If you will recall, last Sunday our text ended with us reading that many who heard the words of Jesus believed in him. Well, our text for today picks up there and finds Jesus speaking primarily to those who have just come to believe in him. Jesus assures them, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” It’s here that I think we need to make a very slight, yet crucial, distinction. There is a difference between profession and possession. Hear me out for just a second. Many people think that they are Christians because they made a profession of faith, they stated what and who Jesus was to them. Maybe they went to some service where they made an altar call or went through some class before joining a church that taught them all they needed to know. To each of those things I would say great, but that doesn’t make you a Christian. Just because I went to seminary doesn’t necessarily make me a pastor. Just because my wife has an animal and dairy science degree doesn’t make her a veterinarian. Jesus is telling those around him that if they are truly his disciples and they truly adhere to his word, then they will know the truth and they will possess saving faith. You see, being a Christian is much more than saying that you are a Christian. It’s much more than having all the right biblical and theological answers when a question arises. I had an old preacher friend tell me one time, “Tommy, if you truly live as a Christian should live, then you’ll never have to tell someone that you are a Christian. You’ll never get asked whether or not you believe in Christ, because people will know that you believe just by how you live your life.” There is a difference between living it, possessing saving faith, and simply professing with our tongues and not our hearts.
Now, the Jews take offense to such a statement. After all, they are not slaves; so what does Jesus mean when he talks about setting them free? They even point to the fact that they are children of Abraham, part of God’s chosen people. In fact, most of these Jewish people could trace their lineage back to Abraham himself. We see this statement made by these people and we laugh because it seems like they are trying to say that they should be and are saved based off of their family tree, but we shouldn’t be too quick to judge. After all, how many of us do the exact same thing? I know that when someone asks me about my Christian background and my own personal relationship with the Lord, I point to and start with the fact that I was raised in a church by Christian parents who also were raised by Christian parents and so on and so on. I say these things as if they had any bearing on my salvation at all. It’s not like my faith being multigenerational is any stronger or more valuable than the Christian who came to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior a few days ago at a Bible study. Sure I have more experience and maybe more folks to lean on, but that doesn’t change the status of my salvation.
Christ tells these folks that it doesn’t matter who you are, who your parents are, or who you can trace you lineage back to, you are a sinner. There is no person aside from Jesus who has existed, does exist, or ever will exist that is completely free of sin. However, there is freedom to be found for the rest of us from this sin and it comes in the form of the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus knows that these folks are children of Abraham and that they are upset because of his roundabout way of referring to them as slaves, but once again it is from a perspective that they cannot understand. Christ is again speaking from a heavenly plane whereas the Jews can only attest to the things of this earth. He’s not talking about slavery to Rome or any other nation or person, but a slave to sin.
One of the most often asked questions that I get as a pastor and particularly a Presbyterian minister pertains to that of free will. People always ask the question of, “Preacher, we do have free will, don’t we?” Before I answer this question, I often warn people that they need to be careful how they understand and interpret the concept of free will. Somewhere along the way, this belief that we were born ethically neutral and indifferent entered into our minds. You see, when God created man (Adam and Eve) they were neutral. They had the ability to choose right or wrong without being biased to either side. As we know from our studies, they chose wrong, and initiated what is referred to as the Fall of all mankind. However, it isn’t as if this Fall took away all choice and ability to choose on the part of man. We still have minds that think, wills that make choices, and hearts that have affections, so we think we’re free, completely and totally free, but Jesus tells us here that we really aren’t free. When he refers to man as slaves to sin, think about sin as being chains that shackle a prisoner or slave. We still have our minds, wills, and hearts, but those chains of sin greatly limit our choices. We can still do good and we can choose to do good without being forced into it. However, we are inclined to not do good. We aren’t necessarily inclined to do evil, but not really to do good. Think about this, do you really seek the welfare of others before your own? I must admit that far too often my mindset is that of “let me get myself and my family secure and comfortable and then I will devote myself to the service of others.” I don’t intentionally want others to suffer, but I’m just more concerned with myself and my family than those who are actually suffering. I don’t think that anybody could look at me or my family and give a description of our lives and the word suffering be anywhere in there. In fact, the only words that should be used are words like blessed, fortunate, and privileged. Does this sound like a freedom to you? Does knowing that I should choose others, yet I almost always choose myself sound like complete and total freedom? It sounds like I am already inclined to behave one certain way over another. This is what is meant we say that while we still have a free will, we are not completely free from the slavery to sin.
Jesus goes on to say of this slavery, that it is ultimately a slavery to the devil. This slavery is us wanting to follow the temptations that Satan places before us. Just as Jesus was tempted by him in the wilderness, so too are we on a daily basis. The problem is that whereas Jesus resisted the temptation, we fall victim to it so frequently. I shared with you a moment ago just how my instinct and my desire to provide comfort and security for my family is my temptation. No, there isn’t anything wrong with wanting what is good for my family, but doing it at the expense of those who are truly suffering is a whole different argument. Jesus tells the people that “whoever is of God hears the words of God” when Jesus is speaking to them. Friends, let me encourage you to never try and silence the words of God. Never try to resist the call that God is placing on your life. I tried it once when I told God openly and shouting that there was no way possible that He was going to get me to quit my job and go to seminary for several years so that I could enter into pastoral ministry. We all see who won out in the end, so there’s no need to go into that.
