First Lesson: Malachi 3: 1-4
Responsive Reading: Luke 1: 68-79
Second Lesson: Philippians 1: 3-11
​Gospel Lesson: Luke 3: 1-6

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
In one of the most well-known stories of Christmas author Charles Dickens tells the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge[1]. Ebenezer’s story seemingly starts on Christmas Eve.  Ebenezer was the owner of a loan house. Ebenezer hated Christmas!  Christmas brought out the worst of Ebenezer’s penny-pinching and miserable ways[2]. Ebenezer considered Christmas to be a “humbug[3]” which meant a bunch of nonsense or a total waste of time. 

Ebenezer employed one man Bob Cratchit. Cratchit was a good man, a family man with a sickly child named Tiny Tim. Ebenezer knew Cratchit needed the job and took advantage of Cratchit’s desperation in every way he could think of: low pay, long hours, and would complain whenever Cratchit dared thinking about putting his loved ones first such as taking Christmas day off.

 The defining scene of Ebenezer’s nature occurs when a man approaches Ebenezer as one of the wealthiest men around asking for a donation on behalf of the poor. Ebenezer sneers at the man that “the poor are better off dead.” Ebenezer seemed to be an old man set in his ways with no hope of any redemption.

Only on the night of Christmas Eve, an unexpected visitor comes into Ebenezer’s life in his former long-dead business partner Jacob Marley who lived his life with the same miserly ways as Ebenezer[4].  Marley had been consigned to chains upon his death as punishment for his rotten ways on Earth.  Marley warns Ebenezer that he one final chance at salvation from unexpected visitors hoping to save Ebenezer before it’s too late. What ends up happening with Ebenezer? We’ll get back to his story in just a little bit.

Today’s First Lesson comes to us from the Book of Malachi[5].  Malachi is most-known for two things:  one, Being the final book of the Old Testament,   two, Malachi was written a little more than 400 years before the births of John the Baptist and Jesus.

Last week, I talked about the Life of Prophet Jeremiah who was a first-hand witness to the Fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians in 587 B.C.  The Jewish people would be exiled from their homeland for 50 long years. They were forced to live in Babylon where men like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would resist Babylonian rulers who sought to get them to denounce their faith in Lion’s Dens and fiery furnaces. In 538 B.C, The Persians conquered the Babylonians allowing the people of Jerusalem to return home finally.  They began to rebuild from the previous destruction: both the walls of the city and eventually the Temple to serve as the center of their worship life. If Jeremiah’s life had been the low point in Israel’s history, one-hundred fifty-some years later Malachi’s life was things slowly getting better after Israel’s worst days, but still not all that good.  If Jeremiah described a nation under destruction, Malachi describes a nation under malaise[6]. 

What were the main issues in Malachi?  The first main issue has to do with clergy preaching what was popular rather than what people needed to here. The second issue had to do with the people of Israel doing their best Ebenezer Scrooge impersonations in trying to see above all else how cheap they could be[7]. 

You see the Old Testament demanded that people bring forth their finest animals as sacrifices for their sin.  What people would bring instead was three-legged lambs, blind calves, and cows that had all sorts of nasty/foot and mouth diseases.  Ebenezer would have been proud. 

What they were doing in Malachi would have been the equivalent of promising to deliver steak, but instead offering table scraps instead. 

So God sends Malachi as a messenger to the people no different than the message that Jacob Marley have Ebenezer.  God’s final chance at redemption for your people’s salvation is soon coming among us! As evidence of this, God will send a sign a new “Elijah” to ready the way.  This messenger will bring a purification of a “refiner’s fire[8].

Back to the story of Ebenezer.    Ebenezer’s unexpected visitors took the form of three ghosts.  The ghosts of Christmas past, the ghost of Christmas present, and the ghost of Christmas future.  These ghosts like the new “Elijah” of whom Malachi spoke confronted Ebenezer with the realities of the depths of his sin. 

The ghost of Christmas past reminds Ebenezer of his lost chance for love as a young man[9].  Ebenezer blew his chance at love because just like Adam and Eve within the Garden of Eden, he could see the fruit of wealth, but could not understand this fruit’s potential consequences. Ebenezer’s world would never be the same again after being permanently banished from this woman’s life, no differently than Adam and Eve’s sin had banished them from paradise.

The second ghost then appears showing Ebenezer Christmas in the present.  Bob Cratchit is gathered around his family including Tiny Tim with his cane[10].  Ebenezer can’t believe that Tiny Tim could have nothing, yet he possessed a love towards no one others that knew no limits[11]. The ghost then reminded Ebenezer of his previous words how “poor” children like Tiny Tim are better off dead.  The scene reminds you of the crowd shouting at Jesus during Holy Week “Crucify Him, Crucify Him[12].” The love of Jesus towards these same people would soon know no limits even unto the grave itself.

The third ghost that appears before Ebenezer is the ghost of Christmas future.  The scene is one year in the future[13]. Tiny Tim has died because his father couldn’t afford his health care on the tiny salary paid to him by Ebenezer. The spirit then takes Ebenezer to watch a terrifying scene relating to the death of a “wretched “ man.  A man who with no intervention is destined for hell.  Ebenezer hears his business associates laughing about how no only liked this “man” and will only go to his funeral for a “free” lunch.  Upon the man’s death, all the earthly possessions that he spent his whole life accumulating are stolen.  The ghost then takes Ebenezer to the unidentified man’s tomb only to see it read: “Ebenezer Scrooge.”

Ebenezer’s life would change on that night’.  The messenger that Malachi promised the people of Israel would be slower in arriving.  A gap of about 400 years takes place between the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament[14].  The gap points to the clear distinction between God’s old way of doing things within the nation of Israel has to do with obedience to the Ten Commandments and animal sacrifices versus God’s new way of doing things in Christ Jesus. 

We’re sixteen days from Christmas, this often can seem like not enough time, yet the people of Israel waited for four hundred years for the Advent of God’s chosen one upon the Earth.  Malachi preached a message of great urgency no different than the spirits preached to Ebenezer only to be met with silence. 

The second to the last verse of the Old Testament: Malachi 4:5 speaks of the “new” Elijah who was to come:
During the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight[15]."

Four hundred years of waiting until John the Baptist would come to prepare the way for the Lord, the Messiah, the Christ, John the Baptist’s message would mirror Malachi’s in many ways.

 Let me read the final words of the Old Testament: “He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction[16]."

These words highlight the harshest of sin’s curses. These realities could not be escaped by either Ebenezer or ourselves. John the Baptist came to prepare a “new” way of the grace of God to bring us life in the Messiah that was to come[17]. 

On Christmas morning, Ebenezer would awaken.  Just like when Jesus awakened on Easter Sunday, everything would soon change.  Ebenezer rushed to his windows, shouted out “What day is this?” “Is it Christmas?[18]” Ebenezer’s humbugs had changed to shouts of “Hallejuah.” Ebenezer rushed to find the buy and bring the biggest turkey in town to the Cratchits and Tiny Tim[19]. 

Ebnezer’s story is a remarkable one! Here’s where Ebenezer’s story mirrors our own.  There is no Christmas without the silent night before.  There is no long-awaited Messiah without a nation trying to piece itself back together (both physically and spiritually) after generations in exile, there is no Easter without Good Friday[20]. 

To bring this message, God would send two messengers to prepare us.  The first messenger would be named Malachi. The second messenger would be named John the Baptist.  These messengers would prepare the way for the Savior that was to come.  Pretty soon, all sorts of people just like Ebenezer will be shouting for joy as they awaken on Christmas morning!
 
 

[1] “Ebenezer Scrooge.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 19.Nov.2018. Web. Nov.20.2018. 
[2] Markquardt, Ed. “Cleanse me from my sin, deep within... Refiner's Fire.” Sermons from Seattle. Web. Nov.20.2018. 
[3] “Humbug.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 23. Sept.2018. Web. Nov.20.2018. 
[4] Ebenezer Scrooge.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation.
[5] Malachi 3:1-4. 
[6] Hoezee, Scott. “Malachi 3:1-4.” Center for Excellence in Preaching. Calvin Seminary. Grand Rapids. 30.Nov.2015. Web. Nov.20.2018. 
[7] Hoezee, Scott. “Malachi 3:1-4.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[8] Malachi 3:3. 
[9] Markquardt, Ed. “Cleanse me from my sin, deep within... Refiner's Fire.” Sermons from Seattle.
[10] Markquardt, Ed. “Cleanse me from my sin, deep within... Refiner's Fire.” Sermons from Seattle.
[11] Ebenezer Scrooge.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation.
[12] Luke 23:21.
[13] Ebenezer Scrooge.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation.
[14] Meyer, Timm. “Our Lord Sends His Messenger.” Sermon Central. 16.Jan.2009. Web. Nov.20.2018. 
[15] Luke 3:2-4. 
[16] Malachi 4:6.
[17] Hoezee, Scott. “Malachi 3:1-4.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[18] Markquardt, Ed. “Cleanse me from my sin, deep within... Refiner's Fire.” Sermons from Seattle.
[19] Markquardt, Ed. “Cleanse me from my sin, deep within... Refiner's Fire.” Sermons from Seattle.
[20] Markquardt, Ed. “Cleanse me from my sin, deep within... Refiner's Fire.” Sermons from Seattle.

First Lesson: Jeremiah 33: 14-16
Responsive Reading: Psalm 25: 1-10
Second Lesson: 1 Thessalonians 3: 9-13
Gospel Lesson: Luke 21: 25-36

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’”-Jeremiah 33:14-16.

Once I got done with Seminary, I worked as a substitute teacher. I had the whole gamut of teaching experiences: elementary, middle school, and high school.  Minnesota also has what are called Alternative Learning Centers or (ALC’s) which seek to educate students who are at risk in dropping out of traditional educational models.  So I spent days substitute teaching at ALC’s where behavior wasn’t always up to conventional standards.  My most vivid memory was one day when an 18-year-old boy came into the classroom got on top of the table and started running back and forth.  You were encouraged not to lose our cool as to not provoke a further outburst.

I remember one day having an unusually long day at an ALC.  Kids were frequently talking back, not paying attention, and there might have been a near fight or two.  It was one of the rare days of substitute teaching where I seemingly would check the clock every two minutes even when there were hours left in the school day.
If I wanted a role model to respond to a situation such as this, I should look to a gentleman named David Bunton who taught at a similar school in Australia[1].  Mr. Bunton was a quiet man who had countless rough days teaching in a school such as this one.  Mr. Bunton though had one thing that he would do when students would frustrate him.  He would sit at his desk and quietly pray for his students.

Something remarkable ended happening with Mr. Bunton’s students. Dozens of his students became believers even as Mr. Bunton was unable to share a word about his faith due to rules within his school.  Many of them even entered the ministry as either pastors or missionaries.   A quiet man sitting in prayer brought about a great harvest in the lives of some of Australia’s roughest students[2]. 

Mr. Bunton understood the meaning of our lesson from the Book of Jeremiah which proclaims “the days are coming.” when salvation will come to God’s people despite living in days with seemingly no hope.

Now despite how long of days Mr. Bunton had teaching in difficult schools, such things are nothing compared to the worst years of human history.

 A few weeks back, I was reading a news article that asked an interesting question: “What was the worst year to be alive in the history of the world?”

There would have been some strong contenders in 1349 when Black Death killed half the population of Europe[3].  1918 would be another strong contender with flu estimated to have killed between 50-100 million young adults worldwide.

But perhaps the worst year to be alive in all of human history was 536 A.D[4].  What happened in 536 A.D. is a volcano erupted in Iceland causing mysterious fog covered Europe, the Middle East, and Asia so that the sun would be unable to let forth its normal light for the next eighteen months.  It was like continually living under the moon.  This event was thought to begin the Dark Ages.

 Among the other effects of the 536 volcano: the lack of sunlight caused a great worldwide famine, temperature drops brought snow to China in the middle of the summer, and  Europe’s economy would soon ground to a halt[5].  Within a few years, the Bubonic Plague would strike wiping out half of the population of parts of the Roman Empire to speed up its collapse[6].

