Sidney UMC - Second Sunday In Lent - 03/05/23 - Sermon - “Even The Most Sucessful Seek Him!” (“The Journey to the Empty Tomb” Series: Part 2 of 7)

                                    Sunday 03/05/23 - Sidney UMC

Sermon Title:      “Even The Most Successful Seek Him!”                       (“The Journey to the Empty Tomb” Series: Part 2 of 7)    

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 121                                      

New Testament Scripture: Romans 4:1-15, 13-17   

Gospel Lesson: John 3:1-17     

          This morning, I am continuing my Lenten Sermon series called “The Journey to the Empty Tomb,” as Lent will end, and Easter will begin with the empty tomb of Jesus Christ. Last Sunday, we talked about Jesus’ time in the wilderness for 40-days and 40-nights, as well as his temptation from Satan. Where we pick up in our gospel of John reading for this morning however, is Jesus is fully emersed in his three-year earthly ministry. Jesus passed the test in the wilderness last week, and went through what I called his “basic training.” After resisting the devil, where Adam and Eve had failed in the Garden of Eden, Jesus succeeded.

          Jesus has now gone forth as Lord and Savior, loving, healing, and forgiving. So far in the gospel of John, Jesus has been baptized, called his disciples, turned water into wine, and cleansed the temple, which includes turning over the tables of the money changers. This young 30-year-old Jewish Rabbi was creating quite a stir in Judea and beyond. For he was performing miracles, teaching in ways that baffled even the most educated and smart scholars. Jesus spoke with authority, never sinned or caved, and needless to say, in addition to his twelve disciples, Jesus was drawing crowds.

          No doubt the religious and the Roman ruling establishment had gotten wind of this young Jewish Rabbi named Jesus of Nazareth. There were probably already discussions of what to do with this man. I mean was Jesus hurting anybody? Well probably not, but he was challenging the religious leaders, the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Further, the Roman Governor of Judea Pontius Pilate did want a rebellion against Roman rule due to Jesus, and certainly King Herod did not want his power tested.

          Jesus then, quickly becomes a threat to established religious leaders, political leaders, and maybe even military leaders. Jesus was, as the term goes, “rocking the boat,” and often people in top leadership positions don’t like it when people “rock the boat”. Yet, what Jesus was teaching, the miracles he was performing, and the love he was sharing was undeniable. What to do then with this young Jewish Rabbi named Jesus of Nazareth? Well, we know he gets tortured, condemned and crucified on Good Friday. But why? Well, the Roman Governor of Judea Pontius Pilate was certainly worried that Jesus’ ministry could cause a rebellion against Roman rule, once again, but what reason would religious leaders have to condemn Jesus to death?

          Among saying that Jesus broke Old Testament or Torah Laws, the big concern with Jesus, was that Jesus claimed to be God in the flesh. I have heard some people say where did Jesus ever claim to be God in the gospels. The answer to this? Not only did Jesus make this claim, but it is reinforced all throughout the scriptures. In fact, in Matthew 26:64-66 Jesus is before the high priest, guards, and other religious leaders on Good Friday. In response to his interrogation Matthew 26:64-66 says:

⁶⁴ Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, From now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” ⁶⁵ Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy. ⁶⁶ What do you think?” They answered, “He deserves death”     (Mt. 26-64-66, NRSV).

          Why did the high priest Caiaphas tear his robe? Because Jesus was claiming to be divine. Jesus said he will sit next to God the father in heaven and return on the clouds of heaven. This was the ultimate blasphemy and this led to Jesus’ crucifixion.

          Many of us know in the Torah or the Old Testament that when Moses demanded to the know the name of God when he stood before the “Burning Bush”, that God said to Moses in Exodus 3:4:

⁴ God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” (Ex. 3:4, NRSV).

          Why is this important, because in John 8:58 Jesus says:

⁵⁸ Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am”              (Jn. 8:58, NRSV).

          Was Jesus claiming to be God in the flesh on earth? The answer is yes, and Jesus was doing this inn the clearest of terms. Jesus was and is worshipped and as others in the New Testament made similar claims about him.

          Now why do I make the case that Jesus was God in the flesh on earth? Well because a Pharisee named Nicodemus comes to see Jesus one night in secret, in this morning’s gospel of John reading. Nicodemus is man of great worldly achievement, and probably of great wealth and possession. Nicodemus is coming to Jesus, and his friends want to condemn Jesus to death. Yet, why would Nicodemus do this? Is Nicodemus coming to try to trick or trip up Jesus, as many of the other religious leaders and scribes did? No Nicodemus needs to chat with this Jesus of Nazareth. It would seem that Nicodemus believes in him, but is afraid to meet with him during the day. After all, this would put Nicodemus in a bad place with the other religious leaders.

