THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER Luke 13:22-35 Are you on the right side of the door? The Second Sunday in Lent February 24, 2013 During the last three Sundays, Deacon Dan and I have spoken about the meaning and significance of the Gospel, about the transforming power of a relationship with Jesus Christ and about the ways in which we, individually and corporately, are being called into ministry. We ve talked about the three year plan for our parish, A Call to Ministry, outlined during the Annual Meeting. The Plan includes a vision of what we re called to be as a parish: A community transformed by Jesus Christ, living out His mission in ministry. A community transformed by Jesus Christ, living out His mission in ministry. That s our VISION. Today is the Second Sunday in Lent the collect for this morning is based on Good Friday liturgies used during the eighth century. These prayers were a call for people who had fallen away to return to the apostolic faith of the early Church. We prayed this morning: O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son. We heard on Ash Wednesday that Lent is a time to for self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God s holy Word. Think about the words in the collect: bring them [bring us] again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son. John wrote,...the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [John 1:1 ESV]
2 Lent offers an opportunity to examine ourselves and our relationship with Jesus. Do you and do I believe what Paul wrote to the Philippians: our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself? As we focus on the meaning and the significance of the Gospel, on the transforming power of a relationship with Jesus and the ways in which we re being called into ministry, it s critical to understand what it means to have a relationship with Jesus. One way to envision Lent is to see it as a pilgrimage that leads us from Ash Wednesday, to the cross on Good Friday and to the empty tomb on Easter morning. In a way, we re invited to travel with Jesus as He moves toward His suffering and death. In Luke s Gospel there s a turning point when the focus shifts to what awaits Jesus in Jerusalem. It s in Chapter 9, verse 51 [ESV]. When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem... And because of Jesus obedience to His heavenly Father, there was no turning back. In this morning s Gospel, we join Jesus on His way to Jerusalem. As He walks along, He pauses to answer a question raised by a person in the crowd. Someone said to him, Lord, will those who are saved be few? And he said to them, Strive Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. Eugene Peterson paraphrases this verse: A bystander said, Master, will only a few be saved? He said, Whether few or many is none of your business. Put your mind on your life with God. The way to life to God! is vigorous and requires your total attention. Think about that, Put your mind on your life with God. Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. Jesus said, Behold, I stand at the door and
3 knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. [Revelation 3:20 ESV] He also said, Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. [John 10:7, 9 ESV] Simply put, the issue is knowing Jesus and surrendering your life to Him. U.S. astronaut Shannon Lucid desperately wanted to go home. She had spent six months on the Russian Mir space station, from March to September 1996. Her ride home was delayed six weeks by two hurricanes and assorted mechanical problems with the shuttle booster rockets, making her stay in space the longest of any American astronaut at that time. As the days wore on, she knew where she would rather be. Eventually she admitted she wanted to return home to see her family, to feel the sun on her face and to check out the new books published during the last six months. Prior to being picked up for her return to earth by the shuttle Atlantis, she quipped, You can rest assured I am not going to be on the wrong side of the hatch when they close it. There s an important hatch, an important door, in our lives. It s the door Jesus referred to that opens into a right relationship with God and into eternal life. If you want to be right with God, you need to be as sure as Shannon Lucid was that you are on the right side of the door when it closes. Here re a couple of questions for you to think about during Lent questions to reflect on: Are you striving Are you striving to enter through the narrow door? Do you want to strengthen your relationship with Jesus? Or you might reword the question and simply ask: Are you on the right side of the door? We live in the already and the not yet, the kingdom of God has already begun with the coming of Jesus, but it hasn t yet reached its fullness. The kingdom is already here, so how important is it to make your decision now? Jesus parable
4 about the narrow and soon shut door makes it clear that a decision to accept Him as Savior and Lord is crucial and should not be postponed. In our culture (and, sadly, even in some parts of the Church) there are people who believe that there are multiple ways to God and it doesn t make much difference which one you chose. It s as if the way to heaven is like a system of highways and streets alternate routes that are available to travel to the place you want to reach. Jesus said something very different. He compared the spiritual blessing of a right relationship with God to entering a banquet hall where, once the door is closed, entry is no longer permitted. There s only one way in and if it isn t taken there are eternal consequences.... he will say, I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil! In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. Lord, will those who are saved be few? Jesus takes this general question and makes it very personal. He said, Strive [the sense is you strive] to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. We don t need to speculate about the fate of others, we need to make a decision for ourselves. Do you have a personal relationship with the living God? Are you sure that your citizenship is in heaven? The way may look narrow and difficult, yet it s available to everyone. And Jesus is clear: don t postpone your decision; for the time is coming when many people will want to enter and some will find that they ve waited too long. God wants to save everyone that s why we re called to share our faith with others. He provides the way into the kingdom and Jesus is the Way. He said, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. [John 14:6 ESV] He also said: I am the door. If anyone
