A Funny Thing Happened

God’s grace, peace and mercy be with you. My sermon is entitled A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Temple. It has three parts: Play, Passage and People. My focus is our Gospel, Luke 9:51-62. … Let us pray. Heavenly Father, the psalmist wrote, “I rejoiced when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’”  Now that our feet are within your gates, we rejoice to hear your Word. As we listen, may your Spirit enlighten our minds and move our hearts to love deeply as Jesus loved. This we pray to you, Most Holy Trinity. Amen.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is a musical inspired by the farces of the ancient Roman playwright Plautus. It tells the bawdy story of a slave named Pseudolus and his attempts to win his freedom by helping his young master woo the girl next door. The plot displays puns, slamming doors, cases of mistaken identity, and satirical comments on social class. The musical's original 1962 Broadway run won several Tony Awards; and the original lead, Zero Mostel, also starred in the successful film.

The title is derived from a line used by vaudeville comedians to begin a story: “A funny thing happened on the way to the theater.” Numerous individuals writing stories on a variety of topics have repeated that line. Most recently, someone wrote of the NBA Finals, “A funny thing happened on the way to that destiny.” Another sportswriter penned an article about the US Open, “A funny thing happened on his way to oblivion.” There is the TV program “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the White House.” Finally, someone recently blogged, “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Sainthood.”

Obviously, one can repurpose comedy to fit any topic involving sports, politics and religion. So, let me move to my second point and explain how my sermon title addresses our passage.

Luke’s Gospel is a narrative of the human life of Jesus and the message of the Son of God.[1] It began with an introduction in chapter 4, and moved into an account of his mission in chapters 5 through 9. In those chapters, Luke showed how the Church originated in the life and work of Jesus. Now, his story takes up the great journey to Jerusalem that led him out of history and into the heavenly sphere. This journey is also the journey of the Church, which accompanies Jesus on his way to God.

Our opening verse, “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem” – introduces the journey and defines it in terms of its destination. Jerusalem is not a mere geographical spot. The city marked the journey’s end where Jesus was received up, an expression that referred to his ascension. Thus, his journey is to a geographical spot and a symbol of its heavenly fulfillment beyond every reality.

Although Luke mentioned this journey repeatedly through the next ten chapters, he never indicated that Jesus arrived. At a point when it seemed appropriate to announce his arrival, Luke simply stated that Jesus entered the Temple. The journey seems incomplete.

A funny thing happened. Jesus set his face towards Jerusalem, and he never arrived. He simply entered the Temple. … You may say, “Well, the Temple is in Jerusalem. It’s implied he reached Jerusalem.” True. Yet, the more important point of verse 51 is not what Jesus was determined to accomplish – he set his face to go to Jerusalem, but what God was going to accomplish – When the days drew near for him to be taken up. Jesus accepted the event and its destination in order to return to his heavenly Father.

Now, within our passage are a number of people – Jesus’ messengers, the Samaritans and others. So, for my third point, people, we will examine the people in our passage and in our pews (or chairs, in this case).

Jesus sent the messengers ahead to prepare the way. To prepare the way for what? For his exodus-ascension. However, unlike John the Baptist, who also prepared the way for the Messiah, the disciples could not embrace the apocalyptic judgment upon the Samaritans who did not receive him. The fire associated with the Messiah’s coming would have its place, but not here and now. That transforming, sanctifying, empowering fire of the Holy Spirit would come upon the Church after Jesus’ Ascension. Jesus rebuked the messengers for their desire to destroy the Samaritans, and then they moved on.

As they moved on, anonymous figures emerged as types of persons who considered following Jesus on his journey. Those who wish to join Jesus must disengage themselves from any earthly home, from former responsibilities and from past relationships. To proclaim the kingdom of God, one must live in a manner befitting the kingdom and bid farewell to the past.

Setting out on the journey to Jerusalem and the Ascension, Jesus demonstrated a singular detachment from earthly matters. The first people who followed him on his journey had to reflect that detachment and the way of life.

What about people who follow Jesus on his journey today? What about us? Do we reflect that detachment and way of life? Do our lives demonstrate a singular detachment from earthly matters? Do we disengage from our earthly homes, former responsibilities and past relationships to follow Jesus? Do I live in a manner befitting the kingdom of God in order to proclaim it? Is following Jesus any easier or tougher for us than it was for the first People of the Way?

Following Jesus today is no easier for us than it was for the first People of the Way. Personally speaking, I do not always live in a manner befitting the kingdom. Selfishness and self-serving interests tempt me constantly. I am engaged to home, duties and relationships. In short, I am spiritually lazy.

Experience tells me to prescribe something to counter spiritual laziness – the five P’s of Prayer: Passage, Place, Posture, Presence and Passage. All these P’s, Al will put in a podcast so you can listen to them later.

Passage. Depending on the circumstances, choose a Scripture passage. Slowly read it several times until a word or phrase rises to the surface.

