Sermon

Text: gospel reading of the sufferings of Our Lord

The gods have failed! We had hoped for happiness. We had hoped for security, for health, for success. We trusted in our intelligence and education to secure a bright future for ourselves; for our children. We thought that our land of the brave and free would give us the opportunity to be all that we could be; to achieve our dreams. We thought that the stars were the limit. That science and technology would solve all our problems. That education was the key to the future and a secure job. We were healthy and never had any serious illness or health issues because we were from good stock, our parents lived into their nineties, we always ate the right foods and got good nutrition. We always got plenty of exercise to keep our heart healthy. It all looked so good, so promising, a bright future was ours.

But we look at ourselves today and all that has changed. How did old age sneak up on us when we weren't looking? Why has our health suddenly turned to illness and one problem after another? I didn't think it would happen to me! I was always so healthy. I did everything I was supposed to do? How is it that with my education I still can't find a job? Why did the economy collapse and I got laid off? Where did the dream go? How did my bright future turn to darkness? Why am I suddenly old and my body weak and deteriorating?

Where are your gods now? Rise up, oh gods, and help us! Rise up, oh gods, and protect us! Our gods failed! The gods of mammon, human intelligence, science, good health, exercise, good nutrition, education, employment. They have failed us; if not yet, they will. There is no bright future, only fading dreams. Old age, illness and death await each and every one of us. Our gods have failed! They have left us powerless. They have left us weak. They have left us discouraged and disappointed, and perhaps bitter and resentful.

But we missed the point! We thought these things could save us. We thought our intelligence, wisdom, knowledge, education, freedom, liberty, and good health could protect us and make our dreams come true. These were our gods. These were our idols. But we were wrong. It wasn't these idols that helped us. It was not they who lifted us up or gave us hope or happiness or the good ole' days. It was the Lord. It is only the Lord who can help us. It is only the Lord who can protect us. While we put our trust in men, in government, in armies, in learning, it was only the Lord who saves. We thought these other things gave us happiness, but we were wrong. They are powerless and the left us powerless.

But the Lord is the one who has chosen us for his own possession. He who created all the nations and all the peoples, he is the one who chose us from out of all the peoples and nations to be his own special possession. He has chosen us to belong to him, his church, the believers in Christ, we are his portion among the peoples. We are his people, and he will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants. When our idols fail, it will be the Lord who will raise us up on the last day. When our health fails, it will be the Lord who will restore our bodies to complete perfection on the last day. When we breathe out our last breath, it will be the Lord who will raise us to new life, eternal life. For it is the Lord who kills and the Lord who makes alive. It is the Lord who wounds and the Lord who heals.

And he does it by his Son. He does it by wounding his Son for our transgressions and healing him. He does it by killing his Son and making him alive on the third day. God wounded him and killed him. His intelligence didn't save him. The crowds of followers didn't save him. His education didn't save him. The armies of Caesar didn't save him. That is what this Passion Week is all about. It is about how the Son of God was wounded and killed and made alive on the third day. It is about Jesus who faced the opposition of the chief priests and the scribes as they plotted how to put him to death. Jesus was wounded by his friend who betrayed him for 30 pieces of silver. Jesus was betrayed by his disciples and left alone to suffer in agony. They could not even stay awake to pray with him. They ran and left him in the hands of the guards who came to arrest him. He was denied by his friend who was ashamed to call him friend. He was placed on trial on false charges, spat upon, smitten, lied about, ridiculed, jeered, mocked, and blasphemed. He was drug into the courts and beaten, whipped, and lashed. A purple robe and crown of thorns was placed on him to mock him and scorn him. And each lash was one of your sins. Each thorn piercing his scalp was one of your sins. Every drop of blood, every nail through his hands and feet were one of your sins. He bore your sins in his flesh. He was wounded for your transgressions. He was pierced for your iniquity.

And all the time he was silent before his accusers. He did not offer a word in his defense. He did not rely on the Roman judicial system to save him. He did not rely on his swift legs to run from his captors. Rather He healed the sliced ear of the soldier who arrested him. He forgave the sins of those who tortured him. He bore your sins on the cross.

And there he was abandoned by his Father and left to die all alone, until he breathed his last and released his Spirit unto God. This is the Son who was wounded. This is the Son who was killed. This was the Son who carried your sorrows, your sins, your death down into the grave.

And this is the Son who was healed by the Lord. This is the Son who was made alive on the third day. This is the Son who came out of the grave and his wounds were healed. His bruises gone, his lashes healed. All of your sins that he bore in the flesh on Good Friday were gone on Easter morning. They had been left in the tomb. They had disappeared. That is your assurance. That is your comfort. That is your hope. Your sins are forgiven and so, when God wounds you, he will also heal. When he kills you, he will also make you alive. Jesus came out of the tomb because death no longer had any power over him. You too shall come out of the tomb for death no longer has any power over you. Your wounds will be healed. Your agony gone. Your sinful nature cleansed. That is what his Passion and Good Friday are all about—he was wounded for you; he was killed for you, and God healed him and made him alive for you.

There is none that can deliver out of God's hands. There is none who can deliver you from God's wrath and judgment. No man, no idol, not your own intelligence, not your education or your health. Not your job or employment. Not the king or president. Not the army or Marines. Not the legislature or the judge, but Jesus Christ alone. He is the one who was wounded and healed, killed and made alive for you; to deliver you out of the hands of God's wrath and judgment. He is your power. He is your protection. He is your hope. He is your life for all eternity. Amen.