1/16/05 Epiphany 2 John 1:1-5 Life Sunday

1/16/2005
Epiphany 2
Life Sunday
Text: John 1:1-5

Please join me in prayer. Eternal God, pour out your Spirit upon us that we might be aware of your presence in our midst, that we might be attentive to your Word, and that we might be faithful always to your way, through Jesus Christ our Lord we pray. Amen
John 1, verses 1 through 5 is all about Jesus, the Word of Life. It is a perfect text for this Sunday, Life Sunday. When people hear that a worship service or sermon is going to be about the sanctity of life they have various reactions, depending on how they feel about the subject.
Those who are passionate about Pro-Life, are happy and eager to hear God’s Word concerning these issues.
But there are also those who think that those life issues that speak of abortion and euthanasia are too politically charged, and are so personal that they should not be talked about from the pulpit, much less have a whole service geared toward the sanctity of life. They do not want to hear anything about the subject.
Then there are those who have probably not given much thought to the subject and just do not care one way or the other. They are neutral. As far as they are concerned just do it and get it over with.
Last of all, but not least by any means, are those whose lives have been touched by either an abortion or a difficult end of life issue. For them the subject of the sanctity of life can be painful, as past memories are brought back into focus.
I am aware that all of those thoughts could well be present here this morning. For those that find this subject painful, I pray that you will see how wonderful, how comforting, the Word of God is, for you see, Jesus is the Word of Life.
Jesus the Word of Life speaks to each of us, regardless of our perspective on these particular life issues. He speaks to us with understanding and compassion, so whether you are happy, disgruntled, indifferent, or fearful about my talking about the sanctity of life today, I invite you to listen and to learn from the Word of Life.
The first thing we learn from our text is that the Word of Life was there in the beginning of time. All life came from him. All of creation is about life. Every word God spoke in the beginning, as he called things into existence was for the purpose of making and sustaining life.
I know that it is not politically correct to say it, but all of creation was called into being to sustain, provide for, and enhance human life; and human life was given all of God’s creation. You see, when God created humans he had a special hands on involvement in those first human lives. The animals were just created, but he formed Adam from the dust of the ground and breathed life into him, a marked difference from the creation of everything else. But that still did not complete his creation, for he saw that there was not a suitable mate for Adam, so he formed Eve from the side of Adam. Now his creation was complete.
This hands on creative work of the Word of Life continues through the biological process God set into place, for just as he was involved in the beginning of the first human lives, so he is involved in the beginning of every human life. As we see in Psalm 139:13-15, where the psalmist writes, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.”
The second thing we learn, as we listen to the Word of Life is that he was not just there in the beginning of time. He came to be one of us, to bring us a new beginning in time. You see, we need a new life, for we live in the world God created, but it is not the same world he first created.
Let me explain what I mean. Adam and Eve lived in a perfect place, they had no cares, and death did not exist. They were without sin, perfect in that sense, but not in the same sense as God is perfect, for there can only be one perfect being and that is God, who came to us as that perfect man Jesus.
But even with all they had, they were deceived into thinking that things could be even more perfect. Satan said to them, “Did God really say?” and the foundation of deception was laid. Here standing before him was God’s perfect creation, made in his image and Satan had the audacity to say, “You will be like God”, adding, “Knowing good and evil”. Why should God be the only one who knows good and evil? Why cannot you get in on it?”
