The Lutheran Hour
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"Surgery for the Savior"
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Text: Mark 9:38-50
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Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed. People of the world know, although they may rant and rave against the thought, that the Day of Judgment is coming. All of us have inside our hearts, a feeling that there is a heaven and a hell. The joyous news that Christ has, in His resurrection, conquered sin, death and Satan, and thereby makes hell disappear for all who believe, is this day and always, our good news of great joy.
Well, we are going to talk about hell today. Understand, I didn’t just wake up this morning and say, “I think I’m gonna talk about hell.” No, I’m talking about hell because Jesus talked about hell. He said, and this is putting it mildly, very mildly, that hell is a place where you don’t want to go; not even for a visit. So we’re going to talk about hell. It’s not a popular thing to do, preaching about hell.
One recent survey (Barna) says only about one-third of Christians believe that there really is such a place. Many of the other two-thirds come up with some interesting alternatives to what the Bible clearly teaches. The truth is, I can understand people wanting to jettison hell. After all, who wants to think about a place of never-ending torment filled with fire, and eternal weeping and wailing? I don’t like mosquitoes biting me; so I’m sure going to avoid thinking about my body being chomped on by flesh eating worms. No, nobody wants their thoughts dwelling on that nasty place where all the unsaved wicked of the world will spend a very, very long time. But today, we’re going to talk about hell.
Excuse me? What’s that? You don’t want to talk about hell? You would rather have me preach about springtime and pussy willows and puppy dogs and moonlight hayrides? I would too, but today we’re going to talk about hell. Oh, you said you’d turn the dial if I persist in talking about hell. I hadn’t thought of that. Well maybe instead, we should talk about how a person can eliminate hell. Would that be better?
Fine. Let’s see … how do we get rid of hell? I know where we should start; let’s get rid of the Bible. Oh, we probably don’t have to throw the whole Bible away; we just need to reinterpret it. If we take out all the miracles, all the stuff about sin, and repentance and forgiveness and God’s grace and we get rid of the scary and depressing parts; then we can probably keep the scraps that are left. We can take our little scissors and snip away at passages like, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23) and “the soul who sins is the one who will die.” (Ezekiel 18:4) Of course we would have to eliminate those two passages from Matthew: “… be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (10:28b) and “The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (13:49-50) Oh, that passage in Revelation, (20:15) that has to go, too. You know the one I mean: “If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was to be thrown into the lake of fire.”
In our desire to get rid of hell, and since we’ve already censored the Bible, we might as well change Jesus, the Savior. Now, we don’t want to get rid of Him. We can keep the stuff that He said about “doing unto others as we want them to do to us.” That was good. We could retain things like, “Peace on earth, good will toward men.” We can keep “love your neighbor” and “judge not lest ye be judged.” But that stuff about Him being the One who has bought our souls, being a Redeemer, has to go. Think about it. If Jesus is our Savior, He has to be saving us from something. That something is sin. Because of sin, we deserve God’s condemnation and damnation. Remember the Bible that we just cut up, says, “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord.” Jesus can stay. The Savior has to go. The Philosopher can stay. The Teacher can stay. The Humanitarian can stay. But there is no room for a Savior who fulfills the laws that we had broken. No room for a suffering Servant, a Divine Deliverer. Think about it. This changed Jesus would be OK. Most people would hardly notice. Here’s how a passage might read. It comes from the MAV, the Majorly Altered Version: “For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not worry and be happy.”
You’re sure about this? You really don’t want me to preach about hell? Well, we’ve taken care of part of the problem by eliminating parts of Scripture and remaking Jesus into our image. But the job isn’t done. To not preach about hell means we have one more major obstacle to take care of, and I’m not sure how we’re going to do it. That obstacle we have to surmount is death. Yeah, death. If at all possible, you really shouldn’t die. Remember that Bible we took care of? Well in that Bible there is a little teeny, tiny passage; it comes from the book of Hebrews (9:27-28a). It says: “Just as a man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people.” That’s hard to ignore. You’re going to live. You’re going to die. You’re going to be judged. It’s that simple. So my advice is, “don’t die.” Lower your blood pressure, start exercising; take some points off your cholesterol; avoid over-indulging in red meat, sign up for advanced Pilates. Do what you gotta do, but don’t die; because, if you die, you are going to be judged. And then, without Jesus, the Savior, it’s back to hell.
