John 12:20-33 Save me from my troubles?? 29/3/09

(20) Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. {21} They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." {22} Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. {23} Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. {24} I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. {25} The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. {26} Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honour the one who serves me. {27} "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. {28} Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." {29} The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. {30} Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine. {31} Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. {32} But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." {33} He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

Once again we are reminded that everything has been turned upside down for us as God’s people. There is a whole new way for us to view life that is completely different to that of the world around us. This enables us to see a way through the troubles of this life, to that which is truly important. This new way helps us to cope and deal with much of what the world sees as bad and negative. Here again central to this new way of thinking and living, is the absolute critical nature of Jesus and his death on the cross, for us; and for our life in this world.

Here however we again have a message that does not go down well with our modern way of thinking. We today want to be free from the troubles and hardships that are so prevalent around us. We want to avoid pain and difficulties at all costs. In many ways we are living in an analgesic society - take a pill for this and that: Have an aspirin or something far stronger, to get rid of the headache or pain; gloss over the hassles; do anything to get relief from that which we see as negative. But we are not prepared to do anything about that which is causing the pain in the first place.

We are not prepared to ask why we are hurting, or what it is that is causing the pain, because we still want to be free to get drunk and abuse our bodies and our relationships. We just want the pain removed when we suffer as a result. In other words, we want a quick-fix - without dealing with the real issues. We want to be free to live as we please. We forget that it is the pain that is telling us that something is wrong: the headache is telling us that we had too much to drink; the bad back is telling us that we are overdoing it. All the pills do is allow us to abuse ourselves even more, until we have done ourselves permanent damage.

Sadly, even within the spiritual sphere of life we are doing the same thing. And there we simply look for God to remove the guilt, pain and hassles, so that we can continue to live as we please. We seek from God an easy road through life, with lots of earthly blessings; but want to avoid the real issues and implications of Christ for our lives. We want to cover over those important issues that are not pleasant and which make demands that we do not like. Then when we are faced with the pain and hardships which result from this abuse, we do not want to face why the pain is there and what God is trying to do through it. We just want it removed. We simply want a quick ‘pep me up’ so that we can get on with doings ourselves some more harm. We want to be free to live as we like; even though it is often the wrong way, and even though it is doing us permanent, irreparable damage.

This is not just the case for the people out there; we too, often look in the wrong direction and fail to see what is truly good and important: we too often also want to look for the easy way out, rather than the way that brings real benefits.

Here in our reading this morning we can learn a lot from what Jesus has to say to us in this regard. But even more importantly, he points us to what truly is important in life. He again points us to the absolute necessity of his death on the cross for our salvation.

Now let us recall the situation: some Greeks have come and asked to see Jesus. No doubt they had heard about all the great miracles that he had performed and what a great speaker and leader he was. So they probably were thinking here is someone they maybe could follow and look up to: who can give them what we need because he has the power to do mighty things. So they try to get to see him, to see if it would be possible for them to be able to join his group.

However, what was Jesus’ response to this request? Very interesting! You want to see me in all my glory: You want to see me as I need to be seen: You want to know what following me involves and where my real power lies? Then look to the cross. Look to that terrible crucifixion that was about to take place.

It is there in Jesus’ death that his true glory is seen. There we see what we really need to see if we are to be truly helped in life. It is there that we face reality, and that our real needs are met. There we face the answer as to why we hurt and have so many hassles; and where our real help lies. There we find the beginnings of a great and wonderful harvest.

Jesus death on the cross does not gloss over the consequences of sin; or push the real the issues to the background. Jesus faced the pain and sin of our world fairly and squarely, and there dealt with the real issues. He took on himself the greatest agony of all – the rejection and punishment from God, so that the cancer of sin could be cut from our lives, and that he could free us from eternal death.