The Jews in our text think that Jesus has gone mad; they think that he is possessed by a demon. This is quite odd, since many of them have just professed to believing in him and would have agreed with just about anything he said before that whole part about being slaves to sin. Jesus is none too happy with their accusation and even tells these folks that they are dishonoring him by saying such things. He tells them that he is only doing the will of the Father. Then he makes an emphatic statement by telling them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” We know that this is both emphatic and accurate because of the “truly, truly” which begins this statement. Any time you find the same word repeated back-to-back in Scripture, it is a note that you need to pay close attention. Jesus is saying that for those who are believers in him that death never comes. Don’t misunderstand me, death comes to our earthly selves, but we enter into the kingdom of heaven and live there for all eternity. The Jews there this day don’t know that part of it. They don’t understand because they have not truly believed in him with their hearts, but only professed him with their tongues. So, we see that the problem of profession vs. possession that we talked about earlier isn’t exactly a new one. The Jews are blind. They say, “But what about Abraham and the prophets of the Old Testament? All of these were men of God and they all died.” Once again, they do not understand because of the view from which they are seeing things. Much like us today, the Jews can only see things as they are on this earth. However, Christ sees the world and all things from a heavenly vantage point. Just because Abraham is no longer there where they can touch him and hear him doesn’t mean that he has ceased to be. Abraham has simply gone to be with his Father in heaven. We say of Christian men and women when they pass away that they have been called home or entered the church triumphant, we don’t say that they ceased to be because that is not true. When we leave this earth, we go to be with the one who told the Jews this day that, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
Friends, the words spoken by Jesus at the beginning of our passage that said that the truth will set us free are not words about being honest and forthcoming. No, the truth doesn’t refer to an action, but to a person. The truth is Jesus Christ. The truth is that through him, we have access to the Father and can enter into the kingdom of heaven. People say, “Well, what about those who died before Jesus came? How did they enter into heaven?” The answer is Jesus. He has made it clear that there has never been a time when he has not been. What does he get for telling such an amazing truth? He gets rocks and stones thrown at him. He gets condemned for telling people the truth, what they need to hear, instead of what they want to hear. The people want to hear nothing but good things of how they are now possessors of heaven and that they have now been saved, but faith doesn’t stop with profession. No, faith goes much deeper than the mouth.
So, it’s at this point, as we prepare to leave this text where I want to ask each and every one of you a personal question that may be difficult to answer. How would you describe your faith? Would you say that you are more of a professor or a possessor? Does you Christian commitment stop with your words and maybe some of your actions, or does it penetrate to the very core of who you are? Are you putting into practice the commandment given by Jesus to go and make disciples, or are you keeping your faith all to yourself? Friends, the gospel is to be shared with everyone. There are thousands of people right here in our own backyard who are running from the truth. There are thousands of people who don’t even think about darkening the doors of a church on Sunday. If we were truly possessors of the faith and sought the fulfillment of all the commands that Christ gives us in Scripture, then we would be doing all that we could to bring them to Jesus. Y’all, we stand on the cusp of a crucial time in the life of the Christian faith. There are assaults coming at Christians form all different angles, but that’s ok. For all we need to do is continue to seek Christ, obey God’s Word, and make disciples. I can promise you without hesitation, that the forces of evil in this world may frighten us, but they will never overtake us. Glory be to God; in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
John 8:12-30 "Run the the Light"
Well, there certainly is a lot there in these verses that we could talk about for hours, but don’t worry, I won’t. Many of the things that we see such as Jesus’ saying that his hour having not yet come and no one laying a hand on him are things that we have seen several times throughout John’s gospel. There are also some words and phrases that we find in this conversation largely dominated by Christ that are quite familiar to us as well. Why, beginning in the first verse when Christ refers to himself by saying, “I am the light of the world” is reminiscent of the prologue of this gospel. The distinction that he makes between the light (himself) and the darkness further emphasizes this point as well. Now, using the words I AM is something that we find throughout John’s gospel. The question becomes why Christ uses (and John records) this phrase continuously. You see, one of the primary purposes of John’s gospel is to expound upon the person of Jesus. Whereas the other three gospels focus much more on the events of Jesus’ life, John focuses on his reasons for coming, his relationship with the Father, and his struggles with fulfilling his earthly ministry. The phrase I AM (or ἐγω ειμι in Greek) can literally can be translated I AM WHO I AM, and it is the same as the name that God claimed for Himself in the Old Testament. In essence, Jesus is saying that his words are not just his words, but they are the testimony of both the Son and the Father. He is very much claiming an intimate relationship with God that places him on the same level as the Father.
Now, this is important given what comes next from the Pharisees. They deny Christ’s testimony. They say that his testimony cannot be credible because not only is he speaking of himself, but he is the only one who is doing so. You see, there had to be at least two witnesses for something to be considered true in this day and age. If you were to commit a crime only one person saw you, then you could not be convicted of that crime because the testimony of only one person was deemed to not be credible. Jesus’ words here are not only telling the Pharisees that he is not the only one who bears witness to his identity, but that the Father, the one who sent him, bears witness as well. Then Jesus goes on to say in essence that even if he was the only one to bear witness about himself, then it would still be enough because he is from above. He has an intimate knowledge of heaven. He has been since before creation. He is reminding the Pharisees that they are only capable of judging from an earthly perspective, while Christ sees things from the perspective of truth, from the perspective of heaven. He continues to emphasize that anything that he does is not simply a work of his own or something that happens on a whim, but is part of a very carefully planned mission given to him by the Father. Regardless of what the Pharisees may think that they know and think that they see, they don’t know the whole story. They don’t understand that Christ and the Father both are bearing witness about him. It’s ironic that the Pharisees view Jesus’ words to be untruthful, since they are coming from the source of truth Himself. It gives us a little bit better glimpse into the mind and motives of the Pharisees.