Now in thinking of the worst year in all of human history, let me ask another question: “What was the worst year in Old Testament or the nation of Israel?”

The answer would be 587 B.C. the year when King Solomon’s temple would be destroyed and the nation would fall under the captivity of the Babylonian army under its wicked King Nebuchadnezzar II.  Jeremiah the prophet whose name is on our lesson for Today proclaiming the days are coming when God’s promises of salvation become true was a firsthand witness to Jerusalem’s fall in these days.

To understand Jeremiah, you need to know that he seemed to be an unlikely person to give a word of hope such as the days are coming.  Jeremiah’s ministry within the nation of Israel lasted nearly 40 years.  Jeremiah was nicknamed over these years “The Weeping Prophet.” Jeremiah over all these years had been continuously proclaiming that Israel would soon fall to a foreign power because the nation chooses to worship foreign Gods.

Israel was such a mess during Jeremiah’s lifetime that people sacrificed their children to these foreign gods of death and destruction[7].  The officials of Israel cared for Jeremiah’s message so little they imprisoned him. Jeremiah eventually gets thrown down into a cistern, hoping that Jeremiah would starve himself to death drowning in the mud[8].Jeremiah’s life was marked by very little reason to have great religious hope.  Here was Jeremiah right after giving forty years of pessimism, continually warning of pending doom doing a 180-degree term by giving people a word of great hope the days are coming[9].

Jeremiah had Israel live out its darkest of ages. Jeremiah kept calling out like the school teacher Mr. Bunton in prayer that God bring eventual salvation to his land and his people. Jeremiah knew that the people of God were way too fickle, to bring this salvation themselves failing to follow the Ten Commandments again and again.   So God would need to bring forth a new promise a promise of God’s ultimate grace[10].

580 years after Jeremiah saw Jerusalem fall and God’s people sent into exile[11].  Jeremiah’s promise that the days are surely coming came true.  This promise serves as a reminder that even in the worst death and destruction that God’s presence shall never leave this earth.

Mere miles away from Jerusalem in the town of Bethlehem, a woman gave birth to a descendant of King David of whose kingdom would have no end.  The birth of the Christ Child serves as a reminder to all God’s people that the Messiah is surely coming soon. A day will soon be here when righteousness fills the land and peace fills the land, even in those days like Jeremiah witnessed where nothing but carnage filled the Earth.
What does all this mean to us as we begin on this day our Advent season as we eagerly anticipate the birth of our Savior.  What does this mean when like in Jeremiah’s life, things aren’t looking so good within our own life.

Let me close with one final story:  A man’s daughter once upon a time called up a local church asking for the pastor to see her dying father[12].  The pastor was new to the church and had never met the man before.  He walks into the room where he the man lying on his bed propped up by pillows and an empty chair beside his bed.

The pastor walks in introduces himself and asks if the chair is for him.  The man responded “Oh year, would you mind closing the door[13]?”

The pastor was confused, but he followed the man’s request.  The man pipes up[14]: “I’ve never told anyone this, not even my family.  But I never really understood how to pray.”

So I kinda gave up on it, well one day I was having a conversation with my best friend who told me: “Joe, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus[15].”  Here’s what you should do, place an empty chair in front of you, and see Jesus sitting in that chair.  Remember Jesus promised, “I’ll be with you always[16].” Then you converse with him no different than you and I are doing.

So I started talking to the chair for a few hours each day, don’t want my daughter to know, so she doesn’t put me in some sort of “funny-farm.”

The Pastor is moved by the guy’s faith in the greatest of personal adversity as he prepared to meet his maker.  The Pastor and Joe pray together and the Pastor goes back to church.

A few days later, the daughter calls to say that her dad died earlier that day.
Pastor asks: “Did he die in peace[17]?”

The daughter replies: “Yes, he told one of his corny jokes, kissed me on the check, and then I left for the store.” I came back an hour later, only to see the strangest thing.  Dad right before he died, leaned out over the bed, and rested his head on the empty chair that sat beside it[18]. “The days are coming, indeed!

The Biblical prophet Jeremiah understood Advent. He understood the nature of waiting!He understood this isn’t always the easiest thing to do when a room full of misbehaving students surround you, yet in the case of Mr. Bruton God’s plan for our salvation is much grander than what we can see in any individual moment. For whereas the Earth might seem so dark that you can’t see any sunlight on this day, Our God’s presence remains.  We need not look further than the nearest empty chair to remember this! Amen

[1] Atwood, Brian. “Unclaimed Blessings.” Sermon Central. 6. Feb.2003. Web. Nov.15.2018.  The following comes from a story in Leadership magazine submitted by Brian Ronnefeldt of West Perth, Australia. 
[2] Atwood, Brian. “Unclaimed Blessings.” Sermon Central.
[3] Gibbons, Ann.” Why 536 was ‘the worst year to be alive’”  Science. 15. Nov.2018. Web. Nov.19.2018. 
[4] Gibbons, Ann.” Why 536 was ‘the worst year to be alive’”  Science.
[5] Gibbons, Ann.” Why 536 was ‘the worst year to be alive’”  Science.
[6] Gibbons, Ann.” Why 536 was ‘the worst year to be alive’”  Science.
[7] “Jeremiah.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 16. Nov.2018. Web. Nov.19.2018.
[8] Jeremiah 38:1-13. 
[9] Hyde, Randy. “The Days Are Surely Coming.” Sermon Writer. 2006. Web. Nov.18.2018. 
[10] Sylvester, Emily. “Jeremiah 33:14-16.” Sermon Writer. 2012. Web. Nov.18.2018. 
[11] Giese, Ted. “The Righteous Branch.” Mount Olive Lutheran Church. Regina, Saskatchewan. 29.Nov.2015. Web. Nov.15.2018. 
[12] Higgins, Scott. “An Empty Chair.” Stories for Preaching. Web. Nov.15.2018.
[13] Higgins, Scott. “An Empty Chair.” Stories for Preaching.
[14] Higgins, Scott. “An Empty Chair.” Stories for Preaching.
[15] Higgins, Scott. “An Empty Chair.” Stories for Preaching.
[16] Matthew 28:20. 
[17] Higgins, Scott. “An Empty Chair.” Stories for Preaching.
[18] Higgins, Scott. “An Empty Chair.” Stories for Preaching.

First Lesson: 2 Samuel 23: 1-7
Responsive Reading: Psalm 132: 1-12, (13-18)
Second Lesson: Revelation 1: 4-8
​Gospel Lesson: John 18: 33-37

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
When I was growing up my friends and me for our major social outings would go to the movies.  Most of the time, we would go to Forest Lake which had a theater about fifteen miles away from home.  When trying to find movies that we wanted to see, we would often find the silliest comedy that our parents would let us see.  Well, shortly after I started high school, I was going to the movies with my friends.  The movie was I believe Billy Madison which told the story of a spoiled thirty-year-old rich kid, who had to redo Kindergarten to High School in two weeks to inherit his father’s business empire. 

Well on that day, walking into the theater, sitting in the row right behind us, with his wife and daughter was the Governor of Minnesota Arne Carlson.  He had a residence in Forest Lake.  Here’s what was so interesting about this.  No one flocked to him, once the lights went out he was no different than any other theatergoer.  The most powerful man in Minnesota had become a mere mortal before my very eyes.

Today’s Gospel lesson tells a similar story.  Pontius Pilate was the Roman Governor of Judea. Pilate served under the most powerful ruler in the world.   Pilate had been given the authority to be the most powerful official in the part of the world where Jesus would soon breath his last breaths.  Our lesson tells the following tale[1].
Now Jesus was being brought to Pontius Pilate’s presence with an accusation of claiming to be “King of the Jews.” As soon as Pontius Pilate saw Jesus appear before him, he probably grew annoyed at Jesus’ presence.  Pilate’s first image of Jesus is hands behind his back, a busted lip[2], and a puffed-up check from where he had just been whacked by an official of the high priest[3]. 

Jesus looked like a guy who had just badly lost a fight, not any serious threat to Pontius Pilate.  All this explains why Pontius Pilate was probably so confused by this whole ordeal as Jesus was not surrounded by soldiers, he looked like he lived in poverty, and his followers seemed to be about as serious a threat to the Roman Empire as a junior high football team would be to the New England Patriots[4]. 

Pontius Pilate would have been extremely busy during Passover week when our lesson takes place; he was probably confused why anyone would care enough to want to put such a seemingly looking pathetic figure to death with his blessing. 

When the religious authorities accused Jesus of claiming to be a “King.” Pontius Pilate knew the most powerful man in the world; he thought he understood how a King should look.   How a King should behave.  He knew that Jesus wasn’t it. 

In the year 1643, King Louis XIV was coronated upon the French throne[5].  King Louis was four years old at the time, being placed in charge of one of the world’s most powerful nations.  King Louis was the epitome of selfish within his rule.  King Louis XIV was nicknamed the “sun-king” for thinking the whole world revolved around him[6]. 

Among the excesses of King Louis’s rule were that he would invite French aristocrats to visit his palace, where they would be asked to engage in competitions to determine who would get the honor to watch King Louis wake up, eat, and prepare for bed.[7] 

King Louis’ greatest claim to fame was desiring to get away from the commoners in Paris.  King Louis ordered the construction of an elaborate palace at Versailles.  The palace was so elaborate that it would have cost upwards of two billion dollars to construct in modern currency[8]. The palace would employ 200 servants to meet King Louis’ needs.  The inside of the palace contained 700 rooms, 60 staircases, 5000 pieces of furniture and 1200 fireplaces[9].  The walls were decorated with 6000 paintings.  Versailles had 30,000 acres of garden with over 400 sculptures, plus 1,400 fountains[10]. 

Perhaps Versailles most dramatic feature is an 8,000 square foot hall of mirrors surrounded by works of art highlighting the achievements of King Louis XIV’s life. Louis’ goal was to make this room the center of Palace social life.  

King Louis’ XIV’ last act as King was to engage in a thirteen-year war with Spain, so that his grandson may become Spain’s king.  Between Versailles and this war, France racked up severe debt[11].  Public opinion turned against the Crown.  King Louis helped chart a course where within a century, the excess of the French monarchy would create one of world history’s most violent revolutions marked by the use of the guillotine against France’s royalty.    

King Louis XIV represents the great excesses of history.  A reminder that however powerful a Kingdom may appear at any given moment it is merely temporary.   

The following great contrast over what it truly means to be “The King” is on display in the visit between Pontius Pilate and Jesus.

Pilate uses his power for his ends as Governor[12].  Pilate thinks nothing of destroying people who might possess the tiniest of threats to his reign like this beaten, bloodied man.  Jesus uses his power for the sake of others; he even washes their feet. Jesus is willing to give his life even for the sake of others.
Pontius Pilate’s reign will give people terror in the midst of calm days.  Jesus’ reign will give people calm in the midst of their terrors[13].

Pilate’s soldiers use violence to conquer others.  Jesus encourages his followers to put away their sword and to look on the horizon to the day when Christ unites all people: rich, poor, strong, weak, Jew, Gentile as inheritors of his gift of salvation[14]. 

Pontius Pilate’s authority is granted by Caeser Tiberius and is subject to the whims of a mortal man. Jesus’ power comes from the one who grants eternal authority[15].  

So Jesus is indeed a King, his kingdom is the only one that Pontius Pilate cannot ultimately put to death. 
 
Jesus and Pontius Pilate these men would suffer two very different fates upon the end of their lives. According to tradition, upon a new emperor in Caligula coming to Rome, Pontius Pilate was removed as Governor, and he would take his own life a short time later[16]. 

How did Jesus’ story end? A small group of his followers started as a group called the “Way”; they came to be called Christians for believing that Jesus had triumphed over the previously insurmountable object of his own grave[17].  This group started after being rejected by their own people and saw their leader put to death in mocking tones by Pontius Pilate and others as “King of the Jews.” Within a few hundred years, the Christians would overwhelm the very empire that Pontius Pilate serves. Today, Christians proclaim the living faith of our Gospel in every corner of the globe, whereas Pontius Pilate’s Roman Empire is merely pages within our history books. 

