“I am not worthy” (Luke 7:1-10)

Luke 7:1-10

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Pastor Tom Johnson, May 29, 2016

The New Testament is often critical toward religious leaders of Jesus’ time. That is why I find it is so refreshing to hear about the elders of the synagogue in this community. The centurion is a gentile—of non-Jewish ancestry. He is not only a foreigner and outsider; he is part of the military occupation of Israel. I would love to know the story of how this soldier went into this foreign country and how he fell in love with her people and the Lord of all nations—the God of Israel. And why not be reminded this Memorial Day weekend of the many soldiers who have gone to distant lands to fight a war to then return years later as a missionary or simply to do good for they people they have grown to identify with and love? I grew up with veterans of World War II who came back with German and Japanese wives. I heard about a veteran last week who still goes back to Vietnam to help communities remove land mines. And, of course, there are many stories of soldiers who grew to love the people of Iraq and Afghanistan.

The elders serve as mediators between the centurion and Jesus. “He is worthy,” they say, “because he helped build the synagogue.” I’m sure there would be a lot of gratitude here at our place of worship if someone helped us pay for a new roof—outsider or not. “He is worthy for you, Jesus, to do some good toward him because he has done so much good toward God’s people.” They ask Jesus to heal the centurion’s slave—a servant that is also well loved by the centurion.

As Jesus heads toward the centurion’s home, the centurion himself says that it is unnecessary. He gives two reasons why Jesus should not continue on to his home. First of all, the centurion says he is not worthy—he is not worthy to have someone so esteemed like Jesus enter his home. Maybe it is because he fears that he cannot be hospitable enough. Or maybe he doesn’t believe he deserves such an honor. Or perhaps he has shame and guilt about who he is and what he has done as part of a foreign occupying force. Whatever it is, he says he is unworthy. It is that feeling that we are not good enough for the goodness of God or have done enough to earn the blessing. Perhaps we don’t feel we rank high enough in the social order or that our higher status in life should not lead to even more privilege. Or perhaps it is the truth that none of us meets God’s standards. “We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). “All of us like like sheep have gone astray; each of us has turned to his own way” (Isa 53:6).

We know that we have failed to do what the law requires. But there is so much to commend to the people of our passage today. The elders and people of the synagogue showed love for the foreigner. The centurion loved his new neighbors as himself. The community sees the value of this newcomer even though he has the marks of the enemy. This soldier is open minded enough and tenderhearted enough to discover a deeper relationship with God with a new people he makes his own. Instead of finding shortcomings in each other—instead of pointing out each other’s flaws—instead of continuing to live in fear of one another, they become one family. The family of faith at the synagogue adopts a new son. The Roman Centurion chooses a new family and to support them with his gifts and treasure. And yet, only One is worthy and that is God alone. He alone is worthy and deserving of our praise. No one is good enough. No one has done enough good. No one has earned or deserved the blessings of God. Which leads us to the centurion's great insight into the economy of grace.

The second reason the centurion gives for not needing Jesus to come to his house to heal his slave comes out of his own experience. He is also one who is in authority and a person of great responsibility. “You don’t even need to come into my home, Jesus,” the centurion says, “you can just say the word and mountains will move, doors will open, and my servant will be healed.” In other words, God alone is worthy. And Jesus is his true prophet. The centurion understands that God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, his ways are not our ways. His work transcends human understanding. His healing, forgiveness, and love does not come because of our worth or worthiness. He heals, forgives, and loves us because of our unworthiness and our inability to help ourselves.

God is good enough. His only Son has done all that is right, good, and acceptable to us and our Heavenly Father. Jesus of Nazareth has paid the price for our healing by his sweat and his blood. Christ has earned our salvation by dying on the Cross of Calvary. The One who alone is worthy has risen from the dead. God brings us into community. He takes us who are outsiders and orphans and brings us into a family of faith. This is a nurturing community where we are not looking for fault in one another but finding worth and value in each and every member. We know that our truth worth does not come from ourselves but from the God of all glory and grace. He does not need to come under our roofs because he has already entered our hearts, minds, and lives.

