According To Luke: Who Is Getting In The Door

Luke 13:18-30    (NRSV)

He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what should I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”

And again he said, “To what should I compare the kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”

Jesus went through one town and village after another, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. When once the owner of the house has got up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then in reply he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I do not know where you come from; go away from me, all you evildoers!’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrown out. Then people will come from east and west, from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God. Indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

Great teachers constantly tell you the same central point over and over again in a variety of ways.

It doesn't matter if one is teaching history or geography or literature --- there is usually some underlying principle that continues to peculate to the surface.

Sometimes the message is shared verbally --- other times it is shared non-verbally

Jesus may have been the greatest teacher because throughout his brief life we constantly can see his central message.

And that message, of course, is the coming of God's kingdom.

There is no doubt, but that the Kingdom was Jesus focus.

The question that I am often left struggling with is:

·         Is the Kingdom the focus of my life?

·         Is the Kingdom the focus of Ridge Church?

When Jesus talks about the Kingdom of God he uses a number of images to illustrate this concept.

But we are struck with a small obstacle in our attempt to understand this Kingdom that Jesus proclaims.

For most Christians --- when we hear the word Kingdom of God --- we think of heaven --- and when we think of heaven, we think of life after we die

The problem is --- when Jesus was talking about the Kingdom of God -- he wasn't talking about some place we go after we die --- rather he was talking about the world that God envisioned for us all here and now!

A few chapters later in Luke, Jesus will be asked about where the kingdom is --- because the Jewish expectation was that the Messiah of God would usher in a new age and that it would be recognizable to all.

Luke 17:21 The Message

Jesus, grilled by the Pharisees on when the kingdom of God would come, answered, “The kingdom of God doesn’t come by counting the days on the calendar. Nor when someone says, ‘Look here!’ or, ‘There it is!’ And why? Because God’s kingdom is already among you.”

God's kingdom is in our midst! 

It is a PRESENT reality!

We have spent quite a bit of time talking about what that Kingdom might look like this summer.

What are some of the hallmarks that we have talked about?

·         Justice

·         Mercy

·         Community

Jesus understanding of God’s kingdom was strongly influenced by the Hebrew Bible prophets.

Micah tells us pretty clearly what the values of God’s kingdom will be:

Micah 6:8   (NRSV)

what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
    and to walk humbly with your God?

So in our passage this morning, what is Jesus telling us about the Kingdom of God?

We have two very different illustrations on the Kingdom this morning.

In the first, Jesus says that the Kingdom is like a mustard seed.

I don't know about you --- but hearing that doesn't mean a great deal to me.

Matthew, in his version of this story does give us some more information. 

He tells us that a mustard seed is the smallest of seeds.

Why would Jesus compare God's Kingdom to a mustard seed?

I mean the mustard plant is hardly very noble --- in the Hebrew Bible, God's Kingdom is often compared to a great and mighty Cedar --- but a mustard plant??

It would seem as if Jesus' emphasis is not of the glory of a future kingdom, but rather on the present sign of its presence.

This is a parable on the Kingdom's beginnings --- not on its future glory.

The Jewish people in the first century expected a mighty cedar --- but Jesus ministry was more like a tiny mustard seed --- a promise of the mature plant.

Then there is our second parable --- this time comparing the kingdom to some yeast.

It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.

Yeast is old fermented dough that is added to a lump of fresh dough in order to start the leavening process within it.

The Greek word that had been translated as mixed really means "to hide" --- and it implies secrecy rather than the normal part of preparing bread for baking.

So the woman is trying to “hide” the yeast in a bunch of flour

What is also interesting to note is that the woman tried to "hide" the yeast into a huge amount of flour. 

Our passage tells us that she hid the yeast in three measures of flour ---

Three measures would be equivalent to about 50 pounds of flour --- enough to make bread for 150 people!

It seems to me that the point of this parable is made in a rather humorous fashion.

Like the yeast, the Kingdom is powerful and uncontainable.

Its enemies may seek to conceal it, but like the yeast it will eventually leaven the whole lump.

While the parable of the mustard seed dramatizes the presence of the kingdom in its insignificant beginnings --- the parable of the yeast reminds us that even small beginnings are powerful and eventually change the character of the whole.

It certainly is a metaphor for the ministry of Jesus --- who would have ever believed that an itinerant preacher from the Galilee would change the world!