It’s a problem, isn’t it? Which is why I’m still going to end up preaching about hell today. I can’t get away from it. Let me tell you why. There is a passage in the Old Testament. God was speaking to the prophet Ezekiel and, I think, to all pastors and preachers. God said: “When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ and you (meaning pastors and preachers) do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood.” (Ezekiel 33:8) You see, God holds me accountable. If I change the Bible or undercut Jesus, I’m held responsible. If I pretend there is no hell, then God is going to say, when I appear in front of Him, “Why didn’t you warn them?” And I won’t have an answer. So, today, I’m going to talk about hell.
No, I can’t make it easier. Years ago I heard about a preacher who delivered a powerful sermon on the subject of sin, damnation and hell. After the service, one of the church leaders confronted him and gave the preacher some suggestions. “Pastor,” he said, “we don’t want you to talk as openly as you do about sin and hell. Call sin a ‘mistake,’ call hell by another name, but please, please, don’t go into detail.” As the officer was concluding, the pastor removed a small bottle from a shelf behind his desk. Showing it to the man, he said, “Can you read the label? It says ‘Strychnine.'” Underneath the name, in bright red letters were a skull and crossbones and the word ‘poison.’ The pastor asked, “Should I change the label? What you are asking me to do would be like changing this label. Suppose I write over the skull and crossbones ‘Pirate Candy?’ What do you think might happen if one of our little ones saw it? The milder the label, the more dangerous the poison!”
So today we’re talking about hell. Well, actually, Jesus is talking about hell. This is what He said: “… if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,” where “their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.” Readers of these verses are often shocked at their intensity. To them, the words seem so unlike Jesus. They can think of Him only as being gentle, and kind and caring. Listeners to these words pass shocked and secret looks to each other and whisper, “Did I hear that right? We’re supposed to be plucking out our eyes and sawing off our feet?” Is Jesus seriously saying that His followers are supposed to be lopping off body parts? Is our picture of paradise to be changed to a heavenly hospital filled with the half-blind and legless?
Was Jesus speaking seriously? Many, if not most, modern scholars would answer, “No. These words are far too strong to have come from the Savior’s lips,” or they will say, “Jesus was exaggerating.” Myself, I think Jesus was very serious. As the all-knowing Son of God, He was fully aware of the horrors of hell. More than that, He had left His throne in heaven, and come to earth, to live, to suffer, die and rise, so that we might be saved from that eternal suffering. I believe Jesus because He is the only Person Who is able to evaluate how frightening hell really is. In Jesus’ opinion, hell is so horrific, that we should be willing to do anything and everything to escape it. Heaven or hell, the answer should be obvious.
Over my life, I’ve encountered other questions that had an equally obvious answer. Years ago, when I was young, our family went on a very long trip. My brother and I were arguing. We weren’t arguing about anything important. The subjects ranged from, “He’s on my side of the car” and “It’s my turn for the window”; to “he’s looking at me funny.” You see what I mean. Nothing important. After a number of “knock it off, you guys,” my dad finally took his eyes off the road, half turned around and said, “If I have to say one more thing, I’m going to pull this car over to the side of the road, and you kids are going to regret it.” He added, “You don’t want me to do that, do you?”
Let’s see, what were the options? Keep arguing and get a licking, or behave and live happily ever after. Without any discussion, my brother and I looked at each other and agreed. The answer was obvious what we should do.
