly care about the other and not just collecting witnessing scalps, that’s the best we can do.  Salvation is the Holy Spirit’s job but it is important for us to live with integrity our faith and share.

John 3:16

         We finish our text this morning with the verse we memorized, John 3:16, in confirmation and that is known as “the Gospel in a nutshell.”  The story of Nicodemus, a hungry man with an itch, a question in his soul, sets the context for this verse that perhaps has become rote memory and that closes our text today.  “

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.

Let’s try and rephrase it.

         “For God…” not the US government, not our parents, not our husband, and not our doctor but the God of the universe, the creator.

         “For God so loved the world…”  God was not angry with us for our sins so killed his son, not so holy that he stays off in the heavens till we climb up to him.  This God loves the whole world, not just Americans.  He loves the “others” that are hard for us to relate to because of language, customs, or different flavors of Christianity.

         “For God so loved the world that he gave…” the kingdom of heaven is a gift, free for the receiving with no strings attached,

         “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son…”  God is Trinity, three in one, mystery not management,

         “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever…” that includes us with warts, wrinkles, and sins.  God acted before we believed while we were yet sinners, not as a reward for faith!

         “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes…”  Faith is not a one time event but a way of life that is expressed in our lives into our world daily.

         “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes will not perish but have eternal life.”  Life as we know it does not terminate at death.  We have hope for the future.  We are hopeful at Lent because Jesus fills the empty places of our life better than our favorite restaurant!

Let the people of God say, “AMEN.”

First Reading: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7

¹⁵The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. ¹⁶And the Lord God commanded the man, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; ¹⁷but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.”
 ^3:1Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden’?” ²The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; ³but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.’ ” ⁴But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die; ⁵for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” ⁶So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. ⁷Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.

Psalm: Psalm 32

Mercy embraces those who trust in the Lord. (Ps. 32:10)

 ¹Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven,
  and whose sin is put away!
 ²Happy are they to whom the Lord imputes no guilt,
  and in whose spirit there is no guile!
 ³While I held my tongue, my bones withered away,
  because of my groaning all day long.
 ⁴For your hand was heavy upon me day and night;
  my moisture was dried up as in the heat of summer. 
 ⁵Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and did not conceal my guilt.
  I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” Then you forgave         me the guilt of my sin.
 ⁶Therefore all the faithful will make their prayers to you in time of         trouble;  when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach them.
 ⁷You are my hiding-place; you preserve me from trouble;
  you surround me with shouts of deliverance.
 ⁸“I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go;
  I will guide you with my eye. 
 ⁹Do not be like horse or mule, which have no understanding;
  who must be fitted with bit and bridle, or else they will not stay near     you.”
 ¹⁰Great are the tribulations of the wicked;
  but mercy embraces those who trust in the Lord.
 ¹¹Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the Lord;
  shout for joy, all who are true of heart.

Second Reading: Romans 5:12-19

¹²Just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned—¹³sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. ¹⁴Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come.
 ¹⁵But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man’s trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many. ¹⁶And the free gift is not like the effect of the one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. ¹⁷If, because of the one man’s trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
 ¹⁸Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. ¹⁹For just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11

¹Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ²He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. ³The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” ⁴But he answered, “It is written,
 ‘One does not live by bread alone,
  but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
 ⁵Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, ⁶saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,
 ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’
  and ‘On their hands they will bear you up,
 so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ”
⁷Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”
 ⁸Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; ⁹and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” ¹⁰Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written,
 ‘Worship the Lord your God,
  and serve only him.’ ”
¹¹Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

Children’s Sermon:  Let’s start at the very beginning.  Do those words sound familiar.  Maria in Sound of Music wants to teach the children music.  The “Do, Re, Mi” song opens with:

         Let’s start at the very beginning
         A very good place to start
         When you read, you begin with A-B-C
         When you sing, you begin with Do-Re-Mi.

At church we are not tackling reading, A-B-C, or singing Do-Re-Mi, but we are tackling making our invisible God visible to another.  Tell your neighbor where you would start to tell another about faith.

Let us pray.  Lord may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, my Rock and my Redeemer, my Alpha and my Omega.

SERMON

         Last Sunday was Transfiguration Sunday when we had a glimpse of the Son of Man as Son of God as he stepped into eternity for a moment.  Peter, James and John were told to “listen,” and “get up.  Don’t be afraid!”  Down the mountain they came and headed to Jerusalem with Jesus.  Wednesday we celebrated Ash Wednesday when we were marked with the ashes from the palms of last Palm Sunday.  We were reminded that from ashes we came and to ashes we go.  Today, the first Sunday of Lent, we
“go back to the very beginning” of Jesus’ public ministry, the temptation.  Our text tells of a defining moment for Jesus right after his baptism when the voice from heaven spoke and said, “This is my Son.”  The temptation encounter gives us the building blocks for understanding the unfolding of events during Lent.  So, “let’s start at the very beginning, it’s a very good place to start.”