          I got an e-mail earlier this week asking me if Nicodemus was involved in Jesus’ burial after Jesus’ crucifixion. The answer is yes. In John’s gospel, Nicodemus bring 100-pounds of aloes and oils to anoint and wrap Jesus’ body. Jesus was then placed for three days in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, until his resurrection on Easter morning.

          Nicodemus, the Pharisee, the high up religious leader, who had a lot of education, likely wealth, possession, and respect, becomes a secret follower of Jesus Christ. This is why my sermon for this morning is called “Even The Most Successful Seek Him!”

          Real quick, whenever I preach on Nicodemus the Pharisee I always have to tell the Jeff Foxworthy joke about Nicodemus. Some of might know that there is a gum on the market called “NicoDerm” to help people quite smoking. Jeff Foxworthy said, “If you think Nicodemus is a gum you chew to quite smoking than you might not know your bible”. To me that joke never gets old!

          So often we think and read of Jesus in the gospels going to the least, the lost, and the lesser-thans. Jesus does this, but people of great prominence also converted to his gospel, to Christianity. In fact, President Jimmy Carter, a committed Christian, who is presently in Hospice Care at his home in Georgia, is someone of immense power and stature.

          The gospel of Jesus Christ, his life, teaching, and everything he did draws all manner of people to him, including the most earthly successful people. The Apostle Paul this morning, which is what Jesus in part conveys to Nicodemus the Pharisee, talks about faith being our salvation. In fact, the Apostle says for this morning starting in Romans 4:2, once again:

4 What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? ² For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. ³ For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” ⁴ Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. ⁵ But to one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness (Rom. 4:1-5, NRSV).

The Apostle Paul speaks of Abraham and says what saved Abraham was not his works, but his faith. Our faith in God through Jesus Christ is our salvation. The Apostle Paul continues on in this reading from Romans 4 not denouncing the law or the religious rules and rituals of the Torah and the Old Testament, but reinforces it was Abraham and his decedents faith that saved them.

          This scripture for this morning Romans 4 is very connected to our gospel of John lesson on Nicodemus, as Nicodemus was having a spiritual struggle like Paul laid out in our Romans 4 for this morning. I mean after all, Nicodemus followed all the religious laws, and isn’t this enough for salvation, for eternity in heaven?

          Let’s look at our gospel less from John 3:1-17 again for this morning. Starting in John 3:1 it says once again:

3 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. ² He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with that person” (Jn. 3:1-2, NRSV).

          So Nicodemus, who goes to Jesus secretly at night, as most of the religious leaders are against Jesus, wants to understand Jesus more. It is almost as if Nicodemus is secretly speaking for all the pharisees and religious leaders, as he says, “we know that you are a teacher who has come from God”. There is basic acknowledgment from Nicodemus that the other religious leaders believe Jesus is from God. In fact, Nicodemus, not the gum you chew to quite smoking, says that the signs and miracles that Jesus performed cannot be done unless “God is with that person”. We therefore, have an admission that Nicodemus and the other Pharisees have a strong interest in Jesus, that they notice what he is doing, and they believe he is of God.

          I think the confusion for Nicodemus for this morning then, is not that Jesus is clearly from God, but more what is Jesus’ mission or goal. Nicodemus acknowledges all the signs and miracles that Jesus performed, but why and for what reason is Jesus doing all this? Nicodemus goes to Jesus secretly at night and risks his livelihood and reputation to learn this.

          After Nicodemus acknowledges that Jesus is from God, and that he has performed signs and miracles, Jesus picks up in John 3:3 saying:

³ Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” ⁴ Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” ⁵ Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. ⁶ What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit (Jn. 3:3-6, NRSV).

          Jesus is saying, which is similar to what the Apostle Paul said in our reading from Romans 4 for this morning, that faith is what saves us. Jesus tell Nicodemus that we need to be “born from above” or as many people refer to this as “being a born again Christian”. This scripture and others are where we get the idea of being a “born again Christian”. We are not literally and physically to be born again, but being reborn spiritually, and hopefully then getting baptized.

          Nicodemus of course takes the idea of being “born again” literally though, thinking he has to re-enter his mother’s womb and be re-born physically. Good news for Nicodemus’ mother that this is not what Jesus was saying!

