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Second Sunday in Lent
Light of Christ Anglican Church
The Rev. Michael Moffitt, February 21, 2016


Are You Coming In?


Text Luke 13:22–30

As we began our entrance into the Lenten season at our Ash Wednesday service we read Luke 9:51:

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.

Jesus knowing what awaited him in Jerusalem resolved to go anyway because that was why he came in obedience to the will of his Father. I pointed out that this began a section of Luke’s gospel called the “Jerusalem Discourse” and it runs from Luke 9:51 to 15:13 where Jesus enters Jerusalem in the Triumphal Entry. During this section Jesus also turns his focus away from the crowds that are following him and onto his disciples in preparation for his departure. It is also during this journey that Luke records Jesus sending out the 72 to announce that the Kingdom of God had come and to demonstrate the power and authority of that kingdom by healing the sick and casting out demons in Jesus name. It is in this section that Jesus teaches them how to pray and from this we get the model, the Lord’s Prayer, also found in Matthew 6:9–13. My point in bringing this chronology up is to show that Jesus is teaching and honing his disciples by revealing to them by word and example what it would mean to follow him and what it would cost them. He is promising that everything they need to continue his mission will be provided but towards the beginning of this discourse Luke quotes Jesus’ warning,

No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62

There may have been some reluctance on the part of some as they considered what Jesus was teaching and he was making it clear that the kingdom requires people to move forward when they are called and to not look behind.

Our gospel reading this morning is preceded by Jesus explaining that the Kingdom of God could be compared to a mustard seed, the smallest of seeds that would grow into the largest of all garden plants, actually big enough for birds to build their nest in and also the kingdom could be compared to yeast that works through the entire large lump of dough. In each of these parables Jesus is revealing that the kingdom of God would start out small but then would move throughout the world.

This morning’s passage begins with Jesus continuing to head towards Jerusalem where the reason for his incarnation would be fulfilled and the redemptive plan of God would proceed as planned.

There were discussions among the Jews as to how many people would be saved and it was generally believed by them that all the Jews would be saved with the exception of those who were really bad. One person in the crowd following Jesus asks him, “Lord are only a few people going to be saved?”

Jesus answers this person by changing a theological debating point into a personal challenge. Jesus changes the focus of the question away from numbers of people and instead places the focus on the limited amount of time available. He is pointing out that there is a time limit to the offer of salvation and that it must be accepted while the offer is being presented. He also reveals that the door that must be entered for salvation is narrow and that many will try to enter but will not be able to and once the door is shut that’s it.

The narrowness of the Christian faith is a matter of great controversy to many and is seen as biased, unfair and ungodlike. By and large most people want to do whatever they want and have God put his stamp of approval on it. They want to live life in their own way and come to God on their own terms. His job is to bless and protect them and when bad things happen he is seen as not keeping up his end of the bargain. Jesus is teaching that there is only one door and it is very narrow and if you want to be saved that is the only way.

However, in this morning’s text Jesus is actually speaking to an even more focused problem of believing that you are saved because of religious affiliation.

“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’

“But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’

26 “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’

27 “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’ Luke 13:24–27

Jesus is showing them that having social fellowship with him and hearing his teaching was not enough. Their attitude toward him was superficial and they had not bought into the fact that he was the Lord who had come to save them. They had been following him and marveling at his power over sickness, disease and demonic possession. They recognized that he spoke with authority and something about him was compelling but Jesus is saying that even that is not enough; they must turn and follow him in faithful obedience. They assumed that they were safe because of their national identity and blood relationship with Father Abraham but Jesus removes that confidence as being misplaced.

“There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 30 indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.” Luke 13:28–30

Jesus is exhorting the crowd to not focus on how many will be saved but “Will you be saved?” If they were not prepared to enter through the door offered then by Jesus then what they could expect was finding themselves in a place where they could see all the famous great ones with whom they had found their identity, like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, King David and the prophets but they would be unable to be with them. Instead they would be weeping in grief and gnashing their teeth in frustration and anger but the door would be closed forever. To further drive home his point he tells them that there will be people coming from all over the world to take their places at the feast in God’s eternal Kingdom both Jew and Gentile. This kingdom would be comprised of those who had come through the narrow door in obedience to the call of God and anyone who tried to come in another way would find that there is no other way.

Matthew records Jesus giving a similar example:

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13

We can find countless examples in Scripture of those who saw themselves as righteous and God fearing but turned away from God because they did not want to do what he asked of them and saw his law as a burden and confining. One great example is in the Gospel of John chapter 6 beginning in verse 35. Jesus has revealed to them that he is the Bread of Life and all that feed on him will never hunger or thirst. They should stop looking for the bread like Moses had given them, it was not Moses who had given them the bread but the Father in Heaven. Now the Father in Heaven is sending them true bread that will provide lasting nourishment. He then complicates the matter by saying that the bread that will be given for them to eat is his flesh. At this point most everyone left Jesus saying,

“This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?’….from this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.” John 6: 60–68

It’s the next verse that makes the point for this morning, “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.

68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

The twelve had heard Jesus make the same statements as the others but their reaction was completely different because they were not simply hanging out with him but had become his followers. Many had been following him, remember the 72 of Luke 10 who had been sent out in the power and authority of Jesus and had come back reporting all the amazing things they had accomplished in Jesus’ name,

“The seventy-two returned with joy and said, ‘Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” Luke 10:17

Where had 60 of them gone? Apparently, the door was to narrow and not worth the risk.

When the presentation of the gospel leaves out the narrowness of the door and the cost of following Jesus the result is that many who felt comfortable with their relationship with God will one day find out that they never had one.