Two Main Characters

         Being educated, or so we think, scientific, materialistic Americans, it is easy to put the scene today into a Disney movie of a hero facing a wicked witch.  The temptation is not an encounter between two characters in a novel that help us understand life.  This text is about a major encounter between the God of the universe and Satan, the prince of demons, who seeks to rule this world.  It is an encounter between the Kingdom of Heaven invading the Kingdom of this World.  The first reading tells of creation when the serpent defeated Adam and Eve by planting doubt in Eve’s mind about God’s word, God’s will and God’s way.  Did God say?  Does God want?  You can be like God if you only.  And so we are here today and Jesus steps into our wilderness to do battle for us.

Rocks to Bread

         We hunger.  Every dieter knows this.  All we need to do is swear off chocolate for Lent and suddenly it is on every counter in the store and every cupboard in our house.  It calls to us!!  People in the Syrian earthquake zone really know hunger.  The people in Ukraine know hunger.  The rains have failed in Kenya and those people know hunger.  We are probably more familiar with temptation.  Satan approaches Jesus and says, “IF.”  “If you are God.”  “If you are God, changes the rocks into bread.”

         The Kingdom of this World seeks to satisfy our physical hungers. If we only try this or that, go here or there, watch this hit, listen to this podcast we will certainly move towards fulfillment.  The bellies of our desires will be satisfied for a better life.  But, Houston, we have a problem.  Tomorrow we are hungry again.  The solutions of this world are temporary.  The solutions of this world focus on our personal needs.  Some hungers are never satisfied.  We need just one more dollar to be happy.

“There are three things that are never satisfied,
    four that never say, ‘Enough!’:
¹⁶ the grave, the barren womb,
    land, which is never satisfied with water,
    and fire, which never says, ‘Enough!’”

Proverbs 30:15, 16

         Jesus responds, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”  The Kingdom of Heaven starts with the Word of God, not with human hungers.  The Kingdom of Heaven focuses on God and community.  The Kingdom of this world focuses on self.

         So where do we turn to satisfy our hunger?  In Lent we go back to the basics, to A-B-C.  We will walk to Calvary because at our core we are selfish.  It is a challenge to do it God’s way, to forgive, to follow spiritual disciplines, to share, and to endure hard times focusing on God.

 “…throw yourself down…”

         We hunger but we also long for security.  All we have to do is turn on the commercials and we hear about this or that insurance, this or that security devise for our house, and what our protective social services should have done in this or that circumstance.  How quickly we turn from the number killed in the earthquake to questions of whether building codes were followed and the impact on upcoming elections.  Satan next approaches Jesus and says, “IF.”  “If you are the Son of God.” “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down,” from the pinnacle of the Temple in the Holy City where Satan had taken him.  Surely God does not allow his people to get hurt.

         You can almost hear Satan sneer; God doesn’t want you to be hurt.  Certainly you won’t die.  Sounds like the Garden of Eden to me.  Sometimes we hear that question in our ear, “Where is your God?”  The Kingdom of this World tries to convince us that following worldly wisdom can avoid death and illness.  The solutions of this world do not stop the wounds of life but offer bandages for problems and we must still walk through death. 

         Jesus responds, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”  The Kingdom of Heaven acknowledges the wisdom, presence and protection of God for all his subjects.  God was there with the people in the earthquake.  He is with those in Ukraine.  And he is with us in our everyday challenges.  He is the Creator and we are the creatures.  We can trust him and do not need to trust insurance, in case.  I am not saying, don’t buy insurance, but that our ultimate trust is in God.  His way is best.

         So if we are challenged in trusting for our hungers, where are we challenged today in trusting God for our security?  I find it interesting that “throw yourself down” can also refer to a posture of prayer as well as a temptation to test God’s love for us.  When our security is threatened, that is the time to throw ourselves down in prayer.  So perhaps the question is how is Bethany doing in personal and corporate prayer, not only for personal needs but also for a pastor and for our community.

“…worship me…”

         We hunger and long for security, and for power.  We jokingly talk about our “control issues.”  When our checkbook doesn’t balance, we rack our brain for what we forgot to write down.  When the red light goes on in the car we worry how much the bill will be.  I won’t mention the health and safety of our children, grandchildren, and friends as we hear the news of irrational mass shootings at places we used to consider safe.  Oh my.  The news now reports on how this is impacting young children going to school and wondering if their parents will return from work.  Life is not only insecure but we cannot control our days.  We sometimes feel powerless.  Satan offers Jesus complete control of this world if Jesus will bow down and worship Satan.

     Jesus could have all the kingdoms of the world if only he would allow Satan to be its god.  Eve ate the fruit believing she would be like God and she gave the fruit to Adam.  The price was huge and has come down through the ages, impacting our lives today.  We are not gods no matter how many people praise us.  Time marches on and we all die because the burdens of life were never meant for us to carry.

         Jesus does not dignify this temptation with a response.  He says, “Be gone.”  We are to worship God and serve only him.  It’s the first commandment.  The kingdom of this world tries to convince us we can be a god or goddess of beauty, of wealth, or government, of so many things.  But it is a lie.  And so we come back to the very beginning.  There are two kingdoms, heaven or earth, Jesus or Satan.  As we walk through Lent we will see Jesus, “Son of God” and “Son of Man.”

Let’s start at the very beginning.

James says it well in his epistle.

