“The Temptation of Jesus”

First Lutheran Church

Lent 1B + February 18, 2018

As I read today's Gospel and think about Jesus, “the God become human,” being “driven” by the Spirit into the wilderness to face the temptations of the flesh, the demons of his world, and the uncertainty of the road that lies ahead of him; As I hear this word, strangely enough, I find an incredible amount of comfort, hope, and assurance. 

You see I know about the wilderness.  This is a Gospel story to which I can easily relate.  I may dream about vacations on “tropical islands” but all too often, I live my life in the “wilderness.” In the wilderness, where things are not easy, where I am faced with hard choices, where I am tempted to live out of fear instead of faith.

The wilderness tests us!  It’s easy to be a person of faith, a person of grace, a person of charity, a person of love - inside the walls of the church.  However, it’s much harder “out there,” in the wilderness of life.  “Out there” we have to deal with the demons and wild beasts of this world which at times, perhaps more often than not, hold us all captive to fear.  “Out there” are convictions are challenged; “out there” we are seduced to “sell out” our values; “out there” we are enticed to hang onto things instead of truth; “out there” we believe in the violence of self-preservation instead of the peace of grace; “out there” we are tempted to give up on love in exchange for “survival.”  It’s not easy “out there.”

In the midst of the wilderness, (“out there”) we are quickly lost, we forget who we are, where we came from, and where we we're headed.  When we look out at the “desert wilderness” we see the dark shadow of doubt and fear that a fallen humanity casts upon the world.   A shadow that confirms our worst fears and affirms our worst instincts.  This wilderness in which we find ourselves consume us, consumes our very souls; And we are left stressed out, confused, uncertain, empty, and anything but truly alive.

Living in this wilderness, living “out there,” I want, and I need, a God who knows about that kind of pain, that kind of struggle, that kind of emptiness, and that desire to want to return to a life that is abundant.  I want a God who has literally “walked that road.”  A God who has experienced the wilderness “first-hand.” 

And today, as that God is revealed in the Gospel story, as I see Jesus walking into my wilderness, into my world, I begin to see and understand my salvation.  Salvation comes to life!  Suddenly I can reach out and grab hold of it.  I love this God who is willing to walk into the wilderness, because quite frankly a God who chooses only to dwell in the "realms of glory" would be so remote that no matter how hard I could ever try I could never touch that God - let alone be touched by such a God.  The broken places of my life are just too far away from the glories of heaven. 

So today as Jesus finds himself in the wilderness surrounded by the darkness and confusion of this world, I am saved.  And when Jesus walks out of the wilderness and begins proclaiming the emergence of the Kingdom of God I have a comfort, a hope, an assurance, and a sense of power in my life.  This God knows what I'm "talking about" when I cry out, this God knows what you're "talking about" when you cry out.  We are no longer lost and alone, helpless in our wilderness, God is with us.  And together we will find a way out.

The story of the “Temptation of Jesus” gifts us with great words of “comfort.”  Yet today these same words also come to us as a “challenge.”  For God's word does not simply comfort us, it also sets us in motion.

As I get older I am beginning to learn that life is not simply a linear line.  We don't simply walk into the wilderness, struggle for a time, get saved, and then enter into the promised land.  No, life is a continuous cycle of events.  Just as the seasons come and go, over and over again, so we too find ourselves wandering in and out of the wilderness, the pain and struggles come and go, repeating themselves on different levels and in different places.  We grow in one area as we struggle in another, we are both sinner and saint, complete yet incomplete, we are always in process.  This is the pattern of life, and like it or not, being a Christian does not magically save us from having to live out this life.  We remain human.

This past Wednesday the church year turned to Lent.  The cycle once again shifted gears.  The star of Epiphany disappeared into the ashes of Lent.  And now the challenge I spoke of is before us.  The challenge to enter into the wilderness of our lives and prepare for Easter.  Just as Jesus is “driven” by the Spirit into the wilderness, now the Spirit of God challenges us “to face the wilderness,” our sin.  (The pain and brokenness, our motivations and our insecurities, our fear and our loneliness, the places where we miss the mark.)  It's time to prepare these areas for a baptism, to join them with the death of Christ and experience in them the new life of the resurrection, the change of repentance.

Now for some of us entering into the wilderness will be easy.  In fact, some of us may already be there, struggling intensely with some "wild" “wilderness” part of our life.  Some of us have no other choice but to be in the wilderness.  The problems that are before us have come to a head, we can't avoid them any longer.  We are Lent, we need an Easter experience. 