Our lesson reminds us of the true nature of Christ’s Kingdom.  The type of King that Jesus was going to be was one that could reverse any situation of power and prestige like this for all eternity. Jesus as King was not about securing his power.  Jesus’ kingdom was about the depths to which he would go for every single inhabit of his Kingdom that believed in its power. 

How will Jesus’ kingdom ultimately look?  Let me close with one final story.

King Christian X of Denmark assumed the Danish throne in 1912[18].  What type of King that he would be would not be revealed for nearly thirty years with the Advent of the Second World War.  In 1940, Adolf Hitler’s Germany would quickly overwhelm Danish forces.  Denmark is a flat, open country leaving little geographic advantage for the sake of defense.  The Germans would occupy Denmark for the next five years[19]. 

King Christian X though unlike other European rulers, did not go into hiding.  King Christian even made it a point to ride his horse daily without any guard,  as a visible sign of resistance to the Nazi occupation[20]. 

Eventually, the order came that all Jews within Denmark were to identify themselves by wearing yellow armbands marked by the Star of David[21].  King Christian was a Lutheran.  King Christian also believed that if one Danish person would be forced to wear such a marker then all Danes would.  King Christian would be the first to put the armband on his arms.  He let be known that he expected all Danes to do the same.  So within Copenhagen, nearly every Dane which is a majority Lutheran nation wore the yellow armbands showing the Star of David[22].  Ninety percent of Denmark’s Jews survived the Second World War thanks to King Christian’s actions including arranging transport to neutral Sweden[23].

 The Jews of Denmark came to see what type of King they had in the presence of the most powerful man in the world.  They had a King who would even stare down death to ultimately save his people.

The whole point of the showdown between Jesus and Pontius Pilate is to show what type of King that Christ would be.   A King who just like Governor Carlson when the movie theater lights went out didn’t stand out from his subjects in any way.  Only when the lights came on back Easter Sunday, Our King would indeed stand out from all subjects who came before him bringing forth the power of Resurrection.  Jesus was the type of king who like King Christian cared for his subjects so much; he soon would journey to his death before bringing forgiveness and salvation to all the nations of the Earth.  The following is the story of Christ the King.  Amen
 


[1] John 18:33-37. 
[2] John 18:22.
[3] Hoezee, Scott. “John 18:33-37.” Center for Excellence in Preaching. Calvin Seminary. Grand Rapids, MI. 16.Nov.2015. Web. Nov.3.2018. 
[4] Hoezee, Scott. “John 18:33-37.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[5] History Channel. “King Louis XIV.” Web.Nov.3.2018.
[6] Zingale, Tim. “The Real King.” Sermon Central. 18.Nov.2003. Web. Nov.3.2018. 
[7] History Channel. “King Louis XIV.”
[8] James. “Palace of Versailles.” Primary Facts. 2.July.2018. Web. Nov.3.2018. 
[9] James. “Palace of Versailles.” Primary Facts.
[10] James. “Palace of Versailles.” Primary Facts.
[11] History Channel. “King Louis XIV.”
[12] Clark-Soles, Jaime. “Commentary on John 18:33-37.” Working Preacher. Luther Seminary. Saint Paul.  25.Nov.2012. Web. Nov.3.2018. 
[13] Clark-Soles, Jaime. “Commentary on John 18:33-37.” Working Preacher.
[14] Clark-Soles, Jaime. “Commentary on John 18:33-37.” Working Preacher.
[15] Clark-Soles, Jaime. “Commentary on John 18:33-37.” Working Preacher.
[16] “Pontius Pilate.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 19. Oct.2018. Web. Nov.3.2018. 
[17] Stanley, Andy. Irrestible:Reclaiming the New that Jesus Unleashed for the World.  Zondervan. 2018. Pg.19. 
[18] “Christian X of Denmark.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 3.Nov.2018. Web. Nov.3.2018.
[19] Christian X of Denmark.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation
[20] Christian X of Denmark.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation
[21] Anders, Mickey. “Royalty Stoops.” Sermon Writer. 2001. Web. Nov.3.2018. 
[22] Anders, Mickey. “Royalty Stoops.” Sermon Writer
[23] Christian X of Denmark.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation

First Lesson: 1 Samuel 1: 4-20
Responsive Reading: 1 Samuel 2: 1-10
Second Lesson: Hebrews 10: 11-14, (15-18), 19-25
​Gospel Lesson: Mark 13: 1-8

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
“I Thessalonians 5:16-18  —  Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

The Year was 1973. The place was Florida[1].  An old man, slightly bent over, struggling with every step, seemingly not long for this world, walks along an old, nearly abandoned pier alongside the Atlantic carrying a large bucket of shrimp.  The man was named Eddie Rickenbacker.

Rickenbacker was a remarkable American; he was America’s greatest fighter pilot during World War I with twenty-six aerial victories and was awarded the Medal of Honor in recognition[2].  Rickenbacker used his fame between the wars to eventually purchase the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with his greatest personal success coming as one of the pioneers in American aviation as the owner of Eastern Airlines. 

Despite Rickenbacker’s great personal success, he joined the World War II in an advisory capacity under Secretary of War Henry Stimson.   In 1942, Rickenbacker was tasked with the mission of personally delivering a message from President Roosevelt to General Douglas MacArthur in New Guinea aboard a B-17 Bomber[3].  While flying over the South Pacific, the plane veered off-course, due to a technical mishap.  Nearly running out of gas, the crew was forced to land in the middle of the Pacific.  Rickenbacker and nine other men were forced into life rafts[4].  Their food supply ran out in three days with no hope of rescue.  Five days later the situation was growing increasingly desperate when the Bomber’s captain led an impromptu church service of prayer and thanksgiving[5].  A short time after, Captain Rickenbacker felt something land on his head, what landed on his head was a ‘sea-gull”.  The men for the first time in nearly a week had hope.  The gull managed to fly hundreds of miles from land somehow to serve as not only a meal but also bait for further meals.  Rickenbacker and his men lived twenty-three days on this raft before their eventual rescue thanks to this one-sea gull. 

Eddie Rickenbacker never forgot what happened to him.  So every Friday evening until his death, one of Florida’s wealthiest men traveled to an isolated pier to give a feast to birds out of his own Thanksgiving for what had been given in days past[6].  Eddie Rickenbacker had experienced God providing manna from heaven while wandering in the greatest wilderness of his life and for this blessing, he would be forever thankful. 

I want to tell you Today a similar story of sorts that comes from our scriptures[7].  It’s about a woman who lived years of her life in a different type of wilderness only to find eventual Thanksgiving.
Hannah is married to a man named Elkanah.  Elkanah (el-kan-a) was a good man.  He came from a prominent family and was a man of many means.  Elkanah loved Hannah very much.  Hannah had been unable to bear any children for Elkanah.  Elkanah didn’t care though as he had many children from another wife[8]. 

Hannah though was forced to confront a cultural reality that something seemingly had to be wrong with her because God had shut her womb.

Now Hannah’s issues were going to be magnified during the upcoming days, as her family was going to be journeying to Shiloh to perform their annual religious sacrifice where they gave thanks for all of God’s blessings during the prior year.  Like Thanksgiving this week, this was the equivalent of a major Holiday in Pre-Temple Israel.  While others would be celebrating, Hannah would see the presence of many children and be reminded of what exactly she didn’t have.  While this was supposed to be a time of great joy, Hannah was forced to confront her greatest pain. 

 Hannah saw her future as frightening because, in her society, it was the sons that took care of their mothers upon the deaths of their husbands as they were unable to inherit property[9].  Hannah lived in a world that would mock and scorn a woman who was unable to have children[10].  All these things would be made especially clear to Hannah in the upcoming holiday week.  Elkanah could have been the most fabulous husband in the world, but Hannah could not escape the realities of her barrenness[11].

So what does Hannah do in the midst of the Holiday celebration? She storms off in sadness.  Hannah was hurting and goes to the only place that she can think of was her people’s sanctuary[12]. The text describes Hannah as “deeply distressed” and “weeping bitterly” upon entering the sanctuary[13].  Now leaving a Holiday celebration to go pray was going to be noticed.   The priest Eli did notice Hannah; only he thought her to be “drunk[14].” He tells her “Put away your wine[15].”

Hannah then begins to explain her situation to Eli.  Hannah describes her great “anxiety” and “pain” over being unable to bear children[16].  

Hannah in the midst of all this was able to see something about the nature of God’s thanksgiving.  Despite her great pain, Hannah’s life was filled with many good things.  It would be God’s will whether she eventually conceived a child, but God had not indeed forgotten about her[17].  Hannah’s life had indeed been blessed with a devout husband, much Earthly blessing, and a God who was the source of her salvation.

Eli in the midst of Hannah’s grief gives her a blessing.  Hannah travels home the next morning with Elkanah[18].  Hannah soon indeed becomes pregnant. She names her child Samuel meaning “She (I) asked the Lord for him[19].” Samuel would grow into Eli the Priest’s assistant.  Samuel would eventually rally the whole nation of Israel against the mighty Philistines. Samuel would eventually anoint Israel’s first king in Saul and greatest king in David.  It was through David’s house that God would point the way to an even greater promise of a blessing than the one given by Eli to Hannah. Eventually, a King would come to the land of Israel would who establish a throne upon the Earth forever[20].  This king would be a descendant of David’s who they would call Jesus and his kingdom would be greater than all the other Kingdoms of the world put together.  The whole story is a remarkable tale of Hannah’s Thanksgiving in the most trying of times helping to bring about the salvation of her people. 

 Hannah is noteworthy because she saw God working within her life when the whole world was seemingly telling her something else.  Hannah’s story reminds us of something this week as we celebrate our own Thanksgiving holiday. How it is often through the unlikely and unexpected that we receive our greatest blessings. 

Squanto was born into the Patuxet (Pa- Tox-Et) tribe in 1585 in modern day New-England[21].  In 1608, Squanto was captured by English traders and sold into Spanish slavery.  Squanto gets purchased by a Spanish monk. The monk proceeds to teach Squanto the Christian faith.  Squanto eventually makes his way to England where he ends up in the care of a man named John Slaney who teaches him the English language.  Squanto expressed his desire to return home[22].  Squanto eventually gets onboard a ship bound for America, only to discover upon his return that an illness had wiped out nearly his entire village.  Squanto much like Hannah probably couldn’t make sense of God’s plan or purposes at this point in his life[23].

One year later, though the land formally occupied by Squanto’s tribe gets settled by a group of English settlers aboard the Mayflower naming the area Plymouth Rock.  The first winter for settlers in the New World was tough losing over half their traveling party to disease and death[24].  The colony probably though would not survived if not for Squanto greeting the pilgrims in their native English.  Squanto then proceeded to teach the Englishmen how to plant corn in the soil[25].  The following fall, during the Harvest in thanks for God’s abundance, the settlers and ninety native friends gathered for a three-day feast of birds to give thanks for God’s abundance.   This holiday would come to be known as Thanksgiving[26]. 

Squanto would contract disease and die a short time later.  Plymouth Governor William Bradford would describe Squanto as a “special instrument sent of God for [our] good.” Squanto upon his death would give all his possessions to the Pilgrims as a “remembrances of his love[27].”

Squanto’s story and the First Thanksgiving is one of the true nature of God’s blessing.  Squanto like Joseph[28] was an instrument that God used for the greatest of good[29] even as his circumstances like Hannah’s seemed to be nothing but the harshest of curses. 