5 enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. [John 10:9,10b ESV] God offers repeated opportunities for us to respond, but the time will come when there will be a final call and no one is certain when that will happen. William Holman Hunt, who painted Jesus at the Door, omitted the knob on the outside of the door. The door represents the human heart and the knob is on the inside. Jesus stands and knocks, but He won t come in until you open the door. Our relationship with Him is not a casual one and none of us should expect simply to saunter into the kingdom of God whenever it s convenient or fits into our schedule. Jesus said, Seek ye first the kingdom of God. How do we enter the kingdom? God desires confession of sin, repentance and a commitment to a different way of life; accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord; and then sharing in the work of His Gospel in His mission and ministry. It will cost you something, but it also will transform your life and help to transform the world as well. Paul wrote to the Philippians, [Jesus] will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. [3:21 ESV] Second-hand exposure to Jesus is not sufficient. Going through the motions is not enough. The question is simple. Do you know Him as a great historical figure and moral teacher or do you know Him as your personal Savior and Lord? You get acquainted with Him the same way you get to know any other person by spending time together and enjoying His company. Put your mind on your life with God. The way to life to God! is vigorous and requires your total attention. Strive Strive to enter through the narrow door. In the original language of the Bible the word translated as strive suggests great labor and struggle. It s a word that describes how an athlete
6 trains for competition. Although we must to be intentional about our decision, ultimately entry into the kingdom is not based on our good works, our own efforts or our goodness; it s based solely on God s grace and the death and resurrection of His Beloved Son. During the remaining days of Lent, I urge you to discover ways to join Jesus on His journey to Jerusalem. Are you striving to enter through the narrow door? Are you making an effort to strengthen your relationship with the One who is the Door into the kingdom of God? Are you on the right side of the door? Or do the distractions of the world prevent you from times of prayer and study? Do you need to stop and ask for assistance? Do you need someone to hold you accountable? Although we may be confused and mixed up about our faith at times, through Holy Scripture and work of the Holy Spirit we re given the opportunity to know Jesus more fully. We don t inherit our salvation. Someone once said, God has no grandchildren, only adopted sons and daughters. Nor can we go through the narrow door by simply sitting in church on Sunday morning. As we journey through Lent and cry out to God, He will bring us to a steadfast faith so that we may embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of His Son, Jesus Christ the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us. As we embrace our Lord we ll be positioned on the right side of the door and assured of a place with all the saints around His heavenly banquet table. Are you on the right side of the door this morning? Jesus said, Strive to enter through the narrow door and get on the right side so that you will be assured that nothing will ever separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. If anyone here this morning has doubts as to whether he or she is on the right side of the door I d like to share a prayer with you it has three elements: Sorry, Thanks and Please. As I say the prayer, I invite you to make
7 it your own, either to accept Jesus for the first time or to reaffirm your commitment to Him. I invite you to close your eyes and bow your head. Lord Jesus Christ, I am sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. (Take a moment to ask His forgiveness for anything that is on your conscience.) Please forgive me. I now turn from everything that I know is wrong. Thank you that You died on the cross for me so that I can be forgiven and set free. Thank you that You offer me forgiveness and the gift of Your Holy Spirit. I now receive that gift. Please come into my life by Your Holy Spirit, to be with me forever. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Amen. If you prayed this prayer with me, make it a point to tell someone what you have done this day, February 24 th, 2013. Listen to Jesus, Strive to enter through the narrow door, in other words, make certain this Lent that you are on the right side of the door and if you are you will be assured that nothing, not even death, will ever separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. That s what God promises in His Word and God keeps the promises He makes. He did for Abraham and He ll do it for you too! Amen. Father Jack Potter+