“The Way Out” (1 Corinthians 10:1-13)

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

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Pastor Tom Johnson, March 24, 2019

In our reading from 1 Corinthians, Paul encourages us on our journey through the wilderness of this world. He reminds us of the story of the Israelites how they spent 40 years wandering in the desert. Their own sin held them back time after time. Nevertheless, God was with them to bring them safely to the promised land. Paul encourages us by their example not to let sin hold us captive. In this case, we can be our own worst enemies. We let the temptations of this world lure us away from a faithful walk with God. We become prisoners of our own sinful appetites. I call it encouragement because Paul is not talking about sin in order to increase our shame, guilt, and despair. He is talking about not letting anything in this world hold us back. God wants us to live unhindered, unshackled, and free. He wants us to move forward in way that is best for us and for those around us.

“No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone.” In other words, you are not struggling alone. Misery loves company. We are all in this together. One thing that may be holding us back is the idea that I am the only one who has this struggle. It may be a deep and dark secret that no one knows but ourselves. We may think it is so rare that we are the only ones with this particular struggle. That is part of the lie and deception of sin. The temptation here is to think that there is no way I can be free—there is no way you can be free because our struggle is so unique. We are broken goods. We have passed the point of no return. No, your and my struggle is universal. We all have something in our lives that keeps tripping us up. We all have something that is holding us back. It is the normal Christian life to battle sin in our lives.

If we are not battling sin in our lives it is because we are so overtaken by sin that we do not yet realize just how much of a deceptive hold it has in our lives. It’s why Jesus said, “Forgive them. For they do not know what they are doing.” In fact, the word “forgive” in the New Testament Greek literally means to loose. To forgive is to set one free from the destructive power of sin. To be forgiven means God has set us loose to live our lives in love for him and for our neighbor.

What is holding you back? There is something holding you and me back from moving forward in greater freedom, greater joy, greater godliness, greeter peace, and greater fruit of the Holy Spirit. This is the common human struggle—this is the normal Christian life to humbly and soberly acknowledge the chains around our wrists and our ankles—the things that are holding us back. Just as Jesus says, “You will know the truth. And the truth will set you free.” Sin is not just the bad things we do. Sin is not just the good we fail to do. Sin is the power that wants to seduce us to become its slaves. Sin wants to hold us captive and its prisoners. Sin wants to deceive us into a life of addiction. Sin wants us to repeat destructive cycles of behavior over and over again. That’s why Jesus taught us to pray, “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.” He knew that as long as we are still on this side of eternity evil and sin will continue to threaten our freedom to walk with God with joy and peace.

A few months ago, Pope Francis suggested that we change the wording of the Lord’s Prayer to better reflect its true meaning—from “Lead us not into temptation” to “Do not let me fall into temptation.” He said, “Because it is I who fall, it is not God who throws me into temptation and then sees how I fell. A father does not do that, a father helps you to get up immediately.” I do not believe it is necessary to change the wording of the Lord’s Prayer but I really like his point. God is our Heavenly Father who wants what is best for us. He wants us to live fruitful and joyful lives.

“God is faithful,” Paul says, “he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.” “God is faithful.” God is good all the time. All the time God is good. We do not look to ourselves for strength to battle sin in our lives. We look to the One who is faithful. We look to God. He is in our corner. He is cheering us on. He gives us strength to journey on. He provides a way out of our temptation. That is why we are bold when we pray. Because we are holding God to his Word. We are praying his promises. If God promises that we will not be tested beyond our strength—if God promises that there is a way out of our temptation, then we are bold and have every right to pray that God will keep his Word in our lives.

“God, you say that you will not allow temptation to be so overwhelming that I will not be able to have the strength to endure it. Give me the strength and perseverance I need to not succumb to evil and sin.” “God, you say that you will also provide the way out—a way of escape from the clutches and deception of sin. Help me to see and recognize it when that way to freedom opens that I might be set free from despair and bondage.”

We look to the Cross of Calvary as the way out. That’s where Jesus endured his final temptation. It’s where he overcame sin, evil, and even death itself. In his resurrection, he led a host of captives free. He opened the door to eternal life. There is a way out. And his name is Jesus. God the Father has provided that way through the person and work Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit.

