The Fifth Sunday in Lent - Judica - 3-29-09

The Church Season of Lent,
Judica,
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (March 29, 2009)
One Year Series

“LIFE OR DEATH”

Readings:
Psalm 43
Gen. 22:1-14
Hebrews 9:11-15
John 8:46-59

Sermon Form: Deductive

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Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen

The text for today is as recorded in the Gospel Lesson from the 8th chapter of St. John, especially the following verses.

John 8:46-59 (NIV)

"46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” 48 The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?” 49 “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” 52 At this the Jews exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death. 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?” 54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55 Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.” 57 “You are not yet fifty years old,” the Jews said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!” 58 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds."

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

Jesus said, “46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me?”(v. 46) The trouble was they could not answer any of his questions. He had asked them before to pick up stones if they had no sin and they could not, so they laid down those stones. Now Jesus effectively asks the flip side of that question regarding Himself, can any of you now say I have sinned? And furthermore, if I haven’t sinned then why do you refuse to believe me. But they were not listening, the endgame had already begun, yet this was no game, it was a matter of

“LIFE AND DEATH”

I

These people around Christ where deaf to all that Christ had to say and they were trying to roil a crowd who did not want to listen to the words of Christ. But they were no different than all the people who have existed from the beginning of time. For it is not unlike the serpent in the Garden of Eden who pressed Adam and Eve and so the sound of satan’s words seemed to offer more promise than God’s, they did not want to listen and learn God’s Word. And not listening to God speak His words held life and death consequences.

Even today, we as Christians are often accused of hearing none of God’s Word, at least not hearing the way the world wants us to hear it, that is if they want to hear it at all. There are many who do not believe all the scripture that connects to historical events or even the archaeological evidence. But, quite frankly, that is not how or why we believe in God anyway. We do not place the strength of our faith in human means, methods, or reason. Rather, we believe because the Bible is God’s Word, we listen to Him and learn of all that He has done for us. Unlike the unbelievers who neither trust what they hear nor put any faith in learning the things of God. Yet whether we are believers or unbelievers, the hearing and learning of God’s Word does ultimately define the difference between life and death.

II

Think of Jesus’ perspective in Gospel lesson. This crowd which refused to listen to Jesus. They thought His Word was no good, and had no power to save them. Life and death to them meant kill this Christ and we can go on with our life. They called Him a demon filled Samaritan. Here stands Jesus, who was born in Bethlehem, of Davidic descent, raised in Galilee, and they call Him a Samaritan. The Jews hated the Samaritans, yet Jesus does not respond by pointing to His Jewish upbringing, he let that one go by. For their was no dishonor for Jesus to be lumped in with the Samaritans. Because this man Jesus came to save all sinners from their sins, He was in their presence to give them life and save them from death. So Jesus points to their hypocrisy, they say they’re faithful, but they indeed they are not. But these self-righteous men dishonor Christ by believing in God but refusing to hear Christ the incarnate Word of God.

Jesus Christ is in our presence today and quite frankly many who say they believe in God, still do not believe God’s Word. How many times have you heard people begin a sentence by saying, “I don’t know what the Bible says, but I think...fill in the blank.” Right there, in a short introduction, on their way up and onto their soapbox they have not only denied God’s Word, they have placed themselves above it. And those who we call they, are really us. God’s Word is not good enough, it doesn’t say what I want it to say, so let me tell you why what I think is better than God’s Word. The trouble is our word has no power. Our words, our thoughts, our best arguments for the way the world should be, do not have the capacity to save. And so our belief in what we think attempts to raise us above scripture and the Word of God and that only give us the capacity to turn away from God. What a contrast, for God’s Word Jesus Christ turns us from our sins, gives us life, and assures us that we will never have to see everlasting death.

III

To those who would hold themselves larger than life incarnate, Jesus responds, “This (kind of) people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me.”(Mk. 7:6) The truth is we are in that same crowd who gathered around Jesus. They did not believe Him, they did not believe His word. They looked for a man who would put all their troubles to death, but would not hurt their feelings or change their status quo. Except, of course, they did want someone powerful enough to put their life back to the way they thought it should be. But that is not the life and death solution Christ came to give.

Jesus’ life solution was that He came into this world as a babe in Bethlehem. Jesus’ death solution was that He walked the road to the cross for our sins. Jesus life solution was that He freely gives us our faith and in our baptism our sinful ways are put to death. And in His body and blood He gives us His death so that our life our faith, may be renewed and refreshed.

There are many who do not hear or believe God’s Word. There are many who do not believe God’s Word is good enough. There are many who think that Christ was powerless over sin, death, and the devil, and to those people Christ says, “The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”(v.47)

We are given God’s Word which does have the power to give us eternal life. Hear Christ and believe in Him not in the words of men. For by the actions of Jesus, by His death and resurrection, He overcomes what the greatest powers in this world cannot, His life overcomes your death. Christ, “is the way the truth and the life.” (Jn 14:6) And Jesus Christ keeps His Word. He is the Word and the truth, and His life, His death, His resurrection, brings you, in truth, from your death, to your resurrection. You who are saved have listened and heard. The endgame is already finished, yet this was no game, it was a matter of death and life. Thanks be to God, in Christ you will never see eternal death. In Christ you are given eternal life. Amen.

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

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