There is something quite significant about Jesus’ instructions in our text this morning. His command to disciple all nations is entirely a new thing! If we look at the prophets of old, we notice something they all have in common. They were sent to just one nation, Israel. Not to “all nations.”
On the last and most important day of the festival. (v. 37) Thus begins our text. The “festival” referred to was the Feast of Ingathering, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles. On the Jewish calendar, this was the final of the three great festivals that required every male to be in Jerusalem. This festival celebrated the fruit harvest and was also a remembrance of the way the Lord took care of the Israelites when they wandered in the desert those 40 years before entering the Promised Land. It was the most joyous of all the festivals. It lasted a full week. It was a “biggie”!
Central to the Christian faith is the idea of “glory.” The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Chirst mean glory for all who trust in him. Most, if not all, Christians would agree on that. But just when does the glorious life begin? There are some who believe that the Christian life here-and-now will become “glorious” and virtually problem-free. Maybe you have heard of the “health and wealth” gospel. Those who believe this believe that Christians will be healthy and rich in this life! “Name-it-and-claim-it” theology says if you see something and want it, pray for it and God will give it to you. Martin Luther called such people “theologians of glory.”
Paul had come to the Greek city of Athens to do mission work. Athens was a major city of its time. It was a center of politics and arts and philosophy…and religion. As Paul walked around the city, he observed that it was a very religious place. He would have seen the Parthenon temple set high on the Acropolis. There was the temple of Athena Nike. In the marketplace of Athens there were the Temple of Hephaestus, the Temple of Ares, the Temple of Apollo Patroos, and a temple for the mother goddess. Some archaeologists believe at the time of Paul there may have been as many as 40 major temples to Roman deities in Athens. In addition to the major temples, there were shrines and tens of thousands of statues for the gods. One second-century geographer, Pausanias, described Athens as having more religious images than all other Greek cities combined. It was to this city that Paul came preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. (Acts 17:18)
A couple weeks ago Sue and I flew to Wichita to see kids and grandkids. As we were preparing to board the plane in Milwaukee, I obsessively checked that I had everything I needed. Phone, money clip, carry-on bag, glasses. Yup, had it all. So we board the plane and are making our way down the center aisle to our seats. I tapped my jacket pocket. Uh-oh! Can’t feel my reading glasses! They’re gone. At some point, in that short distance from the gate to the plane they fell out. And I really need my glasses to function! Fortunately, the problem was easily remedied. A trip to Walgreens in Wichita and I had new readers. Why do I tell you this very boring story? To make the point: it’s not fun to travel and discover that you don’t have everything you need.
There is a very important backstory to our text. In John 9, Jesus opened the eyes of a man born blind. It was a wonderful, gracious miracle of healing! Who wouldn’t be thrilled about that? The religious leadership! You see, the day on which Jesus performed this miracle was a Sabbath Day. No work was to be done on the Sabbath. And the leadership had a graceless and merciless interpretation of this. They were incensed that Jesus would do such “work” on a Sabbath! They interrogate the man Jesus healed. When the man would not say a bad word about Jesus, but instead continued to give praise and glory to Jesus, the leaders threw the man out. They “excommunicated” the man, if you will. These leaders hated Jesus and they hated any “sheep” who followed Jesus.
People who like to study things often study why people go to church. Many different reasons are given. This morning I want to share with you some of the more commonly mentioned reasons people give for why they attend church. People responded by saying church makes them feel inspired. It makes them feel encouraged. It makes them feel like they are part of a community and that they belong. Some say it makes them feel like a better person. And the number one reason often given for why people attend church is this: it makes them feel closer to God.
Peter had quite the Easter Sunday. It began early with the return of Mary Magdalene from the tomb of Jesus. She breathlessly reported to him and John, They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him! (John 20:2) Peter and John race out to the tomb. John was faster than Peter and got to the tomb first. He paused at the entrance. Peter caught up and blew by him right into the tomb! He saw the strips of cloth lying there. Later, at some point on Easter, the risen Jesus makes a one-on-one personal appearance to Peter! We don’t know anything about it except that the risen Jesus appeared to Peter alone. In the evening, Peter is with the rest of the disciples in that upper room when Jesus appears to them all. Can you even begin to imagine Peter’s emotions on Easter?
I had occasion to be in the funeral home across the street a few days ago. While inside, I noticed something. I noticed that they have a lot of Kleenex. Everywhere you look, Kleenex. You’re never more than a few feet from a box. Why is that? Because funeral homes have a higher than average number of people enter who are battling a cold or sinus issues? Of course not! It’s because they have a higher than average number of people enter who are sad. Oftentimes, people who are really sad! People who are dealing with the loss of a loved one. The sadness is sometimes compounded by the fact their loved one died an untimely, unexpected death. There’s going to be tears. Lots of them. So there needs to be Kleenex. Lots of them.
Something feels different about today. I don’t mean that just from the standpoint of how Palm Sunday “feels” in contrast to the quieter days of Lent. I also mean it “feels” different from the tone of Jesus’ whole ministry. Here is what I’m driving at. Early in Jesus’ ministry, he heals a man with leprosy. The account is in Mark 1. After healing the man Jesus gave him a strong warning: “See that you don’t tell this to anyone.” (Mark 1:43-44) Jesus very sternly told this man to keep a lid on things! A similar event takes place in Mark 9. Jesus heals two blind men. Again, we are told: Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” (Mark 9:30) This has sometimes been referred to as “the Messianic secret.” Jesus carefully “curated” how and how much information about himself he wanted proclaimed.
