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Sermon preached on 9. 05. 04
The American College Chapel.
JESUS - LORD OF LIFE
One of the great declarations of the New Testament era which has become prominent again in our days is ‘Jesus is Lord’. It declares the cosmic truth of Christ’s victory over all powers of evil won on the cross and soon to be experienced by all creation.
The desire of every Christian must be to translate that declaration into action.
According to the Church’s almanac the theme for this Sunday is ‘Jesus, the Lord of life’. Jesus must become Lord of our life. But this involves conscious choice and decision. It is important to comprehend the distinction between life and death, then make our choice and take our decision.
It is not surprising that the Bible deals with the theme of choice in a sustained way. Starting from the Garden of Eden where Adam and Eve were given the choice of obeying God and not obeying God to the garden of Gethsemane where Jesus chose to obey God even unto death, it was a matter of choice and decision. In the book of Deuteronomy we understand that Moses, who had led the people for so many years, was not prepared to tell them categorically to choose life. Rather he shows the options before them – Life and death. But he does not stop there. He indicates what constitutes the good in terms of obedience to the Lord and to walk in his ways, which is life. Therefore the essential good is a life-affirming power whereas evil is identified with death-dealing forces.
Even Joshua, when he was about to lay down his leadership, uses the language of choice and decision. He says, ‘Choose here and now whom you will worship…..’ (Joshua 24 : 15).
Among the prophets, Elijah had challenged the people with the question,
‘How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.’ (I Kings 18:21)
Jeremiah also uses the language of choice when he asserts, ‘Thus says the Lord, Behold I set before you the way of life and the way of death’ (Jer. 21:8)
Jesus himself, in his life and work, many times emphasized this aspect of choice and decision. He makes the distinction between the narrow way and the broad way. Finally he himself demonstrated the way and has set the pattern for our life.
A Christian life demands decisions. No, life itself is decisions. Even not to decide is to decide. We cannot pretend to be neutral. This is part of being human and especially the essential part of being a free human being. We cannot leave it to the snake to decide as it happened in the case of Adam and Eve.
The Christian life is not a static position which we passively enjoy but we are always becoming Christians by the kind of choices we make. That is what life is all about.
Great men, of varying persuasions, have not spoken very encouragingly about life. After much thinking, I assume, George Bernard Shaw, for example, has said: “The life of the human race is a brief discreditable (shameful) episode in the history of the meanest of planets.” Jean Paul Sartre, French philosopher and novelist, has this to say regarding life: “Every existing thing is born without reason, prolongs itself out of weakness and dies by chance.” Jesus has also spoken about life. He says: “I have come in order that you might have life – life in all its fullness.” Another very familiar saying of Jesus is, “I am the way, the truth and the life.”
Jesus’ words: ‘I am the life’, is a constant New Testament theme, especially in John’s Gospel. In John chapter 6 verse 35 we read: ‘And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me shall never hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.” Verse 51 says, “I am the living bread.” In John chapter 4 we read of Jesus telling the Samaritan woman, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is who says to you, ‘give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” In John chapter 7 verse 38, Jesus again says “He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” Jesus thus in all these verses makes sense of life. He saw great meaning and purpose in life.
Christians, have one of the greatest revelations from God, which is that God wants us to understand life and enjoy it. One of God’s greatest gifts to us is the ability to enjoy life.
St. John, chapter 10 verse 10 says that Jesus came so we could have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). Isn’t all this is very different from what Bernard Shaw and Sartre have said?` Jesus transforms our existence through His life, death and resurrection, and gives a life of the Spirit to all who come to him. We know that Jesus died so that we could have eternal life, but know that He also died so that we could have a better life now, right here on earth. A better life despite the opposition and hopelessness all around us and the weaknesses within us. Man is to live now – fully, richly, divinely.
Our natural existence is God-given and is for us to enjoy and use properly. To live fully as human beings we need not only food, clothing and other material things, but also spiritual fulfillment. If life shrinks to enjoyment of material things only, it gives at best passing happiness. The Christian faith proclaims that in Jesus life may be lived at its highest and fullest; life in all its completeness; life made perfect according to God’s own design.
I am going to focus only on one aspect of making life complete.
Well, making life perfect and wholesome involves healing its wounds. We need the healing touch. We need the soothing effect of the ointment of healing for the festering wounds that we carry on our bodies as well in our souls. Jesus, as the Lord of life, provides healing to our wounded bodies as well as to our souls.