As we celebrate Thanksgiving later this week, it’s really easy to see all the things that God hasn’t given us. Hannah could undoubtedly see all these things as she struggled with being childless.  Hannah could also see God’s tremendous blessing in relationship, possession, and most of all her salvation.  As we celebrate Thanksgiving later this week, consider like the settlers at Plymouth Rock or Eddie Rickenbacker all the blessings both unusual and usual that God has given brought into our lives.  See the blessings that God gives us on this day: bread, wine, and the forgiveness of our sins.  See God’s continual promises of our eventual redemption given in the midst of our greatest despairs.  So if you eat turkey later this week, don’t forget about seagulls also. Amen


[1] Aurandt, Paul. “"The Old Man and the Gulls" quoted in Heaven Bound Living, Knofel Stanton, Standard, 1989, p. 79-80. The analogy was originally given by Paul Harvey in 1977. The following illustration was found in Sermon Illustrations.com under Thanksgiving. 
[2] “Eddie Rickenbacker.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 23.Oct.2018. Web. Nov.1.2018. 
[3] Eddie Rickenbacker.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation.
[4] Eddie Rickenbacker.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation.
[5] Aurandt, Paul. “"The Old Man and the Gulls" quoted in Heaven Bound Living, Knofel Stanton, Standard, 1989, p. 79-80.
[6] Aurandt, Paul. “"The Old Man and the Gulls" quoted in Heaven Bound Living, Knofel Stanton, Standard, 1989, p. 79-80.
[7] 1 Samuel 1: 4:20, 1 Samuel 2:1-10. 
[8] 1 Samuel 1:5
[9] Suomala, Karla. “Commentary on 1 Samuel 1:4-20.” Working Preacher. Luther Seminary. 18.Nov.2012. Web. Nov.1.2018. 
[10] 1 Samuel 1:6
[11] 1 Samuel 1:8
[12] Butler, Amy. “Filled with Good Things.” Sermon Writer. 2006. Web. Nov.1.2018. 
[13] 1 Samuel 1:10
[14] 1 Samuel 1:13
[15] 1 Samuel 1:14
[16] 1Samuel 1:16
[17] 1 Samuel 1:18-19
[18] 1 Samuel 1:19
[19] 1 Samuel 1:20
[20] Schifferdecker, Kathryn. M. Commentary on 1 Samuel 1:4-20.” Working Preacher. Luther Seminary. 18.Nov.2018. Web. Nov.1.2018. 
[21] Stier, Leon. “Squanto and the Pilgrims.” Email Mediatations. 21.Nov.2016. Web. Nov.1.2018. Taken from Charles Colson at breakpoint.org
[22] Stier, Leon. “Squanto and the Pilgrims.” Email Mediatations.
[23] Stier, Leon. “Squanto and the Pilgrims.” Email Mediatations.
[24] Stier, Leon. “Pilgrim Thanksgiving.” Email Mediatations. 28.Nov.2013. Web. Nov.1.2018. 
[25] Stier, Leon. “Squanto and the Pilgrims.” Email Mediatations.
[26] Stier, Leon. “Pilgrim Thanksgiving.” Email Mediatations
[27] Stier, Leon. “Squanto and the Pilgrims.” Email Mediatations.
[28] Genesis 50:20. 
[29] Stier, Leon. “Squanto and the Pilgrims.” Email Mediatations.

First Lesson: Ruth 3: 1-5; 4: 13-17
Responsive Reading: Psalm 127
Second Lesson: Hebrews 9: 24-28
​Gospel Lesson: Mark 12: 38-44

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
“I look forward to Tax Day every year because it shows that I have something to give.” –Sychar member Bob Eckstrom

Let me begin by telling a story about Grandma.  I was in high school; I had let Grandma know that I thought I might be called to go into the ministry. Grandma wanted to give me encouragement in this venture, so on a Thursday night during the school year, Grandma calls me up.  Grandma told me that she needed to drop off her “tithe.”

Grandma was never a real regular Church attender when I was growing up, as she tended to enjoy making phone calls to California during middle of the night, so getting to a 9 or 10:30 service at Trinity Lutheran could be a challenge.  While most people would wait until Sunday morning to try to handle their offering for Grandma patience has never really been a strength. So Grandma told me that she was picking me up at 8:30 and we were driving out to the preacher’s house to give him her offering.  My parents must not have been around to veto such an idea.  So Grandma and I driveway past the church to the other end of town, Grandma rings the doorbell (I would be surprised if she thought of calling), the preacher and his wife come to the door wearing pajamas.   Grandma proceeds to try starting a casual conversation; Pastor Tom lets her know he needs to go to “bed,” Grandma hands her “tithe” to him and drives me home with her lesson on the nature of ministry. 

Now Today’s Gospel lesson tells the tale of a woman who like my Grandma had her own noteworthy approach to giving[1].

The scene for Today’s lesson is Holy Week. Passover week would cause Religious pilgrims from all over to travel to Jerusalem where they would give their yearly offering.  Jesus and his Disciples are sitting within the Temple as it’s packed with people watching the whole scene unfold.  You had rich and poor alike gathering to deliver their offering at the same time. 

A couple of years ago, I went to an event on non-profit fundraising for North Shore Area Partners down in Duluth. I got paired up with a partner; my partner was the head of a large foundation down in Duluth.  We were comparing fundraising within our organizations; I described how we make due with a lot of small gifts $5, $10, $20, 50, 100, gifts larger than this would be noteworthy.  The woman describes to me how for her job, she would occasionally host small informal coffee parties of maybe 6-8 people for fundraising.  When I asked how much money these brought in? She proceeded to tell me $75,000 for a typical gathering.  My jaw was on the floor.  She had all sorts of connections within Duluth’s medical industry that could give like that without a second thought.  There were plenty of people like this within Jesus’ day.  The type of people when they walked into the Temple, everyone knew that large amounts of money we're going to be placed in the offering boxes.   Among the rich, they would try to out dress and out display each other.  Giving one’s offering for many was the social event of the year at the Temple. 

Now standing in one of the lines on this day was a lady that probably didn’t stand out in any way[2].  She certainly wouldn’t have stood out in such a busy and noisy crowd.  She is described as a widow.  Just like the wealthy temple goers, she approaches the offering boxes where she dropped in two small copper coins called “mites[3],” almost like dropping pennies into piles of gold and silver.  Jesus though noticed this woman right away.  Jesus might have been the only one in the room to notice this woman.

Jesus proceeds to point out: “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.  They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on[4].”

Jesus noticed that this woman was making her next meal more difficult, yet she believed that she was giving to a cause with even more significant meaning. 

It was this woman that Jesus wanted to point out to his Disciples as a real model of generosity.  

Jesus wanted to remind the Disciples that there was much more going on in this story than all they could see on this day.

Later in Mark’s Gospel, a woman with a bad reputation approaches Jesus, she washed his feet with her tears and cheap perfume[5].  Everyone around objected that Jesus didn’t shoe her from his presence.  What they were saying is “Don’t you know of her sin?”  whereas when Jesus looked at this woman he didn’t see her sin, he saw in her forgiveness and new life[6]. 

It was people like this questionable woman and widow who truly understood the impact of believing that the love of God was without boundaries[7]. 

Once upon a time, there was an IRS Agent[8].  The guy was checking out tax returns when one gentleman’s caught his eye.  The guy claimed an income of under $10,000, yet he claimed to be giving over $1200 to his church.  The agent decided that he was going to investigate.  The agent shows up unannounced at the gentleman’s home the next day.  He was struck by how the gentleman like nearly every person who he encountered wasn’t nervous to be questioned by an IRS agent. 

The agent asked for a giving receipt from the church.  The gentleman calmly goes upstairs to retrieve it.   The agent reviews the receipts for ten seconds realizes this guy is on the level.  The agent apologizes for the bother[9]. 

As the agent is leaving, the gentleman proceeds to invite him to his church.  The agent is struck by the request, “Thanks, but I belong to a church myself[10].”

The gentleman is embarrassed as he declares “Excuse me, that possibility never occurred to me[11].”

The agent couldn’t shake the gentleman’s words, why didn’t he think that he attended a church.  The agent was well-off as we think of it, he went to church nearly every Sunday, yet he would never dream of giving like this gentleman that had so little.

The gentleman just like the widow had unbelievable trust that whatever his circumstances that the Lord would ultimately provide.  One man saw as an act of financial recklessness, the other man saw as an act of faith.  The difference towards life was noticeable. 

The whole point of our lesson seems to be how exactly, we think about being rich and poor is generally wrong.  Let me close with one final story:

Once upon a time, there was a father that wished to give his son a “life lesson” on wealth[12].   The father had done quite well for himself, and the boy was never in need of anything growing up.  The father wished to teach the boy what it was like to be poor, so they traveled to a farm in a foreign country where they spent a few days.  They spent the night at the farm of what they considered to be a low-income family.

So father and son return from the trip, when Dad asks if he enjoyed the trip.  Son replies “It was great[13].”
            Father asked: “Did you see how poor people can be?”
            Son answers: “Oh yeah.”
            Father asks: “What did you learn?” Hoping his life lesson to be effective.
The son answered, “I saw that we have one dog and they had four.  We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden, and they have a creek that has no end.  We have imported lanterns in our garden, and they have the stars at night.  Our patio reaches to the front yard, and they have the whole horizon[14].”

“We have a small piece of land to live on, and they have fields that go beyond our sight.  We have servants who serve us, but they serve others[15].”

“We buy our food, but they grow theirs.  We have walls around our property to protect us; they have friends to protect them.” “It showed me just how poor we are[16].”

The Father’s jaw had dropped to the ground at such an answer.  The little boy was just like Jesus within the Temple; he understood something about the real difference between poverty and abundance regardless of what every other onlooker might see. 

My Grandma was a widow as a relatively young woman.  She was never one to stay in a job for very long.  She never had much to give when living on her own! She would never be the first target of any church’s stewardship campaign.  When Grandma did give, she was undoubtedly way more dramatic than the widow within our lesson.  Grandma though taught me something value about the nature of generosity.
The greatest givers are not always though with the most to give.  She gave not out of fear, force, or to get praise from others; she gave because she believed that God had not abandoned her through all quirks. Amen

 
             
[1] Mark 12:38-44. 
[2] Markquardt, Ed. “Hannah and 2%, the Widow’s Mite.” Sermons from Seattle. Web. Oct.25.2018. 
[3] “Lesson of the widow’s mite.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 16.Feb. 2018. Web. Oct.25.2018. 
[4] Mark 12:43-44. 
[5] Mark 14:3-9
[6] Stier, Leon. “Seeing Others as Jesus Sees Them (part one).” Email Mediatations. 2.June.2015. Web. Oct.25.2018. 
[7] Stier, Leon. “Seeing Others as Jesus Sees Them (part one).” Email Mediatations.
[8] Zingale, Tim. “Sacrifical Lifestyle.” Sermon Central. 3.Nov.2003. Web. Oct.25.2018. 
[9] Zingale, Tim. “Sacrifical Lifestyle.” Sermon Central.
[10] Zingale, Tim. “Sacrifical Lifestyle.” Sermon Central.
[11] Zingale, Tim. “Sacrifical Lifestyle.” Sermon Central.
[12] Stier, Leon. “What is Rich? What is Poor?” Email Mediatations. 22. Aug.2018. Web. Oct.25.2018.  Taken from a Facebook page by Dan Dan Asmussen. 
[13] Stier, Leon. “What is Rich? What is Poor?” Email Mediatations.
[14] Stier, Leon. “What is Rich? What is Poor?” Email Mediatations.
[15] Stier, Leon. “What is Rich? What is Poor?” Email Mediatations.
[16] Stier, Leon. “What is Rich? What is Poor?” Email Mediatations.

First Lesson: Isaiah 25: 6-9
Responsive Reading: Psalm 24
Second Lesson: Revelation 21: 1-6
​Gospel Lesson: John 11: 32-44

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
Later this afternoon, I will go home to watch my beloved Minnesota Vikings play.  The game is guaranteed to have plenty of commercials.  A lot of the commercials will be dealing with Tuesday’s upcoming election.  Many of these commercials will be dealing with the election of a new congressman from our area between Pete Stauber and Joe Radinovich .  The majority of ads will be negative trying to portray serious scandals within both candidates’ respective pasts.  It will be reported that Mr. Stauber used his Saint Louis County email for partisan political purposes.  Mr. Radinovich’s repeated traffic violations and possession of drug paraphernalia upon graduating high school will also come upon our T.V. screens[1].  After these commercials air, voters will be asked to go to the polls on Tuesday to determine which candidates past sins are more disqualifying.  As I hear this debate take place, I wonder if an even bigger debate is taking place regarding human nature itself.