If this is you, hear this word of good news today.  God is present, ready to walk with you all the way to Easter.  As you gather here and participate in the body of Christ, become active and open in God's presence, God will lead you across the waters of the Jordan, from the wilderness into Canaan, baptize your brokenness, and raise you up to a resurrection victory. 

Then there are those of us who are not in the wilderness and for whom entering the wilderness will be very hard.  The wilderness is very scary, and consciously and unconsciously, we have chosen to avoid it at all costs.  We have ignored the struggle by pretending and wishful thinking.  We have covered up the pain hoping it will go away.  We live in denial of our brokenness.  Yet this kind of living offers us no healing, no peace, and no victory, just deep troublesome demons that haunt and terrorize our lives.  For us the challenge of Lent is "to be real," to be real about who we are, to be real about our brokenness, our wounds, to be real about our fears, and our doubts.  We all have areas that need to be “opened up” to the healing power of God.  This Lent God challenges us to face those things, to let go and enter into the wilderness. 

And there is good news for us also.  We need not do this alone.  God will walk with us, in fact we will find that God is already there waiting for us.  God waits for us even though we have kept those areas top secret and hidden out of fear and uncertainty.  Even though the guilt and shame seem too large for anyone to surpass, (even God,) this God of the wilderness is there unconditionally in love with you ready to bring that part of you into the resurrection.  There is nothing in your wilderness that can separate you from the love of God “for neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, not things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.”  God is calling you into the wilderness of your life so that you might experience such unconditional love where you need it the most.  God is not there waiting to condemn you, but rather God is waiting there to simply love you.  And there is nothing that will stand in God's way of loving you.

Today as you hear God calling you, whatever your situation, I encourage you to be bold and explore that wilderness.  Take a walk on the wild side.  Become involved. 

Share your pain with God, share your life with the Body of Christ, and share your troubles with a friend.  Be bold not because you are strong and courageous and can face anything but be bold because Christ became human and walked into the wilderness that you might not have to walk in it alone.  Be bold because Christ is already there, in the midst of your wilderness, waiting for you to begin.

The challenge of Lent is before us.  The wilderness awaits us.  Let us not be afraid to accept the challenge, open up and participate, because nothing can separate us from God's love.   Hear God's voice calling you today, it's time to become actively involved in the passion play, connect your journey to Christ.  Step out with the boldness of faith knowing that the roads we choose to journey, even though they may be marked by the darkness of death, will lead to an empty tomb and the newness of life in the power of the resurrection of our Lord.

May God grant you the courage to begin a Lenten journey, and the strength to complete it, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Mark 1:9-15

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11 And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." 12 And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. 14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."

Genesis 9:8-17

 8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9 "As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. 11 I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth." 12 God said, "This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth." 17 God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth."

“Add Something for Lent!”

Ash Wednesday + February 14, 2018

So, what are you giving up for Lent?  That’s been a very popular question today!  For many people giving up something for Lent is a family faith tradition.  And it’s a good tradition.  It challenges us, and it develops in us, a sense of discipline.  Many people give up things that are not necessarily healthy for them, (things like soda or sugar or chocolate,) and that’s a good thing.  

But if we had to be honest most of the things we give up for Lent are not necessarily part of a significant “spiritual quest.”  They are usually more of a “self-help” or “self-discipline” kind of thing.  And once again that’s not a bad thing, it can be a very good thing; but at the same time,  it’s not really a spiritual thing, something that intentionally leads to a deep-seated transformation, a deeper richer faith life, a life in which “all things are made new,” the thing that Lent is primarily (truly) designed to bring about in us.  

Lent is a faith journey, not a trip to the gym.

I find it more helpful to answer a different question, rather than thinking about what I might give up for Lent, I ask myself what kind of spiritual discipline might I add to my life during the season of Lent.  Now usually when you add things to your life you have to give up something else, (There’s only so much time in any given day!) but I believe there is a difference between adding something positive as opposed to giving up something negative.  In Lent we are called to make or create extra time (and or resources) to be used to grow, enhance, and revitalize our faith life.  

So what spiritual discipline might you add to your life over the next forty days of Lent?  What might you do to really change, transform,  your life?  What might you add to your life in order that you might fully encounter the risen Christ on Easter morning?

