“Growing in Faith” (Romans 4:13-25)

Romans 4:13-25

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Pastor Tom Johnson, February 25, 2018

More than half the world looks to Abraham as the father of their faith. In our reading from his letter to the Christians in Rome, Paul says that Abraham is the father of all of us who believe in Jesus. And so he takes us back to the very foundation of faith itself by Abraham’s example. Abraham was promised to be the biological father of a great nation—which is later called Israel or the Jewish people. But he was also promised to be the spiritual father of all nations. “In you all the families of the earth will be blessed,” God tells him when he first reaches out to Abraham and draws him into a relationship with him.

Paul wants us to see our story in Abraham’s story. He does not want us to distort Abraham’s experience or make him some unattainable hero of the faith. Instead, he wants us to see him as an example of someone who has a relationship with God. He wants us to see how God worked in Abraham’s life so that we would be encouraged in our own lives. Against all odds—“hoping against all hope” Abraham grew in faith in God and his promise that he and Sarah would have a son even though he was 99 years old and Sarah 89 years old. Paul calls it as he sees it when he says, “his body was already as good as dead” at that age. Maybe a kinder way of saying it was that he and Sarah were past their child-bearing years. Abraham would have been sensible to think that what God promised was highly unlikely. God waits until Abraham is up in years so that he must rely more on God than supposing Abraham could do it himself. Abraham does not grow weak in faith when he considers his own body but believes God can do what is nearly impossible—to give him and Sarah a son.

Faith is like a muscle. It can grow weak without use. It can strengthen and grow stronger when we exercise it. Even if our muscles are healthy and strong, there will be days that they feel strained or pushed to the point of exhaustion. So our faith. So if you know the story of Abraham, his faith had its good and bad days. He tried to force God’s promise at times. He doubted God’s power. But his faith never died. Faith is not certainty. It is not our work. It is not our mustering up strength to believe. It is not pulling ourselves up by our own bootstraps. Faith is a range of trust in God. Jesus tells us that faith can be as small as that of a mustard seed. Faith is a gift from God. It is something that God gives with his promise. His promise to give Abraham a son. Abraham grew in his confidence in God—not himself—that God is able to do far more than what we could ask or imagine.

We should think of faith not only as a muscle that can grow strong but as any living thing that must grow to survive. It’s a truth of any living thing. If it is not growing, it is dying. Look at all the trees around us. Most look as good as dead in winter. There are no leaves. No green growth. Just a skeleton of branches. But the roots are still growing. The tree is building up energy for spring. Just like the human body grows and cells in our body are reborn all the time even when we sleep, so a dormant tree is ready to explode in growth as soon as the sun begins to bathe it with its warmth and light.

Indiana Dunes National Park in winter

We are to live by faith, not by sight. What is impossible for humans is possible with God. All things are possible with God. And when God promises something, it is not only possible, it is certain. And he is faithful to deliver. Just like when God promised a son to a couple whose bodies were well beyond child bearing age. So God promises his own Son to be a blessing to every family in this world. And so our Scripture reminds us that God promised to do something again that is against all odds and defies human reason. God sent his Son to die for our trespasses and sin and to raise him for our justification.

The Gospel is the person and work of Jesus Christ—the eternal Son of God who is born into the world to live, teach, heal, die, and rise again for our salvation. It should not surprise us that when Jesus first shares this with Peter and the disciples that it blows their minds. It is not something we understand by human reason. Peter has just begun to grow in his faith. It can be unsettling to realize how wrong we can be and how limited our understanding can be. But that is the beautiful thing about the Christian faith—there is always room for growth.

One of the things I love to say about my own journey is that going to seminary once was not enough for me. After my second seminary degree, I felt like I was still just getting started. The third time I went to seminary, I finally started to realize how much I did not know—what we do not know. We do not need to go to seminary to be on the exciting journey of faith. The Bible should never grow dull or boring for any child of God. A disciple, you’ll remember, means learner. There is always so much to discover. Abraham had so much in front in front of to experience ahead of him…so much growth and maturity to experience even at age 99! There is always room to grow.
We grow in our trust in the God who can do the impossible. The truth is that we are all like Abraham—our bodies, minds, and spirits were as good as dead in our trespasses and sins. But in Christ we are made alive, grow, and live eternally.

