Lent 2

Lent 2
February 25, 2018
#180 Anniversary
Mark 8:27-38

Lord, You truly are the Father of mercies and God of all comfort. As You have used many of Your children to draw alongside others and accompany them through troubled times; take our lives and use us as a vessel of comfort and solace to others. As You use us to comfort others who are suffering affliction, together, may we each find solace in Your tender mercies. In the name of Jesus. Amen

Jesus begins to explain to the disciples that He must be arrested, suffer, and die a miserable death to save the world of sin. Peter doesn’t buy it. This does not fit into his plan or agenda. For Peter, that was not the kind of Messiah he was looking for. As Peter begins to rebuke Jesus, the Savior puts Peter in his place. There is the type of suffering Jesus must endure if He were to find any satisfaction from the Father.

Jesus will speak in terms of wasting one’s life and investing one’s life. What is the difference? Between wasting and investing?  How are we to act accordingly? This morning, we will see that the way of the cross involves suffering. How? 

The way of the cross involves suffering.

Beware of what you pray for. When the mother of James and John volunteered to play the role of Bathsheba; to guarantee her sons a seat at the big boys table - the table of power, Jesus invited them. He promises instead, that they could share in His suffering. - Mark 10:37

How would Jesus define suffering?

I.        Deny self – V.34 “Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself.” Mark 8:34

A.     How can people in this affluent and comfortable age be convinced of this reality? We are constantly told by the wisdom of this world to do our own thing, to do what makes us feel good – regardless of the consequences. This has not played well in our American culture. 

The sins of the fathers are trickling down to the children to the third and fourth generation. Our parents spoiled us. Of course, all with good intentions. We've done the same with our own.  We have now created a generation who has learned the meaning of "entitlement." We've shielded our children from the consequences of their actions, and now, they believe that actions have no consequences.

The perception of this world is that suffering is only for the weak. By this world’s standard the strong may do what they will. While the weak suffer what they must.  Suffering is therefore to be avoided at all costs. We’ve been advised to steer clear of anything painful or uncomfortable. Yet there is no such thing as pointless pain in the life of the child of God. Your Savior remains present to encourage and strengthen you - even in the valleys of suffering!

Life is not filled with butterflies, rainbows, and unicorns. Says St. Paul, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.”-2 Corinthians 4:8-11

Remember! Satan only hunts among the hurting. He says, "God doesn’t care about the pain you’re going through. God isn’t able to do anything about it, anyway. This distress. This misery. This adversity. Will never end."

But Peter reminds us, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you.” (1 Peter 5:6). Your present suffering will only be for a little while (1 Peter 1:6), even if it’s for the rest of your earthly life…God will lift (“exalt”) you out of these difficult circumstances and into His safe and satisfying presence forever, away from everything you feared and suffered in this age. (See also Romans 8:16–18 and James 4:10). He will heal every wound. Make up for every loss. And wipe away every tear. (Revelation 21:4).

B.     The way to a crown is through a cross. Jesus endured the cross with a sense of joy for He knew of its victorious end. Joy is not merely frivolity and amusement. There is a deeper meaning to your joy which comes through the cross. That is why we have a liturgy. Every Sunday. There is a time in our service for lament. Every Sunday. There is a time. For us to cry out to the Lord. Kyrie Eleison! "Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy!"

As you endure the crosses placed in your life you share in the hope of God’s glory. Christian suffering – your suffering - is prescribed by the Great Physician. You suffer now with the expectation that you will reign with Christ in glory. 

Transition: The way of the cross involves suffering. It is done when we deny ourselves. It is done when we lose ourselves.

II.     Lose self – V.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.” - Mark 8:35

A.     In an attempt to save your life you could very well lose it! Life can add up to zero! For years, the United Negro College Fund Appeal - had, as its slogan, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” Jesus called Judas Iscariot a “son of perdition.” Perdition simply means “a waste.” 

Judas Iscariot was one who wasted his life when he sold out Jesus for thirty silver coins. Jesus said it would have been better if he had not been born! Jesus recognized that it was a temptation not to go to the cross. Yet Jesus would hear nothing of the sort. To save your life He sacrificed His own – He calls you to do nothing but the same.

B.     Our life is salvaged when we lose our life for Christ and for the Gospel. We follow the way of the cross through denial, suffering and sacrifice. It is in losing one’s life in service to Christ that one reaps life that is abundant and free. A tragedy of life is to waste this precious, once-in-a-lifetime life.

Transition: The way of the cross involves suffering. We deny ourselves, we lose ourselves. We crucify ourselves.

III.   Crucify self – V.34 “take up his cross and follow Me.” Mark 8:34

A.     Take up your cross. The rugged cross means a rugged way of life for a follower of Christ. The Christian style of life is a hard life. An author once wrote, “No cross is so extreme, as to have none. There is no gain without pain!” It was said that President Truman had a sign on his desk which read: “Bring me only bad news. Good news weakens me!”  

B.     You follow after Christ. This is what you have been doing for the past 180 years! Continue in Jesus’ wake.  Jesus. His yoke is easy. His burden- light. Without Him we will  stumble, fumble, flop and fall. Followings Him He leads us throughout this human pilgrimage until we reach the goal and our work is done. As we follow along this path there will be dark days and lonely valleys yet our Captain knows the way. So also with you. Read His book. Follow His signs. He’s walked the path of suffering only to come out victorious. As He leads your sufferings and crosses are made palatable. Lent is a time of suffering – yet it is suffering which endures. 

Today, February 25th - we celebrate the signing of our congregation’s charter. Before that. There was no Christian presence in Adams County.  Today is a time for us to claim our heritage. Not in a boorish way.  But in a gentle and respectful way. We can authentically be who we are. Histories ground us. Denominational names; they’re like last names.  They remind us that we came from somewhere. We’re part of a family. We belong to a story – that’s bigger than ourselves.

The church is not a museum of the saints but a hospice for sinners – ruined and bankrupt by the world. For 180 years you have lived out your name – Friedheim – a house of peace – a safe haven - and a harbor of hope in this world. Continue in the calling the Father has given you. Gossip the Gospel – and live in this peace of Christ with yourselves and with each other.

The cross Jesus bore is the cross the church will bear. Giving oneself on behalf of sinners is just as integral to the gospel today as it always has been. Ministry is not a matter of power and privilege, but of humility and service.

It means coming along someone, and listening to them, giving them the freedom to speak and to tell their story. It’s an opportunity for us to listen – and, when, and only when we have listened – we share with them - Jesus.

The Scriptures remind us, “Through many tribulations (θλῖψις) we must enter the kingdom of God.” - Acts 14:22 - The way of the cross will involve suffering.  Yet you are not alone in your suffering. Your Savior walks with you. The love and compassion of Christ always restores, repairs and reconciles.

Jesus will raise you up. From sickness to health. From despair to hope. From sin to holiness. From death to life.

___________________________       

Let us suffer here with Jesus,

To His image e’er conform;

Heaven’s glory soon will please us.

Sunshine follows on the storm.

Tho’ we sow in tears of sorrow,

We shall reap in heav’nly joy;    

And the fears that now annoy,

Shall be laughter on the morrow,

Christ I suffer here with Thee;

There, oh, share Thy joy with me!

Words- 1,685

Passive Sentences –7%

Readability – 78%

Reading Level –4.8

Image © 2016 Greg Gallmeyer