Then we get to the difficult part of this passage ----

If the beginnings of the Kingdom is small -- but the result is great --- will many be saved or just a few?

That is the question that is posed to Jesus.

“Lord, will only a few be saved?”

As is typical with Jesus --- the answer is a paradox

Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.

When we hear this passage --- what do you begin to think of?

Once again, for most of us, we jump to an almost immediate association with heaven

"What must I do to get into heaven . . ."

But I don't think that is what Jesus is talking about.

I believe that this is an invitation to experience and be a partner in the Kingdom

Jesus has already told us that the Kingdom is working its way through creation --- i.e. the parable of the yeast

And Jesus is telling us that becoming part of the kingdom is not easy

If we want to become part of it we have to discipline ourselves to choose the narrow door --- not the wide and easy one.

As many of you know, when I turned 51 a couple of years ago, I decided to take up running.

When I turned 50 I decided to complete a marathon walking, but now I decided I wanted to try and actually run one.

For 10 months, 3 to 5 times every week, rain or shine, I would be out running.

Because one of the things I figured out pretty quick --- If I didn't do the hard prep work --- I would never be able to finish.

Two years ago this October, I completed the Chicago Marathon.

I got home late Sunday night from my road trip to LA and Phoenix

It was a long and arduous trip, but I am so thankful that I was able to do it.

I was in LA for just about 24 hours --- I wish I could have stayed longer --- but I still had to drive to Phoenix and deliver some furniture to my parents.

Monday morning, Nancy and I got up at 4 am to drive to Oak Brook Illinois to run a half marathon.

It was the worse race of my life

It's not that I wasn't prepared physically ---- I had done the training.

The problem was I wasn't prepared mentally --- and by mile 10, I was ready to quit!

But I persevered and struggled my way across the finish line.

I think the same thing is true with the Kingdom.

          We have to prepare ourselves physically

          But we also have to prepare ourselves mentally

We need to recognize that the kingdom is an opportunity for us to participate with God in transforming the world into God's image.

But many of us want short cuts --- we want the reward without the hard work.

Jesus came with one goal in mind --- TO OPEN UP TO YOU AND ME THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

Jesus came to invite us to share in that kingdom.

Now while Jesus uses some challenging language here, in the parable of the yeast he has already told us that the Kingdom is complete. 

All the flour rises, not just some of it. 

The kingdom cannot be stopped!

Jesus wants us to focus on living with Kingdom values

Unfortunately, we have spent 2,000 years rationalizing the expectations of the Kingdom, and shifting from it being a way of life to a way of believing.

Jesus calls us to Kingdom life

Life filled with:

          Justice

          Mercy

          Compassion

According to Luke: Pray Like This

Luke 11:1-13   (NRSV)

He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say:

Father, hallowed be your name.
    Your kingdom come.
    Give us each day our daily bread.
    And forgive us our sins,
        for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
    And do not bring us to the time of trial.”

And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

“So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Tomorrow I leave on a journey out West.

Lindsey our middle daughter has moved to Los Angeles, California.  She moves into an apartment tomorrow and I am driving out to bring her all her stuff (especially her dog!).

I will leave bright and early in the morning and traveling to LA via Bloomington.  Once I get to LA I will then drive to Phoenix, AZ to take some stuff out to my parents and then fly home next Sunday evening.

Just to add more excitement to the trip, on Monday --- Labor Day ---- Nancy, Jessica and I are all running a half marathon in Oak Brook.

Some of you might suggest that I need to see a mental health professional --- which is not a bad idea!

This morning we are continuing our journey through the Good News According to Luke and we are confronted with what has to be the most often prayed prayer in the world.

Is there anybody here this morning who doesn't know this prayer from memory?

It is the greatest prayer in Christianity --- but it is also the strangest.

·         It is prayed by all Christians --- yet it never mentions Jesus

·         It is prayed in all churches ---- yet it never mentions the Church

·         It is prayed every Sunday --- but it does not mention the "Lord's Day"

·         We call it the "Lord's Prayer" but it never mentions the "Lord

Strange isn't it?

·         It never mentions --- the inspired inerrancy of the Bible, the virgin birth, miracles, Jesus atoning death or even his bodily resurrection --- yet this prayer is central to fundamentalists

·         It never mentions that we should evangelize --- or even the gospel --- yet it is central to evangelical Christians.