“Jesus, Mother Hen” (Luke 13:31-35)

Luke 13:31-35

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Pastor Tom Johnson, March 17, 2019

The Pharisees tell Jesus to get lost because Herod wants to kill him. We know from all the other interactions that the Pharisees would love to see Jesus get into trouble. They are also not big fans of King Herod. Herod is a fox threatening to devour the lives of God’s people in Jerusalem—just like his father before him who tried to kill all the infants and toddlers to prevent Messiah from challenging his throne. The Pharisees are just trying to stir things up. In fact, they eventually will want to kill Jesus themselves. Herod and the Pharisees will form an alliance and will soon get their opportunity.

Jesus makes a profound comparison between himself and a mother hen. “How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing.” Jesus reminds us of the history of prophets that he sent to God’s people to protect and nurture them. He is more than just another prophet sent to draw his people underneath God’s protective wings. He is the true and living God who sent the prophets. And now he has come in the flesh.

Sometimes I think we are at a disadvantage if we did not grow up on a farm or in a more rural context. Even urban areas in other parts of the world still have chickens running around. So I talked with people who live or grew up on a farm. There are tons of YouTube videos of hens protecting their chicks. I learned that hens are fierce in their passion to protect their brood. It’s a scary thing seeing a hawk rocket down toward helpless chicks—or a cat crouching down, stalking, and lungeing—or a dog charging with its jaws open and teeth bearing...or a fox like Herod who schemes and plans his next kill... When I watch these videos, I cheer for the little chicks scattering around. They are even more vulnerable when they do not immediately get behind their angry momma. Jesus says that God’s people are out of their minds when they are unwilling—unwilling to gather under God the hen’s wings.

That is our nature as human beings—and even as the people of God—to not acknowledge how vulnerable we are. It’s why Peter says, “Be vigilant, be sober minded, for your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.” We little, fuzzy younglings are no match for predators. There are so many threats to our living out our fragile lives in the joy and peace of the Gospel. There is false teaching. Evil is palpable and formidable just as we hear of mass shootings in schools, churches, synagogues, and mosques throughout the world. And then there is our stubborn sin.

We are held captive and lured away from Mother Hen by our pursuit of pleasure. We wander away in thoughtless, unreflective living—doing harm to others—and harm to ourselves in our thoughts, words, and deeds. We lose sight of Momma Bird as she scans earth and sky for predators. We forget that she stands firm at her station for our good, for the preservation of our lives, and to give us a place of refuge and peace. “All we like sheep have gone astray”—like chicks wandering away from our towering Mother—“but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on him.” Mother Hen is there to defend us with her vigilance and her own body.

These hens that defend their young are bad to the bone. They get right into the face of foxes, dogs, cats, hawks, and eagles. They do not wait until the predator comes to them—they lead the charge with their wings, chests, loud squawks, raised claws, and sharp beaks highlight their strength of character and determination. They absolutely will give their lives for the chicks. Their love for their little ones is displayed in their warrior spirits. Their love is also beautifully displayed as their wings seem to swallow up their chicks as they disappear into their warm embrace. This past Wednesday, the BBC reported that a fox infiltrated a free range chicken coop in north-western France. The next day they found the fox dead with multiple beak blows to its neck. The chickens banded together and killed the fox.

And so Jesus says, “How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing.” Jesus, the eternal Son of God—the second Person of the Trinity sent prophet after prophet—to generation after generation to gather, protect, and nurture his people. His is a stubborn love—a relentless love—a courageous love for you and for me. We know that “we cannot by our own reason or strength come to him” (Luther’s Catechism). Only by the Holy Spirit and the power of God do we draw near Mother Hen and her bold and uncompromising determination to deliver us from evil, temptation, and sin. Jesus goes to the cross in the spirit and power of Mother Hen who meets evil, sin, and death itself face to face. He raises his chest and spreads his wings on the Cross of Calvary. And he cries out in fierce and resolute love, “It is finished!” And so we gather this morning under the shelter of his wings. His Word assuring us that we are his beloved brood—his holy and royal children. He feeds us his own Body and Blood with the bread and the wine. And we are assured that we are in a safe, loving, and nurturing place now and forever.

"Counterfeit Christianity" (Luke 4:1-13)

Luke 4:1-13

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“Counterfeit Christianity,” Luke 4:1-13
Pastor Tom Johnson, March 10, 2019

"The Temptation of Christ" by Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510)

The Holy Spirit led Jesus out into the wilderness. He ate nothing for forty days. He was famished. He was exhausted and hungry. This is when the devil strikes—when we are weak, tired, and vulnerable. The devil tries to lure Jesus into sin. He challenges him three times.

