SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2020

Rough preaching notes for the day - Hagerman

Intro: the hippo ranching scheme (American Hippopotamus by Jon Mooallem)

            This is a true story even though it’s composed of many details that will seem ludicrous. In the early years of the last century, the U.S. Congress considered a bold and ingenious plan that would simultaneously solve two pressing problems — a national meat shortage and a growing ecological crisis. The plan was this: hippopotamus ranching.

            Hippos imported from Africa and raised in the bayous of Louisiana, proponents argued, would provide a delicious new source of protein for a meat-hungry nation. In the process, the animals would gobble up the invasive water hyacinth that was killing fish and choking off waterways. It would be an epic win-win. A bill was introduced in Congress, and newspaper editorials extolled the culinary virtues of “lake cow bacon.”

            The dawn of hippopotamus ranching in America was 1910. There was a very serious meat shortage. These were peak years of immigration, cities were exploding, the meat industry was getting bigger and uglier but it could not keep up. America had always solved its problems by moving west, but now the frontier was closed.

            The idea was that you could harness land that wasn’t productive for grazing cattle, like swamps and bayous. So you’d transplant the hippos into these environments that aren’t totally unlike where they live in Africa.  At the same time, there was a real problem with invasive water hyacinth plants; there still is in fact. So a Louisiana Congressman named Robert Broussard decided he could solve the water hyacinth problem by bringing in hippos to eat up the plants. You were literally taking one problem and using it to solve another problem.

·         Though under serious consideration, it never came to fruition before the meat shortage was solved in other ways. 

·         Was it a good idea/  - maybe.  Not every idea is a good one.

·         Many years ago, hungry Chinese farmers theorized that they could eat their big potatoes and use the small ones for seed. And so they did - they ate the big potatoes and planted the small ones. As a result of this, over the years, nature eventually reduced the size of all the potatoes they harvested to marbles. They learned through this bitter experience that they could not have the best things of life for themselves and use their leftovers for seed. The law of the harvest reflected the planting!

Peter thinks that Jesus' idea of going to Jerusalem, suffering, dying -- is a very bad idea and no conceivable good can come from it.

Jesus explains and Peter thinks it is up for discussion...

·         Verse 21: "From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."

·         Verse 21 of chapter 16 marks a transition in Matthew's story of Jesus. Unlike Mark, Matthew separates verses 21-28 from the preceding verses. Not only do Jerusalem and its events begin to loom larger, but also in this section of the Gospel the teachings of Jesus are directed almost exclusively to the disciples, rather than to the crowds as well. Jesus' focus is on preparing the disciples for his impending death. (Unlike Mark, Matthew separates Peter's confession in verse 16 from the rebuke of Peter in verses 22-23 - Peter seems a little less of a spiritual roller coaster.)

·         What Jesus explained is the core of the Gospel message: "He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."

·         The Gospel is the Good News. What do you need to believe to be saved?  What is the Good news/Gospel? This is it! This is the saving work of Christ. Matthew 16 is a foreshadowing of 1 Corinthians 15.  They are essentially identical except one comes before and one after Jesus' death. 

1 Corinthians 15:

1 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve... and others.

I said the name Cephas - this is Peter

·         The name Cephas is a boy's name of Aramaic origin meaning "rock." The apostle Simon was called Cephas by Jesus because he was to be the rock upon which the Christian church was to be built. In most versions of the New Testament, Cephas is translated into Petros in Greek, Peter in English.

22Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!" 23Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."

·         Peter's response to Jesus indicates that Peter has not adequately understood or accepted the way of Jesus. He doesn't understand that  it is not up for discussion - this is something that must be done.  In fact, Peter has now placed himself in opposition to God and in league with Satan.

How did this happen? How is it we find ourselves

In League with Satan?

·         Questions:

·         Want to get rich fast?

·         Want to play a wicked guitar without practicing?

·         Want to marry the most beautiful woman, or most handsome man, in the world?

·         Want to write a series of best-selling novels?

·         You might be able to do all of those things and more on your own, but you also might need to make a deal with the devil. If you don't know how to do that, check out the eHow article (an internet How-To site) on the subject. Here are the quick steps for dealing with the devil: 

·         Make an appointment with the devil. 

·         Hire a lawyer. 

·         Aim high. 

·         Be specific. 

·         Read the fine print. 

·         Enjoy the ride while it lasts but be sure to keep yourself in good health. 

·         Beat the devil at his own game and you'll win big. 