Of course, we have to think about things from the perspective of the Pharisees too. As Jesus is saying that the Father also bears witness about him, we have to ask the question of who the Pharisees had in mind when they heard these words. Did they think that Jesus was referring to Joseph? If they did, it would make sense that they would ignore these words. Did they even have any idea that he could be referencing God himself? After all, the Pharisees and the Jews notions of God was that he was monotheistic. In other words, that He existed only as one “person.” The concept of the Trinity was completely foreign to them. True, we may not be able to understand and fully grasp what it means even to us, but at least we know what that title means. We are not completely confused by hearing the One True God referenced as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Why, just look at the words of the Pharisees, “Where is your Father?” They are wanting Jesus to go and get this person who is also bearing witness about him. They want to find out what authority Jesus’ father has to bear witness about Jesus’ identity.
Once again Jesus has to correct misunderstandings on the part of the Pharisees. “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” I want to take just a second and step away from the context of our passage and look at these words as they apply to today and the world that we currently live in. You see, these words, as well as statements like “No one can come to the Father except through me” or as we will later see in this gospel “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God” speak to the mindset of many people and even some Christians today. We live in a world that is very concerned with not excluding anyone or offending anyone, or at least that’s what they tell me. I seem to find myself offending someone on a regular basis, but it’s usually because of my view of God and of Christianity. The notions that exist in our world today that we are all worshipping the same God just in different forms and practices is ludicrous to me. Jesus makes it as clear as he can by saying that you cannot have God without Christ; there is no separation between the two. You see, the view out there that doesn’t deny God as the ultimate Creator and Ruler of all things, while at the same time denying the teachings of Christ is not okay with me. This belief exists in numerous forms. There are the faiths of Islam and Judaism, to name a few, that openly say that Jesus existed but that he indeed wasn’t the Messiah. There are others that hold Scripture in no regard at all, but still hold the belief that there is a higher power that exists in some form or another. Perhaps you have had some experience with one of these different belief systems.
Unfortunately, these beliefs are even found in some folks who claim themselves to be Christians and who completely acknowledge that God accomplished all he that we have recorded for us in the Old Testament. They profess the entirety of Scripture to be the Word of God. They cling to Jesus as the obtainer of our salvation. The problem comes when we find how they treat the actual earthly teachings of Jesus. When we hear the words spoken by Christ that condemn a particular sin and yet we dismiss it because we say that it doesn’t apply to us today. Maybe you have come across this belief or have even held it yourself from time-to-time. The truth is that we just don’t want to change. So many want all of the benefits that go with bearing the name Christian, but want no part in the responsibilities that go with it. Some flippantly throw out the name God, while Scripture has no bearing on how they live their lives. I see it all the time in folks that really don’t know if they believe in God, but they certainly don’t act as if they do and yet when it comes time for a marriage or a funeral or even the baptism of a child, they want some type of Christian service. I’ve often found this to be the most puzzling aspect of pastoral ministry.
You see, Jesus is telling the Pharisees that he’s leaving. He’s telling them that the entirety of his ministry is not about him but it is leading up to something much greater than any of them can possibly imagine. How could they understand? After all, they are from below and he is from above. He’s been telling them this whole time exactly who he is, yet they have refused to believe him and believe in him, much like the people that I mentioned a moment ago, but they will. “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.” The Pharisees have no idea what Jesus is talking about, but we do. We know that the being lifted up here is a direct foreshadowing of the cross that is to come. And we not only do we know that that cross is to come, but we what was accomplished on that cross.
You see, this whole passage about Jesus being the light of the world is really a conversation before the fact about the cross. It’s a look at the fact that what Jesus is doing and what he is to accomplish is not his own work, but a work of God. Friends, we will see numerous times in the upcoming chapters in John’s gospel that Jesus is making it clear that he is the way to the Father, that he is the way to heaven. There is no way around Jesus when it comes to entering into the kingdom of heaven. So we have to ask ourselves, what about all those that we mentioned a moment ago who deny or downplay Christ as the Messiah? If there is no way to the Father but through the Son, then what about those who deny the Son? Well, the answer seems pretty simple doesn’t it? The truth of the matter is that there is no salvation, no life eternal in heaven, without Jesus Christ. We see that in our text after people hear the words of Christ and the testimony that he and the Father give about him that many believed in him. You see, when we testify, when we witness to others about Jesus, we are not acting alone either. God has sent the Paraclete, the Helper, the Holy Spirit to bear witness and change the hearts and minds and lives of those around us. Let us have the boldness and the strength to go out into the world and proclaim with confidence that Jesus Christ is the way. Glory be to God; in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Now, this is important given what comes next from the Pharisees. They deny Christ’s testimony. They say that his testimony cannot be credible because not only is he speaking of himself, but he is the only one who is doing so. You see, there had to be at least two witnesses for something to be considered true in this day and age. If you were to commit a crime only one person saw you, then you could not be convicted of that crime because the testimony of only one person was deemed to not be credible. Jesus’ words here are not only telling the Pharisees that he is not the only one who bears witness to his identity, but that the Father, the one who sent him, bears witness as well. Then Jesus goes on to say in essence that even if he was the only one to bear witness about himself, then it would still be enough because he is from above. He has an intimate knowledge of heaven. He has been since before creation. He is reminding the Pharisees that they are only capable of judging from an earthly perspective, while Christ sees things from the perspective of truth, from the perspective of heaven. He continues to emphasize that anything that he does is not simply a work of his own or something that happens on a whim, but is part of a very carefully planned mission given to him by the Father. Regardless of what the Pharisees may think that they know and think that they see, they don’t know the whole story. They don’t understand that Christ and the Father both are bearing witness about him. It’s ironic that the Pharisees view Jesus’ words to be untruthful, since they are coming from the source of truth Himself. It gives us a little bit better glimpse into the mind and motives of the Pharisees.
