St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church – Watertown, WI
Pastor Mark Gartner
Sermon for Pentecost 13 – August 30th and September 2nd, 2001
Imagine that you were looking for a job in the want ads of the paper. You find an ad that reads something like this. People wanted: past history is not important, no past training necessary, the work is very fulfilling, but might be very difficult at times. In fact there’s a good chance that taking this job will make your life more difficult. Applicants are not paid, but will receive a priceless treasure when done. Boss is easy to work with and loves his employees dearly. How would you respond to such an ad? I’m sure that you would skip right over it to find something more enticing. As we think about this ad, we might notice that it sounds very similar to the life of a Christian. God invites in any type of person no matter what the background. As a Christian we know that our God is always watching over us and loved us enough to take away our sins by giving his life on the cross.
But let’s back up a minute! Don’t we always tell everyone how great it is to be a Christian? Where does this tough life thing fit in? As we look at our Christian lives and the world around us, I would like you to think about two questions. First, "Why are there so many false religions?" Second, "Why do we as Christians seem to suffer so much while we are on this earth?" These questions don’t seem to be all that closely related, but they are actually very closely related. As we find the answers to these questions, we will go a long way in understanding Jesus’ words for us today. They are two important questions that need to be answered in order that we as Christians can better understand why things happen as they do in our lives and why things happen as they do in the world around us. If we look for answers from our own reason and logic, we will come up with the wrong answers or will come up with no answers at all. There is a reason why there are so many divisions on this earth, and why we as Christians suffer at the hands of the people around us. It is simple. The answer is basically the same for both questions. It boils down to how people react to the preaching of the Gospel message. There are only two ways to react, believe God’s message of salvation or not reject God’s message of salvation. It is from those two reactions that we find the answers to the question, which is also our theme for this morning,
Theme: Why Can Christians Can Expect Troubles?
Jesus spoke these words for us with the intention of letting his disciples know what was in store for them in the future. In the verses preceding and following our text for this morning, Jesus was warning the disciples to be ready at all times for the return of the Savior. This was a big task considering all that lay in front of them, and in our text Jesus lays out some of the obstacles, which will be in front of them. Jesus certainly expected a lot from his disciples, and he expects a lot from us as his disciples. But Jesus gives us some words of comfort as we look at the long, tough road that leads to our eternal home in heaven. Jesus was not asking more of his disciples and of us than he expected from himself. Jesus in this text is talking about things leading us up to the end of this world. There are going to be things happening before the Savior’s return, and Jesus wants us prepared and ready for everything. To prepare and warn us, he is letting us know that Christians can expect troubles as they live on this earth.
Jesus tells us first of all that we are not going to be the only ones who suffer. Jesus states the fact that it was not going to be easy for himself. Jesus had a mission while he was on this earth, and although he was telling the disciples that he was sent to die, the people did not comprehend what Jesus was talking about. Jesus once again in our text tells the disciples that there was reason that he was on this earth. Jesus says in our text, "I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed." Jesus tells the disciples that he was going to suffer, and calls that suffering a "baptism." It was not a baptism that we think of which is water and the Word -- John already baptized Jesus. No, this baptism was a figurative picture to describe what he had to go through to take away the sins of the world.
Just think how much Jesus had to suffer as he made his way to the cross of Calvary. Many people rejected him. He was arrested like a criminal. He was put on trial, and condemned while committing no crime. He was physically beaten. He was forced to endure mocking and ridicule as he made his way to die on the cross. He had to suffer the agony of hanging on the cross, and the ridicule of those who doubted that he was the Savior of the world. He also had to suffer the agony of the load of the sins of the world that were piled on him. This is the baptism that he is talking about.
It was not going to be an easy road. In our text we can see the human nature of Christ showing itself. The suffering ahead was causing him distress. In Hebrews it tells us that Jesus suffered just as we suffer. He in our text says how distressed he is until his mission was. In the Garden of Gethsemene we remember Jesus pleading with his Father to take this cup from him, if it is his will. What a load Jesus carried for us as sinners. Our sins were the reason that Christ went through all the anguish he had to endure. But Jesus never had any intentions of backing out of his mission, no matter what was going to happen in the future. He knew there was going to be a tough road ahead, and he was going to finish it.
