MPC
19th January 2020.January 19 - Luke 18:9-14, 19:1-10 - "Don't Bring a Thing"
MPC
19th January 2020.
Phil Campbell
Dunno how you're going with your new years resolutions so far. We're half way through January already. But the other day I saw a few people on Facebook sharing a good one.
It says, this year... I want to be more like Jesus. Then the dot points.
*Hang out with sinners.
*Upset religious people.
*Tell stories that make people think.
*Choose unpopular friends.
*Be kind, loving and merciful.
*And take naps on boats.
Going viral on social media, I think. Because it's saying something that's kind of unexpected. I mean, apart from taking naps on boats, which Jesus famously did in the middle of a storm; unexpected if you're the type who only likes hanging out with the right kind of people. And avoiding anyone else. If you're only keen on having the kind of popular friends who are safe. And respectable. And as they used to say, upwardly mobile.
But the point is, that little list goes pretty close to what it's going to look like if you really do want to get serious about being more like Jesus.
Because it's exactly what you catch Jesus doing in the gospels. And he's in trouble for it. Over and over again. And he talks about it. And tells parables about it. Over and over again.
It's a surprise. If you're the classic kind of religious person. Because it goes against the grain. It's just as much a surprise I guess, if you're not particularly religious. Maybe you're here today under protest. Or out of curiosity. And you didn't know what to expect.
If you're taking your tentative first steps, taking a bit of a look at Christianity, if you're not good at all at acting religious, because the fact is you're not; and you're uncomfortable. And maybe think you'd never measure up. The surprise might be for you that when you actually start reading the New Testament, you'll see Jesus Himself hanging out with people exactly like you. In the back street bars of Judea. At parties. With all the wrong people.
In a way that's really raising eyebrows. Hanging out with the kind of people who everyone else looks down on. Prostitutes. Used car dealers - sorry!.
Often mentioned, he hangs out with tax collectors. Who are on the don't friend him on Facebook list simply because they're working for the enemy. Rome. Working on commission to milk as much tax money from their fellow Israelites as they possibly can. They're collaborators.
There's a new series of Occupied on Netflix.
Set in a world where Russia occupies Norway for their oil supply. Some Norwegians co-operate. Others join the resistance.
Now in Season 3 as the Russians withdraw, the sympathisers. Anyone who co-operated. Is labelled as a traitor. And arrested. Including the whole Norwegian parliament. It's good drama.
If you're a tax collector in first century Israel; that's you. Sold out to Rome. Collaborator. Traitor. Worse.
And Jesus is prepared to hang out with even you. Which is the point we're going to see first in a parable. And then in a person who has a first hand encounter with Jesus.
Start with me in the passage we just read. Which if you want to make a resolution to be like Jesus and tell stories to make people think, is a great example. Because it's so well aimed.
And Luke in his gospel; this is chapter 18 verse 9; Luke makes it very clear who's in the cross hairs. It's a heat seeking missile. Aimed directly, Luke tells us in verse 9,
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else...
Now see, you've got it already. There's a type of person even today; in fact, there are plenty around. So many that it's the media stereotype of a Christian. It's Ned Flanders on the Simpsons. It's the preachy pretentious pastor. It's the person who is confident of their own righteousness; the person who thinks God's privileged to have them on his team; the person who does everything right and is rigorously religious. And because of that, looks down on everyone else.
Maybe that's you.
Well, listen. Because this is the most important encounter with Jesus that somebody like you can have. And maybe you need to take notice.
Or if it's not you. And you've spent your life thinking you don't measure up because you're so used to being looked down on by people like that. It's an equally important encounter for you. Maybe even more important. So listen.
Jesus says to them; as they look down their confident self righteous noses... he says, here's a story for you. Verse 10. Two guys, they're going up the hill to the temple in Jerusalem. To pray.
One of them's a Pharisee. So religiously respectable. Feeling right at home as he takes his prominent spot at the front. And the other guy's a tax collector. Who as we know, if you're an ancient Israelite, is as low as you can go.
The Pharisee is by himself, verse 11, but he's praying out loud so everyone can hear him. In his most pious sounding voice. With very correct vowels.