You husbands, when you buy your wife a roadside emergency kit, and she is expecting pearl earrings, there is an obvious answer to her question: “Is that really what you think of me? Is that all I’m worth?” No, the answer to some questions should be obvious. Including the question, “What would you be ready to do to escape hell?” What are you ready to give up to escape that place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth? (Matthew 8:12) What are you ready to do to escape that place where people scream for mercy, have memories, are tormented, feel alone, and cannot escape? (Luke 16:23- 31) What are you willing to do to be free from the unquenchable fire? (Mark 9:48) What are you willing to do to avoid the darkness; (Revelation 9:2) and damnation; (Mark 3:29 KJV) and everlasting destruction? (2 Thessalonians 1:9)
No, the answer is not, “There’s no place like hell.” It’s there and it awaits you. The answer is not, “God wouldn’t do that kind of thing.” He is a just God Who is outraged by sin. He would, and will, send souls there. The answer is not, “Maybe I can escape hell by living forever.” You won’t and you can’t. The answer is not, “Maybe, if I’m really good, God will take pity on me.” You can’t be that good to earn God’s pity. The answer is not even, “I will pluck out an eye, I will cut off a leg. I will do whatever I have to, so that I can avoid hell.” In April, a boulder shifted and trapped Aron Ralston, as he was climbing in Canyonlands National Park. After days of trying to unsuccessfully budge the boulder, Aron eventually ran out of water; and rather than die a slow death, he cut off his arm with a pocketknife. Aron took such an action to escape earthly death. What are you ready to do to escape eternal death? What are you ready to do to make a hideous hell go away?
Here’s the answer. Don’t pluck out an eye. Don’t chop off a leg. Don’t do all the self- mutilations and sacrifices demanded by other religions as they try to appease their god. No point in it. If you want hell to go away, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. That’s it. Believe that Jesus Christ is your Savior, your Substitute, your Sacrifice. The blood of Jesus Christ makes hell go away for all who believe.
Is it possible you’re thinking: “It’s too easy. It’s too easy.” If you’re thinking that, I’m saying this: it is easy for you. It was hardly easy for Jesus. To make hell go away for you, the sinless Son of God had to leave heaven. To make hell go away for you, the Son of God was born in a stable. Already there He was hated and harassed. To make hell go away for you, Jesus had to leave home and family, and all of the things that make life worthwhile. To make hell go away for you, Jesus endured name-calling, hatred, murder threats, and lies. To make hell go away for you, Jesus resisted every temptation that has ever tripped you up; fulfilled every commandment that you have broken. To make hell go away for you, He carried your sins, all of them, even those secret ones. To make hell go away for you, Jesus was betrayed by a friend; deserted by others, railroaded in a trial by His own religious leaders; framed in front of the Roman procurator; and laughed at by His king. To make hell go away for you, Jesus was beaten, whipped, spit upon, crowned with thorns, and nailed to a cross. Easy? Don’t you think it. Not for a minute.
To which any rational person will say, “If all I have to do to make hell go away is believe on Jesus Christ, why would anybody hesitate?” Good question. I don’t know. I can’t understand it. Yet, I know that there are those, right now, who are feeling the tug of the Holy Spirit; who are being called to a faith that will lead them from hell to heaven, but they are going to ignore that tug. They are going to let their doubts make them hesitate. They will put off the Lord, and they will end this day, the same way as they began it. Hoping somehow that hell will go away, and turning their backs on the only way that that can happen.
Don’t you be one of them. Call the number Mark will give you before the end of this broadcast. Call, and we will help you know more about the Lord Who can make your hell go away. Those of you Christians out there, who already know this Divine truth that comes through God’s grace, order a copy of this sermon. Give it to someone who needs this message; pass it on to someone who may not be hearing it. Give it to someone you love; let them know you care, and are afraid for them. Let them know that Jesus, your Jesus, can make their hell go away.
It was several years ago when a man and his wife were found frozen to death in their car. A first-rate blizzard had dumped tons of snow in the area. They had had to pull over to the side of the road, and being inexperienced in such things, he ran his engine until the gas gave out. Before she died, the woman scribbled a note on a piece of paper and stuffed it in the glove compartment. The note read: “I don’t want to die this way.” She didn’t have to die that way. Less than six feet from their car was a stranded bus. Inside that bus were some cozy passengers who kept warm through the night. Let me say it one more time. You don’t have to go to hell. Right now. Right on your radio, the Lord is telling you how Jesus has made hell go away. Don’t die this way. Don’t die in eternity. Call us; Jesus can make your hell go away. Amen.