Jesus chose to die, so that we can live. No sidestepping the issue - no running away - no pain-relievers. There was no easy way out - if there was to be long term gain for us. He like a grain of wheat must die so that there could be a rich harvest. Without him going through with it, there would be no hope for us. But he did die; a terrible death, so that we might live. So that we can now look to the cross and know that there is forgiveness for everything that we are and have done wrong and have suffered as a result of others wrong-doing. So that now we can look to the cross and know that we have a God who loves and cares for us - even when we are hurting badly; and so that we can know that our suffering, pain and even death, is not the end. There on the cross we have God cutting through the rebellion, pain and frailty of life; dealing with sin - for our benefit - long term. There we see Jesus - there we see our saviour and Lord, in all his glory.

Now for most people today that does not make sense. On the one hand, it is too easy; and on the other, the cross does not look to be a throne of victory. It does not fit with our concept of dealing with evil and overcoming the problems we face in life. We want to see power, strength and greatness; not humility, love, suffering and death. We want to focus on miracles, gifts and great numbers – an easy road through life; instead of accepting the difficulties and hardships of life as God’s means of keeping us focussed away from ourselves, to him. We want to be loved and served, rather than be loving and serving others, to our own detriment. We want to be free to do our own thing instead of living in obedience and service to Christ and others.

Suffering and death do not fit our concept of glory, or of dealing with the problems of sin. Suffering, sickness and death often do not fit our understanding of Christianity; but, have often been referred to as the result of a lack of faith. So often, we fail to even think that God may be seeking to increase faith and to gain an even greater harvest. So often, we fail to see that he may be seeking to draw us and others closer to him though the problems we face and so that we might learn to trust him that little bit more, rather than trying to do it on our own. Maybe the situations we are forced to face, are to turn our eyes off of ourselves, our pride and the gods of money and technology, and back to where they should be: back to Jesus Christ and his death on cross for the salvation of mankind: back to where the real issues of life have been dealt with and overcome. Then with our focus there, we cannot help but give glory to God for his love, forgiveness, greatness and everything else. There again to know that God cares and is with us, no matter how tough life may be. Then we can heed what Jesus said: The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honour the one who serves me

There on the cross Jesus Christ is glorified, for all to see. There he receives his Father’s approval, and God’s name is glorified. There we see Jesus as God would have him be seen and understood by us all. Yes, To God be the glory great things he has done. AMEN
Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

John 3:14-21. Look up and live!! 22/3/09

(14) Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, {15} that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. {16} "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. {17} For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. {18} Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. {19} This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. {20} Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. {21} But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

Here in this reading today Jesus picks up an Old Testament event to remind us of a simple basic truth that is ever so important for us. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so he himself must be lifted up so that all who believe in him may not die but have eternal life. Yes, here it is stressed again that we need to look up to Jesus: We need to trust in what is said and promised, or else we are still in trouble – big trouble. Now we have all heard this sort of message before – many times perhaps. Yet how often does it not go in one ear and probably out the other. It is nice: it is important: well sort of. That is what we have been told anyway; so we go along with it up to a point. Just enough to keep in touch, but in the meantime we will get on with life: get on with the other important things in life: we get on with doing what we want to do.

So we drop our eyes, and look around us. We think about our day to day life, and the focus shifts to us and what we do, think and say: what we would like to see happen and the way we would like things to go for us. When it doesn’t, we become impatient: we look to the greener pastures over the fence: we become dissatisfied. As the problems and hassles of life which confront us, get worse, we grumble and complain against others: the government, society; and even God gets more than his fair share. Then we lose heart and lose our way, as our life falls apart.

That being the case, we need to hear again this message from John’s Gospel. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Here we are encouraged to contemplate this in light of what happened to Moses and the people of Israel in the desert.

So with that in mind let us look at that event. Moses and the people of Israel had escaped from Egypt, miraculously with God’s help. Then God made his covenant with them at Mt Sinai, promising that he would be their God and take care of them, and they in turn would look up to him and follow his commands. Then on their further travels toward the Promised Land, they were miraculously fed and watered. They were saved from disasters again and again; and when they disobeyed him at different times, a good number were destroyed. So time and again, they had seen God Almighty’s hand at work, for them and against them. Yet time and again, they grew impatient, and grizzled and grumbled.