God, I thank you that I am not like other people-robbers, evildoers, adulterers-or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.
Not the 5/2 diet or the Fast 800 to keep his weight down. But religious fasting. And he's tithing. giving. Like the guys Jesus talks about another time who even give a tenth of their herb garden. Not. A step. Out of line.
So can I ask you at this point. If you're the tax collector; the guy on the edge... how do you feel when you hear those words reverberating around the temple?
Maybe you know that feeling first hand. From a past experience of church. Still makes your face burn. If that's been your experience, good on you for still being here. And make sure you keep reading. Verse 13.
The tax collector is standing at a distance. No wonder.
He's ashamed. Even before the Pharisee's prayer. He doesn't need a reminder.
He won't even look up to heaven. He's downcast. And he's beating his chest. Pounding himself; in a traditional Jewish way, as a mark of his sorrow.
And he prays. Seven short words. Not about the sins of anyone else. Not about his own righteousness. But the exact opposite.
God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
He's here not because he's proud of himself. But the opposite. He's here because he knows he needs help.
But I mean, sin is a bit of a trigger word these days, isn't it?
Especially. If you use it of anybody else. Although this tax guy clearly isn't. He's only pointing at himself.
Maybe though, you want to say he's got an unhealthy lack of self esteem. This guy's too down on himself. Calling himself a sinner like that.
Maybe it's just that he's made a few mistakes. A couple of counselling sessions, let him know he's basically good and that he shouldn't let outdated social conventions crush his self esteem because after all, he's the most important person in the world... cheer up.
That'll fix it. Because we're just not meant to talk about sin these days.
But look what Jesus says. Because God's all about answering prayers like that. God's all about showing mercy. To anyone who asks.
And so the bloke we're conditioned to think is the dodgy one. He's the one who's got it exactly right.
Because God keeps turning everything we expect upside down. And especially, he's got no time at all for self exalting religion.
And all the time in the world for a humble sinner.
Verse 14, Jesus says,
14 I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before god. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
This man goes home counted as righteous. And the one who thinks he's righteous already, doesn't.
Now please. Think that through. Think that through as it connects to your own understanding of where you stand with God.
Because its incredibly counter intuitive, isn't it? Martin Luther, the Monk who ignited the protestant reformation 501 years ago, said this... He said,
I myself was a monk for twenty years. I tortured myself with prayers, fasting, vigils and freezing... [because] God was supposed to note my strict observance of monastic order and my austere life...
Or so he thought. But he says, "I was wrong."
And he realised he had to come to Jesus like the tax collector. Rather than like the Pharisee.
Which means it's not about how much you deny yourself. It's not even about how much you pray. It's not about the number of theological words you know; or the books or blogs you've read.
It's not the fervour of you singing. Or its flavour. More traditional. More modern. Or whether you shut your eyes or open them.
And it's not how loudly critical you are. Of the sins of everyone else.
The Pharisee had all that stuff in spades. And went home unjustified.
Not counted righteous.
Whereas the simple sinner; who says sorry. And says it sincerely. Nails it. Which isn't the way we're conditioned to see things, is it? Not the way religion works. Anywhere else. The Pharisees are scandalised. Can't believe what they're hearing.
Look, it's a bit like the old Cadbury advertisement on TV; you might remember it. You know how it is when you're invited to a barbie, and the hosts say don't bring anything? It's kind of awkward, isn't it?
Take a look at the ad and you'll see what I mean [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBjIaAd1xeY].
Don't bring a thing. Not your resume. Not a list of what you've done. Not your application form or your portfolio or list of glowing references. Not even chocolates!
It's weird, isn't it?
"God have mercy on me, a sinner." And a new start from there. Counted as righteous.
So when you look over the page in Luke's gospel to chapter 19 it should be no surprise when Jesus meets another tax collector... who's falling short. That he's absolutely happy to hang out with him. Even if nobody else will.
In an encounter with Jesus that puts into action the parable.
Jesus comes into Jericho, he's just passing through. And Zacchaeus, chief tax collector, verse 2, is very. rich. Off the backs of his fellow Jews who he spends his life squeezing for taxes every way he can. Honest or otherwise.
