The Lutheran Hour
-
"The Reason Why"
- Download MP3 No bonus material MP3
-
Text: Mark 1:38-39
-
Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Those words, an accurate picture of the events of resurrection morning, are God’s Good News of great joy to all who know their lives are not what God wants or wishes, and for all who clearly see the Christ as their Savior and Lord.
My wife, Pamela, she took a good picture for her Missouri Driver’s License. I only share that information because she is, to the best of my knowledge, the only person who has ever, since the invention of photography and the creation of the Department of Motor Vehicles, had a good picture show up on a license. No, I don’t want you to think she’s conceited. She isn’t. Over our 35 years of marriage, she has always hidden her driver’s license in some remote region of her purse. I can understand why. In South Dakota, her license photo made her look like she’d been a professional prizefighter – and had lost most of her bouts. In Texas, her droopy eyes seemed to say she had fully failed a policeman’s field sobriety test. In Minnesota she looked like her brother, and in Illinois she appeared to have died – some weeks before the picture was taken. But she did take a good picture for her Missouri Driver’s License.
Me? I’m like you. I’ve never had a good picture taken. My U.S. passport photo makes me look like a bouncer for a skid row nightclub. Maybe that’s why the border guards of various countries which I have visited wave me through when I’m leaving, but want to put me into quarantine for a month when I’m arriving. None of us ever takes a good picture, do we? In some junk drawer, or high closet shelf we’ve tucked away the cute pictures that someone snapped of us when we were babies. You know, the “adorable” ones which were taken before we had the sense to run and hide, or the vocabulary to object; the pictures showing us posed with bare skin on a bear skin rug, or the ones which show us swimming in the bathtub. Yes, I know our parents thought those pictures were cute, but they only caused us apoplectic embarrassment when they were hauled out and shown to the girl or boy friend whom we were trying to impress. Since then we’ve all had other pictures which didn’t turn out well. There were the mandatory school pictures. If you’d been able, you would have tossed most of them in the garbage like you might a bad report card. For high school graduation you had a number of pictures taken. And how did you pick the ones you finally ordered? It was when somebody said, “Well, you don’t look too bad in this one. At least you’re sort of smiling… in a silly sort of way.”
Then there are wedding photographs. Couples, and when I say couples I mean brides, spend weeks looking for the right photographer. They will search through a library of albums; sort through a rack of references to find the one creative genius who has the ability to capture on photographic paper the greatest event the world has ever seen. Now, don’t get me wrong. I was a parish pastor for over a quarter century, and I’ve had more than my share of run-ins with photographers who think the whole event is being staged for them. Too many forget that a church wedding is a church service giving thanks to God and asking His blessings upon a couple. Still, I have to applaud the work of any individual who has the ability to take a good picture of four hungover groomsmen, four bridesmaids who rightly question whether they look good in a bubble-gum pink, multi-layered taffeta dress with hoops and a big bustle, a flower girl who won’t leave her mother’s side; a ring-bearer who thinks it’s wonderful so many people have shown up to see how fast he can run down a church aisle, a father-of-the-bride who is convinced his daughter is making the biggest mistake of her life, and a mother of the groom who is worried about whether her son is going to starve on the wife’s cooking.
Yes, these wedding photographers are to be praised. Because when the formal family pictures are taken, developed, and presented, every single person will look first at him, or herself, and say, “I never take a good picture. Look at me in this one. I’ve got that idiotic grin.” Or, “My eyes have enough red in them to make me look like I’m possessed by the devil.” Or, “Look at me; I look like I weigh 500 pounds.” The fact that any photographer actually sells any pictures at all is a minor miracle. After all, none of us takes a good picture – ever. That’s probably because the way we see ourselves is different than the objective eye of the camera.
It occurs to me that Jesus had the same problem. Jesus never had a good picture made of Him, either. No, no, I’m fully aware that cameras hadn’t been invented when the Savior walked this earth. But that doesn’t change the fact that, while He lived, nobody ever got a good picture of Jesus – who He was, and why He’d come. I mean, think about it. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the wise men went to Jerusalem because they had a bad picture of Him. They saw Him as a mortal monarch, a potentate whose place would be in a palace. King Herod had a bad picture of Jesus. Herod thought that Jesus was a heaven-sent usurper, who had designs upon His throne.