          Jesus continues on saying, picking up on John 3:7, once again:

⁷ Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ ⁸ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit” (Jn. 3:7-8, NRSV).

          Jesus is saying to trust him, to trust God. Repent and turn to him, and trust that the Holy Spirit will fill you. Or to put it another way, to “Let Go and Let God”. This is clearly a new teaching for Nicodemus, as the gospel of John says picking up in John 3:9:

⁹ Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” ¹⁰ Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? ¹¹ “Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen, yet you do not receive our testimony. ¹² If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?                       (Jn. 3:9-12, NRSV).

          Jesus is telling Nicodemus to have faith, to have faith in him, and to believe in who he says he is. Jesus tells Nicodemus to open his heart to him, and follow him.

          Jesus then tells Nicodemus, picking up starting in John 3:13 once again:

¹³ No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. ¹⁴ And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ that whoever believes in him may have eternal life (Jn. 13-15, NRSV). 

          Jesus is saying he came from above, and that he will be lifted up. Jesus tells Nicodemus that all who believe in him will have eternal life.

          Jesus then ends our reading for this morning with one of the best known two scriptures in the Bible John 3:16-17. Once again, our gospel of John reading ends saying:

¹⁶ “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. ¹⁷ “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him (Jn. 3:16-17, NRSV).

          This morning, Jesus tells the Pharisee Nicodemus that life is more than just the rules and the rituals that we follow. Jesus tell Nicodemus exactly who he is, to have faith in him, to be born again, and to receive the salvation he offers.

          This morning, Nicodemus, a man of great earthly success seeks Jesus and believes. This shows us that “Even The Most Successful Seek Him!” Amen.

Sidney UMC - First Sunday In Lent - 02/26/23 - Sermon - “Jesus’ Basic Training!” (“The Journey to the Empty Tomb” Series: Part 1 of 7)

                                 Sunday 02/26/23 - Sidney UMC

Sermon Title:               “Jesus’ Basic Training!”                                             (“The Journey to the Empty Tomb” Series: Part 1 of 7)                                                                                                      

Old Testament Scripture: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7                                          

New Testament Scripture: Romans 5:12-19     

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 4:1-11     

          For some of you, or for some of the people you know, you joined the military or were drafted. You signed the papers, you were sworn in, and then you went to basic training. From my understanding, once you finish your basic training this is when you are fully in the military. You do get paid during basic training, you have signed the papers, and you were sworn in, but it’s not really official until you complete basic training. From my understanding basic training in the military has different requirements. The soldier must complete certain tasks, pass certain tests, and achieve certain goals to successfully graduate from basic training. Some of us have attended a basic training graduation, of if you were in the military participated in a basic training graduation. Military officers also go through a basic training specially designed for officers.

          I tell you all this, because you sign the papers, you are sworn in, but you are not official until you graduate from basic training. Different branches of the military have different lengths of basic training, from I believe about 8-weeks to 12-weeks in the US Marine Corps. Some basic trainings involved life fire simulations, being exposed to tear gas, etc.

          Now, I don’t tell you all of this to give you a sermon on enlisting or being drafted into the military, and what that entails, instead I tell you all of this to compare it to our gospel of Matthew 4:1-11 reading for this morning. This morning, Jesus has already been baptized by his cousin John Baptist, and in coming out of the baptism waters in the Jordan River, God speaks, and the Holy Spirit descends upon Christ like a dove. All three person of the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are present. In the gospel of John, John the Baptist says this in 1:29:

²⁹ The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (Jn. 1:29, NRSV).

          Jesus is now 30-years old; he had just been baptized, and already John the Baptist is pointing out that Jesus is indeed the Messiah, the savior. Yet, even though Jesus’ ministry on earth was only three years, from when he was thirty until he was crucified and died on Good Friday at the age of thirty-three, Jesus does not go forth today to preach, love, heal, and forgive until after his trial and temptation in the wilderness in the gospel of Matthew 4:1-11 for this morning.

          Today I am starting a seven-part sermon series for Lent called “The Journey To The Empty Tomb,” as Lent will turn into Easter with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Today, as my sermon title says, is “Jesus’s Basic Training!” Jesus is already the Messiah, born of his mother Mary, check. Jesus was sworn in to officially shift to his three-year earthly ministry as our Lord and Savior, after his baptism, check. Remember though, in the military, generally speaking, you are not official until you graduate basic training. Today in our gospel of Matthew 4:1-11 reading for this morning, is “Jesus’ Basic Training!” Obviously, Jesus was against war, and as such, I am just using this as a comparative example.

