St. Luke 13:22-30 Dearly beloved,
“See that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused Him Who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns from heaven”(Hebrews 12:25). The Word of God that is read in our midst in the liturgy is none other than the very words of the eternal, majestic God. The Word of God is not trite. This word is not to be played with or twisted. We are not to listen to this holy word of God half-heartedly. We are not to give mere lip service to theses divine utterances of God. As Hebrews 12:25 says, so we must not refuse Jesus who speaks to us. Most of us may here this and say, “we don’t refuse God. We listen.” But do you? Do you listen to Christ’s holy utterances in such a way that you conform your life to His words and teaching? After God had given the Ten Commandments to the people of Israel, He follows by saying, “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil”(Deut. 30:15). If we follow the commands of the Lord, then they are life to us. If we do not follow the commands of the Lord, they are death to us. Again, these commands are God’s holy utterance from heaven. This brings context to the words of Jesus in the gospel. When someone asks Jesus, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?”, He acknowledges that the door into heaven is narrow. This is so because one of two things happen. Either people hear the Ten Commandments and fool themselves into believing that they are good people who keep God’s law, or they look at the Ten Commandments and give up because they at least know how they live their lives and they know that they do not live in conformity to God’s law. One cannot stop at the Ten Commandments. One must proceed into the scriptures to listen to all of the eternal God’s holy words. For it is true that God’s word bespeaks the way to everlasting life. The word that needs to be heard is the gospel. The Ten Commandments are supposed to slay us. We are supposed to ponder the Ten Commandments and feel guilt and remorse, because the answer to a good conscience lies in the preaching of Jesus Christ. We are the church of the cross. We are the church of the crucifix. God hanging lifeless on the cross is the holy sermon for eternity. St. Paul says tells the church in Corinth, “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” Why? Because the church at Corinth finds relief from the deadly effects of God’s law in the death of God on the cross--God taking our place. It is you and me who should be hanging on that cross paying of our sins, but alas it is Jesus who hangs in our place. This is why Lutherans behold the crucifix and not an empty cross. The holy utterance of God from the cross says it all as Jesus breathes His last breath and says, “It is finished.” What is finished is His salvation for the world. It is a gift meant for all, but as Jesus says, “the door is narrow.” It comes down to conforming one’s life to the holy word of God. If we all have sins, then how can we enter through the narrow door and into heaven? It has all been done for you. Repent and believe. These words run through Luke 13. You cannot count on yourself in order to be freed from hell. If you count on yourself, then you will not be able to pass through the door. You must look to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Jesus brings it to pass on the cross, and He brings it to fruition. The more you trust in yourself, the further from heaven you go. The narrow door is only accessible to those who despair of themselves, who realize that they of themselves are unholy and cling to Christ crucified. Christ’s death on the cross means life for you. So, pondering the words of Christ today, if you say too yourself that this door to heaven is far too narrow for all my sins and myself to enter in, then gaze upon the cross. Look at that hanging body of our God, the eternal, immortal God in the flesh and look at your salvation. Jesus died bearing your sins, removing your sins away from you so that trusting in His cross and His love you shall enter that narrow door of heaven. And then, having entered that door, Jesus then enters you in the blessed sacrament. As narrow as the door to heaven once seemed, you find that God is such that He then comes to you. Jesus enters your body through the Eucharist. Jesus comes under the bread and wine to fill you up with Himself. Jesus forgives, strengthens, and protects as you go forth with the gift of everlasting salvation. What is impossible among men, is possible with God. When your sins seem to be too great to be forgiven, remember that you have a God who can do all things. It is Jesus’ pleasure to give you the gift of salvation. Your sins are forgiven and Jesus rejoices at your entering the narrow door of heaven. While Jesus admits that the door is narrow, He also goes on to describe for us that people shall come from the North, the South, the East, and the West and enter into heaven. There is a remnant of people throughout the world, scattered along time and space, who despaired of their sins by the law, looked upon Christ crucified, and found Christ’s forgiveness and peace. This forgiveness and peace is yours. Your sins have been removed from you. You are loved by Jesus Christ and you are His holy and beloved children who shall be among those coming from North, South, East, and West to receive the inheritance set forth by God’s victory at Golgotha. Amen. -- Rev. Chad Kendall Trinity Lutheran Church Lowell, Indiana www.trinitylowell.org