^“12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

¹³ When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴ but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.  (James 1:12-15)”

• A:  We live in a tension between the Kingdom of Heaven that we are becoming more familiar with through the life of God Incarnate, Jesus, and the Kingdom of this World that Satan would like us to choose.
• B:  We will be tempted by our hungers, our deep need for security, and our driving desire to be in control.  Satan loves to work by raising doubts in our mind about God’s word, God’s will and God’s way.
• C:  Jesus, when tempted, drew on Scripture.  Turn to Scripture when feeling tempted.

As we walk through Lent we will watch as Jesus meets people to give life when they are hungry.  Security will be found in relationship to God.  And we will not need to worry about being in control because we know God is in control, even when a cross looms before us.  A-B-C, Do-Re-Me-, the very beginning is

^“36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^[c] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36-40)”

Let the people of God say, “AMEN!”

First Reading: Exodus 24:12-18

¹²The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.” ¹³So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. ¹⁴To the elders he had said, “Wait here for us, until we come to you again; for Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a dispute may go to them.”
 ¹⁵Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. ¹⁶The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. ¹⁷Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. ¹⁸Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.

Psalm: Psalm 2

 ¹Why are the nations in an uproar?
  Why do the peoples mutter empty threats?
 ²Why do the kings of the earth rise up in revolt, and the princes plot together, against the Lord and against the Lord’s anointed?
 ³“Let us break their yoke,” they say;
  “let us cast off their bonds from us.”
 ⁴God whose throne is in heaven is laughing;
  the Lord holds them in derision.
 ⁵Then in wrath God speaks to them,
  and in rage fills them with terror.
 ⁶“As for me, I have anointed my king
  upon Zion, my holy mountain.”
 ⁷Let me announce the decree of the Lord,
  who said to me, “You are my son; this day have I begotten you.
 ⁸Ask of me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance
  and the ends of the earth for your possession.
 ⁹You shall crush them with an iron rod
  and shatter them like a piece of pottery.”
 ¹⁰And now, you kings, be wise;
  be warned, you rulers of the earth.
 ¹¹Submit to the Lord with fear,
  and with trembling bow in worship;
 ¹²lest the Lord be angry, and you perish in a sudden blaze of wrath.
  Happy are all who take refuge in God!

 

Second Reading: 2 Peter 1:16-21

¹⁶For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁷For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” ¹⁸We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain.
 ¹⁹So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. ²⁰First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, ²¹because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9

¹Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. ²And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. ³Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. ⁴Then Peter said to Jesus, “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.” ⁵While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” ⁶When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. ⁷But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” ⁸And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.
 ⁹As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

CHILDREN’S SERMON:

         “Beauty and the Beast” is a story that tells of a prince who has been transformed into a beast and he must learn to love and earn the love of another before a rose totally wilts.  The story, thanks to Disney, is much more complicated with subplots but basically a prince looks like a beast and Belle, the young girl, must learn to love him.  So turn to your neighbor and share why you would find the beast so repulsive?

Let us pray.  Lord, May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, my Rock and my Redeemer.

SERMON

         Today is Transfiguration Sunday.  The Son of God has appeared to us as, Jesus, the Son of Man, and we have been checking him out during Epiphany and learning to love him.  Unlike the fairy story, Jesus was not selfish and cursed but his life is not how our world paints heroes either.  We want God to ride in on a white charger, be handsome, and rescue us from the evil Garcon, that selfish bad-guy in the story who wants us as a trophy.  Through Epiphany we have seen Jesus talk about his kingdom but somehow “happy ever after” just does not happen.  If we read the rest of Matthew, as we have been doing in our daily devotions, we see Jesus doing remarkable feats of power.  He heals the sick, raises the dead, gives vision and is a fantastic teacher.  His people don’t fall asleep during the sermon, I bet. But he still looks human and the Romans, disease, problems and death still plague us.  In the tales of the kingdom of this world, the hero saves the poor and suffering, us, from pain and danger.  We want Jesus not only to  “walk the talk” but also rescues us, preferably before the next commercial.

         Today we have another “epiphany” moment as Jesus transfigures in the presence of Peter, James and John, and us.  Epiphany season is bookended by the voice of God speaking from heaven, “This is my son!”  For a brief moment in these epiphanies we see the caterpillar’s future form as a butterfly.  We glimpse the prince inside the beast.

Transfiguration

         My husband and I love to watch the beginning episodes of the series, “The Crown,” telling about the life journey of Queen Elizabeth.  The early episodes include Kenya and the famous hotel Treetops where even we stayed.  We watched yet again this week her coronation where she is anointed with oil as kings and priests of the Old Testament were.  The abdicated King, David, tries to explain what is happening to his French guests.  He shared how as the oil is applied, a spiritual experience occurs.  The presence of God transforms an ordinary woman into a goddess, the Queen of England.  The “mystery” of the moment is transformative.

         Jesus, Peter, James and John climb a mountain and at the summit Jesus for a moment is transfigured.  His face shines like the sun and his clothes glisten dazzling white.  Moses and Elijah appear and talk to him.  Twilight Zone could not do it better.  Beam us up, Scotty, to that mountain!!!  What was that about?