Now that it was taking longer to get to the Promised Land; and all they had to eat was quail and this white manna day in day out, with very little water again. They grizzled and grumbled again and spoke out against God and Moses: Despite the fact that time and again God had provided for their needs when there was nothing: despite the fact that God had punished them when they turned their backs on him and what he had commanded them.

Here it seems as though they again feel that they deserve better; and again they question God’s sovereignty and providence. They again do not trust that the Lord really can or will be true to his promises, and so they rebel.

When are they going to learn? When will they keep looking up instead of dropping their heads and their hopes? When are they going to trust God fully and be faithful to him?

Here then God sends them many deadly snakes to remind them and teach them an important lesson: To teach them first of all that the wages of sin is death. That to turn ones back on God and his promises is to bring death on themselves. It is here that they learnt an important lesson. “We have sinned against God and against you. Please pray that the Lord will take the snakes away.”

But God does not take them away, because he wants to teach them and us another important lesson. Because of their constant falling into sin, he leaves the snakes there, and even still allows them to bite people. But he tells Moses to make a bronze snake and put it on a pole, so that when they are bitten, they can look up to that bronze snake and the God who put it there, and live. He provides a way out for them, which also reminds them of the importance of the Lord and the salvation that he brings to them despite their sinfulness.

No doubt, there would have been people back then, like they are today: People who would have yelled, grizzled and complained at their being bitten, but their pride would not have allowed them to look up and live; and so they died. Others would have philosophised about the whole situation, suggesting that how can looking up at a bronze snake help, and who would have tried all sorts of other remedies and helps and tried their best to solve the situation themselves, and who died. But others however who were bitten looked up to the bronze snake and the Lord who put it there, and lived and learnt an important lesson in the process. By God’s grace alone, they were saved. They placed their trust in the Lord and his solution and promises and were saved.

Now here in this whole event, we are reminded of some very important truths for us today. Because of our sin – our turning away from the Lord,
we bring death on ourselves. By ignoring him and seeking to live our own lives; doing our own thing, we will run into trouble, not only in earthly terms, but spiritually as well: But also that our God has provided a way out for us, so that we too can look up and live.

God puts his own Son on a pole – on a cross, and takes the punishment we deserve for our sin on himself, so that forgiveness of sins can be ours. Now too, all who look up to him, trusting that he has taken care of their sin, will live, even though they have been bitten by the tragedy of sin.

The cross then, now stands etched in life for the whole world to see and know: To see and know that we as human beings are sinful to the core and deserve to die. That punishment, agony and death, is the results of our sin: our rebellion: our selfishness. The very best we can do, still ends in that awful death. There is nothing we can do that will solve our tragic end.

Except again when we look to that cross, there we see not ourselves hanging, but the Lord Jesus Christ. We see him, innocent and perfect taking our punishment on himself, and in turn giving us his righteousness and his life with God. So now, we can keep looking up and know that we will not die, but live. Eternal life with our Lord Jesus Christ is there for us all. Whoever believes in him will not die but have eternal life.

However, Jesus also says that whoever does not believe is condemned. In fact, they are condemning themselves by their unbelief. Their light, hope and salvation has come; it is there for all on the cross. But they do not want to look up to it. They do not want to trust in him alone. Instead, they still want to focus on themselves and what they are doing or must do. They love the darkness – the sinful ways of the devil, this world and their sinful selves, rather than the right ways that God has provided. These people then bring death on themselves. They have condemned themselves because they refuse to accept the way out that God has provided for them.

