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Grace, mercy and peace to you from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  Amen

Luke 21:5-19

Luke 21:16-19 – New International Version

16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 Everyone will hate you because of me. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 Stand firm, and you will win life.

I enjoy going to the movies. Show of hands, who enjoys the movies?  Great.  You should enjoy the sermon today.

Danielle and I enjoy going to the Plaza Cinema down at Laurieton. There is something about the décor, the gold, the feel as you walk through the door.  Feels like you’re stepping back in time. And the smell of popcorn, even though I don’t really like eating it.

One of the hardest things is choosing a movie.  Trying to choose something that everyone will enjoy is hard work. I know we have spent hours scrolling through all the streaming services trying to find a movie that everyone would like to see or hasn’t seen.  The last one we went to see was Top Gun 2. Wow, what a movie?  Filled with action, big sounds, blowing things up and great photography.  And despite being a movie about war, categorised as action and drama, I found it to be one of love, inspiration and hope.

If we think about today’s text, we might pop it into some slightly different categories.  Maybe horror, fantasy, drama thriller or maybe science fiction.  I propose that today’s text is more like a story of encouragement, hope, maybe inspirational.

Now, before we get too deep into the text, it might be beneficial for some backstory.  Similar to the rolling screen at the start of the Star Wars movie, where it opens with “A long, long time ago in a faraway galaxy…..”  Well, let’s do the same and start with picking up the writings about 30 years after Jesus’ death.  Luke’s concern is primarily focused on a detailed account of Jesus’ life, but also on bringing people to faith.[1]  As you know, we are heading towards the end of the Church year, and as we do, we turn our attention to eschatological matters; a focus on the end times, anticipation of Christ’s return and judgement.  So, there should be no surprise on the selection of the texts and their connecting themes.  But the end of the year is also a time for transition to a new year.  An opportunity to look back and remember and an opportunity to look forward with joy and anticipation of things to come.

We pick up today’s text in Jerusalem about 1 week before Jesus’ crucifixion, death and resurrection.  And we hear about the disciples admiring the great temple (v5).[2]  Adorned with all its gold and splendour, bronze gates and great offerings.[3]  No doubt it would have been a magnificent sight — an awe-inspiring place.  I am sure it would look great on the big screen!  And Jesus turns to the disciples and says ‘See all this, it will be destroyed.  Not on stone will be left upon another’ (v6).  Could you imagine what that would feel like?  Here stands the jewel of Jerusalem, and it is going to be decimated. Just like in the war movies where they blow everything up, nothing will be left standing.  Not one stone on another.  Wow.  Imagine how the people who adored the temple would have felt.

But why? Why the destruction?  Well, just before this, we hear about Jesus telling a story about a widow offering everything she had.  We hear about those who looked down upon her in their piety. She was seen as not good enough.  Her offering was no match for the great offerings at the temple in today’s story.[4] Yet, her modest offering was considered the greatest by Jesus.  Her offering went beyond any worldly gift a man or woman could offer.  She gave herself.[5]  If we consider the widow with today’s story, Jesus is saying be mindful, don’t put your trust in flashy, earthly, material things of this world.  Things that can rot, decay and be taken away.  Jesus is saying, put your trust in me.  The eternal possession which no amount of money can buy.

Another, more theological perspective is an early indication of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice.   Through his death on the cross, he renders the old sacrifice system of blood and animals with himself.  One sacrifice for all.  In doing so, renders the sacrifice and the temple surplus to need.  With a new, eternal temple established with the Holy Spirit inside each one of us. 

We then hear the disciples ask two questions in one sentence (v7). When will it happen? And how will we know?  Jesus, in his classic style, answering one of the two questions.   He says, this is how you will know. 

Firstly, don’t be misled by false prophets (v8).  He gives them a warning about who they are listening to.  Because there will be people who come along and tell you that ‘I am he’, but they aren’t.[6]  They aren’t the true Messiah.  As they said in the advert on TV “be alert, but not alarmed.”  Not everything may be as it first appears.  So be aware and discern what is true and good.

Then Jesus goes on and says, before all this, you will have some crazy things happen (vv9-11).  And he gives us a list:

• There will be wars and uprisings (v9).
• Nations v nations, kingdoms v kingdoms (v10).
• There will be Earthquakes, famines and plagues (v11).
• Here’s an interesting one, Portents – signs and warnings. A description of great suffering, fear and unhappiness (v11).

Oh, but first, Jesus says ‘just one more thing’.  Did I tell you that you may be killed?  What……Yes, you will be arrested, persecuted, evicted from synagogues, and put in prisons (v12).  Wow, Jesus, you are really selling this ‘Christ follower’ thing.  What Jesus is really explaining is exactly what happened to him.  What has happened to Paul.[7]  What happens today to many followers of Christ around the world because they bear his name and take up the cross, and follow him.  Jesus wants us to go in with eyes wide open.  He is preparing us for what is to come and know we will have all we need to meet the difficulties ahead.[8]

Now, as we know all good movies have a happy ending. Jesus doesn’t leave us hanging.  He says, sure all these things will happen but don’t worry.  Don’t stress about when all this will happen.  The end will come, but not immediately (v9). But, see this as a great opportunity.  Your suffering will open the doors to Kings, Princes, Governors (v13).  You will be brought in front of the most powerful people in the world. And as they turn their ear to hear your words of defence, you will be given an opportunity.  An opportunity to share the good news, to bear witness and testify about me and the power of my salvation brings.[9]

Imaging, standing in front of a King, someone of power, and testifying.  Trying to find the words to say. I’m gathering, just like me, we would struggle to find the words, not to mention to then have the ability to speak up and actually say anything.  Well, Moses had the same problem.  He said in Exodus 4:10, “I have never been a man of words…” But Jesus says again, don’t worry. Don’t prepare your words (v14).  I will give you the words to say (v15).  Simple words that will leave your opponents speechless.[10] He says to the disciples just keep doing what I have called you to do. Share the good news of my salvation with those around you.  And if you get persecuted, if you are hated, rejected by those closest to you, or not welcomed (vv16-17), don’t worry.   For I have you in the palm of my hand, and nothing will hurt (vv18-19).   Jesus encourages us that, despite the severe trials that we will face, we are not to be afraid. Because he will have the ultimate victory.[11]

Oh, and by the way, I am coming back for you.  Yes, there is a promise hidden in there for us.  He says ‘not a hair on your head will perish’ (v18) and that believers will ‘gain your souls’ (v19).  Jesus is saying you will ‘win life’ through your endurance of suffering.  That the gift, the prize, is a promise of eternal life with him.  Over the last couple of weeks, we have heard about the Saints.  We remembered the ones who have gone before us. The great cloud of witnesses who watch over us. And last week, the words of comfort and the promise of the resurrection.  The assurance of life where we know we will be reunited with our Christian brothers and sisters again.

How can we be sure?  Well, just like Top Gun, or any good movie, there is always a sequel – or maybe 3. There is more to come, more to the story.  The script has already been written.  We have the advantage of scripture, proof in the true word.  And in the coming verses, Jesus will give more details and warnings. He warns the disciples to be on the lookout, be prepared, for the opportunity to escape the demise of Jerusalem and seek shelter with him.  That the journey he is on will take him all the way to the cross. Where he nails the weight of the world’s sin.  Where he washes us clean through his blood, reconciling us through his resurrection. And the promise of his divine return.  A message of Salvation that’s been set in stone.