There was the balm of Gilead, which was able to heal wounds. It was precious and a valued commodity, which made its way from Gilead by caravans to the cities of Israel. It provided healing and soothing to the wounds people had.
The land of Gilead on the other side of Jordan was a part of the country of Israel, where a peculiar plant grew, which yielded a special and precious balm for physical healing. The plant, being pierced, issued a resin, which because of its healing virtue became a valuable commodity. It was used to cleanse sores, heal deep wounds, act as eye salve, and was even used as an antidote for snake bites. It was commonly held by Israel to be beneficial in the healing of all manner of diseases.
Jeremiah asks the question: "Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?" (Jer. 8:22)
"Is there no balm in Gilead, is there no physician there?" Israel had lapsed
into sin; in rebuke God had sent judgment after judgment upon His chosen people.
At the time Jeremiah posed this question, their sin had become so intense and
hateful; God was provoked to loosen the Chaldean armies against Israel.
The nation was spiritually diseased, its remaining health waning, and God was
sorely displeased. Jeremiah did not ask this question because he did not know
the answer. But he was making entreaty of the people, earnestly imploring them
to turn back to God. Israel would have no difficulty in understanding the
question. They knew the prophet was addressing them in figurative language, and
that he referred to the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the nation's personal
Physician. They knew he referred to the law of God, and its Passover lamb, whose
blood was a sure stay against the judgments of God.
In the literal sense, Jeremiah was asking, "Has God ceased to be God, is He
not yet able to forgive our sins, and restore our strength?" Is he not the Lord
of all life?
Many of God's dealings and dispensations with ancient Israel are of great typical value for this present age, and particularly for the New Testament Church.
First Corinthians chapter 10 verse 11 says, "All these things happened to them as examples: and they are written for our admonition, ……". Gilead's balm may be held as a fit type of the shed blood of Christ, which is all comprehensive in its curative powers.
If we have in our lives not accepted the fact that we need God, the Bible says that the darkness of life will take us over and it will destroy us. If we have never given our life over to God and relied on Him we would still be carrying our wounds. The wounds from this life, wounds from people who betray us, wound from those who lie to us, wounds from those who steal from us, wounds from those who use and exploit us, wounds from people who deny us, wounds from people who ignore, despise and discourage us. The list could go on.
Jesus, the Lord of life, is the great physician who can heal all of those wounds, whatever they be. His words when believed and put into action will heal us. It will make life complete. Christ has the power to rebuild our broken lives. Jesus has the power to put together our shattered hopes. Jesus has the power to renew and rejuvenate our depressed spirits.
It is up to us to choose either to get healing or to keep sinking in our sickness. God can heal every wound . . . He can heal every hurt we are carrying…. He can cure every sickness……. But only when we turn to Him and allow him to be the lord of our life.
When we believe in Christ we will still carry the wounds, but we will be at peace. When we give our lives to God and trust Him with all we have, we will experience life like we’ve never experienced it before. A life of inner peace and tranquility. A life that cannot be easily affected by outer circumstances.
In the book of revelation, Jesus gives this great invitation "……. Let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires let him take the water of life freely" (Rev. 22:17).
There is a balm in Gilead to heal our whole life. There is a balm for the sin sick soul. The medicine is ready and in sufficient supply, and Christ, the Physician, able. The choice is before us. The decision is ours. It is a decision regarding our life. Let me ask you this question, Is Jesus the Lord of your life? I place before you the words of prophet Jeremiah, “Thus says the Lord, Behold I set before you the way of life and the way of death’ (Jer. 21:8) Remember, Jesus, the Lord of life, the balm of Gilead, will heal all your wounds.
* * * *
First Lesson – Jeremiah 8 : 13 – 22
Second Lesson - St. John 6 : 35 – 40
Hymns
1. 16 - Praise my soul
2. 221 - How sweet the name of Jesus
3. 93 - Guide me, O thou great Jehovah
4. - God, when I came into this life
GOD, WHEN I CAME INTO THIS LIFE
Tune : Beatitudo
1. God, when I came into this life,
You called me by my name;
Today I come commit myself,
Responding to your claim.
2. You give me freedom to believe;
Today I take my choice,
And to the worship of the church
I add my learning voice.
3. Within the circle of the faith,
As member of your cast,
I take my place with all the saints
of future, present, past.
4. In all the tensions of my life,
Between my faith and doubt,
Let your Great Spirit give me hope,
Sustain me, lead me out.
5. So help me in my unbelief
And let my life be true:
Feet firmly planted on the earth,
My sights set high on you.