Last Week of Jesus

This series is based on a Sermon Series given by Rev. Adam Hamilton at the Church of the Resurrection. Website: www.cor.org

Sermon – Jesus’ Glorification - Last Week of Jesus – Friday

Matthew 27:32:37; 45-46

Original by Adam Hamilton; Rewritten by Jim Whittaker

Sunday Evening service – April 17^th, 2011

Background:

Last week we left Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane and it was around midnight. We pick Friday up right at that point for by 9am Friday morning, Jesus is crucified. It was against the Jewish law to arrest someone at night, but it was also expedient as the crowds would not be involved. The Jewish ruling authorities knew they had to act fast. Judas led the temple police to the Mt. of Olives shortly after midnight.  This was Jesus’ customary place to go and pray. With a kiss Judas marked Jesus as the one to be arrested. He was led back across the Kidron Valley toward the old city to the High Priest’s house. First he went to Annas’ house who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas (John 18:13). Then Annas sent him to Caiaphas (John 18:24). Caiaphas would have overseen the actions of the Sanhedrin as Jesus was brought before them (Luke 22:66). The Judgment hall was 100 steps from Caiaphas’ house. The 70 Sanhedrin were hastily called together that night again – this was against Jewish law. The Sanhedrin questions Jesus and wants to know is he a the Messiah or not. Jesus says “you say that I am” (Luke 22:70). They enough proof or do not care that Jesus does not directly answer them.  From there around 6am, Jesus is sent to Pilate. Only the Romans can legally kill someone. Pilate is interested in Jesus. His secret sources (or CIA types) do not have Jesus labeled as a trouble maker. In fact, they have noted Jesus said, pay your taxes and pay your tithes unto God. This is the type of Jew Pilate needs that says “pay unto Caesar what is Caesars.” Pilate asks Jesus are you king. Jesus clarifies I am not a king like you think of a king, which would be an insurrectionist who wanted to overthrow the Roman government, for Jesus said, my kingdom is not from this world. Pilate sees no danger in this man and wants to let him go. Pilate sends him to King Herod and King Herod sends him back to Pilate. When Pilate says this man is innocent.

The Jews said you are no friend of Caesar. Pilate’s wife told him she had a dream (Procula wife of Pontius Pilate) and to not harm him for his innocent. The Orthodox church proclaimed Procula as a saint. Pilate thought he would make this easy and said I will give you either Jesus Barabbas or Jesus of Nazareth. It was the custom at Passover to pacify the Jews and remember that the Romans did not mess around when it came to killing people, to let one prisoner go free that had a death penalty on his head according to the wishes of the crowd. Barabbas was a thief. He had no morals. He just didn’t want to pay taxes. He truly was an insurrectionist.  What type of king would they follow? Barabbas no taxes and drive out the Romans, or Jesus who said love your enemies, pay your taxes. It boiled down to this - Violence or peace. Which one? Well we know they chose Barabbas, but don’t we often do the same? Violence or radical self giving peace – that’s still a tough choice today. In 70AD – Jerusalem was destroyed. Violence only begets violence. Tradition says that Jesus Barabbas was killed when tryin to lead another insurrection against Rome. This was somewhat unexpected? The people had chosen a man that you wouldn’t want around your kids. Pilate is now backed into a corner.   So Pilate decides to beat him. They took him to the Praetorian. It was a place called the King’s games. There they beat Jesus and gave him 39 lashes with a leather whip with metal and glass tied on to it meant to tear the back open. It was considered that 40 lashes would kill a man so Jesus got the maximum – 39 lashes. Pilate thought this would be enough. Behold the man! He said. Hasn’t he already paid enough. There was no mercy. The crowd begins to yell out – crucify him. Mark 15:15 – Wishing to please the crowd. How many times have we crucified what we thought was right wishing to satisfy the crowd? Would we stand up and say this is not right? What would we have done? How did a Christian nation support the holocaust? When was our voice quieted because of the crowd?

The historian Josephus says he sees crosses of many different shapes and makes. It doesn’t seem like there was a one way fit for crucifixion so when we think of Jesus we often will look at the most common method or the best understood at the time. It is now believed that the entire cross may have weighted up toward 300 pounds, and Jesus probably only carried the cross beam, which would have weighed about 70 pounds. Jesus was beaten so badly that the Romans still enlist Simon the Cyrene to help Jesus carry the cross. Adam Hamilton says it took him about 15 minutes to make the walk from the area of the Dome of the Rock to the modern day Church of the Sepulchre. This is quite a walk for a man that is about ½ dead. It might have taken Jesus an hour to make this walk. Jesus may have had his wrists nailed or his palms nailed with ropes tied to keep his hands from coming out. Jesus may have had his feet nailed in front of the cross with one nail in each feet or one large nail through both feet. The best archeological evidence now is saying he probably had his feet nailed to the side of the cross and instead of having a platform to stand on it was a place to sit on. In either case, the crucifixion was meant to crate maximum pain. The sign would have noted what crime he had done. Jesus said he was “King of the Jews.” Jesus was crucified about 9am. It is clear the gospels show that Jesus knew he was going to be crucified. Jesus tells his disciples 3 times that he is going to die.

We ask the questions again: What type of king is Jesus? What and who does he have dominion? What does he expect from his subjects?

Jesus the Suffering King

Jesus’ death on the cross makes us all wonder what type of king do we follow? Judas was so distressed that Jesus was not going to lead the nation in a military revolt that he committed suicide. All of the disciples were so distraught on following a king who died on the cross that everyone went into hiding. So, let’s ask the big question.

Why is Jesus intent on going to Jerusalem to suffer in this way? Why does Jesus have to go through a suffering death for our salvation? This is hard.

We as Protestants do not have Jesus on the cross for we say he has arisen. Next week on Easter, we will celebrate that fact, but right now, Jesus is on the cross. The Catholics have seen fit to leave Jesus on the cross to demonstrate to us his suffering. We might ask is suffering meant to be a model? Has it got something to do with our salvation? Or is it both?

We as Protestants are familiar with talking about Jesus in business or legal talk. We sinned. We have to pay. Jesus takes our place and paid our sins for us. We are now free to choose God.   There is great meaning in that understanding, but why the suffering? I find it interesting that the Orthodox church, which is sometimes called the Eastern church sees Christ death in terms of healing and relational. John Wesley saw much value in looking at the cross in this way. I like how the Methodist Pastor Adam Hamilton explains it, we see the cross or the atonement in different ways. Each story is kind of a metaphor or a way for us to understand what Christ did for us. If you push any of the metaphors too far, they break down. In other words, if we see Christ’s death on the cross only as a business model, it can easily come off as cold and uncaring – for example again – why the suffering.

Adam Hamilton said it helped him to remember some of the Old Testament prophets. Often we find that God would have them to act out their prophecies. The prophet Jeremiah was told to take an oxen yoke and wear it. It demonstrated to the people that they were going to be yoked or in submission to the Babylonians. Hosea had one of the most interesting requests. He was asked by God to marry a prostitute and have children. He did, and they had children. Yet, his wife went back into prostitution and he had to buy her back. This was a sign act of Israel. Israel had prostituted herself and God has to buy her back. If we were to see Jesus on the cross as a sign-act, what does it say for us?

Jesus was willing to die one of the cruelest deaths ever invented by humankind. Obviously, Jesus demonstrates the depth of love that he has for us, but we also see that the world’s way and Satan’s way will always end up in death and destruction. We are told by Jesus to pick up the cross and if we truly follow Jesus completely, we may find that in some form, we get nailed to the cross. We may find that we suffer for the cause of Christ, which Paul told us to be thankful for our sufferings.

What does the Cross Preach to Us?

Adam Hamilton said Jesus is preaching to us from the cross. What does it say?

Paul, who often talks in legalistic terms, says we are “justified by his grace as a gift through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood effective through faith (Romans 3:24-25 NRSV) also said in I Corinthians 1:18 that the “message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God” (NRSV).

Peter uses both a legalistic understanding and a healing understanding both in I Peter 2:24,

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross so that free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed” (NRSV).