Of course, we have to think about things from the perspective of the Pharisees too. As Jesus is saying that the Father also bears witness about him, we have to ask the question of who the Pharisees had in mind when they heard these words. Did they think that Jesus was referring to Joseph? If they did, it would make sense that they would ignore these words. Did they even have any idea that he could be referencing God himself? After all, the Pharisees and the Jews notions of God was that he was monotheistic. In other words, that He existed only as one “person.” The concept of the Trinity was completely foreign to them. True, we may not be able to understand and fully grasp what it means even to us, but at least we know what that title means. We are not completely confused by hearing the One True God referenced as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Why, just look at the words of the Pharisees, “Where is your Father?” They are wanting Jesus to go and get this person who is also bearing witness about him. They want to find out what authority Jesus’ father has to bear witness about Jesus’ identity.
Once again Jesus has to correct misunderstandings on the part of the Pharisees. “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” I want to take just a second and step away from the context of our passage and look at these words as they apply to today and the world that we currently live in. You see, these words, as well as statements like “No one can come to the Father except through me” or as we will later see in this gospel “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God” speak to the mindset of many people and even some Christians today. We live in a world that is very concerned with not excluding anyone or offending anyone, or at least that’s what they tell me. I seem to find myself offending someone on a regular basis, but it’s usually because of my view of God and of Christianity. The notions that exist in our world today that we are all worshipping the same God just in different forms and practices is ludicrous to me. Jesus makes it as clear as he can by saying that you cannot have God without Christ; there is no separation between the two. You see, the view out there that doesn’t deny God as the ultimate Creator and Ruler of all things, while at the same time denying the teachings of Christ is not okay with me. This belief exists in numerous forms. There are the faiths of Islam and Judaism, to name a few, that openly say that Jesus existed but that he indeed wasn’t the Messiah. There are others that hold Scripture in no regard at all, but still hold the belief that there is a higher power that exists in some form or another. Perhaps you have had some experience with one of these different belief systems.
Unfortunately, these beliefs are even found in some folks who claim themselves to be Christians and who completely acknowledge that God accomplished all he that we have recorded for us in the Old Testament. They profess the entirety of Scripture to be the Word of God. They cling to Jesus as the obtainer of our salvation. The problem comes when we find how they treat the actual earthly teachings of Jesus. When we hear the words spoken by Christ that condemn a particular sin and yet we dismiss it because we say that it doesn’t apply to us today. Maybe you have come across this belief or have even held it yourself from time-to-time. The truth is that we just don’t want to change. So many want all of the benefits that go with bearing the name Christian, but want no part in the responsibilities that go with it. Some flippantly throw out the name God, while Scripture has no bearing on how they live their lives. I see it all the time in folks that really don’t know if they believe in God, but they certainly don’t act as if they do and yet when it comes time for a marriage or a funeral or even the baptism of a child, they want some type of Christian service. I’ve often found this to be the most puzzling aspect of pastoral ministry.
You see, Jesus is telling the Pharisees that he’s leaving. He’s telling them that the entirety of his ministry is not about him but it is leading up to something much greater than any of them can possibly imagine. How could they understand? After all, they are from below and he is from above. He’s been telling them this whole time exactly who he is, yet they have refused to believe him and believe in him, much like the people that I mentioned a moment ago, but they will. “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.” The Pharisees have no idea what Jesus is talking about, but we do. We know that the being lifted up here is a direct foreshadowing of the cross that is to come. And we not only do we know that that cross is to come, but we what was accomplished on that cross.
You see, this whole passage about Jesus being the light of the world is really a conversation before the fact about the cross. It’s a look at the fact that what Jesus is doing and what he is to accomplish is not his own work, but a work of God. Friends, we will see numerous times in the upcoming chapters in John’s gospel that Jesus is making it clear that he is the way to the Father, that he is the way to heaven. There is no way around Jesus when it comes to entering into the kingdom of heaven. So we have to ask ourselves, what about all those that we mentioned a moment ago who deny or downplay Christ as the Messiah? If there is no way to the Father but through the Son, then what about those who deny the Son? Well, the answer seems pretty simple doesn’t it? The truth of the matter is that there is no salvation, no life eternal in heaven, without Jesus Christ. We see that in our text after people hear the words of Christ and the testimony that he and the Father give about him that many believed in him. You see, when we testify, when we witness to others about Jesus, we are not acting alone either. God has sent the Paraclete, the Helper, the Holy Spirit to bear witness and change the hearts and minds and lives of those around us. Let us have the boldness and the strength to go out into the world and proclaim with confidence that Jesus Christ is the way. Glory be to God; in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
John 8:1-11 "No Stones, Only Forgiveness"
Our text today comes to us on the heels of Jesus’ most recent infuriation of the Pharisees. They have had enough of this man, and are continuing to try and find a way to deal with the problem that is the person of Jesus. Their last attempt to arrest him resulted in one of their own, Nicodemus, reminding them that Jesus hadn’t even done anything wrong. In addition to that, the guards who were sent to arrest him not only failed in completing their task, but they never even laid a hand on him. However, this time they have come up with a plan that they are sure will work. They will trick Jesus into answering a question that either contradicts the law of Moses or lands him in trouble with the civil authorities, and this will provide them with all the reason they need to have him arrested. Now, I don’t want to oversimplify things too much here, but the Pharisees have a somewhat cartoonesque quality about them to me here. They remind me of the character Wile E. Coyote from The Coyote and The Roadrunner cartoons. Do you remember those short little cartoons, the coyote would always come up with these “can’t fail” traps from the ACME company to catch the roadrunner, but they would never work. It wasn’t that the roadrunner would do anything special to get out of them. He would just continue to be exactly who he was, and by doing so would never fall into any of the coyote’s traps. Despite the numerous traps that we see all throughout Jesus’ life set by the Pharisees, Jesus never falls into one simply by being who he is. He never has to think his way out of anything or act hastily to avoid their snares; he simply stays the course and stays on the path that his Father has set before him.