What would it be like if you spent more time in prayer this Lent?  What would it be like if you found a prayer partner and began a prayerful conversation with God?  What if you joined the prayer chain?What might happen if you started a prayer journal, a daily dialog with God?  What might happen if you prayed for others, those in need, for a world in need?  Would that change your life?

What would it be like if you practiced the ancient faith discipline of fasting?  

What if you skipped lunch one day a week and spent that time reading scripture and donating the money you would have spent on that lunch to Caring Hands?  What if you fasted from “Starbucks” a few times a week and passed those savings on to a ministry that makes a difference in the life of those experiencing homelessness.  What if you fasted from TV on Tuesday nights and came down and volunteered at the Caring Hands Dinner?  Instead of simply “giving something up,” what if you intentionally “fasted” from something, and in the process created an opportunity for something else that makes a difference?  Would that change your life?

What would it be like if you read your bible during Lent?  What would it be like if you read your bible with a partner?  What might happen if together you talked about the scriptures and what they might mean, right here and right now in your life?  What would happen if the Word came to life in your life?  Would that change your life?

What if you took some time to go for long silent walks in nature?  What if you spent some time visiting someone who doesn’t get many visitors?  What if, (you can fill in the blank!)  What if you did something different, and experienced God in a new way a way that refreshed your faith, a way that newly inspired your calling in life?  Would that change your life?

Lent is a season for adding spiritual disciplines that will cause you to grow in your faith, activities that will enable you to leap into Easter, faithful and faith filled endeavors that will lead to a deeper faith and more abundant life.

I “hope” this Lenten season you will be able to “give up” something that makes you healthier, (I’m going to try to stop eating chocolate – every single day!); I hope you can do that, but I “pray” that you will also be able to “add” a spiritual discipline that will cause you to reflect on your life, challenge and grow your faith, give you an opportunity to serve, and ultimately strengthen your relationship with Christ.  Amen.

“A Closer Look at the Transfiguration”

First Lutheran Church

February 11, 2018 + The Transfiguration of Our Lord

Today we celebrate “The Transfiguration of Our Lord.”  Transfiguration Sunday is the last Sunday in the season of Epiphany, and as such serves as a “bridge” to the season of Lent, which begins this coming week with Ash Wednesday.  On Transfiguration Sunday we are brought up to the mountain top, we catch a glimpse of the glories of God, we are inspired, and in “all these things” we are prepared to come back down off the mountain and, out and into, the desert, in order that we might begin our Lenten journey, the journey that leads to the new life of Easter.

This morning I would like to simply “walk through” the story of the Transfiguration as recorded in the Gospel of Mark, highlighting the people, the images, and the context of the story that we might better understand the significance of this event and more importantly what it might mean for us today.

Our text begins in the Ninth chapter of Mark, with verse two, "Six days later." The Transfiguration is preceded by Jesus' announcement, six days earlier, that the Son of man must undergo great suffering, be rejected, and be killed.  Peter rebukes Jesus for this morbid thought, the idea that Jesus is headed to the cross; and this prompts Jesus to rebuke Peter, "Get behind me Satan!  For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."  Jesus concludes by telling his disciples, "If any want to be my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."  The Transfiguration is preceded by the announcement of the cross, and the cost of discipleship.  Perhaps spiritual highs, life’s incredible aha moments, - exist to inspire us and give us the strength we need to face the challenges of living out our faith in the world.  

Have you been to the mountain lately?  And how might that “event” have prepared you for your calling down here on the streets of downtown Fullerton?

Verse two also tells us that, “Jesus took with him Peter and James and John.”  Peter, James, and John seem to be Jesus’ inner circle of disciples.  Maybe they were his best friends, the people in which he confided, the ones he really trusted, the ones he hoped would “step up” when their names were called. 

My friends have always been a big part of my faith journey, especially the friends who share my faith in Christ, the ones with whom I have climbed those holy mountains, the ones with whom I have dared to share my sense of calling and purpose, the ones who know my hopes and my fears, the ones who truly know me. 

Who has been with you on that holy mountain?  Who really knows you?  Who keeps you accountable?  Who do you keep accountable?  How have you prepared each other to live out your faith in meaningful ways?

Again, still, from verse two, "a high mountain."   We actually don't' know on what mountain this momentous event took place.  It could have been “Mount Hermon,” known as a Holy Mountain by the Israelites, the worshipers of Baal, and the Greeks.   In the sixth century the early church believed it was “Mount Tabor,” a mountain associated with the great Judges of Israel, and the conquest of the promised land.  Or maybe just the fact that it was a “mountain” contains all the significance that we need to know.  “Mountains” have always been perceived as “holy places,” places that are physically closer to heaven, places where God has touched people and human history.  And we've all had what we call "mountain top experiences," times when we have felt closer to God or “existentially all together.” 