John describes the work of the cross in terms of love: “for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whosoever believes should not perish but have everlasting life.”  John also speaks of Christ in forms of servanthood and being the Passover lamb.

We hear different messages with the cross. God is preaching to us. Here are three messages that you must hear:

1)      God’s indictment to humanity – God is holding a mirror to us and say look at yourself. The most religious people on the planet earth did not see God when they walked on this earth. Because of their own fears, they had this man crucified. It is a mirror for me to see my own brokenness. When I have shown anger or hate. We all have this brokenness in us. It began with Adam and Eve. Then we have the story of Noah and then Israel. There are sins that we do not even make a connection. We in the last 100 years have killed more people in wars than all of history. We try to lose weight when people are going hungry and dying of hunger. It is hard for us to even comprehend the magnitude of our sin. Are we willing to name sin? Will we have to suffer to correct that sin?

2)      God’s response to this indictment – As humans, it is like we have a disease that needs to be wiped out. God instead tries to change us. It is desire to change our hearts and to overwhelm us with love. It is a sign of his love – John 3:16. It demonstrates the magnificent grace of God. (Vietnam veteran – etching a name with pencil. – this was my buddy). He risked his life to save me. I can never repay that debt. He gave his life for me. Likewise, we cannot forget the price. We need to see Christ suffering so that we can seriously how we live matters. Isaiah 53:5. By his wounds, we are healed. Remember what we said about the garden of Gethsemane? Where John was trying to tell us that Jesus reversed paradise lost. Jesus wants to heal us – not make us or force us, but change us into the beings he has called us to be and heal our sin nature. Recall some of these scriptures: Do not be conformed to the world, be holy for I am holy, set your mind on things that are above. God has healed you so that you can see who God really is and live in relationship with him.

3)      It is a sign of God’s radical kingdom – enemies were loved. Mercy is dispensed. All people choose justice. Remember Micah’s words: “what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice to love mercy, and to walk humbly before the Lord.” God is waging war against evil, and injustice. He did it with the cross not the sword. What the Jews could not do with the sword in 70Ad and that was to get rid of the Roman Empire, that by the 4^th century, Jesus had conquered the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire adopted Christianity as the official religion. For some mercy is a sign of weakness, but to Christians it is a sign of strength.

This is a beginning point. Just remember this, 2 billion people are still shaped by this message. Jesus waits to finish the sermon to Sunday morning when the stone is rolled away. Jesus told us to pick up our cross so it is both salvific, but it is also a model. Christ suffered. We will suffer. Christ died so that we can live. What a demonstration of love.

We must see that on that day. We all drove the nails in. Maybe it wasn’t intentionally. Jesus died for both intentional and unintentional sins. We need to remember that any time we say no to God, we are saying crucify him! Crucify him? We have no king but Caesar.

Jesus is preaching to you. How are you going to respond? Amen.
Sermon Series “Last Week of Jesus” -– Thursday in the “Last Week of Jesus.”

By Adam Hamilton; Rewritten by Jim Whittaker

2 Events, 3 Commands, and 1 prayer

Scripture: Matthew 26:17-30, 36; John 18:1-5

April 10, 2011

We have moved from Palm Sunday to Maundy Thursday. Last week, Jesus visited Simon the Leper’s house and a woman anointed his body to make it ready for his burial. In all 4 gospels, Maundy Thursday is a big night. There isn’t much written during the day so perhaps Jesus taught at the temple or maybe he stated at Lazarus’ house during the day. The scriptures do not say yet we find that John devoted 5 ½ chapters about Thursday night. The gospel writer’s all focused on 2 events: the Upper Room and the Garden of Gethsemane. Before we begin, we remind you of our overarching questions of this series:

What type of king is Jesus? What type of kingdom does he reign? What does he expect of his subjects?

Let us begin. First, some background information. Our Maundy Thursday coincides with the Jewish Passover. Jesus sent in two disciples (John and Peter) to make preparations for the festival or the Passover. They would have acquired a 1 year old lamb without blemish. It would have been sacrificed it at the temple. They would then dress it and cook it. A room had to be acquired. Normally, Passover was a family affair and there would be gatherings of 10 to 15 people. The Passover celebration itself may last up to 4 hours. Jesus and the disciples wait until nightfall to begin. We then go to the Upper Room – a large gathering place on the hill so that it was 2 stories up in the front and at ground level at the back.

Part I. The Upper room

A.      The sitting

When we think of the Last Supper, do not we all think of the painting by Leonardo DaVinci? There is only one problem. This painting is done as if Jesus lived in Europe in the renaissance period. Jesus did not. So we have to say it – DaVinci has it wrong. First, the table is wrong.   The table would have been a “U shaped” table called a triclinium (3 and recline). The table was low to the ground. You would sit with your head toward the table on your stomach resting on your left hand and eating with your right hand. Your feet were as far away from the table.   Why the U shape? Servant would enter and serve the quests through the inside part of the U. The disciples and any guests would have been seated on the outside of the U.   Now DaVinci shows Jesus at the center of the table. Wrong again. Jesus would have been one seat away from the end of the left side of the U.

Jews would sit at most meals or their normal afternoon meal, but the Passover meal was different. You reclined, because it demonstrated your liberty. You left the shoes at the door.   The position of right and left next to Jesus were positions of honor. Judas was seating at the highest honored position around Jesus. Isn’t it something how Jesus loved his enemies and showed them honor even when they were getting ready to betray him. John sets on the right side of Jesus, which is the 2^nd most honored position. Interestingly, Peter sits across the U from John at the end of the right side of the U and it is titled, “the chief servant.” Keep that in mind for later.

B.      The Passover

While some theologians have argued whether or not this was a Passover meal, it was Passover so that emphasis cannot be lost. Passover was a time of remembering. In 1200BC, God did a miraculous deliverance and rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. We all remember the story of the plagues. It is the last plague that is critical to their deliverance for on that night all first born sons who were not protected by the blood of the lamb on the door post of their house, would die. The Pharaoh lost his son that night. For on that night, God sent his death angel and the angel only passed over (Passover) if the door posts were marked with blood. Then Pharoah said go. God said pack quickly and get out of town. The lamb represents the sacrifice of one that protects the life of another. The lamb represents deliverance or salvation. The unleavened bread represents that there was not enough time to let the bread rise. They left in haste. The salt water is representative of the tears Israel shed while in slavery in Egypt. The horseradish represents the bitterness of slavery. The wine and the 4 cups or 4 fillings of the cup remind us of the 4 promises given to Israel. This meal is meant to make people remember and it lasts about 4 hours. At the proper time, the youngest male would get up and retell the story for all to hear.   So this is our background salvation and remembrance.

C.      Last Supper becomes the Lord’s Supper

What is so profound about this last Passover or supper is that Jesus’ dramatically transforms it. Remembrance remains. Salvation remains. The sacrificial lamb remains. The Greek words for the Lord’s Supper means “something like ‘belonging to the Lord’ or more strongly ‘owned by the Lord.’” The cross even speaks to us as to the meaning of the Lord’s Supper. The vertical beam of the cross signifies our own communion with an almighty God who provides us salvation through Jesus our sacrificial lamb. The horizontal beam of the cross is evidence of our horizontal relationship here on earth with one another. It is communion with God and others that we seek. The Lord’s Supper does just that.

Jesus lifts the bread up to heaven and gives thanks and broke the bread and said, this is my body broken for you. All of the disciples knew the words of the Passover had mysteriously been changed. They did not realize the significance at that moment, but what Jesus was saying is all of those lambs who were sacrificed on that day, and all of their blood, was not enough. God would not Passover his first born on that night. His only Son would die and become the sacrificial lamb for all time and eternity. Because of Jesus, God’s death angel passes over us so that we can have life eternal. His broken body was the torture, beating, and humiliating death he would face on the cross. But, that is not all.