The Pharisees had a bad picture of Jesus. They thought He was a devil, a deceiver, a fraud, and a fake. John the Baptist, from his prison cell, found his picture of the Messiah had become a little blurry. That’s why he asked the Lord, “Are You the One who was to come, or should we be looking for someone else?” Even the disciples had a bad picture of Jesus. After His death upon Calvary’s cross when God’s innocent Son paid the punishment price that our sins deserved; after His resurrection from the dead on the third day where He showed to the world that our final enemy had been defeated; immediately before His ascension into heaven, where He continues to plead for us, the disciples, the ones who were closest to Him, said, “Lord, is it now that You’re going to restore the kingdom?” Back then people had a bad picture of Jesus.
When Jesus ministered on earth, just about the only ones who could clearly see Him were His hellish enemies. One time when Jesus was speaking in Capernaum’s synagogue, He was interrupted by a man possessed by the devil. The Gospel of Mark tells us the man cried out, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are-the Holy One of God!” That demon, like many after him, had a good, clear picture that Jesus was God’s Son, our Redeemer from sin, Satan, and death. Yes, 2,000 years ago, the demons saw Jesus most clearly. But they were about the only ones to do so.
Have you noticed that in this, the 21st century of the era that carries His name, Christ’s enemies also seem to see Jesus very clearly? Isn’t that why they’re doing all they can to diminish His divinity and show the world only His humanity? Have you noticed that entire nations and other religions of the world are working ceaselessly to minimize the Savior’s sacrifice and promote a picture of Him as being a faded and flawed philosopher, a teacher of truisms, a preacher of platitudes? Have you not noticed that Jesus’ enemies are trying to legislate the Lord out of history and ban His name from their cities, communities, countrysides, and colleges? Have you not heard that some of the nations of the world will go so far as to throw into jail any person who owns a Bible and pronounce a death sentence upon any citizen who says, “Jesus is my Savior and Lord.” I would like to know; I would like these doubters and deniers to answer, “When you look at the Savior, what do you see? What frightens you so much about this humble, homeless Galilean carpenter? What makes you tremble with terror at His story of sacrifice and resurrection victory? If He is the charlatan, the conman, the counterfeit that you say He is, that you would have your people believe He is, why do you work so hard at opposing Him?” I want them to answer, “When you look at the Scripture’s picture of the Savior’s sacrifice, what do you see?”
I think they see the Lord far more clearly than did the people of Capernaum the day Jesus healed the man who had been possessed by the demon. That is what happened. Jesus silenced the demon and sent Him back to hell where he belonged. The people who had witnessed Jesus’ miracle were amazed and the news of what had happened started to get around. In small towns, and Capernaum was a small town, news, any kind of news, can travel rather quickly. The speed at which the story about Jesus was traveling got a boost when later that day, He healed the mother-in-law of one of His disciples. Jesus healed her so well, that without any period of convalescence or rest, she got up and started to practice hospitality.
That was two healings in one day. And what did people get out of two healings? When they looked at Jesus, what did they see? Did they get a clear picture that He is God’s Son? Did they hear Jesus’ call to repentance from sin? Did they listen to His message of salvation? What was their picture of Jesus? What they heard was this: Jesus is performing miracles in Capernaum. No appointment needed. No embarrassing physical; no sitting on a cold doctor’s table with all kinds of shiny, painful, cold and threatening stainless steel instruments. No robe that won’t stay shut. No blood pressure, no cholesterol, no blood sugar tests, no prescriptions, no visit to the pharmacist.
The word got around that Jesus was doing miracles and people came. The lame, the blind, the crippled, the possessed. It was an unusual parade. They hopped, hobbled, limped, groped, were led and carried. Like a tidal wave the sick arrived. The whole curious town came as well. Jesus healed many of them. How many I don’t know. But He healed enough of them that the news about His miracle working spread even further. And when those people heard the news, they went to see for themselves. Did they go to see Jesus the Savior from sin? Did they go to see Jesus the giver of eternal life? Nope, they went to see a doctor who wouldn’t charge you; a doctor who didn’t ask you to fill out insurance forms; a doctor who didn’t make you sit for hours in the waiting room. Having heard about Jesus, they wrapped up their sick, put them on stretchers and headed out to see the doctor. Mark tells us, when they arrived, Jesus was not there. Loudly, they wondered, “Where has the miracle worker gone?”