This particular trap or test set up by the Pharisees has to do with a woman who has committed adultery. We see that the Pharisees even go so far as to tell Jesus that “this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.” Now, forgetting the question of where her, we might say, co-conspirator is in all of this, we have to look at it from the perspective of those living during this day. You see, adultery still exists in many forms today and is unfortunately all too common. However, the penalty that exists for committing such an offense today is not what it once was. I have known numerous couples who have struggled with adultery on the part of one or both of the parties in a marriage who have been able to reconcile and in fact nurture and strengthen their relationships to an even greater union. However, at the time of our text, adultery was a crime the required that all offending parties be put to death, which was usually accomplished by stoning.
Now, when the Pharisees ask Jesus how they should handle this matter they are asking him a question that from their perspective has no right answer. On the one hand, if Jesus says that they should stone this woman, and thus put her to death, then Jesus is guilty from a civil perspective. You see, Israel was under Roman occupation at this time. That being the case, Israel, or any of her citizens, didn’t have the authority to sentence anyone to death regardless of how guilty they may be. That’s the reason why Jesus was sentenced by Pontius Pilate later on instead of Caiaphas handing down the punishment himself. So if Jesus were to condemn this woman to death, then the Pharisees could run the Roman headquarters and tell them that this man was advocating capital punishment outside of the Roman system. They could tell the Romans that Jesus was trying to go around their authority and thus ignore their rule. Now, on the other hand, if Jesus would have said that this woman should not be stoned to death, then he would be seen as a heretic. The Pharisees could run to the Sanhedrin, the ruling council, and tell them that this man was denying the law of Moses. This man was denying the law that regulated the lives of all the citizens within Israel. So you see, there is seemingly no way that Jesus could answer this question without finding himself in trouble with at least one of the major authorities of this time.
At first, Jesus seems to give the ol’ cold shoulder and act as if he’s not hearing them. Many wives among us may have referred to this practice as selective hearing. While not answering their question, Jesus begins writing on the ground. As the Pharisees continued to ask Jesus what they should do and how he thought they should handle this woman who is without question guilty of the crime and the sin that she has been charged with, Jesus stops his writing in the sand like kids drawing up a backyard football play, and responds to them. He says, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And then he goes right back to his writing in the sand.
You may not realize it yet, but this Sunday is virtually my one year anniversary as your pastor. On Tuesday, the 15th, it will be exactly one full calendar year since I began serving as the pastor of this wonderful congregation. Over the past year, I have gotten to known all of you a little bit better and I hope that you have all gotten to know me somewhat as well. Now, in case you haven’t learned these things about me, I’m going to tell you about two character traits that I have that I cannot even begin to deny. The first is that I am very opinionated. I have my own opinions about things, although they may not be voiced at all times, but they very much do exist. I’m not afraid to share my opinions with anyone; I just know most people don’t really care what I think. Amy can tell you with certainty, that many times when someone asks for my opinion on a certain matter I usually ask them before I respond, “Are you really sure that you want my opinion?” because I can promise you that it will not be “sugar-coated.” The second thing that you may or may not know about me is that I tend to just find trouble without even trying. I don’t go looking for it, but I am always finding myself in predicaments. Many times it is because of that first trait that I shared with you a moment ago. I can’t help it; it’s been that way all of my life. When I was a kid, I didn’t purposefully act up; it was just my natural inclination to do whatever was an undesired behavior from the perspective of my parents, teachers, or other authority figures. Unfortunately, that trait seems to be genetic and I see each and every day in my little boy Thomas.
I bring up these traits because if you are like me, then the words of Jesus found in verse 7 here have been recited to you a number of times. When I would get angry and upset over an injustice that I felt had been done to me, I would quickly want to point out all of the flaws and the wrongdoings of the person or persons that had offended me. My grandmother would always say these words to me at such times. She knew me. She knew I was anything but angelic when it came to the behavior department. She would remind me that there is no such thing as the perfect person, so I should be very cautious when handing out accusations. She would remind me that my opinionated speech and proclivity for finding trouble erased all doubt that I was worthy of throwing such stones.
You see, Jesus is not exactly answering the question of the Pharisees as to whether or not to stone this adulterous woman. He is however saying that if there is someone among them who has not sinned, then they should by all means be the first to begin the stoning of this woman. We see that as the words of Christ take root within the minds of those around him, that the crowd, many of whom are there just waiting for Jesus to slip up, begins to dissipate one-by-one. Eventually, there is only Jesus and this woman left standing there together. Jesus, somewhat comically I assume, asks the woman where those who are condemning her have gone; sort of a “where’d everybody go” type of moment. Then, we find the only words spoken by this woman, “No one, Lord.” In other words, she is saying, “there is no one here to condemn me.”
Finally, Jesus responds to her by saying, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” As brilliant biblical scholar RC Sproul puts it, “If you can’t relate to those words, then your heart is hardened, because each one of us comes to God like this woman, guilty, ashamed, naked, and exposed. But Christ clothes us with the cloak of righteousness, covering our nakedness and shame, and says to us, ‘Neither do I condemn you.’” In his telling her to go, Christ is telling her to live life anew. That she should go forth and conquer and overcome the sin that she has found herself committing. She has found forgiveness from God Himself, and she should gladly put aside her sinful ways and walk in the newness of life.