Toward the end of that evening, Jesus lifted one of the cups of wine and completely changed its meaning. This is my blood shed for you. We are remembering what Christ did. We are participating in God’s salvation as we join together in a time of Koinia - fellowship. The words at the end of the Lord’s supper are many times said that way – is this not a sharing in the blood of Christ? Those words are not meant to mean we are drinking blood, but we are participating and sharing in God’s salvation. It can also mean that we are sharing in Christ’s self-sacrificing life. We are God’s community on earth. It is the Lord’s Supper that ties us together.

D.      Maundy Thursday

Maundy means commandment. We probably do not put enough emphasis given on the commands of that night. If the time of Holy Communion ties us together, then we are also tied together as a people trying to live out the 3 commandments that Jesus gave that night.

. We are God’s community here on earth.

Commandment 1 – Luke 22:19-20 – ¹⁹Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁰And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” (NRSV)

We remember me by eating this meal. It is not optional. If you are a Christian, we share in communion. Sometimes it is named different like the Eucharist, which just simply means “thanksgiving.” We as Protestants say that the time of Holy Communion is a sacrament. Sacrament in Greek means “mysterium,” or mystery. We are simply saying we do not have to have all of the answers of God’s saving work. We may not fully comprehend fully what it means to participate in the body and blood of Christ, but Christ say do it and remember. We are bound together mysteriously as well.

Commandment 2 – that we love one another (John 13:34) – ^34”I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another” (NRSV).

It is not loving that is different. Jesus said to love as I have. That is the hard part. Judas , in essence his enemy, sits in the highest place of honor that night. Jesus didn’t call him out that night. He simply said, go do what you have got to do. When I think of loving everybody in the abstract, we might get warm fuzzy feelings. I like how Adam Hamilton said it, people irritate me and I irritate other people. The good Samaritan story is how we love. We don’t overlook a need. We try to address it. I seriously down there were any warm fuzzy feelings as the man who saw the person laying in the road what to do. He simply did it. He had compassion and that is what Jesus had. Adam Hamilton said loving is doing. Maybe later, we might feel something after we have done it, but it begins in actions. If this commandment wasn’t enough, Jesus gives us one more.

Commandment 3 – be a servant (John 13:3-5; 13:15). ^3”Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, ⁴got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. ⁵Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. ¹⁵For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you” (NRSV).

If loving is doing, then what keeps us from doing? Sometimes, we do not want to lower ourselves from our high esteemed position. As the disciples came into the Upper Room, they would have taken their sandals off. There would have been a basin of water at the door where the sandals were being taking off. This usually would have been a servant’s job. The disciples had been more worried about who gets to sit in the position of honor. When you are worried about position, you will not stoop down to take on the role of a servant. No one did. If you decided to wash your buddy’s feet, you would have started something, then it would have been expected that you would wash everyone’s feet. I mean who wants to do that. Probably no one that night feels more dejected than Peter. He didn’t get to sit at Jesus’ right or left hand. How did Judas get the position of honor and to make things worse, Jesus set Peter down in the position of “chief servant.” What was he thinking? In the movie that you see when you go on the “Walk to Emmaus” Methodist retreat, Peter is sulking. Perhaps, he got it that Jesus was telling him to wash the other’s feet. Peter didn’t no one did. Then, Jesus got up and said in essence no one is too big to be a servant. All of the disciples would have been embarrassed, but Peter most of all. That is why he didn’t want Jesus to wash his feet. It just didn’t seem right. We as Protestants haven’t seen Jesus asking us to wash feet, but to be a servant.

There were 12 church members getting together one day. When the first one walked in, they noticed a sticky place on the floor where someone had spilled something. When the second member walked in, they told them watch out there is a sticky place on the floor. When the third person walked in, they said watch that sticky place and said I will make a sign to warn people. When the fourth person walked in, they said read the sign and decided to put a chair to divert people away from the sticky place. When the fifth person walked in they said watch that chair and read the sign. When the sixth person walked in they had moved a table over the sticky place and said don’t sit at the chair at that table there is a sticky place under the table. So went the 7^th, the 8^th, the 9^th, the 10^th, the 11^th, and the 12^th. Finally Jesus walked in and moved 2 tables, 4 chairs, and 4 signs and wiped up the sticky place on the floor and said do as I do.

Jesus taught the disciples a valuable lesson that night. It was that a real spiritual person is not one filled with facts and theology, it is a person who acts out in love. It is a servant? It is one who loves no matter what? Jesus loved Peter that night even though he would betray him. He loved Judas that night even though he disowned him. They all took communion. Communion is for sinners who believe in a saving God.

Part II - Garden Scene – John 18:1-5

We leave Jerusalem and the walled city to cross Kidron Valley to the Olive Garden called Gethsemane. They believe that there are olive trees there that go back to the time of Christ. It is possible that one of the trees might have been 3,000 years old. It has a fence built around it to keep it safe. When Dianna and I went to Jerusalem, and we saw these trees I was thinking a chain saw is what they needed. They were pretty rough looking, but it is their significance on what happened on that spot. Right there among those olive trees is a rock outcrop. A newer church was built there in the 1920’s called the Basilica of His Agony or the Church of all Nations. The church is dark. There are stars painted on the ceiling. There is an altar where you can go pray where Jesus prayed that night. Jesus was in deep anguish and he prayed if there be any other way, let this cup pass by me. Jesus at that moment was showing he was fully human. Jesus understood human pain. He knows our pain. He has experienced our pain.

Only John tells us that this site is a garden. Only John tells us that Jesus was buried in a garden. Only John tells us that Jesus is resurrected in a garden. In John, Mary thinks she has run into the gardener. What is this that John is trying to tell us that Matthew, Mark, and Luke seem to have missed? What happened there? As Jesus prayed that night, do you not think Satan was whispering in Jesus’ ear – run, leave this place, live to a good old age. You can do much good if you don’t die. Jesus was tested by the great serpent of old. Jesus had an attractive fruit put before him. When in Matthew says, Satan quit tempting Jesus and that he would come back at another time, this is the time. It is like Jesus is in the Garden of Eden, the serpent of old is saying – don’t die, what good is that going to do?

It is John who is saying to us that as in the Garden of Eden Adam and Eve were tempted and failed and paradise was lost. It is in this garden, that Jesus is tempted, and paradise is restored. Peter was tempted that night. He failed. Judas was tempted. He failed. We are tempted, and we will fail. Jesus reversed that night the Garden of Eden. Just as the curse of death was given because of sin, because of Jesus’ obedience life is given. It’s key is found in a simple prayer – “not my will but thine.” This should be our prayer today. Not my will God, but thine. Is it yours?

Remember the commandments – remember Jesus’ saving acts, love one another , serve one another, and pray – not my will but thine. Amen.
Sermon 4 – Last Week of Jesus – Wednesday and Winning

Original written by Adam Hamilton; Rewritten by Jim Whittaker

Matthew 26:1-14; John 12:4-8

Jim Whittaker

Charlie Sheen over the past month has been using one word to summarize how he feels about where he is in his life. The word is “winning.” I will be honest with you. I had no idea where he was coming from when I first heard him say that. Yet, I believe he is declaring he is winning his battle over substance abuse. He is declaring he is winning in TV land since now we know CBS and Charlie are in negotiations over 2 ½ men. I am assuming that this simple word means even more to Charlie. I want to begin with this question today, what does it mean for us to say we are “winning” in life?

Our focus is “Holy Wednesday” in the “Last Week” of Jesus’ life. It wasn’t looking good for Jesus. Chapter 26 begins by telling us first that his teaching ministry is now over as indicated with these words, “after Jesus had finished saying all these things,” and that the chief priests and elders were conspiring to have Jesus arrested and killed by “stealth.” This word means deception. They were going to get rid of Jesus even if they had to lie, cheat, and steal. They were probably thinking after Passover since there were about 2 ¾ million people in Jerusalem according to records by Josephus, and any action taken by the high priest that stirred up a mob or riot would certainly cause Caiaphas to lose his high priest position as the Roman government would take it away from him. It had only been a few years ago since 30,000 people had died as a mob got out of control. We are going to look at 3 people today and ask the question are they winning?