·         It never mentions charisma --- or the Holy Spirit --- yet all Pentecostal Christians embrace this prayer

This is indeed the strangest prayer

No doctrine is mentioned

Sacrificial atonement for sin is not mentioned

It never mentions heaven, hell or the next life

This is a prayer that is prayed by people who emphasize what this prayer does not

But it is also prayed by people who ignore what it says.

Last August, Ben took three weeks to explain to you why this prayer was so important to him.

But what if this prayer is really none of those things that we have often thought it was?

What if this prayer is really a prayer (as John Dominic Crossan calls it) --- a prayer from the heart of Judaism on the lips of Christianity for the conscience of the world?

What if this prayer is a radical manifesto and a hymn of hope for all humanity in language addressed to all the earth?

Why would I say that?

Why would I call this a revolutionary manifesto and a hymn of hope --- and what does that mean for you and me today?

I call this prayer revolutionary because it proclaims God's radical vision of justice

It is a hymn of hope because it follows the tradition of biblical poetry in offering hope for a better world.

Justice is one of the most important concepts in the Bible ---- but What is justice?

On August 9th a black teenager was shot six times by the police and killed in Ferguson Missouri

          What happened?

                   Do any of us really know?

But most of us have been quick to decide (without the facts) who was in the right --- and who was in the wrong

Since then, businesses have been looted, Molotov cocktails have been hurled at law informant and the police have responded with tear gas and bullets

Are all the protesters violent, are they all thugs who are trying to make a bad situation worse?

Are the police doing all that they can to find peaceful solutions to the confrontation

There are no easy answers

But Ferguson --- Michael Brown --- is going to be one of those moments that alters the direction of our nation.

Much like Kent State or Watts, for my generation

And maybe, just maybe, this time we will LISTEN and LEARN and most importantly CHANGE.

How does justice happen in a case like that?

For most of us --- when we hear the word JUSTICE it means retributive justice

          Somebody has to PAY for what happened

If you are to look up the word in a dictionary you would find a definition like this:

the process or result of using laws to fairly judge and punish crimes and criminals

But when you look at the Biblical concept of Justice the meaning is a bit different

In the Biblical context --- justice does not mean retribution --- it means distributive justice

To be just means to deliver everything fairly

It is equitable distribution of whatever you have in mind

Even if that is retribution or punishment

The Bible constantly talks of God as a God of "justice and righteousness"

Psalm 99:4

Mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.

Isaiah 33:5

The Lord is exalted, he dwells on high; he filled Zion with justice and righteousness;

Jeremiah 9:24

but let those who boast boast in this, that they understand and know me, that I am the Lord; I act with steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the Lord.

Justice and Righteousness really express the same concept

A God of Justice and Righteousness is a God who does what is just by doing what is right and does what is right by doing what is just.

God's world must be distributed fairly and equitably among all God's people.

Now before we get lost in our red and blue (liberal and conservative) distinctions let me try to explain God's vision

It derives from the experience of a well run home, household or family farm.

If you were to walk into this home or farm how would you judge the householder?

You would probably look around and ask yourself questions like:

§  Are the fields well tended?

§  Are the animals properly provisioned?

§  Are the buildings adequately maintained?

§  Are the children and dependents well fed, clothed, and sheltered?

§  Are the sick being tended too?

§  Are responsibilities and returns apportioned fairly?

That is how God visions the kingdom.

God is the householder and wants everybody to experience justice and righteousness.

          Everybody to have a chance and opportunity.

And God asks us those questions on a global scale.

That's what the Lord's Prayer is really all about.

But it is also a hymn of hope.

Especially for those on the outside --- the Lord's Prayer --- this greatest prayer is one of hope for a better --- more just world.

Let's take a look at it

Father, hallowed be your name.

The first thing we should note is how personal this prayer is.

In the Greek it is not a stuffy word like father that is used --- but what the word really suggests is Daddy.

Jesus is telling us that we are in a relationship with a very personal God

Luke's version has no mention of heaven, but instead is a vision of God's Kingdom for the next petition is:

Your kingdom come.

The heart of Jesus message is the coming of God's kingdom

A kingdom that Jesus life and ministry illustrate time and time again --- a kingdom of justice

Micah 6:8    (NRSV)

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,
    and to walk humbly with your God?

Isaiah 2:4    (NRSV)

He shall judge between the nations,
    and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
    and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
    neither shall they learn war any more.

Throughout the scriptures this message of Justice is always there.

