Re-inking the pen

Why is Jesus so harsh?

2012-01-23T16:11:00.002Z

Bill Lane asked me a great question after church on Sunday. Why is Jesus so harsh in Luke 14:25-27?
Elsewhere the Bible is clear that we should honour our father & mother, that husbands should love their wives as Christ loved the church etc. So why is he blunt to the point of contradiction here?
All the commentators agree that the point he's making is that our love for Jesus should be so great as to make our love for even our families pale by comparison. But why not say that? Why be so blunt?
In John 6:53-58, Jesus is similarly harsh - so much so that the disciples say, 'This is a hard (or 'harsh') teaching. Who can accept it?' And Jesus replies, 'Does this offend you? (lit. 'cause you to stumble')... the Spirit gives life, the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are s/Spirit and they are life.' (v63).
So I think the answer to Bill's question has to be something about the sheer weight of importance of our decision about Jesus. Jesus is speaking about things that are literally a matter of life and death - eternal life and eternal death. And the only deciding factor in this overwhelmingly important issue is our relationship and attitude to Jesus.
In today's world everything is simply a matter of personal preference and of so little consequence - Sony e-reader or Kindle? Spurs or Arsenal? Sainsbury's or Tesco? - and very few people ever have to take decisions that really matter.
If you watched Birdsong last night, you'll have seen how another generation had to make decisions that really did matter - life and death decisions. The main character, Stephen Wraysford, is told by his superior officer that he must take his men down into a tunnel under the German lines. The Germans burst through from their own tunnel. Wraysford is shot and nearly killed.
But we know nothing of important decisions like these. Jesus has to ram home the truth that he alone must be our God if we are to have life. To use the language of John 6, 'What must we do to do the work that God requires?' the people ask, 'The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent,' replies Jesus. And belief means uniting ourselves to the Christ who goes to the cross. Or in the words of Luke 14:27, 'Anyone who does not take up his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.'

A fitting tribute

2012-01-21T08:48:00.002Z

If you're a Christian, then even if you don't know his name, John Stott will have almost certainly have influenced you and the ministry at your church - albeit indirectly.
The Lord took John Stott from this life last year, but his memorial service was held last week at St Paul's cathedral, attended by 2200 people. Stott's friend Timothy Dudley-Smith (former bishop of Thetford) prached a great sermon. Have a read: http://www.johnstottmemorial.org/media/

2012-01-15T15:44:00.003Z

Luke 14 verses 15-24 Sermon audio

Luke 14 verses 15-24.mp3

2012-01-15T15:44:00.001Z

Luke 14:1-14 Sermon audio

Luke 14 verses 1-14.mp3

Jesus' blunt words

2012-01-15T08:29:00.000Z

Luke14:15-24

It'snot hard tosumupwhat Jesus was saying in this short story. Butwhat he says is blunt.Veryblunt.

Soareyoupreparedforthis?

Jesusis saying, 'Don'tmakeexcuses.Donotmakefeebleexcusesfor rejecting my invitation – they just make me angry.'

NowyoumightnotexpectJesustospeaklikethat,solet'slookcarefullyatwhathereallysaysandwhyhesaysit.

Webeginbyremindingourselvesofthescene:

Jesusisatthehomeofaseniorreligiousleader.Some otherPhariseesare thereaswell,and they're allwatchingJesusandlookingforachancetocatchhimout– v1.

Theninv2,wehearthatamanwithaveryobviousmedicalconditionisthereaswell.Andwesuspectthatthere as atactical manoeuvre – thathe'sbeeninvitedbythePhariseesasatestforJesusto see if Jesuswill healthemanontheSabbath,breakingoneoftheirmanyrules,andgivingthemanopportunitytodiscredithim.

Well,Jesusdoeshealtheman,but,v5,hedoesn'tgivethePhariseesachancetocriticisehimbecauseheturnsthetablesonthem,revealingtheirhard-hearted,self-servinghypocrisy– they'ddoanythingtorescuetheirownsonoroxonaSabbath,buttheywon'tliftafingertohelpanyoneelse– allthetimeclaimingthatthisisGod'swill.

Perhapsbecausehe'sembarrassedatthesceneJesusismaking,thehostinvitesthemalltobeseated– andsuddenlyit'sasifsomeone'sfiredthestartinggunforthefinalofthe110mhighhurdles– dignitygoesoutofthewindowastheyscrambleforthebestseats.