First, we look at Simon. Matthew, Mark and John all record this similar story. Luke tells it differently enough, we are not sure if it is the same story or not. Jesus leaves the temple area on Wednesday and goes to Bethany. He was either visiting or spending some time with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus at Bethany during this week. We find that he had been invited to the house of Simon the Leper as given in Matthew. In other places he is described as a Pharisee.

What would winning look like for Simon the leper?

First, there would not be a large gathering at his house if he was still a leper. Lepers went down the street and shouted “unclean,” “unclean.” They had to move out of their house and live on the outskirts of the city. They were considered outcasts to everyone even family. It seems unusual in consideration of how a leper had to live that we find Jesus often around lepers and healing them. What would winning look like? It would like an outcast from society that has been healed. Here you would find Simon the Leper. Jesus didn’t seem to ask questions like how did you get this way, but healed without question with an expectation that you got a miracle in your life means you would live for God.

Jesus saw the outcasts of society as fertile ground for winning people unto God. Jesus knew that religious people often shunned people such as Simon the Leper. Jesus had compassion on the least of these.

Winning is knowing that God heals us from our sins. Winning is knowing that God forgives us no matter what the sin. Winning is knowing that God forgives, and accepts us where we are and will help move us to a closer relationship with him. Winning is finding salvation. Simon the Leper had found it.

In gratitude, he invites Jesus (God in the flesh) into his home. In gratitude, he gave what he could for Jesus – food and a time of fellowship and rest. Because, of Simon’s willingness to be used by God, we find one of the remarkable stories in scripture.

Winning is knowing that God has used you.

My notes: Hare – Shekel – worth 4 denari or 30 shekels worth 120 days of work or about ½ years of wages. Hare thinks Judas’ acts were not based on money – he gave it back – it wasn’t that much, but that he was trying to force God to come to rescue for Jesus.

Good work – means beautiful thing.

What would winning look like for the woman mentioned in Matthew?

Who is the woman? Matthew and Mark leave the woman un-named. John says it is Mary sister of Mary and Lazarus. Luke has a similar account that is different enough that we are not sure it is the same story. Perhaps, there were two instances of where this scene occurred. What is interesting in Luke, is the woman was known as a sinner, probably meaning a prostitute. There is the possibility that this could have been Mary. We are not certain, but what is clear in that story is her sins, which were many were forgiven. If that was truly Mary, then winning is knowing that God forgives you.

We are going to put most of our focus on another possibility.

In John, one chapter before our story for today, we have a powerful story of new life and new creation. Mary and Martha sisters of Lazarus send word to Jesus that Lazarus was sick unto death. Jesus procrastinates or as Jesus would explain – all things are done for God’s purpose and glory. Lazarus becomes a picture of our Messiah – for he died and yet he lives again. When Jesus finally does make it to Bethany both Mary and Martha said, if you had only been here, we know you would have healed him. Jesus was bold enough to walk out to the grave site and say roll away the stone. In our age of embalming, we forget this. By four days, the body is decomposing. That is when Jesus comes on the scene. The sisters protested but Jesus he sinketh meaning it is too late in this world perhaps in the next. Jesus defined what winning means in an incredible way.

Lazarus come forth he shouted and Lazarus came stumbling out of the grave. Jesus defined winning as new life. Jesus defined winning as a new creation. Jesus defined winning as the resurrection. With this incredible story in the background, how would you feel as a sister if the brother you loved was raised from the dead? Would there be a price that was too great to show your gratitude?

When seen in light of the great gratitude that Mary must have felt, this story begins to make sense. There was nothing too great of a cost to give Jesus. Our story says this was a very expensive ointment or perfume. The little jar that often was worn around the next was worth about 300 days wages or about a year of working days. What an act of discipleship?

William Barclay states that rabbis taught that there were two great acts one could do. One was to give to the poor. Second was to bury the dead. The rabbis said that the later was the most important because you got personally involved while giving to the poor often just meant giving money, which was impersonal. Jesus was saying at this time, the second or later is the most important. If you pass up the opportunity to bury the dead, it is gone while you may help someone who is hungry several times during the year. When you are dead, you are dead. Jesus claimed this act of self-sacrifice, which was probably her life’s savings or maybe it was her inheritance. It was all she had. This is an act of discipleship.

Interesting, we find the disciples all becoming angry with such a waste of money. Mary gave the greatest act of discipleship on that day. John names Judas as the one making the accusation, but it appears that all disciples agreed with him.

Winning is giving it all to God.

What would winning look like to Judas?

There is a little bit of Judas in us all. While we have been defining winning as forgiveness, and new life, we find that Judas had a different interpretation. Judas defined winning just as the world defines winning. Judas defined winning as being on top - The one who dies with the most toys wins. Jesus defined winning as dying. Jesus defined winning as what appeared to be losing to everyone on the sidelines. Judas understood Jesus’ talk of dying as losing.

Problems arise in life when we take the world’s definition of winning and place it on top of the gospel message of winning. Judas thought his idea of winning trumped Jesus’ idea of winning. Or perhaps Judas thought he could force God to intervene into the situation and make Judas’ idea of winning the right one. Look at the repercussions of replacing God’s idea of winning with the world’s or Satan’s idea.

1. Satan entered into Judas’ heart. Temptation begins with our willingness and openness to be tempted.

2. Judas sold Jesus out. While Judas complained about wasting 300 denari (which represents giving Jesus all that Mary had), he sells Jesus out for 30 shekels or about 120 denari. We might surmise that it is easier to sell Jesus out that to give him our all.

3. Judas ended it all. We find that Judas was greatly dismayed that God did not intervene into Jesus’ death on the cross. He brought the money back so maybe the money wasn’t as important as we might think to him. The priests used the money to buy a field to bury poor people in called the “potter’s field.” Judas walked upwards out of Jerusalem and looked over another valley. Jesus had talked about his place, It is called the valley of hell or the ghenna. Because of some of the most egregious sins committed were committed in this valley as children were sacrificed under King Manasseh to the god of Molech, the Jews made it into a trash dump where there was always a fire burning and there was always something for a worm to eat there. It was at this site, where Judas looked over the cliffs looking into the valley of hell that he hung himself. This is not winning. Satan will always lead us toward death and destruction.

Adam Hamilton challenges us to think what if Judas would have hung on and saw the resurrection, would things been different? Judas thought that his sin was so large that there was no way he could be forgiven. That is a thought but there by Satan. What if Jesus had appeared unto Judas, and said I forgive you my son? Would Judas not have said how can I not accept such a great gift of forgiveness? Would Judas been like Peter? Peter became a bold disciple yet had denied Jesus three times. This would have been winning for Judas. Judas would have been the greatest of sinners, but God can forgive anyone if they truly repent. There might still be consequences to pay for our sins, but we can find peace in God. Judas bought into Satan’s idea of winning and he lost.

Winning is defined as belonging to the king. Winning is not defined as finishing first, but finishing the race. Winning is having our sins forgiven and belonging to the new creation.

Our grandson Caleb ran, swam, and rode his bicycle last spring in a triathlon for children. He had to take swimming lessons and had to learn how to make the change over from swimming to bicycle. When he finished the race, the stood on the finish line and gave encouragement to finish the race to those who hadn’t finished yet.

Winning is to be sure as many as possible find the forgiveness, and healing that Simon and Mary received. That is being the cheerleader like Caleb. Losing is when we look off the prize and let Satan give us a new definition of winning, which usually involves greed, our pride, and our self over others.

Jesus said winning was to die to self and to live for God. Don’t let anybody fool you. This is winning – to be in the arms of a loving and gracious God who forgives us and loves us. As we rest in God’s grace and give ourselves fully unto God, we should all be able to say “winning.” Only because of God’s grace.

Our challenge today is to not be tempted as Judas was who found out was losing is. If you put yourself with Satan, you will lose. God has told us that Satan will go to hell. Judas hung himself looking over hell. That is a powerful picture for us.

Simon and Mary – winning.

Judas – losing.

Jesus – pulls a winning out of a losing situation.

That’s where I am putting myself with Jesus. How about you? Amen.

