The Ninth Sunday After Pentecost One Thing Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ! Amen. In today’s Gospel, Jesus declares, “one thing is necessary.” Then Jesus adds this promise to you and to all God’s Christians: “That one necessary thing WILL NOT BE TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU.” Dear Christian friends, During Israel’s exodus from Egypt, while Moses was on the mountain receiving the Ten Commandments from God, the people of Israel quickly fell into idolatry and sin. Moses saw what Israel was doing. “Moses’ anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets [of the Ten Commandments] out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain” (Exodus 32:19). In today’s Gospel, Jesus again smashes the Ten Commandments. Jesus does not smash the commandments in anger, as Moses had done. Jesus smashes the Ten Commandments because of love; Jesus smashes the commandments in today’s Gospel because our Lord’s compassion overflows toward idolaters and sinners such as you and me. “One thing is necessary,” says the Lord. With these Words, Jesus smashes Ten Commandments at the foot of the mountain. “One thing is necessary.” With these Words Jesus also destroys everything that goes with the Ten Commandments! When Jesus says, “one thing is necessary,” He is NOT talking about your love for neighbor and He is NOT talking about your love for God. Neither love for neighbor nor for God is the one necessary thing! When Jesus says, “one thing is necessary,” He is NOT talking about your prayers or your singing or even about the godly offering you have set aside for Him in the corner your wallet. None of these things are necessary. Perhaps you feel surprised or disturbed to hear such things. My wife says it is scandalous for me to talk this way, but Jesus is the true Scandal (1 Corinthians 1:23). The Words, “ONE thing is necessary,” are HIS Words. And you probably would like to protest the point. Surely we must add some conditions to what Jesus has said! Surely there are other Bible passages we could pile onto today’s Gospel in order to qualify or modify or fix Jesus’ Words. Would Jesus really destroy the Ten Commandments and everything that goes with them by declaring in such exclusive terms, “ONE thing is necessary”? Many Things are Necessary for Your Neighbor! Before you rise in protest—or to escape the building—please bear in mind that your neighbor needs plenty of things from you. As far as your Lord Jesus is concerned, “one thing is necessary.” As far as your neighbor is concerned, there are many things necessary. For example: · Your neighbor needs you to keep the Ten Commandments with a whole heart and a devoted mind. That is to say, your neighbor desperately needs you to show steadfast and courageous love, both to him and to God. Your Lord Jesus does not need you to keep the Ten Commandments. Jesus has done very well with the Ten Commandments on His own (Romans 5:19, Galatians 4:4), thank you very much! In fact, Jesus has done so well with the Ten Commandments that He is now able to give His keeping of the commandments to you. (That is your Baptism.) Your neighbor is another story. Your neighbor is nowhere near as righteous as Jesus is. Your neighbor needs you to hand him your love, your devotion, your careful keeping of the Ten Commandments—just as Jesus has handed these things likewise to you. Just as Jesus kept the commandments for your sake—making them unnecessary for you—it would be a good thing for you likewise to keep the Ten Commandments for your neighbor’s sake. (And if you ever wonder who your neighbor is, simply turn your head on your neck.) · Again, Jesus owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10); “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof” (Psalm 24:1; 50:12). When Jesus says, “One thing is necessary,” He is NOT speaking about U.S. currency. Jesus does not need your money. Your neighbor needs your money—and he needs it more than you do. Who is your neighbor? o The people who gather at your table for a meal are your neighbors—and those neighbors need your money for food, shelter, rest and protection. o The people who share your town are your neighbors—and those neighbors need your tax payments so that a good government will remain part of their daily bread. o The people who gather in these pews with you are your neighbors—and they need your Sunday offering, so that God’s Words of forgiveness and life may continue to be proclaimed and distributed in this place. When you do your part in keeping the lights on, you make it possible for the guy next to you to hear the life-giving, strengthening Words of Jesus. When help to keep the pastor alive, you also help that lady in the pew behind you to receive the body and blood of her Lord Jesus Christ for her forgiveness and life. · Amazingly—astoundingly—Jesus is even telling you in today’s Gospel that He does not need you to love Him, or sing praise to Him, or pray your prayers to Him. Myriads of saints and angels already do such things very well (Revelation 7:9-12). “ONE thing is necessary,” says the Lord, and it is NOT your act of worship! Your neighbor certainly needs the comfort of your presence here, as you stand side-by-side in need of God’s forgiveness. Your neighbor needs the assurance of your singing and the consolations of your prayers. Your neighbor needs these things more than you might even know, and these things are truly the highest and best gifts you can give to your neighbor. Mary Has Chosen the Good Part But Jesus needs about none of these things in today’s Gospel. When He says to you and to Martha, “One thing is necessary,” He takes away Martha’s broom and your hymnal. In today’s Gospel, Jesus sets aside dishes and shop tools and offering checks and whatever else you have in your hands. With the Words, “One thing is necessary,” Jesus smashes the Ten Commandments—and you can be scandalized by that, if you wish. “One thing is necessary,” says the Lord. “Mary has chosen the good portion. It will not be taken away from her.” What has Mary chosen? What will not be taken away from her? The very same thing that shall likewise never be taken away from you: “Mary… and listened to the Lord’s teaching.” Translated more directly, “Mary listened to the Lord’s Words.” As far as your Lord Jesus is concerned, there is nothing necessary—absolutely nothing necessary—but this one necessary thing: listening to your Lord’s Words. Why is listening to Jesus’ Words the one thing that is necessary? Because: · Words are the way that Jesus both shows you His compassion (Mark 6:34) and delivers His mercy to you (Luke 10:25-37); · The Words of Jesus form the heart and soul of everything He does for you, including how He washes you in Baptism and feeds you in Holy Communion; · The Words that come from Jesus’ mouth are power and life. Jesus’ Words heal diseases (Luke 5:17-26) and chase away demons (Luke 4:31-37, 8:26-39) and even raise the dead to life (7:11-17, 8:49-56). Amazingly, the Words of Jesus have been spoken into you, where they will live and dwell within you forever! · Jesus’ Words create for you a family of fellow believers, because Jesus has promised, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the Word of God and do it” (Luke 8:21). · Jesus’ Words create your faith; and your faith saves you, so that you may now leave this place in peace (7:36-50) and in the full assurance of God’s grace; · Most of all, Jesus’ Words forgive your sins (Luke 5:20, 7:48). There is nothing more necessary for you than the forgiveness of your sins. Your forgiveness is why Jesus was born; your forgiveness is why Jesus died; your forgiveness is why Jesus rose up from the dead; you forgiveness is why Jesus eternally speaks (Luke 10:16, 24:46-47). The Words of Jesus re so necessary that our Lord even calls them “the one thing that is necessary.” Listening to Jesus’ Words is the good portion. Listening is the lion’s share, the fillet mignon, and biggest piece of pie. Were that not enough, Jesus has even added a promise to you in today’s Gospel. Jesus also wants you to know that this one necessary thing is now yours forever: “That one necessary thing,” says the Lord, “WILL NOT BE TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU.” _______________________________________________ Sermons mailing list Sermons@cat41.org http://cat41.org/mailman/listinfo/sermons
