The Lutheran Hour
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"Not What You Know But Whom You Know"
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Text: John 15:15
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Christ is risen. He is risen, indeed! With His victory over sin, death, and grave, the living Lord proves Himself the Friend, the best and most important Friend of sinful humanity. Redeemed and restored, may we be brought into and remain in His nail-pierced hands of love. Grant this, Lord, unto us all. Amen.
The year before he died I had the privilege of meeting Fred Rogers. Some of you may remember, Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. That imaginary place, with its occasional excursions into the world of reality, was a safe place on TV for children — an oasis where little ones could be sheltered from the overwhelming, ongoing blasts of commercials and products; where they could find sanctuary from a “give me this” and “I want that” mentality; where they could have peace instead of sorcery and explosions, which have become the staple of today’s Tube. Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood: Wearing sweater and tennis shoes, his world featured puppets who had problems; problems that could almost always be confronted and conquered by a lot of love and a healthy dose of friendship.
It would be unfair to imply that I am now, or ever have been, a real Mr. Roger’s aficionado. Quite frankly, some of his puppets got on my nerves. Even so, Mr. Rogers always tried to show children a gentler, more peaceable way to live; he was always a friend to the little ones. That’s why, when I saw Mr. Rogers face-to-face, I was able to thank him, most genuinely for his sincerity. Of course, as I did so, I remembered a story Mr. Rogers told about himself. When he was in theological school studying to be a minister, he was not the mellow fellow many later learned to love. No, Mr. Rogers was the kind of fellow who wanted to succeed. To that end he made it his practice to attend many churches so he could learn from many preachers.
One such Sunday, Mr. Rogers set out to hear a good sermon. His hunt for treasure turned up trash. Even later, he thought of that message as being “the most poorly crafted sermon I had ever heard in my life.” The worst sermon — that’s harsh. After the worship service was over, Mr. Rogers was ready to vent his opinions, share his evaluations with a young lady who had gone to church with him. It was his intention to take that sermon apart like a county coroner might dissect a cadaver. He never got the chance. Looking at the lady, he noticed she was crying. Somehow, somewhere the Lord had used that sad, insignificant sermon and spoken to her heart and mind. The same church, the same service, the same sermon had produced two totally different reactions. Why the disparity? Mr. Rogers concluded he had come to hear a sermon; his friend had come to hear the Lord; he had come to visit a church, she had had a visit with the Christ; he had sat in an edifice, she had spent time with a Friend.
It is my hope and prayer that you Christians are, right now, spending some time with your Friend, Jesus. Sometimes that can be hard to do. I know what Sundays are like for many of you. If this message is coming to you in the a.m., those of you who are church-goers are rushing about; you’re trying to grab a bite of breakfast so your stomach won’t sound like Vesuvius during the midst of worship; you’re trying to get the children dressed, or maybe you’re looking for your Bible. If you don’t get going, you’re going to be late for worship and you’ll have to sit in the front seats and strain your neck to see the preacher. If you’re listening in the p.m., you’ve got things to do. The baseball game is on; the lawn needs cutting, errands need running, naps need — napping. If you’re listening in the evening, it’s hard to stay awake and harder to concentrate.
On the other hand, if you don’t know Jesus as your Friend and Savior, you’re probably going over the list of things that need to be accomplished before this day is over. It is a big list, a long list, a list filled with duties and obligations. You don’t have time to sit around and listen to some preacher-type-person spew forth some theological mumbo-jumbo that deals with subjects in which you’re not interested. You want to get going; you ought to get started. “This is ridiculous,” you say to yourself, and get ready to rush out of the room. But you’re not rushing, are you, at least not yet. Right now you’re waiting to hear what’s next. You’re pretty sure you won’t like it — but you’ll wait, and give God just a minute or two more.
Dear friend, welcome to Mr. Roger’s neighborhood. You’ve just moved into the same place where Mr. Rogers found himself many years ago. You’re discovering the same thing he found out; you’re realizing the Lord can use a poor preacher’s proclamation to accomplish His purposes. Our Father in heaven can take my stuttering, stammering sentences and point you to your Savior who gave His life so all who believe on Him might be forgiven and blessed with life eternal. It’s true; the Lord can take this Gospel-broadcast-of-the-air and use it to tell you about His Son Who came to this earth to save you from yourself. That He does this is a great comfort to me and others who have stood before this microphone. We rejoice the Savior’s story of sacrifice, suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection still touches hearts, can still touch your heart, can change your days and your eternity. This will happen if Jesus is your Savior and Friend.