Sermon: Judgment begins with the Children of God

Series on the “Last Week of Jesus”

Original by Adam Hamilton; Rewritten by Jim Whittaker

Matthew 23:13-15, 33; 24:1-2, 27; Mat. 25:1-6, 40-43

March 27, 2011

We are continuing in the last week of Jesus. On Palm Sunday there was much celebrating as Jesus rode into town on a donkey as many expected Jesus to rise up and overthrow the Roman government; instead, Jesus overthrew the money exchanger tables. On Holy Monday, we encounter three times Jesus was attacked. He was questioned on his authority, his allegiance, and his theology. A key verse in understanding Holy Tuesday is the one where Jesus wept on Palm Sunday. Jesus said in Luke 19:43, “Indeed the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up ramparts around you and surround you, and hem you in on every side.” Jesus wept because he knew that a Messiah coming to bring peace would be rejected. Jesus wept because he knew in consequences of the people’s bent on evil, and violence, the 10^th Legion of the Roman army would set upon this city and destroy in 70AD. If we were to place a theme on this day, it would be “judgment.” We are covering chapters 23, 24, and 25. Each gives us a different theme of judgment. Tuesday is easier to understand when we realize that Jesus has been rejected. Let me be sure to make this point: There are consequences to rejecting God in your life. There are eternal consequences not just on this earth. Let us begin.

Judgment #1 – “Woe unto you scribes, Pharisees, [and] hypocrites!” (Mat. 23:13).

Scholars debate whether Matthew was written before 70AD or after 70AD mainly because of Jesus’ predictions in the passages we read today and the historic fact of the destruction of the temple. Let me tell you, it doesn’t matter when Matthew wrote it down. Jesus said Jerusalem would be destroyed and it was. By this time, Matthew is getting older and he is seeing the same things happening in the Christian community as Jesus warned about 40 years earlier. Matthew intentionally writes in such a way that we place ourselves in Jesus’ warnings and parables. That is good. That is his intent. We find the writing style used in chapter 23 is composed of 6 woes. This is a familiar Jewish writing style as six alone tells us there will be judgment on humanity.

Jesus was probably in the large plaza called the “court of the Gentiles” where in pictures you see on the internet will see the Dome of the Rock. This plaza area is still intact though the temple truly does not have one stone laid upon another just as Jesus said. The Jews consider this area so holy because the Temple was up near the area where the Dome of the Rock was built that they won’t even walk there as they might accidently walk through the Holy of Holies in the temple and not know it.

So who are these woes addressed too?

Scribes – Luke calls scribes lawyers meaning they were professionals in interpreting God’s law. So the scribes are the professional religious people. This is kind of like ordained ministers and theologians in seminary.

Pharisee – The Pharisees were a lay movement whose purpose was to bring revival to the people. So let’s say these are church leaders.

Hypocrites – Just in case, Jesus missed you with the professional church person and the church leader, he throws in one that catches everyone, a hypocrite. A hypocrite is anyone whose beliefs , teachings, and life are inconsistent with the overarching important themes of the scriptures. For example, you can’t teach that you should love everyone when you hate your neighbor. That is inconsistent.

In the six woes given here by Jesus, Jesus focuses more on teaching. For example, we know that this group refused to acknowledge Jesus was led by God or was the true Messiah as given in the book of Isaiah. God was at work, and the refused to acknowledge it.

Woe #1 - Jesus actually accuses them of leading people to hell rather than the Kingdom of God. This is a cutting blow.

Woe #2 – They taught convoluted laws on the proper way to give an oath rather just being honest.

Woe #3 – They went into minute detail on tithes, but then forgot to practice, justice, mercy, and faith. In other words, their focus was wrong.

Woe #4 – They taught that a dirty cup would make you unclean, which goes way beyond what God prescribed in Moses’ law, and ignored the metaphor of clean and unclean really meant – we are to live clean lives. Forget the cups Jesus said. Get yourselves right is what is important.

Woe #5 – Jesus said on the outside they looked like a tomb that had been white washed (now there were plenty of tombs around here where Jesus spoke – so they looked good on the outside, but inside that are like a grave, which contains dead remains.

Woe #6 – Jesus said you decorate and honor the dead prophets and say we wouldn’t kill a prophet if they were alive today, Jesus said not only would you, you are killing prophets. Your actions doom you to hell.

Inconsistency. Jesus didn’t expect the Pharisees, and scribes to be perfect. In fact, their behavior is not really mentioned as their teaching that was leading people astray.

In II Chronicles 9:14 it says, “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

The prophet Micah said in 6:8, “He has told you, O mortal what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness (mercy), and to walk humbly with your God?”

Jesus said the Pharisees loved long prayers in public so people could tell them how good they prayed, and when they gave their offering they didn’t do it quietly but rung a bell so people would look to see what was going on – they did things for the praise of others not the praise of God.

What is our price? What would we do so others would praise us? Are we seeking the praise of others rather than the affirmation “well done good and faithful servant?” Jesus is clear – an inconsistent life reveals hypocritical patterns and will lead us to hell rather than the Kingdom of God.

Judgment #2 – First the Temple and then all of Us

Jesus left the Court of the Gentiles as it was evening and probably stopped at the teaching steps, which were one of the main entrances into the temple. Ahead of him as they walked out was the Kidron Valley also known as the Valley of Jehoshaphat, also known as the valley of judgment. Jesus turned around and said one stone will not be left upon another. Later when they walked through the Kidron Valley and up to the Mount of Olives where they were staying, the disciples asked Jesus tell us more. Matthew mixes a judgment on Jerusalem and the final judgment together often making it difficult to know which one he was talking about, but this is clear. Jesus clearly predicted the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem. Jesus clearly says he will come for a final judgment. One day, which could be today, God is going to say enough – enough with the wars. We certainly have seen our share. WWI and WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and right now America has battles going on in Libya, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The Tsunamis have shown us a new meaning with earthquakes. Jesus said in the end things would get worse. I am not trying to say that Jesus is coming today, but he could. The scriptures are clear.

Are we ready for God’s judgment? Could we be living in the time, when evil is bringing total chaos around the world and even the earth itself appears to be in chaos?

Judgment #3 – The Criteria of Judgment is Given

As Tuesday winds down, and Jesus peers into the fledgling church that will begin, and I believe he looked into the future and saw us, and he gave us three instructional parables. We will focus on two of them.

Parable #1 – The Parable of the 10 Virgins

Virgins represent young ladies who were of the marrying age waiting the bridegroom. The virgins are us Christians and we are all awaiting the 2^nd coming of Jesus Christ. The question becomes, how does Jesus find us? In the parable, we find 5 of those waiting for Christ were not prepared. While the oil in the lamps could mean many things: Luther thought faith, others have suggested love or even good works. Matthew probably was thinking of all of these as a faithful Christian has faith in Christ, lives a life of love including good works and excludes in their life things that are evil. For whatever reason, 5 of those waiting for Christ’s return run out of oil. While this is a sermon in itself, it is apparent what the message is – they did not expect Christ to return when he did, and Christ caught them off guard.

The obvious question is – if Christ came today, would we be ready? Are all things made right? Have you fully accepted Christ as your Savior? Have you accepted Christ as your Lord? There is a warning here, be ready, because we do not know when Christ will return.

Parable #2 – The Parable of the Nations

The people of the whole world are gathered together symbolized by the nations. This is the great and final judgment. No one is going to be excluded from this final judgment. We are not divided by nations but by goats and sheep. There is just one distinction being made – did you live the life that God in the Old Testament demanded – a life of obedience. Sure, we need to recognize God’s grace given in Jesus Christ, but salvation is never just a yes and it is over. Salvation is a yes to a new beginning. It is a yes to a transformed life. It is yes to a life filled with love. It would seem that the goat and the sheep didn’t really expect to be divided the way they were.

The sheep were placed on the right. To them God says, come and inherit the kingdom of God. They seem to be asking what is making us different from the goats. Jesus says, (35), I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you gave me clothing. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you visited me. The righteous sheep say when did we do that – Jesus says when you did it to anybody, you were doing it to him.