God is a God of Justice and the kingdom is one of justice.  Not just for us --- but for all

          Give us each day our daily bread.
   

The people Jesus ministered with were the common peasants of 1st Century Palestine.

Every day was a struggle

There was no guarantee of food on the table

Bread was the staple of life

But is this request for daily sustenance?

or for the bread at the messianic banquet?

Regardless, it is a petition to God asking God to distribute to all of God's children the bread that they all need.

The next petition in Luke is different than that in Matthew.  In Matthew we hear that common phrase that we pray each week:

          Forgive us our trespasses (or debts)

Luke changes it to:

And forgive us our sins,
        for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.

Again, regardless of sins or debts or trespasses the message here seems pretty simple.

A recognition that in order to truly experience forgiveness, we need to be offering it.

The kingdom will be a place where love reigns and not retaliation or retribution.

Finally Luke ends with:

And do not bring us to the time of trial.”

Again in Matthew it is different for Matthew says

And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one

In some ways those are two very different requests.

Luke is reminding us that we have a God whom we can call on for strength when we find ourselves in those moral quandaries.

So what do we do with this radical prayer?

KEEP PRAYING IT.

But let me offer some tips on how to do that.

1.    Think of it as a "choke" to get a cold engine started.

Pray the Lord's Prayer to "warm your spirit" so that you can more easily enter into other praying and meditation.

2.    Pray it, thinking about the meaning of each petition.

Ask yourself questions such as,

"With this line, what am I asking God to do?"

"What am I (or should I be) offering of myself in making this petition?"

"Which petitions are the hardest for me to really mean when I pray them -- and why?"

"What do I need to rethink, redo or repent of in light of what I am requesting?"

"What else should I pray for as a result?"

3.    Use its lines as the topics of a prayer journal.

Keep notes under each petition about how you have responded to, changed, gained new understanding or still need to learn about the subjects of that petition.

4.    Use it as model for your own prayers.

5.    Pray it when your mind rebels against praying your own prayers.

Praying something is better than praying nothing.

6.    Pray it when your heart is aching so bad that you can't form your own petitions. It may become a channel through which God's Spirit can flow to you.

7.    Let it be a shorthand way to teach your kids about talking to God.

Most importantly --- let the words of this prayer fill your hearts and minds with the radical – unconditional love of God ----- and let that be a sign of hope in your life!

According to Luke: Go and Do Likewise

Luke 10:29-37

But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

This last week we lost one of America's great comedic actors.

Tragically Robin Williams committed suicide.

It is, in my opinion, a huge loss

Robin really broke onto the stage while I was in college when he starred in Mork and Mindy, playing a extraterrestrial alien who came to earth from Ork.

The show really wasn't that good, but it showcased the incredible talent of Robin Williams.

Robin was in many TV shows and over 100 movies, and a few really stand out to me.

One of the great scenes of all times is early in the movie THE DEAD POETS SOCIETY.

Robin played an English teacher who returned to the private high school that he attended as a youth.

The teaching methods of this new English teacher, John Keating, were unorthodox by Welton Academy standards, including whistling the 1812 Overture and taking them out of the classroom to focus on the idea of carpe diem (Seize the day).

Keating tells the students that they may call him "O Captain! My Captain!", in reference to a Walt Whitman poem, if they feel daring.

And what to me may be one of the classic scenes of all time: Keating has one of the students read the introduction to their poetry textbook, which prescribes a mathematical formula to rate the quality of pieces of poetry

          Keating finds this ridiculous

He instructs his students to rip the introduction out of their books, and reminds them that WORDS AND IDEAS CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.

          And I believe that!

There is no easy formula to understanding the biblical stories either.

But the words and ideas that are found in our Bible can change us and the world.

Our passage this morning is one of those that I am at times tempted to just rip out of the bible.

It is a difficult story --- and one that on face value is IMPOSSIBLE to achieve.

It's a story we are all very familiar with

If you remember a couple of weeks ago, we had the story of a lawyer who asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life.

Do you remember what Jesus’ answer was to him?

(Jesus) said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And (Jesus) said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”

And we ended the story right there --- but the story doesn’t end at that moment the lawyer turns to Jesus and asks that most difficult question:

          “And who is my neighbor?”

How would you answer that question?

Is Michael Brown your neighbor?

          Or the Protesters

          Or the Police

Or is Israel your neighbor?

          What about Gaza?