The first temptation is for Jesus to satisfy his hunger. He tells Jesus to turn a stone into a loaf of bread. Satan masterfully turns Jesus’ own words against him. Just before this Jesus says that “God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham” (Luke 3:8). The lie is that Jesus should satisfy his needs by any means necessary. He should go against the Holy Spirit who led him there. He should use his strengths and power to advance his own cause. “No,” Jesus quotes Scripture, “One does not live by bread alone but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.” What truly will give us the strength of body and soul is the Word of God.

The second temptation is for Jesus to worship the devil. And if he does bow down before Satan, he will receive all the kingdoms of the world, their glory, and their authority. He is also mocking the Scripture that came before, when John the Baptist said he is not worthy to bow down before Jesus and untie the straps of his sandals. The lie is that the devil had received control over people. He stole it. He stole the glory and worship that people should give to the true and living God. And now he wants God the Son—the second Person of the Holy Trinity to bow down and worship him who is a mere creature and who is living on borrowed time. “No,” Jesus quote Scripture, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.” The only Person we owe thanks and praise is the Lord of heaven and earth—the One who created us. He alone is worthy of our worship.

The third temptation is for Jesus to perform a stunt. He tells Jesus to throw himself off the pinnacle of the temple. And when he does, God will send angels to swoop down, catch Jesus before he hits the ground. Satan is making fun of Jesus again—this time how Jesus quotes Scripture. “For it is written,” the devil says. The lie to twist the meaning of Scripture—even from the metaphorical to the literal sense—as if God will reward recklessness with salvation just because he can find a passage of Scripture that seems to match the situation.

Each of these temptations follow the same pattern. The devil mocks God’s Word. He wants us to see God’s wisdom as foolishness. He wants us to believe that Scripture is absurd. Each temptation is a counterfeit. Satan takes God’s truth and introduces doubt and twists the truth of Scripture ever so slightly. This is what he did even from the very beginning with Adam and Even when he said to them, “Did God really say...?” Each temptation is a manipulation of God. Each lie is to promote self. And, even more importantly, all three deceptions try to get Jesus to bypass the Cross. He tries to get Jesus to find away out of his death by crucifixion and rising from the dead.

That is what we are up against every day—just as we pray, “Give us this day our daily bread...and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Each time we sin—every time we go against God’s Word by our thoughts, our words, and our deeds, we are believing a lie. When I was at Stateville a few weeks ago, one of the inmates, Martin, told the class that it took more than two years of sitting in his cell to realize he is there because he believed a lie—the lie of gangs—the promise of money and power. We believe we have the right to something or to do something. So we cut corners, do bodily and emotional harm, cheat, steal, lie, and covet. We fashion a god in our own image—one that we can barter with, wager, and manipulate. We believe a lie.

The only way we can escape these temptations is by the Word and Holy Spirit—just as Jesus who is perfect God and human does. He shows us how Scripture is the sword of the Spirit—our best and only defense and strength in time of need. We cannot by our own strength believe or come to God. It’s only by the power of the Holy Spirit and Scripture. Jesus quotes Scripture to draws strength to fulfill his mission. So we also should learn and grow in our knowledge and dependence on the Word of God. And, even more importantly, we should see the truth that is no way around the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The devil has convinced the world that it is foolishness. But as Scripture says, “the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Cor 1:25).

Jesus will turn each temptation to sin into a miracle in the Gospel. He will not turn stone to bread. It is by the Cross of Christ and the empty tomb that Jesus will take our hearts of stone and transform them into hearts of flesh—lives that look to God and his Word for our strength, healing, and eternal life. He will not bow down and worship the devil. It is at the name of Jesus that every knee will bow and tongue will confess that he is Lord. For there is no other name under heaven or on earth by which we can be saved. He alone is worthy. To him be all the glory and praise. He will not perform a stunt. Jesus does not need angels to catch him or deliver him from his crucifixion. His Kingdom is not of this world. Death cannot hold him. He will rise victoriously from the dead to bring light and life to the world.

