Thursday, February 23, 2012

ASH WEDNESDAY

February 22, 2012

Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

Text: John 18:4-11

SURPRISING WORDS FROM OUR SAVIOR’S PASSION

“PUT YOUR SWORD AWAY!”

1. Because Jesus must go to the cross.

2. Because we must too!

John 18:4-11 (NIV 1984) “Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” 5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 “I told you that I am he,” Jesus answered. “If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.” 10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) 11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

The cross is central. It is the central message of the Bible. It is the central focus of our church architecture. God’s word and the building are designed to keep our eyes on Jesus’ cross. It’s no surprise that our Lenten series this year strives to do the same. The Wednesdays of Lent have been traditionally used in the Christian Church to follow the Passion History of Jesus—to see His cross. This year we do that by looking at some surprising sayings of Jesus. Now it is not unusual to hear someone say something surprising, is it? For instance once when walking downstairs by our preschoolers one of them said, “Um, pastor, um, where’s your dress?” That’s surprising. I’m not sure where that was coming from. Or take this one. Whenever the pastor who supervised me for my vicar year visits our congregation he says, “Well, you’re looking good. Although there seems to be more of you.” That’s surprising. I don’t know why he would say that. I’m worried about his eyesight. Jesus’ surprising sayings have to do with our salvation. Our one for today is, “Put your sword away!” Why would Jesus say that?

We join Jesus and the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane. Judas had left them in the Upper Room to get the chief priests and their soldiers in accordance with his betrayal agreement. Jesus took the other disciples up the Mount of Olives to the Garden. He had prayed fervently to His Father. Now it was time for the next step. Notice what John tells us. “Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him.” Jesus knows! How could He not? He is the Son of God. He knows and He goes anyway. But there’s more. Look at what happens.

Picture it, if you can. There is Jesus with the 11 disciples following behind. They meet Judas leading some of the chief priests and a detachment of soldiers. They have torches, lanterns, weapons. If you are one of the disciples watching you are thinking. What is this? What is Judas doing with them? What’s going on here?

Jesus asks a question. “Who is it you want?” 5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.” You know what was going on there, right? Jesus was demonstrating to His disciples and His arresters that soldiers and weapons could not force Him to do anything. Jesus would go by His choice. Jesus asked again, “Who is it you want?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 “I told you that I am he,” Jesus answered. “If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.” Again Jesus shows His love. He’s more concerned about what would happen to the disciples then to him.

That’s when it happened. Peter stepped forward. “Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) His Lord, His Master needed help. Peter stepped forward to defend Him. And then Jesus said it, “Put your sword away!” Why? Peter was standing up for Jesus. That’s what we are supposed to do. Peter was zealous for the safety of Jesus. What’s wrong with that? At this point, everything. Jesus needed to go to the cross. He knew that. He said, “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” The cross was the Father’s plan, not the chief priests’, not Pilate’s, not Satan’s. God’s plan. Only on the cross could God punish sin without punishing us. Only through the cross could sinners be freed from their slavery and could death be made the path to heaven. Jesus said “Put your sword away!” because He needed to go to the cross.

We must go there too. Actually we have already been to the cross. Actually we have all already been on the cross. We were there with Jesus. He was there as our substitute. He did His job. No one kept Jesus from the cross. The Devil does try to keep us from focusing the cross. He likes to do that like He did with Peter, even using our good intentions. You saw how Peter got in trouble, right? He felt he had to help Jesus. Jesus couldn’t get by without Peter’s help. Wrong. Just as wrong when we do it. For every time we try we need to hear Jesus say, “Put your sword away.” For instance Jesus does tell us to live Godly lives and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit enables us to. But that doesn’t make us better than anyone else or more worthy of salvation. So when we are smugly feeling we are in some way better than other sinners or tempted to despise others we need to hear “Put your sword away.” Jesus does give us the privilege of being His witnesses. He does tell us to spread the word. But when our witnessing is met with rejection and we are tempted to rely on something other than the Gospel message of Jesus crucified to pay for sin, we need to hear, “Put your sword away.” And when we have sinned and in repentance hear Jesus announce forgiveness in His word, the Sacrament of through another believer we don’t need to mope around for several days to prove who sorry we are. Put your sword away. Jesus doesn’t need our help in paying for our sins either. You get to live the joy of salvation.

“Put your sword away!” was the surprising thing Jesus said to Peter who was simply trying to help Him. But Jesus doesn’t need Peter’s help or yours or mine. It’s a privilege to serve Him. Perhaps though there is one more surprising saying in this part of the Passion History. It’s surprising because of who said it. When the chief priests and detachment of soldiers came to arrest Jesus, He asked them, “Who is it you want?” Surprisingly they answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Who is it you want? Who do you want ruling your life? Who do you want to serve? Who do you want with you every day? Whose approval do you desired the most? Today and every day let there be no surprise about our answer. Jesus of Nazareth! Amen.

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