         I have looked at this moment before with you and pondered why Moses and Elijah were present.  God does not do random.  I have suggested that both these men came to encourage Jesus, Son of Man, who could step into eternity because he is also Son of God.  How could they encourage Jesus?

• Moses stood on Mt. Sinai to receive the 10 Commandments.  Elijah stood on Mt. Carmel and confronted the 400 priests of Baal.  They knew what it was like to stand alone for people and for the truth of God.  Jesus would stand alone before Pilate and so the two saints encouraged him and us. 
• Moses faced the Red Sea leading the people of Israel out of Egypt.  It looked impossible.  Elijah faced 400 prophets and a sacrifice that had 12 barrels of water poured over it and he believed God could make a fire.  It looked impossible.  Jesus would die for sin.  That seems impossible. The two saints encouraged him and us.
• Jesus would face crucifixion and be deserted by his followers.  He would face death.  Moses went into the desert by himself to die but God was there to close his eyes.  Elijah was taken up by chariots in a whirlwind and walked through death.  Jesus would face death too.  He needed encouragement and so do we.

         How does transfiguration speak to us?  We have tracked the differences between the kingdom of this world and the kingdom of heaven during this Epiphany season.   We learn to tell in this world if our eyes are blue or brown.  We fill out forms about our ethnicity, height, and weight.  We see life with eyes of flesh that are trained to function in the kingdom of this world.  But we also have spiritual eyes.  Do we look at others, our friends and grandkids, our neighbors and those we meet seeing the potential within them.  When they are discouraged can we say that word of encouragement that draws their hearts to God and to a positive future? Or do the words of criticism and critique jump to our lips?  I pray Bethany will be known as a place where lives are transformed into being their better selves and our community will be a better place to live, a place of hope. May we see the prince in others and not just focus on the beasts we can often be!

Voice

         Our text continues and we hear two voices in response to the transfiguration.  The seen and unseen world witnessed as Jesus transfigured and met with Moses and Elijah.  Peter speaks up and says, “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.”  Then for the second time this Epiphany season we hear the voice of God speak from heaven, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!”

         May I suggest that as we have been tracking the kingdom of this world through Epiphany, that I think we see that in this world we have a tendency to freeze time.  We like to build memorials to those special moments in our life.  Peter is ready to build three “dwellings” or perhaps churches or monuments so people can visit and remember this moment.  This is not necessarily a bad thing.  People go to the special sites in the Holy Land all the time.  Those special moments from our past are preserved in scrapbooks, in videos, put into movies and socially dissected from the various points of view of people involved.  The present walks on the heels of the past and we need to learn those lessons.  We don’t want to get stuck in the past, though.

       Also Peter makes the mistake of making Moses, Jesus and Elijah equal.  Peter is still not clear about what is happening.  Those special memories from the past are a piece of the picture of our lives in God’s story but they are only a piece of the picture. They are not the whole picture.  We learn from them but we don’t want our history to freeze us there so there is no room for growth.

         It is then that God speaks.  Even as God spoke at the baptism of Jesus when Jesus stepped onto the public stage, God now steps out of eternity.  This is not transfiguration like Jesus who has taken on humanity.  This is God speaking from beyond our reality, coming to us.  He again affirms the deity of Jesus but adds a phrase, “Listen to him.”  The Kingdom of Heaven transfigures us and reveals the truth of Jesus but that is not just a special mountaintop experience when we become believers that Jesus is God and will someday return to claim us in all his glory.  The Kingdom of Heaven is about relationship where we “listen”.  That is an ongoing activity, not a moment in time to be memorialized.  God says, “Listen.”

         Our holy moments and experiences are not places to stay but places to get up and get started.  Listening starts our journey with God but then we must walk the talk and be his person.  We come down from the mountain and live in our everyday world. So often we focus on wanting God to listen to our concerns that we forget to listen to his concerns and how he sees the events in our lives unfolding today. 

         So are we listening or are we too busy doing?  Perhaps our reflection here is to ask ourselves how we have stagnated, memorialized our faith and how can we better “listen” and increase the vitality of our relationships.  I’m guessing most of us have room for growth.  Even as Belle was challenged to learn to love the Beast, may we be growing in loving God who sometimes appears cruel and angry like a beast while he loves us.

“Get up and do not be afraid.” 

         Our text concludes with Jesus’ words to Peter, “Get up and do not be afraid.”  I have confessed before that I am a “fearling” so whenever I read the words, “do not be afraid,” God has my attention.  The disciples see Jesus transfigured and hear the voice of God and they fall on their faces in fear.  Jesus tells them to “get up and not be afraid.”      

         You have heard me talk about that other voice that seems to sit on our shoulders and seems to like to whisper in our ears doubts and fears that would discourage us.  Listening is a spiritual skill that grows as our faith grows.  We learn to recognize the voices of our friends and of God.  We can easily become afraid that we will make a mistake or misunderstand.  But that is what the body of Christ is for.  We are not alone.  We are part of a team with God and with his body.  We help each other to hear and to do.  God said, “listen”, and Jesus says, “Get up, and don’t be afraid.”