Huey Long was elected Governor of Louisiana in 1928.  Long was remarkable for a southern politician at the time as he avoided using race as a tool to try to win votes[2].  Long was an early proponent of old age pensions such as Social Security.  Long was so charismatic and such a gifted orator that he was the first American politician to become a radio star.  Long was quite popular as Governor for denouncing the wealthy elites and banks holding the commoner down.  Long’s popularity was such in Louisiana that[3] his brother got elected Governor; his wife got elected Senator, his son served in the Senate for forty years.  Multiple cousins got elected to Congress.  After serving as Governor, Huey got elected to the United States Senate.  Mr. Long was thought to be a possible candidate for the Presidency in 1936, as arguably, the second most popular and well-known politician in the country after Franklin Delano Roosevelt.  Long’s political career ended prematurely upon being assassinated in 1935.

So how is Huey Long viewed eighty-some plus years after his death?  Depends on to whom you talk?  The Louisiana House of Representatives tried to impeach Long for taking bribes, carrying concealed weapons, and rumors were widespread that he hired thugs to kill political enemies[4].   These charges say nothing about Long’s open womanizing and frequent vulgar behavior.  They report that if Long had gotten elected President that America would have descended into a cult of personality dictatorship.  To many of his constituents, he remains a hero decades after his death for serving as a voice for the voiceless. 

So how should we as Christian people interpret Huey Long, Pete Stauber, and Joe Radinovich as we go into the week ahead?

Today we gather for All Saints Sunday, we remember and honor those that have left Sychar’s Communion of the Saints within the past year.  Now when we hear the word “Saint” a certain image inevitability pops up into our mind[5]: Saint Peter, Saint John (Men who risked their life preaching and spreading the Gospel within the Early Church), Saint Patrick, Saint Olaf (Men who brought the Christian faith to previous unbelieving nations), Saint Mary (The Mother of Jesus).  Saints are thought of as Super-Heroes of the Christian faith.  Even Huey Long’s greatest supporter would admit that he doesn’t fit in with such a crowd as this.

Here’s the thing about the term: Saint as we often think about it fits none of us perfectly, even the greatest superheroes of the Christian faith.  The reality of Sainthood is that a “Saint” regardless of how colorful their past has been being one not without sin, but rather one who has been granted forgiveness.  Sainthood is an individual Christian’s belief that the Cross of Christ changed everything for them.

Today’s Gospel lesson comes to us from the story of Lazarus[6].  Lazarus grew ill.  Jesus wasn’t around.  Lazarus’ sisters Mary and Martha confront Jesus about this.  Jesus weeps!  Jesus goes to visit Lazarus’ tomb.  Jesus calls “Lazarus, come out.”  Jaws drop as Mary and Martha witness a reunion with their loved one on the other side of his grave.  What made Lazarus worthy of such an honor?  The scriptures give no evidence other than a belief that the Jesus whom he knew would not abandon even at his own grave. 

So as we gather on this day at Sychar, we remember those whose loss we have mourned in the past year, those who tombs that Jesus declares will not be permanently occupied!

On this day, we remember the Saints of Sychar who have left our presence within the past year:

Wayne Johnson[7]: Wayne was instrumental in the founding of this congregation in 1953 when it began meeting at the “Green Door.”  Wayne would help approach Reserve President William Kelley to choose a lot for this church on the corner of Edison and Banks where we meet today.  Wayne’s legacy though goes beyond his role in Sychar’s founding.  Wayne served his country in World War II in China within General Claire Lee Chennault’s famed Flying Tigers-14th Air Force.  Wayne’s love of flying eventually saw the Silver Bay Airport bear his name.  Wayne upon leaving the service then moved into the legal profession.  Wayne would spend the next fifty plus years serving as city attorney within both Silver Bay and Beaver Bay, the longest tenure within this nation’s history.  When Wayne died, the Duluth News Tribune described him as a “North Shore” legend influenced by his role in the famous trial of this town’s history Reserve Mining vs. the United States.  

Gordy Marquardt: I remember my visits with Gordy in the last few years at home, then Chris Jensen in Duluth and finally the Veterans Home in Silver Bay.  We bonded over our shared passions of the Minnesota Twins and to a greater degree the Minnesota Vikings.  I’ll remember Gordy for his gracious and tremendous appreciation of every visit that I made to him.  I’ll remember Gordy in these days for continual joy that he would have at his wife of 33 years, Julie’s presence.  Gordy worked as a welder.  His passion was being outdoors.  Gordy was not a man of many words; Gordy was a hard worker that sought to be decent to others.  I’ve had residents of the Marks Apartments point out to me on more than one occasion how Gordy was the most devoted caretaker the building there ever had. 

Evelyn Buetow: We remember Evelyn for her love of canoeing as she met her late husband Harry at YMCA Camp Widjiwagan near Ely.  They began lifelong canoe trips to BWCAW and Quetico Park.  We will also remember Evelyn’s love of music.  She sang in the Sychar choir and with the Singing Moms.  She worked for a time as Sychar’s organist, taught piano lessons, and played handbells. Evelyn loved attending the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra.  MPR was her constant companion in her final days. 

Ida Koehler: When I was planning Ida’s funeral with her daughters what they remarked and it was something that stood out from my own time with Ida both at her house on Edison and at Carefree Living was her sense of contentedness. Regardless of her circumstances, Ida wouldn’t complain. Ida certainly had her share of tough days being widowed as a young woman.  Ida didn’t complain even, nor did she speak ill of those around her.  Ida will be remembered for being accepting of others and her graciousness. Even when living down at Carefree Living, one could never remove the smile from Ida’s face. The only conflict when she moved into Carefree Living is that the lunch hour dared to interfere with her viewing of the Young and the Restless.

Kathryn Samuel: Kathryn grew up in Harrisburg, PA.  As a young woman she worked in the Pennsylvania state legislature.  Afterwards taking a job at the Harrisburg Airport where she would met Arthur Samuel.  A short time later, Art and Kathryn moved to Silver Bay when Art took a job for Reserve Mining.  They were among the first seventy-five families to settle into this community.  Art’s career would eventually see him become the plant’s manager of Research and Development.  Kathryn at first really struggled with the move according to her daughter Marcia, she cried for nearly two years privately out of her own loneliness. Kathryn though eventually adjusted to life up here.  Art and her were active in this congregation with Art serving on the Building Committee.  Kathryn studied to be an instructor for the Bethel Bible Series.  Kathryn stood out for her sense of fashion; she described it as an “LL Bean” habit.  Kathryn’s memory loss would in the last few years of her life see her move away to Michigan to be closer to her daughter Marcia who did special music when we remembered her this summer. Kathryn’s legacy remains strong in this community as her son David moved back here to become quite active in building up the Mariner Alumni Association.

Al Thorngren: Al’s life could not be separated from the North Shore from where he spent all of it.  Al grew up here as his father Frank worked as a commercial fisherman.  Al would begin his working life doing sounding down at the Harbor.  Al’s career would transition as a Taconite processing plant would be built in the town that came to be known as “Silver Bay.” Al participated in the plant’s construction.  Al would spend his working career like so many others of his town’s fellow residents working shifts for Reserve Mining until his retirement.   Upon Reserve closing, as a way of trying to keep the town’s economy afloat a Veterans Home was built in Silver Bay.  Al would become not only a frequent visitor for his wife Margaret and best friend Warren but also a resident.  Al above all loved the North Shore for not only its water but its woods, where Al managed to get “stuck” but would never get “lost.” 

Bob Hanson: Bob was a man of deep faith. Bob sang in our church choir.  Bob served on the building committee of this church for the sanctuary that we currently sit in. Bob served as a Luther League advisor where he did the seemingly thankless task of traveling with groups of teens across the country. Bob served as this congregation’s president nearly fifty years ago. Bob in his advancing age hoped that he would be able to move back to Silver Bay and become a resident down at the Veterans Home.  Bob looked forward to reuniting with friends from this community, yet our Gospel lesson declares even greater reunions await for those who believe. 

Gwen Ronhovde: Gwen was adored by those closest to her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, foster children, her neighbors (Ward the Barber and Vicki Danielson), and her friends especially those within the Knit and Sit group.  They will forever remember Gwen for living to serve as a caregiver to others.  Within the Lutheran tradition, we do not believe that there are any higher callings to serve than one’s family. 

Gary Olson:  Gary was a great lover of the Guitar and music in general. As we remember Gary on this day, I read what was wrote about him by his mother Esther: “Gary was a wonderful son! It was always so good when he came home to see me!” Esther loved cooking for Gary because it brought him joy! They would call each other daily both always worried about each other.  Gary worried about a 99-year-old mother living alone and Esther worrying about Gary through his various ailments.  Esther’s life will never be the same after Gary’s passing. In Gary’s passing, I saw first-hand what a wonderful calling that friendship is within this world.  From Gavin Leblanc’s constant checking in on Esther to Lorraine Nelson and Betty Josephson’s friendship.  The following serves as a reminder to be grateful for the unexpected Saints that make up our community. 

Shirley Moschet: We remember Shirley as a “matriarch” within our congregation. Shirley was active within SLCW for many years.   We’ll forever remember her gift of music on display within the Sychar choir.  Shirley lived for her family.  When her cancer began advancing, I remember her declaring her wish to be able to attend her Granddaughter Jamie’s wedding.  She was able to make it.  Then when her husband of sixty-seven years, Frank began approaching his 100th Birthday, Shirley perversed and made it.  Shirley was even able to see her beloved Minnesota Twins advance to the playoffs one final time before she died.  Her faith played a huge part of her existence.  She would occasionally get on me for when my Scroll articles would get off task of proclaiming it.  Shirley believed the great truth that we celebrate Today that we have hope even in the presence of death, because we have a Savior who conquered sin and the grave, so one day we may inherit not only Sainthood but the gift of Eternal Life. 

What does this all mean for our week ahead?

Tuesday you will be invited to go “vote” for a host of candidates.  None of the candidates will be without sin in their life; none of them will permanently remove sin from our nation. Thankfully, we have a savior whose promises are more certain that any politician we may know.  This savior promises that the tears our eyes have shed in the last year will soon be permanently removed from our eyes forever just like at the grave of Lazarus.  All this doesn’t mean that ordinary men and women can’t serve as Saints in the world around them as mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, grandpas, grandmas, neighbors, friends, and even politicians.   Remember the Cross assures that the world will soon be filled with all sorts of unlikely Saints.  Amen  


[1] Koff, Stephen. “Fact check: Joe Radinovich, running from the law?” Duluth News Tribune. 18.Sept.2018. Web. Oct.22.2018. 
[2] “Huey Long.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 21.Oct.2018. Web. Oct.22.2018. 
[3] “Long Family”. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 13.Oct.2018. Web. Oct.22.2018. 
[4] Latson, Jennifer. “The Strange Career of Assassinated Louisiana Politician Huey Long.” Time Magazine. 8. Sept.2015. Web. Oct.22.2018.
[5] Stier, Leon. “Believing in the Communion of Saints (a)” Email Meditations. 20.Sept.2015. Web. Oct.22.2018. 
[6] John 11:32-44. 
[7] The following comes from Wayne’s self-written obituary and the Sychar Remembers 60th Anniversary book edited by Joan Claire Graham in 2013.  

First Lesson: Jeremiah 31: 31-34
Responsive Reading: Psalm 46
Second Lesson: Romans 3: 19-28
​Gospel Lesson: John 8: 31-36

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
The date was January 14th, 2018.  The place was U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.  The Minnesota Vikings were playing the New Orleans Saints in the NFL Playoffs.  The Vikings were in their 57th year of existence with zero World Championships to their name in twenty-eight previous playoff appearances[1] (including four Super Bowl losses). You could describe the Vikings losses as either 0-4, 0-28, or 0-56 as their marks of futility.  Now the Vikings were playing with their best team in some years heading into the game at 13-3, only three wins from a Championship.  66,000 plus seemingly all purple faithful were in attendance. 

Nearly three of the four quarters were played, and the Vikings were seemingly in control leading 17-0.  The Saints though rallied: touchdown, Vikings interception, another Saints touchdown, and with 25 seconds left the Saints had seemingly taken the lead for good at 24-23.  The Vikings season seemed destined to be over. 

I started looking around our section.  Shoulders were slumped! People were saying here we go again.  I probably heard a cuss word or two.  Viking fans are often by nature cynics on account of what might seem like decades of losing.   People like my fellow Viking fans aren’t unique in our life[2]. 

