Sermon March 5th 2017
There are special words for people like me; instigator - trouble maker - pot
stirrer just to name a few. While I don't actually go around deliberately
looking for trouble, when the opportunity arises I can't resist opening my
mouth and putting in my two cents worth, and today's scripture readings are too
good to resist. The church I grew
up in taught two very specific things; first the Bible is the literal word of
God and is therefore not to be questioned under any circumstances. Secondly in
the old testament lesson, Eve listened to the serpent and ate of the forbidden
fruit, and therefore she is to be blamed for causing all humanity
to fall into sin. That passage of scripture has been used for centuries
to exclude women from leadership roles within the church.
However in our new testament reading seven times the "literal words of
God" clearly put the blame on "one man" and even names that man as
Adam.
?????????????
A couple of
years ago I quoted a famous scientist who was supposed to have said "God must be
a fantastic mathematician." In our Gospel lesson we are told that we must not
put
God to a test in order to find out if this is true or not, but a check of the
scriptures does find that God seems to have a preference for the number 40.
We
just heard of the temptation of Jesus lasting 40 days
We
remember the 40 days and nights of rain in the great flood
We
also remember the Israelite's
wandering in the desert for 40 years.
Co-incidentally 2017 is the 40th anniversary of the ordination of women in the
Anglican church in Canada.
and while it is not mentioned in the scriptures, in modern liturgy we have
40
days of advent, and
40
days of lent
This
year the time of lent began four days ago with Ash
Wednesday
and continues with the
lead-up to Easter on April 16th. We know the whole story, but 2000 years ago it
was different. Jesus was starting a long journey that would take him to
Jerusalem just in time for the feast of the Passover.
We cannot be sure how long it took him to make the journey from Galilee
to Jerusalem, but regardless of the actual time I am sure that walking that
distance while taking time out to teach, tell stories, heal the sick and warn,
not only his disciples,
but everyone else of what the consequences of
un-repentance would be, could easily take at least 40 days.
Today
is the first Sunday of the Lenten season and we will follow Jesus as me makes
the journey to Jerusalem that will end with his Crucifixion.
It
was also a very frustrating time for Jesus. God had given him a dangerous
assignment. Make it to Jerusalem in time for the feast of the Passover, and on
the way, convince everyone that this is their last chance to repent.
If
the people were to keep on doing what they have been doing they are going to
bring down the wrath of the entire Roman
Empire, and God will not protect them,
unless they co-operate with Him. God is ready! It is time for a change! Jesus
has been proclaiming the kingdom of God. It is here now He said "Repent and and
you will be saved."
They
did not understand. They wanted a messiah who would destroy the enemy with fire
and brimstone. But that was not God's way. Jesus preached peace and love. Over
and over Jesus tried to explain it, but no one could understand. Everyone was
caught up in a frenzy of anticipation of some huge turn around. Israel would be
violently delivered out of the hands of their enemies. Every day Jesus told
stories, used the power God had given him to perform miracles of healing, and
tried every way he could to make the people listen to what he was really saying.
Every
day he would take his disciples into the mountains and pray.
Matthew 26.39:
And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.’
Put
that prayer into plain English,
"Father if it is possible could you give this job to someone else, they are not
really listening to me. Never the less, I will continue if you really want me
to."
It
had not been his plan to die,
but he was willing to give up his life,
if that was
what it would take in order to get God's message across. It was not difficult
for Jesus to look into the future and predict the outcome of what he was trying
to do. He knew what would happen if he failed. He was going to Jerusalem for
Passover and if his message did not get through to the people, the wrath of Rome
would first fall on Him, and then on all of Israel.
He
had tried to warn them many times that he would be killed; but they were
oblivious to his warnings. All they could understand was that Jesus had said
that the kingdom of God was here now!; and that meant nothing could possibly
stand in God's way. They would enter Jerusalem with Jesus at the head of a big
parade: God would do the rest, Israel's enemies would be vanquished and all they
would have to do was celebrate.
What
they never did understand is the same thing we have not really been able
understand today. Without our collaboration God will not do anything and without
God's collaboration we are helpless. or to put it into the words of Bishop
Desmond Tutu
God without us will not!
and we without God cannot!
Amen