          Jesus goes into the wilderness and for 40-days and 40-nights on this day, Jesus is tempted by the devil. Now basic training can be rough, but I hope for those of you that have served that your basic training was a least a little better than 40-days and 40-nights in the wilderness being tempted by the devil! In a way, it is sort of a testing ground for Jesus. A question to ask though, is do we believe that Jesus was fully God and fully human, and was our Lord Savior even before going to the wilderness this morning, and even before his baptism? Further according to the gospel of John is Jesus our Lord and Savior, even before his even birth? Yes of course he is for both, but it is interesting to me that before Jesus goes forth with his gospel and all that he did, that he first goes through a time of great trial. I mean he didn’t have to, but he did. Maybe this was a way to put the devil in check right away, or maybe Jesus just wanted to be fully prepared. He was already the savior of the world. The papers were signed. He was baptized. He was sworn in. Today he graduates from his own “Basic Training”.

          In looking at our lectionary scriptures for this morning, there is strong interconnection between them all. I chose for our three of the four lectionary scriptures for this morning, Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Romans 5:12-19, and Matthew 4:1-11. Why did I choose these three? I chose these three because of theme of being faithful and staying the course.

          For example, in our Book of Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 reading for this morning, the first human God creates is Adam. The name Adam can be translated to “man” “soil” or “light brown” (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Adam#:~:text=Borrowed%20from%20Latin%20Adam%2C%20from,soil%2C%20light%20brown%E2%80%9D). Adam is a creation from God, and so Eve will be, as well. Adam and Eve were created to work and maintain the garden that God put them into. All they had to do was refrain from as it says in Genesis 2:17, once again:

¹⁷ but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die” (Gen. 2:17, NRSV).

          The serpent, the devil talks Adam and Eve into eating from this tree, and sin enters the world. They do the one thing that God asked them not to do. Adam failed God, because he disobeyed God, and Adam and Eve are expelled from the garden.

          So, with reviewing our Old Testament reading for this morning, let’s now review our New Testament reading from Romans 5:12-19. The Apostle Paul, once again, speaking of Adam in the Garden of Eden says starting in Romans 5:12:

¹² Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned— ¹³ for sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. ¹⁴ Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam, who is a pattern of the one who was to come                     (Rom. 5:12-14, NRSV).

          Paul tells us, as the Book of Genesis tells us that humanity fell in the Garden of Eden through Adam. The Apostle Paul said that the world has been fallen since that time. The Apostle Paul continues in Romans 5:15 saying, however:

¹⁵ But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man’s trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many (Rom. 5:15, NRSV).

          The Apostle Paul is saying, that where Adam failed in the Garden of Eden, Jesus succeeded. Jesus then is the second Adam. In fact, the Apostle Paul completes this reading for this morning, ending with Romans 5:18-19 saying:

¹⁸ Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. ¹⁹ For just as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous (Rom. 5:18-19, NRSV).

          So, as the Apostle Paul said, Adam failed in the Garden of Eden, but Jesus succeeded on the cross.

          This then leads us to our gospel of Matthew 4:1-11 lesson for this morning. Jesus is the savior, he’s been baptized, and now he goes into the wilderness for 40-days and 40-nights. It’s a time of trial and temptation for him, and the 40-day and 40-night season of Lent that we now find ourselves in is a season of spiritual preparation for us as we make the journey to the cross and the empty tomb. In the season of Lent, we are invited to give up, give away, pray, fast, and refrain to humble ourselves, to focus more on Christ. The season of Lent is not Jesus in the wilderness, but hopefully it is us praying more, refraining more, giving up, giving away, to be more like Jesus. Jesus goes through a time of trial in the gospel of Matthew reading for this morning, and the season of Lent we are invited to reflect, pray, humble ourselves, and grow closer to Christ.

          In looking at the gospel of Matthew 4:1-11 reading for this morning, it says starting in 4:1, once again:

4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested by the devil. ² He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was famished      (Mt. 4:1-2, NRSV).

          After Jesus fasted for forty day and forty nights, the devil then came to tempt Jesus. The devil tempts him food, the ability to save his own life, and with riches and power.

          Picking up in Matthew 4:3 it says, once again:

³ The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” ⁴ But he answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” ⁵ Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, ⁶ saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ” ⁷ Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” ⁸ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, ⁹ and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’ ” ¹¹ Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him (Mt. 4:3-11, NRSV).

