Listen to Sermon
Pastor Tom Johnson, July 21, 2019
In our Scripture from Colossians, Paul reminds us of some of the deep truths about Jesus what theologians call a “high Christology”: Jesus makes visible the invisible God. He is the Firstborn of all creation—defying time and chronology. Christ made everything we can observe and everything that we cannot observe. Jesus precedes time itself. And he holds the entire universe together by the word of his power. He is the head and we are his body. Together, we are a single organism by the power and mystery of God. He is the firstborn from the dead. His resurrection makes all other resurrections possible—past, present, and future. Our eternal life is assured through him our Forerunner. All divine attributes are found in him. In other words, he is fully God and human even though our minds cannot fully grasp it. God reconciles everything and everyone through his eternal Son. He does so through the power of the blood of Jesus which he shed on the cross of Calvary.
Paul gives us this very high Christology not to make us smarter or merely more informed. He does so for us to cultivate the life of Christ within us. God has plan to make a miracle to happen in each of our lives through the power, person, and work of the Gospel. God expands his Kingdom through the Gentiles to make his mystery known to the whole earth—and that mystery is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” And the goal is to help everyone grow in their maturity in Christ. The word “you” in “Christ in you” is plural. “Christ in y'all.” “Christ in you guys.” The great mystery is Christ in the midst of all of us who believe. Christ in all our individual hearts, yes. But Christ in our collective heart together as the people of God and the body of Christ. In other words, as followers of Jesus we are called to be bearers of Jesus. We are to be Christ’s light to the dark world around us. Jesus commands us to love the world as he loved the world—selflessly and sacrificially. I remember in third grade halfway through the day we would switch from one classroom to the next. We had to carry our chairs with us. And I thought, “I am carrying Jesus with me.” I do not know why I thought that but that is exactly what Paul is getting at—that Jesus is with us and among us whether we have chairs or not.
The bad news is when we do not fully realize just how transformative our lives can be to those around us when we are able to let Christ, the Lion of Judah, out of our cage of our ignorance, fear, and unbelief. Do we really know the power and full potential of the life of Christ within us and among us? Do we truly believe God has brought us together and sent us out into the world to pour out his amazing grace through us? It may just be an encouraging word to your coworker or friend that will lift them out of despair. It may be a prayer for someone who is sick and miraculously assures them of God’s presence and love. You and I are the signs and letters written by the hand of Christ to tell the world they are loved by God, that they matter to God, and that God’s Word and Holy Spirit are still in the business of transforming lives.
That is the point of the account of Mary and Martha. Martha is more concerned with making food for Jesus as her guest. Jesus is more concerned with becoming their host and nourishing the faith and life of both Martha and Mary so that we would all choose the better portion. Jesus’ plan is to be host of our lives individually and collectively. He serves us and serves through us—Christ in us, Christ in you, Christ in me. Christ through us—challenging, blessing, and manifesting the love of God in Christ Jesus.
4. Nothing have I, Christ, to offer,
You alone, my highest good.
Nothing have I, Lord, to proffer
But Your crimson-colored blood.
Your death on the cross has death wholly defeated
And thereby my righteousness fully completed;
Salvation's white raiments I there did obtain,
And in them in glory with You I shall reign.
5. Therefore You alone, my Savior,
Shall be all in all to me;
Search my heart and my behavior,
Root out all hypocrisy.
Through all my life’s pilgrimage, guard and uphold me,
In loving forgiveness, O Jesus, enfold me.
This one thing is needful; all others are vain--
I count all but loss that I Christ may obtain! (LSB 830 “One Thing’s Needful” vv. 1 & 3)
No comments:
Post a Comment