March 25th:
The Price March 25, 2012 Call: Jeremiah 31: 31-34 Text: Hebrews 5: 5-10; John 12: 20-30 Read: Psalm 51 (785) The Price I like symmetry. I like it a great deal. I like it because it requires balance. I like it because it necessitates that there be a pattern. This should be obvious to anyone who has seen the pictures I have hung in the parsonage. Particularly the "Hall of Presidents" on the second floor I have displayed on two sections of the west wall of the hallway framed pictures of 18 US Presidents Both sections show that I have balanced: The size of the pictures The chronology of the presidencies And even factored in to some extent the importance of the president. My strong preference for symmetry (and I prefer the word "preference" to the word "obsession") Does not just impact the way I hang pictures. It is reflected in the way I put services together. For example, the services for the first five Sundays in Lent Each week The call to worship has been the OT lection Each week the textual scripture has been the epistle lection And Each week my sermon titles have begun with the word "The." This is the last of those five Sundays As I prepared for it, I struggled finding myself feeling, Very much like a film critic reviewing the trailer for a film rather than reviewing the film itself The text is Hebrews 5: 5-10 [read] This passage introduces themes and concepts That are much more completely developed over several of the chapters that follow It seemed to me that that more complete development was "the film" And the text we read was the trailer which merely tells a little bit of the film and is designed not to stand by itself but to get people interested in the film To avoid reviewing "the trailer", I tried to expand the text to include "the film" found in the rest of the letter. But I began to feel like a scholar preparing to present a paper Rather than a preacher attempting to bring a scripture alive. And there is a lot of difference between A scholarly paper on the one hand And a sermon on the other The former tends to be longer, dryer - and often duller It is directed almost exclusively to the mind Its natural form is to be written - not oral The latter tends to be shorter, more emotional - and hopefully livelier It is directed to hearts and souls - not only to minds Its natural form is to be oral - not written [An aside: That is why the spacing, punctuation, and wording in my sermon manuscripts differ from what they would be if I was writing an essay or a treatise or a book.] I knew that this could not be what I was expected to do. And so I sneaked a quick look at the lectionary gospel lesson It was from John 12: As I looked at verses 20-30, I said "Ooooohhhh! This strikes me. This calls out to me. Maybe I should switch texts." But then a voice (my voice) inside me said, "You can't do that! It would be like giving up." Do any of us want to be accused of giving up? Did Syracuse give up when Fab Melo was ruled ineligible? Did Louisville give up when they struggled mid season? And I had just visited 30 year old Barb Steenberg at CPH Where she is hospitalized several times a year. She hasn't given up. But if I were to switch texts, what would I be giving up? My pride? Indefensible My plans? Plans can always be changed My pattern? For a guy who likes symmetry as much as I do This was the hard one But I had to admit that my affection for symmetry Which is often - in fact, usually - a good thing Was getting in the way of a meaningful message On a scripture that was calling out to me. When I realized that, I hung my head For I recognized a fool who Seemed to prefer symmetry To God's call. I was embarrassed and I returned to the gospel. [12: 20-30] Just picture this remarkable and moving scene Jesus, with the crowds gathered around for worship, admits his soul is troubled about what is ahead What is ahead, of course, is the cross He admits that it has crossed his mind to ask his father to save him from it. But he tells them that he has rejected and dismissed that approach because, "it is for this reason that I have come to this hour." Jesus has come to this hour to die. The author of Hebrews explained this In the passage that was originally to be our text Jesus was not only a high priest, he was the high priest Appointed by God Jesus was not only the high priest He was himself the offering that he as the high priest presented to God on behalf of the people As such offering, Jesus was and is the source of our salvation. And Jesus was not only the offering, He was also the son And being son, was what made this offering so worthy Jesus has come to this hour as priest, as offering, and as son To be nailed to the cross and To die a painful and shameful death all this to - as we have noted every since we heard the words from 1 Peter on the first Sunday in Lent "bring us into a closer relationship with God." He knew this and as such knew he had to reject any plea to be released from that task Jesus has come to this time to die as John records him saying Because it was the very idea behind his incarnation Because it would glorify God And give life and hope to the people Jesus died not to save himself, but to save the people - including us. The voice from heaven confirms all that And it confirms, therefore, that Jesus is the offering that seals the new covenant the one that Jeremiah spoke of in the call to worship the one that supersedes the covenants with Noah, Moses, and David the one etched in our hearts. Jesus paid the price Jesus paid it by rejecting the idea of a plea to be released And thus paving the way for his walk to the cross God the Father paid the price God the Father paid it by sending his son to that cross. You and I are the beneficiaries Of that walk to the cross You and I are the beneficiaries Of that new covenant. What price are you and I willing to pay? For the words, "The Price" in the sermon title Do not just refer to what the father and son paid. It is also what price you and I are willing to pay To demonstrate our gratitude as descendants and beneficiaries receiving The gift from God, And The sacrifice of God's son By living lives with true wisdom And fasting in the sense that God chooses Not as ritual and routine actions But by loving, sharing, and caring Hmmm, those were all the Lenten sermon titles. There is still a pattern But the pattern can't take priority over the message. Even for those of us who like symmetry a great deal.