“Friend” — that is what Jesus called Himself almost 2,000 years ago. The Holy Spirit made sure John recorded Jesus’ words exactly. That’s why John quoted Jesus Who said, “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends.” Now, before you brush aside the Savior’s words as being inconsequential and unimportant, let me ask, “Do you have any friends?” Don’t be quick to answer, take a moment to think. Yes, I know you have acquaintances. Maybe you have a lot of pals. From the moment you wake up until the time you shut your eyes at night you may be surrounded by warm bodies. But do you have any friends? The people at work; you laugh with them, joke with them, swap stories, emails, and instant messages with them, but are they your friends? Do you have a host of relatives? Maybe so. Maybe you even like some of them. But are they your friends?
Understand, I’m not being difficult here and I most certainly am not trying to cause any bitterness or difficulty between you and those who are close to you. I’m simply asking, ‘Do you have friends?’ What’s your answer? Did you say, “Of course I do. Yes, I have friends.” Good, good, I’m glad. I’m happy for you. It’s just that so many people I know don’t have a friend like Jesus. Here, let me explain. Not so long ago I heard of a family which, like most families, had some problems. Dad was successful. Because he was smart and because he was a working fool he had managed to climb the corporate ladder and he was contented that his family was financially stable. Such solidity, my friends, is no mean accomplishment in troublesome economic times. Still, dad was gone long hours and it was a rare day when he was home for more than an hour or two at a stretch.
His wife had worked hard at her home and with the children. In this, for the most part, she had also been successful. Her children were coming out pretty normal, whatever that means. Yes, their son had had a few run-ins at school, but many boys have done the same and worse. Partly to find an answer to her question, “Is this all there is?”, and partly because she wanted to make sure the kids turned out alright, she started to go to a Christian counselor. After they got comfortable with their counselor, the family was surprised that most of their conversations seemed to settle on, and revolve around, dad. When the therapist suggested dad should also come in, they agreed. Getting him there was easier said than done. He was busy, and besides, he didn’t think he needed any help.
It took two months and repeated rescheduling before they got dad to the doc. The time was well spent as they considered what they wanted to say. Their teenage daughter began: “Daddy”, she asked, “Why didn’t you make it to one of my volleyball games when I was in grade school? Why didn’t you come to the school play when I had the second best part? I know you said you were busy, but I hoped maybe, somehow, for me, you would get unbusy. You had to see my prom dress in pictures and you’ve never seen my dorm room. I’m sorry, Daddy, but I’ve stopped counting on you.”
Now I can tell you nobody, not even the CEO of his company talked to Daddy that way. He wasn’t used to it, and he didn’t like it. He kept his temper; he didn’t interrupt; he waited until he was given a chance to reply. Then he said, “I’m sorry. I probably was wrong. I didn’t mean to hurt you. But that’s all in the past, let’s just let it go and start fresh. How about cutting me a little slack? How about a little forgiveness?” And that’s when the daughter said something profound. She replied, “Daddy, forgiveness came a long time ago. Forgiveness was a matter of self-preservation. I’m telling you this not for my sake, but for yours. You never got to know me or to enjoy me or play with me. I’m telling you this because today is a new day and I want things to be different for you and me.”
I would love to tell you they all lived happily ever after. I would love to tell you that, but I can’t. They tried, for a while, and then they went their separate ways. Daddy did his thing; mom did her thing; the daughter, well — the daughter and the son they went their own ways, too. Now I only tell you their story because, with minor variations, I have seen that story played out again and again in the lives of others. Go to any nursing home in the country and watch little old ladies and little old men waiting, longing, praying for a letter, a phone call, a visit from their children. Yes, many of them still have friends and some still really enjoy life, but their closest friends, their families aren’t around.
Do you have a friend? More and more I see churches sponsoring groups for those in their parish that are divorced. No, it’s not a lonely hearts club — these are interesting people, beautiful, fascinating people who are ready to get on with their lives. But they’re hurting. Somewhere along the way their dearest friend, their spouse, went AWOL.
Do you have a friend? Do you have someone you can count on no matter what; someone who, no matter how often you repeat yourself, no matter the subject matter, will listen patiently until you run down? Do you have a friend? Do you have anybody who will be there when you call, anytime day or night? Who will come running to be by your side, not just in an emergency, but each and every time you want them? Do you have a friend? Do you have someone who will help you with all the problems that crush you down during the day and all the worries that keep you up at night? Do you have a friend? Is there anybody around you to whom you can speak honestly without ever holding back? Do you have a friend who will give you that which you need, even if it means that giving is going to cost them?
