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Posted At: 8:00am by Brent Kuhlman
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Fifth Sunday in Lent Trinity Lutheran Church
2 April 2006 Murdock, NE
+ Jesu Juva +
St. John 12:20-33
In John 12 it’s Palm Sunday. The triumphal entry of Jesus riding into Jerusalem. The crowds. The palm branches. A kingly welcome. They want a king. A kingly king. A king of their choosing. And a king who suffers and dies is not part of their plan. A dead king is no good to them.
But here’s King Jesus. Front and center. To suffer. To save the world. By His horrific death.
That’s right by dying. Death is God’s engine of salvation. But not just any death. Only the princely death of Jesus. Exaltation of the King comes in the shape of the Cross. The Tree is His throne.
“God so loved the world.” Remember? And that’s the crucified Jesus.
Greeks are part of the world. Sinners for whom Jesus came to die. And lo and behold in the text some Greek Gentile sinners show up. Must be a big fat Greek wedding going on! No. They’ve come to worship at the Passover.
Now they’re looking for King God Jesus. If you’re Greek and you want to find Jesus, you go to a disciple who has a Greek name. Philip from Bethsaida. He’ll do. “Hey Philip, we wish to see Jesus. Can you take us to Him?”
So Philip informs the other Greek named disciple: Andrew. And its off to Jesus they go. “Some Greeks are here to see you Lord. Got a minute?”
Greeks. Sheep of another fold. Those who are of the world. Looking for Jesus. That’s precisely when Jesus says: “The hour has come for my being glorified.”
The hour has come. For a glorified Jesus. The climax of the world’s history has now arrived. And that takes place when Grain of Wheat Jesus gets buried stone cold dead in the earth. Crucified and dead Jesus planted in the ground. Six feet under we would say.
“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” And that’s His death for all.
Wait a minute! Doesn’t Jesus’ death only count for those who repent? Solely for those who confess their sins? Only for those who are really sorry and who really promise to do better? Forgiveness just for those who ask for it? Exclusively for White Anglo Saxon Protestants who live in the suburbs and spend quality time with the kids?
Doesn’t Jesus’ death only count for people who ask Jesus into their hearts? For those who are nicer than everyone else? You know -- the good guys in the white hats -- but not for the bad guys in the black hats? Right?
Surely the important hour of Jesus’ death was not for big time and big crime sinners? Surely we have to draw the line somewhere. Some sinners and some sins have to be left out of our Lord’s death, don’t they? That’s the only moral and right thing, right? Doesn’t Jesus have the right to operate heaven like the Augusta National Golf Club?
Can’t he keep out whoever he wants? Especially the slime balls and slugs of society?
What does Jesus say? “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” (repeat)
Our Lord’s death is for all sinners. For every sin you can think of. Every sin you’ve ever forgotten. Lifted up on the Cross He does what He says: Draws you and all to Himself in His death. That includes all the slugs and slime balls. All the riffraff and scum of the earth. All the vermin and slag heap kind of people.
Are the circuit breakers in your mind exploding? “But Reverend, what about Uncle Arthur who did all those horrible things to his family? What about promiscuous Cousin Casey? What about Freddy the Filcher, Janet the
Juvenile Delinquent or Homicide Harry? What about Foreign Exchange Student Sally whose skin is so dark? Surely, Jesus doesn’t include these types of no gooders and strangers in His forgiveness? Does He?”
You bet He does. “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.”
While we were yet sinners Jesus died for us. When He was lifted up on the Cross He drew all men to Himself in His death. You are buried into that death. There you lost your life. In your Baptism. Why would you insist on having your old life back? Living as if Jesus never died for you? As if you’re not baptized?
But you are died for. You are baptized. Drawn into Christ’s death. His death for you. And now today He gives you His Body and Blood in the bread and cup. The cup of the new testament. Shed for you for the forgiveness of all your sins.
Would you like to see Jesus too? Then come. Eat and drink.
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Comment on entry entitled "Fifth Sunday in Lent"
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