          So, Jesus is tempted with food, as he was hungry, saving his own life, and he was offered all the riches, kingdoms of the world, and all the power in the world. After passing of these tests, like basic training, Jesus resists the devil and the temptations of the devil. Where Adam failed in the Garden of Eden, Jesus succeeded in his time of trial and temptation in the wilderness. Further, Jesus succeeded in every way, never sinned, and therefore is the only one qualified to die for us.

          In this season of Lent that will take us to Good Friday, and then to Easter, we are invited to enter into Lenten disciplines. We are not invited into this to suffer and to be cruel to ourselves, but instead to give up and give away. We are called to do this to be humble, to be more holy, and to be more like Jesus. After all, where Adam failed, Jesus succeeds, and today Jesus graduated from his “Basic Training”. After the 40-days and 40-nights in the wilderness, Jesus goes forth calling his first disciples, and he starts his public ministry on earth. In this season of Holy Lent let us strive to more like Jesus, to love each other more, and to grow closer to Christ! Happy Lent, and Amen.

Sidney UMC - Ash Wednesday - 02/22/23 - Sermon - “Why We Wear Ashes!”

                        02/22/23 Sidney UMC – Ash Weds. Sermon

Sermon Title: “Why We Wear Ashes!”

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 51:1-17                                     

New Testament Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

          Throughout the two-thousand-year history of the Christian Church, many traditions have developed within the worshipping tradition and the life of local churches. Some of these traditions have been embraced by some, and some have been rejected by some. While the Holy Scriptures are our central source of teaching over the centuries, various churches and denominations have incorporated into worship and the life of their churches things that were determined to affirm and or coincide with the teaching of the Holy Scriptures. Some would also argue that some of these incorporated traditions, as I said, are not in alignment with Holy Scripture, and thus they reject certain elements of church tradition.

          For example, we are told throughout the scriptures to not worship idols, but to worship only God. Some Christian churches believe that statues and pictures are idols or “graven images”. Some churches have bear walls in their sanctuaries and buildings, as a picture of Jesus Christ, for example, is seen by that church as an idol or a “graven image”.

          Many Christian Churches and denominations also plan there years around the “liturgical calendar”. The “liturgical calendar” or church calendar are the various seasons of the church year like Advent, Lent, Common or Ordinary Time, Christmas, Epiphany, and etc. We mark these seasons with different color paraments or rugs on our pulpit, lectern, and altar, but we don’t have to do this. This is all tradition. In Medieval times when most people were illiterate, the church calendar, the colored paraments, etc. helped orient people around the Christian Calendar and the seasons. Purple for example, is the color of royalty, and since Jesus is the King of kings, many churches have purple colored paraments in the holy seasons of Advent and Lent, to show that Jesus is our high and holy leader. Some churches have even gone to royal blue paraments in the season of Advent to distinguish Advent and Lent.

          Many churches have or used to have annual Christmas pageants every year. Many churches have Advent Wreathes, candy canes, green garlands, coffee hour, rummage sales, Christmas Wreathes, etc. Some churches have children’s sermons each week, some churches have many other traditions, as well. Throughout the two-thousand-year history of the Christian Church these traditions were created to be connected to scripture and to grow our faith in Christ, and as I said, some people think some of these traditions are unscriptural and or unnecessary.

          I say all of this, because the season of Holy Lent is something that developed through the worshipping tradition of the Christian Church. This season is not required of us or even laid out in scripture. Yet, Jesus is tempted by Satan in the wilderness for 40-days and 40-nights in our scripture reading from Matthew 4:1-11 for this Sunday. The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40-years, Moses was on the mountain for 40-days and 40-nights, Noah was on the Ark 40-days, etc. So, throughout the worshipping tradition of the church, what emerged was a special season of spiritual preparation leading up to Jesus’ birth on Christmas, and to his crucifixion and resurrection on Easter. The church developed and created the season of Advent and Lent, which by the way, are 40-days and 40-nights. These seasons exist to offer us time to spiritually connect with Christ and to prepare ourselves for Jesus to die on the cross, to await his resurrection, and in Advent, to await his birth on Christmas.

          Another tradition that developed within the church to start the season of Holy Lent, is what brings us here tonight, the tradition of “Ash Wednesday”. Once again, we created it, but the scriptures in different places do talk about going before God in sackcloth and ashes. Given this, “Ash Wednesday” in the most basic sense, is a call for us to enter into the season of Holy Lent, and we do this by marking ourselves with ashes. Some places sprinkle the ashes on people’s heads. Further, what kind of ashes do we use? Well ashes from burnt palms. Jesus rode into Jerusalem of Palm Sunday to the shouts of “Hosanna,” and those palms become the ashes we impose tonight.