Then the goats on the left are told to depart from God for I have never known you but I am sending you to the place of eternal judgment made for the devil and his followers. The goats seem to be startled as well. And Jesus responds to them, you did not give me food, you did not give me drink, you did not give me clothes, you did not visit me in prison.

Are you ready for the judgment day? When the father says enough, we will face the judgment.

Do you know what it means to be ready? It means to faithfully follow him from day to day. Are we actively engaged doing the work of God? We are looking for the well done good and faithful servant. Have we made our preparations?

It is easy to be hard on the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the scribes. When we pick on them, it is like we are lifting ourselves up and saying we are better than them. Jesus simply called them hypocrites. He called them out on their inconsistent life. We are foolish if we think we are better than they.

Illustration:

One time as I was growing up, my friend and I took a walk in the woods. We walked awhile on the mountain tops and then kept pushing on and went down to the valley below. We were surprised when we found out that we were in a town called Lester. Neither one of us were wanting to climb back up the mountain. We were no where close to home. We walked about 6 miles to get back to Sophia, and stopped by our favorite teacher’s house – Mrs. Roberts (her son became a Methodist minister), and she took us home, which was only about 1.5 to 2 miles further to go. She dropped me off at our house and I went in to face the judgment. Gone too long. Gone where I shouldn’t have gone. I was busted. I didn’t look forward to going in the house, but I was ready and willing to face my judgment (which was more of a tongue lashing).

We face many judgments in this life. It would be a pity if we then were not ready for the greatest judgment of all and that is to meet God face to face. I can’t tell you when Jesus is coming back. Yes, it might just be today. The real question is are you ready? This is Jesus’ message on Tuesday. I believed he looked into the future and saw us, and preached to us on that day. Be ready for I am coming. Amen.

Meroney UMC
Sermon #2 – So You Say You are King – Matthew 21:23-27; 22:15-17; 22:23-28
Original From Adam Hamilton; rewritten by Jim Whittaker
The Last Week of Jesus Series
March 20, 2011

Theme Scripture: Who gave you this authority to do these things? (Mat. 21:23)

Introduction:
Overarching theme: Jesus is King - The King of Kings. We asked last week, who are you Jesus? He is not the type of king that the people were expecting. What type of king is he? What type of Kingdom? What does Jesus expect out of this subjects? These are all legitimate questions.

As we begin this new day Monday, we need to remember it is the morning after Jesus turned over the Money exchanger tables. He is challenged by the chief priests who challenge his authority. The Pharisees and the Herodians challenge Jesus over paying taxes to Caesar. We understand that. We began our revolt as this country over the payment of taxes. The last group to come was the Sadducees. They challenged him on the resurrection. Jesus was teaching all that day. These groups come for these reasons. One, they wanted to have an excuse to go over to Antonio’s fortress where the Roman guard was stationed, which by the way was just next door and tell the Romans that there was a man in the temple claiming to be king so they would come and arrest him. The second reason they came was to make Jesus look foolish so the people would quit listening to him. So, that is their two goals: arrest or embarrassment. We are going to look at these challenges one by one.

1. Attack #1 – Jesus’ Authority –
The social elitism leads to problems - The chief priest and elders made up of Sadducees and Sanhedrin
a. They are Wealthy. The Sadducees are the ruling authority over the temple. Over time, they had become wealthy. They were well educated. They were the elite of society. They were the upper class. They liked things just where they were. Life was good. Then Jesus comes along and embarrasses them before the people. We all know from last week, when Jesus overturned the money exchanger’s tables that he was saying they were crooked. They were cheats. They were not looking after the best interests of the common person. They had become corrupt in time. This was a system that you were born into. Jesus criticized their authority. Authority is a gift. It should not be misused. Jesus is saying that even in a religious society, if people take advantage of other people it is wrong. In fact, it is not only not godly, but you are working against God.

How would they have seen Jesus?

b. Jesus is an outsider. First, he is from the wrong side of town. No one good comes from Nazareth. He has not been taught in the right schools. He is not from the right family. They would have seen him as a country bumpkin competing against the city elite. They would easily fool Jesus they thought.

Their question over his authority is legitimate. Only they have authority for matters of procedure in the temple. You would have to be God himself to overrule them. They had heard the stories of Jesus riding in on a donkey. When they asked him the question, they expected him to say “he was the Messiah.” Instead, he answers their question with a question: was John the Baptizer sent from God or was that something he just did. They would not acknowledge he was sent from God and they were afraid if they said he baptized on his own that the people would rise up against them so they refused to answer. Jesus says, he won’t answer either.

The question we should be asking is do we give Jesus all authority in our lives. We like to think that we do, but do we?

Jesus’ Teaching Moments: Parables
1. Who does God’s will? Jesus uses this as a teaching moment. There were two sons. The first son, did not respect the Heavenly father and flat out refused to obey his commands. Later, he realized that it was right to give the Heavenly Father full authority over his life so he repented and obeyed the heavenly father.

There was a second son. The Heavenly Father asks this son to obey his command and he says OK, but his life and his actions prove him otherwise. It was only in words. There was nothing heartfelt. This son was the Sadducees or Christians today when we fail to give Jesus authority over our life. We might say we are going to do all of those good things, but for some reason, we fail to carry it out.

Jesus asks which one of these two is faithful unto God’s will. It is obvious. The one who eventually obeyed. Jesus said the worst kind of sinner is ahead of people who like they are Christians but have yet to apply God’s teaching to their heart. The scriptures are about transformation.

The Saducees, they did not want to be transformed. Life was too comfortable. They would have to change things. They would have to give up things. If giving up their comfortable lifestyle was what following God was about, well they decided they would pass up that opportunity.

2. Priorities - There are two other parables that follow that teach that Israel did not recognize the Son of God and instead killed him and one on all the people that claim they know God but do not have the time to come to the King’s wedding banquet. This parable is bluntly clear: if you don’t have time for God in this world, don’t expect God to have time for you when you go to the next.

II. Attack #2: The Herodians over taxes.
The Herodians were either a movement, political group, or even part of the religious group of Sadducees. Some have aligned them with a priestly class under the Herodian rulers, which would make them much more closer to the Sadducees than the Pharisees even though on this particular issue, the Herodians and Pharisees seem to have worked together. So it is safe to say, this is probably a group that once again has at least some ties to the ruling authority of the temple.

The Herodians incorrectly assume something about Jesus. Sometimes, we do that. We think Jesus is like us. That is exactly backwards to what we should be about as Christians. The Companions in Christ study this week said we were to read the scripture so that we become like the scripture. In other words, God changes us. We want to make Jesus look like us. We have all kinds of pictures of Jesus. There is a Jesus flexing his muscles to show he was strong. There is a Jesus laughing to show that Jesus wasn’t serious all of the time. We have a tendency to create the image of Jesus in our minds to look just like us. Jesus said I came so that you look just like God.

Here is the mistake of the Herodians. They assume that Jesus is the Messiah. They are not expecting him to come usher in the kingdom of God. They expect him to lead a revolt. Only, they do not expect him to succeed, and really think what he has is a death wish, which you might say is partly true since Jesus did die for the sins of the world. So their idea is to trap him. Once again, we see a group who wants to send Jesus to jail or make him look foolish.

The people hate paying taxes. This is a firebrand type of subject. If he says, we shouldn’t pay taxes, then he is an insurrectionist and they will go get the Romans. Remember, this group actually likes King Herod’s rule. It has worked well for them. The other option is for Jesus to say, they should pay the taxes, which will lead to a mob scene of angry people. Jesus will be discredited and maybe even arrested for starting a riot. Good plan huh!

Now while the temple ruling authorities (the Sadducees) would not allow you to pay the temple tax with money that has the face of Caesar on it and the words “Tiberius son of the divine Augustus (He is claiming to be the son of God. Now I don’t if the Caesar’s really believed they were gods or not), isn’t it interesting that you can’t pay the temple tax in Caesar’s money, but when Jesus says has anybody got a coin, they produced one. Isn’t this a little hypocritical? Isn’t the pot calling the kettle black?

