Committed To Death

It is the season of voting and you will see the candidates walking through the crowds on TV.  That’s not the only people you see walking along President Biden or former President Trump.  There are other well-dressed men scanning he crowd as they accompany the candidates.  We know them as the Secret Service.  You may not pay much attention to them, but you’re glad they are there.  There are other law enforcement officers you don’t see as well.  Snipers and spotters stand on high buildings to be sure the procession can safely pass.  They are scanning the nearby crowds and buildings looking for anything suspicious.  Peace and security are in their hands and depend on their eyes.  In order to have success they must commit their eyes on the people and places they are in charge of protecting.  They must be focused, dedicated, and committed to death.  If they are distracted, bad things could happen.

In today’s Gospel we hear about a group of Greeks, converts to Judaism, who were dedicated and focused on their goal.  They had been brought to faith in the true God and had come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover.  They understood what the festival was about and recognized the promise of the coming Messiah. So we read, “²¹ They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.” Today we join the crowds and learn about what it means to be committed.  Yes, may the Holy Spirit inspire us to follow Jesus who was

Committed To Death

It Kills Jesus

It may be a little surprising to hear Greeks say they wanted to see Jesus.  They must have learned about Jesus and the rumors about him being the promised Messiah.  That’s who they had traveled to Jerusalem to see after all!  Perhaps what is surprising for us is that there wasn’t a long line of Jewish people wanting to see Jesus.  But, you know the rest of the story.  For while there were times when large crowds gathered around Jesus, it was usually to get food or healing.  Yes, there were times when crowds even gathered to listen to Jesus teach.  But, that’s where the trouble started.  The Jewish leaders saw Jesus as a threat and were committed to devising a plan to kill Jesus!  We might say, they were Committed to Death To Kill Jesus!

Before we go on much further, it would be good to pause and consider the first lesson.  How about you?  Are you in line to see Jesus?  Now, I would agree with you that if Jesus were here today you would have probably shown up a little early to get a good seat.  But, that’s not what I mean.  I mean are you passionate about your time with Jesus to have your faith strengthened for eternal life.  Like the Secret Service, or a police officer, are you Committed To Death to learn as much as you can about Jesus, or is your time with Jesus more like a box that you check off on Sundays?  Are you committed to be sure your children and grandchildren see and know Jesus, or are you hoping they will casually pick up some good stuff about Jesus along the way?  Would you describe your time in worship as Devoted Commitment, or do you come to worship when it’s convenient for you?  Are you in line each day saying, “I want to see Jesus” by reading the pages of reading your Bible?  By praying often, or do you feel pretty content with 3 or 4 visits with Jesus a month?  For our sins against the 3^rd Commandment “Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy.  What does this mean?  That we should fear and love God that we do not despise preaching and his Word, but regard it as holy and gladly hear and learn it,” we come before God and confess it was our sins of being uncommitted that Killed Jesus. 

Pausing to think of our Undevoted Commitment to Jesus and his Word helps us recognize that, just like a sniper on a roof top, we need to stay on high alert and keep our eyes on Jesus at all times.  The enemies of our faith are all around us and can become easily distracted.  The world around us is sparkling with distractions like greed and selfishness.  We love to look at ways that help us overcome our challenges with our power and might.  Our spiritual eyes can be tempted to see so many things that seem important, yet somehow blind us to what is truly important.  There is such a demand for our time, that we manage to come up with the excuse that I just don’t have time for God.  No time to see Jesus.  And that Kills Jesus! Jesus speaks plainly to those who have time for the things of this world and no time for him. ²⁵ Anyone who loves his life destroys it.  You can’t make your life more important than Jesus.  Repent, for every time we have loved our life more than Jesus it Killed Jesus on the Cross.

