The Shepherd’s Voice
Readings for Sunday, January 23rd
Isaiah 9:1–4
Psalm 27:1, 4–9
1 Corinthians 1:10–18
Matthew 4:12–23
Last week we talked about following Christ, becoming yoked to Christ. We talked about the significance of Jesus calling his disciples and how the phrase ‘Come and See’ plays out in our lives. We also talked about how our story has power and meaning as we share it with others.
Some have asked me how can we say ‘Come and See’ if we don’t feel or think we have a story. We are NOT great story tellers, weavers of elegant fabrics that turn into beautiful quilts or rugs or table cloths that can be sold for a high price. Paul in our second reading today addresses that question when it was asked it by member of the Corinthian faith community.
Look what Paul says in v 17 from 1 Corinthians, 17For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.
Today, we need explore how each of our readings today is connected into God’s epic story of salvation and we need to imagine where and how our story might intersect with God’s story.
Let’s start with the OT text, turn to Isaiah 9. Amy Oden, Dean and Professor of History of Christianity at Wesley Theological Seminary Tells us there was a long-standing domination of the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali by foreign states. Both tribes were especially vulnerable to attack because of their location. As the northern and southern kingdoms played out their power struggles, both Zebulun and Naphtali had been more or less vassal states to a series of Assyrian kings. Eventually they were taken into captivity during the end of the kingdom of Israel in 722 BCE, leaving them “in anguish” and “contempt.” As pawns of powerful states, their histories were ones of vulnerability, subjection, and oppression.
These were dark days, it says the people here walked in darkness. I know that some of you feel you walk in darkness, some because of your job, some because of your family situation, and some because you feel alone, almost lost at sea, being tossed about by waves of calamity and despair. Jesus was a new light for these people, and he is a new light for us today.
This OT story is recited almost verbatim in our gospel reading. Now look at Matt 4:12-16. It says Jesus withdrew to Galilee. 13He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, why?
Isaiah’s words were prophetic and Jesus was moved/relocated about by God’s hand of mercy. This was a fulfillment of prophecy. However, remember it was the omnipotent God being in control and bringing to completion God’s plan for salvation.
Think back in your own life. How has God’s omnipotent hand been at work in your life? What has God been up to that has made you who you are today?
Had not God, through the story of my cousin Karen, convinced me to move to California to attend California Lutheran Bible School I would never have met my wife Sharon. Sharon has had and continues to be tremendous influence in my life. She has taught be a great deal about compassion, about how better to understand other people, and about love.
It’s much easier to look back in our lives and see how God has been at work than it is for us to look forward and see how things are going to turn out. I don’t know much about predicting the future. I’m not very good at it, but I can see how God has been at work in my life in the past. My story, your story may come from your past, but it needs to make sense in light of what God is doing in the present.
Look at the gospel text v16, 16the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,
and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.”
God, starting with Isaiah’s words and Jesus’ peripatetic existence influenced God’s story of salvation that unfolded through Jesus Christ. Jesus moves three times, fleeing from Bethlehem, next moving back to Nazareth in Israel after Herod’s death, and now settling in Capernaum, all to fulfill prophecy and God’s plan. Matthew rightly argues that God has orchestrated these geographical dislocations at the behest of an all powerful and omnipotent God who is ultimately in control.
Again, how is God at work in your life today? What is God doing, what has God done, and how do you see God working now? God wants to shower you with grace and mercy in the future, but you have to be open to it and ready to accept it. All of us are not!
Here is where our story may parallel some of what we read in (1 Corinthians 1:10-18) Paul gets a cell phone call see v11, from Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among (them, there’s fighting in the family) you, my brothers and sisters.
It’s no wonder based on our history we may be confused, Howell Foster was a great organizer, Lenhardt was a great person with pastoral presence, and Santoro was a tremendous traditional worship leader. Perhaps some people are still confused as to what church is all about. Paul gives those ideas short shrift and says, well each of you says, “I belong to John,” or “I belong to David,” or “I belong to Richard.” No!
Paul rebuffs this as well saying; Has Christ been divided? Was David crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Richard? Has John risen from the dead?
No! 17For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.
We all have stories, but we can’t allow the past to get in the way of the future. Jesus didn’t, Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
This is Jesus main theme through all of the New Testament; Jesus was always talking about the ushering in of the kingdom.
Imagine how your story might be different if you focus on how God’s grace has been poured out in your life through Christ’s love, and His death and resurrection. Imagine what your hands can do to make that a reality for a member of your family, a neighbor, a friend at work, or a coworker.
Next week we get to wrestle with the Sermon on the Mount, from Matt 5 where Jesus tells us things like 3Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
If God’s kingdom has come near what is your current image of the kingdom of heaven? How is our story being influenced by our understanding and knowledge of the kingdom of heaven?
Jesus said lots about the kingdom of heaven besides the Sermon on the Mount. In Matt 13:11 Jesus said you have been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven.
In Matt 13:24 Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is compared to someone who sowed good seed.
In Matt 13:31 Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed someone took and sowed.
In Matt 13:33 Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is like yeast a woman took and mixed with flour.
In Matt 13:44 Jesus the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field.
I could go on and on, but you need to imagine how some of these terms or ideas influence your story. If God’s kingdom is like sowing good seed that means a good crop is coming, there will be good food, there will be plenty in God’s kingdom. Live like that today.
If God’s kingdom is like a mustard seed growing, imagine how you can grow, strong in the faith, full of love, filled with God grace and Christ’s love. Live like that today.
If you think God’s kingdom is like yeast being added to flour, how can you imagine yourself influencing your family, talking to your coworkers, modeling behavior for your students, speaking out to your coteachers, in fact all those around you.
If you imagine God’s kingdom is like a treasure in a field, can you imagine going on a treasure hunt, looking for the riches of God grace that comes to us through Christ’s love.
Stories are part of our past, certainly our present, but they also include our future. Paul tells us we don’t have to use eloquent words of wisdom, because if we do, when we do they get in the way to the message of the cross.
In our gospel Jesus didn’t go to the universities he went to fishermen. 19And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” 20Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.
Jesus did not use, nor did Paul use eloquent words of wisdom. Our stories most likely won’t be eloquent words, but they will be words from our hearts. If we speak from our hearts they will match the simplicity, the compassion of the kingdom of God.
Think about your story of faith and begin to share it in a way that lifts up Christ. The people sat in darkness and saw a new light, let that light shine in each of our lives today.
Amen
