Sermon

March 4, 2007

Journey with Jesus:  To Jerusalem

Luke 13:31-35

March 4, 2007

Today’s scripture is part of a large section that begins in chapter 9 with the declaration “he set his face to go to Jerusalem.”  And a few chapters later, “Jesus went through one town and village after another….as he made his way to Jerusalem.”  Jerusalem was the “big apple” of its day.  Jerusalem is central with Luke, not only in the story of Jesus but in the story of the early church.  Luke mentions Jerusalem ninety times; it is mentioned only 49 other times in the entire remainder of the New Testament.  Today’s passage brings an end to a whole chapter of warnings to the nation of Israel.  Jesus sees that Jerusalem is heading for the fate – a just fate - of those who kill the messengers of God.  Jesus is one of those messengers of God, yet even then, he mourns for Jerusalem and wishes they would change their ways.

The Pharisees, who always seem to be the villains in most stories, are clearly sympathetic toward Jesus and concerned for his safety.  They report to Jesus that Herod has a threat against Jesus’ life.  No doubt the following that Jesus was attracting was making Herod nervous.  Jesus might be someone who could disturb the fragile peace.  Think of Selma, Alabama and the Edmund Pettus Bridge.  Jesus is not intimidated or deterred in his ministry by this warning.  He simply says, “I must be on my way.”    

Even though death for Jesus is near, He will continue to transform people’s lives; he will continue to heal the sick.  He is, after all, a messenger sent by God.  When we read the phrases “today and tomorrow, and the third day” and “today and tomorrow and the day following,” we know that Jesus has a strong sense of purpose.  He has work to do, and he will continue doing it until it is finished.  (Instead of reassuring the people that he is going to avoid the dangerous places, Jesus confirms their fears by insisting that he must carry on his work, he must “journey on his way.”)  He is conscious of a prophetic calling, and Jerusalem, the place that is the most dangerous for him, is – paradoxically - the place to which he is called.  So he journeys on to Jerusalem. 

Yet he is concerned for all those in Jerusalem who will not be gathered up and protected.  His appeal is to all - all those who are rejecting God’s purpose for their lives.  Jesus is ready to defy the warnings and head for Jerusalem.  Are we ready to defy the warnings, the complacency, and turn toward Jerusalem to journey with Jesus?  Are we ready to accept, say “yes,” to God’s purpose for our lives?  Jesus is our example.  We are called to share God’s compassion for others, for all people.  Like Jesus, the apostles then and those who follow now should want to gather up the marginalized, the dispossessed, the rich, the powerful, women and men, as one human family.

Paul was certainly one of those who ultimately accepted God’s purpose in his life, and, in so doing, he underwent a complete transformation.  In 1 Corinthians 15:9-11, he says, “For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.  But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and God’s grace toward me was not in vain.”  Once Paul was transformed, he, too, turned toward Jerusalem so that he could fulfill his purpose as a prophet, as a follower, as someone who took that journey with Jesus.

A more recent transformation happened to a child of unmarried teenagers. Her mother was a housemaid, and her father was a coal miner.  After her birth, she spent her first six years living in poverty with her Grandma Hattie Mae, who taught her to read before the age of three and took her to the local Baptist church, where she was nicknamed "The  Preacher" for her ability to recite Bible verses.

At age six, she moved to an inner city ghetto with her mother.  There she was molested by family members, starting when she was 9.

At 14, she became pregnant, but lost the baby after birth.  Her mother was frustrated with her and sent her to live with her father.  He was strict but he was encouraging, and he made her education a priority.  She became an honors student, joined her high school speech team, placed second in the nation in dramatic interpretation, and secured a full scholarship to Tennessee State University, where she studied communication.  That was fitting, because her grandmother had said that ever since she could talk, she was "on stage."  In her youth she played games, interviewing her corncob doll and the crows on the fence of her family's property.  Her true media career began at age 17, when she worked at a local radio station while attending Tennessee State University.

At age 53, Oprah Winfrey is now the wealthiest African-American in the world; many have called her the most influential woman in the world.  Her most recent and significant humanitarian act is the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls – a boarding school just south of Johannesburg, South Africa that officially opened in January, 2007.  It is inspired by her own humble beginnings and disadvantaged background.  It is provided for those South African girls who have “IT” and who have stories just like our girls from Liberia – stories of poverty and unbelievable hardship yet are beautifully gifted, have great faith, and exhibit leadership qualities.  You see, Oprah’s own transformation has made her accept God’s purpose for her life – to empower the marginalized.  She is the most philanthropic African-American of all times.  “The whole point of being alive is to evolve as you are intended to be,” she says, in other words: to keep your focus on Jerusalem.  Regardless of what you think of Oprah, you must admit that she is doing incredible things for the marginalized of this world.  As Christians, on this journey with Jesus, we are called to stay on that road to Jerusalem, to do incredible things for the marginalized – to see that they have health care, to see that we do not rest as long as there is not equal opportunity, Christlike treatment of all people, as long as there are those in need.

Not everyone is larger than life.  Daniel is justifiably proud that he has a 30 day sobriety chip and has beejn out of jail for 10 days now.  We can’t predict his future; we don’t know at this point if he is going to turn his back once again on Jerusalem, but we do know that there are people along the way to be of assistance.  He is struggling to stay focused on Jerusalem, and it is a day-by-day struggle.  When the car he was driving broke down last week here in The Colony, Daniel panicked.  What could he do?  Where would he stay?  He knew a place just a few blocks away where he could easily resume what he has been doing the last half of his life – drugs and whatever it takes to acquire them.  He had just gotten out of prison again.  People would expect him to quickly resort to his old habits, because he had always cried “Wolf” before.  This time, however, he started walking, walking as fast as he could to The Colony fire department.  He walked in and said, “I am a user.  I don’t want to use.  I don’t want to do the things I have always done, but I don’t know what to do.  I don’t know where to spend the night.”  The firemen took Daniel in, offered him coffee and something to eat, talked to him.  Then they called their chief in Lewisville.  He was already asleep, but he listened.  Then he asked one of his firemen, “You say this man is a user, but he says he is trying not to use.  Do you believe that?”  “Yes,” they said.  The chief said, “Just keep him there.  I’ll be right over.”  He dressed, made the drive to The Colony, put Daniel in his car, and drove him to the shelter in Lewisville.  I have met our fire chief.  I met him when the city first hired him.  He is someone who wants to gather those chicks up under his wings, even those who do not want to be gathered up.

At one time it was common for colleges to gather up the new crop of freshmen and transfers at an orientation assembly. The motivational speaker would then say: “Look to the left. Now look to the right. One of the two people you just saw won’t be here to graduate.” The speaker may have been statistically correct, but the speaker did not speak as Jesus spoke.  Jesus would not tolerate a drop-out rate of 50%.  If I were to ask you to look to the left, then look to the right, I would tell you that each face you saw is that of your neighbor and each is a fellow pilgrim on the way to Jerusalem.  As such, each has the right to call on you when in need of nurture or a map, and each has the obligation to help you when you need to get back on your path. We’re not all called to be Paul. We’re not even all called to be a fire chief. We are, however, called to turn our face toward Jerusalem, to be Every Member Involved, whether it is in signing for the deaf, building a handicapped-accessible sound booth, being there to make important decisions about involving more people, taking time out from a busy week-end or week day to share the load of providing improved facilities and opportunities for those who need to share, to respond to a request to be here more often, or simply to listen with an open and honest heart to each other.  What about you?  Are you journeying toward Jerusalem, despite the obstacles in your path?  Have you discerned what God’s purpose is for your life?  Will you journey with Jesus?  Amen.