So my dear friends, be comforted and fear not. Don’t be weighed down by the difficulties of the world or the grips of evil.[12]  Know that despite the uncertainty, the chaos and challenges that we face in the future, we walk together. As we endure the suffering, we gain life.  As we look forward to the end times, we have the assurance that Jesus will return and gather us up with all the saints in heaven. Fear not, Jesus will take care of your persecutors.  Not a hair will be touched because you have the promise.  The promise of eternal life, held safely in the nail-scared hands of Jesus.[13]   What a blockbuster conclusion.  What words of hope and encouragement.

 Amen.

Let’s pray.

Dear heavenly Father.Thank you for sending Jesus to reconcile us to you, so that we may live in hope. Thank you for your word, for we know what happens with our story on earth and in eternity. Thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to walk with us as we wait patiently and are prepared for your return.
Amen

Luke 21:5-19

Do you face the future with apprehension and anxiety or with joyful anticipation? Our media, with its focus on bad news, doesn’t make it easy for us. There seems to be no end of so-called “experts” with their gloomy predictions about the future, despite their poor track record of success. Fifty years ago, scientist Paul Ehrlich prophesied ecological disaster and mass starvation for our world. Most of his gloomy predictions have not come true.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus informs us that despite disasters and tough times that may occur in the future, we can look forward to that “happy last day (Luther)” with joyful anticipation and unbridled hope. In the face of natural or man-made disasters, we can hold our heads up high because our salvation is near. We read in Luke 21:28, “Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” And the best, the very best of everything, will soon be given to all who love our Saviour Jesus Christ. The more we think about the new heaven and new earth that will be given to us, the more effective we will be in serving our God on this earth now. Those who have served God most effectively while on this earth have meditated frequently on what God is preparing for those who love Him in the life of the world to come. They’ve especially looked forward to Christ’s visible appearance on the Last Day.

We Christians ought not to be alarmed over threats of nuclear warfare or other international disasters because we know that Christ Jesus will triumph over all opposition and threats to His Church. He has already won the most important victory over sin, death and the devil at Easter. We live now in the light of that victory. Jesus said, “I have said this to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world! (John 16:33)” In this morning’s Gospel, Jesus is asked about signs of the last things.

St Peter mentions positive signs performed by Jesus before Easter, and in the Book of Acts we learn of signs like the conversion of 3,000 people to Christianity on the first Pentecost Sunday. The principal prophecies of the Old Testament have been fulfilled in the First Coming of Jesus Christ, at Christmas, Good Friday, Easter and Pentecost. The Last Days weren’t some event far off into the future, but an event that began at Pentecost. “In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh.” All Christians can now prophesy when they uplift, encourage and comfort others with the Holy Gospel. St Paul says, “Those who prophesy speak to other people for their upbuilding, encouragement and consolation (1 Corinthians 14:3).” By comforting and encouraging others, we strengthen their faith in the face of life’s troubles and trials. “The essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness to Jesus (Revelation 19:10).”

In the New Testament the role of prophecy is less to talk about the future, and more to reassure us of God’s hand in the things that are happening in our lives today. Romans 8:28 remains a key assurance for us, “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.” Many of the signs Jesus mentions in Luke 21 were already fulfilled in the Book of Acts, like Jesus’ followers being persecuted and brought before governors because of their faithful witness to Jesus. When they did that, they discovered that our risen Lord Jesus was fulfilling His promise of giving them powerful words promoting all that Jesus has done for us. Their opponents were astonished at their disarming fearlessness. “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus.” The more the first Christians were persecuted, the more the Christian Church grew. The Church thrives more in times of adversity than it does when everything’s going well.

A Chinese Christian has written that “the growth in the life of the Church has been promoted even by the servants of the devil. Wherever the Church flourishes there are difficulties. The revival of the Church here has grown up in this situation. For if Jesus had not been crucified, none today could be saved; if there were no testing by fire, then true faith would not become apparent, and if there were no training we could not become instruments used by the Lord. So difficulties are the means for promoting life and revival in the churches.”

Anatoli Levitin was imprisoned for the Christian education of youth. In prison he was able to spend much time in prayer. He writes, “The greatest miracle of all is prayer. I have only to turn my thoughts to God and I suddenly feel a force bursting into me; there is a new strength in my soul, in my entire being …” During his time of prayer, he would imagine himself taking part in the worship of his church. He said, “At the  central point of the liturgy … I felt myself standing before the face of the Lord, sensing almost physically His wounded, bleeding body. I would begin praying in my own words, remembering all those near to me, those in prison and those who were free, those still alive and those who had died. More and more names welled up from my memory … the prison walls moved apart and the whole universe became my residence, visible and invisible, the universe for which that wounded pierced body offered itself as a sacrifice … after this, I experienced an exultation of spirit all day – I felt purified within. Not only my own prayer helped me but even more the prayer of many other faithful Christians.”

St Paul, when he became a Christian, found endless comfort in the knowledge that Jesus identifies with us when we faithfully witness to Him. To persecute a Christian is to persecute Jesus. From that time on, St Paul was never able to look at another Christian without seeing Jesus there. Christians have viewed the fact that they can fearlessly witness to Jesus in the most negative of situations as evidence that Jesus is with them and sowing seeds of faith for the future. Not all that seems to be a sign really is a sign. Many events are important in their own right, without being signs of the End. Natural and social upheavals occur to keep us on our toes and to prevent apathy and complacency among Christians about the future of their faith.

The most important event that must occur before the End of our world is that the Gospel must first be preached to all nations, “And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come (Matthew 24:14).” St Paul did his utmost to spread the Gospel as far as he could. His example motivated countless other Christians to pass on the good news of Jesus Christ. “Very many of the disciples of that age, whose hearts had been ravished by the divine word with a burning love of Christianity, first fulfilled the command of the Saviour and divided their goods among the needy. Then they set out on long journeys, doing the work of evangelists, eagerly striving to preach Christ to those who had never heard the word of faith (Eusebius).”

We owe a huge debt to the witnessing activity of such faithful Christians. The spread of the Gospel continues today amongst migrants to our country like the Sudanese, Koreans and Chinese. Some of these, in turn, return to their homeland to spread the Gospel there. We can prepare for the Last Day by praying for and supporting the mission work of our Church here and overseas.

The more we can, in faith, see God at work in all the things that are going right in our lives now, the less need we will have to peep into tomorrow. Jesus says, “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes (Matthew 6:33-34).”

The prophets’ role in the Bible was to call God’s people to repentance and a deeper trust in their Creator. Fulfilment of prophecy (as predictions of the future) often came as a breath-taking surprise, exceeding all expectation. When Jesus came, He exceeded people’s expectation in all sorts of ways. We read in the Gospels that people were constantly astonished by what He said and did. He showed an extraordinary love and focussed His time and attention on those folk who were the neglected and forgotten members of society. No wonder the common people listened with rapt attention to Jesus. For He embodied the Good News He practised and preached.