Jesus doesn’t answer their question. In essence he was saying, if our circumstances call us to pay taxes, then pay them. What’s money anyway in light of eternity. The bigger question is are you paying your due to God? Romans 12:1-2 says, present your entire self as a living sacrifice unto God. His adversaries were stunned into silence.

Matthew 6:33, “seek you first the kingdom of God” certainly comes to mind. Can we say the same? Are we putting God first in all things?

III. The Sadducees and the Resurrection
The third group comes. All have had ties to the Sadducees. They have questioned his authority and were defeated. They have questioned his allegiance and were defeated. Now they come to question his theology.

The Sadducees were the ivory tower thinkers of Jesus’ day. Sometimes today, our theologians get so cut off from the common life that they come up with some weird theology and do not have to come to terms with its full consequences. Yes, they were the upper crust, blue bloods of Israel. Their belief system was all about the here and now. Remember, they have inherited a system of wealth so the concerns of the common person – the resurrection, heaven, and hell – mean little to someone living so well now and cut off from the concerns of the people. We often jokingly say – the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection and that is why they were so “sad you see.” Paul in the book of I Corinthians ch. 15 argues that if there was no resurrection, we are a people most miserable and fakes for we are misleading the people, but since there was and will be a resurrection, we have been entrusted with the words of God that have the power to give life to the broken hearted and the down cast.

First a little background. In Jesus’ day, women were property. That sounds kind of weird, but let us remember it has only been 100 years since the women in this country got the right to vote and own property.

Second, we need to talk about the Levite marriage found in Deuteronomy. Women were defined by children. If a woman’s husband died before she had children, she was shamed and the dead husband had no heirs. So the system was, the nearest of kin would take her as his wife, and the first male child would be the dead man’s heir. So that is the background,

Here is the question given to Jesus so that he would be made to look foolish.

A man married a woman, and he died before they had children. According to the law, the next of kin married the woman, and he died before they had children. This was repeated for a total of 7 times. The question becomes, when all of these husbands die and go to heaven and the wife does the same, whose wife or property does she become since they all have property rights with her and they were inferring that they would have children in heaven.

Jesus gets kind of tough on them. How ignorant you are. We have children on this earth because we die and the human race continues, but in heaven, when you are given eternal life, there is no need for anyone to have children in heaven. Also, note Jesus specifically mentions that there will be a resurrection meaning that as people die here on this earth, we will all rise again to be judged for our belief in God and in our actions in living our belief out. Some will go to everlasting life and some to everlasting death.

We may even ask the question ourselves? For whatever reason through death or divorce, I have been married several times. In heaven, we are loved and love for the people we have become. I liked Adam Hamilton’s response. He said if he died and his wife remarried. In heaven, he would rejoice that his wife had also brought someone else enjoyment and he would rejoice that someone else loved her.

There is some profound wisdom here. We belong to God. God calls us his bride. Our bridegroom is Christ. We are married to Christ for the fellowship and love that comes in marriage.

Jesus went to bat for us. He fought of the attacks of that day. Jesus still goes to bat for us. He fights off the attacks of our day. You belong to God.

Little girl lost in mall – 4 years old. Who do you belong to? Gave mommy’s name. Mommy comes and she is no longer afraid. She is no longer afraid. She knows who you belong to.

Do you know who you belong to?

Begin each morning, lord I am yours

John Wesley prayer – I am not longer my own, but thine – Covenant prayer. Put your hands out.
Then Adam Hamilton prays: Say something like this – God I am yours. I give my life to you. God help us to sense you are our father and you will not let us go. Somehow even in the difficult times it will be OK. We offer ourselves to you. Amen

Meroney UMC
Sermon 1 in Series – Last Week of Jesus (Sunday) – Who are you Jesus?
Original by Adam Hamilton given at Church of the Resurrection (www.cor.org)
Rewritten by Jim Whittaker; Scripture passage used: Matthew 21:1-13
March 13, 2011
Introduction:
The scriptures say that Jesus’ face was turned toward Jerusalem meaning he was determined to go. In Matthew it just states in Ch. 20, these things happened “while he was going to Jerusalem.” In Matthew that last week spans 8 chapters of 28 - In Luke, over 7 chapters out of 24 - In Mark, over 6 of 16. The gospel writers put a great emphasis on this last week. We are using some of Adam Hamilton’s sermon material from his series titled the same. We are beginning on the first day after the Sabbath, when traveling could resume. It is Sunday of Jesus’ last week. We call it Palm Sunday. So this year for our lent discussions, we are beginning with Palm Sunday rather than ending there. Adam Hamilton mentions for us to not overlook the obvious: Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. Jesus wept over Jerusalem. Jesus is constantly talking about the Kingdom of God or heaven in Matthew. In fact, Christ is not his last name but a titled given to Jesus – he is the anointed one. He is king of kings. This is the story of a king entering into his city. This is the story of a king entering his Father’s house the temple. This is a king declaring victoriously that he is claiming his kingship. We are all pretty well familiar with that part of the story.

Let us begin this day. We find Jesus in Jericho in Matthew 20. There is a plague in Jericho that has been rebuilt beside the ruins of the city that fell to Joshua and the Israelites that says lowest city on earth. 1300 feet below sea level. Jericho is right before the Dead Sea – from there you turn up the mountains and climb 4,000 feet in elevation on a 16 mile journey. Jesus probably would have left town as early as they could so about daybreak – maybe 6am. It is estimated that this journey would have taken about 6 hours so they would have been arriving around noon. As they neared the city, the would have entered two villages – Bethphage and Bethany. They were on top of the Mount of Olives. Jesus more than likely had some relatives here. Martha and Lazarus lived here. He took a break before he entered the city. Jesus planned to make a statement on Sunday, the first day of the week of Passover. Jesus rides into the city on a donkey.

1. Jesus Riding in on a Donkey means – Messianic King
We too casually look at this passage. We think how quaint Jesus was tired and rode a donkey into the city and temple area, and it was foretold by scripture. In fact, it was the prophet Zechariah that foretold of a Messianic King riding into the city. I like how Adam Hamilton described it – “This is not about Jesus’ personal comfort.” If we think that is what it is – we are missing the point. Jesus stopped about a mile short of the city. It would have made more sense for him to continue into Jerusalem. Jesus stopped on purpose. Jesus is making a statement. It took a while for me to realize this – but Jesus had prearranged for a donkey to be used for him. He sent his disciples ahead to get the donkey. Jesus then got on the donkey and rode into the city. Do not miss this point. Jesus is saying to all of the throngs of pilgrims coming to Jerusalem. Ha! I am the one. I am the Messianic King foretold by the prophet Zechariah.

Zechariah 9:9, “Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey (NRSV)

Jesus said, I am the Messianic King, and the people responded by treating him as such.

2. A Huge Misunderstanding - The People’s Hosannas say we “accept you as King.”
Have you ever wondered why on Palm Sunday we wave palm branches? Our response usually is well the people in the Bible did when Jesus rode into town. That’s correct, but that is a shallow answer. Let us dig deeper. 550 years earlier Zechariah said these words about the Messianic King. When Jesus mounted the donkey people immediately recognized the sign. The people and the disciples started saying Hosanna. They waved palm branches.

Jews today still practice a festival called the feast of the booths or tabernacles. The Jews in Jesus’ day practiced this same festival. As part of this festival, they would repeat verbatim the words of Psalm 113-118. In Psalm 118:25, it says, “save us…O Lord.” This means “hosanna,” or hosanna means “save us.” Then we have the words “blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” Then we get the phrase “bind the festal processions with branches.”

Here is how this was carried out. First it was a required pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Then, the would cut branches – the willow tree, the myrtle tree, and the palm tree all from the Jerusalem area. Then they would take those branches and wave them overhead. There was a certain way that you waved them. You waved them in the quadrants of the compass. North, then south, then east, then west. There is a song in the new hymnal that Cokesbury came out with that says shout to the north, shout to the south, that is reminiscent of the way you wave the branches. Then, you would march around the temple 7 times. Quoting those scriptures Psalm 113-118, which included Save us O God or Hosanna.

All 4 Gospels record the Jesus event as Passover not the Feast of the booths or tabernacles, but the people would still have had their festive branches.

