Sermon Sunday I return

I found a like soul on my trip to the Holy Land and Egypt. This like soul was just like me – nose in a map all the time to keep up with where we were and where we were going. Everyone else just road along happy as a lark to know nothing of orientation – not us.


And when we went into Egypt and didn’t have a map for the first 3 hours – well, I thought we were both going to have a coronary!

I like this map. So, let’s see just where we thought Jesus was. Understand that when you look at this map, Israel is not the size of the USA – it’s not even the size of Texas. It is more the size of New Jersey. Distances are very small.

For instance, the distance from Samaria to Jerusalem was somewhere around 30 miles. Now Jesus wasn’t going to walk it in a day, but it was not going to take long for him to get where he was going.

If you look at this scripture along with the Elisha scripture, you will see that Jesus demands much more. He isn’t about returning evil for evil, but to move on when rejected, a much harder thing to do. He isn’t about time involved in saying goodbye to family – come now! There is no time and no reason to look back.

The first person says, “I’ll follow you wherever you go.” Really? Really? Do you think he was going to follow Jesus to the cross? Was going to follow him to be beaten and hauled away in humiliation.

I have a friend who owns a restaurant and I have seen him do everything, every job. He seats people at their tables. He cooks in the kitchen. He busses tables and washes dishes. He cashiers. He does everything that needs to be done and his employees know that he will. They know that he has done and will do everything that he asks of them.

This is what following Jesus is.

It is the practice in Israel to first bury the dead in a tomb like Jesus was buried in. For the next year there is mourning, then the son is to take the bones of the dead and put them in the family crypt on the Mount of Olives. That way they are ready for the resurrection at the end of days.

So the second one is not saying – OH, my father just died and I need to bury him. No, he is saying he needs to wait, the time isn’t right for him to follow. Jesus tells him that the tradition is just that, a tradition. And then says that the young man should instead go and proclaim the kingdom of God, something of paramount and everlasting importance.

The last person says that he needs to say farewell to those at his home. Now, let me tell you goodbye means parties, everyone coming from all over the countryside, days and days of relatives asking what you are doing, where are you going, when will you be back, who is this you’re going with, do we know his family, what do you need to take with you, ….

Jesus has no time for that – and neither should you.

So what do we do now?

• We pray, pray frequently and long

• We study the scriptures diligently, we discuss them with one another

• We worship regularly with God’s people

• We invite others often to worship, to get to know God

• We pass on the faith to our children

• We serve for the sake of others

• We give freely of time, talents and resources.

Jesus was indeed radical. He asked that his followers do what no one was willing to do – in their right mind – but he asked that they pledge their all. He asked that they give their best, that they put the best over the worst. He asked that they chose him over not only the devil, but their own families. What a blessing for them! When choosing Jesus, you are freed from the possession of and worshiping of families to instead love them, because God first loved you.

Jesus calls us to radical discipleship. He says to look forward – not backward. Don’t rest on what you have done individually or as a church. Don’t compare now to the past, this church now to another or to this church in the past. Make a decision for Christ.

If you are thinking about joining this church or another – do it.

If you are thinking about starting a new service ministry here – do it.

If you are thinking about joining or starting a Bible study – do it.

If you are thinking about helping in the A/V – do it.

If you are thinking about being an assisting minister – do it.

If you are thinking about helping the altar guild – do it.

If you are thinking about helping to pass on the faith to the children – do it.

If you are thinking about becoming a leader here – do it.

If you are thinking about starting a prayer time in your life – for the sake of your soul and all those who will be blessed by your prayers – do it.

My father used to say, “Put your money where your mouth is.” I tell my children, “Don’t tell me you are going to do something, show me.”

Jesus put everything he had out there for us. Jesus came into this world intending to give his life for you, just for you. So that you could have hope and love, so that you would know that God loves, really loves, you. Jesus didn’t turn around and leave at the sight of trouble because he knew you would need his love, his compassion, and his faith. He knew that only through his death would you receive the gift of grace so that your sins would be forgiven.

Our mission statement says Boldly Sharing God’s Word. It’s time for bold.

Lord, may we find the strength deep inside to follow you and proclaim the kingdom of God. Amen