“His face shone” (Exodus 34:29-35)

Exodus 34:29-35

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Pastor Tom Johnson, March 3, 2019

Moses receives the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai. He meets with God on the mountain. Moses basks in the light of God’s presence. He saturates his mind with God’s Word. And when he comes down he radiates God’s favor and presence. But Moses himself was not even aware of his glowing face. And why would he? He had spent hours and days with the Angel of the Lord—the luminous pillar of cloud by day and the blazing pillar of fire by night. This is Moses’ new normal—to speak to God daily as one would with a friend face to face. It shows his humility. When his brother Aaron and the rest of the Israelites see Moses, they are too afraid to come near him. Moses has to persuade his brother and the leaders to come closer so that they can find a solution to his fear inducing, beaming face. There solution was to cover it up—to put a veil over Moses’ face. As long as the people did not have to see the evidence of Moses’ interaction with God—as long as they did not have to witness the residual results of the presence of God’s glory they were okay. Moses has to live his life behind a veil.

In our Scripture from 2 Corinthians, Paul tells us that it is because of the hardness of their minds that Moses had to put the veil on. Their minds had become rigid, inflexible, calloused, and less absorbent to new ideas. So Moses accommodated their narrow-minded and closed-minded thinking by covering his face. The irony is that by Moses putting a veil on, the mask that is covering the faces of the Israelites comes off. Underneath their mask is a people who are easily frightened by the unfamiliar, the God who works in mysterious ways, and his glory revealed on the face of his humble servant. The veil protects them from fear and misunderstanding. It prevents them from having to deal with the glorious and miraculous—stuff that is out of our control. It keeps them where they are most comfortable—in the dark. It makes Moses have to live his life hidden behind their veil of ignorance and unbelief.

Last week I had the privilege of visiting Stateville Correctional Facility just outside of Joliet. Deaconess Lori Wilbert had been working for months so that I could go with her to visit her class called the House of Healing. I went to meet her students, hear their stories, and have a conversation. After a few short hours, I left those who had become a band of brothers in Christ. For those doing hard time, they have no time for phoniness or artificiality. “Pastor Tom, do you know that Illinois is a no-parole state?” “No, I don’t. What does that mean?” “It means that I will never be reviewed by a parole board until I serve 80% of my sentence.” “Pastor Tom, do you believe that we can be redeemed?” “Yes, that is what all of us should experience—not just you.” I witnessed the power of God at Stateville. These brothers were gracious enough to come out from behind their veil. I saw the glory of Christ radiating through the lives, stories, and faces of those brothers. And it occurred to me that they are not unlike Moses who have to live their transformed lives behind the veil.

You will remember that Moses was guilty of capital murder. He buried the body of the Egyptian in the sand. Pharaoh put a bounty on the life of Moses who went into exile and into hiding—on hard time—forty years. But Moses’ life was not hidden from God. God had a plan for Moses. God believed that Moses could be reformed and redeemed. Despite Moses’ violent past and decades of self-imposed exile, God calls him to be his prophet. God called him out of darkness into the light. Moses spent hours and days in prayer and conversation with God. He was so beautifully transformed inside and out that his face radiated with the glory of God.  That is not something to be ashamed of or afraid of. That is something to be celebrated! Praise be to God that Egypt’s most wanted outlaw is now God’s treasured possession.  The Apostle Paul was was known as Saul and an accessory to the murder of Stephen. He learned that only through the power of Jesus Christ is the veil that lies over our minds removed. Jesus’ transfiguration is a brief glimpse of Jesus’ normal—the eternal Son of God radiating his glory. When he comes down the mountain, his identity is veiled behind his flesh because of the weakness and unbelief of his day. In his death, the veil is torn in two. In his resurrection, we now radiate into eternity.

What is it about you or me that we cannot see—or that we will not see the glory of God in the face of someone who has experienced his redeeming grace? Is it envy, jealousy, unbelief, callousness, or some other hardness of the mind?  In seeing in others we are encouraged: God’s light can also shine through us. We see in Moses that time with God—prayer—is not about changing God or his mind. It is about our transformation especially in our hearts and minds. In Christ, we  go up into the mountain of prayer. Our faith is strengthened through the Word. We receive his true Body and Blood for the strengthening of our bodies and souls. We bask in the light of his grace. We now shine like the midday sun. Lifting the veil between us is a celebration of God’s power in our lives. It’s God’s promise to bless us and keep us—to make his face shine upon us and be gracious unto us—to lift up his countenance upon us and give us peace. We  bear the glow of forgiveness. Our faces reflect the acceptance and love of God into all eternity.