“Unfailing Hope” (Romans 5:1-5)

“Unfailing Hope,” Romans 5:1-5

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Pastor Tom Johnson, May 22, 2016

Our Scripture promises us hope—hope that we can boast in—hope that will not disappoint us—hope that God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit works to bring into our lives. It makes me want to be very cautious. It is a bold claim. God gives us hope. He makes us hopeful. He has opened the door for us to proceed through life with Christ-infused optimism. A hope so mysterious and so profound requires the work of a mysterious and profound God. This is the work of holy Trinity. We have peace with the Father through the Son and hope is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. This is a top-down view of how God gives us hope. Hope comes from heaven to earth—from God to humanity. It is a gift of God. And Paul invites to boast in this hope “of sharing the glory of God.” We tell the world we have divine hope.

One of my professors in seminary asked our class a question: “Do people disappoint you often? Do you find yourself frequently disillusioned by those around you?” Many of us raised our hands. He told us, “Lower your standard.” “It is better that you be surprised by the meagre kindness of others,” he said. “Any good that you experience from those around you will be unexpected. Otherwise you will always be unrealistic in your expectations.” Good and wise advice. But cynical. The Psalmist says, “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in mortals. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in princes” (Ps 118:8,9). “Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help. When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish. Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God” (Ps 146:3-5).

Hope is not only top-down. It is also bottom-up. Our Scripture says, “Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” In other words, we should not be surprised by disappointment in life. There will be difficulties along the way. We have been called to take up our crosses and follow Jesus. Jesus said, “In the world you face persecution—you will have troubles” (John 16:33). This is all part of God’s plan. He allows challenging experiences into our lives to strengthen us for the journey ahead. He molds and shapes good character. And as a result of God planting his Spirit into our troubled lives, he produces hope. Once again from the dust of the earth, God recreates us. He breathes new life into our lives by the Holy Spirit. And he overcomes our sin, evil, and death by his Son, Jesus Christ. This is the One who gives us victory through his own suffering and death. Jesus said, “In the world you will face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!” Suffering produces endurance, endurance character, and character hope. And so we “boast” in our suffering because it is no random accident. It tells a story. God leads us through the valley of the shadow of death.

In other words, we can speak confidently that our troubles, sadness, and challenges are no accident. We can step back and look objectively at our lives. We can say, “God is doing something. And this is a work in progress. My story is unfolding. And like a good story, it will have a hopeful ending.” It will be a hope that will not disappoint us. Our Triune God is working from heaven to earth to produce hope; he is also working from the ground up. Through the mystery of the godhead, he brings purpose and meaning to our lives. We will not be misled if our trust is in him. We will not remain in our distress and anguish. “Weeping may tarry for the night but joy will come in the morning.” Hope is just around the corner. Hope is just over the horizon of endurance and character.

Of all people, I heard comedian Jim Carrey say essentially this good news. He said, “Life is not happening to you. It is happening for you.” I think it may take a comedian to get a laugh out of the sadness of this world. God is using whatever you are going through to make all things new. That is the divine punchline to our difficulties. In Christ, God gets the last laugh. And he invites us to join his laughter.

This is the hope of our Scripture today: “We have obtained access to the grace in which we stand.” “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” This is life in the Triune God. This is the sure antidote to cynicism and despair. This is God’s trajectory from justification to sanctification. He gives us hope that is eternal; he cultivates hope that is now. He carries us through our present troubles with a peace that surpasses understanding and a hope that will not let us down. We celebrate this hope. We boast in God’s gift of hope. We revel in his hope for the world to hear. He gets all the credit and all the glory. We have a hope that will not leave us empty—will never leave us wanting—but fills us now and for all eternity.

“The Fire of God’s Love” (Acts 2:1-21)

Acts 2:1-21

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Pastor Tom Johnson, May 15, 2016

John the Baptist baptized with water but the one coming after him will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Both water and fire are very good things. Both water and fire can also be destructive especially when they are out of control. Just as John used water in his hands to renew individuals’ lives, so Jesus will use the Holy Spirit and fire to transform the lives of God’s people. Both water and fire are cleansing agents.