*You might know a man or woman that has been disappointed so many times in love that they believe they’re just not destined for happy relationships.

*You might have a friend who gives you all sorts of reasons as to why you can never trust people.

*You might know people that shoot down every new idea they hear as unpractical or infeasible and doomed to failure[3]. 

*You might hear all the reasons why the church’s only future is an inevitable decline into death.

Now here’s the thing about cynics.  They’re generally not wrong.  They are continually able to cite all sorts of good examples from the past about why things seem destined to remain the way they are. 

Now I want to tell you the story of one of history’s greatest cynics.  Martin Luther was born in Eiselben, Germany in 1483.  He was the son of Hans and Margarethe Luther. Hans Luther had a dream of young Martin becoming a lawyer. Martin eventually enrolls in law school at the age of 22, after working for years to achieve this goal.  Martin couldn’t help be influenced by years of study in its pursuit.  Luther’s big problem with studying the law was the uncertainty over the true meaning of human nature.

To illustrate what I mean, let me tell another story. Carey Nieuwhof was a young law student working in Canada’s largest city of Toronto[4].  He dreamed of practicing constitutional law before Canada’s Supreme Court. He was newly married and had recently become a Dad. Nieuwhof had a good work ethic, a good intellect, and seemed destined to smash through barriers within the legal profession quickly.  He quickly noticed something about his fellow lawyers, none of them were happy.

 One day a colleague who was in his mid-30’s wildly successful both financially and professionally came in waving a lottery ticket, proclaiming if he won that no one would ever see him again.  Nieuwhof soon proclaimed to his colleagues: “If you can find a happy lawyer in this city, I’ll pay you a million dollars.” They would all go silent. 

Nieuwhof would soon leave the legal profession to enter the ministry; he realized what Luther had that the law represents despair because the judgments it makes confront all sorts of here and now realities.  I say this as someone whose sister is an attorney, who describes sitting in her parking lot during her lunch hour in similar despair because of the hardships within her client’s lives.  The law showcases how tough a place the world can be seemingly without escape.

So cynicism about the future sets in. Luther came to believe that no matter how much learning he could do, he could not understand God’s plan for his life

This struggle would forever change his life on the night of July 2nd, 1505[5].  Luther was traveling from the family home back to the University.  A great thunderstorm came out of the sky.  Luther was able to see lightening nearly strike him.  Luther proceeded to make a desperate plea to God: “Help! Saint Anna, I will become a monk.”

So Luther became a monk and he became as good a monk as one could be.  He would spend hours in prayer, he would fast to build discipline, he would take religious pilgrimages to holy shrines, and he would try to confess every sin both big and small that he committed.  The better that Luther became as a Monk-like Carey Nieuwhof became as a lawyer, the more that they could only see cynicism and despair.  God for Luther couldn’t be a God of love if Luther kept feeling terrible about himself day after day despite his best efforts.

Luther’s mentor seeking a solution suggested that he become a Bible professor.  Luther went all out studying the Psalms, Hebrews, Galatians and the Book of Romans.  Luther kept continually trying to make sense of the world around him through his study, to remove his negative nature from his life once and for all. 

Martin Luther one night when studying in his tower comes across Romans 1:17: “For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Luther’s study of this verse was the start of the Lutheran Reformation.  Luther came to realize that he was indeed truly a sinner. The following was not his ten-second life-changing revelation though as he already believed this.   More importantly, Luther came to believe that the only thing that he needed to bring to his salvation was his sin in need of saving.  The Cross became his source of hope as he was nearly overwhelmed by his cynicism.

Luther, when he came across these words, had every intention of remaining within the Universal Catholic Church.  Eventually, though the Church politics of the day would cast Luther out for what he believes, the Lutheran Church would soon be born which we celebrate[6].

A similar story takes place within our Gospel lesson from John 8.  Jesus is speaking to a group of Jewish believers who had been cast out of the synagogue for disagreeing with the religious authorities of their day over whom exactly should they follow[7].   They were looking for new life! They like Luther were looking to turn from cynicism to hope!

Jesus spoke of their present condition as one of slavery: “whoever commits sin is a slave to sin[8].”

Freedom was soon to come to their lives so that they will become free indeed.  For a short time after this encounter, Good Friday would take place. 

The Good Friday story in the words of writer Michael Gerson serves as an invitation to cynicism[9].  The government comes off as irresponsible debating who has the authority to put Jesus to death until Pontius Pilate finally throws his hands up.  Religion doesn’t come off in the best light as; the religious authorities are quick to turn to judgment.  The crowd in Jerusalem comes off no different than a mob cheering as thorns are jammed into Jesus’ forehead.  Even Jesus’ closest of friends in the Disciples fall asleep when he asks them to keep watch.  Even God seemed to fail just as he had in Luther’s life when Jesus declared: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me[10].” Jesus is seemingly forced to go to his grave alone[11].

As Good Friday comes to a close, it seemed every possible comfort from friendship to faith had been declared nonsense in the face of death.  The cynics had seemingly been proven right.  Human hope seemed to be extinguished with nothing that could be done in response.

Everything and I mean everything would soon change.   Two days later, word had come that the tomb was now empty! The first ten seconds, people had with their Risen Savior had indeed changed everything. Life had come out of death.  The outcome was unbelievable: The power of Resurrection has outlasted the world’s greatest empire which sentenced Jesus to death[12].  The previous cowardly friends would soon become bold missionaries even unto the point of their death[13].  The same man who had been mocked by a mob was now giving a word of forgiveness to every corner of the globe.  Martin Luther would come to believe that God was on his side, even in the darkest nights of his life.   Hope would eventually win out over cynicism.   

Ten seconds were left between the Saints and Vikings.  Mathematical models gave the Saints a 96% percent chance to win the game[14].  As I’m sitting in the stands on that evening, for some strange reason I wasn’t all that nervous, I couldn’t explain why.  I had seen the Vikings lose all sorts of big games throughout my life, often in the most creative of ways.

I knew that one play could change everything (even if the odds were seemingly small). 

Ten seconds were left when Vikings Quarterback Case Keenum drops back throwing the ball to the sideline on the same end but opposite side of the field from where Dad and I were sitting.  The pass was high; Vikings receiver Stefon Diggs leaps as high in the air as he can to try to bring it down, one Saints defender tries to tackle low missing Diggs and hitting his own guy instead.  Diggs hauls the pass in with no defenders in position to tackle him.  He runs to the end zone, scoring a touchdown untouched as the clock strikes zero. Pandemonium ensues!  People whose shoulders were slumped moments earlier were now complete hugging strangers.

 Vikings win! The play will forever be known as the “Minneapolis Miracle.”  Even though the Vikings would lose the next week to Philadelphia, the narrative had changed, the Vikings were not cursed.  The ten-second play had declared cynicism to be dead in the presence of all sorts of Vikings fan.  The past does not necessarily predict the future.  The great truth about cynicism is that it is ultimately a failure of patience. 

A few weeks ago, I was at a Vikings game when I saw a t-shirt which declared: “Live each day like it’s 23-24 with ten seconds left.”

While the shirt was about a football game, it spoke to the great truth of Martin Luther’s Reformation: no matter the past experiences and present circumstances of your life, things will not remain the way that they currently are.  Good Friday reminds us of this.  Martin Luther believed with every fiber of his being throughout his ministry in the words that Jesus declares within our Gospel lesson “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free[15].”   Amen
 
                 
[1] “Minnesota Vikings.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 20. Oct.2018. Web. Oct.21.2018. 
[2] Nieuwhof, Carey. Didn’t See It Coming. 2018. Waterbrook Mulnomah Publishing. Colorado Springs. Page 11. 
[3] Nieuwhof, Carey. Didn’t See It Coming.Page 11.
[4] Nieuwhof, Carey. Didn’t See It Coming. Pages 9-10.
[5] “Martin Luther.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 16.Oct.2018. Web. Oct.21.2018. 
[6] Luther was formally excommunicated from the Catholic Church on January 3, 1521 when Pope Leo X issued the Exsurge Domine (Papal Bull.)
[7] Hogan, Lucy Lind. “Commentary on John 8:31-36.” Working Preacher. Luther Seminary. 28.Oct.2018. Web. Oct.21.2018. 
[8] John 8:34. 
[9] Gerson, Michael. “What Good Friday teaches us about cynicism.” Washingston Post. 13. Apr.2017. Web. Oct.21.2018. 
[10] Matthew 27:46. 
[11] Gerson, Michael. “What Good Friday teaches us about cynicism.” Washingston Post.
[12] Gerson, Michael. “What Good Friday teaches us about cynicism.” Washingston Post.
[13] Gerson, Michael. “What Good Friday teaches us about cynicism.” Washingston Post.
[14] “Minneapolis Miracle.” .” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 21.Oct.2018. Web. Oct.21.2018. 
[15] Gerson, Michael. “What Good Friday teaches us about cynicism.” Washingston Post.

First Lesson: Job 38: 1-7, (34-41)
Responsive Reading: Psalm 91: 9-16
Second Lesson: Hebrews 5: 1-10
​Gospel Lesson: Mark 10: 35-45