Jesus equated the Gospel with Himself. To do something for the Gospel is to do it for Jesus. For where the Good News about Jesus is shared, there He is present. References to the blessings the Gospel brings us here and now far outweigh references to hell and damnation in the New Testament. Hell is for those who reject God’s love and the best good news in the universe. Jesus promises you that “By standing firm, you will gain life”, that is, life with Christ Jesus forever. He also promises that “not a hair of your head will perish.” This means that nothing, not even your hair, is excluded from Christ’s care of you. No part of your real being will be lost or brought to nothing. If your hair doesn’t perish, it is because that’s part of His will and purpose for you. “Of all the ills we endure / Hope is the universal cure.”

The New Testament links our Christian hope with words like assurance, confidence and eager expectation. After this sermon of Christ’s in today’s Gospel, in order to keep our faith and hope alive until He visibly reappears, Jesus instates Holy Communion. We don’t have to wait for the Last Day for Jesus Christ to come to us. Through Holy Communion, He prepares us for the life of the world to come. Holy Communion enables us to do today’s duties without worrying about what will happen in 2020 or 2021.
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him (1 Corinthians 2:9).” “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope (Jeremiah 29:11).”   Amen.

Text: Luke 20:34-38

Jesus answered, “The men and women of this age marry, but the men and women who are worthy to rise from death and live in the age to come will not then marry. They will be like angels and cannot die. They are the children of God, because they have risen from death.  And Moses clearly proves that the dead are raised to life. In the passage about the burning bush he speaks of the Lord as ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’  He is the God of the living, not of the dead, for to him all are alive.”

There is an Italian legend about a master and servant.  It seems the servant wasn’t very smart and the master used to get very exasperated with him.  Finally, one day, in a fit of temper, the master said, “You really are the stupidest man I know.  Here, I want you to carry this staff wherever you go. And if you ever meet a person stupider than yourself, give them this staff.” 

So time went by, the servant would encounter some pretty stupid people, but he never found someone stupid enough to give the staff.  Years later, he returned to his master’s home.  Even though his master was very sick, he still managed to say to his servant, “I see you haven’t found anyone more stupid to give that staff”.  After a while the master said, “I’m going on a journey soon.”
“When will you return?” asked the servant.
“This is a journey from which I won’t return,” the master replied.
The servant asked, “Have you made all the necessary arrangements?”
“No, I guess I haven’t.”
“Well, could you have made all the arrangements?”
“Oh yes, I’ve had time.  I’ve had all my life.  But I’ve been busy with other things.” 

The servant said, “Let me be sure about this.  You’re going on a journey from which you will never return and you’ve had all your life to make the arrangements, but you haven’t.”

The master said, “Yes, I guess that’s right.”
The servant replied, “Master, take this staff.  At last I have truly found a man stupider than myself.”

Maybe that’s just a story, but it reflects the way many people treat death as a taboo subject.  Everyone knows that it’s going to happen to them one day but it’s something people prefer not to think about or talk about.  No thought is given about death and dying and its impact on them personally.  No thought is given on how to prepare for death until it hits close to home and suddenly despair, emptiness, hopelessness and inconsolable grief fills their lives because they have never given any thought to the finality of death and what lies beyond this life.  Like the man in the story, too many people know they are going on this journey but don’t prepare for it.

On the other hand, people who have no interest in religion as well as people in the church want to know what happens when we die.  Science can’t penetrate beyond death to discover what happens to us.  We can’t interview anyone about dying, and what is beyond death.  There has been an intense examination of those who have had near death experiences and experience bright lights at the end of tunnels.  What these mean and do these apply to everyone is anyone’s guess.  Are these just happening in our brains or are they more than that?

Behind all this interest in death is the deep down feeling that there must be more – that there is something beyond this life. There is curiosity.  There is the desire to want to believe that our purpose is more than our years here on earth. 

Some have grasped on to the idea that has become very popular that we will come back again and our soul is given to another living creature. Our soul lives on forever, reincarnated hopefully into a higher living being each time.

Others say that everyone is born with an immortal soul that leaves us when we die and goes to live happily forever in another better place.  That immortal goodness in us is waiting to be released when we die and, regardless who the person is, that soul will rest in peace forever in paradise.

There are those who simply say that when you die, that’s it.  There is nothing else.  “When you’re dead, you’re dead!”  When your time’s up that’s the end of you and there is nothing else beyond your last breath.

The Sadducees followed this line of thinking.  They claimed that there was no life after death – no resurrection – since it isn’t mentioned in the first 5 books of the Old Testament.  They enjoyed having a bit of fun with those who did believe in life after death so they come to Jesus with this hypothetical question about a woman who marries 7 brothers after each one dies.  Pointing out how ridiculous the idea of life after death really is, they then ask with a smirk on their faces, “On the day when the dead rise to life, whose wife will she be?”  Can you imagine the Sadducees smugly folding their arms with a grin of satisfaction, thinking, “Get out of that one, carpenter from Nazareth!”

Jesus comes back with two answers both affirming beyond all doubt that there is a resurrection and that there is life after death.
Firstly, Jesus says that in this life, men and women marry but those who are worthy to rise from the dead will not marry.  They will be changed.  Their bodies will become like angels.  That means our bodies will be different to what they are now – we will have a heavenly body if you like.  What that precisely means we aren’t told but we are told they will never die.  We aren’t on a never ending merry-go-round of reincarnation, neither will we disappear into nothingness.  God has prepared for us an eternal destination.

The point Jesus is making here is that you can’t take what we experience in this life and project those experiences into the new life in heaven.  Heaven is way beyond anything we experience here.  As much as we might like to think we have some pretty good things here in this life and want to experience them again in heaven, Jesus is saying that heaven is way beyond anything we know from this present life.  It is something totally new and wonderful.  It defies description because all we can do is use words and images that we have from this life and they are completely inadequate when it comes to describing life after death.

It’s like looking through a frosted glass window trying to see what’s on the other side.  All we can see are shapes and lights – what’s on the other side will have to wait until we are able to see it all clearly with our own eyes.

Now to Jesus’ second come back to the Sadducees.  This time he refers to the books of Moses – the Sadducees considered themselves to be the experts when it came to this part of scripture.  He says, “Moses clearly proves that the dead are raised to life. In the passage about the burning bush he speaks of the Lord as “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’  He is the God of the living, not of the dead, for to him all are alive.”  He points out that God does not say that he was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as if they were dead and gone.  Rather God introduces himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who are alive and well living in his presence.  “I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I am the God of the living. I am the resurrection and the life.”

There are lots of things we don’t know about life after death and how the resurrection will happen and when it will happen.  But we do know that it will happen and who is at the centre of the resurrection even if everything is a bit unclear now.

In 1 Corinthians 15, St Paul uses the picture of the seed and the mature plant. When you look at the seed that you are about to plant, to all intents and purposes it looks dead and lifeless. Into the ground it goes, there to await the miracle of germination.  Down come the gentle rains and the warm rays of the sun and that dead seed suddenly and miraculously springs to life.  Up it pushes through the soil as a new plant and at last when it is ripe and mature is harvested.

So it will be with our bodies.  One day some loving hands will tenderly deposit the dormant seed of our lifeless bodies into the soil of the grave, there to await the miracle of germination, the wonder of the resurrection.  And up we will spring as God’s new plants, the same and yet different, glorified, deathless and immortal, ripe, mature and ready to be harvested and to enjoy his presence forever.