·         Sounds attractive, right? In a quick fix culture, most people are looking for the easy way to an easy life, especially if the personal cost is relatively low. One way of getting whatever you desire comes with an attractive payment plan - nothing up front but everything paid in full at death. The price? Only your immortal and eternal soul, which, if you're really looking for the quick fix solution to fame and fortune, you're probably not using anyway! Interested? Apply at midnight at the most remote crossroads in your area. Ask for Satan. 

·         History is full of legends of people who made such a deal with the devil. Faust, the protagonist of the classic German legend made famous by Goethe, exchanged his soul for unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasures. The term "Faustian bargain" has ever since been a sophisticated way to question the meteoric rise of a person to fame and fortune who did not seem to pay his dues in diligence and hard work. Musicians are especially associated with the Faustian bargain. Niccolo Paganini, the late 18th-early 19th century violinist who many still believe was the greatest who ever lived, played the violin with such force and velocity that one Vienna concertgoer swore that he saw the devil helping Paganini play. The violinist's fiercely difficult works led others to believe that he was the son of the devil himself. Two legendary, early-20th century, Mississippi-delta guitarists, Tommy Johnson and Robert Johnson (not related), are similarly associated with making a deal with the devil down at a crossroads, exchanging their souls for a wicked good ability to play the blues. 

Jesus has already turned Satan down when he (Satan) tried to make a deal...

·         Mathew 4:

¹ Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ² After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. ³ The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

⁴ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

⁵ Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ⁶ “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
    and they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

⁷ Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

⁸ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ⁹ “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

¹¹ Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

·         The devil offered multiple deals which were all turned down. If anyone had reason to take a deal, it was Jesus, who knew he was facing a horrifyingly painful death if he kept doing and saying the things he had been doing and saying around Judea. If a deal with the devil is about skipping the hard parts, Jesus understood that his life was nothing but hard parts and yet he wasn't going to skip them. 

·         Satan offers an easy fix... (for your soul) a way without the cross... Jesus offers the Cross

·         Several narrative features draw attention to this conflict, to these competing worldviews (i.e., divine versus human) that ultimately prove to be incompatible. For instance, whereas Jesus attempts "to show" his disciples what "must" come to pass, Peter scolds Jesus and audaciously invokes God in an attempt to ensure that what Jesus declared is never realized. Second, Jesus' reproof, including invoking Satan's name, draws further attention to the irreconcilable nature of the opposing perspectives. "Satan" means "Adversary." It is found only three other times in Matthew (at the conclusion of Jesus' temptation [4:10]; and twice when the Pharisees accuse Jesus of casting out demons by the authority of Beelzebub [12:22-32]) The final narrative feature that underscores the conflicting worldviews is Jesus' designation of Peter as "a stumbling block."

·         "Stumbling Block" is the Greek word skandalon. The word was originally used of an animal trap, in particular the part where the bait was placed. The term eventually came to be used of luring a person into captivity or destruction. Satan was using Peter to set a trap for Jesus. If Satan, the Adversary, was adverse to the idea of Jesus going to the cross, then there must be great Godly worth in it.

·         Satan offers an easy fix... (for your soul)

·         Jesus offers the Cross

Recognizing these Competing Worldviews

·         Working with the disciples had to be hard. The story is told about a small, country church when the pastor called a special meeting of the congregation to approve the purchase of a brand-new chandelier. After some discussion, pro and con, an old farmer stood up and said, "Buying a new chandelier may seem like a good idea to you, but I'm against it for three reasons. First of all, it's too expensive and can't afford one. Second, there isn't anybody around here who knows how to play one. And third, what we really need in this church is a new light fixture."

Back to the Scripture...

24Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must

deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

25For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.

26What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his

soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

·         Peter is misguided because he is "setting his mind not on divine things but on human things."

·         Man cannot have Christ on their own terms. To reject the way of the cross is to reject Christ, no matter how much he may be professed and praised.

·         Although genuine Christians may fall short on their commitment at times, those who wish to follow Christ should understand from the start they are surrendering their lives to Christ. Those who do not acknowledge Jesus as Lord, as having the right to demand of them anything, including their lives, have yet to be fully converted.

Define "Cross"

·         We could define what is meant by "take up your cross" in a lot of different ways.  We use the term loosely regarding things that we do not enjoy.  "My husband does not do things in a timely manner, it is a cross I have to bear."  "My wife nags me all the time....this is my cross."  These things are not your cross to bear.  They might be true, you may not enjoy them, but let's not belittle discipleship or the high calling on our lives.  For today, and considering the context of Peter's aversion to Jesus going to his death/Jerusalem/suffering -- let's define "cross" as those places where our will is not God's will... that point of conflict is our cross."  Those places in our lives that we desire the world and not God - some people say those are the places we have yet to be converted (if that helps)...