          Again, all of this is tradition within some churches, and it is not required. I believe though that Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent can be good for our spiritual growth and our walk with Christ, however. If I did not, I would not want to observe and or celebrate them. For these reasons, I like these traditions, while I realize some churches don’t embrace them.

Further, tonight, “Ash Wednesday” is about us realizing our own mortality. That as the scripture says we come from dust, and to dust we will return one day. That this life on earth is fleeting, and our time on this earth is limited. As a result, when the ashes are imposed on us tonight, the words “Repent, and the believe the Gospel” will be spoken. Why? Because in this the 40-day season of Holy Lent, we are called to live and love more like Jesus Christ. We are showing the world our desire to be humble, loving, caring, and repentant of any sin our wrong doing. We are trying to be all God has called us to be, so that the world might know us by our love. As my sermon title says, this is “Why We Wear Ashes!”

          To me, the ashes are not just some pagan ritual, it is declaring that we are followers of Jesus Christ, and that we seek to be more like him is this Holy Season of Lent. We might observe the tradition of giving things away in this season, of fasting from a food or something else we enjoy, or being intentionally more loving and generous in another area. Ash Wednesday, and this whole season, was created simply and basically to orient us towards the cross, and to grow us in holiness, righteousness, mercy, and love. This is “Why We Wear Ashes!” tonight.

          I also don’t think that Ash Wednesday and Lent needs to be a bummer or a time were we think awfully of ourselves. In our reading for this evening from Psalm 51:1-17, King David is asking God to forgive him, to cleanse him, and to blot out his transgressions and his wrong doings. King David asks God for forgiveness, for a clean heart, and asks for God to help him live for him (Ps. 51:1-17, NRSV). We gather to pray, to repent, and to commit to drawing closer to Christ. King David was human, like we all are, and we can be more like Jesus.

          In our reading for tonight from 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10, the Apostle Paul tells us that we are ambassadors for Christ. The Apostle Paul tells us to be reconciled to God, as Christ who had no sin, will on Good Friday die for our sins. Paul also says that as Christians and as people that sometimes we suffer for our faith. Paul lists various ways that Christians at this point have suffered. Yet none of our sufferings can compare to the suffering of Christ on the cross. If we have suffered or are suffering, Christ who suffered for us, suffers with us. So, while our suffering is real, Christ is with us eternally if we but call upon him.

          In our gospel of Matthew reading for tonight once again, we hear about four different topics. We hear about giving money, praying, fasting, and storing up treasures on earth. First, Jesus tells us to not to try to look holy and righteous in front others or give money or alms so that everyone knows what we give. Be holy and give, but do so for God, for Jesus, not for an earthly reward or accolades from others (Mt. 6:1-6, NRSV). For the only one we truly need to please is God.

          Jesus continues in Matthew 6:16-21, telling us not to be miserable when we fast. Whether we are fasting from food or something else, do not look or act miserable just to try to show everyone how holy you are. Do it for God, to draw closer to Christ. Likewise, Jesus tells us not to store up treasures on earth, but rather store up treasures in heaven. Jesus ends this gospel reading with a verse from Matthew 6:21 that really says it all. Jesus says once again:

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Mt. 6:21, NRSV).

          So tonight, my friends, brothers and sisters, on this Ash Wednesday, the first day of the season of Holy Lent 2023, I pray that we all receive and wear our ashes humbly and with grace and mercy. We all need Christ. Let this season of Lent be an opportunity to give, to love, to sacrifice, to give up, and to humble ourselves, so that we grow closer to Christ and to each other. This is “Why We Wear Ashes!” tonight! Happy Ash Wednesday, and Happy Lent! Amen.

Sidney UMC - Transfiguration Sunday - 02/19/23 - Sermon - “The Mount of Transfiguration!”

Sunday 02/19/23 - Sidney UMC 

Sermon Title: “The Mount of Transfiguration!”                                         

Old Testament Scripture: Exodus 24:12-18                                     

New Testament Scripture: 2 Peter 1:16-21

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 17:1-9

          On this day, nearly two-thousand years ago, Jesus ascended a mountain, with Peter, James, and John. This could have been Mount Hermon or near Mount Hermon. Once on top of this mountain, Jesus was “Transfigured”. What does “Transfigured” mean? Well according the Merriam-Webster online dictionary Transfiguration means:

1a: a change in form or appearance: METAMORPHOSIS

b: an exalting, glorifying, or spiritual change (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transfiguration).

