Third Sunday in Lent ~ March 15, 2009

SERMON: Zealous?

FIRST READING John 2:13-22
13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"

17 His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me."

18 Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?"

19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."

20 The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?" 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

SECOND READING Psalm 19:1-6
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
3 There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,
5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat.

COMMUNION MEDITATION 1Corinthians 1:18, 23-25
18 … the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 23We preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
PLAY: God’s Own Fool by Michael Card

INTRODUCTION
SING: Open Our Eyes Lord…

Did you read and meditate on the four scriptures for this week? Do you realize that we worship a jealous God—one who loves us and desires our undivided devotion—one who wants the best for us, but gives us the freedom to reject him? This jealous God allows the effects of our sins to ripple on from generation to generation—up to the third and fourth generation of those who reject God—and continue to reject God.

But the steadfast love of the Lord also permeates the generations of those who love God …to the 1,000th generation. Exodus 20:6 NRSV When we love God and keep God’s commands God’s love far outweighs the ripple effect of sin. And sin and the effect of sin is broken when someone turns back to the Lord. Then begins the effect of love into the 1,000th generation.

HEART
Let’s look at these scriptures like we would look at a treasured quilt that our grandmother made for us. And this is such a quilt. Many of the squares are from the scraps left over from Mother’s sewing. Mother had a dress made out of this. And I had pajamas made from this material. And these four scriptures are like that. Each scripture comes from a time in Israel’s history and they bring back memories of God’s interaction with the people of God. Today we can still benefit from that collective preserved memory.

Turn to Exodus 20:1 and look at a scrap in the quilt of scripture. Our life choices should be based on our understanding of God—at least that seems to be the way God sees it. Vs 1-6 is a self-introduction of God. God tells us who he is—what he has done—and assumes this reminder is enough to ask God’s people for a singular devotion and reverence—even down to taking a day off! We take a day of rest because God took a day of rest (vs 8-11).

The two sections of the Ten Commandments clearly reflect our entire being —our spiritual need to be in relationship with God and our physical/social need for community, for living with others. Our devotion to God is demonstrated in our relationship to our neighbor. Loyalty to God has an effect on how we respond to our social responsibilities. Every social setting must have defined boundaries to maintain order and civility. God’s love for us is expressed in “do’s” & “don’t’s.”

Turn to Psalm 19. In the first six verses the psalmist calls the people of God to worship. He reminds us that all of creation declares the glory of God, v3-4, and creation does it without making a sound! Without making a sound the message of the existence of a Creator goes out to the ends of the earth. That is what seminary professors call Natural Revelation—the revelation of creation. But next the psalmist focuses in on the people of God—those who received the commandments on the mountain—the people of Israel who are in covenant with God—those who have Special Revelation—God’s law to guide. Look how the psalmist describes this special revelation, beginning in v7. “The law of the Lord is perfect…” The following verses were probably a reading used in the public worship—a reminder that the Lord’s commands were beneficial—not a burden to be obeyed, but a joy to be celebrated. And when God’s rule was received in the proper attitude it was precious, desirable, and sweet. Let’s read these verses together & treasure the truth of the psalmist’s poetry.
PS 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
PS 19:8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
PS 19:9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.
PS 19:10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.
These scraps of scripture call for reverence before the Lord.

Turn to John 2:13. Jesus comes, revealing a reverence for God. He reveres the Father and, at the same time, reveals the Father’s love. In this passage from the gospel of John Jesus zealously demonstrates God’s jealous love as the moneychangers are driven out of the temple in Jerusalem. Those merchants were there for selfish reasons, to make money.They were not there out of reverence for God. And Jesus knew a lack of reverence displeased the Father. Jesus also knew people were being hurt because of greed and usury.

There is, in the heart of God an impassioned eagerness that desires our devotion and our faithfulness, and Jesus indicates by his actions here that all else should be driven out! Sometimes in our enlightened wisdom we fail to show reverence to an invisible, mysterious Creator-Redeemer. We fail to nurture within our hearts the respect and the honor that is due God.

People today, in general, fail to appreciate the complexity of God’s nature—the progressive revelation that comes down to us through the centuries—the unfolding understanding of God that comes as we worship and devote ourselves to the Lord and the study of his word. We fail to appreciate the proclamation of creation that the psalmist celebrates. We fail to learn from the mistakes of God’s people in ages past. And in all probability we can lay this relaxed, half-hearted attitude at the feet of GOD’S GRACE—as crazy as that may sound! God’s grace is so generously poured out upon us in Jesus Christ that we fail to give our Creator -Redeemer proper respect and allegiance!

Responding to this attitude the Apostle Paul asks the question: Shall we go on sinning so that grace may abound? Shall we fail to nurture our relationship with God just because God is gracious to us? Shall we have divided devotion to God with one foot in the world and one foot hopping along with God? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. Romans 6:1-2 KJV.

The Lord wants our undivided devotion. If Jesus came into a place of worship today—here or to any of the congregations in this town, what would he find? What would he overturn and drive out from the hearts of the worshippers? How zealous are we for the things of God?

CONCLUSION
There is a subtle thread in John’s gospel that I don’t want us to miss. In his zeal Jesus removed what did not belong in the temple and, in the process, declared his own body to be the true temple! Destroy this temple and I will raise it up in three days! John 2:19 Of course, we know he didn’t mean the literal temple. He meant the dwelling place of God was being changed—from the building in Jerusalem to his own body, filled with the Holy Spirit.

Later the Apostle Paul took this understanding of God one step further—and this has implications for us—today! Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16

Let the implications of that statement filter into you mind and change your thinking about yourself. Now hear the rest of Paul’s statement in v17: If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple. That is what Jesus demonstrated in his zealous outburst. Keep God’s dwelling clean, dedicated to God’s purposes. That is also what the psalmist is telling us—God’s revelation revives the soul—God’s rule guides us—God’s just demands delight us—God’s clear commands sharpen our vision—God’s faultless decrees stand forever—and God’s righteous judgments are eternally true.[1]

In other words, we must allow God’s revelation to bring light into our life. Jesus summed up the entirety of the law with two simple commands: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength—and love your neighbor as yourself.
It is difficult for us in the 21st century to devote ourselves to an invisible God.

In an age of instant messages, texting, and advanced technology it is difficult for us to wait on the Lord—to devote ourselves to study—to give ourselves to God without reservation.
Our enlightened mind sometimes questions God’s logic God’s wisdom. We look at the brutal crucifixion and say, ‘God, what are you thinking?’ But then we see the empty tomb and the resurrected Christ and know this reveals both the wisdom and the power of God.
We worship a god who is willing to go to any length to demonstrate his love for us—to provide atonement for our sins by shedding his own blood on our behalf.
This foolish message reveals the wisdom of God!
A crucified Messiah reveals the strength God!
The resurrected Lord demonstrates the power of God!
Doesn’t our Creator–Redeemer deserve our complete devotion?

[1] Feasting on the Word. Eds. D. L. Bartlett & B. B. Taylor. Year B, Volume 2, pages 74-97; in particular page 83.