March 8, 2009 - Second Sunday of Lent

Message   “Giving One's Life to God:  by following the Suffering Servant's example" - based on Gospel Lesson:  Mark 8:31-38

·        Wow!  After hearing that gospel lesson – don’t you all wish you were in my shoes this morning – preaching the “good news”?

·        Yep!  We preachers just looooove to stand up here in front of folks - and talk about such fun and “feel good” topics as “great suffering” – and “rejection” – and “being killed.”

·        And you just have to be glad you got up after one less hour of sleep – just to come to church this morning and hear all about denying yourselves – giving up your life!

·        Suffering!  Sacrifice!  Shame!  All that is the stuff that makes people flock to Christian churches to hear God’s Word for us!

·        Right?  Well, not exactly.  At least, not at first hearing – without understanding what all this suffering means for us.

·        We can certainly understand why Peter tried to take Jesus aside to “rebuke” him.  After all, who wants to hear all this stuff about sacrifice and serving others anyway?

·        You have to admit - no one was more “lawful” & “faithful” than Jesus – and yet – he still suffered!

·        Why?  What does Jesus’ suffering mean for us?  In a word:  everything!

·        His suffering – Jesus’ death and resurrection - had a great purpose.  His sacrifice is what brought about our salvation.

·        Since we humans sinned by moving away from God – turning our backs on God’s plan for humanity, Jesus’ death and resurrection was given to us – in order for us to be reconciled to God.

·        Jesus’ suffering was not certainly not pleasant or easy – but it was necessary.  Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice to atone for our sins. 

·        And although we are the ones who sinned against God, it is Jesus who suffered the consequences of our guilt.  It is Jesus who “paid the price” for our sin, even though he himself was without sin.

·        We also need to realize that Jesus’ suffering was done on behalf of someone other than himself – it was all done for you and me.  His actions were unselfish and devoid of any idea of bringing glory or honor to himself. 

·        Jesus came “not to be served but to serve” – which is obvious when you consider that Jesus’ death on the cross relieved us of great suffering.

·        Jesus helped us - served us - by providing us with the wonderful gift of salvation.

·        We in turn are to find ways to help others - to find a purpose outside of ourselves – that will bring about comfort to those facing hardships.

·        We are to serve others.

·        Jesus’ life was a lesson for us.

·        We can learn a lot from the many parables he told – but even more than those stories, Jesus’ very life was the best lesson ever.

·        God came to earth – Jesus, incarnate - to show us, once and for all, what we humans were meant to be like – how we are to live our lives.

·        Jesus’ life on earth was a perfect example of how we are to live within God’s plan – God’s law.

·        We’re to live our lives as close to Jesus’ example as possible.

·        Our life is to be spent in relationship with God – learning about God, connecting to God, being obedient to God’s teachings. 

·        And out of our faithfulness, we are to reach out to others, tell others of God’s amazing love – and live in a way that will be pleasing to God – a life of service, even in the face of suffering or sacrifice.

·        Perhaps you’ve heard the story of two young brothers who come

downstairs for breakfast on a Saturday morning.  Their mother is cooking pancakes. She’s starting to take the first one off the griddle when the boys start arguing about who’s going to get to eat first.  The mother seizes this teachable moment and says, “Now boys, what would Jesus say if he were here?”

They stopped arguing and began looking a little confused, so their mother said, “Jesus would say, “My brother, you have the first pancake. I’ll wait.”

 The older brother quickly looks at his younger brother and says, “Okay then, Jimmy, you be Jesus!”

 

·        Christianity is not always a “fluffy, feel good, or easy” religion.

·        Yes, there is at the core of Christianity God’s loving grace extended to us – even while we were yet sinners – and that’s certainly good news!

·        But there are also tough lessons for us to learn:  things like being willing to “deny ourselves in order to follow Jesus” - and “taking up our cross.”

·        What does it mean to take up our cross?

·        There’s the story of a soldier in a fox hole - frantically digging in during a

battle as shells fall all around him.  Suddenly his hand feels something metal and he grabs it.  It’s a silver cross.  

Another shell explodes and he buries his head in his arms. He feels someone jump in the foxhole with him and he looks over and sees a chaplain.

 The soldier shoves the cross in the chaplain’s face and says, “I sure am glad to see you. How do you work this thing?”

·        Jesus said, “IF” we want to become one of his followers – then we need to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow him.

·        That word “IF” implies a choice – we can choose to ignore Jesus’ offer of eternal life - and the challenge of trying to live the faithful life that goes with it.

·        Jesus didn’t say, “Wear the cross because it looks good as jewelry” or “Grab the cross to protect yourself from all of life’s difficulties.”

·        Often, life comes with situations and circumstances that are beyond our control – beyond our choosing.

·        Those things are not necessarily our “crosses to bear.”  To take up our cross is not the same as dealing with our burdens or problems. 

·        When we suffer from sickness, disease, or mental anguish, it’s a horrible misfortune – but it isn’t the same as “bearing the cross” – because they aren’t things we choose.

·        To take up our cross means instead to identify with Christ in His rejection, shame, suffering, and death.

·        To take up the cross means wearing the title “Christian” even when it means we must go against society’s norm, even when it means we must deny our desires that are counter to God’s law, even when it means we must sacrifice something we want in order to fulfill something God wants.

·        Self-denial is not easy – and it’s not a very popular topic.

·        When trying to follow Christ faithfully, we can’t always do what we want to do, what our natural tendency is.

·        This means that we will often face tough, life-changing decisions that need to be made in the shadow of the cross – rather than through the eyes of the world.

·        Being a Christian doesn’t mean that we’ll be deprived of joy and happiness; rather it means that we find fulfillment and joy and happiness through our very dedication to Jesus Christ.

·        Denying ourselves is placing our lives in the hands of our loving God at all times, no matter where God’s hands might lead us.

 

·        Before we begin our upcoming moments of meditation – I want to leave you with two quotes.

·        As you know, our theme throughout Lent this year is “Giving One’s Life to God.”

·        So the first quote is from General William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army.  He was asked the secret of his amazing Christian life.  Booth answered, “I told the Lord that He could have all that there is of William Booth.”

·        AND in studying today’s gospel lesson, we realize that one way to give our life to God - is by embracing and following Jesus’ example of “suffering servant.”

·        So the second quote is from the Rev. Billy Graham, who said, “Salvation is free, but discipleship costs everything we have.”

·        During our time of meditation, I encourage you to consider:  Have you, like General William Booth – given God all of the “you” there is to give?  And are you willing, as the Rev. Billy Graham says, to pay the high cost of discipleship?  AMEN.

Silent Meditation