Pentecost 12
“Imagine there's no heaven. It's easy if you try. No hell below us, above us only sky. Imagine all the people Living for today. Imagine there's no countries, It isn't hard to do. Nothing to kill or die for and no religion too. Imagine all the people Living life in peace. You may say I'm a dreamer, But I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us. And the world will be as one.” Those are the lyrics of the million seller song ‘Imagine’ which John Lennon wrote way back in the 70’s. John Lennon was shot to death outside his New York apartment in 1980.
Sadly, his words have always reminded me of Our Old Testament lesson: “Thus says the Lord of hosts: "Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. They say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord, 'It shall be well with you'; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, 'No disaster shall come upon you.'” (Jeremiah 23:16-17)
Many people have joined John Lennon in his dream of living for today with no regard for tomorrow. They have left their religion behind as well. Strangely, most people still believe they are going to go to heaven. Very few people seriously believe that they are going to hell. If that was truly the case; that almost everyone will be in heaven then it stands to reason that the people of the world should cooperating and approaching unity. But John’s dream of peace and harmony on earth has not been realized. In fact the world is more divided by nationalities, religion and politics than it was just 26 years ago. Even Christian denominations have multiplied during that time. John’s song ‘Imagine’ was just that, the imagining of someone who had turned away from God’s word.
Jesus Said: "I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” Yes, it’s true. Jesus has caused divisions among the people of the world.
He told us this would happen. Jesus said, “For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."
Saint James asks, “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this; that your passions are at war within you?” And he also answers, “You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:1-4)
Certainly, your sinful self causes divisions among your family and friends, but how does Jesus cause division? The answer is that God causes division by casting fire upon the earth. To understand that fire we need to go back to the proclamation John the Baptist. In Luke chapter 3, John said “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”
Shortly after John uttered those words, he baptized Jesus. At His baptism, Jesus took the responsibility for our sins upon Himself. The baptism of fire which Jesus would undergo on the cross is the pouring out of God the Father’s wrath upon His Son for our sins. The fire of God’s wrath laid upon Jesus will lead to His death but at the same time it will destroy the power of sin, satin and hell.
Ironically as Jesus stands under the wrath of the Father at His baptism, He is also under His love for His willingness to die for the sins of the world. As Jesus came up onto the shore a voice from heaven called out, “This is my Son with whom I am well pleased.”
So As Jesus travels about He heals, forgives and even raises people from the dead taking into His body all the ailments of sin and death. Jesus knows that He must bear the fire and the judgment of all mankind, and He is anxious for it to end.
As Saint Paul tells us, “Who for
the joy set before Him endured the cross.” Jesus began His mission with a water
baptism and ended it with a baptism of blood. John tells us: “This is he who
came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and
the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the
truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood;
and these three agree.” (1
Our sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper both flow from our Lord’s atonement for our sins. Jesus became the ultimate fulfillment of the burnt offering in the Old Testament as He was offered up for the sins of the world as the fire of God’s wrath was placed upon Him. Therefore His atonement is delivered to the faithful believers through His Sacraments. Ironically the sacraments which bring about the forgiveness of sins cause the most division.
Still Jesus brings peace to those who are members of His kingdom. This peace between God and man is made possible through the work of Jesus Christ upon the cross. Paul tells you in Romans, “Don’t you know that those who are baptized into Christ are baptized into his death.” (6:3) Those who are baptized into Christ undergo death and resurrection with Him. We suffer the fires of baptism whenever we suffer for our faith in Christ. Thus the hostility we may suffer is a consequence of our baptismal incorporation into Christ.
The theology of the cross brings peace with God and absolves those who are marked with the cross in baptism, but the cross also brings enmity from the world.
It is Jesus who causes the downfall of some, the resurrection of others, and the thoughts of many hearts among families are revealed by the body and blood of Christ, given and shed for the sins of the world. Those who love the world and its sinful ways look upon the cross with hatred and they treat His followers accordingly. Those who love God receive Him into their hearts even if it means forsaking family in order to do so.
Remember what Jesus said, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26-27) Part of the cross that you may bear is knowing that your brothers or sisters have rejected Jesus Christ.
Saint Peter tells you, “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?”
The fiery judgment we undergo here and now is not from God but from unbelievers. Peter adds, ““If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” (1 Peter 4:12-19)
Jesus also adds this dire prediction, “You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name's sake. (Luke 21:16-17 ESV) That is happening in the world right now.
The time of salvation is at hand, but those who are rejecting Jesus and His signs are heaping up condemnation for themselves. When you look at the state of the world, you can see it happening just as easily as you can see storm clouds in the sky.
Even so, you will not stand alone for you are part of God’s family, brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ. Jesus says, “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (Mark 13:13) You who have put your faith and trust in His atonement, share in His death through your baptism and in His life through His Supper have been made worthy to be called the children of the living God. We have God’s promise that those who share in His suffering will also share in His glory.
You do not have to imagine about what will come about in the future because you have God’s word. You know there is a heaven and a hell but since you know your Savior, there is no need to worry. You need not kill or die to obtain eternal life as some religions teach, because Jesus Christ was killed and died for you. And you do not have to wait to have that peace in Christ that the world cannot give, you have that peace that passes all understanding because you are all one in Christ--One in faith, one in life and one in baptism. In Jesus Name, Amen.