         We will all leave church today.  I do not know what “get up” will look like in your life but for sure, God is working in us, with us, and through us.  We must come down from the mountaintop.  Jesus walked with the disciples into their challenges, not to rescue them from the pains of life but to walk with them through the pains, as the God who understands our humanity.  Belle runs from the Beast but the story climaxes with her return amidst the attack by the town.  She loves the Beast.  As she has learned to love him, the truth is gradually unveiled.  He is the Prince that will walk with her into “happy ever after.” 

         So as we come to the end of Epiphany and celebrate Ash Wednesday this week, we turn our hearts to Lent and the journey to the cross.  Jesus, Son of Man who came to us as a small babe in Bethlehem and who entered public ministry with the voice from heaven calling him, “my son,” has now stepped through that veil of time and transfigured and we glimpse the Son of God.  It is a dazzling, frightful moment that we are tempted to freeze in our memories but the voice again reminds us that “this is my son, listen.”  We pick ourselves up and return to all the challenges of our everyday life.  We do not need to be afraid of the beast for as we learn to love and trust him we discover he is a wonderful prince who will fulfill all our real dreams and even more.  We will live happily ever after some day in his kingdom.

Let the people of God say “AMEN!”

First Reading: Deuteronomy 30:15-20

 [Moses said to the people:] ¹⁵See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. ¹⁶If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. ¹⁷But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, ¹⁸I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. ¹⁹I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, ²⁰loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

Psalm: Psalm 119:1-8

 ¹Happy are they whose way is blameless,
  who follow the teaching of the Lord!
 ²Happy are they who observe your decrees
  and seek you with all their hearts,
 ³who never do any wrong,
  but always walk in your ways.
 ⁴You laid down your commandments,
  that we should fully keep them.
 ⁵Oh, that my ways were made so direct
  that I might keep your statutes!
 ⁶Then I should not be put to shame,
  when I regard all your commandments.
 ⁷I will thank you with a true heart,
  when I have learned your righteous judgments.
 ⁸I will keep your statutes;
  do not utterly forsake me.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9

¹Brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. ²I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready, ³for you are still of the flesh. For as long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations? ⁴For when one says, “I belong to Paul,” and another, “I belong to Apollos,” are you not merely human?
 ⁵What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. ⁶I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. ⁷So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. ⁸The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each. ⁹For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.

Gospel: Matthew 5:21-37

 [Jesus said to the disciples:] ²¹“You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ ²²But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. ²³So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. ²⁵Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. ²⁶Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
 ²⁷“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ²⁸But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ²⁹If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. ³⁰And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.
 ³¹“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ ³²But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
 ³³“Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.’ ³⁴But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, ³⁵or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ³⁶And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. ³⁷Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.”

Children’s Sermon:  Belling the Cat by Aesop:  Allow me to return to one of my favorite Aesop Fables to set the tone today.

      The Mice once called a meeting to decide on a plan to free themselves of their enemy, the Cat. At least they wished to find some way of knowing when she was coming, so they might have time to run away. They lived in such constant fear of her claws that they hardly dared stir from their dens by night or day.  Many plans were discussed until at last a very young Mouse got up and said:  “I have a plan that seems very simple, but I know it will be successful.  All we have to do is to hang a bell about the Cat’s neck. When we hear the bell ringing we will know immediately that our enemy is coming.”

All the Mice were much surprised that they had not thought of such a plan before. But in the midst of the rejoicing over their good fortune, an old Mouse arose and said: “I will say that the plan of the young Mouse is very good. But let me ask one question: Who will bell the Cat?” 

Let us pray.  Lord may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, my Rock and my Redeemer.

SERMON

Today is the sixth Sunday after Epiphany and our last text from the Sermon on the Mount.  Next Sunday is Transfiguration Sunday when Jesus climbs another mountain and we all turn our attention to Lent and the journey to Mount Calvary.  Today’s Gospel text continues on in the Sermon of Mount reported by Matthew.

  We started Epiphany with the baptism of Jesus and the Father’s voice speaking from heaven, “This is my Son with whom I am well pleased.”  The disciples living in a Roman dominated world had heard stories of gods intermarrying with humans.  Today in our culture, our grandchildren are likely to think of Jesus as another Super Hero, just a human with super powers.  The Jews were expecting a Messiah but was this Jesus the one?  The people gathered on the mountain to check Jesus out.  Jesus opens with the Sermon on the Mount, his State of the Union Address laying out the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven and just how life works when we choose to believe in Him.  The Kingdom of Heaven is not like the Kingdom of this World!

  John the Baptist then told his disciples, “This is the lamb of God!” so they too turn to check out Jesus.  Jesus asked them and us, “Whom are you seeking?”  Jesus’ question comes down through the ages and confronts us in Epiphany, what kind of God are we seeking.  Are we chasing after the gods of this world that offer health, wealth, and prosperity or are we seeking the God that Jesus incarnate reveals?

The disciples of John responded to Jesus, “Where can we find you?”  Where do you stay?  And so as the crowds gather to hear Jesus preach, Jesus climbs a mountain and teaches his disciples.  We have turned to The Sermon on the Mount during Epiphany. It is still the best description of the God we seek and where to find him.