Or maybe ISIS is your neighbor?

          Or are the people of Yazidis?

Are the people of Gary our neighbors? 

And if so, how are we to treat them?

How are we to treat our neighbors?

Unfortunately, all cultures --- modern and ancient --- draw boundaries between themselves and all others.

          We do it whether it is a matter of national defense or protecting our interests

The Greeks called everyone who did not speak Greek --- barbarians

The Jews separated the world according to Jews and Gentiles

We build walls to keep people out --- and send them back if we don't want them

This parable --- is both appealing and at the very same time terrifying!

We are drawn to the notion that is a reoccurring theme in this journey from Jerusalem to Jericho

That our attempts to divide ourselves by culture and class is and should be severely challenged

But this parable challenges more than our xenophobia

What really seems to be at stake is our identity.

          WHO DO WE IDENTIFY WITH IN THIS PARABLE?

                   Whose point of view do I see it from?

On face value this is what one might call an "example" parable.

Jesus uses the story as an example of how we are to live

And, of course, we are to be like the Samaritan --- being a good, and compassionate neighbor to the man who was beaten --- unlike the Levite and the Priest --- who were bad neighbors.

When I read the story in that way --- and hear Jesus say to me:

          Go and do likewise

I am overwhelmed with guilt and shame --- because I don't always treat the Samaritans of my life as neighbors.

I am a part of that culture that divides and sees people who are different with --- maybe not contempt (although I am sure I do that at times) but with wariness and caution.

When we look at this story carefully, it has a number of very interesting details.

A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.

The distance between Jerusalem and Jericho is about 17 miles --- and the route is very isolated.  It follows a dried river bed --- known as a Wadi --- and is very rocky, wild and treacherous. 

The road is today and was in the time of Jesus a notorious hideout for bandits.

So a person hearing this parable told by Jesus would not at all be shocked to hear that a man was robbed as he traversed this road.

We have no idea who the man is --- but he must be Jewish.  Remember, Jesus is telling this story to a Jewish audience.

We are told that the man was stripped and left half dead.

That was not particularly normal --- robbers didn't always do that.

But it seems that Jesus might be telling the story this way is to let us know that since the man is stripped and left half dead he now lacks any identifying clothes --- so that those who might pass by would have no idea what class, village or even nation he belongs to.

The second line of the story is rather simple

Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

Two characters join our half dead man. 

And we are told their social standing in Israel

·         A Priest

·         A Levite

The audience hearing this story would have specific values come to mind when they hear these two men have joined the story.

The text gives no indication why they didn't stop.

I was always taught that they failed to stop because they did not want to be made ritually impure.

But there is no reason in Jewish tradition to believe that.

Actually the opposite is the case --- they were required by the concept of meth mizwah to stop and offer aid.

But they didn’t!

Maybe they were afraid that the robbers would be lurking around waiting for another opportunity --- but the parable offers no clues.

Then we get to the difficult part of the story

But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity.

What would a Jew think when he heard the mention of a Samaritan?

The enmity between Jews and Samaritans had been going on for centuries.

When the hearer of the parable by Jesus heard the mention of a Samaritan they would have expected him to compound the dastardly deeds of the robbers.

But that is not what happens

With the introduction of a despised Samaritan into the story --- as the hero -- no less, it destroys the hearers' expectations.

          A huge problem is created

WHO DOES THE HEARER IDENTITY WITH?

It would be almost impossible to identify with the Samaritan given their history of hatred and distrust.

If this story was told in Israel today, the hero would be a Palestinian . . .

So the listener can identify with the half dead man and suffer the shame of the Samaritans compassion or decide that the story is blatantly false.

The story then expands with the generosity of the Samaritan

He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’

Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

So what is the point of the story for us today?

Do you remember the context the story is set in?

Luke has framed this story with stories of what God's Kingdom is going to be like.

Jesus is telling us a kingdom story --- this is what it is going to look like.

There will be no more boundaries

People are not separated into insiders and outsiders simply because of their class, religion or nationality

While Jesus ends this story with the admonition for us to GO AND DO LIKEWISE --- I think he is telling us that is what the kingdom will be like --- until then --- we are to do our best to break down those barriers that separate us.

So, who is your neighbor?

Let the kingdom values take hold in your life --- and begin to see all of God's children as your neighbors.

And treat them with the love and respect that the kingdom requires

According To Luke: Eternal Life

Luke 10:25-28   (NRSV)

Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”

From here to the end of Luke's Gospel the message gets more difficult.