          So, on this morning, Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, does not just heal, does not just raise the dead, does just multiply the loaves and the fishes, instead he literally changes his physical outward appearance.

          The best example of this, thinking quickly, that I can think of, is Clark Kent changing to become Superman. Clark Kent would change his clothes from Clark Kent into Superman, very quickly in a phone booth. This then causes a lot of young people to ask, “What is a phone booth Pastor Paul”? Clark Kent would go into a phone booth, a place you used to pay money to make a phone call, before cell phones. Quickly, he would emerge from the phone booth as “Superman”. Is this “Transfiguration?” No, not entirely, as Jesus “shone like the sun,” and our gospel of Matthew lesson say. This is an example though of quickly changing one’s appearance, however.

          I myself have a transfiguration story that happened to me to. Like many people when they were young, like me, played some sports. I played soccer, I bowled, and I played in little league. This was not through the school, but was the town league in Monroe, NY, in Orange County. Back then, all the teams had sponsors. Some were sponsored by a local restaurant, an insurance company, etc. We had our league t-shirts, our pants with those stirrup straps at the bottom of the feet, a batting glove in our pockets, our gloves, our big-league chew, and our cleats.

          While I often batted 4^th or 5^th in the lineup, and one year had a batting average of 667%, I was a terrible fielder. I was usually in the right field, center field, or left field. Well on this particular day that I was playing in this story, I was playing left field. It was a hot summer day, and I had on black cleats. Sometimes I would pour water of my cleats because my feet would get so hot in the sun. On this particular day when I was about 13-14 years old, it was also sunny without a cloud in the sky.

          Suddenly after the pitch was thrown, I heard that “tiiinnnkkk” noise you hear when a baseball is hit with an aluminum bat. I hear cheers and screams, as the hit bas was a high pop up to left field. So, I looked up, and put my glove up, as this pop up was hit, once again to left field, where I was. As I looked up, the sun was in my eyes. To reference our choir anthem for this morning, the baseball was “Shining as the Sun”. I moved my glove down just a little to try to see if I could see the ball just a little better. Right then the ball cracked me right in left eye. Quickly, I grabbed the ball on the ground, as my face broke its fall. The batter got an extra base because of this, and I got to walk around school the next week looking the dog “Petey” from the Little Rascals. Petey the dog, had a black ring around his eye, and I had quite the “shiner” as my coach said. In fact, when I went home after the game, I put a bag of frozen peas on my face.

          After picking up the ball and throwing it to an infielder, I noticed that for a minute or two my left eye felt like a kaleidoscope. I was seeing all kinds of sparkles. Out my left eye, what I was seeing seemed different than normal. Why? Well, because I just got hit in the face with a baseball, that’s why! What I saw did not appear the way it had the moment before I got hit with a baseball.

          Was I transfigured? No, I just lost a pop up in the sun and it smacked me in the face. I did however, see differently out of my left eye briefly. Things looked different, and this morning on “The Mount of Transfiguration,” Jesus looked different. It was not for a long period of time, but he looked completely different before Peter, James, and John. Luckily no one got hit with a baseball either!

          It is interesting to me that this morning, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a mountain. I mean Jesus could have been transfigured without going up a mountain. In the bible though, so often humans go high up, as God is up in the heavens.  In fact, in Genesis 11 the “Tower of Babel” was being built. A tower that would reach from earth to heaven, for God is up in the heavens.

          Many of the great cathedrals and churches throughout the world have high ceilings in them, so that our eyes may be drawn heavenward. For the God of universe is up high in the biblical texts. In fact, in our reading from the Book of Exodus 24:12-18 for this morning, once again, Moses goes up Mount Sinai to be with God. God could have given Moses the 10-commandments on the ground, but often in the biblical texts, as I said, you go up high to be with God. So, Moses, or as some of you know him, Charlton Heston, goes up Mount Sinai this morning. In fact, picking up in Exodus 24:12 it says once again:

¹² The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and wait there; I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.” ¹³ So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up onto the mountain of God (Ex. 24:12-13, NRSV).

          God tells Moses to come to him on the mountain. Of course, God is with us always, but if heaven us up there, then we look for God up there. Moses stays on the mountain with God for 40-days and 40-nights, like Noah on the Ark, and Jesus being tempted in the wilderness.

