Second Presbyterian Church

"The Conflict Deepens:
Preaching From the Gospel of Luke"
February 6, 2005

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Sermons Homepage » Sermons for 2005 » Sermons for February 2005 » Sermons from the Series on Luke

#39 in the Series on Luke
The Rev. Daniel E. Hale, D. Min.

• Leviticus 22: 31-33
• Luke 11: 14-54

INTRODUCTION

Although this longer passage seems to be several shorter - not so connected passages, they do connect. It begins with Luke's summary of Jesus exorcising a man who was mute so that he could speak again. The crowds acted in three ways. One, some marveled at what they had witnessed. Two, some questioned Jesus' authority (did it come from God or did it come from Satan?). Three, some seemed to have needed more evidence. They needed a sign from heaven so that they could really believe that it was from heaven. We are the same way. Some of us tend to react to Jesus by marveling at who he is. Some of us tend to wonder about Jesus' real credentials (is Jesus really whom we say Jesus is?). Some of us would love to see even more evidence that Jesus is who we say He is.

Also, please remember that throughout this passage, and later, Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. There he will be arrested, crucified by the religious authorities in the city. The atmosphere is becoming more intense and hostile to Jesus and his Gospel.

The question that must be asked is this: is there, or are there, any aspects of this passage that we need to hear today? If so, what are they? In light of how we, as all people, tend to react to the message of Jesus, I can see three aspects of this passage that we would benefit by addressing:

1. Who is Jesus, really?
2. What do we stand for?
3. What about hypocrisy?

I
WHO IS JESUS, REALLY?

Some say that Jesus was a very good man. Some say that Jesus was a prophet, a great prophet. Mohammed said that Jesus was a prophet. Some say that Jesus was a revolutionary. Most of us make Jesus into whom we want Jesus to be. Who do YOU say that Jesus is?

The crowds who witnessed Jesus healing the mute man wondered about Jesus, too. Unlike us, they didn't question the miracle; they questioned WHO was behind the miracle. Was it God or was it Satan?

I speak for myself. I believe that Jesus is the Messiah, Emmanuel, God with us. He was the man who was also God. He was God who became flesh in order that you and I could be redeemed. Throughout Luke, and the entire New Testament, we are confronted with what we are to believe - that Jesus is the Messiah, God's redemption for all humankind.

This can only be accepted on faith. There is no proof. And many people, even some who claim to be Christian, cannot accept what I just said, although the belief that Jesus is the Son of God and fully human is a basic, primary doctrine of our Christian faith.

II
WHAT DO WE STAND FOR?

A second aspect that this passage invites us to consider is: what do we stand for? I am reminded of a popular country song, I do not know the name of it, but the main thrust of the song is a piece of wisdom the singer got from his father. That piece of wisdom is this: "If you don't stand for something, then you'll fall for anything." When I look around at our world, this statement rings very true to me. When we hesitate in our faith in Jesus as the Messiah, they we lose the foundational grounds of our faith. In other words, we begin to try to stand on quicksand.

1st John notes that we are to test the spirit, or discern the spirit to see if it is from God. He goes on to note that if the spirit affirms that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, then it is from God. If the spirit does NOT affirm that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, then it is NOT from God. (I John 4: 1-6)

Let's translate this into more familiar English. When John is talking about testing the spirit, he is using a language that is not familiar with us. In our time you will hear all kinds of things about Jesus, God, and religion. You will hear the TV evangelists who speak much God talk and then ask for your money. You will hear skeptical theologians who seem to become excited by trying to insert something that is "new" or "different" than what we basically believe. Test what you hear. Does what they say proclaim Jesus Christ who came in the flesh (e.g. a body just like yours and mine!)? Or are you really hearing something else, often disguised with pious talk?

Remember this one thing. One of the most scandalous aspects about our Christian faith is that we believe in something that is not possible to have happened by logic or nature. God became a man, Jesus of Nazareth; that he was crucified and raised from the dead; and that he lives forever; and that he shall return to complete the Kingdom of God. This is what we believe. Anything else is not sufficient for the Christian faith. Yet there is nothing about what we believe that can be decisively proven! Except when we allow Jesus to come into our hearts and to begin to take over our lives. There is a children's song that states it well: "If you are not living by the Word of God, then you're flying by the seat of your pants."

Paul had another way of saying it: as we mature in our faith (practicing what we believe) "so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, …" (Ephesians 4: 14) If we don't stand for something, then we are liable to fall for anything.

III
WHAT ABOUT HYPOCRISY?

The third aspect that speaks to us today is, what about hypocrisy? I cannot tell you how many times I have heard people say that they can't be part of the church, because Christians are so hypocritical! They say one thing and do another. They preach love you neighbor, then they go about and gossip and talk down about somebody else, even fellow Christians.

The problem is that these people are correct. There is no true Christian who hasn't been the hypocrite sometime or another. It is inevitable. Why? Because the perfection of God encounters the imperfection of our lives. Our redemption is by faith; it has not been complete. In other words, no matter how pious you are, or how hard you try to be a good Christian, sin happens. We all continue to commit sinful acts.

Yet this doesn't let us off the hook. What are we to really do? We cannot eliminate all sinful acts, but we can eliminate PRETENDING not to sin. What people really notice is that we try to live up to a lie; we try to live AS IF sin has already been conquered in our lives. And this is just not true. Jesus Christ has conquered sin and by faith we receive the Grace of God's salvation. But to pretend that we no longer commit sin is a lie, a hypocrisy, a sin!

Does that mean give up? No. It means we are to live as sinless as possible, expressing the gratitude we feel for the Love that God has shown us through Jesus Christ. But to live and grow as a Christian and to do the best job we can, as a Christian is significantly different than pretending that we do not sin.

CONCLUSION

Yes, the crowd had three basic reactions to Jesus and his ministry. Some were amazed and believed. Some wanted more proof ("show us a sign from heaven"). Others wondered if he were a prophet of the Devil. Jesus left no room for middle ground; by his actions and claims he was either the Messiah or he was an imposter. Some of the group wanted to believe that he was an imposter, a blasphemer.

Remember, Jesus knew where he was going - to the cross in Jerusalem. And more and more people were offended by his words and actions. As Luke stated in verse 23, there is no fence sitting; either we are for him or against him. As for me and my household, we stand for Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Rev. Daniel E. Hale, D. Min.