With those words the deception was complete. God’s crown of creation was corrupted and all of creation with them. So today we have sickness, accidents, death and these terrible disasters that happen in the world. It would appear that Satan has won.
But, Satan has not won! Jesus has the final word, and that word is Life! Jesus, who was in the beginning with God, came into our muck, and mire filled sinful lives to give us a new beginning. He was born of the Virgin Mary for only one reason, that is, to bring us new life. We look, and rightly so, at Jesus’ conception by the Holy Spirit as testimony of the divinity of Jesus, but it is more than that, for it is also a testimony to our humanity. If we were not in need of new life, his conception, birth, life, death, and resurrection would not have been necessary. He went though all he did for us, to bring us new life.
For those who saw the Passion of Christ, you might remember the scene where Jesus died and Satan celebrated, why he was beside himself with glee, but it did not last long. The Bible tells us that Jesus descended into hell to show himself to those who were there. We do not know if it was in the body or just in the spirit. That is not important. What is important is that he did it. I can just hear him say, “Too bad Satan, I win! My beloved humans that I created win!
On resurrection day he won new life for us. His victory over death is our victory. The resurrection is our assurance of Christ’s presence with us in this life and our presence with him in eternal life. But there is more, for his ascension into heaven is our assurance that he will come again to bring us a new perfect life.
Things might seem out of control right now, but my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, be assured that Jesus is in control. Even though it might not seem like it right now, he is doing everything for the good of his people, as he gets things ready for his glorious return when he makes all things new.
After all God has done, how can one say that God does not give value and dignity to human life? He has bought you with a price, his very blood, not gold or silver. The Word of Life at the beginning of time gave special value to human life. At his conception in the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary he gave special value to human life. As he hung on the cross he gave special value to human life. At his resurrection and ascension he gave special value to human life. That gives immeasurable value to all human life.
He did all of this because we live in the darkness of sin. It affects everything around us, it affects us. It complicates the powerful and simple truth that every human life is someone created and redeemed by the Word of Life.
The sinful world does not understand the value Jesus gives to human life, whether it is at the beginning of life, the living of life, or the ending of human life. Because we live in this dark sinful world and are sinful ourselves, we make wrong decisions.
Maybe you have not honored God in matters concerning life. Maybe guilt and regret gnaw away at you. Maybe they are consuming you in such as way that you feel there can never be any real forgiveness. Your sin is just too big to be forgiven. Oh, if only I had made a different decision, and the guilt piles up.
Hear the Good News! Jesus is the Word of Life and he shines on all of your wrong decisions, flooding them with his Light of forgiveness. There is no sin that can separate you from his love, for there is no condemnation for those that trust in him. He took all of your wrong decisions with him to the cross. Accept that forgiveness, for you are blameless and clean of all of sin’s condemnation.
It is my prayer that if you came to this service hurting, fearful, or just indifferent, God’s Word has touched your life this morning, touched it in such a way that you are changed, for you can not leave God out of life issues, whether they be in the beginning, middle, or the end of life.
The Word of Life, Jesus, in the beginning of time, gave value to human life through his creating hands. The Word of Life, Jesus, brought a new beginning in time giving value to human life through his redeeming hands. The Word of Life, Jesus, shines in our lives and in our darkness bringing us light and hope. And yes, the Word of Life, Jesus, shines through us, as we reflect that light helping others to know not only their value, but the value of all human life, whether it is at the beginning, middle, or end of life. Amen