Paul calls Jesus “the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.”  Jesus has opened up the way for us to inherit eternal life.  He has been the first.  He defeated death and all its terrors by his own resurrection and promises that we too shall rise in the same way. 

Hermann Sasse was a German theologian who came to this country fleeing Nazi Germany.  He became a great teacher who influenced generations of Lutheran pastors in Australia.  His last message to the church and to the world is written on his grave stone – simple but profound words:
“For those who trust in you, Lord, life is changed, not ended.”

One new day we shall awake to a day beyond all other days by the love of God.  All trouble, doubts and fears will be gone.  We will become “like angels” by “the God of the living” we are raised to a joy and peace beyond anything that mortal minds can conceive.

When that happens, the words of this sermon will seem trivial, and even the visions of heaven in the Bible will seem an inadequate description of the real thing.  Now we see dimly, as through a frosted window; then we shall see with absolute clarity.  Thanks be to God!

Luke 18:9-14

Do you know of a perfect church-goer? There are many Christians I admire for all the love they show to hospital patients and all kinds of needy people. Yet these people are the first to admit their imperfections and short-comings. Just like in today’s parable, we learn of two different kinds of people in God’s House; so too our churches are made up of all kinds of imperfect men and women. Our churches are like hospitals, helping sinners receive help and healing for their sins. Church-goers are often referred to as “a mob of hypocrites”. Sadly, those who say that often have faults of their own, faults to which they’re often quite blind.

There is no shortage of Pharisees in today’s world. Perhaps, there’s a bit of Pharisee in each of us. Whenever we’re tempted to criticize someone else, we need to say: “There, but for the grace of God, go I.” It’s always wrong to compare ourselves with other people around us because we don’t know what difficulties they have to deal with in their private lives. Criticising others blinds us to our own faults. That’s why Jesus says to us that we should first remove the log in our own eye before speaking to someone else about the speck in their eye.

When we study the lives of the saints, we see they have these things in common – they’re kind to everyone and they remind us of Jesus. Despite being aware of their sin and need for God’s grace and mercy, they radiate goodness and gratitude. Jesus is the only example they point to, as they pray to be free of hypocrisy. Hypocrites, however, consider their actions and comments to be well intended. But the good they intend so often does more harm than good. It’s quite dangerous to think that “at least I’m not like the Pharisee in today’s parable.”

This morning’s parable is the only one told by Jesus that takes place in the temple. Most of Jesus’ other parables take place in everyday situations. Jesus tells this parable to those people who thought they were better than others and who looked down on everyone else. A rabbi called Simeon ben Jochai (jock-eye) said, “If there are only two righteous people in the world, I and my son are these two; if there is only one, I am he.” Jesus’ audience would have recognised that what the Pharisee said was true. He really had done many good deeds, doing way more than was expected. He had committed no crime. He represented what many Jews thought was good about their religious community.

You see, the Pharisees did a lot of good for their religion. Their problem was that, considering themselves to be better than others, they kept to themselves so that their practice of their religion couldn’t be contaminated. The Pharisee in the temple stands apart from others and prays aloud so that others can hear all the “good” things he has done. He’s talking to himself about himself, as he congratulates himself on what a good job he has done.

The word “I” occurs five times in this prayer. He gives thanks for what he is and not for who God is, for what God has given to him, and worked through him. He asks for nothing from God, not even for God’s mercy. His prayer is all about how great he is, and not about how great God is. He fasts and tithes more of his income than is suggested. He’s pleased that he is so much better than other sinners like the tax collector nearby. He expects to leave God’s House confirmed in his own estimation of himself as a righteous person.

God, however, thinks otherwise.

Meanwhile, the tax official’s body language speaks volumes about how he views himself. He makes himself as inconspicuous as possible with his face cast downwards. He realises what a rotter he is. He makes no excuses for what he has done. He doesn’t seek to justify himself in any way. In his confession, he speaks as if he is the only sinner on earth. Echoing the opening words of Psalm 51, he throws himself totally on God’s mercy when he says, “God, be merciful to me, THE sinner”.

It was rare in Jesus’ time for a man to beat his chest. But this loathed tax official is so overcome by all the wrong he has done that he beats his chest where his heart is, at the source of the sins he now so bitterly regrets. There is only one person whose sins he is concerned about and that’s his own. He acknowledges that God’s verdict on him up to now is just. The only thing that can help him and make a new future possible is God’s great mercy. The word he uses for mercy means “to make atonement for my sins”. He has come to the temple where atonement for sins is made by God.

Now there is no prayer that thrills God more than “God, be merciful to me, a sinner”. There’s no more welcome statement about our merciful Lord than “the mercies of the Lord are new every morning”. This means that each new day you can make a new start in your relationship with God, because what God forgives, God forgets.

A man named Christian was worried about his friend Jim. Jim was always so hard on himself. He blamed himself for everything. He told Christian he felt guilty for not caring for his family as well as he should have, guilty for not spending as much time with his children as he should have, guilty for not being as successful at work as he should have. The load of guilt he carried affected his sense of well-being, as well as his relationships with others. Christian didn’t know how to help him. One day as he read the Letter to the Romans in his Bible, he realized. He read of how we’re justified, that is, put right with God, by what Christ has done for us. This means that no further charge can be brought against God’s people because the verdict of “not guilty” has been pronounced over them (Romans 5:11). Immediately, Christian thought of Jim. He couldn’t wait to tell his friend that in God’s eyes, he wasn’t guilty. Jesus had taken Jim’s guilt on Himself. Through faith in Christ, we’re declared no longer guilty. We read in Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

The closer we are to God, the more we’re aware of our sinfulness. God welcomes the broken-hearted who have no one else to go to but Him. That’s why we sing to Jesus our Saviour, 

          Nothing in my hand I bring

          Simply to Your cross I cling.

In telling us this parable, Jesus is pointing to what He will do for us on Good Friday when He paid the price for our sins so that we might be free of them.

This parable, like many of our Saviour’s other parables, had an unexpected conclusion that would have shocked His listeners. They would have thought that the Pharisee and not the tax collector merited God’s approval. Jesus reverses their expectations, in that someone considered the lowest of the low, with no righteousness of his own, is put right with God by grace alone. The Pharisee asked for nothing from God and got nothing; the tax collector received all he asked for: God’s unmerited mercy!

Today’s parable asks each one of us who we identify with. There may be something of both the Pharisee and the tax collector in most of us. Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ eliminates every idea of spiritual superiority by any of us. Instead of any feelings of spiritual superiority, we thank God for all our fellow Christians and all the good things they do for God behind the scenes, things only God knows about.

In gratitude for the fact that the mercy of the Lord is new every day, we eagerly do what our Lord encourages us to do. He encourages us to “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and what mercy the Lord has shown you (Mark 5:19).”

Our hymn 317 sums up so well the message in today’s Gospel:

          On God’s grace we have no claim / Yet to us His pledge is given;

          He hath sworn by His own name / Open are the gates of heaven.

          Take to heart this word, and live / Jesus sinners doth receive.

We pray:
Merciful God, help us to be more like Jesus and less like the Pharisees, day by day, as long as we live. Amen.

Luke 18:1-8

‘Then Jesus told his disciples a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray, and not to lose heart.’ v 1

Do you ever lose heart in your life of faith?

Do you ever grow weary in the practice of prayer?