Our will is not God's will...

·         The story is told (by Alvin Bader Griend) that when World War II era bombers were hit by enemy fire, a few extra pounds could mean the difference between life and death… Discarding extra weight wasn't so hard if it meant impersonal items like guns, seats, and so on. But if things got so crucial that staying aloft was questionable, the order would come to throw out cameras, souvenirs, and even parachutes. That's when the grumbling would begin.

·         Most of us don't have nearly as much problem giving up some of the old sinful habits and practices as we do when it comes to surrendering the steering wheel and the driver's seat (control) of our lives to God. Much like those World War II bombers, that's when the grumbling begins - when it gets personal.

(Re)think about today's Prayer of Confession - and where we are unconverted still...

"We have this secret fear, Lord, that in living the life you want of us we will somehow be missing out while the world is having fun. We want to be a saint, but we also want to feel every sensation experienced by sinners; we want to be innocent and pure, but we also want to experience and taste all of life; we want to serve the poor and have a simple lifestyle, but we also want all the comforts of the rich; we want to have the depth afforded by solitude, but we also do not want to miss anything; we want to pray, but we also want to watch television, read, talk to friends, and go out. O God, forgive us. Change our hearts so that we want but one thing, that your will would be our will."

·         When Peter rebukes Jesus, he oversteps his place as a disciple. Correcting a teacher was rare, and some sages/practices believed teaching the law even in the presence of one's teacher merited death from God. Disciples "followed" their teachers, literally remaining behind them out of respect when they walked. Thus, though Jesus turned to confront Peter literally behind him, he now ordered him to get behind him figuratively, returning to a position of discipleship.

Dying (denying) to self... which ends the conflict/battle

·         Here's a (silly) way to think about applying this to our lives. "You have got put down the ducky if you want to play the saxophone." This is an all-time favorite Sesame Street song. Remember some stars as Paul Simon or Gladys Knight and the Pips, or, well you can name a star, they loved singing the song about putting down the ducky. Imagine a little three-year-old (or Ernie) deciding they want to play the saxophone, and won't put down their ducky. You're telling the little three-year-old, "okay, you want to play the saxophone, you've got to put down the ducky." And the three-year-old is going, "it's so hard to put down the ducky. I really don't want to put down my ducky." I totally relate. But if you want to play the saxophone you've got to put down the ducky. Then you can make music and play the saxophone, but you've got to have both hands. If you want to follow the Lord Jesus, you've got to put down the ducky. What does it take to be a Christian? You have got to deny yourself, put down the ducky, and take up your cross.

When our lives conform to God's will, then our cross looks a little different.  The conflict is less between us and God and more between us and the world...

·         Once we get our lives in line with Christ then our cross, by extension, is that point where the world's ways/values are not God's ways. This collision and conflict becomes our cross to bear, and a point of suffering for sure.  We don't like it, but we must proceed anyway. 

·         Facing the opposition.  Satan is adverse to God's ways, he is the Adversary. and so by extension - he is adverse to us.  The battle is real.  He is our Adversary as well if we are on God's side.

·         "If you please God, it does not matter whom you displease. And if you displease Him, it does not matter whom you please."  (Steven J. Lawson, The Kind of Preaching God Blesses)

·         Expect the conflict and to go to war...

·         Remember that suffering can serve as a refining process too. Someone has written...

Man judgeth man in ignorance,

            he seeth but in part;

Our trust is in our maker, God,

            who searches every heart;

And every wrong and every woe,

            when put beneath our feet,

As stepping-stones may help us on

            to his eternal mercy-seat.

And teach us still to smile, O Lord,

            though sharp the stones may be,

Remembering that they bring us near

            to Thee, dear Lord, to Thee!

Our very great reward and promise: Eternal Life

27For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.

28I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

Conclusion (adapted from an old devotional reading)

            Do you read religion/worship page in the newspaper? What words welcome you to each congregation? Caring people. Professional nursery care. Convenient parking. Yoga classes. Air conditioning.

            A congregation may have conversations about attracting new members with a more comfortable sanctuary, or different style of music, or a new and improved preacher. We don't place many ads that promise crosses. The slogan for the evangelism campaign isn't usually, "Come suffer with us!" The brochure for prospective members doesn't usually read, "Long sermons. Adult education required. Don't even think about not tithing here!"

            The truth is that we are following in Jesus' footsteps. That path includes a staggering journey under the weight of a cross. What to do? Turn these words of Jesus over in your heart. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you recognize your cross. Celebrate with your fellow saints the staggering journey. Welcome new souls with Jesus' promise of a cross... and eternity at the end of the journey. May you