A few ago, a young boy talked about his younger brother’s “bath-tism.” I still don’t know why I had not heard that before. Out of the lips of babes God ordains strength—bath-tism—by the water and the Word, his younger brother was washed of all his sin, adopted into God’s family, and sealed in the Holy Spirit. We use water all the time to wash and clean our bodies, our dishes, our clothes, and our cars. We use fire to clean the really difficult stuff. How do you purify metal? How do you take gold and silver that is contaminated with other elements?

God is like a refining fire, the Hebrew prophets tell us. He refines and purifies his people just as a goldsmith or silversmith bring metal to a high temperature by fire. He melts it down. The part that is not gold rises to the top. The worker slowly removes the foreign particles and what remains is more pure gold. This is what it means to “try” gold—to extract gold from gold ore and then slowly refine it until you have the pure metal that can be used for artwork and jewelry. In the same way, Jesus will try his people. His baptism is a like a refiner’s fire to draw gold out of the rock of the earth and then purify us into a holy people. The fire is not there to destroy. God’s fire will not rage out of control. It is out of our control; but it is not out of his. This is the fire of God’s love revealed to us through his Son Jesus. It is an awesome fire, yes, but it is a cleansing and renewing fire.

That is what happens on Pentecost. The fire of God’s love finally comes in its fullness. What Jesus promised comes to pass—his early Church is gathered in the Temple and the water, the Word, the Holy Spirit, and the fire are poured out on his people. Divided tongues, as of fire, appear and rest on every believer. It happens just as the prophet Joel said it would. God will pour out his Spirit on all people—no matter their place in society, their gender, or their ethnicity. Blood and fire and smoky mist will be the sign that God’s love is being poured out. Nations of people will be washed in the blood of the Lamb. A multitude that no one can number will be refined by the fire of God’s love. What began on the day of Pentecost is relevant today because love for us is still burning in God’s anthropomorphic heart.

There is still cleansing and cleaning that we need in our lives. God still calls us to holiness. He still calls us to repentance. He still wants to draw sin out of our hearts, minds, and lives like a goldsmith removing dross from his fiery stew. The Apostle Paul describes our journey as Christians like passing through fire. The work that we do that is sinful, selfish, or faithless is like the hay, stubble and straw that goes up in smoke in an instant. The work that God does in our lives that is holy, good, and faithful will remain. We don’t really do it. He does his good through us. We simply get to participate in God’s work. It is part of God’s ongoing pouring out of his Holy Spirit and fire of his love. He pours out his love through his people. In his letter to Timothy (1 Tim 1:6), Paul reminds his brother pastor to fan into flame God’s gifts into his life. He wants to see the fire of God’s love blaze, burn, and shine to those around him. The prophet Isaiah says Messiah will come as gently as he does powerfully. “A smoldering wick he will not snuff out” (Matt 12:20). He will blow the wind of his Spirit to bring life to the spark of God’s love in our lives. What great fires we have seen even recently that begin with a mere spark. That is the way of God’s love. God’s presence in our lives may seem infinitesimally small. But as the Scripture says: “he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

The rush of the Spirit’s wind blows into our lives through his Word. It brings air for God’s fire to be renewed and glow brightly. Our gathering here to confess our sin and celebrate the good news of him who died and rose again ignites it into flame. For just as the life of Jesus and the hope of the world seemed snuffed out when Jesus dies on the Cross, so there are times when our lives seem to have descended into the deep and the darkness. And the flame seems to have gone out. But early that Sunday morning, just before the break of day and morning light, the light, the heat, and the flame of God’s love was rekindled in that empty tomb. Christ burst from the grave in a dazzling light. The fire of God’s love continues to bring heat, light, and cleansing. The fire of God’s love transforms our lives. It is the transformation of our lives that we need. The fire of God’s love burns brightly in us and through us. Jesus ignites his work in us to bring the fire of God’s love to the whole world.