For the rest of the Gospel, Luke is going to explain to us, through stories and parables what is required to follow Jesus

Last week --- as Peter identified Jesus as God's Messiah

Jesus began explaining what to the disciples what is expected of them if they want to be disciples of the Messiah

Last week we talked about four things:

1.    We have to ---Take up cross DAILY

Our cross is that difficult thing that we have chosen to do because we are God's people.

We choose a hard place, a difficult relationship, a thankless job. 

We serve on a ministry team, feed the hungry, help a neighbor. 

We do the things we DON'T HAVE TO, because we feel that is God's agenda for our lives.

2.    We have to ---Die to our own agenda

True fulfillment is found not when we indulge in our own ambitions or interests, but when we freely give up our life.

3.    Jesus asks us: What reward is there if you have everything, but you don't have God?

Jesus is reminding us that there are dimensions of life that are essential to happiness and fulfillment that are not satisfied with financial security and material wealth.

4.    Jesus tells us that --- Being a disciple is not just about professing certain words or creeds --- it is all about publicly living the Way of Jesus

We must not only say we follow Jesus --- our lives must demonstrate it.

In our lesson this morning, Jesus continues this theme, but with one significant difference, where before he was having a private conversation with his disciples, this time we are told that "a lawyer stood up to test Jesus."

And the lawyer asks an interesting question.

Once again Luke has deviated from Matthew and Mark, because in both of those parallel passages, the lawyer asks Jesus which is the greatest commandment.

But here in Luke the lawyer asks: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?"

In first century Judea, there were not secular and religious lawyers.

This lawyer would have been an expert in the Hebrew Scriptures

All kinds of lofty claims had just been made by and about Jesus

And this lawyer seems to want to know if Jesus can answer a rather simple question.

What must I do to inherit eternal life?

Inheritance was the reward promised to those who belonged to the covenant people.

God had promised to make them a great people, to bless them, and to give them a land

Genesis 12:1-3  (The Message)

God told Abram: “Leave your country, your family, and your father’s home for a land that I will show you.

I’ll make you a great nation
        and bless you.
    I’ll make you famous;
        you’ll be a blessing.
    I’ll bless those who bless you;
        those who curse you I’ll curse.
    All the families of the Earth
        will be blessed through you.”

But this promised inheritance and not yet come to pass --- it seemed to be forever pushed into the future --- and by the time of Jesus it had become associated with the blessings of "the age to come", or God's kingdom.

In this passage, this morning, it is to be understood as life in God's kingdom, but the lawyer is testing Jesus to see how he might answer.

As is so often the case, Jesus responds to the question with one of his own.

In some ways he was challenging the honor of this lawyer.

Jesus seems to be saying:

"Isn't the answer written in the scriptures? 

And aren't you supposed to be an expert in the law? 

So tell me --- How do you read it?

How do you understand what must be done to receive the inheritance of eternal life?"

The way that Jesus asked the lawyer this question reveals to us that Jesus understood that this was not a simple question, with a simple answer.

It was a question open to interpretation ---- HOW DO YOU READ IT?

What is your interpretation?

And it had been debated for generations.

How did this lawyer understand what the scriptures said about eternal life?

The lawyer obviously knew his scripture because he quoted from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18.

As I have shared with you before. 

These passages become the core --- the center of Jewish life.

In Judaism this becomes known as the Shema --- which is to be repeated twice daily.

Clearly the lawyer was very familiar with these passages.

The lawyer answers Jesus:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”

These four phrases, along with the command to love your neighbor are critical to Jewish thought.

But what do they mean?

As I have said --- the rest of the Gospel According to Luke is the attempt to explain to followers of Jesus what is expected.

Thursday at the men's Bible Study we studied a passage from Luke chapter 14

It is really about the same question that the lawyer was asking.

Luke 14:25-33  (The Message)

One day when large groups of people were walking along with him, Jesus turned and told them, “Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one’s own self!—can’t be my disciple. Anyone who won’t shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can’t be my disciple.

“Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn’t first sit down and figure the cost so you’ll know if you can complete it? If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you’re going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: ‘He started something he couldn’t finish.’

“Or can you imagine a king going into battle against another king without first deciding whether it is possible with his ten thousand troops to face the twenty thousand troops of the other? And if he decides he can’t, won’t he send an emissary and work out a truce?