The beatitudes confirmed that there is a cat in the house that makes life miserable for us mice.  In the face of all the promises of culture we still live with poorness of spirit, mourning, injustice, deceit, hate, vengeance, and persecution.  Jesus says “blessed” are the people who do not follow the false gods who promise a way out of the problems of life.  Blessed are his people when we find ourselves immersed in these problems! It is there we find God! 

The mice in our fable do not decide to kill the cat but to bell the cat!  Jesus tackles three problems that the cat uses to destroy our world today:  murder, adultery and deceit.  The law given by Moses is very clear.  Do not kill.  Do not commit adultery.  Do not bear false witness or swear falsely about your neighbor.  Law has been defeated to eliminate these big three, though.   Our courts are still full of people arguing their cases and seeking justice.  So what is the bell that allows us to know that the cat is coming and wanting to devour us?

Murder

Jesus proposes that when we become angry and are tempted to hate our brother or sister, we are starting down the path to murder.  Anger is the bell of murder.  Hate is a strong emotion that most of us would deny.  But I think the text still challenges us.  Perhaps we do not murder with a knife.  We are more sophisticated.  We can murder with a word or a raised eyebrow or a question where we call the other’s person’s credibility into doubt.  We might say in our meetings that we need to pray for that person because they are not living life the way we think is right, errrr healthy.

The bell for the cat of murder is anger.  Jesus says the solution is not the law but forgiveness.  Jesus is ushering in a Kingdom that does not work in the courts of law but in the courts of the heart.  We are familiar with the Lord’s Prayer that we pray and ask God to forgive us as we forgive others but Jesus goes one step further here and suggests that we go to the other if we know there is a problem and we humble ourselves and start the conversation.  Forgiveness is relational and affects the whole fabric of society.  Forgiveness is not just what we do in the privacy of our closet.  When the bell of anger rings, the cat threatens the whole community of mice.  The cat of anger and hate, throws us into an emotional jail until we turn to God and find forgiveness for the other and ourselves.

Adultery

Jesus next brings up the cat of adultery.  Most of us have seen this cat destroy either our lives or the lives of our children or friends.  The court of law does not erase adultery and divorce tears families apart.  Lust is the bell that warns us that the cat of adultery is stalking us.  Let us not make the mistake of thinking Jesus was only speaking to “those people” either back in the day or “those” on the other side our fence, I would suggest that we might consider the bell to warn not only of lust but also extreme desires lust implies.  For example we can lust for power.  Lust speaks of our emotional appetites.  When something other than God, like desire, rules our actions then we are in danger.  I love that old commercial, “Bet you can’t eat just one!”  They were right.  I can’t. 

Unlike the kingdom of this world that calls to our bodily desires, sexual, physical, and otherwise, the kingdom of heaven calls to our spiritual desires, our desire for God to reign supreme.

      So if the cat of adultery has the bell of lust, what is the solution?  Accountability partners, support groups like AA, prayer, and avoidance all help us to control the urge, the desire for physical pleasure.  That dessert that tempted us in not the problem but the desire that drives us.  Jesus is far more radical.  He says to tear out the eye or cut off the hand.  Ouch!!  Is adultery, putting another god before Jehovah, that serious in God’s eyes?  The text says yes.

As you know, I visit my husband in memory care daily.  There are people there who cannot see, whose minds are garbled as well as their speech, and do not function properly according to this world.  My pastor has a Downe’s Syndrome daughter who medaled in the Handicap Olympics.  The congregation clapped for her as she proudly showed her medal.  God’s love is not stopped by our desires that don’t honor him.  God still loves us enough to go to Calvary.  While we were yet sinners, he died for us.  The sun still shines and he is still working like salt in our lives to bring out our best flavor but our experience of him is diminished by our distraction with our desires.  Let us not take our desires to the courts of law in the kingdom of this world but let us turn to the courts of God who created our desires, sees us and rules the Kingdom of Heaven.

Bearing False Witness

I’m going to call this cat deceit.  We like to think of this as the commercials that offer more than they can deliver.  Or perhaps it is a grey area and we are just putting the best construction on our speech so as not to hurt the other’s feelings.  It only becomes really wrong when we lie. The temptation to sugar coat our story by adding authorities to back us up or by skipping details or by just slanting the truth lets us know that the cat of false witness is stalking us.

  Jesus is not so clear about this cat’s bell.  Whenever we are tempted to support our story with some “authority” that agrees, we might be on a slippery slope.  Bearing false witness seems to imply intent to deceive or cover up some truth we know or fear.  Jesus tells us to just keep it simple.  Let our yes be yes and our no be no.  The solution is integrity.  We are called to live a life that is congruent with the faith we profess.  Walk our talk!

The Epistle of James asks us if we do not know what causes fights and quarrels among us.  It comes from our desires that battle within us.  The bell of hate rings when we demand justice in the courts of this world, either legally or in the court of public opinion.  That bell of anger tells us the cat of murder is playing with our heart.  The bell of lust rings when we demand the joys of our heart and not the joys of God’s heart.  Adultery breaks a promise to another or ourselves.  The cat of false witness is stalking us when we feel the need to sugar coat truth or lie.  The bell rings to warn us that the cat of false witness is near.  Murder, adultery and false witness break the Law.  Hate, lust, and deceit are bells that warn us we are in danger.