Lutheran Hour Mailbox (Questions & Answers) for October 19, 2003
Topic: The Holy Spirit (part 2)ANNOUNCER: Now Pastor Ken Klaus answers questions from listeners. I’m Mark Eischer. Last week we began a discussion about ghosts and spirits. I think before we get started today, we should make it clear to our listener that we are trying to deal with this topic in a serious way because it deals with the spiritual dimension of life, and we take that pretty seriously.
KLAUS: We do. Our discussion may sound frivolous, but it’s not.
ANNOUNCER: So having said that, Halloween is coming up soon. Today’s question is, “How is the Holy Ghost different from a Halloween ghost?”
KLAUS: Well, first let’s define “Halloween ghost.” Like we said last week, although the Bible recognizes that there are spiritual beings and powers in the supernatural realm, the Bible doesn’t get specific. If the Bible is quiet, I can’t make up an answer. So when we’re talking about Halloween ghosts, we’re talking about what people think a Halloween ghost is.
ANNOUNCER: You mean like a trick-or-treater who wears a sheet and yells, “boo”?
KLAUS: That’s certainly how most young children might think of a Halloween ghost. But I’d also like to add that this points to a spiritual reality – the reality of evil and demonic forces.
ANNOUNCER: That’s why adults then would have a slightly different and darker picture of ghosts.
KLAUS: Exactly. When adults think of a ghost, they usually conjure up images of a semi-transparent, unearthly force or presence that is powerful, mysterious, and almost undefeatable. They are unpredictable and almost always have a sinister purpose.
ANNOUNCER: And these are not the spirits of departed relatives or disembodied souls?
KLAUS: No. It’s been suggested if such things do exist, they would more likely be demonic spirits whose purpose is to deceive.
ANNOUNCER: So the Holy Ghost, the third Person of the Trinity, isn’t anything at all like these ghosts?
KLAUS: No. If there would be any similarity, and it’s a stretch to go this far, it would be that the Holy Ghost cannot be measured with our five senses.
ANNOUNCER: Could you give some of the bigger differences?
KLAUS: We can try. First, the Holy Ghost is the third Person of the Trinity. The Bible ascribes to Him the Divine Names that are reserved for God. He does the works only God can do. He has the Divine Attributes that can only be descriptive of God, and the Scripture says He is worthy of the honor and glory that are due only to the Lord.
ANNOUNCER: What are some of the other differences?
KLAUS: Being God, the Holy Spirit was there before the Creation. In the second verse of the Bible, Genesis 1:2, it talks about God’s Spirit moving over the surface of the deep. No ghost could have done that.
ANNOUNCER: What else?
KLAUS: The Holy Spirit is only concerned with our good, in the creation of faith in the Savior. Those Halloween-type ghosts seem to be concerned with evil and the implanting of fear. They would have us doubt what God says in His Word.
ANNOUNCER: So the Holy Ghost is not a ghost at all?
KLAUS: Certainly not a Halloween ghost.
ANNOUNCER: Is that why some of the newer Bible translations call him the Holy Spirit rather than the Holy Ghost?
KLAUS: That’s certainly part of the reason.
ANNOUNCER: And are those terms Holy Ghost and Holy Spirit interchangeable?
KLAUS: In English they certainly seem to be. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew term for the word Spirit, or Ghost, is “ruach.” In the New Testament, the word is “pneuma.” The King James usually, but not always, translates that word “Ghost.” The New International Version usually renders it “Spirit.”
ANNOUNCER: This is getting complicated. Could you give us an example of that?
KLAUS: Of course. Listen to the difference. Matthew 1:18 in the King James Version reads this way: “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When, as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.” Here’s the same verse in the New International Version: “This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.”
ANNOUNCER: So the words ghost and spirit can be used interchangeably?
KLAUS: For all practical purposes, yes.
ANNOUNCER: Well, we’ve got more to discuss on this topic. Join us next week as we talk about the work of the Holy Spirit. This has been a presentation of Lutheran Hour Ministries.