Perhaps you can recall a mountain top moment from your life?  Do you remember the place?  Do you remember who was with you?  Do you remember the exhilaration and the inspiration of the moment?  And more importantly, do you ever wonder why God led you to that moment, that time and that place?

And one more excerpt from verse two, "and he was transfigured" ...  The Greek used here means “to change.”   In Matthew's version of The Transfiguration he reports that Jesus' face “shone like the sun.”  When Moses came down from Mt. Sinai the scriptures say his face “shone” because he had encountered God.  (Moses had a bright sunburn from being in the presence of God.)  For many the transfiguration was a sign of the age to come when all would be changed into the glory of God. 

How have your mountain top experiences “changed” you?  And for what reason were you “changed?”

Let’s move on to verse 4, where two more characters are introduced, "Elijah and Moses" .... 

Elijah is remembered as one of the greatest prophets, and the scriptures tells us that Elijah never suffered death, instead he ascended into heaven on a chariot.  To this day at Passover the Jews always leave an empty seat for Elijah, hoping and waiting for the day that Elijah would return signaling the beginning of the Messianic age, the Day of the Lord. 

And Moses, God's redeemer who was sent to bring the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and lead them into the promised land.  He was known as a prototype of the Messiah to come.  Moses was chosen by God to be the person who received the law from God on Mt. Sinai, the covenant between God and the people. 

Together Moses and Elijah represent the law and the prophets, the sacred writings of Israel, the heart of the faith of Israel.  In “The Transfiguration” they come to speak with Jesus, and even though we don't know what they said, their very presence says it all. 

In verse five we read that the disciples want to build, "dwellings" or booths (a more familiar translation)  Peter wanting to capture “the moment” forever wants to build something that will last, something that will enshrine the moment.  (Sounds like a guy thing!)  The disciples don’t realize that this moment was not meant to last, but rather only to carry Jesus forward, to help him get to the place he was meant to go, to the place he pointed to six days earlier, - to the cross. 

How often have we wanted to say up on the holy mountain, to stay in the moment of glory, to escape and hide in the bliss; instead of turning back down to pick up our cross and follow?

And finally in verse seven God speaks these words, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him!"  This voice takes us back to the day when Jesus was baptized in the Jordan by John, "And a voice came from heaven, You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."  Baptism is the event that calls us, shapes us, and gives us mission and purpose.  In the Gospel of Mark these words that proclaim Jesus as God’s beloved child will not be spoken again until chapter fifteen, “Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was God's Son!" 

These words spoken on top of the mountain connect the two events, baptism and the cross.  In our baptism we become the beloved children of God, we are invited into the work of the kingdom, and we are reminded of the cost of following Jesus, the cost of discipleship.  In baptism we are united with Christ in death and resurrection.

“The Transfiguration” is a story packed with significance.  For its first audience it was filled with images and people that authoritatively “ordained” the life and ministry of Jesus.   But what does it say to us, today? 

Certainly, it still serves to declare that Jesus is the Messiah, that Jesus is the authoritative revelation of God.  But how does it affect us on a personal level, how does it impact our heart? 

Personally, I find myself entering into this story through Peter.  That's where the story becomes real for me.  You see I've been on top of the mountain, I've seen and felt the glory of God, I've had those moments when I felt totally connected, and “existentially all together.”  And often in those moments I want to build a dwelling place where I can stay forever!  I want to somehow make my life one big and everlasting mountain top experience!

Yet that’s not what it’s all about, that’s not what life is all about, that’s not what my life is all about, that just not how it works.  And so it is that I need to be reminded, like Peter, that The Transfiguration is not the end game but rather that “mountain top moments” happen for the sake of the cross.  The Transfiguration strengthens Jesus and empowers him to move towards the cross.  And so it is with us. We are blessed with moments of joy, moments of peace, moments of spiritual clarity, moments of divine insight, moments of inspiration; to empower us to carry the cross that has been set before us, that we might live with mission and purpose, using our gifts and talents and resources in service to the kingdom.  God brings us to the top of the mountain that we might be strengthened for service, that we might head back down and into the world as the messengers of God’s grace, mercy, justice and love.  Amen