What sorts of things cause this to happen for you?

Perhaps when prayers go seemingly unanswered… 

Perhaps when God seems far away or indifferent…

Perhaps in your day to day life when you feel isolated as a Christian and that no one else around you bothers with God…

Perhaps when you feel the weight of sin and shame and so feel unworthy to pray…

Perhaps when life simply wears you down…

All these and more can tempt us to ‘lose heart’, to give up on the faith, to grow weary in prayer.

And if this is you, when this is you, here’s a word of encouragement from your Lord not to lose heart, but to keep the faith, to keep praying. 

Notice that Jesus assumes we will sometimes feel like this. The temptation to lose heart isn’t a sign we’re not a real Christian or anything like that. It’s almost the opposite. Jesus assumes this will be the experience of his disciples.

That’s why he wants to speak into this experience, to encourage and help you.

His parable does this in two very simple ways: by reminding us who God is, and who we are.

Who God is, and who we are.

Let’s take a closer look at it.

THE PARABLE – JUDGE AND WIDOW

‘In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people’ v 2.

So in short, this guy is a real piece of work. He’s in a position of significant responsibility where he is supposed to arbitrate justice on God’s behalf, and for the sake of God’s people…

But he doesn’t care about God, to whom he is accountable, or about people, who he is there to help.

He’s interested only in number one. Pure self-interest.

So there’s the judge.

‘In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, “Grant me justice against my opponent”’. v 3

So on the one hand you have the judge in his position of responsibility, power and influence, on the other hand you have the widow,

A picture of the little person in the community, the vulnerable one, the one who is basically in a position of helplessness.

She has no money and resources to use, she’s on her own, she has no one to advocate for her, she has no great status in society or relationship with the judge.

She’s in a desperate and somewhat hopeless situation.

Even in our modern times we may be able to resonate with the situation.

It’s often still the case that the vulnerable, those without the necessary resources, have more trouble getting justice. 

And yet even in this seemingly hopeless situation, eventually the unjust judge does give her justice. 

Why?

Well the judge says, ‘because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, So that she may not wear me out by continually coming’.

The one resource she does have is persistence. Annoying persistence. And the judge is so sick of this he is ready to do anything just to get it off his radar.

And it has the ring of truth doesn’t it?

‘The squeaky wheel gets the grease’, we say. 

You parents know you sometimes give your kids things you shouldn’t because you just want them to leave you alone for a few moment’s peace!

This is the way it is, isn’t it?

This is the parable, fairly straight forward really.

But what does it mean?

What does it teach us?

How does it encourage us to keep praying when we lose heart?

We need to be careful here not to jump to our conclusions from this parable, but rather listen very carefully to how Jesus applies it, because he is most emphatically not saying that God is like this judge, and if you just pester him enough you’ll get what you want.

That is not what Jesus is saying here.

Indeed he wants to encourage us to keep praying always, but the big point is to use this judge and widow as a contrast to us, to remind us that actually God is nothing like this judge, and our relationship to him is far more than this judge to the widow.  

THE APPLICATION – WHO GOD IS, WHO WE ARE

So the parable goes on in verse 6,

‘And the Lord said, “listen to what the unjust judge says”’… (v 6)

In other words, did you hear what this unjust judge said in the parable?

He said that even though he is so crooked and uncaring, he’s going to hear this widow’s request and give her justice.

And so here’s the punchline, ‘Will not God grant justice to his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them’.

So the point isn’t that God is like this grumpy unjust judge and we need to wear him down so he’ll give us what we want. 

The point is that if even this unjust judge, who is completely selfish, who cares nothing for the widow, who has no particular relationship to the widow, if even he will give her justice…

then HOW MUCH MORE, how much more, will your perfectly just and righteous, all loving and compassionate God, who does care for the people he has chosen as his very own, how much more will your God hear your prayers,

and bring justice to you?

That’s the big point of the parable, to remind you of who God is.

It’s very much a parallel from a few chapters earlier in Luke’s Gospel when Jesus said: ‘If you then who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children,

How much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him’.

So that’s who God is.

But remember I said the parable also reminds us who we are in relation to God.

Who are you?

Well you’re not just another case on the to-do list, you are not an insignificant number to him.

The text speaks of his chosen ones, his elect. In other words, unlike the widow, you do have a special status with God, you do have a particular relationship to him, he has chosen you to be his own,

He has chosen you from before the foundation of the world to be holy and righteous in his sight.   

Your God is not unjust, he is not indifferent, he is not hard to access,

God has chosen you, he loves you, he cares for you, he is with you and ready to hear you, he wants good for you.

And through this Word your Lord wants to remind you of this, and the Holy Spirit wants to drive that truth deeper into your heart and mind. Because as he does you will be encouraged to pray always and not to give up.

WHO WE ARE IN COMMUNITY

But notice something else about ‘who you are’, namely that you’re chosen as part of a community rather than just as an individual. 

Did you notice in the parable it was one widow, but in the application Jesus speaks not about an individual, but of the ‘chosen ones’ plural.

Jesus wants all his disciples together to be praying always.

Notice too this mention of crying out ‘day and night’ which I think points us to this same truth. Because in the Bible praying ‘day and night’ may mean something more like ‘in the morning’ and ‘in the evening’, which goes right back to the morning and evening sacrifices at the Temple,

In other words ‘day and night’ can point us to a regular, ongoing communal rhythm of prayer.

This is what you’re doing here this morning, as you gather in God’s presence and pray, as we pray for the church, the world and all those in need, and as you add your ‘amens’ to the prayers we bring. 

Historically and traditionally the Sunday gathering of the church has flowed into times of morning and evening prayer in the Christian community. That’s not so common in our Lutheran tradition these days. Perhaps all that might be left of this is the Mid-week Lenten services, or a Sunday evening prayer service.

And actually Luther’s rhythm of morning and evening prayer is just another extension of this for the family. 

So perhaps this is encouragement is to be part of a praying community.

This means it doesn’t all rely on you, the individual.

You are part of something bigger.

The prayers of others can carry you along when you’re losing heart, and vice versa.

In fact we often learn to pray by being in the praying community of the church and the family.

Here’s a hymn that prays:

The day Thou gavest, Lord, is ended,

The darkness falls at Thy behest;

To Thee our morning hymns ascended,

Thy praise shall sanctify our rest.

(It’s number 549 if you want to look it up.)

In that hymn it pictures the church in one part of the world finishing her prayers and going to sleep, as the church in another part of the world wakes up and continues the vigil of prayer, as the world rolls around. 

It’s a beautiful picture. It’s an encouraging reality, to know that while I sleep the saints of God on the other side of the world continue crying out to God,

And so together as a body we are praying always, according to Jesus’ promise that God will bring us justice quickly.

CONCLUSION – WILL HE FIND FAITH ON THE EARTH?

Now, as we begin to draw to a close, it is important to say that the justice God brings may not always look like what we think it should. He promises to bring justice, but not on our terms.

Ultimately it’s always, ‘not my will, but yours be done’.

And it’s also worth remembering that our sense of things happening ‘quickly’ may be very different from God’s.

But after Jesus gave this teaching there was one thing that did happen quickly, and that is that Jesus went to the cross.

