Dear Holy Spirit, You call, gather and enlighten Your Church. Grant us eyes to see our Savior’s Passion, ears to welcome Your call to repentance and hearts to be fertile ground for the seed of the Gospel. Amen.
The sermon text is our Gospel reading from John 12:20-43 previously read.
Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
In a recent devotion, Lutheran Hour Ministries[1] wrote about a convenience store owner in Montrose, Canada. Leroy Hiltz operated his store for 22 years. During that time, his shop was robbed nine different times. In one of those robberies, his wife, Edna, was held at knifepoint. Not long ago Edna died. During the funeral, and the days of mourning that followed, the store was closed. Knowing the family was in mourning — make that because the family was in mourning — thieves took advantage of the situation, kicked in the door of Hiltz’s store and leisurely stole cases of cigarettes.
Realizing he was dealing with men who respected nothing, Hiltz said, “I’m going out of business against my will, but I can’t take any more of it. It’s bad enough having to grieve the loss of my wife, let alone having people in our community — and these were people from our own community — (breaking) into the store . . .” It was break-in number ten.
I doubt any of us are surprised to hear Mr. Hiltz closed for good. If anything, we’re probably amazed he kept at it up as long as he did. Today, as the church observes Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday, it’s just as shocking that Jesus didn’t quit. Even going all the way back to Christmas and the history of Jesus’ birth, it’s been a long cycle of some receiving and most rejecting Christ and His work – even plotting His death.
We began today remembering Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, greeted with palm branches waving and crowds chanting: “Hosanna, Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!” The crowds were buzzing over Jesus’ raising Lazarus from the dead, but not all were happy. Secretly, the religious leaders hatched their plot against Him.
In our Gospel lesson, God the Father thundered in heavenly voice, but still there was argument – maybe it was thunder, maybe an angel spoke. Jesus announced His mission: “Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth will draw all people to Myself.” But some disputed: “We have heard that when the Christ comes He must remain forever.” They simply couldn’t come to grips with the fact that Jesus didn’t come to build an earthly kingdom, but an eternal family through His death and resurrection.
At that point, it wouldn’t be a surprise if He had just given up, but the rejection of Jesus was also foretold by the prophet Isaiah who lamented a people with eyes, but were blind and hearts that were hardened and rigidly focused on this world and building their earthly kingdoms.
Dear friends, who of us cannot see ourselves among this hard-hearted crowd? How often haven’t we taken our place among those building our earthly kingdoms and focusing on our “this-worldly” priorities? How often we have seen the decay and turmoil of our world, the wars and violence, the earthquakes and natural disasters and failed to see the times in which we live!
It’s not too late! The shame of the modern church and, regrettably, of us 21st century Christians is that we have so often and long believed, like the church of Jesus’ day, that this life and kingdom is what it’s all about. We take our eyes off the goal and future God prepared for us. We are weighed down by burdens and tasks, jobs and educations and building retirements and hurried from one pressing priority to the next until we no longer see the times in which we live – no longer hear Jesus call: “The light is with you for a little while longer. Walk while you have light, lest the darkness overtake you. While you have the light, believe in the light that you may become sons of light.”
God will one day call us from this vale of tears. When Jesus was lifted from the earth on the timbers of Calvary’s cross, God was preparing heavenly homes for all who know Him through faith. This Holy Week, hear God’s call to repent and turn from lives of darkness. The religious leaders rejected God’s call to repentance and faith just as those, even today, who rationalize their lifestyles and choices, fearing that real repentance would upset the kingdoms they build for themselves. How it grieves our Savior when we opt for our thing – our kingdoms – when His alone has the promise of eternal life. The words of Christ are a good beginning for this Holy Week, which God only knows may be our last, “Whoever loves his life will lose it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there will My servant be also.”
God be praised our Savior didn’t quit. He didn’t take the easy path –as well He could, but honored the will of His Father. Christ the Light of the world chose the path of deepest darkness and suffering and death to cast the light of His love, leading us to eternal life. The joy of Easter is the timeless truth that Christ conquered the devil. The prince of this world is powerless to destroy God’s blood-bought children who receive Him, walking through faith in His light. Christ Jesus cast the devil out, promising: “Because I live, you will live also.”
They say champions never quit. They refuse to give up. That applies in the truest sense to Jesus alone – and no other. Rejected, cursed, spat upon and battered body, yet He didn’t quit. This week is the beginning of that climactic clash in which Jesus refused to give up. What’s so glorious about Jesus’ work we remember is just how utterly undeserved it is! In the midst of our moral failures and rejection, God chose to judge and damn our sins by making them His own. Isaiah said, “God laid upon Him [Jesus] the iniquity of us all.” Even in the ultimate rejection when Christ the Holy Lamb of God cried out in death, “It is finished”, God didn’t quit.
Through repentance and faith, this week and always, take a rest – not from serving God and living for Him, God still wants us to do that – but “come you weary and heavy-burdened” and in Jesus find your rest. He didn’t quit. His resurrection proves it is finished. Sins are forgiven. Heaven is open for all God’s children through faith. Amen.
And now may the peace of God which surpasses human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
[1] Lutheran Hour Website March 23, 2010 Devotion Archive.