Zacchaeus can't see a thing for two reasons. Number 1, there's a huge crowd. Number 2, he's short. So even on tiptoes, he's just staring into the middle of the backs of the people in front of him.
He wants to see who Jesus is, verse 3, so it dawns on him, I'll climb a tree. A big old sycamore fig. So up he goes.
And look what happens next. it's scandalous.
Jesus gets to the spot, verse 5, he looks up in the tree, and he says to Zacchaeus, come down right now. Because I've gotta stay at your place today.
I must. Stay at your house today.
So Zacchaeus slides down the tree and he welcomes Jesus gladly. And takes him home. Which no doubt annoys his wife because he hasn't called to warn her they've got a visitor.
But more than that, it's annoyed everyone else for another reason. Which you'll see in verse 7.
Exactly the same point as the parable we saw before. Haven't they heard about it?
7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a sinner."
Look, I'm going to leave you to look at the next couple of verses yourself. To see for Zacchaeus how having Jesus come to visit absolutely turns his life around.
As it will for you. If you're anything like that today. Coming up short. Bringing nothing. A sinner. Who just wants to catch sight of Jesus however you can.
The self righteous crowd; the decent religious people. They just don't get it. Because they missed the memo. They don't get how good this is.
It's in verse 10. And it's actually a famous verse you should lock into your memory.
For the Son of Man (that's Jesus)... came to seek and to save the lost.
So he's hanging out with sinners. Not to judge them. But because he's come to save them.
Which he does. As the story unfolds. By going to the cross for them. By taking on himself all the judgement that would have belonged to them. To you. to me.
That's why there's no room for self righteousness.
Remember Martin Luther? The Monk. Torturing himself with prayers and fasting and vigils. Desperately trying to win God's approval.
He said; religion like that, it's actually a kind of idolatry. Making up a version of God for yourself. Based on what you think he's like. Here's the rest of his quote.
Martin Luther says, with all my strict observances and my outward show of piety, he says,
I constantly walked in a dream, and lived in real idolatry. For I regarded Christ only as a severe and terrible judge... and cast around for other intercessors - Mary, various other saints, and my own works... but this was all heresy and idolatry, since I did not know Christ, and did not seek in and through Him what was wanted.
That God could and would be completely satisfied in him. Because God is satisfied in the sacrifice of Jesus.
Don't bring a thing!
If only I pray harder. Or sound more pious. God will be satisfied with me. Martin Luther says no. If only I fast more. Or sing louder. Martin Luther says no.
God is satisfied. By the sacrifice of Jesus. Which is why Jesus is so happy to hang out with sinners. He's come to save them.
And look, it's no secret that it's my dream as a church that we could be a bit more like him in this. One of my leadership passions. That we can just be a bit more ordinary. I know maybe you've been around a while and you're maybe not persuaded by that because it seems so... kind of un-churchy doesn't it?
But that we as a church could at least take on at some of those resolutions I mentioned at the start.
That because we want to be more like Jesus. We're more ready to Hang out with sinners. By which I mean ordinary people. And be a church where people like that are openly welcome. Because we want to seek and save the lost.
That we'll speak and act in a way that shows we're not like the Pharisee in the temple. But like the other guy.
That we'll pray our prayers and we'll sing our songs and we'll make our announcements and we'll preach our sermons in a way that speaks to everyone of the way they're welcome. Without bringing anything. Welcome. To be ordinary.
Which might in fact upset religious people. Who'll say the want something more than that. We'll keep telling stories that make people think. Because we'll tell the stories Jesus told. As if we actually mean them.
That's my goal anyway.
We'll be prepared to choose unpopular friends. Because we want to take every opportunity to be kind, loving and merciful.
And if you want to on your holidays you can even take naps on boats. In between glasses of good wine at wedding parties. And joyful banquets with your friends and neighbours.
If you're new at this stuff. If you're feeling a bit unsteady and unworthy and unreligiou, let me invite you to follow Jesus with us. Because that's what it's meant to be like. And seriously, don't bring a thing. Not even the chocolates.