Which is ultimately how you know God is faithful to his promises, that he does hear the cries of his people day and night, because it’s at the cross where God has brought justice to you, his people, once and for all.

God has sent his Son to take on himself our unrighteousness, and in exchange to give us his perfect righteousness.

God puts things right for us in Jesus’ death and resurrection,

God brings us justice for Christ’s sake.

So, ‘When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?’

Jesus began by saying he was encouraging his disciples to keep on praying and not to lose heart. Now he ends by asking:

Will it happen?

Will his chosen ones give up?

Will they persevere in prayer?

Will faith be found on earth when he comes again?

In light of all we’ve just said, how do we hear this final question?

First, it’s a challenge of sorts, a final word of strong encouragement.

Christ is coming back to judge the world and take his own to be with him.

And he wants, he expects, to find his people waiting in watchful, patient, ongoing prayer.

But then as well, this question can cause us to rejoice.

Because even though so many times in history it has seemed as if people were giving up on God, if Jesus returned today what would he find?

He’d find faith on the earth. He would find faithful praying communities all over the world, even here in our congregation

I don’t about you but I still get a buzz to go to a new place and visit a new congregation, and to find a community of chosen ones crying out to God day and night, a community who hasn’t lost heart, a community of ongoing prayer.

God grant it to us all, in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Luke 17:3-10

Do you see yourself as a person of immense patience? Do you keep your cool when someone continues to irritate and niggle you? Or do you find you come to the end of your tether quickly? It’s not easy being patient with someone who continually gets on your goat. It is even harder to keep forgiving someone who keeps on annoying you. We like to feel that there’s a limit to what can be expected of us. We learn today, however, that Jesus expects us to forgive repeated offenders up to seven times a day. We all know how destructive lack of forgiveness is to those nearest to us. Failure to forgive distances us from each other and builds barriers. We can all too easily feel justified in withholding forgiveness. We like to think our hurt is exceptional, greater than anyone else’s.

We’re quick to forgive or excuse ourselves. We find it far easier to criticise and condemn, than to pardon and accept someone who has sinned against us. But love keeps no score. Love means always having to say “I’m sorry”. Jesus summonses us to be quick to quash our own sins, and slow to point the finger at others. This flies in the face of every natural human tendency. How can forgiveness become the bridge over the troubled waters of daily living? How can we do something so difficult and yet so necessary? Jesus never asks us to forgive others more than He has already forgiven us. To forgive is to offer release from guilt. To forgive makes a new beginning possible. Forgiveness is something we begin with, something we start Monday with in our relationships with each other. As often as someone says “sorry”, so often we must forgive, promptly and completely. Prompt pardon prevents feelings of resentment or revenge from growing inside us. It considers a new future infinitely more important than dredging up or dwelling on a damaged past.

There’s something miraculous about the way forgiveness reconciles the irreconcilable. No wonder it’s been called “the saving grace”. Psychologists tell us that the experience of forgiving and accepting forgiveness is the prime characteristic of a happy, creative personality. Without the saving grace of forgiveness, injury gives rise to injury until revenge achieves its destructive aim.

Forgiveness is more, much more than a form of charity. Its benefits extend both ways: it’s as beneficial to forgive as it is to be forgiven. It can bring out the best in us and enhance each new day. A wise old lawyer has said: “If I had my way, I’d change the marriage promise to read ‘love, honour and forgive’.” It would be a healthy reminder of the power that could save many marriages. Forgiveness cannot undo what has already been done; rather, it enables us to accept what has been done and to go on from there. It’s through the forgiveness of our faults and failures that we gain the freedom to learn from experience. Unless you forgive, you cannot love. Discover again and again what a saving grace forgiveness really is.

Forgiveness is a creative and innovative act, which introduces something new and unexpected into a tense situation. We forgive those nearest to us because we have no right to judge them. We have no right to judge them because we cannot see into their hearts. Pardon doesn’t excuse sin and evil; it overcomes them. Forgiveness gives the power to love again, with a stronger, deeper love. Forgiveness is a Christlike action that liberates us from anger. Forgiveness refuses to let past injury stand in the way of a fresh start.

Faith can quickly be weakened by a failure to forgive.

Jesus’ listeners realise this only too well. They feel constant forgiveness would require far more faith than they have. “Increase our faith”, they ask Jesus, recognising their need for resources beyond human ability.

Jesus points out that it is not a matter of the size of our faith in God, but rather the right kind of faith. The amount of trust we have is of less significance than its genuineness. Genuine faith can bring about unexpected things. A little bit of faith is a lot when it is centred on God and His promises. Faith is powerful when it is trust in God’s ability to bring about what’s humanly impossible. When it is regularly fed on God’s Word, our faith can achieve amazing things. Jesus reinforces faith’s power when He assures us that it’s not the power of believing, but rather the power of God in whom we believe that does amazing things.

Faith is a God-given, God-connectedness that can do something more amazing than move mountains. Because “God is our refuge and strength … we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea (Psalm 46:1).” This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith in Jesus, the Son of God.

Growth is the most characteristic feature of a mustard seed. Is your faith growing? Faith grows by getting to know Jesus better. We get to know our Lord better through the study of His Word, through worship and through prayer. It is only a faith that is nurtured and nourished every day that empowers us to keep forgiving those who constantly harass us. Faith can do too many things for us to ever take it for granted. Amazing things happen when God occupies first place, the central place, in our daily lives. Our modern busyness can leave little room for faith to be fed. Our faith is too precious and too great in consequence to not feature on the top of our priorities. Faith’s value lies in the wonderful way it links us with almighty God, day by day.

If we want to know if our faith is genuine, we must ask ourselves, “How are we living?”

If I was arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict me? What difference does faith make in my daily life? Is it a matter of life and death importance to me?

The novelist Charles Kingsley spoke for countless Christians when he said: “I do not want merely to possess a faith; I want a faith that possesses me” – a faith that overwhelms me with the love and mercy of Jesus.

I want a faith that brings benefits to others and not just to myself. Those who think they have a strong faith stand in danger of boasting their mighty achievements. Matthew 7:22-23 says, “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers!’”

The servant in today’s Gospel could not expect any special treatment for simply doing his daily duty. A mid-afternoon meal is being referred to, which was part of a servant’s duties. Servants employed back then enjoyed security, and laboured out of a sense of loyalty. It was in their master’s interest to care for them, and give them a home and clothing. There was nothing especially merit-worthy in doing what was expected of them. In ordinary life in the time of Jesus, a master never waited on or served his servant. Discharge of one’s duty doesn’t deserve special rewards.

Christianity isn’t some happiness-cult or entertainment enterprise. It involves letting Jesus serve us with His Word and sacraments, so that we’re equipped and empowered to serve Him each day, every day of our lives. Jesus did something unique and unheard of. He came not to be served, but to serve us and give His life for us. He was the only Master to wash dirty feet and call His servants His friends. Masters never ate with their servants. Jesus wants to be present at our eating together. He treats each of us, all of us, so much better than we deserve.

Thank God His giving to us isn’t measured by our minimal service of Him. Jesus hasn’t stopped giving His gifts to us. All our work is but a gathering up of the gifts of God. Our strength, time and talents are gifts of God. Most Christians are too busy thanking God for all His good gifts, to feel they’ve ever done enough for Him.

