June 23, 2002
A sermon by Rev. Dr. John K. Luoma
Why would anyone want to be a follower of Jesus? I'm serious. If we take seriously the words of Jesus that we read today, we can honestly ask: why would anyone want to be a follower of Jesus? If Jesus were to put a job description in the employment section of the Beacon Journal, it would read something like this:
SLAVE WANTED. ABSOLUTE OBEDIENCE TO MASTER REQUIRED. WILLINGNESS TO DIE IF NECESSARY. CALL 330-688-JESUS.
I don't think this ad is an exaggeration. Look at the words of Jesus for today. Here is what he says his followers can expect:
1. His followers must accept that they are slaves and he is the master. The Greek word here is doulos. Though we sometimes translate that word as "servant", its basic meaning is "slave." There is no getting around it: we are under his absolute authority.
2. Followers of Jesus must expect to be maligned by others as they serve him. If people do and say nasty things to the master, they will also say and do nasty things to his followers.
3. The followers of Jesus will create dissension because people will disagree with the teachings of the master.
But as hard as it may seem to follow Jesus, it is the only way to life. Jesus makes that abundantly clear. Only from Jesus do we learn the truth that makes for life. Jesus reveals that truth to us in his words today.
1. The first truth is this: everyone of us will of necessity have a master. Obviously there are a great variety of choices as to whom we will serve. For some people their master will be their work. Their work will be the dominant factor in every decision they make. We talk about workaholics. For some their master will be money. Money will be the dominant force in every decision that they make. For others the master will be drugs or alcohol. Drugs or alcohol will be the dominant force in every decision that they make. And the list goes on. Everyone of necessity will have a master that they serve.
Even in this country where we think of ourselves as being so terribly free, we are not. Everyone of us is a slave to some master. That is why, in the very next chapter of this Gospel, Jesus extends an invitation to everyone who is exhausted because they are serving the wrong master. He says, "Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart , and you will find rest for your souls." (Mtt. 11:28-30)
2. Truth # 2: Everyone is going to have enemies. That's part of the fabric of life. If you stand for something, there will be people who will oppose you. What is critical is that you are creating enemies for the right reason. Only when you stand for the truth are you creating enemies for the right reason. And only Jesus is the truth.
3. Truth # 3: Fear is a good thing when it is a proper fear. We mustn't be afraid of what the enemies of truth can do to us. They can only harm the body. The damage they can do is limited to this life and this time. Instead, we need to fear the one who controls this life and the next. Here Jesus is simply calling to mind the First Commandment: "I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods." Proper fear puts our life in the proper order.
4. Truth # 4: When we speak the truth, there will of necessity be dissension. The world does not want to hear the truth. Humanity is self-centered. We are turned in upon ourselves. We do not want to hear God's call to be other-centered. In other words, love is counter-cultural. Those who ground themselves in love and in God will be opposed.
And Jesus says that this dissension will spread even into the family, because the family also can be governed by less than noble principles. Sometimes families care only about their family and nothing else. They don't see their true calling which is that they are to be an instrument in the service of God. They see themselves as simply an instrument to serve themselves.
And let's be honest. It can even be worse than that. If there was no one to declare that there is a higher principle than family, what kinds of evil would be coming out of our families? Think for a moment about the terrible reality of child and spousal abuse. If I were a victim of abuse, I would be rejoicing in Jesus' words that there is a higher truth that will at times pit one family member against another. The family is important, but the family can only be what it is meant to be when it grounds itself in God.
5. Truth # 5: God provides incredible resources to those who want to do the right thing and live the life of love. Jesus mentions two.
A. The first is that his followers have an advocate with the Father. In other words, Jesus is praying for us and intervening for us with the Father as we witness and work for him. We are not alone. He is always with us. This is one of the primary emphases and primary promises in this Gospel of Matthew. The bookends of this Gospel are Jesus' promises to be with us. In the very first chapter we are told that a virgin will bear a son and his name will be Emmanuel which means, "God with us." And in the very last chapter, the very last verse, we are told that as we do his work he will always be with us.
B. The second resource is the greatest of all -- our greatest source of strength. Jesus assures us that we are of great value to the Father. If God knows when even a sparrow falls to the ground, how much more does he watch over our lives? We are part of God's grand plan to restore and heal the world and bring everything into perfect working order.
Last Wednesday I was reminded of this in a special way. I reached the ripe old age of sixty. On that day the church staff gave me a wonderful gift--a children's book. That was a great gift because even though my bones are getting old and decrepit, I am a child at heart. What did they give me? A book from the Dr. Seuss collection, Happy Birthday to You. Those of you who have read the book to your children know that it is about the land of Katroo where they know how to say, "Happy Birthday to You!" In that land the day begins with a big blast on the horn that reminds you that "today is your day of all days." Then comes the birthday bird who is in charge of it all, who announces, "today is a day you can eat what you want. No one tells you you cawnt or you shawnt." Among the greatest of the pleasures that the birthday bird provides is Dr. Derring's sing Herrings who sing and spell, "happy birthday to you."
And the story ends with the birthday boy exclaiming, "Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one else who is you-er than you! Shout loud, 'I am lucky to be what I am! Thank goodness I'm not just a clam or a ham or a dusty old jar of gooseberry jam! I am what I am! That's a great thing to be! If I say so myself, Happy Birthday to me!"
The point of the gospel and the point of Dr. Seuss is that each one of us is a precious child of God, essential to his plan. And the plan is that God is at work restoring his creation to its proper working order. We carry out that plan as we love as Christ loves us. And that love is costly. It always is. Sometimes the sacrifices we will be called on to make are great. But we need not be afraid because God is with us and God's love will prevail.
copyright 2001 by Rev. Dr. John K. Luoma