Second Sunday of Lent - Video and sermon
Second Sunday of Lent
Philippians 3:17-4:1
Luke 13:31-35
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Amen.
Last Sunday, we reflected upon the bald temptations of Jesus by Satan. When Jesus was at the end of his fast and at his weakest physically, Satan came to tempt Jesus. We saw Jesus hold firm to His ultimate mission of the cross. Jesus chose the difficult path of obedience.
Three years have passed since his baptism and temptations. Under threat of imprisonment or premature death, Jesus remains committed to His ultimate mission of the cross. In chapter 9:51, Luke says that Jesus set His face to go to Jerusalem. That is where He is headed. The time for His passion draws near. Yet, He will not be rushed. All along the way God’s Good News in Word and Deed is administered to both Jew and Gentiles.
We cannot help but observe that in both the Old Testament and the Gospel readings, the occupants of the city of God are not held in high esteem by either Jeremiah or Jesus. In the Temple in Jerusalem, the prophet Jeremiah calls the people and their leadership to repent of their sins lest God’s wrath ensure that the city is without inhabitants. Instead of allowing Jeremiah’s strong word of accusing law serve as an “aha!” moment that leads to critical self-examination and repentance, the people choose to be insulted. The leadership, political and spiritual, also choose to be insulted. Instead of receiving Jeremiah’s preaching as a Word from the Lord intended to mend their relationship God, they harden their hearts and seek to violently silence the messenger.
Jesus speaks poignantly of Jerusalem. Having himself, along with the Holy Spirit and the Father, dispatched Jeremiah and many prophets to the city of God over the centuries because they were not behaving like the people of God, the sadness of the situation is evident in Jesus’ lament. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! Behold, your house is forsaken.”
This is a disturbing and profoundly sad situation. The very people who are entrusted with the memory of God’s marvelous works; the very people who are designated as the caretakers of God’s visible presence in the Temple and the transmission of the doctrine of the faith from generation to generation, and, who are charged with the ongoing sacrifices and worship of the LORD, will not only continue the long tradition of not receiving the prophets but they will not receiving the Messiah either. Yes, many will, as Jesus says, declare upon his entrance into Jerusalem, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!” But, not long after, the prevailing chant will be “crucify Him, crucify Him.”
Why do the people of God not receive the prophets and the Messiah? Why do they refuse to receive the Word of God? Don’t they know that God’s Word is both Law and Gospel? There is first the accusation, then the balm of God’s forgiveness which is received by faith. God has never spoken only nice, polite, smooth, and affirming words to His people. Before there is the balm of Psalm 23 there is the agony of Psalm 22. Before there is Good News, there is confession of sin.
The book of Genesis bears witness to human attraction to and corruption of sin. The ease by which Eve and Adam turned away from God’s clear Word of DO NOT EAT OF THIS ONE TREE IN THE GARDEN, EVERY THING ELSE IS GOOD TO EAT is a lesson for us. We can do the same thing. We can easily get off track and listen to other voices. When God calls us back, it can be unpleasant, but isn’t His Good News worth it? Isn’t peace with God and neighbor worth a scolding from the LORD?
Apparently, not always. So, for Jeremiah, the rest of the prophets, and Jesus, Jerusalem the city of God becomes an irony of ironies. God’s people refuse God’s Word and the Messiah Himself. They seek to kill the very ones who bring healing and hope for them.
Yet, despite this enormous deficit, the LORD has decided that we are worth forgiving and saving. Despite our foolishness, Jesus remains determined to go to Jerusalem. Only in Jerusalem, can the Messiah be rejected. Only in Jerusalem can he be crucified. Despite the efforts of the so called faithful, Jesus is determined to save us.
This problem of self-delusion is not a thing of the past. This ought to be a perpetual concern for the church too. Who doesn’t like smooth, silky, words that affirm and build us up all the time? Who doesn’t want to hear what we want to hear all the time? Mirror, Mirror, on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all? “O, you are!” is what we expect the Mirror to say.
When we hear words from Jeremiah and Jesus in the midst of Lent, we need to be prepared to receive some less than flattering words. We need to ask some tough questions of our soul: Where is my trust really? Do I truly trust the LORD for my future on earth and in heaven? Am I harboring resentment, grudges, jealousy, or anger toward my neighbor? Am I unwilling to let it go to God? Am I lying? Do I bear false witness when I talk about others? Is my life oriented around fulfilling the desires of my covetous heart or loving God and neighbor?
These are questions that the hard hearted of Jeremiah and Jesus listeners refused to reflect upon. Quite frankly, they refused to their peril. Earthly and eternal.
As we continue our own walk to Jerusalem, as we search our souls to prepare for the celebration of Good Friday and the Resurrection, we do so knowing that Jesus has died for us. As he died, he already knew you. He stayed on the cross, despite knowing everything about you already. In this season of Lent, we want to grow more fully into his grace. His love for us gives us courage to be honest. His love for us gives us courage to repent and to change and live free in His grace. By His blood, he covers you in His righteousness. His cross is for you.
The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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