“Assurance through the wilderness” (Mark 1:9-15)

Mark 1:9-15

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Pastor Tom Johnson, February 18, 2018

Today Jesus goes out into the wilderness. He is tempted by the accuser. He life is exposed to wild predators. He suffers hunger and thirst. He spends forty days in the wild reminding us of the forty years of wilderness wandering of Israel. So, Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness is a snapshot of his whole life and ministry in the wilderness of this world. We see how Jesus is tempted in every way, yet without sin. We see his divine nature. God sends him into the wilderness with the words, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

We also see the mystery of his human nature. He is tempted. Jesus is attacked by Satan with all his baseless and twisted accusations. Jesus thirsts. He hungers. He experiences weakness in physical body. He suffers emotional exhaustion. And here is the truly baffling and comforting truth about Jesus and his humanity. God sends him out into the wilderness with the assurance that he is God’s beloved Son at his Baptism. And God sends angels to comfort him. We do not even know what the angels did or even said. And yet the angels bring Jesus comfort, assurance, strength, and companionship. Maybe their presence alone was enough to encourage and sustain Jesus.

If Jesus was strengthened and sustained from keeping in mind who he is—especially who he is in the eyes of his Heavenly Father—if Jesus was strengthened and sustained from those creatures sent from heaven, then we should take note. We ought to remember who we are in God’s sight. We should welcome angels God sends our way. If perfect Jesus was encouraged and comforted then how much more do we—sinful creatures—need that same strength and companionship. Jesus needed encouragement. God sends him out of the baptismal waters with this assurance: “You are my Son, the Beloved. You bring me extraordinary pleasure.” Jesus needed comfort. So God sends the angels.

In our time in the wilderness of this world, there will be times of physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering. But we are not like Jesus. When we are tempted, we are not perfect. We fall into temptation. We hear the voice of the accuser: “You’re no good. You’re a sinner. You hunger and thirst but will never be satisfied. God’s plan won’t ever work. You need to fend for yourself. God has forgotten you. He does not care. You are alone.” There may some truth to the voice of the accuser. We are prone to wander. We do harmful things to others and ourselves. We neglect the care of others. We fail to live in a way that really nurtures others and our own souls. We do not love God above all things. We are the ones who forget God—not the other way around.

But thanks be to God that just as God sends Jesus out into the wilderness well-equipped, so God sends us out into the world.  We too are the baptized. God has said of us. “Your sins are washed away. You are forgiven. You are my daughter. You are my son. You are my beloved child. Your uniqueness and soul bring me extraordinary pleasure.” We are the baptized. We remember not just the event of our baptism that happened months, years, or even decades ago. We bring to mind who we truly are. In God’s eyes, we are his deeply loved children. God also sends us his angels—his messengers of grace, hope, and companionship. God sends us into each other lives to provide strength and encouragement. Can you name the angels around you? If you prayerfully look and listen, I bet you will find even more than you imagine. Perhaps God is calling you to be an angel in another person’s wilderness. Maybe you will not say or do anything spectacular. But your presence and companionship may be exactly what that person needs.

View of Badwater Basin

This got me thinking about what is coming up in July: the Badwater Ultramarthon. It’s 135 miles through the Badwater Basin, Death Valley, through the lowest elevation in North America to the trailhead of Mt Whitney, one of the highest. The course is so hot at times, they run on the white stripes on the roads so the blacktop will not melt their shoes. They are all dressed in white to protect them from the oppressive sun. Each year there are less than 100 people from around the world who have the courage—or foolishness—to run such a race. But here is the sobering truth. No one can do it alone. Each runner has a team that drives a van or SUV in front of them. They constantly spray the runner down with water, give them food and drink, and cheer them on. Without such support, their spirits would soon be crushed, they would quickly overheat, and come to utter ruin.

So God sends us out soaked with his grace and forgiveness. We are the Baptized all dressed in Christ’s righteousness. We are his beloved children. He is well pleased with us. So God sends angels. He sends us into each other’s wilderness to cheer, encourage, sustain, and strengthen one another. We are the baptized—drenching wet from the font of God’s grace even though we journey through a dry and parched land. He will bring us safely through this wilderness to the glory of the world to come.