Although I may have learned a very valuable lesson from my grandmother as a result of the words that Jesus spoke during this passage, it means so much more to all of us. When we look and see the acknowledgment on the part of Jesus that no one is without sin and without error, yet there is also no condemnation, we must celebrate. Just as we remind ourselves with our call to confession that everyone has sinned, yet there is forgiveness in Christ Jesus. I have messed up a lot in my life. Some of my mistakes have been minor, some have been comical after the fact, but some have been egregious. Some have been unforgiveable from my perspective, and maybe you have felt this way too. Maybe you have found yourself in a situation or committing an action so unworthy of the name Christian that you shudder to even think about it. But the good news is found in those sweet, sweet words of Jesus, “Neither do I condemn you.” Friends, there is peace and understanding and most of all forgiveness to be found in our Savior Jesus Christ. Yes, we should forgive others just as we hope to be forgiven, but I know that this can sometimes be a difficult thing. However, just know, that when it comes to our Father in Heaven, there is complete and total forgiveness because of Jesus Christ. There is complete forgiveness because of the saving death and resurrection of Jesus Christ; the very same thing with we will commemorate in just a few moments with the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. Let us all come to Christ, for he is the one true forgiveness of sins. Glory be to God; in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
This particular trap or test set up by the Pharisees has to do with a woman who has committed adultery. We see that the Pharisees even go so far as to tell Jesus that “this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.” Now, forgetting the question of where her, we might say, co-conspirator is in all of this, we have to look at it from the perspective of those living during this day. You see, adultery still exists in many forms today and is unfortunately all too common. However, the penalty that exists for committing such an offense today is not what it once was. I have known numerous couples who have struggled with adultery on the part of one or both of the parties in a marriage who have been able to reconcile and in fact nurture and strengthen their relationships to an even greater union. However, at the time of our text, adultery was a crime the required that all offending parties be put to death, which was usually accomplished by stoning.
Now, when the Pharisees ask Jesus how they should handle this matter they are asking him a question that from their perspective has no right answer. On the one hand, if Jesus says that they should stone this woman, and thus put her to death, then Jesus is guilty from a civil perspective. You see, Israel was under Roman occupation at this time. That being the case, Israel, or any of her citizens, didn’t have the authority to sentence anyone to death regardless of how guilty they may be. That’s the reason why Jesus was sentenced by Pontius Pilate later on instead of Caiaphas handing down the punishment himself. So if Jesus were to condemn this woman to death, then the Pharisees could run the Roman headquarters and tell them that this man was advocating capital punishment outside of the Roman system. They could tell the Romans that Jesus was trying to go around their authority and thus ignore their rule. Now, on the other hand, if Jesus would have said that this woman should not be stoned to death, then he would be seen as a heretic. The Pharisees could run to the Sanhedrin, the ruling council, and tell them that this man was denying the law of Moses. This man was denying the law that regulated the lives of all the citizens within Israel. So you see, there is seemingly no way that Jesus could answer this question without finding himself in trouble with at least one of the major authorities of this time.
At first, Jesus seems to give the ol’ cold shoulder and act as if he’s not hearing them. Many wives among us may have referred to this practice as selective hearing. While not answering their question, Jesus begins writing on the ground. As the Pharisees continued to ask Jesus what they should do and how he thought they should handle this woman who is without question guilty of the crime and the sin that she has been charged with, Jesus stops his writing in the sand like kids drawing up a backyard football play, and responds to them. He says, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And then he goes right back to his writing in the sand.
You may not realize it yet, but this Sunday is virtually my one year anniversary as your pastor. On Tuesday, the 15th, it will be exactly one full calendar year since I began serving as the pastor of this wonderful congregation. Over the past year, I have gotten to known all of you a little bit better and I hope that you have all gotten to know me somewhat as well. Now, in case you haven’t learned these things about me, I’m going to tell you about two character traits that I have that I cannot even begin to deny. The first is that I am very opinionated. I have my own opinions about things, although they may not be voiced at all times, but they very much do exist. I’m not afraid to share my opinions with anyone; I just know most people don’t really care what I think. Amy can tell you with certainty, that many times when someone asks for my opinion on a certain matter I usually ask them before I respond, “Are you really sure that you want my opinion?” because I can promise you that it will not be “sugar-coated.” The second thing that you may or may not know about me is that I tend to just find trouble without even trying. I don’t go looking for it, but I am always finding myself in predicaments. Many times it is because of that first trait that I shared with you a moment ago. I can’t help it; it’s been that way all of my life. When I was a kid, I didn’t purposefully act up; it was just my natural inclination to do whatever was an undesired behavior from the perspective of my parents, teachers, or other authority figures. Unfortunately, that trait seems to be genetic and I see each and every day in my little boy Thomas.
I bring up these traits because if you are like me, then the words of Jesus found in verse 7 here have been recited to you a number of times. When I would get angry and upset over an injustice that I felt had been done to me, I would quickly want to point out all of the flaws and the wrongdoings of the person or persons that had offended me. My grandmother would always say these words to me at such times. She knew me. She knew I was anything but angelic when it came to the behavior department. She would remind me that there is no such thing as the perfect person, so I should be very cautious when handing out accusations. She would remind me that my opinionated speech and proclivity for finding trouble erased all doubt that I was worthy of throwing such stones.
You see, Jesus is not exactly answering the question of the Pharisees as to whether or not to stone this adulterous woman. He is however saying that if there is someone among them who has not sinned, then they should by all means be the first to begin the stoning of this woman. We see that as the words of Christ take root within the minds of those around him, that the crowd, many of whom are there just waiting for Jesus to slip up, begins to dissipate one-by-one. Eventually, there is only Jesus and this woman left standing there together. Jesus, somewhat comically I assume, asks the woman where those who are condemning her have gone; sort of a “where’d everybody go” type of moment. Then, we find the only words spoken by this woman, “No one, Lord.” In other words, she is saying, “there is no one here to condemn me.”