Do you have a friend? Maybe I’m wrong, but I would be willing to guess some of you are thinking you actually do have a friend such as the one I have described. You’re recalling a friend who knows you; who loves you; who supports and sacrifices for you. They will listen to you, help you, and do all they can to provide for and assist you. You can’t think of a single thing in your heart or your life that you can’t share with this special person. Understand, I’m not saying there aren’t such people in this world. There are. I’ve met a handful of them. Indeed, if you have such an individual in your life, you are richly blessed, incredibly blessed. Of course, I don’t have to tell you that do I?
But let me take my questions to another level. Would this friend be willing to leave their home for you? Would this friend be willing to step down from a lofty position to help you? Would your special person be willing to live his or her entire life for you? I mean would they stop thinking of themselves so they could only think of your future? Would they take all your debts and say, “These are mine now”? Is this friend willing to be hunted, persecuted, beaten, lied about, whipped, and murdered, murdered in a cruel and painful way for you? Will this wonderful friend do all this without any acknowledgment or appreciation? Would they do it if your actions showed you were uninterested, unconcerned, and unmoved? To this last set of questions every one of you must admit, “No, I have a dear friend, but these things they cannot do; they would not do! Our friendship is based on mutual support and help. I don’t know how long they would last if things went just the one way.”
Yours is a wise answer. There is no human being, none whom I have ever met, who would be willing or able to do such a thing for someone else. It is too unreasonable, too unrealistic, and overwhelmingly unfair. Still, in Jesus, I and hundreds of millions of other people have been given such a Friend. 2,000 years ago, in a small town outside of Jerusalem, Jesus exited heaven and was born on earth. Conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, He was true Man and true God. For the next 33 years He lived His life exactly as I have described. He went without a home, a family, an income so that my life now and my eternity for all — well, all of eternity, might be changed. Read the first four books of the New Testament and they will tell you how my Friend was misunderstood and maligned. His family thought He was insane; His close friends seldom understood Him; the crowds that followed Him regularly tried to redefine His mission. Still, for me, Jesus kept on. Listen to the words He spoke; no other preacher or teacher has come close to my Friend for brevity, beauty, and the sharing of God’s truth. Look at what Jesus did and see how the cripples and the unclean, the possessed and those who were in pain found healing at His hand.
Look at Jesus, my Friend. See Him comfort a mother whose only son has died; a father and mother consumed with grief at the loss of their daughter; two sisters who cry after the passing of their brother. My friend, Jesus, stilled their fears, raised their dead, and restored their families. Listen to my Friend, Jesus. Listen as He forgives sinners who came to Him in faith. “Go and sin no more”, He told a woman who had sinned. “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” He said to a man who had been brought to Him for healing. (Matthew 9:2b) Look at my Friend, Jesus, and know His work is not confined to history books or tales that begin: “once-upon-a-time, long-long-ago.”
But there is more, much more. My Friend Jesus has also forgiven my sins. Indeed, so I might be released from the damnation my misdeeds brought upon me; so I might be set free from the shackles of sin and enslavement of Satan is why Jesus entered this world. His job description said He had come not to be served but to serve and He served by giving His life as a ransom for many. With the completion of His work on the cross of Calvary, my Friend shocked the world and rose from the dead. In so doing, my Friend has given me the assurance that when I say an earthly farewell to a loved one, it is only temporary. My Friend has fixed things so there will be a reunion — a reunion in a place where there will be no more sickness or sadness, damnation or death. Having completed the work of my redemption, My Friend rose from the dead on the third day. Some of you may indeed have a wonderful friend, but no friend can do, can begin to do what my Friend has done for me with His life, death, and resurrection.
Do you have a Friend like this? I pray that you do. If you don’t know Him now, I pray you soon shall be brought into the presence of Him whose love is personal enough for one, but big enough to cover the world. You see, my Friend Jesus is your friend, too. For your forgiveness He was born; for your salvation He lived His life. For your eternity He died upon the cross; for your confident assurance He rose on the third day. Today I introduce you to Jesus, the best of Friends, the truest of Friends, the most sacrificing and caring of Friends. Today I share Jesus, Friend, Redeemer, your Savior. If we can help you know Him better, please, call us at The Lutheran Hour. Amen.
LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers) for May 17, 2009
Topic: Bad GodAnnouncer: Is God bad, mean, or indifferent? I’m Mark Eischer. Pastor Ken Klaus talks about how some people consider God to be quite cruel.
Klaus: Or, as one author recently put it, “God is NOT great.”
Announcer: Well, that’s what we’re talking about–people accusing God of not caring — of not being nice — of not doing what He could to alleviate suffering and pain.
Klaus: And we do need to deal with that. Recently I have heard a whole lot of people say exactly that sort of thing.
Announcer: Really?
Klaus: Absolutely! They ask, “Did God send someone cancer? Why did God allow a young person to die in an auto accident? How can we say God cares when there is so much evil in the world?”
Announcer: Well, that all goes along with this email we received. A listener writes, “I was with 12 of my fellow church members who just returned from the Gulf States in the southern U.S. Ever since Hurricane Katrina went through there, our church has sponsored teams to help put things back in order. This was the first time for all of us on our team and we were amazed at the devastation we saw down there, even this many years after the hurricane. We tried to imagine what it must have been like immediately after the storm.
While we were down there, one of our team members said they could understand why some people might think God was a pretty bad fellow to have either caused or allowed this to happen. How can we respond to people who feel God has let them down, or that God has it in for them?
Klaus: Mark, I appreciate the honesty and the faith of our listener. It’s not that he or she feels that way; but they do need a way to respond to those who question God’s nature or His motives.
Announcer: I think that sums up the question very well.
Klaus: So, where shall we begin? Let’s start with Romans 11. There St. Paul wrote: “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.”
Announcer: That doesn’t seem to help. If I were to sum up those words, I would end up with: “God does stuff we don’t understand.” Would that be right?
Klaus: Partly. Paul does ask a bunch of questions. I think he did so sort of rhetorically. But if someone were to answer them, they would agree with what you just said. God’s works can’t be understood. Nobody is smart enough to understand His mind, or give Him directions.
Announcer: As I said, that doesn’t help.Klaus: But it really does. It does in two ways.
First, it says nobody is qualified to second-guess God. Nobody is that smart. But that is exactly what His detractors are doing nowadays. Maybe not in so many words, but in effect they are saying, “I know better than the Lord. If I was God, I would do this, but I wouldn’t do that.”
Second, look at how Paul ends the section.
Announcer: He says, “To (God) be glory forever.”
Klaus: Exactly. Even though Paul doesn’t understand, can’t figure out what God does and why He does it, he still glorifies the Lord.
Announcer: OK, I get that. Now how can we apply it to the question?
Klaus: This way. You have to start in the right place.
Announcer: And what is the right place?
Klaus: The right place is believing God loves us. The wrong place is to think He doesn’t, or is indifferent to us, or actually dislikes us.
Announcer: But how can we be sure God loves us?
Klaus: That’s where a lot of people are. “How can we be sure God loves us?” The answer to that question is John 3:16. God so loved the world He gave His only-begotten Son who whoever believes on Jesus as Savior won’t die eternally. On the contrary, He’ll receive everlasting life. Does God love you? Look at Jesus’ suffering and death for you and for your forgiveness. If the cross of the Christ isn’t proof of the intensity and loyalty of God, there’s something wrong — and of course, there is.
Announcer: OK, God loves us. What next?
Klaus: If you believe God loves you, then, even when you can’t understand why things happen, even if it seems wrong, you rely on that love to supply your answer. If you don’t believe in God’s love, well, everything becomes suspect.
Announcer: So, what good could come out of something like Katrina?
Klaus: I wouldn’t attempt to know the Lord’s mind. I do know this: Katrina took some people to heaven. Iit gave the world a chance to realize their time on earth is not limitless. It gave them time to understand how much God cares. It gave them an opportunity to come to the cross. It motivated Christians from around the country to demonstrate their love for their neighbor. There are many other good things that can come out of such tragedy. You can see them, if you believe God is a God of love.
Announcer: Which is exactly what Romans 8:28 says: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.”
Klaus: God can take even the bad things of a sinful, fallen world and work it according to His divine purpose.
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
“Jesus, Sun of Life, My Splendor” by G.F. Handel. From Blessed by the Concordia Seminary Chorus (© 2000 Concordia Seminary Chorus)
“Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me” arr. Mark Sedio. Concordia Publishing House
“Oh, That I Had a Thousand Voices” by Chris Loemker. Concordia Publishing House