“Simply put, if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can’t be my disciple.

Do you see the relationship between this passage and our story today?

If you want to be a disciple and thus receive the inheritance of eternal life --- what is required of you?

What do you have to do?

God's claim is over our WHOLE life

God's claim reaches every area of our experience

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind;

·         our innermost being --- heart

·         our daily lives that which makes us unique individuals --- soul

·         our energy, strength, resolve and resources --- might

·         our understanding and intellectual capacities --- mind

No part of ourselves can be withheld from God

God wants to know if we are all in or not.

“Simply put, if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can’t be my disciple.

Like I said --- Luke's Gospel gets more difficult and challenging from this point forward.

But that is not how most of us talk about ETERNAL LIFE.

When we hear the word eternal life we think about what is going to happen to us when we die.

But that really wasn't the focus for Jesus --- Jesus was more concerned about how we live NOW.

But why --- Why are we so obsessed with HEAVEN?

Many of us rushed out to see the movie --- or read the book that it was based on this past spring called: HEAVEN IS REAL

We are intrigued by the tale that is told --- of a little boy who has a near death experience and encounters Jesus.

It fills us with the assurance that when we die we will be reunited with our loved ones.

And there is nothing wrong with anticipating that

In my own cynical way, I believe that the church has been enamored with the concept of heaven and its opposite --- hell --- because the church sees itself as the gatekeeper to both heaven and hell.

If you fail to follow our rules we can excommunicate you and keep you from being reunited with your loved ones

But if you do follow our rules --- then you will be rewarded with streets of gold and heavenly mansions.

But when Jesus talked about Heaven or Eternal Life or the Kingdom of God which really are all synonymous he talked about it being a present reality. 

The Kingdom was something that is to dwell within us

But I will be honest --- it is easier --- safer --- and maybe even more satisfying to believe that Heaven or the Kingdom is something external and future --- it removes any responsibility from us.

Jesus wants to free us from those things that keep us from fully experiencing Heaven now.

And what do we have to do to inherit eternal life?

love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”

Next time we will look at HOW --- How in the world are we supposed to love our neighbor.

Because when we love God completely --- when we are ALL IN --- when we love our neighbor as ourselves THEN we will live.

According To Luke: Who Are You?

Luke 9:18-27    (NRSV)

Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They answered, “John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Messiah of God.”

He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, saying, “The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”

Then he said to them all, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”

We have reached a critical turning point in the Gospel of Jesus according to Luke.  Everything has been building to this point.

          WHO IS JESUS?

Last week, Herod asked the question:

Now Herod the ruler heard about all that had taken place, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the ancient prophets had arisen. Herod said, “John I beheaded; but who is this about whom I hear such things?”

Who is this Jesus? 

It is the question that Luke has been asking us over and over for the first half of the book. 

And throughout the Gospel Luke has given us hints.

But now Jesus brings the question to the forefront.

“Who do the crowds say that I am?”

Jesus has gone to a private place with his disciples.  And we are told that he was praying in that quiet place.

Jesus, in Luke's Gospel, is always found in prayer when he comes to a critical moment in his life and ministry.

A couple weeks from now, we will look more closely at how Jesus understood prayer.

But in a nutshell, prayer is that link --- that connection --- that intimate link with God.

So Jesus is praying --- and he turns to his disciples --- his closest friends and he asks them.

“Who do the crowds say that I am?”

Let's just stop right here for a moment.

I find this fascinating.

I love Jesus style.

Jesus doesn't sit down his disciples and lecture them on who he is. 

He starts with his relationship with them.

          “Who do the crowds say that I am?”

"So, my friends, what are the people saying about me?"

Jesus wants to listen to what they have to say.

Luke tells us:

They answered, “John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.”

The crowds have some understanding, based on what they have seen and heard but it is limited --- like Herod.

Is Jesus, John the Baptist brought back from he dead?

Or maybe he is Elijah?

Or then again, maybe some other prophet --- Moses perhaps?

Jesus doesn't rebuke them for the people's failure to fully understand who he is -- instead:

Jesus said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Is there a scarier question that could come from Jesus?

How would you answer that question?

Seriously --- How would you answer?

Take a moment and ponder that question

          WHO IS JESUS TO YOU?

Nice Guy

Revolutionary

Mystical healer

God

Son of God

Savior

WHO IS JESUS TO YOU?

Anybody remember how Peter answered?