Finally, Jesus responds to her by saying, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” As brilliant biblical scholar RC Sproul puts it, “If you can’t relate to those words, then your heart is hardened, because each one of us comes to God like this woman, guilty, ashamed, naked, and exposed. But Christ clothes us with the cloak of righteousness, covering our nakedness and shame, and says to us, ‘Neither do I condemn you.’” In his telling her to go, Christ is telling her to live life anew. That she should go forth and conquer and overcome the sin that she has found herself committing. She has found forgiveness from God Himself, and she should gladly put aside her sinful ways and walk in the newness of life.
Although I may have learned a very valuable lesson from my grandmother as a result of the words that Jesus spoke during this passage, it means so much more to all of us. When we look and see the acknowledgment on the part of Jesus that no one is without sin and without error, yet there is also no condemnation, we must celebrate. Just as we remind ourselves with our call to confession that everyone has sinned, yet there is forgiveness in Christ Jesus. I have messed up a lot in my life. Some of my mistakes have been minor, some have been comical after the fact, but some have been egregious. Some have been unforgiveable from my perspective, and maybe you have felt this way too. Maybe you have found yourself in a situation or committing an action so unworthy of the name Christian that you shudder to even think about it. But the good news is found in those sweet, sweet words of Jesus, “Neither do I condemn you.” Friends, there is peace and understanding and most of all forgiveness to be found in our Savior Jesus Christ. Yes, we should forgive others just as we hope to be forgiven, but I know that this can sometimes be a difficult thing. However, just know, that when it comes to our Father in Heaven, there is complete and total forgiveness because of Jesus Christ. There is complete forgiveness because of the saving death and resurrection of Jesus Christ; the very same thing with we will commemorate in just a few moments with the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. Let us all come to Christ, for he is the one true forgiveness of sins. Glory be to God; in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
John 7:32-8:1 "Christian Discouragment?"
As we continue our look at John’s gospel, we find ourselves at the conclusion of Jesus’ time at the Festival of Booths in Jerusalem. If you will recall, Jesus has come to this festival and begun speaking very openly and publically about who he is, who sent him, and what he is to accomplish. The chief priests and the Pharisees, the religious leaders of the day, have become quite tired of all of the talking that Jesus has been doing. They noticed that there were those who were starting to really listen to and believe the things that this man was telling them. So, they ordered guards to arrest Jesus. Jesus delays their arresting him by saying something that quite honestly confuses everyone there. He says, “I will be with you a little longer, and then I am going to him who sent me. You will see me and you will not find me. Where I am you cannot come.” The confusion experienced by the people around extends to the guards who have been tasked with arresting Jesus. They don’t understand what he’s talking about by saying that he’s leaving, seeing as he’s fixing to be arrested. Even if he were to escape from them, what does he mean by saying that they won’t be able to find him and that you cannot go where he is going?
You see, many of those gathered around Jesus thought that he was simply speaking about fleeing from Jerusalem at this time. They thought that he was going out to what was referred to as the Dispersion or Diaspora among the Greeks; the Greek-speaking Jews. These were Jews who dwelt beyond the borders of Israel. They were similar to how folks may live in a particular county or parish, but that doesn’t mean that they are similar to those in the major city of that region. Think about that election night coverage that you watched so closely and were confused by. An entire area of a state would vote one way, but the metropolitan area at the center was completely the opposite. This was the case with the citizens of Jerusalem and those living outside the borders of Israel. They were still Jews, but they were a seemingly very different people. It may be perfectly clear to us what Jesus is saying to the people gathered around him, but they cannot even begin to imagine the magnitude of what the man standing before them is speaking about and what will be accomplished through it.
Jesus then goes on to speak about something that we have heard him mention before, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Do you remember our look at the fourth chapter of this gospel and Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman? When we looked at this we said that Jesus was the ultimate quencher of spiritual thirst and that drinking the water that he is offering was enough to keep us full and save us from going thirsty ever again, and least spiritually speaking. Now, we also need to understand that this was a special day during this particular festival; John tells us that this is the last day of the feast. You see, on the last day of the feast, great crowds would gather into Jerusalem for a sacred ceremony of the outpouring of the water, which symbolized the water flowing from the rock in Exodus 17; a truly solemn scene. And it is here where Jesus begins all of this talk about coming to him if you are thirsty. This no doubt infuriated the religious officials within Jerusalem.
The people of Jerusalem, having seen all of these things take place over the last few days; all the preaching, teaching, confrontations, near arrests, and interruptions of ceremonies, are now divided as to what to think about all of this. There are those who are now shouting that Jesus is the Christ, the promised Messiah. There are those who are still stuck on his region of origin and saying that there is no way that he can be who he claims to be. There are those who think that Christ has come to set them free, and there are those who want him arrested (and potentially killed) for what they have just witnessed. However, despite the rabid nature in which some people are now looking upon Jesus with, no one lays a hand on him.
We see that the priests and the Pharisees are none-to-pleased with the guards when they show back up without Jesus in their custody. They become even more upset when the guards’ reason for not having him is because, “No one ever spoke like this man!” They claim Jesus to be a liar and a deceiver. When one of their own, Nicodemus, speaks up not necessarily on Jesus’ behalf, but from a place of keeping an open mind, they quickly condemn him. You see, the chief priests and the Pharisees, and even some of those in the crowd in Jerusalem, were completely closed to the possibility of Christ actually being the Messiah. As I mentioned earlier, it’s easy for us to sit and criticize from our point-in-time and say that everyone should have believed. However, couldn’t that be said today too? Could we not say that it is even more foolish for people to not believe in Christ in this day-and-age considering all of the information that is out there and the familiarity that so many have with Christ and the gospel? There are tons of people out there who claim themselves to not believe in Christ, yet they know even more of what Scripture says than some professing Christians in our churches today.
