Second Sunday In Lent (B) 2012

+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.

Text: Mark 8:31-33
Theme: Sifting the Truth

Dear friends in Christ Jesus,

The works of God are not immediately discernible to the naked eye. Luther once said, “Although the works of man always appear attractive and good, they are nevertheless likely to be mortal sins. Although the works of God always seem unattractive and appear evil, they are nevertheless really eternal merits.”1 In short, natural human reason normally gets the things of God backwards from what they really are. This truth is of central importance in the dialogue today between Jesus and Peter. It is also worth considering throughout our journey of Lent.

Today Jesus became deliberate about teaching His disciples that He would suffer and die. He was not at first well-received. Christ turned the idea of leadership on its head. He would not use power and position to acquire prosperity or boost His ego. He became the ultimate servant even to His enemies. Humanity often abuses positions of authority. As sinners we tend to serve our own motives through the power at our disposal. Lent shows us where we find forgiveness for seeking to rule over others. Calvary was Jesus’ earthly seat of power. Forgiveness is always the greatest power we have available to us.

At issue in our gospel account is recognition of God’s will even when it seems to run counter to human logic. This concern is not limited to the historical context of Jesus’ earthly ministry. It is the struggle of every believer. How is God’s will interpreted? Just because we are Christians doesn’t mean every notion we have is an impulse of the Holy Spirit. To operate in this way is to completely misunderstand the purpose of the Bible. Faith does not free you from the Bible but binds you to it. The believer does not become a self-validating spiritual entity; not even when a sincere effort is made to claim the inclination is a compulsion of the Holy Spirit.

Now it is indisputable that people feel moved by God to do certain things and such individual assertions can never be proven either way. The point is: How can you know God’s will with absolute veracity? How can you know with absolute certainty the will of the Holy Spirit? The Holy Scriptures- and the Scriptures alone! You may have a ‘gut instinct’. And this may well prove true because it is influenced by past experience and the wisdom of others. You may believe God is telling you something because your mind and your conscience have been well-informed by long years of having learned the faith. Perhaps you have identified ‘signs’. But Satan too can give you signs. He can be very convincing.

Peter thought he understood the will of God. He thought he knew the plan. The plan included a meteoric rise in his own power and status. It meant liberation from Roman control and a glorious earthly Messianic age. It was surely not just a matter of opinion or misunderstanding when Peter reacted vehemently to the Lord’s prediction of His suffering and death.

Peter’s whole vision for the Messianic kingdom was turned upside down. He had witnessed this man feed the multitudes, heal the sick, walk on water, cast out demons, even raise the dead. Peter himself confessed Him to be the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Surely this man intended to and was capable of bringing justice to Israel. Surely even the kingdom of Solomon would be surpassed with Jesus at the helm. But a crucifixion? Humiliation? A wretched criminal’s death? And no justice with the religious authorities?
Could this really be the plan? Jesus’ rebuke was sharp. He always addresses our sins with seriousness. Then He leads us into a greater trust of those intentions of God which we cannot fully understand.

Why does Jesus tell His followers to pray for the Holy Spirit? Not to become believers, which they already were. But that the Holy Spirit would strengthen their trust in His word and promise. It was a lesson to them that God would not withhold from them even the highest spiritual gift- the Holy Spirit Himself. How do we know that the Lord is constantly interceding for us? Jesus told Peter, “Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.”2

Dear friends, St. Paul reminds us today that the central premise of Christianity is directly opposite of the world’s “you get what you earn” philosophy. He writes, “If those who live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless, because law brings wrath…Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring.”3 Through baptism you are an heir. You have the consolation of divine fellowship. You have a different perspective than that of the world. Jesus said today, “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?”4

Because you are redeemed you are free to pursue an endless range of possibilities that interest you and tend to the glory of God and the well-being of your neighbour. This is a glorious freedom. Having been justified in Christ we are released from the burdens of a regime under which it is necessary to curry His favour lest our eternal salvation be in jeopardy. What you are not free to do is pursue those goals which bring you into direct contradiction with bearing the cross Jesus speaks of; nor would you want to. Then no strength of feeling, peace of conscience, or appeal to the Holy Spirit’s impulse will hold water.

The work and way of Christ will never appeal to human logic: Victory through humility and life gained through death. The same pattern is scripted for His followers. We gain life as we die to the world. We can now sacrifice our self-interests because we know a resurrection awaits. Regardless of what the world throws at us we have the promise of God’s word, “[Christ] was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.”5

Remember, Lent always carries with it a heighted awareness of our mortality. The purpose is not to curb our enthusiasm for life but to keep us from losing sight of the goal. We are travelers here. Let us be pilgrims not by concession but by conviction. The Holy Spirit leads us and the Shepherd carries us. After a particularly inspiring worship service, a church member greeted the pastor. "Reverend, that was a wonderful sermon. You should have it published." The pastor replied, "Actually, I'm planning to have all my sermons published posthumously." "Great!" enthused the church member. "The sooner the better!" “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust”…the sooner the better? Dare we believe it? Amen.

+ In nomine Jesu +

Second Sunday in Lent
4 March 2012
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt

1 Heidelberg Disputation
2 Luke 22:31
3 Romans 4:14-16
4 Mark 8:36-37
5 Romans 4:25