Place. Choose a place where you will not be disturbed. It may be in your home or a quiet church.

Posture. Find a sturdy comfortable chair that will allow you to sit upright. Posture is important. Do not slouch or lie down.

Presence. Set a timer for 10 minutes. Start there and gradually increase your prayer time to 25 minutes. Close your eyes so you are not distracted. Be present to God as He is present to you. Thoughts, feelings, physical discomforts and audible distractions will occur. Stand firm in the stream and let these distractions flow by as flotsam and jetsam go downstream.

Passage. When you get distracted, return to the passage and refocus. When your minutes have passed, close your meditation by reciting aloud The Lord’s Prayer.

Because Jesus loves you, try this for 25 minutes a day for the next 30-some years – the lifespan of Jesus. I guarantee you a deeper, richer, fuller, more intimate relationship with our Triune God. If it does not work, you can return it for your old relationship with God.

Friends, this summer, as we journey to various destinations throughout the world, funny things will happen. Life will pull us in every direction of the compass. That is why it is necessary for us to set our faces like Jesus and follow him – for only Jesus, Father and Spirit will provide true direction to our heavenly home. As we encounter uncounted individuals seeking direction, prescribe to them our Five P’s of Prayer and a relationship with the Three Persons of the Trinity. And when you do, may the peace of God that surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

---

[1] Eugene LaVerdiere, Luke (Wilmington, DE: Michael Glazier, Inc. 1986), 138ff. This accounts for the majority of this section.

CWYNAR: Declare How Much God Has Done for You

CWYNAR: Declare How Much God Has Done for You: God’s grace, peace and mercy be with you. My sermon is entitled Declare How Much God Has Done for You , and my focus is our Gospel. … ...

Declare How Much God Has Done for You

God’s grace, peace and mercy be with you. My sermon is entitled Declare How Much God Has Done for You, and my focus is our Gospel. … Let us pray. Heavenly Father, the psalmist wrote, “I rejoiced when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’”  Now that our feet are within your gates, we rejoice to hear your Word. As we listen, may your Spirit enlighten our minds and move our hearts to love deeply as Jesus loved. This we pray to you, Most Holy Trinity. Amen.

In less than two weeks, we will celebrate Independence Day, a federal holiday commemorating Continental Congress’ adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. We declared that the thirteen American colonies regarded themselves as a new nation, the United States of America, and no longer part of the British Empire.

While we associate Independence Day with fireworks, family reunions, parades, picnics and political speeches, we also celebrate our nation’s history, government and traditions. All of this occurs annually because of the Declaration of Independence.

A declaration is a public statement. When I declare something, I say it in an official or public way, a strong and confident manner, or I simply tell the government how much money I earned in order to pay taxes.

Directly from the Latin words de and clarare, it means to make clear, reveal, disclose, announce. More than 20 people have declared their candidacy for President of the United States and many others have declared their support for a candidate. Judges declare sentence on the accused. Champions declare victory, and individuals declare bankruptcy.

In our Gospel today, Jesus ordered the man to declare how much God has done for you.[1] Before we declare how much God has done for us, my third point, I examine our passage and what it meant to the Church. In short, Passage, People of the Way and People Today.

First, Passage. The account is an exorcism, and follows the usual pattern for an exorcism.[2] Demons inhabited deserts, large bodies of water, the air and subterranean regions. They caused blindness, muteness, all kinds of physical problems and mental disorders. Demon possession was physical or mental possession, not moral.

Luke wrote that seven demons went out of Mary Magdalene. We assume she was immoral. She was not. All Scripture passages portray her as serving the Lord.

In today’s passage, so many demons possessed the man that it was named legion. He was naked and lived among the tombs, frightening local citizens with his bizarre behavior, but there is no mention of their influence over his moral life.

Since demons were from the supernatural world, they recognized Jesus as a person of God and an opponent of all forces that hurt, cripple, oppress or alienate human life. In his inaugural address, Jesus announced his intention to relieve, release, heal and restore life. We read in chapter 4, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.”[3] All persons or powers to the contrary must view him as an enemy.

Jesus was not the only exorcist working the land. In chapter 9, when John the Apostle reported, “‘Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us,’ Jesus said, ‘Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.’”[4] When some challenged his authority to exorcize demons, Jesus responded, “If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out?”[5] We also read about Jewish exorcists in Acts.[6]

Now, the demons recognized Jesus and his power. He could send them to the abyss or netherworld, that is, Satan’s prison.[7] They knew the abyss was their prison and that it was not beyond the power of Christ. So, they begged to be sent into unclean animals to escape their fate.

Mercifully, Jesus allowed their request. He did not take pleasure in anyone’s death or in torturing demons for “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. … But whoever does not believe is condemned.”[8]

The unclean spirits entered the unclean animals that plunged into the abyss and were banished. We hear nothing more of them. Instead, Luke reports that the people of that village found the man sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. Afraid, they asked Jesus to depart.