That being the case, we need to learn this most important lesson, over and over again. We need to look up to the cross and our Lord Jesus Christ, so that we are continually reminded of our terrible predicament and also the wonderful way out that our Lord has provided for us. Particularly in these troublesome and difficult times; with the tragedies, recession, and the apostasy that is around about us. We too need to look up to Jesus and trust that he loves us and has taken care of us: that he has saved us and assured us of eternal life with himself.

So let us remember and remind one another, that God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Look up to him alone and live. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

John 2:13-22. Nothing in the way of coming to God 15/3/09

(13) When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. {14} In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. {15} So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. {16} To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!" {17} His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me." {18} Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?" {19} Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." {20} The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?" {21} But the temple he had spoken of was his body. {22} After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

I can't go church today because ..... . I not going to get involved with that mob because ...... ; and I could name all kind of issues and excuses. This is something we hear all the time, isn’t it? So we can see and hear that there are all kinds of barriers that hinder people from coming to God and in their regular worship of him. Now these barriers, of course, can be both, real or imagined; but they are there and they hinder people from coming to God and allowing him to serve them as he knows they need to be.
Now, here we are reminded, that with the coming of Jesus, none of these barriers should bar or hinder us. His death and resurrection is God’s guarantee that he has the authority and is the reason why we need not allow anything to get in our way of allowing our Lord first place in life; And also why we must not hinder others from being in God’s presence either.

But first of all, let us consider some of these barriers. Some of them are, of course, of our own making. We have had too late a night out the night before; we want to play our sport or have our weekend to ourselves; we do not like the modern or traditional services. And this is just with regard to Sunday morning worship.
But others, by their own lifestyles and priorities, make life very difficult for themselves; or else they have difficulties because they can not accept a God who will not do and act the way they think he should. So like those in the second reading, they are too clever for their own good; and I could go on.
However there are also, like in this reading, other barriers that are put their by people who should know better. In the Temple at Jerusalem, a great business was being done with the buying and selling of birds and animals for the sacrifices. So much so that Jesus could see that it was causing a real problem for people, in their coming to God. The focus was on the buying and selling instead of their God who was present there in the Temple. The central focus should have been on the Passover: God’s miraculous saving of his people and his establishment of them as a nation and of his presence with them.

So also we can hinder others from being in God’s presence. We can do this by allowing things that we do take central place in our worship services, rather than on God and what he his doing for us. Or by our expectation that others should live and act just the same as us; even the new Christian. Or else, by the example that we lead; say, when we don't attend worship regularly, so that others think they can be Christian without going to church. But perhaps more seriously; is when we as Christian give others the impression that it is our goodness that makes us acceptable to God, rather than the forgiveness that he extends to us all. But I am sure that you could mention many others as well.

So there are barriers and hindrances everywhere, holding people back. We need to be aware of them and the terrible affects they can have on people’s lives. That is not just because people are not coming to worship, or being involved in our Church or whatever: But especially, because failure to come to God through Jesus Christ, means eternal damnation. It can be and is that serious. And surely we do not want that for anyone.

A little story to perhaps help us understand how simple, yet terrible, the effect of some of these barriers can have and be. Young Mary and John hated the thought of visiting their uncle and aunt. They feared the idea having to stay with them for the weekend. Why? Because they had heard their dad say what a mean critter their uncle was, and their mum say how fussy and finicky their aunt was. Then when their cousins came over and told them how they had got hiding with the big strap that hung behind the kitchen door, their little minds ran riot.

Now their uncle and aunt were perfectly nice people. It was just that he did not believe in wasting money and she liked to keep the house clean and tidy. Yes, they did not want their children running riot, so when their children disobeyed badly they where disciplined, but not to the extent that their cousins had painted it. So because of the way they had heard others speak, Mary and John became afraid and didn't want to go and stay with their aunt and uncle.

In the same simple way many people fail to come, or are hindered from coming to God; receiving from him; and worshipping him through Jesus Christ. Many have built up thoughts, images and ideas about God and his church that are holding them back. And unfortunately many of these are thereby denied the salvation and peace that is found in Christ. They are left to go on searching for that elusive happiness and sense of belonging that they know should be there, but without finding it. So they are left to go on, burdened by their failures and loneliness, trying to find meaning and purpose wherever they can.