Love knows its duty is never done. Love doesn’t serve only for the sake of reward. Love’s only reward is the privilege to serve without counting the cost. Love always does more than is necessary. Love delights to go the second mile for our Lord. It is when we attempt things beyond our duty, beyond our ability, that we discover our Lord’s power and strength, and see how amply He provides for us. He is worthy of our very best, and not just our leftover time and energy.

King David said, “I will not offer God something that costs me nothing.” Such a spirit is free of calculation. It refuses to give only as much as it gets out of something. Instead, it delights in being generous and helpful. “For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And He died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died and was raised for them (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).” Serving our Lord makes life meaningful, because in the Lord, our labour is never in vain, but will initiate results that will last forever.

We serve, looking forward to that amazing day when in heaven, Jesus will come and serve us and meet our every need. “It will be good for those servants whose Master finds them watching when He comes. I tell you the truth, He will dress Himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them (Luke 12:37).” Even in heaven, the Lord of all will be servant of all. When this brief life’s service is over, our Saviour’s eternal serving of us will commence. What an amazing honour that will be!

 Amen.

Luke 16:19-31

What would you do if you unexpectedly received one million dollars? Would you automatically think of giving some of it away to others in greater need than you? On the Sunday TV program Songs of Praise a new definition of a millionaire was suggested as “someone who gives a million dollars away”. Today we thank God for all those around us who have so generously supported the ministry of our Church to the poor and needy. In the Early Church the poor were called “the treasures of the Church” because in helping the poor, Christians were helping Christ Himself who meets us in the poor and needy.

The focus of Jesus’ ministry was on those in greatest need of His help. Jesus deeply and warmly loved those on the edge of society or those who were looked down on with disdain – the weak, the sick, the disabled and outcasts. Jesus reminds John the Baptist that His mission was to bring good news to the poor. By this, Jesus also includes those suffering from spiritual poverty, of which there are so many here in our own community. In today’s parable, Jesus focuses on the needs of poor people like Lazarus.

Children and grown-ups like hearing this parable. In this story it seems that for a moment, the curtain is drawn aside and we get a tiny glimpse of the hereafter, of heaven and hell. The other thing that pleases a child’s imagination and perhaps many adults, is to see how this rich guy, who had it so “good” in this life, gets what’s coming to him in the next life, while poor Lazarus, who had such a hell of a life on earth, at last receives the joy and consolation of heaven.

But by focussing on that aspect of the story, we’re missing its central point. The real point of the story is not so much about the rich man or about Lazarus, but rather about what Abraham says to the rich man about his five brothers still at home on earth and their need to hear God’s Word. The sin of the rich man isn’t that he was rich but that he was indifferent. It’s not bad to be rich, nor is it a sign of goodness to be poor. But it’s wrong when a person is so wrapped up in his possessions and affluent lifestyle and is so thoroughly selfish that he is totally indifferent to the needy person placed at his gate. The rich man’s terrible sin isn’t that he never helped Lazarus, but that he did nothing at all, feasting while Lazarus died at his gate. In the time of Jesus, affluent people used bread as we use serviettes – to wipe their fingers. Hungry Lazarus would gladly have fed on such scraps, but the rich guy pretends not to notice Lazarus’s desperate need for food.

What’s more, he pretends not to notice God, His Maker and the Giver of all the gifts he enjoys. These two realities go together – if you love God, you will love your neighbour and have a special compassion for a neighbour in need. At the other end of the scale, indifference to your needy neighbour is a reflection of your

indifference to God. God’s Word says to you, “Those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen (1 John 4:20).”

Let’s focus on being different now. Lazarus certainly was a different person in the next life. In contrast to the rich guy in our parable who is unnamed, Lazarus has a name. His name is a very important clue for understanding this story, because his name means “God is my helper.” His name shows that despite all his poverty and misery, he has put his trust in God. He believed God is his Helper. And when he dies, what he has always believed comes true. In heaven he discovers the joy of being with the God in whom he trusted.

The rich man is certainly a different person in the next life. For him it is a “riches to rags” story. In the next life he finds himself in hell. What is hell? To be separated from God. And what is heaven? To be with God. In this life the rich man separated himself from God; in the next life, the separation from God becomes absolute. So now he’s a radically different person – no more enjoying the comforts of this life, but enduring the discomforts of hell. Another thing is different about him in the next life. For the first time he thinks of someone other than himself. He is concerned about his five brothers left on earth and asks Abraham to send someone from the dead, lest they also come to the place of torment.

He thinks that there’s only one thing that will change his brothers on earth and make them different, that is if someone comes from the dead to warn them and then they will believe. “Not so”, Abraham tells him. “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.” And if they won’t listen to them, that is, if they won’t hear God’s Word for them, then they won’t listen even if someone comes to them from the dead.

Although this is only a story told to us by Jesus, nevertheless what He said actually happened. There was a brother who did come back from the dead, and would you know, his name was Lazarus! Remember how Jesus raised Mary and Martha’s brother Lazarus from the dead. And what happened after Jesus raised Lazarus? Those who already believed, believed all the more. But those who didn’t believe immediately began plotting to assassinate Jesus. There were times like the feeding of the five thousand when people saw the miraculous things Jesus did and still didn’t believe in Him. Seeing is not necessarily believing.  Rather, faith in Jesus gives us super-sight. Jesus says to Martha at the death of her brother Lazarus, “Did I not tell you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God? (John 11:40)” Faith enables us to see God at work in our lives and around us, things those without faith cannot see.

So who are we in this story? We’re the ones still alive. We are the five brothers. And like them we have Moses and the prophets. In fact, we have even more, because not only do we have Moses and the prophets in the Old Testament, we also have the Gospels and the Epistles, the New Testament of our merciful Saviour Jesus Christ. We have the life-giving good news of His grace that can make us different, and can make us dare to live differently. What an incomparable blessing that is. It’s all about the Word who took on human flesh and lives among us, full of grace and truth.

Our Lord Jesus Christ became poorer and more wretched than Lazarus was so that by His poverty we could become rich in the things that matter eternally. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you, through His poverty, might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9).”

After His birth, where Jesus lay in a borrowed manger in a lowly stable, He was rejected, scoured, despised, tortured and crucified for us. Jesus gave up everything for us and our eternal benefit and blessing. After Jesus rose from the dead He became Lord of heaven and earth and the real owner of everything on this earth. He now says to you and to me: “Give to others, and God will give to you. Indeed, you will receive a full measure, a generous helping, poured into your hands – all that you can hold (Luke 6:38).” Or as the prayer of St. Francis puts it, “For it is in giving that we receive” the joy of knowing that we are blessing others with what God has given us. Jesus says to you “Blessed are those who hear God’s Word and put it into practice (Luke 11:28).”

It’s not hard to put ourselves in the rich man’s place and imagine what he might think, looking at Lazarus, all covered in loathsome sores: ‘But if the doctors cannot do a thing for him, what am I expected to do? He is as poor as the stray dogs themselves. But surely it is not my fault that he is poor. I never robbed him or stole from him. God knows the streets are full of beggars. There are plenty of others as badly off as he is. But what can one man do about it? They would have to bankrupt the government to make any noticeable difference. If one lone beggar finds his way to my door, does that give him more claim on me than the others have? I have let him live exclusively, for weeks and months, on the discarded scraps from my table. Surely that is something I am doing for him. What more can I do?’