 “The Messiah of God.”

And we all say --- Of course --- Jesus is God's Messiah!

BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

In the context of first century Judea, it could mean many things.

Of course, in the biblical context (the Hebrew Bible), Messiah meant God's anointed ruler.

And that could mean many things.

·         A ruler like David who would reestablish Israel as a great nation

·         A priestly ruler who would restore temple worship to its proper form

·         A prophet who will usher in the end of times

Which one was Jesus?

How does Jesus answer Peter's "confession"?

He doesn't!

He tells Peter not to tell anybody and then begins what will for the most part consume Luke for the rest of his telling of the Gospel.

          What Discipleship is all about!

But I find it fascinating that Jesus doesn't correct, or just come out and tell who he is.

Jesus seems to want us to wrestle with it.

But he does, as we are going to find out, explain to us what being a disciple is all about.

But before we look at the five sayings on Discipleship that follow Peter's confession, I want to spend a little more time on WHO JESUS IS

Does anybody remember that great movie RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK.

The plot of the movie revolves around two teams of archeologists who are racing to find the Ark of the Covenant during the Second World War

One group wants to capture the Ark for Hitler

The other group, headed by an archeologist who doesn't seem to always play by the rules (Harrison Ford) is searching to get it for the free world.

When we read the Hebrew Bible we know that the Ark is they symbol of God being with us.  The Ark was the presence of God!

After all kinds of crazy action sequences, the movie comes to a climax when the ark is opened up and literally all Hell breaks loose!

I think the movie makers got it wrong --- my hunch is that if the Ark were ever to be found that when it would open NOTHING would happen.

The Ark was a symbol of God's presence with us and God's covenant.  Jesus is the new ark and the new covenant. 

Jesus is God's power and presence with us!

I find it telling, that as soon as Peter announces who he believes Jesus to be, Jesus then goes on and begins --- very succinctly to explain what following Jesus --- what discipleship is all about.

He does it with five sayings that draw together a variety of images to convey the radical demands of following Jesus.

The central image of the first is the cross.

“If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me"

To follow Jesus means to be ready to lay down one's life just as Jesus did.

Luke makes one slight modification from Mark in that he adds the word DAILY

In other words, he seems to be saying that discipleship requires a continuing daily yielding of one's life in order to follow Jesus.

Our cross is that difficult thing that we have chosen to do because we are God's people.

We choose a hard place, a difficult relationship, a thankless job. 

We serve on a ministry team, feed the hungry, help a neighbor. 

We do the things we DON'T HAVE TO, because we feel that is God's agenda for our lives.

The second saying echo's the exhortations given to soldiers about to enter battle.  The first to die will be those who turn to run.

"For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it."

This saying might have had special meaning to those who were facing persecution --- but even for us --- Jesus is pointing out the paradox of life. 

True fulfillment is found not when we indulge in our own ambitions or interests, but when we freely give up our life.

The third saying moves from the battlefield to the marketplace.

"What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves?"

Our desire to succeed, to acquire stuff, to prosper is powerful.

We are easily seduced into believing that our 401k is our security and salvation.

That fulfillment is found by means of financial prosperity.

Jesus is cutting the ground out from us when we are preoccupied with material wealth.

What have we gained --- Jesus asks --- if we own the whole world, but have lost ourselves in the process?

Jesus is reminding us that there are dimensions of life that are essential to happiness and fulfillment that are not satisfied with financial security and material wealth.

The fourth saying links our public profession of the lordship of Jesus to his acknowledgement of our discipleship at the end of time.

"Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels."

Jesus seems to be telling us that we cannot be "private" disciples.  Our discipleship must be seen and lived out in the world. 

We must not only say we follow Jesus --- our lives must demonstrate it.

The final saying really is about the kingdom and not discipleship

"But truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God."

This follows the forth saying about Jesus returning, reminding us that the Kingdom is close by.

Discipleship and Lordship are always inter-related.

These five sayings, following Peter's confession help us to understand what it means to confess Jesus as Lord.

This theme will continue through the rest of Luke's Gospel.

But clearly, Jesus is teaching us that discipleship requires a total commitment of life,

          a willingness to take up the cross

          a giving of one's life in obedience to Jesus' direction

          forsaking the pursuit of wealth

          and living out our discipleship publicly

So, let me ask you again ---

          WHO DO YOU SAY JESUS IS?

And does your life match your words?