Archive for April, 2009
“Word for Today” – John 13 – www.concordialutheranchurch.com
I am a man who loves spicy foods. In college, one of my favorite restaurants was a chicken wing joint named “Pluckers.” Although they had over a dozen varieties of different wings, I’ve ordered only one: “Fire in the Hole.” The name says it all. And really, the name’s an understatement. At first, it’s actually painful to eat these wings. But eventually, your tongue and lips go numb and it becomes easier to scarf them down. And scarf them down I did. 25 of them in a single sitting, once upon a time. None of my buddies even came close to my incredible ability to ingest enormous quantities of really hot wings. But the next day, I paid for it. My innards were inflamed with incessant heat that felt like it was steadily burning a hole through my stomach lining. And as I sat there, doubled over in pain on my dorm room sofa, I thought to myself, “Gee, Zach. Was that really worth it? Was a night of hot wing indulgence really worth this excruciating gastrointestinal pain?” My answer was, “No.”
As I’ve gotten older, my stomach has gotten weaker. I can’t even eat so much as a jalapeno without getting heartburn that makes my skin crawl and face wince. Thus, even though I still love the taste of spicy foods, they don’t like me. And so I just stay away from them. After all, I learned my lesson in college. It just isn’t worth it.
In our reading for today from John 13, the drama of the gospel increases several-fold as Jesus gets closer to the cross. Indeed, this chapter reaches a fever pitch when Jesus speaks these shocking words to his disciples: “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me” (verse 21). In Jesus’ darkest hour, a betrayer lurks in their midst. Not surprisingly, the disciples, gasping with hushed voices of disbelief, ask, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus’ answer is unambiguous and all-together devastating: “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped in the dish” (verses 25-26). Jesus then dips the bread and hands it to…Judas.
What a scene it must have been. What a dramatic and terrifying moment it must have been for the disciples to watch Jesus pick up a piece of bread, dip it into a dish of fruit sauce, and reach out his hand to one of them. They all had to be wondering, “It isn’t me, is it? Jesus wouldn’t dare hand that piece of bread to me, would he?”
I find it especially fascinating that Jesus uses a piece of bread to mark his betrayer. In Greek, the word for “piece of bread” is psomion. What’s important to note is that this is a diminutive form of psocho, simply meaning “piece.” In other words, when Jesus hands Judas a piece of bread, it isn’t just a piece, it’s a tiny piece. It’s nothing but a crumb.
So, was it worth it? To betray the Son of God for a miniscule morsel? Hardly. For in the process of gaining a scrap of sustenance, Judas had forfeited his very soul. But before we stand too aghast at such an inequitable trade, perhaps it’s worth asking ourselves if we don’t do the same thing – if we don’t trade our integrity, our character, and those things which are truly significant for the psomions of this world. We trade our marriage for an affair. We trade our generosity for greed. We trade eternity with God for the temporary trappings of this life. We trade all which counts for the diminutive crumbs that this world throws at us. As the author of Proverbs laments, “A man will do wrong for a piece of bread” (Proverbs 28:21). The question is, “Is it worth it?”
Jesus would answer, “No. It’s not worth it.” “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” he asks (Mark 8:36). The morsels of this world can never match or even approach the kingdom of God.
Perhaps the saddest and most shocking moment in John 13 comes with these words: “Judas took the bread” (verse 27). Jesus had to be hoping that he would refuse. Jesus had to be hoping that he wouldn’t exchange his soul for a mere pittance of provision. But Judas did. Finally, it was Judas who made the exchange. This was Judas’ desire, not Jesus’. But Judas’ story need not be your story. For, by faith, you can keep what really counts: Jesus’ gifts of forgiveness, life and salvation.
So today, ask yourself, “What psomions tempt me to exchange God’s gifts for their allures?” And then pray for God for strength to stand up against such tiny trifles. After all, no matter how big the psomions of this world may look, they’re never as big as the cross. In the end, the cross is all that’s really “worth it.” That’s why Jesus died on it. And that’s why we cling to it.
“Word for Today” – John 12 – www.concordialutheranchurch.com
In seminary, I drove a 1995 Ford Ranger. I am most definitely a Chevy man when it comes to trucks, but, as a student, I drove what I could afford. Sure, my little Ranger wasn’t the fastest or most powerful truck with its little four cylinder engine, but it got me where I needed me to go…most of the time.
One afternoon as I was driving through town, a little light suddenly illumined on my dashboard. The light’s message? “Check Engine.” “Oh, oh,” I thought. “I better get this checked out.” So, I went to my authorized Ford dealer who checked it out and told me not to worry. It was only a faulty monitoring system that would in no way affect the performance of my engine. He turned off the light and sent me on my way. Everything was fine until the light came on again and the engine started stuttering. Apparently, it wasn’t just a monitoring system problem after all. And so back to the dealer I went. This time, the prognosis was more serious. “You need a tune up,” the mechanic told me. “Otherwise, this truck ain’t going to make it much longer.” And so, after a couple of hours and $350, I had a tune up, no check engine light, and a much smoother ride.
In our reading for today from John 12, we meet some people whose faith is running with its “Check Engine” light on: “Many among the leaders believed in Jesus,” verse 42 begins, “but because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue.” These people had faith, but it was not a “tuned up” faith. For they were unwilling to give words to it. They were unwilling to share that which was most precious to them: Jesus. Why? Because “they loved praise from men more than praise from God” (verse 43). In other words, these silent faithful were concerned that they might offend someone or be looked down upon by someone if they shared their faith. So they simply decided to say nothing. And, sadly, they did this over and over again. In Greek, the word for “not confess” in verse 42 is in the imperfect tense, denoting a continuous, or repeated, action. Thus, these people had opportunity after opportunity to confess their faith in Jesus, but, time after time, they chose to remain silent. This, of course, is not the way that faith is supposed to be. This is faith with its “Check Engine” light on. This is faith that needs a tune up from Christ so that it will not falter and fail.
Thankfully, even in the midst of such a folly filled faith, Jesus offers this promise: “As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it” (verse 47). Jesus says, “Even when you do not keep my commands and share your faith, I do not condemn you, even though I could. Rather, I still offer you my grace, mercy, and salvation.” Our faith, no matter how broken and inadequate it may seem, is still adequate for salvation.
With this in mind, then, we receive both a challenge and a promise from Jesus. The challenge is this: Have you done a ruthless inventory of your faith? And have you heeded its dangerous “Check Engine” light areas? For there are all sorts of these kinds of danger areas in faith: an unwillingness to share your faith with others; an arrogant spirit toward those who are not Christian; a pet sin that drags you away from Christ rather than leading you toward him. All of these, and many others, can damage faith. So heed Jesus’ warning and repent of such dangerous sin. But don’t forget Christ’s promise: that even imperfect faith can receive the perfect promises of God. For Christ came to save even those who falter and fall in their faith. And thank God he did. Because I falter and fall in my faith. How about you?
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