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A new age dawned with the birth of Jesus. Through him life
with God, life in harmony with God's love, became much more accessible
to us, though not yet fully and completely. His execution did not
invalidate this new age, but in fact his willing sacrifice on its behalf
cemented this new age in place until such time as he would return to
us, fully and completely bringing a new heaven and a new earth.
Our first lesson this morning describes the
wonderful reality experienced by the earliest flock of the good
shepherd, Jesus. These sheep got good results! As one
commentator phrased it, there was a lot of "visible evidence among them
that the new age had dawned."
The question I wish to place before us today, as
individuals, as families, as members and friends of this little Jesus
flock at Macksburg Lutheran, as participants in our society, our nation,
our world, is this: Is there visible evidence among us that a new
age did indeed dawn with the birth of Jesus, and continues to this day?
In contrast to other human leaders, religious or
political, who may not always have our best interest at heart, Jesus
makes a very radical claim: "I am the gate. Whoever enters
by me will be saved ... I came that [you] may have life, and have it
abundantly." Here, we believe, is the simple answer to the complex
questions that plague us in our human situation.
Through the wonderful intimacy of our relationship
with Jesus Christ, who knows each of us, calling us by name, and whose
voice we can also know, we can find a sufficient measure of abundant
life, of true wealth, that we can demonstrate visible evidence that the
new age has dawned!
First of all, as the second lesson puts it, "by his
wounds [we] have been healed." As pastor not everything I say has
the authentic ring of Jesus' voice, but I believe this does! Each
one of you are called and chosen to be part of Jesus' flock. Each one of
you has access to the gateway he provides for us, a gateway to abundant
and eternal life. No one is excluded! Have you wandered
off? Gone astray? That's what we sheep do! Hear his
voice, calling to you, inviting you, urging you home to truly good
pasture!
Forgiveness and cleansing, though vital, are not all
there is to salvation, however. As humans we have an enormous
propensity to lose our freedom! We can allow ourselves to be
dominated by others. We can live in abject slavery to fear.
We can be in bondage to a great variety of addictions. We can
stubbornly persist in defining and pursuing our own cherished form of
salvation. Our shepherd can and is eager to defeat any forces that
beguile and enslave us, welcoming us back into his flock.
As humans, just like literal sheep, we have an
enormous propensity to wander off and get lost. While at the
retreat center in Phoenix, even though I was sick, I enjoyed sitting on
the patio to my room in the warm afternoons. One day, when it was
time for yet another nap, I discovered that the patio door had locked
itself. I was locked out of my room. Second story ... to
high to jump. No phone. My room faced the rear of the
retreat center ... no one down below. I was exiled from my
room! What could I do? I prayed! Before very long, I
heard voices from below. Looking down, I saw that some workers had
brought a load of garbage around to the dumpster. "Can you help
me?" I cried. And was rescued! Whenever we cannot get back
to our home, Christ will rescue us!
Scripture makes it very clear that this world is not
our true home, no matter how energetically we try to make ourselves
fully at home here. Our real home right now is with our shepherd
and his flock; he is the way we will ultimately find our way into our
true home, God's kingdom.
As the first lesson demonstrates, the people who
became part of the early flock of Jesus, got very good results!
There was visible evidence in their lives, as individuals, and together,
that a new age had indeed dawned! Things dramatically improved
for them, despite the fact that most of them were very poor, and they
dwelt in a land under the harsh hand of the Romans. They were
truly happy, truly content! Can we all say the same?
How did things change for the better for them?
It was not their accomplishment; it was a result of the power of the
resurrection of Jesus Christ, available to them through the Holy
Spirit. How did it work? How did they move from misery to
abundant life?
First of all, they "devoted themselves to the
apostles' teaching ..." Most of the original disciples who had
hung with Jesus had regrouped and were passing along the teaching they
had received directly from him. Has it ever occurred to you that
one of the main reasons we get together on a weekly basis is to "devote
ourselves to the apostles' teaching" which we have in scripture?
To the extent that we are able to give our attention to that which Jesus
has to offer us through his Spirit as we gather in his name, our lives
can significantly improve!
Secondly, they devoted themselves to
fellowship. They had the intimacy of relationship with the risen
Jesus; they also cared about one another! To the extent we care
about one another and as we receive their caring, our lives can
significantly improve. This is not optional; Jesus' one
commandment was to love one another.
As humans we learn to turn towards some people and
turn away from others. Appearance, body language, prejudice, fear
... all these things can keep us at a distance. As Christians, we
are called and equipped to simply "turn toward" one another, giving
others our attention, our compassion. Though scary, for this can
lead to deeper acts of caring, it is part of the way Christ functions as
a gateway to abundant life for us.
The early flock "devoted themselves to the breaking
of bread". This, of course, meant communion. Though the
early flock joined with other Jews in worshiping at the Temple and in
synagogue, they came together in private homes, to share a full meal
which included the presence of Christ in wine and bread. Though
we've separated what we call 'communion' from coffee hours, dinners,
potlucks and the like, gathering in all these ways remains powerful.
Finally, they devoted themselves to "the
prayers". They prayed. Perhaps the primary reason for them
and for us to pray is the recognition that we are not equipped to take
care of ourselves very well. Thus, at our best, we turn to
God. Faith grows; fear recedes. Our lives improve!
Finally, they had "all things in common".
Their point of view had radically changed. They no longer thought
of themselves first, of how a thing might effect them. They
learned to think of the wellbeing of everyone, and thus found sharing
much easier! If our primary focus is on how well we are doing, we
will always be aware of what we lack. The wider our vision the
more appreciative we can be of what we do have, and how we can use all
our resources to benefit others.
Every really good sermon needs stories. In
this case, I challenge each of you to supply the stories.
Following Jesus, who calls you by name, and leads you through life,
cherishing his teaching, savoring relationship with others of his flock,
basking in his living presence in your life, relating to God through
him in prayer, what stories do you have of how your life has improved?
Time prevents us in the context of worship to invite
you to come up here and tell those stories. Let's tell them to
ourselves, and to others in Christian fellowship, that we may discern
and celebrate the visible evidence among us that the new age has dawned
and does continue. Amen.
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