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
“Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!”-Psalm 46:10
When I was in college, I had a roommate named Gabe.  Gabe came from Oregon to Concordia.  Gabe had an interesting approach to time management.  I remember coming back to our apartment when I was confused by Gabe’s presence as I thought he had class at that time.  Gabe said he was on his way already fifteen minutes late, as he was casually scrolling his laptop.  To which Gabe proclaimed “He would leave, upon changing his Fantasy Baseball roster.” 
Here’s what made Gabe such a fascinating student, even if his time management wasn’t the best.  Gabe was really smart.  Gabe’s currently a college professor.  Now, most people who would show up an hour late to a three-hour class would try to sneak into the back of the room unnoticed.  Gabe would proceed to raise a hand and proceed to lecture the class on everything that Gabe had missed.  Here’s the thing Gabe is not unique. 
Students like Gabe thinking they’re possibly smarter than their teacher goes all the way back to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.  We often see the world through our own experiences and think we know better than God how exactly it should all work.
Teresa was born in Macedonia in 1910[1].  She considered her true birthday to be the day of her baptism rather than the day of her birth.  By the age of 12, she was fascinated by missionaries who served in the faraway nation of India.  She would spend her high school years praying at religious shrines and traveling on religious pilgrimages.  Teresa became a nun at age 21 and spent many years teaching at a religious school[2].  At the age of 37, she received a call within the call where she desired to leave her convent and work among India’s destitute and dying[3].  Teresa was a model Christian till to this point in her life. 
Teresa’s new calling though nearly broke her faith.  Within a few years of her new calling, she wrote letters to her religious superiors describing her feelings of “doubt, loneliness, and abandonmen[4]t.”  She described God as “absent, heaven empty, and bitterest of all, her own suffering seemed to count for nothing[5].”  She would spend every day for the next fifty years of her life struggling with God’s existence.  How should we make sense of Teresa’s struggles with her faith, we’ll get back to her story in just a little bit.
Let me tell you the story of a man whose story mirrors Teresa’s in many ways.  His name was Job.  The scriptures describe Job as one of the most devout men around who prayed diligently. Job was also a recipient of God’s tremendous blessing.  He had seven sons and three daughters, all sorts of sheep, cattle, and oxen[6].
Well one day, God and Satan were having a debate.  Satan was looking for someone to test.  Satan was looking for a model of faith.  God suggested Job.  God gives Satan permission to do what he must to try to break Job’s faith[7].
Pretty soon, Job’s world begins to fall apart.  Job loses everything in his home, his possessions, and even his children.  Job kept his faith in spite of all this.  
“And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”-Job 1:21
It was when Job gets stricken with a horrible skin disease that brought him painful boils that he fell into a deep depression and began to question God’s plan for his life[8]. 
The majority of the book of Job consists of a long discussion between Job and his friends trying to make sense of God’s ways[9][10].  His friends tried all sorts of tactics in both defending God and trying to calm Job down in his anger towards God. 
Finally, in Chapter 38, God breaks his silence.  Job probably wasn’t going to be satisfied with God’s answers. 
“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
    Tell me, if you understand.”-Job 38:4
God’s answer to Job is that God and Job’s knowledge base on how the world works are not comparable.  Job didn’t decide upon the size of the universe, nor which direction water would flow.  Job did not create the sky or the life that wanders the earth[11], God’s answer to Job is our knowledge bases are so different; you are in no position to question my methods.  
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.”-Isaiah 55:8.
Job’s response to God’s answer was remarkable.  Job didn’t lose faith.  Job didn’t lose hope.  Job’s eventual conclusion was that he would be still in God’s presence:[12] “
Within Today’s lesson, Job declares: “Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know[13].” As Job previously declared: “I lay my hand on my mouth[14].”
Joni Eareckson was born in Baltimore in 1949[15].  Joni was a typical child.  She enjoyed riding horses, hiking, tennis, and swimming.  A few months before her eighteenth birthday, her life would forever change.  Joni dove into the nearby Chesapeake Bay.  She misjudged the shallowness of the water.  She struck her head, fractured her vertebrae, and would become a quadriplegic unable to move her body from the neck down.
Joni’s accident was such that she needed to spend two years of her life in extensive physical therapy.  She experienced the full range of expected emotions during these two years: anger, depression, suicidal thoughts, and religious doubts[16].  She had to learn to write with her teeth. 
Joni like Job nearly had her faith destroyed.  One night though she was visiting with a friend of hers who pointed out to her the following: “Joni, Jesus knows how you feel. He was paralyzed. He couldn’t move or change position on the cross. He was paralyzed by the nails[17].”
The realization was profoundly comforting. Joni came to realize that God’s purposes could be at work within her life, in ways that she can’t even imagine. 
Joni now known as Joni Eareckson Tada has since become one of the most well-known and widely admired Christian authors in the country.  Joni still prays for her own healing.  Joni realizes that her healing will take place on God’s timeline rather than her own, yet God has been with her every day since her accident[18]. 
We will have people in our lives like Teresa, Job, or Joni.  We might even be someone who wonders “Why does God allow such suffering around me?”  I don’t want to begin to try to answer this question.  I can’t always make sense of all of God’s ways in my own life.  I know first-hand how frustrating this can be.  What I will say is that I believe in hope beyond what I can see Today[19].  Whenever we despair, we need to look in the direction of the Cross of Christ to remember this. 
Peter earlier in the Gospels was struggling with the question of whether to remain one Jesus’ followers after all sorts of other disciples abandoned him in droves[20].  Peter realized something that was recognized by Job before him[21]: “Where else should we go? You have the words of eternal life[22].”
Earlier, I told you the story of Teresa who spent the last half-century of her life in the deep struggle of her faith because of the poverty and pain she witnessed within India.  Teresa is better known as Mother Teresa of Calcutta. 
Mother Teresa was like Job; she wasn’t some pie in the sky, perfect Christian who never struggled or doubted[23].  Mother Teresa was in many ways, no different than many of us.  She lived with the poorest of the poor, ate a meager diet, and wiped the types of sores on people’s bodies not dissimilar to the sores that caused Job to curse God’s name[24].  She spent most of her life surrounded by death and suffering without any break[25].  She didn’t do this because she was crazy; rather she did this because she managed to see God’s presence where others could merely see Satan’s curses.
Mother Teresa came to believe that even as she felt abandoned by God, God did not abandon her.  On the cross, when God seemed to be most absent, he was most-present.  Mother Teresa came to believe that it was her suffering that would indeed point the way to her eventual salvation.  She looked every way around her and saw nothing but trials for her faith.  Whenever Mother Teresa would encounter visitors and community members, she encouraged them to “keep smiling[26].”
Like Job, she believed that no matter how much she struggled with her faith, God-like in the story of Job or Joni Eareckson would eventually restore great “joy” to her life.  “Be still, and know that I am God[27].”  Cling to the Cross of Christ no matters the current storms of your life. We remember as we look toward the cross on this day that God’s sense of timing for how the universe all works together is better than our own. The teacher is indeed most often wiser than the student.    Amen


[1] “Mother Teresa.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 7.Sept.2018. Web. Sept.18.2018. 

[2] Mother Teresa.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation
[3] Hoezee, Scott. “Job 23.” Center for Excellence in Preaching. Calvin Seminary. Grand Rapids, MI. 5.Oct.2015. Web. Sept.18.2018 taken from May 2003 edition of First Things “The Dark Night of Mother Teresa.” Written by Carol Zaleski.
[4] Hoezee, Scott. “Job 23.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[5] Hoezee, Scott. “Job 23.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[6] Job 1:1-3
[7] Job 1:6-12
[8] Job 2:7-3:1.
[9] Job 3-37
[10] Stier, Leon. “Be Still (B).” Email Mediatations. 6.Sept.2017. Web. Sept.18.2018. 
[11] Molin, Steve. “Intelligent Design, Indeed.” Sermon Writer. 2006. Web. Sept.18.2018. 
[12] Stier, Leon. “Be Still (B).” Email Meditations.
[13] Job 42:3. 
[14] Job 40:4.
[15] “Joni Eareckson Tada.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 16.Sept.2018. Web. Sept.18.2018. 
[16] “Joni Eareckson Tada.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation
[17] “Joni Erikson Tada.” Stories for Preaching taken from Joni and friends’ website, Joni’s books. Web. Sept.18.2018
[18] Joni Erikson Tada.” Stories for Preaching.
[19] Stier, Leon. “Be Still ©. Email Meditations. 7.Sept.2017. Web. Sept.18.2018. 
[20] John 6:66.
[21] Stier, Leon. “Be Still ©. Email Meditations.
[22] John 6:68.
[23] Hoezee, Scott. “Job 23.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[24] Hoezee, Scott. “Job 23.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[25] Hoezee, Scott. “Job 23.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[26] Hoezee, Scott. “Job 23.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[27] Psalm 46:10. 

First Lesson: Job 1:1, 2:1-10
Responsive Reading: Psalm 26
Second Lesson: Hebrews 1: 1-4, 2: 5-12
​Gospel Lesson: Mark 10: 2-16

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
“Love is patient; love is kind.  It does not envy; it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others; it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”-1st Corinthians 13:4-7. 

Let me begin this morning with an old tale[1].  Nasruddin and his friend were having tea one afternoon where the conversation turned to Nasruddin’s love life.

“How come you never got married, Nasruddin?” said his friend.

Nasruddin pondered the question for a moment before sighing. Nasruddin describes spending his youth in pursuit of finding the perfect woman.  He describes journeying all over in this pursuit, he began in Cairo where he met a woman who was beautiful and intelligent, with dark olive eyes, yet deep down her soul was unkind. 

Finally, Nasruddin journeyed to Baghdad where he met a woman whose possessed a kind and generous spirit, yet they did not possess any common interests together.

One woman after another, Nasruddin described meeting.  In the end, there would always be something missing.  Then one day, Nasruddin’s finally believed that he found love, he had finally found a woman that met all his criteria: beautiful, intelligent, kind, and all sorts of common interests[2]. 

“Well, “What happened?  Why didn’t you marry her?”-said the friend[3].

Nasruddin started shaking his head.  “Well, It’s a sad thing.  It seems she was looking for the perfect man[4].”

This story leads us to our Gospel lesson for Today from Mark 10[5]. 

Our lesson has the Pharisees coming up to Jesus asking: “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?

Now here’s a little background into our passage, so you can best understand Jesus and the Pharisees’ discussion.  Divorce was a hot-button issue within Jesus’ day among the rabbis.  It was debated in multiple camps[6].  One group taught that divorce could only be permissible if a man caught his wife in adultery, whereas another group made the argument that divorce could take place for pretty much any reason including not liking their spouse’s cooking[7].  All the arguments about divorce within Jesus’ day were about what degree a man could use divorce to exert control over a woman.

So to better understand Jesus’ position on divorce consider where it is within Mark’s Gospel.  It comes after Jesus’ instructions are for the care of the church regarding young children[8].  Jesus’ comments have to do with divorce’s ramifications in his day being that a woman (who didn’t work outside the home) would be abandoned and destitute if their husbands casually deserted them. 

Jesus’ response to the Pharisees  is “Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.[9]”  Jesus then later doubles down by declaring: Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery[10].”

Now, these words jump out in the New Testament because at first glance without any background they seem to absent of any grace or understanding of the situation.

Here’s the thing, we’re dealing with the same Jesus here who defended a woman getting stoned to death for committing adultery, the same Jesus who gave grace to the woman he met at Sychar who had been divorced a seemingly unbelievable five times and was now living with another guy, and the same Jesus who welcomes prostitutes, tax collectors, and other assorted sinners into his presence[11].

Now Jesus’ point in this passage is not to draw the line at a woman living in an abusive relationship who dares thinking of leaving her husband[12]. 

Instead, to best understand this passage, you need to understand the nature of Jesus’ conversation.  Jesus is not being asked about “divorce” by a woman who is clearly hurting because of physical or emotional betrayal[13].  Jesus is not being asked about divorce by a person in need of a word of grace. Jesus is being asked about divorce by the Pharisees. 

Jesus was being asked by people trying to expose him as a hypocrite and fraud to anyone who would listen, by asking about divorce.   Jesus instead flips the question back by referring to the created order of the Genesis story[14]. 

“But at the beginning of creation, God ‘made them male and female. ‘For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh[15].”

Jesus’ statement has to do with the importance of marriage. We live in a society where individual satisfaction can often be the greatest of pursuits, until the very moment when people find it no longer convenient[16].

Britney Spears is a pop music singer born in Louisiana in 1981.  Spears has sold over 100 million records worldwide[17].  In 2004, she was visiting Las Vegas with a hometown friend, when on a whim they decided to get married[18].  They got married at 5:30 A.M. in a Vegas wedding chapel, only for Spears to awaken regretting what she had done.

By Monday morning a petition for annulment was filed declaring: “Before entering into the marriage the plaintiff and defendant did not know each other’s likes and dislikes, each other’s desires to have or not have children, and each other’s desires as to state of residency. Upon learning of each other’s desires, they are so incompatible that there was a want of understanding of each other’s actions in entering into this marriage[19].”

Britney Spears’ marriage to Jason Allen Alexander ended up lasting officially 55 hours.   This story highlights a world that is often too casual about the extent of marriage, how its brokenness can easily be shrugged off. 

Jesus is letting the Pharisees know that he didn’t take such a casual attitude to marriage as they implied.  Jesus is instead making the point whenever marriage ends is tragic for whatever reason. 

Pete Rose. Sr. was possibly the worst husband a woman could have.  Pete Sr. repeatedly chased other women while married and said all sorts of nasty put downs to his wife besides.  Pete’s son Pete Jr. became a decent Baseball player in his own right.  He had a shot at the big leagues.  His parents had been divorced for years when he said: “I would trade whatever future I have in big league baseball to see my parents get back together.”

These were the wishes of an adult child long moved out of the family home.  It speaks to divorce’s brokenness of many levels[20].

Jesus’ words on divorce are tough because they speak to pain caused by broken human relationships both those directly involved and the innocent bystanders.  So Jesus within this passage is seeking to address the attitude with which people in his day would approach divorce, especially as it negatively affected both woman and their children.  We must understand these words within the larger context of scripture which continually deals with God’s forgiveness and the new beginnings that such forgiveness brings[21]. 

God does not bless or celebrate divorce.  God weeps along those who experience it!

For despite the best intentions that people have when they make wedding vows; life happens.  People mess up; our loved ones disappoint us, people can’t control their temper, they develop addictions, they drift apart.  We sin with our minds, our tongues, and other parts of our body[22]. 

Jesus’ great point on Divorce takes place when he encounters the woman caught in adultery in John 8. “I do not condemn you…Go and sin no more.[23]”  Jesus is saying no matter how broken your past relationships have been; I can forgive you, so that you may have new life both personally and spiritually going forward. 