In honesty, this fact can be quite discouraging for some Christians. Believe me, no Christian, not one, likes the fact that not every tongue professes Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. I know that I don’t. I can’t think of anything that I would not do in order for even one person to come to know Christ. My life, all that I do, is devoted to the mission and service of promoting the gospel, and I’m sure that many of you try and live this way too. So, the question becomes, should we be discouraged by the unbelief of our friends, family, neighbors, and all the others who don’t profess Christ as their Savior? Well, I don’t really think so. I think that it’s quite appropriate for us to be sad for those who do not know Christ and I think that it’s right for us to not be content with their disbelief. However, I don’t think that we should be discouraged at all. The Christian faith has always and will continue to flourish in times of hardship. During the times of greatest persecution, the Christian faith has seen its greatest periods of growth. Remember, there were those there in Jerusalem that day who saw and heard directly from Christ, yet they didn’t believe. There were those like the priests and Pharisees who couldn’t get past their own assumptions to see him clearly. For as far back in history as we look, there have been those who should have believed, but for one reason or another they didn’t and they don’t. Our response today should be to continue to seek to fulfill the Great Commission (to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that Christ has commanded) and the Great Commandment (to love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind; and to love our neighbor as ourselves). Let us never be discouraged by the disbelief of others, but only see it as an opportunity for God to bring even greater glory to His kingdom by working such a miraculous transformation in their hearts. Glory be to God; in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
You see, many of those gathered around Jesus thought that he was simply speaking about fleeing from Jerusalem at this time. They thought that he was going out to what was referred to as the Dispersion or Diaspora among the Greeks; the Greek-speaking Jews. These were Jews who dwelt beyond the borders of Israel. They were similar to how folks may live in a particular county or parish, but that doesn’t mean that they are similar to those in the major city of that region. Think about that election night coverage that you watched so closely and were confused by. An entire area of a state would vote one way, but the metropolitan area at the center was completely the opposite. This was the case with the citizens of Jerusalem and those living outside the borders of Israel. They were still Jews, but they were a seemingly very different people. It may be perfectly clear to us what Jesus is saying to the people gathered around him, but they cannot even begin to imagine the magnitude of what the man standing before them is speaking about and what will be accomplished through it.
Jesus then goes on to speak about something that we have heard him mention before, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Do you remember our look at the fourth chapter of this gospel and Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman? When we looked at this we said that Jesus was the ultimate quencher of spiritual thirst and that drinking the water that he is offering was enough to keep us full and save us from going thirsty ever again, and least spiritually speaking. Now, we also need to understand that this was a special day during this particular festival; John tells us that this is the last day of the feast. You see, on the last day of the feast, great crowds would gather into Jerusalem for a sacred ceremony of the outpouring of the water, which symbolized the water flowing from the rock in Exodus 17; a truly solemn scene. And it is here where Jesus begins all of this talk about coming to him if you are thirsty. This no doubt infuriated the religious officials within Jerusalem.
The people of Jerusalem, having seen all of these things take place over the last few days; all the preaching, teaching, confrontations, near arrests, and interruptions of ceremonies, are now divided as to what to think about all of this. There are those who are now shouting that Jesus is the Christ, the promised Messiah. There are those who are still stuck on his region of origin and saying that there is no way that he can be who he claims to be. There are those who think that Christ has come to set them free, and there are those who want him arrested (and potentially killed) for what they have just witnessed. However, despite the rabid nature in which some people are now looking upon Jesus with, no one lays a hand on him.
We see that the priests and the Pharisees are none-to-pleased with the guards when they show back up without Jesus in their custody. They become even more upset when the guards’ reason for not having him is because, “No one ever spoke like this man!” They claim Jesus to be a liar and a deceiver. When one of their own, Nicodemus, speaks up not necessarily on Jesus’ behalf, but from a place of keeping an open mind, they quickly condemn him. You see, the chief priests and the Pharisees, and even some of those in the crowd in Jerusalem, were completely closed to the possibility of Christ actually being the Messiah. As I mentioned earlier, it’s easy for us to sit and criticize from our point-in-time and say that everyone should have believed. However, couldn’t that be said today too? Could we not say that it is even more foolish for people to not believe in Christ in this day-and-age considering all of the information that is out there and the familiarity that so many have with Christ and the gospel? There are tons of people out there who claim themselves to not believe in Christ, yet they know even more of what Scripture says than some professing Christians in our churches today.
In honesty, this fact can be quite discouraging for some Christians. Believe me, no Christian, not one, likes the fact that not every tongue professes Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. I know that I don’t. I can’t think of anything that I would not do in order for even one person to come to know Christ. My life, all that I do, is devoted to the mission and service of promoting the gospel, and I’m sure that many of you try and live this way too. So, the question becomes, should we be discouraged by the unbelief of our friends, family, neighbors, and all the others who don’t profess Christ as their Savior? Well, I don’t really think so. I think that it’s quite appropriate for us to be sad for those who do not know Christ and I think that it’s right for us to not be content with their disbelief. However, I don’t think that we should be discouraged at all. The Christian faith has always and will continue to flourish in times of hardship. During the times of greatest persecution, the Christian faith has seen its greatest periods of growth. Remember, there were those there in Jerusalem that day who saw and heard directly from Christ, yet they didn’t believe. There were those like the priests and Pharisees who couldn’t get past their own assumptions to see him clearly. For as far back in history as we look, there have been those who should have believed, but for one reason or another they didn’t and they don’t. Our response today should be to continue to seek to fulfill the Great Commission (to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that Christ has commanded) and the Great Commandment (to love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind; and to love our neighbor as ourselves). Let us never be discouraged by the disbelief of others, but only see it as an opportunity for God to bring even greater glory to His kingdom by working such a miraculous transformation in their hearts. Glory be to God; in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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