THIS ODD AND WONDROUS CALLING
Sermon
Passage: Matthew 4:1-23
Sermon title: “This Odd and Wondrous Calling”
Let us pray:
Your ‘Word’ O God is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Light our path with your Word. Amen.
I started reading a book entitled “This Odd and Wondrous Calling.” I fell in love with the title so much that I seem to have taken more time to put my own life story on the pages of that book, and less time reading it. In fact, I believe this title is a perfect theme for today’s Gospel passage; “This Odd and Wondrous Calling.”
John the Baptist had experienced this ‘Odd and Wondrous Calling.” God had called him from his mother’s womb to be a precursor for Jesus. John accepted the ‘call’ and began his ministry with specific instructions from God, given to him through his father Zechariah (Luke 1:13). John’s calling stipulates that he is never to drink wine nor strong drink. Like John, we are also called to this ‘Odd and Wondrous Calling.’ And at times I am inclined to believe; our calling also comes with the same stipulations as John, not to drink wine nor strong drinks, among other things.
Couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to do field service at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Grove City. While I was there I had my first experience with three communion services, consecutively. And after the third cup of wine, this precious means of grace at the third service, I began to think that perhaps I received the same stipulations as John.
As a precursor for Jesus, John is given a specific message for the people. He proclaims to them, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." The Gospel passage today, reveals to us the profound ‘cost’ of laying hold of and carrying out the task of this odd and wondrous call of God. I believe John knew the cost of this ‘Odd and Wondrous Calling.’ I believe he knew that calling people to repentance might cost him his very life, but he was faithful and obedient to God. He did what he was called to do. I believe the people did not fully understand the depth of what John was saying when he declared, “He, (Jesus) must increase, but I, (John), must decrease” (John 3:30).
In our walk with God, in our ministry, are we willing to be obedient to God? Are we willing to do what God asks us to do? And are we willing to decrease and let God increase in us? Think about it. That is what John did for the sake of Christ Jesus, when he obeyed God and called people to repentance. John’s truthful proclamation of the Gospel got him arrested, and put in prison. There is a cost to proclamation - a cost to proclaim truthfully, the Gospel of Christ. All of us as Christ’s body are called to proclaim the Good News. In doing so, it may cost our freedom, a demotion from a position we hold dear, or like John, it may even cost our lives.
Last week, Pastor told us that when John saw Jesus coming towards him, John declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’ John was put in prison for proclaiming the Good News of repentance. And while in prison he had something so pungent on his mind that he probably did not get much sleep. John wanted to know one thing, and that was whether the one he pointed out as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world is truly the Messiah. Was the one for whom he waits, truly the Messiah? So John sent message to Jesus from prison asking Jesus if he is the Messiah (Luke 7:20). Jesus’ only answer for John is that the “blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.” I believe Jesus must have known that John would understand the meaning of Jesus’ words to him. Perhaps John would have preferred to hear from Jesus, something more concrete – something like, “Yes John, I am the Messiah, I am the one for whom you wait.” But I believe John was satisfied with Jesus’ answer, and perhaps after hearing what Jesus had to say, John had his first good night’s sleep in prison.
Perhaps, like John, we too have doubts. John had doubts as to whether Jesus is the Messiah. We may have doubts as to whether Jesus is coming back for us as he said he would. Jesus encouraged John’s faith by sending him the message. Today we have Jesus’ message to us in the Scriptures; the ‘Word’ that encourages us in our faith, and strengthens us to continue to proclaim the Good News with the hope that Christ will return and in the hope of our resurrection.
I believe that perhaps even in prison John was not quiet. Perhaps he continued to call for people to repent of their sin and turn to God. Imagine John the Baptist shouting his repentance message at Herod! And for that it cost him his life. John had counted the cost!
Royal Priests, have you counted the cost of proclaiming the Gospel of Christ boldly and truthfully?
The Gospel passage today continues to unfold as it tells us that when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, He left his home town in Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum in Galilee, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: "Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles --the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned." (Matt. 4:12-16).
The passage reveals to us John’s arrest and Jesus embarking on his ‘call’ to ministry. John’ prophecy, “He (Jesus) must increase, but I (John) must decrease” is fulfilled. And the arrival of the light of the world has come to Galilee! The shalom of God is here! The reign of God is about to begin! God has invaded earth, in Jesus Christ! And Galilee is the place in Palestine, for the shalom of God to begin!
Ancient Galilee was a district of Palestine situated fifty miles from north to south, twenty-five miles from east to west and densely populated. It was connected by the coastal strip of the Phoenicians and bordered by Syria on the northeast. Galilee was inhabited by a diversity of people with diverse cultures. Some of the native Galileans were the Canaanites; some of whose descendants may still be living in Galilee today. The Israelite tribes of Asher, Naphtali and Zebulum when they first came out of the bondage of Egypt lived in Galilee (Josh. 9).
Galilee at the time of Jesus was a busy place. The Way of the Sea – the road to commerce led from Damascus directly through Galilee to Egypt and Africa. The traffic of the world passed through Galilee. Galilee was invaded repeatedly and conquered, and was often flooded with foreigners. And its geographical location made it a perfect place for foreign influence and new ideas.
The name Galilee comes from the Hebrew word ‘galil,’ which means circle. The full name was Galilee of the Gentiles, and is named mainly, because Galilee was surrounded by foreigners. To the north and east, were the Syrians, and to the south were the Samaritans. All of which made Galilee open to new ideas in a way that no other part of Palestine was. Galilee was the WORLD! It was the one place in all of Palestine where a new teacher name Jesus, with his message of repentance would be heard.
The people were receptive to Jesus’ teachings! And like John, his message was a command for people to “Repent!” - To turn from their own ways, and turn to God. Jesus’ message was a command for people to lift up their eyes from earthly passions and look to God. Jesus the light of the world has come to those who sat in the darkness of their sin and they would hear the Good News.
In proclaiming the Good News, Jesus walked up to fishermen tending their boats and mending their nets on the shores of Galilee and he called them! “Follow me” He said, “And I will teach you how to fish for people.” The men put down their nets, left their boats – left all they ever knew, and followed Jesus.
What have you left behind to follow Jesus? What have we left behind to follow him? Think about it.
This ‘Odd and Wondrous Calling’ does not end with the call of the disciples. Jesus is still calling us today. And he is also saying to us, ‘Follow me,’ and I will teach you how to impact the lives of people who are brokenhearted, oppressed and sad, discouraged and alienated by being a light unto them. Let us be obedient to the ‘call’ - this ‘Odd and Wondrous Calling.’ Let us proclaim the Gospel of Christ boldly, and truthfully. Let us all let our light shine so the world can see Jesus.
Proclaiming the truth of the gospel is costly! It costs John the Baptist his life in prison. It costs Jesus his life on the cross where He laid it down for the sins of the world. But through His death and resurrection, we have this blessed hope – this blessed assurance of eternal life with Christ.
Saints of God, you are loved with an everlasting love. You are God’s Royal Priests. And in your baptism, you and I are marked with the cross of Christ, and sealed by the Holy Spirit forever. Amen