“But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’

Jesus closes out his answer to the question,

“Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” with this,

“Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.” Luke 13:27–30

Jesus’ answer is given as a warning. Many will get to the table, including some surprises because all are on the same footing. In today's context the warning of this passage might be that those who are first, (who have exposure to Christ through attendance at the church) may turn out to be last, (excluded from blessing) if they do not come through the door by personally receiving what Jesus offers.

Many in our society have rejected the concept of absolute truth and believe that there are many ways to God, if there is a god at all. Christians are seen as narrow minded bigots who hate those who disagree with them, especially on moral issues. Our response to them should not be one of compromise but lovingly continue to speak the truth of God’s word and pray that it penetrates their hearts. Theologian, writer and speaker Francis Schaeffer once wrote, “Truth carries with it confrontation. Truth demands confrontation; loving confrontation, but confrontation nevertheless.”

Unless we are willing to tell the truth of the gospel message then many will die believing that they have entered the right door and end up in eternal damnation.

In our Epistle reading this morning from Philippians 3:17-4:1, Paul is encouraging the church at Philippi to look to him as an example, as a model, and then live as he was living as pertains to the Gospel. There were many preaching a false gospel that said that Christ was pure spirit and that the incarnation meant nothing as the spirit of Christ had merely inhabited a physical form and then left it to perish. This freed them up to live however they wanted in the body because only the spirit mattered. Such people considered themselves as living on a higher spiritual plane and could indulge the flesh however they wanted, Paul writes, “Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.”

Paul calls them enemies of the cross, those who made a mockery of all that Jesus suffered in his body and made it essentially meaningless. Paul states that this perversion of the gospel had brought him to tears. 18th century theologian Charles Spurgeon thought that Paul wept for three reasons. First, on account of the guilt of these enemies of the cross of Christ, Second, on account of the ill effects of their conduct and finally, on account of their doom.

He wrote “I never read that the apostle wept when he was persecuted though they ploughed his back with furrows, I do believe that never a tear was seen to gush from his eye while the soldiers scourged him. Though he was cast into prison, we read of his singing, never of his groaning. I do not believe he ever wept on account of any sufferings or dangers to which he himself was exposed for Christ's sake. I call this an extraordinary sorrow, because the man who wept was no soft piece of sentiment, and seldom shed a tear even under grievous trials." Paul was weeping because he knew the consequences of rejecting the true gospel message and had given his life to the message of that truth. It grieved him to see it rejected for a lie of the enemy.

Paul tells the Philippian church to follow his example not the enemies of the cross, because their citizenship was in heaven. Just like Philippi was a Roman colony, the church is a colony of heaven. Believers belong to heaven because that’s where Christ now dwells but when he returns in glory, the wonder of heaven will come to earth and believers will find their home in the new heavens and the new earth.

Paul gave his life to protect the church from false teachers who came to do the work of the enemy of God and Paul is encouraging the true believers to follow him in giving up their lives for the sake of the gospel and for the message of the cross of Christ. There is no other way of salvation, no other door.

His final word on the matter in Philippians 4:1,

“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends.”

This word is timely for us in this day and time because very few are willing to stand up and proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord and there is no other way to eternal life with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Many if not most in our country celebrate diversity to the exclusion of truth and let it be known that they will not tolerate those who stand firm that the Word of God as it is revealed in the Bible is the only rule of faith and practice. So what do we do with that? Do we cower or hide in the safety of our church buildings or in each other’s homes? Well, again, what is the model of Christ and the Apostles for us to follow? Remember Paul’s request for prayer,

“Pray for me also that when I open my mouth words may be given me that I might fearlessly proclaim the mystery of the gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I will speak fearlessly as I should.” Ephesians 6:20

What’s at stake here? What happens if we don’t speak the truth to those who are perishing and they continue to believe a lie?

1. The lie will continue to perpetuate and it will become even harder to proclaim the truth. Right now the true gospel is seen as extreme and the ravings of fanatics, a fringe element. Multi-culturalism and the inclusion of all beliefs are seen as the gift of a compassionate god or gods. So the message of sin, repentance and judgment is viewed by many as extremism and not to be tolerated.

2. Without the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ there is no good news and we can see the effect of that approach around the world already.

On the other hand, what if we do speak the truth to those who are perishing and speak out against the lies of our enemy the devil?

1. The word of God will penetrate the hearts of those who will listen and they will find hope and salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2. The kingdom of God will advance and we will grow in the strength and power of the Holy Spirit. The church will return to its original intent and will once again begin to experience the outpouring of God’s presence that we have been lacking for a long time.

3. We will see miracles begin to be common place instead of the exception to the rule.

4. Our town, region, state, country and world will be impacted for Christ. 12 men could not conceive of the fact that their lives could have any real impact but in the power of God’s Spirit and in the name of Jesus it turned the world upside down and in many places continues to do so over 2000 years later.

5. It will cause the enemy to come after us in ways not previously experienced by most of us. There will be persecution and trouble but we will see the power of the unseen heavenly hosts come to our rescue.

16 “See, it is I who created the blacksmith
        who fans the coals into flame
        and forges a weapon fit for its work.
        And it is I who have created the destroyer to wreak havoc;
17 no weapon forged against you will prevail,
        and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
        This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
        and this is their vindication from me,”
        declares the Lord. Isaiah 54:16-17

The time has come to make our stand for the gospel. Our families, town, region, state and country desperately need for Christians to rise up in God’s power and authority and begin to speak and live in Jesus name.

©2016 The Rev. Mike Moffitt

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