At this point, you might be wondering why the villagers asked Jesus to leave. Luke’s second book, Acts, helps answer our question. In chapter 16, we read that as Paul and Silas were in Philippi, they “met a demon-possessed slave girl. She was a fortune-teller who earned a lot of money for her masters.

She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, ‘These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved.’ This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and said to the demon within her, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And instantly it left her. Her masters’ hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace. ‘The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!’ they shouted to the city officials. ‘They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice.’ A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. … and then they were thrown into prison.” After the earthquake opened the prison doors, the city officials begged Paul and Silas to leave their city.[9]

Philippi’s city officials and Gerasene’s villagers asked the Apostles and Jesus to leave out of economic loss and fear. They learned to live with the evil spirits, but were afraid of an unknown power greater than evil spirits.

The Gerasene villagers knew where evil resided, and spent considerable time and expense guarding and containing it. They tolerated and managed evil, but the power of God disturbed the way of life they had come to accept.

Let me leave my first point, and segue into my second, People of the Way. People of the Way described the first followers of Jesus. They were named Christian when Barnabas brought Saul to Antioch. We read, “For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.”[10]

What did the first Christians take from this brilliantly told passage? Irony. Given Christianity’s origins in the Jewish world, Luke’s Gentile readers were keenly sensitive to Jesus sending unclean spirits into unclean animals. They enjoyed the fact that the demons unwittingly invited their own banishment into the abyss.[11]

While that generated fear among the Gerasene villagers, the first Christians also took courage from this passage. It gave them courage to overcome any fear about proclaiming the Gospel and declaring how much God did for them.

Because Jesus, a Jew, was not afraid to cross into Gentile territory, they too – baptized in His Name – could cross cultural, societal, racial and economic boundaries to proclaim the Gospel.

Because Jesus, anointed with the Holy Spirit, faced the demons and enemies who opposed Him and His work – proclaiming good news to the poor, liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and freedom to the oppressed – the People of the Way could face the demons and enemies who opposed them and their work. They endured imprisonment, beatings, stonings, mocking and even death. They endured this from people who feared the power of the Gospel. Read what the People of the Way endured in Acts, and what Paul endured in Second Corinthians.[12] The People of the Way learned a lesson in courage by proclaiming what God did for them.

Finally, People Today. To distinguish Law from Gospel properly, we know that the Good News is what God has done for us. Gospel is that God worked out our salvation, and with salvation comes blessings.

Now, I do not expect you to stand on a street corner or at the mall and declare how much God has done for you, but there are opportunities for each of us to proclaim that. And with that, I would like to say this.

Today, my hair is grayer, my step slower, my eyes weaker, my waistline larger, blood pressure higher and wallet lighter. Yet, my heart is greater. God filled my heart with joy because of what He has done for me.

God blessed me with wife and family, extended family and friends, health and home. God granted me the opportunity to see the world and the wonders of new life. God has blessed me in many ways. At times, I wonder how to thank God properly for what He has done for me. And our God, who simplifies everything, even provides my response.

The Psalmist wrote, “I love the Lord for he has heard the cry of my appeal; for he turned his ear to me in the day when I called him.” He continued. “How can I repay the Lord for his goodness to me? The cup of salvation I will raise; I will call on the Lord’s name.”[13] Sound familiar? It is our traditional offertory.[14]

Friends, during the Lord’s Supper, we raise the cup of salvation and call on the Lord’s name. That is why Christians have always called the Lord’s Supper, Eucharist. Eucharist is simply a Greek word that means thanksgiving.

Our post-communion prayer reads, “We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another.”[15]

Our canticle’s lyrics? “Thank the Lord and sing His praise; tell everyone what He has done. Let all who seek the Lord rejoice and proudly bear His name. He recalls His promises and leads His people forth in joy with shouts of thanksgiving. Alleluia, alleluia.”[16]

Friends, God simplified life and worship. We need not invent praise and thanksgiving. Praise and thanksgiving occurs every time we worship. Each Sunday when you worship, you declare how much God has done for you. When we do that, the peace of God that surpasses all understanding keeps our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

---

[1] Luke 8:39

[2] Fred Craddock, Luke (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009), 65f.

[3] Luke 4:17-18.

[4] Luke 9:49-50.

[5] Luke 11:19.

[6] Acts 19:13-17.

[7] Philippians. 2:9-11; Romans 10:7; 1 Peter 3:19; Revelation 20:3.

[8] Ezekiel 18:32; John 3:17-18.

[9] Acts 16:16-23, 38-39. New Living Translation.

[10] Acts 11:25-26.

[11] Eugene LaVerdiere, Luke (Wilmington, DE: Michael Glazier, Inc., 1986), 119f.

[12] 2 Corinthians 11.

[13] Psalm 116:1-2, 13-14.

[14] Lutheran Service Book (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2006), 159.

[15] LSB, 166.

[16] LSB, 164.