And for not having enough time for Jesus, Jesus should not have time for us. He should close his eyes to our needs and his ears to our pleas.  He should move on without us and never look back.  But, miracle of miracles, Jesus Was Committed To Death in order

To Save Us

Let me give you the benefit of the doubt.  Let’s say you are deeply committed to Jesus, but no one is perfectly committed to Jesus Christ.  That’s why Jesus said, “The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” And how is Jesus glorified?

“²⁴ Amen, Amen, I tell you: Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it continues to be one kernel. But if it dies, it produces much grain. ²⁵ Anyone who loves his life destroys it. And the one who hates his life in this world will hold on to it for eternal life.”

Jesus showed us that he had Devoted Commitment for us.  He came to live the perfect life could not.  Jesus showed his Devoted Commitment for you as he endured the suffering, pain, abuse and ridicule of his enemies for you.  Jesus knew how horrible his suffering would be when he said, ²⁷ “Now my soul is troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, this is the reason I came to this hour. ²⁸ Father, glorify your name!“ Jesus was Committed To Death in order To Save Us!  In doing so Jesus brought glory to his Father in heaven who sent him to carry out his plan of salvation.  Jesus’ death on the cross was horrible because our sins put him there.  Jesus’ death on the cross was glorious because through his blood God the Father received the payment for all our sins and the sins of the whole world. 

If you think the secret service is doing a great job of protecting a president, consider the Devoted Commitment of Jesus Christ to be your Savior!  He set his eyes on the prize and that prize is you!  Jesus never took his eyes off of you.  He never made excuses that he didn’t have enough time to save you.  He pressed on and endured it all for you!  Hear his battle cry! “³¹ Now is the judgment of this world.“

Jesus was Committed To Death To Save You when he traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover.  Jesus was Committed To Death To Save You when he face incredible temptations and suffering, when he carried his cross and kept his eyes on the finish line.  Jesus was Committed To Death To Save You when he was nailed to the cross and endured the eternal wrath of God.  Jesus never took his eyes off of you, even as he closed his eyes in death for you. And then his words were fulfilled, “²⁴ Amen, Amen, I tell you: Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it continues to be one kernel. But if it dies, it produces much grain.” Jesus was Committed To Death To Save You when he died and was buried.  Then in his glorious resurrection Jesus opened his eyes again in victory and saw you.  Jesus’ words came true, “Now the ruler of this world will be thrown out.”  In the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ God’s first promise was fulfilled as Satan’s head was crushed and thrown into hell. Yes, Jesus Was Committed to Death to Save You, but it didn’t stop there.  He said, “ ³² And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” Christ draws us to himself.  Jesus didn’t wait until we were good enough to earn his favor.  His very act of dying was like a magnet to draws sinners to himself and wash them clean.  He continues to draw us to himself through his life-giving Word, and today, through the gracious assurance of our sins forgiven through the celebration of the Lord’s Supper.  Jesus is still Committed to Death to Save Us as he announces, “Your sins stand forgiven!”

Being Committed To Death could be a scary job if you’re a secret service or police officer.  And any given moment they put their lives on the line in order to save us from dangerous people.  Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could be Committed to Death to follow Jesus? “²⁶ If anyone serves me, let him follow me. And where I am, there my servant will be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.”  We are so thankful that as God’s forgiven children we can and do serve him.  But, we also know that our service will never be perfect due to our battle between our sinful nature and our new nature in Christ.  Sometimes we might win and follow Christ, and other times we might fail.  But, that’s why our joy today is that it is Jesus who was Committed To Death.  Today through faith in Christ Jesus we have the image of God restored to us.  Because Jesus Loved You To Death, respond with joyful, thankful, and faithful service to him.  Like a secret service agent or a police officer you can search for new opportunities to show God’s love to people you know who are hurting.  Search for place to serve God by serving your neighbor with hope, peace and forgiveness in Christ.  Jesus’ Devoted Commitment Killed him.  Jesus’ Commitment To Death Saved You.  May we all now live to follow Christ by Hearing his Word and doing it with Devoted Commitment to Christ.  Amen!