When we suffer from donation-fatigue like that, we need to pray to Jesus, “Thank You for loving me so much more than I could ever deserve. Through Your Word and sacraments, continually fill me with a love that overflows into the lives of others.” 

People who love each other want to be together and hear each other speak. When we love our Lord, we want to be where He is with us in a very special way, that is, in the Lord’s Supper, where He gives Himself to us in an awesome act of love. He does this to continue making us more and more like Him. More and more we will become eager to love others with Christ’s life-transforming, life-renewing love.

We give to God because God promises to multiply with His blessing whatever we give, whether to Him or our needy neighbour. “God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7).”

For souls redeemed, for sins forgiven, for means of grace and hopes of heaven,

To you, O Lord, what can be given? You give us all.

We lose what on ourselves we spend; we have as treasure without end

Whatever, Lord, to You we lend – You give us all.

Amen.

Luke 16:1-13

The guest speaker at a pastors’ conference handed out a paper containing ten statements for the pastors to think about during the course of the conference.  He called them ‘The Ten Deadly Delusions’ because they were statements that at first glance seemed to be true, but each contained a dangerous or misleading idea or attitude. 

Three of them related specifically to the parable that is before us today.  Let’s see if you can see what is wrong or misleading in each statement.

1. “God wants us to give him a percentage of what he has first given us. If only people would practice tithing!”
2. “God has blessed this country with many wonderful things to enjoy.”
3. “This country offers many opportunities for people to achieve success for themselves.”

In the light of Jesus’ parable of the shrewd manager let us consider a response to these three so-called ‘delusions’.

To the first ‘delusion’ we must ask: How can we give God what really belongs to him anyway?  Don’t the things we use in this world still belong to God? The Old Testament practice of making tithes and offerings was given, not as an end in itself, but so that people would not forget that God is the owner and giver of all things.  We cannot begin to assume that we own or deserve any of the things we have.  Think about the manager in Jesus’ parable.  He had nothing of his own.  His job was on loan to him only for as long as the rich man saw fit.  His employment was totally in the hands of his master.  He had been living in a house provided by his master, eating food and wearing clothes provided by his master or bought with his master’s wages.  Now, when accused of wasting the master’s possessions and left to consider his future without a job, the reality began to hit home.  He really owned nothing at all. Without his Master he was completely unable to provide for himself.

Isn’t that true for us also?  Apart from our Master’s goodness we have nothing.  The one who owns all things graciously loans some of them to us. We confess in the explanation to the first part of the creed that everything we have from God is ‘purely out of his Fatherly and Divine goodness and mercy, though we do not deserve it.’  Our life itself is on loan from God. Every day of our time on this earth is entirely in God’s hands.  Our food, clothing, money, talents are ours only as long as our Master loans them to us.  Apart from his goodness to us we have nothing and are incapable of providing for ourselves.  The Scripture says: We brought nothing into this world, and we can take nothing out if it (1 Tim 6:7).  When God speaks of his ‘giving’ to us or our ‘giving’ to him we must always see it in this context.  The Psalmist says: The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it (psalm 24:1).

Like the rich man in Jesus parable, the Master owns everything.  In reality we cannot give ‘a percentage’ back to him because it’s all his anyway – 100% of it.  In our tithes and offerings we honour God’s generous loan by returning the first percentage to its rightful owner.

Like the manager or steward in Jesus’ parable we are simply managers of what our Master owns.  When God created the Adam and Eve he gave them ‘dominion’ or ‘management’ over the things he had made, not ‘ownership’. That is why we have traditionally used the word ‘stewardship’ in relation to our management of time, talents and treasures, rather the word ‘giving’ – because giving presumes that we own these things – and we don’t!  As God’s ‘stewards’, we are simply employed to ‘manage’ and distribute what belongs to our Master. 

Jesus’ parable leads us to look at the second ‘deadly delusion’: “God has blessed this country with many wonderful things to enjoy.”  To that statement we must then respond: We are certainly blessed by what God generously loans to us, not just to enjoy for ourselves but to use to his glory and in the service of others.  Think again of the manager in Jesus’ parable. He knew he owned nothing but he also knew something else; he had his master’s goods at his disposal.  So he used his remaining time, his talents as manager, and the goods that belonged to his master to serve others and to secure his own future. 

Jesus makes no bones about the fact that what the manager did was dishonest, but he does commend him for his shrewd or clever use of what was placed under his care.  Jesus’ point is that if non-believers can be so clever in their use of worldly goods then we should ‘take a leaf out of their book’ when it comes to our management of what we have on loan from God.  Jesus is by no means promoting dishonesty; he is talking about the wise use of our Master’s time, talents and treasures while we have them at our disposal.

Like this manager we have all been given notice that our time on this earth is limited and that we must give an account of our management.  We know that we can’t take anything with us into the next life, so the challenge is to use what we have to wisely to serve others and prepare ourselves for life in the eternal dwellings. 

The questions we must ask are: How can we wisely invest our time, our talents and our treasures to ensure our own eternal life and that of our family remains secure?  How can we use what we own to make friends for God; people who will also be our friends in the eternal dwellings?  How can we use the Master’s goods that are now at our disposal to serve those who live in hardship or oppression?

Nowhere in the Scriptures are we called to accumulate things for our own enjoyment.  Instead we are called to manage, use and distribute them wisely for the glory of God and the good of others.  ‘We live in a world where 6% of the people receive half the income, 50% are constantly hungry, 60% live in shanty-towns, and 70% are illiterate’.  There is even a greater percentage who are Biblically illiterate and spiritually hungry and who know nothing about the eternal dwellings.

Now we can also see what is wrong with the third ‘delusion’: “This country offers many opportunities for people to achieve success for themselves.”  While that statement is true in one sense, we must ask: Is material success what we’re really here for?  God reminds us that real success is not determined by the size of our house, our land, our possessions or our retirement nest-egg, the type of car we drive, the type of clothes we wear, or who our friends are, but by whether we are God’s friends.   Real success is not about accumulating riches but seeking God’s kingdom and his righteousness. 

Both the master in the parable and Jesus himself commended the shrewd manager because he looked to the life beyond.  While still in his tenure as manager he prepared for life beyond his job.  He used his limited time and his master’s possessions to make friends for himself so that when he had nothing left they might welcome him into their homes.  Jesus encourages us to use our remaining time and all the talents and treasures at our disposal to make friends with God – to make sure we are reconciled to him.  If we are friends with God through faith in Jesus we know we will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.  We know that real success is finally achieved the very day we are called to leave all our worldly possessions behind.

We don’t have to accumulate riches here because, in our friendship with God through Jesus, we have everything we need. We are already rich.  In fact, Jesus warns that when the things of this world become the object of our loyalty, at that point we become spiritually and eternally poor.  We simply cannot serve two masters.

So let’s re-word those three ‘deadly delusions’ into three ‘living truths.’

1. “God wants us to acknowledge that we own nothing and that everything we are and have is graciously on loan to us. If only people would manage and distribute God’s gifts wisely!”
2. “God has provided the people of this country with many wonderful things, not to live comfortably but usefully for God and for others.”
3. “Life in this world offers many opportunities for people to prepare ourselves and others for the life in ‘eternal dwellings’.”

And may the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.