Here in today’s reading we have Jesus driving out some of those outward hindrances that were there for the people of his day. Here he stands as an authority over against any and everyone who claims to have another or better way - some other idea or practice. And as a result of his death and resurrection, he has proved that authority. There he removed the only real barrier, which bars people from coming to God. So, now nothing needs to stand in our way of coming into God presence. It is freely made available to all. God has, does and wants to share what is important with us all.

In the past things had be done properly and in order: the demands of the Law and the rituals of worship had to be adhered to, before anyone can come into the presence of God. But Christ has taken care of all those outward demands; and so we are now freed to do so, willingly and thankfully. Now the only barriers that are there, are of our own doing. Yes, God still desires that all things be done decently and in order, and that we do take seriously what he has to say to us. But he wants people to come to him and receive the precious gifts that he has for us all.
For many it comes back to simple acceptance of Jesus Christ and what he has done for us through his death on the cross: the simple messages that he has given us in Bible. For many this simple message of the cross is something that they cannot accept. Their cleverness and intellect does not allow them to believe it. Their own self-centeredness dictates that they have to do something; and that desire will not allow them to live the way that he wants and says in the Scriptures. For many, they do not want to be hamstrung from living as they please; while others demand signs and wonders to prove that the message of Christ is true; Instead of simply accepting the message of the cross as God's means of extending his love and salvation to us all. They want to see the power of God at work to give them earthly benefits, even if in the longer term it may mean disaster; when in Christ and his Word they have all that they really need: that in his Church he comes to us to help us and reassure us of his love and forgiveness.

So let us always focus on that which is important; and let us push aside all those other barriers that hinder us and others from coming to God and what he has to give and to strengthen them in the worship service. It is as important as eternal salvation or eternity in Hell. So let us not allow anything else, to distract us from trusting in the work of Christ, his death on the cross, and from listening to what he has to say to us.

(1 Cor 1:18-25) For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. {19} For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." {20} Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? {21} For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. {22} Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, {23} but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, {24} but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. {25} For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
To him again then, be all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN
Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Mark 8:31-38. Take up the cross!! 8/3/09

(31) He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. {32} He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. {33} But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." {34} Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. {35} For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. {36} What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? {37} Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? {38} If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

Here today in the midst of Lent and facing Easter, God has an important message for us today. In fact, it is a critical issue for the Christian Church today and for us as individuals. Absolutely critical! For today, there is that very real temptation for us to do ‘a Peter’ and try and avoid the cross: And thereby to suffer the rebuke of our Lord.

Think about it: right across the scene today; even the church scene; there is the temptation to take the easy and popular road in life. In our owns personal lives even, we are more and more looking to ourselves and our own wants and needs; to hang with anybody else. We expect and demand that everything go well for us. We want and expect a health system and a finance system that will give us the life that we want. We do not want to accept the fact that meaningful life in a sinful world is tough and that we will have to face all kinds of difficulties and trials in it. We want the perfect life here on earth without any real commitment on our part. And it just will not be! Whoever wants to save his life will lose it; says the Lord Jesus.

But even more particularly, the same applies when it comes to our spiritual lives. Even there we want it all handed to us on a plate without us having to give up anything. Too often, we would sooner enjoy a long weekend doing something else other than going to church. We want our church to give us what we want and what makes us feel good, rather than hear what God himself wants us to know. We do not want a Jesus on the cross, and therefore a focus on our sins and the fact that there is nothing good in us that makes us acceptable to God. Instead, we want a miracle worker who will allow us to sit back in our own little selfish world doing our own thing. To this, Jesus says; "Get behind me, Satan!"