The mice cannot kill the cat.  The cat is serving a purpose only God knows.  Perhaps it will kill the snake. So where is the gospel, the good news in our text today?  May I suggest it comes in our opening phrase, “Jesus said to his disciples.”  Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount lays out the Kingdom of Heaven and how it works. God is not far off and distant but he is here in the midst of the problems we face that would defeat us.  As Aslan said to the children in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, “There is a deeper magic at work.”  We are like salt and light that do not come to destroy but to bring out flavor and shed light into life. God is working even when we feel like the cat is about to pounce and destroy us.  We are not strong enough in ourselves to bell the cats of this world.  We need a God who comes to us to help us.  Jesus gives us the warnings that act like a bell telling us to call to him.  He will deal with the cat.  When we are angry, when we are tempted by our desires, when we feel like we need to twist the truth to protect others, or ourselves we are not alone.  We can turn to a God who cares enough to bell the Cat. These struggles are often long and exhausting.  Jesus says,

‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens,

and I will give you rest.  (Matthew 11:28)

Let the people of God say, “AMEN!”

First Reading: Micah 6:1-8

 ¹Hear what the Lord says:
  Rise, plead your case before the mountains,
  and let the hills hear your voice.
 ²Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the Lord,
  and you enduring foundations of the earth;
 for the Lord has a controversy with his people,
  and he will contend with Israel.

 ³“O my people, what have I done to you?
  In what have I wearied you? Answer me!
 ⁴For I brought you up from the land of Egypt,
  and redeemed you from the house of slavery;
 and I sent before you Moses,
  Aaron, and Miriam.
 ⁵O my people, remember now what King Balak of Moab devised,
  what Balaam son of Beor answered him,
 and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal,
  that you may know the saving acts of the Lord.”

 ⁶“With what shall I come before the Lord,
  and bow myself before God on high?
 Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
  with calves a year old?
 ⁷Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
  with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
 Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
  the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
 ⁸He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
  and what does the Lord require of you
 but to do justice, and to love kindness,
  and to walk humbly with your God?

Psalm: Psalm 15

 ¹Lord, who may dwell in your tabernacle?
  Who may abide upon your holy hill?
 ²Those who lead a blameless life and do what is right,
  who speak the truth from their heart;
 ³they do not slander with the tongue, they do no evil to their friends;
  they do not cast discredit upon a neighbor.
 ⁴In their sight the wicked are rejected, but they honor those who fear the Lord.
  They have sworn upon their health and do not take back their word.
 ⁵They do not give their money in hope of gain, nor do they take bribes against the innocent.
  Those who do these things shall never be overthrown.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

¹⁸The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹For it is written,
 “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
  and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
²⁰Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. ²²For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, ²³but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, ²⁴but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
 ²⁶Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. ²⁷But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; ²⁸God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, ²⁹so that no one might boast in the presence of God. ³⁰He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, ³¹in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12

¹When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. ²Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
 ³“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 ⁴“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
 ⁵“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
 ⁶“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
 ⁷“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
 ⁸“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
 ⁹“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
 ¹⁰“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 ¹¹“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. ¹²Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Children’s Sermon:  The Bear and the Bees by Aesop

A Bear roaming the woods happened on a fallen tree in which a swarm of Bees had stored their honey. Just then one of the bees came home. Guessing what the Bear was after, the bee flew at him, stung him sharply and then disappeared into the hollow log. The Bear lost his temper and sprang upon the log to destroy the nest. This brought out the whole swarm. The poor Bear had to take to his heels. He was able to save himself only by diving into a pool of water.

What is the bear in your life?  Who is in your swarm?

Let us pray.  Lord, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, My Rock and My Redeemer.

SERMON

      Today starts the fourth week in Epiphany and we are finally getting to Jesus’ State of the Union Address, the Sermon on the Mount.  It may not be January 20^th when our President addressed Congress about the condition of affairs in the United States but Jesus is giving a similar overview of his kingdom. We see Matthew opening this gospel by presenting Jesus, “Son of God” as the great teacher and revealer of truth about how life works best.  Jesus is going to tell us about life in his kingdom.  It will help us clarify whom we are seeking and where we can find him.

      Jesus sees the crowds, the people who are checking him out to see if he is the person John the Baptist was speaking about, the promised Messiah, the one who would “deal with” the Romans and the horrible living conditions in Israel at the time.  I suspect those people longed for life to be like the days of Solomon when silver was so common, no one kept track of it.  Even we long “to be great again.”  Perhaps we don’t call it that but for some of us, memories of our youth when we could do so many things, haunt our present leaving a sour taste in our mouth.  Ah, for the good ole days.  The unknowns of tomorrow can appear to us like that bear sniffing around the log.  And perhaps we feel like that little bee, guarding our little contribution to life.  Jesus opens the scene, not in the forest where we might find a bear but on a mountaintop, that liminal space between heaven and earth.