“Coming down the mountain” (Mark 9:1-10)

Mark 9:1-10

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Pastor Tom Johnson, February 11, 2018

Mt. Tabor, likely location of Transfiguration

Jesus leads Peter, James, and John up a high mountain. Jesus changes before their eyes. He becomes radiant. He and his clothing are brighter than anything they have seen before. Long before this, the eternal Son of God came from his heavenly throne to become human. Jesus’ divine nature was veiled by human flesh. His equality with God was hidden by his humility and willingness to become one of us. You might say that this revealing of Jesus’ glory is a foretaste of heaven. It is a peak into the eternal Kingdom. Today on the Mount of Transfiguration we get a glimpse of who he was, who he will be, and who he truly is. At his side the two great prophets Moses and Elijah are there talking to Jesus. He is the one whom they promised—the Messiah. He is King of kings. He is Lord of lords. “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” Jesus has led them up this high mountain. And Peter, not knowing what to say, offers to pitch three tents—one for each. But it becomes clear that this vision is not meant to last forever. And so the vision ends—Moses and Elijah disappear. Jesus’ appearance returns to its veiled and hidden state. Jesus leads them down the mountain. His instruction is to tell no one what they experienced until after he rises from the dead.

Jesus leads them up the mountain for a life-changing experience. He now leads them down the mountain. He leads them into the lowlands. He will lead them through the valleys of the shadow of death—even to his own death. He will rise again from the dead. And then they will even more clearly see who Jesus was, is, and will be. Peter, James, and John will see him again in his glorified Body. But in the meantime, they will keep the matter to themselves. They will question, ponder, and meditate on what he meant by rising from the dead. They actually do what Jesus instructs them to do. They go back into the world with the death and resurrection weighing heavily on their hearts.

I am always intrigued that Jesus loved the outdoors. He loved to climb mountains. Sometimes he went alone to pray. Here he leads a select three to join him. He leads this expedition. He is an experienced and skilled mountaineer. Hiking mountains is something I also love to do. I do not claim to be an expert by any means. But one thing I have learned is that it is much harder coming down a mountain than going up a mountain. On the way up, you look forward to the beautiful views. Every step you take has the promise that you are closer. Once on top, you enjoy a spectacular view. You gain a unique perspective of this world from a rare vantage point. By the time you reach the peak of the mountain, you have thoroughly worked one set of muscles.

Now is the time to go down. You work a different set of muscles along with the ones that are already exhausted, sore, and spent. Your feet take a greater pounding on the way down. Your shoes or sandals rub against your feet and toes creating blisters. Your toes are numb from absorbing the shock from the hard ground. We return to normalcy. Down into the valleys. It would have been nice to pitch our tent on the mountain and make the experience permanent—at least for as long as we can. But like he did with Peter, so Jesus sends us back into the world.

But he does not just send us. He leads us. He goes ahead of us. Jesus has his own challenges before him. He has another mountain to climb. And that mountain is Calvary. He heads toward Jerusalem, the Roman Cross, his death, and his burial. He will go down into the very depths of death itself. He will bear the weight of the sin of the world. His own life on the cross will be the ransom for our sin. He will overcome all evil. He will rise out of the valley of the shadow of death again. He will rise again triumphant. And so he sets that other mountain before us—Mt. Zion. And it is from the foot of that mountain that he will appear again in all his glory and majesty. Another foreshadowing of our own transfiguration. For we know that once we journey through this life, we too will become as he is when he appears. We will be like him when we see him face to face. This is what Jesus wanted Peter, James, and John to carry down the mountain—the unfolding of God’s plan in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. He wanted them to question, to ponder, and to strengthen themselves in the Gospel.

The Gospel is the framework of the life of Jesus Christ. The Gospel is also the framework of our life in Christ. We realize that difficult experiences may be ahead of us in the lowlands and valleys of this life. This is what it means for us to live in Christ and to die in Christ—to put our hope and trust in him through all the terrain of our lives. Our confidence and our comfort is in the risen Lord who will safely lead us to the other side. This is also how we begin our journey through Lent—coming down the mountain with a view to the next mountain—Easter Sunday. We are not the first to make this journey. And we are not alone. We have each other like Peter, James, and John had each other. And even more than that, we have the Lord Jesus. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For you are with me. Your rod and staff, they comfort me. …Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:4,6).