August 24, 2003
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Mindekirken 2003-08-24 Lord, to whom can we go? John 6.56-69 Who will be the next president of the USA? There’s quite a long time before the election, but opinion polls are publicized already, indicating the popularity of the candidates. Jesus was not a politician. But some wanted him to be. They came to take him by force to make him their king when he gave food to the 5000, the Bible says. Considering the miracle, it’s not difficult to understand the support. Jesus was by all means popular. People have sympathy for Jesus even today. They might see the high ethical values of Christianity. And they might have considered voting for Jesus. But Jesus never asked for that. He’s not interested in our vote, but in our lives. He doesn’t want supporters, but followers, people who are willing to take up their cross and follow him. To be a Christian is in one sense to die from oneself in order to live for Christ. He demands everything or nothing. The radical message of Jesus is seen clearly in John chapter 6. It began well. The 5000 satisfied supporters would make him their king. But Jesus didn’t want to enroll in the supply business. His concern was not the normal bread, but the bread from heaven, himself. When Jesus portrays himself as the bread of life, he indicates that it’s impossible to live without him. To come to him, believe in him, see and hear him is that which gives life, now and forever. Jesus is the answer to the question of why we’re living. "God, you have created us for you, and our hearts are restless until we finds peace in you," is the opening of St.Augustin’s autobiography "Confessions". The peace of God is something only Jesus can give us. He satisfies the need no one else can satisfy. He knows a human’s thirst and hunger for the deepest meaning of life, the hunger for God. By calling himself the bread of life, Jesus puts himself in a unique position. People at that time might have accepted a prophet, but hardly someone who claimed to be like God. Is not this Jesus, son of Joseph and Mary? He was suspected of paranoia and blasphemy. And it would get worse. Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. It might sound like cannibalism. No wonder this turned out to be too solid of a food for them. They could neither understand nor accept Jesus any longer. His popularity sank like a stone in the water. Finally, Jesus was left alone with his 12 disciples, and he gave them the choice: Do you also wish to go away? Then Peter answered: Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe that you are the Holy One of God. Why didn’t Peter and the 11 wish to go away? I really think that was a miracle as big as what happened when Jesus gave food to the 5000. There’s an episode from Caesarea Philippi which sheds light on this. There Jesus asked his disciples: Who do people say that I am? Some kind of a prophet, they said. But who do you say that I am? Jesus asked. You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God, Peter answered. Do you remember how Jesus reacted then? Did he say: Good, you have used your head and understood a lot? No, Jesus acknowledged the answer, but then came the surprise: This has my Father in heaven revealed to you. It had to come to a divine revelation before Peter was able to state the big declaration about Jesus. He wouldn’t be able to suck this from his own breast. Faith is never a result of human thought or wisdom. The gospel is a total surprise, something which by no means could have been figured out by humans. What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him… 1Cor 2.9. Faith comes from above, it’s given to us as a gift. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. Ephes 2.8. It’s the same thought Jesus presents in today’s text: No one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father. John 6.65, or unless drawn by the Father, John 6.44. Why do we sit in the pews today? It’s because we made up our minds to go to church today. And to most of us it was hardly a difficult decision, because we attend the services unless something special prevents us from doing so. But maybe we could see another connection: Maybe we’re here because God has drawn us? To be able to participate in worship is a gift. To have Christian faith is a wonder. We can’t just make up our mind to believe, faith is something we receive. Do miracles take place in Lutheran churches? Yes, our faith is a miracle. It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. John 6.63. Some experience this strongly and dramatically like a prodigal son or daughter that comes home and is met with open arms. But it’s not necessary to have a dramatic history of conversion. Salvation is equally great for the one who has grown slowly and naturally into faith. To be a Christian means to be chosen by God. What then about those who don’t care for Christ? Quite a few turn their backs on faith. Are some predestined to be saved and others to perish? No, one thing doesn’t follow the other automatically. God wants all people to be saved and to get to know the truth. But he can’t force somebody into his kingdom. But at the very moment we come to Christ, we get to hear that we’re chosen. Yes , we’re even chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, Ephes 1.4. Peter didn’t understand everything, but he understood enough to have confidence in Jesus. A child has a limited understanding of his parents, but love and care are provided even so. We know Jesus well enough to trust him. Peter did, also. Lord, to whom can we go? The bottom line is, there is no alternative to Jesus. 83 year old Leif Lane of Norway attended the worship service here last Sunday. He had had moving meetings with American relatives, some whose existence he didn’t even know about before. He brought a gift to the church, a booklet about the church site of Tune, Norway. It’s the oldest church site in Norway, and its history goes back 1000 years to the time of Olav Trygvasson. 40 generations have celebrated worship services there. When children were born, they came to Christ. Baptism expressed joy in the miracle of life. When two people gave each other their promises, it happened before the altar of God. Every Sunday when the wine and bread were shared and the word of God was proclaimed, the generations before us got nourishment for their spiritual life, strength to walk the way of faith. And when the church bells called the congregation to assemble in grief, the word of life was preached: I will raise him up on the last day. How is this for us today? We still need Jesus. And I think Peter speaks for us: Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God. Glory be to God, the Father, Son and The Holy Spirit, one true God, now and for ever. Amen. |
The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church · 924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 · (612)874-0716 |