“Clothed with Power” (Luke 24:44-53)

Luke 24:44-53

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Pastor Tom Johnson, May 8, 2016

Jesus calls us to mission. Our mission is to spread the message of repentance and forgiveness—life-transformation and releasing the world from the captivity and power of sin. This comes through the Word we preach and Baptism. The epicenter of this global initiative begins in Jerusalem. That is where Jesus taught the crowds. That is where he healed the sick. That is where he was crucified. That is where he rose again from the dead. Jesus takes his disciples a few miles away from Jerusalem into the mountains near Bethany. And it is there that he withdraws from them and ascends into heaven. His earthly ministry has not ended, however; it has begun anew through his Church.

And that is what makes Luke’s version of the Ascension unique. He is preparing us for part two of the story of Jesus—the book of Acts. Luke writes his Gospel about Jesus’ ministry from his birth to his ascension. Luke writes the book of Acts about Jesus’ ministry from his ascension to when his Church is spreading across the known world. We see Jesus’ command and vision fulfilled. Jesus will accomplish this though us, his Church. But will not be a smooth transition. The disciples are scared. And we should not blame them. Their leader Messiah had just been betrayed. He was unfairly tried. He was treated with cruelty. He suffered death by crucifixion. And they fear the same treatment.

This is what makes Jesus’ words so relevant. He knows that his disciples are not courageous or strong enough to do what he is sending them to do. Jesus presumes their inadequacy. “Stay here in the city,” he says, “until you have been clothed with power from on high.” And to say this means that they have not yet been clothed with power. They do not have the resources or tools they need to answer God’s call. What Jesus’ words tell us is that, in and of ourselves, we are not properly attired. No, I’m not talking about dressing in Sunday’s best…but how our first parents, Adam and Eve, fell into sin. At first they were naked and unashamed. After their fall, all humanity knows good and evil—outside and within ourselves.  Like them, we try to cover up our guilt and shame inadequately. They tried to do so with fig leaves. Like them, we come to the knowledge of good and evil in the world and in our own lives. Like them, we discover our inability to hide our faults and our powerlessness to do what God commands.

Jesus calls us to holiness of life and faith. He calls us to do what he commands—to love God with our whole being and to love one another as he has loved us. And he calls us proclaim the good news and to baptize worldwide beginning where we are. We are merely human. We are flesh and blood. We have failed to be who God wants us to be. We have failed to do what he commands to do. It doesn’t seem to follow then, that God would call for us to carry on his mission. At least it seems a little strange to me. Why not have Jesus keep on showing up in his resurrected Body? Wouldn’t it be more spectacular if God himself brought the message of forgiveness and eternal life to every individual on the face of the earth?

In the resurrection, Jesus is “clothed in a long robe with a golden sash around his chest.” “His voice is like the roar of many waters.” “His face is like the sun shining in full strength” (Rev 1:13-16). Jesus seems to be the best candidate for the job. If not himself, why not just send legions of angels? They also appear in dazzling and pure robes. They are God’s perfect, unfallen creatures. They are his messengers that bring good news to his broken world. Why them and not us? The prophet Isaiah describes our fallen human condition; he says all our supposed good works are like filthy rags. He says, “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.” In and of ourselves, we are inadequate.

That is why Christ’s promise is such good news: “Stay here in the city,” he says, “until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Jesus not only will open our minds to understand the Scriptures. He will dress us up for his service. In Christ, God clothes us to cover our guilt, shame, and inadequacy. He dresses us up in the power of the Holy Spirit. He not only calls us to mission. He equips us to fulfill his mission. In a few moments, we will baptize Isabelle and Theodore Betzig. And, as we always do with baptism. We give a candle to remind the baptized that they are the light of Christ. And we give cloth garment “…to show that you have been clothed with the robe of Christ’s righteousness that covers all you sin. So shall you stand without fear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive the inheritance prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

And, in the meantime, we go out into the world dressed for the mission. Like the comic book hero who draws her strength from her super suit—we go out dressed in the strength and righteousness of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Our hearts are filled with peace and joy from our own forgiveness. Our minds are filled with the wonderful Scripture that has the power to transform the world. Our mouths are filled with the good news of forgiveness and eternal life. Jesus has clothed us in baptism. We have been washed by the Holy Spirit. We shine like the midday sun. We are equipped. We are dressed for the work of God.