     According to Matthew, Jesus, in the face of the call to ministry to the needy people following him, first climbs the mountain and teaches his disciples who join him.  It is a scene reminiscent of Moses who went up the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments.  Jesus will go up a mountain for the Transfiguration.  Jesus is crucified on Mount Calvary.  Important things happen on mountains, those liminal spaces between heaven and earth.  Many of us retreat to the lake cabin or some quiet place away from the bustle and confusion of life to sort ourselves out.  Some of us have developed the journaling discipline. Before we start a challenge, before we start tomorrow, we must know what we believe and whom we are facing.  We must know whom we are seeking and where to find him.  It is here on the mountaintop that Jesus gives us a picture of the Kingdom of Heaven that he is ushering in and the sort of God he is.

Bears

      The kingdom of Heaven is different than the Kingdom of this World. The kingdom Jesus is telling us about is unlike this world where bears seek to devour our honey.  In this world we are plagued by discouragement (poor in spirit), grief (mourning), pride and arrogance, cruelty, deception, war and persecution.  Do I hear anyone saying, “Amen!” or are we comfortable in our wealth?  The wolf of Little Red Riding Hood may wear Grandma’s clothes and promise her all sorts of goodies if she would use his products for health and beauty, use his investment schemes for wealth and prosperity, buy his insurance products to deal with those hard times or vote his philosophy into government but the solutions the world offers are temporary.  Jesus presents a different perspective. He starts with the truth. Life is hard. Bears are sniffing around the log where we are storing our honey.  But that is not the whole picture?

Bees

    Jesus encourages us to look closer and he shares the “bee – attitudes”.  His kingdom confronts the Kingdom of this World with “Bee” “Attitudes”-beatitudes.  He tells us where true blessings are found in this opening section of his sermon. The Kingdom of Heaven is not going to defeat the bear with a gun and war but by the person we will become as we follow Jesus and learn to live in kingdom ways.  We will not defeat the bear by being bigger and stronger.  Like a tiny bee we will be armed with the Spirit of God so that

• Those times that discourage us and make us feel poor in spirit will become times when actually we are forced to find strength in the kingdom of heaven.  Our problems lead us deeper into God’s love.  Tough times are times of grace.
• Those times when we mourn and are overcome with grief, the Holy Spirit will draw close and comfort us.  He will wrap his arms around us. And! And we will be comforted by the body of Christ.  Comfort is not found in alcohol, drugs, sex or worldly pleasures. The God we seek is a God that comforts the mourners.
• Those times when violence reigns, the meekness of the kingdom that loves the enemy and helps the helpless will help us inherit this world, not war.  Hate cannot produce love but love covers a multitude of sins.
• Those times when we give mercy and forgiveness rather than vengeance, hate and anger, we learn to receive the mercy and forgiveness of God that we need when we blow it.
• Those times when we are confused by doubt and seek God with our whole heart, he will reveal himself and not be far off and busy in Washington.  We do not climb up to God but he is here with us in our hard times.
• Those times of war, persecution and misunderstanding, God will not flee from us and we will be known by his presence in our lives.

It is in the midst of the bears of life that seek to destroy us that we build our faith, find our God active and involved, and learn to recognize God actively fighting evil.  It is in hard times that we find the Kingdom of Heaven, grace and a God who cares enough to enter the messes of life with us. Jesus is the Son of God revealing the Kingdom of Heaven to us.

      The beatitudes are not a Christian formula for getting the good life. They are not a new set of laws. The beatitudes tell us that life in the kingdom of this world is hard but there is another reality, another kingdom being built, that is not so apparent. That kingdom defeats the ugliness of this world and that kingdom is a gift of grace from God.  We see glimpses of it in the beauty of sunrises and sunsets.  We see it in the laughter of children.  We experience it in hugs of friends and family.  We cry in relief when we are forgiven as we come to the table of communion.  The bear does not come to create beauty, love, joy and forgiveness. The wolf is wearing Grandma’s clothes only to deceive us. Jesus is not wearing human forms to deceive us but incarnates along side us and lets us know he cares and will rescue us as we turn to him.

¹²Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

      Jesus reminds us that when rough times come, the company of saints experienced our same situations.  We are not alone. We are part of a swarm.  The little bee in our story, all by itself is way out matched by the bear.  The bee has a “swarm” that it is part of and Jesus is ushering in a kingdom of bees to support each other and to remind us of the truth of God when we feel attacked by the bears of life.  Little Red Riding Hood could not fight the wolf by herself but it was as the woodsman came to her rescue that she was saved and able to free her real Grandma.

      So whom are we seeking?  Are we seeking a god who will promise to come in and kill the bear for us and give us the good life or are we seeking a God who walks with us, partners with us, in the midst of the problems of this world, creating a better world and ultimately declaring, “Well done my good and faithful servant.  Enter into your father’s delight.”

      So where do we find the God Jesus is the son of?  We find God in the midst of problems.  He is there with us, enabling us, encouraging us, and involved in his creation.

      The bear runs away and jumps into a pool of water.  Sounds like baptism to me.  As we believe and identify with Jesus in our baptism, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us and help us conquer the bears of life.  And we join a body of believers that is world wide, the Kingdom of Heaven.

Let the people of God say, “Amen,” may it be so!