The scriptures continually grant forgiveness to those from the most broken of relationships.  David committed adultery with Bathsheba.  David heard a word of harsh judgment from Nathan then suffered his sin’s consequences.  David though was granted a new beginning.  David and Bathsheba got married and their son Solomon became King over Israel[24].  The story reminds us that while they are inevitable breaking points within a marriage, there are no breaking points to the Love of God.  God will not give up on us even when we are at our most broken.  What our Gospel message reminds us of is the following.  No matter how broken your past relationships have been, do not feel shame, do not feel guilt, leave your burdens behind.  In Christ, a message of hope and resurrection has been given unto you many times over. 

Let me close with one final story for Today to illustrate exactly what these means.  This illustration might work within a marriage, but it is more representative of the Love of God.  How in the words that I began with from 1st Corinthians that our love may be imperfect, but God’s love is perfect.  

Once upon a time, there was a couple that had been married sixty years[25].  They talked about everything.  They kept no secrets from each other.  The wife only had one request for her husband, never look into the shoe box on top of the bedroom closest.  The husband followed this advice for every year of the marriage.  Finally, the wife grew very ill.  It became clear that her days were numbered.  In needing to settle their affairs, she instructed her husband to bring down the shoe box.  He opened the box saw two things: two croqueted dollies and a huge stack of money it must have been thousands of dollars.

The wife began to explain. “When we were to be married," she said, "my grandmother told me the secret of marriage was never to argue.  She told me that if I ever got angry with you, I should just keep quiet and crochet a doily[26].”

The husband is so moved that tears come to his eyes hearing that the wife had only been mad at him twice in sixty years of marriage.  He’s beaming with happiness as he says “Honey that explains the doilies, but what about all of this money? Where did it come from[27]?"

"Oh," she said, "That’s the money I made from selling the doilies[28]." 

Relationships are hard and might inevitability break with this lifetime, yet the love of God for us will ultimately never break
. 
Amen
 


[1] Stier, Leon. “She’s Perfect, But…” Email Meditations. 29.May.2017. Web. Aug.28.2018.  Taken from  Rick Fields in Chop Wood, Carry Water, page 35.
[2] Stier, Leon. “She’s Perfect, But…” Email Meditations.
[3] Stier, Leon. “She’s Perfect, But…” Email Meditations.
[4] Stier, Leon. “She’s Perfect, But…” Email Meditations.
[5] Mark 10:2-16
[6] Juel, Donald.H. “Divorce and Forgiveness: The Way of the Cross- Markan Texts for Late Pentecost.” Word and World. Volume XIV. Number 3. Summer 1994. Web. Aug.27.2018
[7] Juel, Donald.H. “Divorce and Forgiveness: The Way of the Cross- Markan Texts for Late Pentecost.” Word and World.
[8] Mark 9:38-50.
[9] Mark 10:9
[10] Mark 10:11-12
[11] Hoezee, Scott. “Mark 10:2-16.” Center for Excellence in Preaching. 28.Sept.2015. Web. Aug.26.2018
[12] Hoezee, Scott. “Mark 10:2-16.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[13] Hoezee, Scott. “Mark 10:2-16.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[14] Hoezee, Scott. “Mark 10:2-16.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[15] Mark 10:6-8.
[16] Hoezee, Scott. “Mark 10:2-16.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[17] Spears, Britney. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 24.Aug.2018. Web. Aug.26.2018. 
[18] Today Show. “Judge dissolves Britney's 'joke' wedding.”NBC 4.Jan.2004. Web. Aug.26.2018.
[19] Today Show. “Judge dissolves Britney's 'joke' wedding.”NBC
[20] Sermon Illustrartions. “Divorce” Web. Aug.26.2018. Taken from Jerry Jenkins, Hedges, Wolgemuth & Hyatt, 1989, p. 128.
[21] Stier, Leon. “Divorce and Remarriage (part two of two).” Email Mediations. 27.Mar.2014. Web. Aug.26.2018. 
[22] Stier, Leon. “Divorce and Remarriage (part two of two).” Email Mediations.
[23] John 8:11.
[24] Stier, Leon. “Divorce and Remarriage (part two of two).” Email Mediations.
[25] Zingale, Tim. “Marriage.” Sermon Central. 2.Oct.2006. Web. Aug.26.2018. 
[26] Zingale, Tim. “Marriage.” Sermon Central.
[27] Zingale, Tim. “Marriage.” Sermon Central.
[28] Zingale, Tim. “Marriage.” Sermon Central.

First Lesson: Esther 7: 1-6, 9-10; 9: 20-22
Responsive Reading: Psalm 124
Second Lesson: James 5: 13-20
Gospel Lesson: Mark 9: 38-50

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
“Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example[1].”-Mark Twain

The year was 1988.  I was eight years old; third grade would be starting in one month.  My Dad and a buddy had recently built a treehouse that stood several feet off the ground.  Dad being responsible had attached a ladder for safe travel up and down.  The treehouse soon became a hang out for kids from my neighborhood (Danny, Tommy, Ben, Ira, and I).  We were all about to start the third grade.  Pretty soon though a few of my friends noticed something about the ladder, it wasn’t very exciting to climb down.  You don’t want to be goody-two-shoes heading into third grade.  So they began jumping down from the treehouse.  Whereas I listened intently to my parents instructions, to always take the ladder.  This went on seemingly the whole summer.  Friends would jump down, and I alone would take the ladder.  So eventually my friends start getting on my case about this.  I keep taking the ladder, until one day.  One day I was going to jump, just like they jumped.  I had seen them jump dozens of times safely without incident.  So I leapt in the air to jump down from the treehouse.  The rest of the night was spent in the emergency room at the Chisago Lakes medical center with Dr. Overgaard.  My leg was broken.  I would spend my first three months of third grade in either a cast transported by crutches or a walking bone.  My friend's example had led me astray and I had paid the consequences for it. 

In Today’s Gospel lesson, Jesus declares: “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea[2].”
These words speak to the power of one’s good example.  Ed Markquart describes reading an article about a pastor and protestant congregation in Ireland[3].  Ireland has been marked with generations of strife between Protestants and Catholics.  So the Pastor will preach to the parents all the reasons for the strife.  The parents will then go home and instruct the children why they are to oppose Roman Catholics.  The children, in turn, will throw bricks throw Catholic homes[4].  So what these examples teach is that hatred, violence, and prejudice for generations are justified if one has a good excuse.  Perhaps Jesus’ words then make a bit more sense: “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea[5].”

The third example, last winter the Silver Bay Girls Basketball team was playing in McGregor.  It was a tight back and forth game.  McGregor had some fans who every time, Silver Bay would dribble up and down the court would yell at our small, short guards that they were committing some violation that should lead to a turnover.  I could tell by the second half that the girls were getting bothered by this harassing.

So I was going to make a point.  Next time, McGregor dribbles the ball up the court, I start shouting “carry” over and over.  A ‘carry’ is a violation that would lead to a turnover in Basketball, even though everyone in the gym knew McGregor was doing no such thing.  A couple of our high school boys watching chimed in the same.

The offending McGregor fans were then quiet for the rest of the game.  Luke Thun was the Silver Bay assistant coach that night; he turns around, shouts at me then gives the knock it off symbol.  After the game, Luke comes up to me to point out “No matter how bad other fans might be, that doesn’t mean we want to set a bad example.”

For even in our own lives, Jesus’ words often apply to those around us “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.”

Today’s Gospel lesson comes to us from Mark 9[6].  It contains some of the most dramatic language of Jesus within all the Christian gospels.

“If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell.”

Jesus’ words are a reminder that we will all face temptations in this life[7].  These temptations will hit us in different ways from different angles.  For some of us, we will struggle with alcohol more than others; others might be a temptation towards adultery, others might be inclined to be loose with the tongue through destructive language.

When we give in to temptation it doesn’t merely affect us; it affects those around us, especially the littlest ones among us.  As Ed Markquart points out, little ones doesn’t merely refer to young children it refers to new Christians, the poor and vulnerable of society, even seasoned believers who fall short of what God is calling them to do[8].

Jesus to illustrate the importance of the example, we set for others uses the analogy of a millstone.  Millstones in Jesus day were huge being eight feet in diameter and three feet thick.  They would be hauled by oxen to grind grain[9].  They would weigh well over a ton[10].

Jesus says it would be better to drop with a millstone into the deepest, the middle part of the ocean that causes one of God’s little ones to sin.

The themes of our lesson are carried on a generation later by the Apostle Paul who declares in Romans: “Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. “- Romans 14:13. 

Jesus’ words serve as a powerful example of the judgment that awaits those who carelessly interact with not only the church, but the world around us.

Children learn the faith from their parents, grandparents, friends, and neighbors.  If we deny this responsibility, then we cannot cry out when they walk away from the church.

Examples are often more powerful than we think.  Monterrey, California for many years was a paradise for Pelicans from far and wide[11].  Monterrey had a large commercial fishing base.  So when fish were being cleaned, the residue organ meats would be tossed aside, and the Pelicans would feast.  Eventually, changes to the fishing industry started seeing these pieces be utilized.  The Pelicans feast had come to an end.  The Pelicans because of years of habit would not fish for themselves.  The Pelicans began to starve and die.

Monterrey though eventually thought of a genius solution, they started imported Pelicans from different parts of the country, Pelicans that were used to fishing on their own.  Placing these Pelicans among their starving brethren soon changed everything.  The previously hungry Pelicans came to discover once again, Monterrey as a paradise for them.  All that was needed in the Pelicans case was a good example.  Are humans really any different?

Let me close with one final story, in 1853 Hudson Taylor was a 21-year-old missionary moving to China where few missionaries dared to go[12].  Taylor was one of the first missionaries to venture away from the big cities with their large British populations and journey into China’s interior.

Taylor translated the Bible into Chinese, recruited more missionaries, and founded a  missionary organization within China.  Taylor believed his great calling in life was to bring the Gospel to those in China’s most remote areas who had not heard the Gospel.  Hudson Taylor died in 1905[13].

In 1949, after the Chinese Civil War, the communist People’s Republic of China was born.  Government leaders were seeking to discredit Christianity by going after its greatest missionary within the nation of China.  An author was hired to do a hit piece on Hudson Taylor to paint him and all Christians in a bad light[14].  The author researched and researched.  Eventually, though something stood out about Hudson Taylor that was his example to the little ones around him.  The author eventually decides he cannot do a hit piece on such a man.  To refuse assignment from the Communist government could result in one’s death, yet this didn’t matter.  The author would soon renounce his previous Atheism and become a Christian because of Hudson Taylor’s life a few generations before.

“For whoever is not against us is for us.”- Mark 9:40

We are never perfect examples within this world.  Even Hudson Taylor was in need of God’s grace and forgiveness.  What Jesus’ words remind us of though is the power of our example.  How we will all face grave potentially temptations in this life, yet our example has the power to both give life and death to those around us.  This passage serves as a reminder that our greatest calling as Christian people is not to re-earn the salvation that was previously won for us upon the cross.  Our greatest calling instead is the care of our family and neighbors alike[15].  There is no more powerful form of care than our example.  You might even prevent a broken leg or two because of it.  Amen


[1] Found on Sermon Illustrations on August 22nd, 2018 under example.
[2] Mark 9:42. 
[3] Markquart, Ed. “Millstones.” Sermons from Seattle. Pentecost 17B. Mark 9:42-50, Luke 7:1-4, Matthew 18:6-10. Web. August.22nd.2018. 
[4] Markquart, Ed. “Millstones.” Sermons from Seattle
[5] Mark 9;42
[6] Mark 9:38-50.
[7] Markquart, Ed. “Millstones.” Sermons from Seattle.
[8] Markquart, Ed. “Millstones.” Sermons from Seattle.
[9] Markquart, Ed. “Millstones.” Sermons from Seattle.
[10]
[11] Found on Sermon Illustrations on August 22nd, 2018 under example.
[12] “Hudson Taylor and Missions to China”. Christianity Today. Found on Christian History. No.52 published in 1996.  Web. August.22.2018. 
[13] Hudson Taylor and Missions to China”. Christianity Today. Found on Christian History. No.52 published in 1996.  Web. August.22.2018. 
[14] Found on Sermon Illustrations on August 22nd, 2018 under example
[15] Juel, Donald. H. “Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Mark 9:38-50 (Causing One of These
Little Ones to Stumble.” Word and World. Volume XIV, Number 3. Summer 1994.