Truth is, early that morning Jesus, knowing that people were getting an incomplete picture of Him, had gone out to a private place to pray. You see, Jesus had been born to be the Savior of souls, not just the healer of bodies. Jesus’ miracles had been designed to show He was God’s Son doing God’s work of buying us back from those who had stolen us away from our heavenly Father. Jesus’ physical miracles were designed to point people to a greater, a spiritual miracle: the blood-bought forgiveness which His death would offer to all who believe. But Capernaum missed the point. They saw Jesus only as a healer. Now, don’t get me wrong. Jesus is a healer. He has healed a great many people of physical, mental, and spiritual ailments. But Jesus is not just, only, and merely a heaven-sent healer.
Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. If, this day you see Him only as a healer; only as a teacher; only as a preacher; only as a philosopher; only as a good man, a wise man, then you have a poor picture of who He was. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. Jesus Christ is your Savior. That is the picture Scripture would have you see. That is the picture that the Spirit wishes to show you. Jesus Christ is your Savior. That is why He was born. That is why He lived. It is why He suffered, died, and rose. And that is the picture of Him that the Holy Spirit wants to share with the world. When the disciples finally found Him in His place of prayer, they tried to convince Him to come back for some more healings. Jesus reply was a simple one: “Let us go somewhere else-to the nearby villages-so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”
And Jesus left the crowds to preach. Jesus did what no doctor, politician, or pastor would have done, He left the crowds, left the popularity, and left Capernaum. It was an unbelievable decision. He went out and preached – to anyone who would listen. When He met a woman at a well, He preached; when He met a rich man, He preached. To big crowds on shore; to disciples on boats; He preached. In Galilee, in Samaria, in Judea, He preached. With words He preached; with His life, He preached; with His death, He preached; and with His resurrection, He preached. He preached a message that has changed the world: God has, through the sacrifice of His Son, called the world to repentance, forgiveness, salvation.
True, in the years to come, Jesus would do other miracles. But, He would always tell people why He had come. Now, I could try and tell you why Jesus entered this world, why He did what He did. But the picture I would give you would be a poor one. Far better, I think to let Jesus tell you, Himself. In the Gospels Jesus said why He had come. His words will give you a clear picture of His purpose. Why did Jesus come? He said: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them (Matthew 5: 17).” With those words, Jesus lets us know that He had come to fulfill the laws that we had broken; to keep the commandments that we had disobeyed. Why did Jesus come? Jesus said: “I have come down from heaven not to do My will but to do the will of Him who sent Me (John 6:38).” Jesus’ entire life was dedicated to doing His Father’s will… fulfilling God’s plan to save you from, and set right, all that is wrong in your life.
Why did Jesus come? He said: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10).” Jesus wants you to know, to believe, that He is giving a gift that you can get nowhere else. He wants to bestow upon you, free of charge, without any small print or hidden clauses, a life of peace. When you are given faith in Him as your Savior, your Redeemer, your Friend, you are given a peace of mind, heart, and soul which the world promises but can never deliver.
Why did Jesus come? He tells us: “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should stay in darkness (John 12:46).” So many of you who are listening today need to hear those words. Need to hear them, believe them, trust them, more than anything else you will ever hear. The world is pressing in on you. The pains, the problems, the hurts, the horrors, the lostness, the loneliness, the dark surrounds you. In Jesus there is light. No, that’s wrong. Jesus is the Light. The Light that illumines your path; the Light that brightens your outlook; the Light that is hope, happiness, and heaven.
Why did Jesus come? He tells us: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28).” That’s the picture of Jesus that the demons fear; that’s the picture the world does not want you to see. A sacrificing Savior, who gave His all so you might have all. The Lord of life, who gave His life so you might be ransomed from sin, death, and devil. It is the perfect picture of the Savior that you need to see.
Well, our message today started talking about photographs. I think I said something like, “None of us has ever taken a good picture.” While doing my research for this sermon, I found out I wasn’t exactly right. A little boy, a boy by the name of Carl has proven me wrong. A few months ago he was showing his aunt the picture of his kindergarten class. He pointed at each of his classmates, and said things like: “This boy is Ted, he sticks out his tongue… this girl is Brenda, she talks when she’s not supposed to… this is Andrew and he’s always late.” After going through the entire list, he concluded: “This is a good picture of me, I just sit in class, am good, and mind my own business.” Well, if you’re like Carl, and you are happy with the picture of your life, and if you are always good, and always mind your own business, I guess this sermon may not be for you. But if you are not content with the picture of your life, look at the Savior. See Him clearly. And if you need help in seeing Him clearly, please, call us at The Lutheran Hour. Amen.
LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers) for February 5, 2006
Dr. Paul MaierANNOUNCER: And stay with us now to hear more about recent archaeological discoveries that relate to the Bible. I’m Mark Eischer. Joining me is author and historian Dr. Paul Maier. Dr. Maier, just the other day it was announced that some pottery fragments were uncovered that bore the name of a well-known Biblical personality, namely, Goliath. Is there any indication that this Goliath is related to the nine-foot giant who came up against David and his slingshot?
MAIER: Well, that’s just a fascinating discovery. My goodness, it happened very, very recently, as you well know. I guess there is no way to say categorically this is the same Goliath, pending further evidence, of course. But, this shows that the name was common among the Philistines at the time, and by the way, this discovery was made at Tel es-Safieh which is the site of ancient Gath. You recall that Gath was one of the five Philistine cities, the pentapolis, along the seashore. Gath, Gaza, Ekron, Ashkelon, Ashdot, those were the five great Philistine cities. And here we have Goliath supposedly coming from Gath, in fact, that’s what the Old Testament says. And guess where they found this pottery shard? I think it’s just fascinating, and by the way, they date it back to a stratum approximately 950 B.C. which, of course, was only 50 years after David supposedly fought Goliath. So, the temporal time frame is correct; the physical area is correct; and so I think this just bears out beautifully the Old Testament record. And again, this is only an example, Mark, of a marvelous paradox that is taking place. Usually the farther removed you are from an ancient object or an ancient record, the hazier the view should become. But because of 2,000 years of excellent Biblical scholarship, and most of it is excellent, we’re actually-thanks also to archaeology-getting a clearer and clearer and sharper image of the events in Biblical times. Because of all the evidence we have now, it’s an exciting time to be alive.
ANNOUNCER: So, the pace of archaeological research has picked up in recent years?
MAIER: It has. It was set back, of course, by the Intifada uprising in the year 2000 and since. However, the digs are coming back in greater number than used to be the case a couple years ago.
ANNOUNCER: Very good. Has recent technology also assisted us in doing more of this sort of thing?
MAIER: Regularly, yes. It’s just amazing-the ground penetrating radar they have now and the various spectroscopic tools they use to decipher inscriptions to see if they’re fakes or if they’re real. The technology’s moving right along.
ANNOUNCER: Well, to sum this up-taken as a whole, what would you say these recent discoveries have to say about the people, places, and events that we read about in Scripture?
MAIER: Well, Jesus said the stones cry out on the Palm Sunday event, you recall. He was talking about something else, but it’s true that the hard evidence is again and again affirming the Biblical record. You often don’t hear that in our secular media. If some revisionist archaeologist comes along and says “No, this doesn’t correlate very well at all,” that’s what you hear about. But I would say almost 80-90 percent of the evidence from the digs immediately confirms the Biblical record and then you can argue about the 10 or 15 percent that does not. And the interesting thing is that archaeology is God’s latter-day gift to us, I’m sure, because scientific archaeology is only 125 years old. And look at the thousands of correlations that have been established as a result of the hard evidence we get from the ancient world. I call it the “smoking gun from the ancient world,” and I love it because it’s hard evidence that by-passes all the maunderings of the Biblical critics.
ANNOUNCER: Thank you, Dr. Maier.
MAIER: Thank you, Mark.
ANNOUNCER: This has been a presentation of Lutheran Hour Ministries.
Music selections for this program:
“A Mighty Fortress” arranged by John Leavitt. Concordia Publishing House/SESAC
“Oh, Praise Ye the Lord” by H.W. Baker and C.H.H. Parry. From Hymns and Psalms from Winchester by the Choir of Winchester Cathedral (© 1995 Herald AV Publications, Surrey, England)
“I Am Trusting You, Lord Jesus”arranged by Henry Gerike. Used by permission
“Oh, That I Had a Thousand Voices (Trio)” by David Cherwien. From Hymn Interpretations, vol. 2 by David Cherwien (© 1997 Summa Productions)
“Flight” by Charles Ore. From Organ Dedicatory Concert by Charles Ore (© 1999 Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church, St. Louis)