          A good question to ask here though, is why would we be given the scripture of Moses going up Mount Sinai to get the stone tablets with the 10-Commandments from God? I mean, what does this have to do with Jesus going up “The Mount of Transfiguration” this morning? Well, Moses goes up to commune and be with God on the top of Mount Sinai. Jesus, however, goes up “The Mount of Transfiguration” as God incarnate, God in the flesh. This is quite a powerful statement to make. To say that Jesus was fully God and fully human on earth is a powerful statement. What in our gospel lesson for this morning would help to lead us to believe that Jesus was God in the flesh on earth?

          Let’s look at our gospel of Matthew reading for this morning, to see once again how as Christians we can claim that Jesus, our Lord and Savior was truly God in the flesh on this earth. For as Moses went up Mount Sinai to be with God in our Exodus 24:12-18 reading for this morning, Jesus goes up the “The Mount of Transfiguration” as God this morning. Starting in Matthew 17:1-9, it says starting in 17:1 once again:

17 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. ² And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became bright as light        (Mt. 17:1-2, NRSV).

          So, like Moses went up Mount Sinai with Joshua to be with God, Jesus goes up “The Mount of Transfiguration” with Peter, James, and John. Now when Moses came down Mount Sinai his face was shining bright, but that was because God’s presence made his face shine bright. Who then transfigured Jesus this morning? The answer is Jesus, for Jesus was God in the flesh on earth. Jesus transfigured himself, much more than Clark Kent turning into Superman in a phone booth, or Pastor Paul getting hit in the face with a baseball. Jesus was changed right before them and his face shone like the sun. Jesus’ face did not shine like the son because he was with God, but because he is God. His clothes were changed and where bight. You would think that the “The Mount of Transfiguration” story would make for a good laundry commercial, as well!

          Right after Jesus is transfigured, the gospel then says, picking up in 17:3:

³ Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. ⁴ Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will set up three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” ⁵ While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” ⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear (Mt. 17:3-6, NRSV).

          In the Book of Exodus, Moses goes up Mountain Sinai to commune with God and get the 10-Commandments. Moses comes down Mount Sinai, once again, with his face shining brightly, having been in God’s presence. Jesus, this morning transfigures himself, and Moses and the great Old Testament Prophet Elijah come to talk and learn from him. Moses and Elijah appear on “The Mount of Transfiguration” to talk with and commune with God in the flesh, the Lord Jesus Christ.

          Jesus transfigures himself, the great Moses, and the great Prophet Elijah, are beneath him, as they were beneath God the Father. The Apostle Peter, who I am the most like, then impulsively asks Jesus if he, James, and John should be there. Peter then even offers to build tents for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. Since Peter was overthinking Jesus’ transfiguration, God spoke from a cloud. When Moses was on Mount Sinai communing with God, it was covered by a cloud. So, on the “The Mount of Transfiguration” God the Father speaks from a cloud. God says once again:

“This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!”             (Mt. 17:5b, NRSV).

          Peter, James, and John then fall on the ground in fear. In response to this, and in finishing up this morning’s gospel lesson, it says picking up Matthew 17:7:

⁷ But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” ⁸ And when they raised their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. ⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” (Mt. 17:7-9, NRSV).

          So, just like that Jesus’ transfiguration on the “The Mount of Transfiguration” ends. Jesus also tells Peter, James, and John to not tell anyone about his transfiguration until after he has been resurrected from the dead. For it was not yet Jesus’ time to die.

          The parallels here between Moses going up Mount Sinai to commune with God and Jesus on the “The Mount of Transfiguration” are amazing to me. Some have even asked me in my years in ministry, “Pastor Paul, what if Peter, James, and John just made this whole story up?” I would say that Peter was pretty convinced that Jesus was transfigured on the “The Mount of Transfiguration,” as he wrote about in our reading for this morning from 2 Peter 1:16-21. In fact, picking up starting 2 Peter 1:16, it says, once again, of “The Mount of Transfiguration”:

¹⁶ For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁷ For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” ¹⁸ We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain”         (2 Pet. 1:16-21, NRSV).

          Matthew wrote this, but Peter, James, and John were eye witnesses of the Jesus’ transfiguration. How do we know this, Peter said this morning, once again, “we” speaking of him, James, and John. Peter said we were up there, and we saw it. We were eye witnesses to Jesus being transfigured. Matthew was not up there, but he came to believe this, as well.

          Transfiguration Sunday then is about Jesus showing the fullness of his power, his grace, his love, and his Lordship. Today is the fullness of God’s love, hope, mercy, and grace, “Shining as the Son”. This much more powerful than Clark Kent turning into Superman in phone booth, or Pastor Paul getting hit in the face with a baseball. Happy Transfiguration Sunday. Amen.