2. It will not be easy for us
But suffering was not going to end with Christ’s sufferings. Suffering will go on until the end of time. Jesus wanted the disciples to know this. He wanted them to be prepared. He wanted them to know that it was not going to be easy for them, just because Christ died on the cross. This leads us into the bulk of what we are going to look at this morning. Let’s back up to the two questions we asked at the beginning. Why are there so many false religions? and Why do we suffer so much while on this earth?" The answer lies in the opening verses of our text where Jesus says, "I have comes to bring fire on this earth, and how I wish it were already kindled." These words might seem hard to understand at first, but once we see what Jesus was telling the disciples and us, it is clear, and it answers many of the questions we might have. "I have come to bring fire." What kind of fire is Jesus talking about? Jesus is talking about the preaching of his Gospel. He tells us that preaching based on God’s Gospel will be like fire. We can see this when we see the reactions people have to the preaching of the Gospel. There are only two kind of reactions. Either you believe and are saved, or you don't believe and are against God and his people.
This tells us clear as day why there are so many different religions. Those who do not believe Jesus hold to their false beliefs and will stop at nothing to hold on to their beliefs, just as we will stop at nothing to hold on to our beliefs. All the problems in this world find their roots in sin. Sin has led people to reject the pure message of the Gospel. Sin is the reason that we suffer while we are on this earth. Sin is the reason that we are not going to have an easy life while on this earth, and Jesus wants us to know this so that we are not surprised. Christ in our text knows that many will reject his teaching, and he knows that his death will not lead everyone to salvation, but he also knows that all people need to hear of Jesus life and death on the cross for the sins of the world. Jesus knows that this is the only way to heaven, and whether people reject it or not, we can never stop telling others this great news. Christ blazed the trail for us by his death, and we are following along with the gift of salvation that he has worked in our hearts through the Holy Spirit.
This leads us to a similar point. Jesus tells us, "Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No I tell you, but division." This sounds odd, when we think of all the times that we have learned of the peace and joy and unity that Christ has promised to bring. But we need to look closely at the point that Jesus is trying to bring. Jesus has promised peace to those who have faith in Christ Jesus, eternal peace of knowing our sins are forgiven. But our text tells us that although we may spiritual peace, we will have many divisions as we live on this earth. It once again goes back to the preaching of the Gospel. Either you are for God through faith, or you are against God. There is no middle road. This leads to the divisions that Jesus is talking about. Jesus goes on to state the severity of these divisions.
These divisions may even affect the closest of relationships, "From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.". Divisions may be within a family. Divisions may be within our own families. We are not united, just because we are all under one roof and share the same family name. We are united when we all know of Christ as our true Savior. Any other unity is secondary, when we are talking about out eternal future. God isn’t going to say that you can enter into heaven, because you kept earthly peace in your family. Too many families are afraid to make waves when it comes to telling people about God and sin. In this case division is good so that we will not fall into temptation and lost souls may be led to see their lost condition.
Just look at what Christ is telling us. Let us thank God, if he has blessed our families with the true unity found in the Gospel. Let us thank God that he has worked faith in our hearts and in the hearts of our family members. And if there is still division, let us pray to God concerning their spiritual welfare and preach the Word to them knowing that we are talking about their salvation.
As we look at this text we may be saying to ourselves – Pastor there is not too much in this sermon that is making me happy. We have heard that we as Christians are going to have troubles throughout our lives on this earth. That doesn't bring too much joy. We have heard how much Jesus had to suffer to take away our sins. That doesn't seem at first glance to bring too much joy. We have seen how the Gospel is going to cause divisions, even within our families. That doesn't bring too much joy. We have seen how sin has destroyed the perfect peace that God intended, and that this sin has infected all people including us here this morning. That doesn't make us too happy. Then what joy is there for us? All the joy that we could ever need is really found in these words this morning. It isn't all bad news. Think this through for a minute -- Why did Christ comes and suffer at the hands of the people on this earth? What leads people to take sides? All this can fall under the pure message of the Gospel. If Christ would not have come and suffered like he did, we would not have been saved. Therefore there is lots of joy in knowing why Christ suffered, to bring us forgiveness.
Also why are there divisions? It is once again because of the preaching of the Gospel. This shows us the power of the gospel. Without the Gospel, there would be no divisions, but everyone would be united against God.. But because of the Gospel we have eternal life, and we are able to take this message to all people, whether they reject or not is something we can’t change. God has given us the pure message of the Gospel. That is the greatest joy we could ever have. And no matter what is happening to us as we live on this earth, the Gospel is still with us. No matter how bad things seem to be going, the gospel message is still with us.
That is what motivates us as we live on this earth. Knowing that Christ showed his love to us. That is all the strength and joy that we as sinners will ever need. Christ's death for all people tells us the whole message. Do not let us be surprised when we as Christians suffer. God has not promised us a "bed of roses", but he has promised an eternity in heaven to those who believe in Christ. Let that always fill our hearts. Let Paul's words to the Roman Christians echo our thoughts when we consider our present sufferings and our future glory, "I consider our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." Amen