WhenJesusseesthis,hetellsthemalittlestoryaboutpeoplewhotakehonourforthemselves,andconcludes,'Everyonewhoexaltshimselfwillbehumbled,andanyonewhohumbleshimselfwillbeexalted.'

Asifeven thatweren'tenough,in v12, Jesus rebukesthehostforinvitingallhisfriendssohe'llgetareturninvitationbutignoringthepoor, crippled, lame & blind becausetheycan'trepayhim.

Soyoucanjustimaginetheatmosphereasthemeal'sserved– astunned,embarrassedsilenceengulfstheroom. Andthen,inv15,perhapstobreakthesilence,oneoftheguestssaystoJesus,'BlessedisthemanwhowilleatatthefeastintheKingdomofGod.' Andhe'sabsolutelyright!IntheOTsaidthatthefuturehehadplannedforhispeoplewouldbelikethemostamazing,freebanquet!God'speoplewillfeastonthesuperabundantblessingandloveofGod.

That'swhyhospitalityissoimportantamongstGod'speople– asweeattogetherwegetaforetasteofthenewheavens&thenewearth. Butthequestionis,whowillbeatthatgreatfeast?Whowillbeinheaven?WhowillbewelcomedbyGodandwhowillberejected?

OfcoursethePhariseesaroundthetableassumethatthey,naturally,willbethere.They'veearnedtheirplace.Theyobeytherules.

SoJesustellsanotherparable.Astoryaboutamanwhowaspreparingagreatbanquet– andhe'dinvitedloadsofpeople. WhenJesussaysthat,thePhariseesallknowwhathe'stalkingabout– he'stalkingaboutGod'splanforhisgreatfeasttowhichallhispeoplewereinvited– andsincetheyweretheeliteofGod'speople,theywould,perhaps,havelookedatoneanotherandnoddedknowingly.

SoJesuscontinues,'Atthetimeoftheofthebanquet,themansenthisservantsouttotellthosewhohadbeeninvited,'Comeforeverythingisnowready! Buttheyallalikebegantomakeexcuses.'

JustthinkaboutwhatJesushasjustsaid– peoplewhohavebeeninvitedtoshareinGod'sblessings,inhisheaven,inhiskingdom,inhiseternalbanquetaremakingexcuses!
Andtheirexcusesareabsolutelypathetic.

Thefirstsays,'I'vejustboughtafieldandImustgoandseeit.Pleaseexcuseme.' OK.Sothere'sa2.5acrefieldforsaleinSussextodayfor£39k,andyou'resayingyou'vespentthatsortofmoneyandyouhaven'tevenlookedatit?Tellusanother!

Anotherpersonsaid,'I'vejustboughtfiveyokeofoxen,andI'monmywaytotrythemout.Pleaseexcuseme.' Soyou'veboughta6yroldJohnDeeretractorfor£30kandyou'drathergoandploughafieldthancometothemostincrediblefreebanquetthatyou'veeverbeenaskedto?

Stillanothersaid,'I'vejustgotmarried,soIcan'tcome'.Well,Iknowyouwanttofulfilyourdutytoyournewwife,buthonestly,can'tyouwaitjustalittlelonger?!

Theseexcusesarejustpathetic.

Everysooftenagoodfriendofminewouldtakemeoutforsupper– itwasagreatarrangement– heearnedatleast10xwhatIdo,soheinsistedthathewouldpay. SofromtimetotimeI'dgetanemailsuggestingafewdateswhenwecouldmeetup. CanyouimaginetheinsultifIreplied,'Sorry,can'tcome,justgotanallotment– mustgo&digit.Sorrycan'tcome,justboughtnewlawnmower,musttestit.' (I'mnotgoingtogiveapersonalparalleltothelastman'sexcuse!)

Thebottomlineofalltheseexcusesis,'Sorry,I'mtoobusy.ToobusydoingthingsI'dratherdothancomingtoyourbanquet - they're more important to me that you are. Sorrymate,I'vegotbetterthingstodothancometoyourfeast.'

Well,oncealltheexcuseshavebeenmade,theservantscomebackandreporttotheirmaster.

Whenhe hears the excuses people have been coming up with he becomes veryangry,v21 –he'dmadeallthesecarefulpreparations,arrangedeverythingperfectly,orderedinthebestfood&wine,bookedaMichelinstarredchef,decoratedthehouse,paidthewaiters– andyou'retoobusywanderingroundafield,tryingoutyournewoxenor satisfyingyourlustwithyourwife!