“Down by the river to pray,” Acts 16:9-15

Acts 16:9-15

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Pastor Tom Johnson, May 1, 2016

Luke is a physician. At this point in the book of Acts, he is Paul’s companion. That is why he says “we” throughout our reading. What began as a history of the birth of the Church is now a journal of his own missionary journeys. Their journey to share the good news is by water. They set sail from this place to that place by wind and water. The image Luke provides is that they are carried from one place to another along the current of their mission to extend God’s grace. They are called to be witnesses of the death and resurrection of Jesus beginning in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth. And here they are far away from home going to places like Macedonia which were, for them, was well on their way to the end of the earth. Their strategy at this time was to share the good new of Jesus with people who already were people of faith. They found Jewish believers in synagogues. And they also went to commercial, social, and religious centers of activity. In their next journey they will find a place of philosophical discussion in Athens called the Areopagus or Mars Hill. But for now they are prayerfully looking for an opportunity to begin a conversation about Jesus and the resurrection. I am very intrigued by what they decide to do. They go outside the city walls to the river supposing there was a place of prayer. They sat down and began a conversation with the women gathered there.

At work, we have conversations around the water cooler. We gather to drink adult beverages and enjoy each other’s company. We meet for coffee, tea, or a soft drink to not only quench our thirst but also have a wholesome excuse to have a conversation. After the service, we will gather in fellowship hall for refreshments. When people ran into each other at the well or at a river, they would catch up on village news. They would catch up with one another and renew friendships. And the river was a convenient place to meet in larger numbers as a community. Supposing a river is a place of prayer makes perfect sense. For people all over the world, the source of fresh water is a gathering place. People come together at the waters for community and life itself. Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well. They had a conversation about her discover the living water which would quench thirst forever. The living waters is Jesus who is the source of life and cleansing. John the Baptist went to the river Jordan to pray, preach, and wash away guilt and shame. Jesus went to the mountain top to pray and to the sea to preach. He went to the pool of Siloam to heal and demonstrate his power.

We shouldn’t dismiss the fact that enjoying the beauty of God’s creation can be a wonderful way to connect with God’s re-creation. Jesus is the Word through whom all things have been made. Jesus is the Word who makes all things new. And so Luke and Paul go to the river and begin to talk about Jesus. That is where we have come—to the river. It is was John sees in his revelation of how the church is and will be forever—a city with the river of the water of life flowing down her center. It is as clear as crystal and flows from the throne of God and the Lamb. We are part of this same river of God’s mercy and grace. It began in the garden of Eden with the four rivers flowing and meeting in that place. The Israelites crossed the Red Sea on dry ground. They entered the land flowing with milk and honey by crossing the river Jordan. And like all great rivers, they may begin as a trickle at the head. But it soon becomes a brook, then a creek, and then a river. Other brooks and creeks and rivers feed this swelling current. And soon it becomes a river that dwarfs the Mississippi, the Nile, the Ganges, the Yangtze, and the Amazon. This river of grace is sweeping up all nations, tongues and people in the flood of forgiveness and new life. Paul and Luke see their activity as part of this great work of the Holy Spirit.

And so should we as we gather around the water cooler, the coffee house, and places of community and conversation. This is where has God gathered people who are already being drawn and made ready to hear the good news of Jesus. God wants to carry us forward in the current of his love. He wants to sweep us up in the living waters. Baptism is not just a mere washing in one location. It’s part of the flow of water which began to trickle in ancient days. The water is part of a global body just as the prophet Isaiah (11:9) predicted: “for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” God will saturate his creation with the good news of re-creation. Come down to the river to pray. Come to the current of God’s grace flowing through redemptive history. Drink deeply. Wade in the water of his forgiveness and love. Come to the “river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High (Ps 46:4). Bring your joy and message of hope and eternal life. And celebrate and enjoy the One who makes all things new.