1/01/05 Matt 2:13-23 The Tale of Two Kings

1 Sunday after Christmas
Text: Matthew 2:13-23
Title: The Tale of Two Kings

Please join me in prayer. Eternal God, pour out your Spirit upon us that we might be aware of your presence in our midst, that we might be attentive to your Word, and that we might be faithful always to your way, through Jesus Christ our Lord we pray. Amen
Our Gospel for this morning is a tale of two kings. One king is Herod, the other king is Jesus. King Herod was willing to do what ever it took to get to the top of power so he could control his destiny. King Jesus on the other hand was willing to do what ever it took to get to the bottom of power, so that he could serve, and therein is the tale of the two kings.
Our tale of the two kings begins on the edge of absurdity. Herod the Great, the all-powerful king of Judea is worried about a baby born in Bethlehem. At first Herod uses deception to try to discover the location of what he thought was the rival king. When that did not work, he orders the execution of all boys living in the area of Bethlehem that were under the age of two.
As outrageous as that might sound, it really is not surprising, for King Herod is consumed with moving up in order to have more power. When you compare his behavior with others in history he is right up there with the bad boys of our world. His mode of operation fits right up there in the monster category.
Herod was born into a rich well connected family 44 years before Jesus birth. His family had to fight for their political survival so Herod was destined to play hard-ball with all that got in his way. You see his father was poisoned by a political opponent. Soon afterward Herod formed a rather ingenious plan to get back at his father’s enemies. He invited them to the palace for what was to be a cozy dinner party. Once all the guests had arrived he had them all murdered.
From that point on he did what ever it took to climb up the ladder of power. He killed countless people if they got in his way. He arrested, tortured, blackmailed, and beat up any who did not agree with him. Why, he even killed two of his wives as well as three of his own sons. No, there was little that he would not do in his moving up. And for the most part, it worked pretty well, Herod ruled for over thirty years.
To say that Herod and Jesus crossed paths would be an understatement. You might compare their crossing of paths in history to a fundamental law of physics. The force of impact on two objects depends on the speed, and direction of the objects. Jesus and Herod were both moving fast, but from totally different directions. One was going up, the other going down. There was going to be a huge collision, a collision that would change the world forever.
Herod is bent on self promotion, Jesus on self demotion. Herod is a tyrant, Jesus a servant. Herod is consumed with self-interest, Jesus is consumed with loving people. Herod manipulates, slanders, deceives, and coerces, Jesus heals, cries, loves, bleeds, and dies.
King Herod was pretty bad guy. Is it not wonderful that we are not like Herod? We would never raise an angry hand against a small child would we? We would never cheat on our taxes, would we? And we always make sure we give to the Lord our first fruits, don’t we? Why, we can even remember the last time we helped someone in need, can’t we?
I am afraid though that if we are honest with ourselves and take a good hard look inside our hearts we would probably find a little of Herod hiding out in there. We certainly have never murdered someone, but all too often we are also consumed with moving up, getting ahead. We might call it office politics, turf wars, marital rights, or parental perks. I am afraid that for the most part, we would rather rule than serve. We would rather have power than submit to authority. We would rather be honored than look for ways to honor others. Yup, I am afraid that in many ways, we share some of those same traits of King Herod.
In contrast to King Herod’s behavior and our own, King Jesus’ behavior seems almost preposterous. Jesus is as powerful as one can get, for after all he is God. He has everything, all he had to do was snap his fingers and legions of angels would be there in a flash to do what ever he wanted. But he chose not to do that. He chose to become one of us.
When he began to be formed in the womb of Mary he took a tremendous step down in the history of humankind. He stepped down to be born in a stable, down to live in the filth and stench of life. Jesus the king was certainly no King Herod, that is for sure. He wanted to decrease so that we would increase in the love of God.
To our eyes, King Herod was an evil and murderous man. But, you know you have to admit, he was pretty successful, if he had just not misused his desire to get ahead, he would not have been that bad. For getting ahead is the way of life. I mean all of us want more and better things, things that will give us security, prestige, and power, don’t we? That is all King Herod wanted.
I think that it might help us to answer the question of how we are to live our lives by looking at how each of these kings died. King Herod died a miserable death for his body was infected by disease. It is recorded that his screams of pain could be heard throughout the palace. But, there was more than just the pain in his body. He was so mentally unbalanced that he thought that no one would mourn his death. On second thought he was right, no one would mourn his death. When he knew the time was near for his death, he called together all of the top leaders in the country. Once they arrived, he had them locked in the palace, telling the guards that at the moment of his death, they should all be killed, thus assuring himself that there would be mourning at the time of his death. Pretty sick, I would say.
Jesus, on the other hand who had been going down all his life, giving up his power, descended even further, for he descended to a Roman beating and execution. His cries of pain rang out across Golgotha. Both Herod and Jesus died in terrible pain, but there is a critical difference between the death of King Herod and King Jesus. King Herod even with all his power, after all he had done in getting to the top, after all the blood he had shed, could not save himself from death. Jesus on the other hand could have saved himself from his death, but chose not to.
King Herod’s body was put into a grave where it stayed, Jesus’ body rose from the grave in great power and glory. Mighty and powerful King Herod did not fulfill the Old Testament prophecies. Jesus in his role of degradation fulfilled the prophecies.
After looking at the tale of two kings; who is the true King now? Herod, laying there in his grave, or the risen Jesus who demonstrated his kingship by saying nothing, by doing nothing, at least as far as the world would see it? Herod even with all his power and political savvy could not stop the divine plan. The sign put on Jesus’ cross, proclaimed “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews”. It was put there to mock Jesus, but we know better, for it stated an everlasting truth, Jesus is the true King.
As different as these two kings were, they both shared one thing in common. They both believed that there was nothing that the shedding of blood could not cure. Sounds strange, does it not, but think about it for a moment. King Herod shed the blood of anyone who got in his way up the ladder of power. Jesus on the other hand shed his own blood as he descended the ladder of power. King Herod shed blood for his own gain. King Jesus shed his blood for us, so that we could be made right before God.
Such is the tale of these two kings whose lives intersected so long ago. King Herod, who believed that life is all about going up, and getting more power. And King Jesus, who believed that the only way to live was to go down, to live a life of servanthood. Two kings in history who came together in a mighty collision, and when they collided only one walked away to tell of it. Only one could, for there really is only one true king, and his name is Jesus Christ. The same Jesus, who in his kingship came to serve us so that we can be free to serve others. It is this life of giving, and serving, and going down that we celebrate and live out during this time of Christmas. Amen