Youcanunderstandwhythe man wasn'ttoohappy!

Soandorderedhisservants,'Gooutquicklyintothestreetsandalleysofthetownandbringinthepoor,thecrippled,theblindandthelame. GoandgetthepeoplewhoaredespisedbythoseIinvitedearlier.'

'Sir,'theservantsaid,'whatyouhaveorderedhasbeendone,butthere'sstillroom.'

'Gooutintotheroadsandcountrylanesandmakethemcomein,sothatmyhousewillbefull.Itellyou,notoneofthosemenwhowereinvitedwillgetatasteofmybanquet.'

OfcoursewhatJesusisdoinghereismirroringwhat'sactuallyhappeningallaroundhim.

ThePhariseesareJews– membersofGod'speoplewhohavebeeninvitedtothebanquet.Butthey'veallrejectedtheinvitationbecausethey'verejectedJesusandhiskingdomofgenerouslove.

SonowJesusturnshisattentiontothesick,thepoor,thesinnersoftheJewishnation– thosewhothePhariseesdespise– andtheyaccepthimandhishealing,life-givingblessing.

Andwhenthey'veallcomein,thenhegoestothenon-Jews– theGentiles– andtheyareurgedtocomein– yes,yes– evenyou!

Andtheinvitationswillkeepgoingoutuntilthehouseisfull.Butthosewhorejectedtheinvitation– 'noneofthemwillgetatasteofmybanquet'saystheman.

So,wasIrighttosummarisethisasJesussaying,'Don'tmakeexcuses.Donotmakefeebleexcusesfor rejecting my invitation – they just make me angry'? Surelythat's precisely what Jesus was saying – and he says it today toeach and every one of us here this morning.

Thismorning, I stand here as one Jesus' servants going out into the roadsand country lanes, inviting you to come in and enjoy God's banquet. Andthe Lord God demands a response. What is your answer today?

Youmay think, 'I'm not ready to respond, don't rush me' – but that isa response. Just as the man who bought the oxen said, 'Not today', soyou're saying, 'I'm not coming to your banquet today.' So your answeris no.

Youmay think, 'Life's just too full of urgent things to do to bethinking about religion. I know this is important, but other thingsare more urgent.' Youare saying, 'No'.

Thereare only two responses to this invitation. Yes or no.

It'sbeen said that busyness is the enemy of heaven. How true that is.Busyness with unimportant things means that thousands of millions ofpeople will not enjoy God's feast but will be turned away fromheaven.

Areyou too busy for God?

Wouldyou be too busy if someone offered you free tickets to see England atTwickenham or Wembley, or a 5* holiday in Australia, or dinner atThackeray's?

Ifyou've no excuses for things like this, why is it that you have somany excuses for Jesus Christ?

Youcannot keep putting him off with feeble excuses.

Well,I told you that this was a blunt message this morning. But I hope youcan see that I'm not exaggerating what Jesus himself was saying inthis parable.

Ifyou want to respond to him, please do talk to me or to a Christianfriend.

Agreat way to respond would be to join our Simply Christianity coursestarting this week. And don't say you're too busy – your field willwait, your oxen will wait, and your wife's not going anywhere.

How to pray

2012-01-13T09:14:00.001Z

Paul's letters contain a number of examples of how we should pray, and what Paul prays for is not the same as most Christians today.
In 2 Thessalonians he begins by thanking God for his brothers & sisters in Christ because their faith is growing and their love for one another increasing. Is this how you pray?
Then (1:11) he prays that God would count them worthy of his calling and that he would fulfil their resolve to do good and act out their faith so that the name of the Lord Jesus would be glorified in them and they in him. Is this how you pray?
In 2:13, he again thanks God for his brothers & sisters in Christ because God chose them and saved them through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and belief in the truth. He thanks God that they will share in the glory of Christ. Is this how you thank God?
Because we all need encouragement & strengthening all of the time, Paul prays for this in 2:16f. Is this how you pray?
Then Paul asks the Thessalonians to pray for him: that the message of the Lord would spread rapidly and be honoured. Is that how you pray for St Peter's?
He also asks them to pray that he would be delivered from wicked & evil men. Is that how you pray for church leaders?
Finally, 3:16-18, he asks that the Lord of peace would give them peace at all times and in every way, and that the grace of Christ would be with them. Is this how you pray?