We need some more background information. This is critical. It might be the breakthrough for us to understand how the Jews went from Hosanna to Crucify Him! In between the Old Testament and the New Testament, there are some writings called the Apcocraphya. They were never declared Holy Scripture by the church yet they were included in the Bible and still are in the Catholic Bible. One of those books in those years between the Old Testament and the New Testament is the book of Maccabees. There is some important historical information that goes on in what some older study Bibles called the 400 silent years. What we find is around 165 BC there was a movement for the Jews to become more like the Greeks. Antiochus Epiphanes led this movement of change. The Jews didn’t like it and rebelled. Antiochus brought troops in, took over the temple, and sacrificed a pig on the altar to the Greek god Zeus. This was more than the Maccabean brothers could stand. They led a revolt and cleansed the temple in the 164BC timeframe. When Judas Maccabee came into town they waved their palm branches. They had not been able to celebrate the feast of booths during this time of Greek occupation. Twenty four years later, the Syrians basically did the same thing. The younger Maccabean brother lead a revolt again. His name was Simon. The people once again waved their palm branches that they had not been able to use during the Syrian occupation as Simon rode into town in victory.

You probably notice a pattern here. Over the 150 years prior to Jesus, there had been others who came to lead or try to lead the Jews out of their occupation of a foreign power. When Jesus rode into town on a donkey, he was proclaiming he was the Messianic King. When the people saw him, the saw instead a warrior who delivers them from their occupation, which now is the Romans.

The people completely misunderstood what Jesus was saying when he rode in to town on a donkey. They were looking for a political answer and Jesus was saying it begins in the heart. We do the same today. You want to turn this nation back to God? Don’t depend on politics Jesus seems to be saying. In fact, Jesus seems to be saying to us – you get your country back to God by your willingness to go to the cross just as Jesus did.

Jesus said, if you want to be my follower, then deny yourself, and pick up your cross and follow me.

3. Jesus reacts – He weeps
In Luke 19:41ff, Jesus nears the city and weeps. When you travel to Jerusalem, there is a small chapel on the way down the Mount of Olive trail. It is called Dominus Flavius. It is an inverted tear drop. There is a window overlooking the city of Jerusalem looking straight at the Dome of the Rock, which would be where the temple stood. Jesus makes some huge statements.

If….you had recognized that I came to make peace. You will be destroyed because you did not recognize God in your midst.

This was Jerusalem’s chance to get right with God, but instead they chose not peace but the way of violence. We still do today. Why is it we are so willing to go to war? Jesus turned down the option of a revolt.

We know the rest of the story, in 66BC there is a revolt by 3 would be Messiahs. They have some initial victories, then the 10th legion comes and sits on the city for 3 years. Some try to escape. When they are caught, they are crucified. There were so many crosses that it circled the entire city. I million Jews would lose their life. They burned down houses, overturn the huge rocks. They even dug up the foundations of some of the big buildings. In Rome, there is a monument celebrating the victory over the Jews. The Roman soldiers are carrying of the Jewish Menorah.

4. The Choice of our Path
There were two paths – Hosanna or Crucify Him. There seems to always be two paths. There are two paths today. Let me be clear, one path leads toward God and the other away from God. Jesus clearly spoke of his kingdom. He gives us instructions on how to act. In fact rather then leading an open rebellion, Jesus said if a Roman soldier asks you to carry his backpack for a mile – go for two. Embarrass him by carrying it further than he asked for. Jesus is saying the ultimate weapon is kindness, love. You don’t stop a war by going to war. Israel, this is how you defeat your enemies – not by the sword. Taxes seemed to be such a big issue bag then. Nothing much changes

If we move forward to our modern time, it is now the Palestinians that are saying we do not want to be occupied by the Jews so they send in suicide bombers and Israel responds by sending American F-16’s into battle or build 20 feet high concrete walls to minimize the threat. It would seem Israel has not learned yet Jesus’ teachings. Jesus would say this is not the way of peace.

It is like the as humans we get a little addicted to something whether it is sugar or drugs. It begins to rule our life and we lead ourselves down a path of destruction.

Lent is the time that we ask are we on the right path? The path toward peace with Jesus or the way of the world?

One of the things that so stood out to me in our last sermon series was that God leaves a lot of healing that we receive as a choice to us. Do we really want to be healed? Sometimes healing only comes as we make some hard choices – maybe even some dying on the cross type of choices. I give you an example:
Monuments along the side of the road. There is a documentary being prepared for this. In Mexico, a family experienced a death of their 12 year old son by a drunk driver. They had created a memorial, but they also created a memorial for the woman that killed their son by her drunk driving. They had a choice. They could hate this woman or say she was also a child of God and someone’s daughter. This is a hard choice. It is hard to comprehend. Which one that leads toward healing?

Woman works at a company where they are laying people off. Her department would eventually be eliminated. She heard a word from God. Help other people. Don’t worry about yourself. She found peace in knowing that loving others was the right path.

Where is our path for lent? Jesus – does he still weep for the nations?

5. Jesus Cleanses the Temple – Jesus Gives a Test and the People Fail
Let’s move on. When Jesus wept, he knew they would not accept him because his message came from God, and they were interested in hearing a message from God. They were looking for a human deliver through bloodshed. When Jesus entered the temple, the people were looking for a passionate speech of deliverance from the Romans, and they did not get it. Jesus when he entered the temple area doesn’t do what they were expecting. They would have expected a great speech. He didn’t do it. He did something strangely different.

Jesus goes in and cleanses the temple. Let’s reflect for a moment, Jesus has taught on loving each other. Jesus has taught on living justly and not forgetting the helpless was the children and widows and the poor. He comes into his Father’s house, and he finds that anything but love and justice is going on.

Let me explain, In the outer courts of the temple you had a place to exchange foreign currency. That was a help. You could actually buy animals and birds to sacrifice here. That was a help. There would be not way an animal could travel the long journey and remain clean, which was the requirement for a sacrifice. Here is the problem. The temple only accepted their money. It would be like coming to church and the pastor saying we only accept Meroney money here. Your confused and say fine, where can I exchange some good ole US greenback? And, I would direct you to the money changers. Roman money could not be accepted because the Roman emperor was on it. At this point, we have been aggravated but not robbed. Well that is coming next? Everyone has to pay a temple tax in temple money and it is equal to about 2 days wages. So you have to use the money changers. There was a fee for the money exchange – about 3 hours wages. If you didn’t have exact change, well that was 3 more hours wages. Need a dove for a sacrifice – go to the money changers. Need to pay temple tax – go to the money changers. Don’t have the right change – go to the money changers. At this point, I am starting to get angry, but we are not done yet. If you bought a dove for a sacrifice outside the temple area, it was one days wage. If you bought a temple certified dove inside the temple area, it was 20 days wages or a twenty times mark up. This was a system that was stealing from the people. Yes the priests did get paid through the sacrifices. This was a system that benefited the priests and the money changers and they were getting rich from it – and from the poor people. When Jesus saw this, he saw greed right there in God’s house. That should not be. My house should be a house of prayer. Jesus said.

A system had been started that helped people but it got changed in the process so that it took advantage of people. In reality, good people compromised themselves. They had looked the other way. It was benefitting them so no one spoke up. Jesus saw these two events: people looking for a political answer rather than a God cleansing the heart answer and a church system misusing the poor people, and he wept.

The season of lent – what is it that you weep over? Where is it in this temple, that you need to cleanse? Where does Jesus need to cleanse our hearts. Jesus came to cleanse us. He came to save us from ourselves. Hosanna – Jesus saves us from ourselves. We invite Jesus to come to cleanse our temple. Jesus first sermon was this – repent for the kingdom of God is at hand. Remember, the people of Jesus day changed their cry of Hosanna to Crucify Him.

Jesus is saying to us today. Die to yourself and choose God’s path. The people wanted someone to save them, but they did not want to change their lives. Jesus in essence was saying on this day, you can’t have it both ways. If you want to be saved by God, you must live for God. The people were tested and they failed. How would we do on the test? Amen.