But what is of even greater concern is that the churches teachings and doctrinal scene today is encouraging this thinking. More and more it seems that we are pandering to this consumerism thinking even in our spiritual lives. There is more and more a move away from the centrality of the cross, to our lives: from a focus on repentance and the forgiveness of sins; to us and what we think, do and feel and the power of positive thinking and that kind of thinking. To grow the church the emphasis is not on the cross; or Law and Gospel preaching; instead on methods of entertainment to get them in and so focussing on feelings, experiences and giving people what they want. We twist the Scriptures to enable women to be ministers, and to enable us to be accepting and tolerant of all religions. We disregard the Ten Commandments and the rest of God’s Law and focus simply on the gospel, which we have changed to simply mean that ‘God loves us’ and we are free to do as we please. Thereby the gospel becomes no Good News at all. To which Jesus responds; "Get behind me, Satan! You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."

Yes, here Jesus very strongly rebukes this kind of thinking. In fact, he sees it very much as Satan driven thinking. Here he pulls no punches. He tells it as plainly and simply, yet as strongly as he possibly can: that it is absolutely necessary that he must first of all suffers much and be rejected by the highest church council on earth; and then be put to death, and then three days later to rise again. This is not optional thinking. There is no other way of salvation. Jesus absolutely must die as punishment for our sin if we are to be saved and be enabled to be with God in heaven. Jesus’ death and resurrection alone are the means of salvation for us.

Jesus then goes on to say that those who seek to follow him – that is claim to be Christians – must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow him. This is not some nice, easy, feel good experience that we are called to; where everything goes well for us and we are free to do our own thing; focussing on ourselves and our wishes. We are to remember that we are sinful: So bad in fact that that there was no hope for us. That sin is what put Jesus on the cross. So all we can do is to disown ourselves and cling to Jesus and the cross as our only hope. For through his giving of his life, we can now look to him and know that he has life for us; and he has a way for us to live as we follow Jesus. As we give up completely on ourselves, he tells us, there is life – real life.

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

Then he concludes with these words: If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels

If we are ashamed to stand up for Jesus and the importance of his death on the cross; the truth of his Word; he will be ashamed of us on the Last Day. If we simply want to turn him and his Word into something nice and acceptable to our adulterous and sinful generation, then we are in trouble. If we are going to think that it is our thoughts, methods, entertainment and experiences that are going to grow the Church then we are walking a disastrous path.

No, we are called to, deny ourselves, and take up our cross and follow Jesus. That is God’s call for us. It is not one option amongst many. There is no other choice. It is Jesus and the cross, or it is Satan and Hell. As The Christ had to suffer and die, so are we to give up on ourselves and follow Jesus’ way, making his cross our focus. Knowing all the while, that through Jesus and his death and resurrection, our following in his way leads to eternal life. By losing our life for Jesus and for the gospel we will find that our life has been saved. No more than that! No less than that!

Our assurance that this is the right way for us is to look again and again to Jesus. Remember here he said that he would suffer and die on the cross, but also that he would after three days rise again. And that is exactly what happened. It was not just that he would suffer and die and that was it: But that he would rise again, and thereby that we would also rise to life also.

So we can now deny ourselves, and take up our cross and follow Jesus, knowing that because of Jesus there is new life and eternal life beyond the cross, for Jesus and for us. So we can go through this Lenten season and the rest of our lives, acknowledging that we are worthless sinners; but forgiven sinners, full of hope. Because our Lord Jesus has risen from the dead, and through our baptism we have been joined to his death and resurrection, we can go the way of the cross knowing that we have life; guaranteed.

So we pray that our Lord will give us a special measure of his Spirit, so that we do not continually succumb to the temptation to avoid the cross and to deny the importance and power of Christ death on it: Instead to keep ever before us, the absolute necessity of the cross for our forgiveness and salvation. We also pray that he will enable us to deny ourselves and take up our crosses in our life as his people and so to follow him. All so that the power of Jesus’ cross may be known by all, and that all glory and honour may go to him who is our Lord and Saviour. To him alone be all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish