Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 17C)

September 1, 2019

Text: Luke 14:1-14

            In the way of the Law, we each jockey for position and insist on our own rights.  We desire to be the most distinguished in the crowd.  We seek the seat of honor.  We surround ourselves with those who make us look good, or feel good about ourselves, those who can help us, do us favors, those who bring something to the table to contribute.  And we’re always watching for someone to stumble, not so that we can help him, but so that we can rejoice that we do not stumble in that way.  In the way of the Law, we’re forever measuring ourselves against others, and we make the Law into a moveable scale.  I would never wear the dress she’s wearing in public.  I only had one piece of pie, he had two.  Can you believe that jerk who just flew past me on the highway?!  And the guy in front of me now is going way too slow.  Can you believe we had to sit there and listen to that woman gossip all night?  She’s such a busybody! 

            The Law of God is good and wise.  It is righteous.  It is holy.  It is God’s will for us.  But there is no mercy in the way of the Law.  And every time you judge your neighbor for failing, in your eyes, to keep the Law as well as you do, there is another neighbor judging you.  And God is the Judge of all.  And no matter how well you think you are doing in comparison with your neighbor, we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23).  Repent.  Be humbled.  Have mercy.  For in the way of the Gospel, God has had mercy on you, sending His own dear Son, not to judge and condemn, but to be your Savior, the sacrifice of atonement for your sin, to stand condemned by the Law for your transgressions, to die your death, to bring you forgiveness and life. 

            The lawyers and Pharisees walked in the way of the Law, and they did it deceiving themselves that they were righteous, because they did it in comparison with others.  And this made the Law manageable for them.  They would never, ever, for any reason break the Sabbath regulations.  Not even to heal a man with dropsy.  Not like this Jesus fellow who always insists on pushing the envelope.  Well, sure, they might, if their son, or even their ox, fell into a well, help him out on a Sabbath Day.  Extreme cases, and all.  But why would we help the sick guy when there are six other perfectly good days to help him?  And anyway, he’s undoubtedly done something to deserve this affliction.  That’s why he has it, and we lawyers and Pharisees don’t.  And here goes Jesus.  The Sabbath breaker!  The sinner!  Healing when He should be resting.  Thank God we’re more righteous than that!  Thank God we’re more righteous than Jesus!

            But in their very “defense” of the Sabbath, they’ve broken the Sabbath in the worst way.  The Sabbath is given for our good, not for our injury.  The Sabbath is about rest.  It is a bout resting in the mercy and healing and wholeness of God.  Here is this poor man, suffering and laboring under the disease of dropsy, the painful swelling of bodily tissues and water around the organs.  It is not a pleasant existence.  The lawyers and Pharisees couldn’t help the man if they tried, not that they’d want to.  But Jesus… Jesus can give the man Sabbath!  Rest!  By healing him.  Now, is that lawful? 

            The Law has nothing to say about it.  The Law can prescribe perfection according to the will of God, but it can do nothing about brokenness.  It has nothing to say about healing.  It cannot show mercy.  And of course, it cannot forgive sin.  So, is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?  Is it lawful to do good, or must we force our neighbor to remain in evil?  The lawyers and Pharisees cannot answer.  They remain silent.  What is there to say?  They’re caught!  The Law would not allow leaving a man in misery if something can be done.  But the Sabbath would not allow you to do it.  There is no mercy in the Law.  There is no way for even the holiest of sinners to escape its judgment, because, in the end, a sinner is still a sinner.  And that includes lawyers and Pharisees and lifelong LCMS Lutherans.

            There they are around the table.  Only the best have been invited, and while they all compete for the best seats around the table, comparing their relative holiness to one another, the man in the lowest position, not even allowed at the table, is exalted by Jesus.  Jesus calls him.  Jesus heals him.  And Jesus sends him.  Now you tell me: Who had the best seat in the place? 

            There is the way of the Law, and there is the way of mercy, which is to say, the way of Jesus.  And the only place in the history of the universe where the two ways meet is in the cross of Jesus, where the Law puts the Righteous Man to death, to pour out mercy on sinners in the forgiveness of sins. 

            It is Jesus who fulfills the Sabbath, and He is our Sabbath rest.  He gives us rest from the just accusations and condemnation of the Law.  He gives us rest from the sins that beset us by paying for our transgressions and forgiving our iniquities.  He gives us rest from our weakness and disease and death, by breaking into this fallen creation and bringing healing and wholeness and life by His death and resurrection.  He is Almighty God, the eternal Son of the Father, but He does not insist on the highest place.  He humbles Himself.  He takes the lowest place.  One of us.  Flesh of our flesh.  Born of the Virgin.  Condemned for sins He did not commit, for our sin, for our guilt, for our shame.  He takes the lowest place.  He takes the shameful death of a criminal.  He takes God’s righteous wrath.  He takes damnation, hell.  That He may say to us whose place He has taken, “Friend, move up higher” (Luke 14:10; ESV).  Move up to the place of honor, to the place of righteousness and holiness, to the place of resurrection and eternal life, to the place of Child and Heir of the heavenly Father.  Take my place, for I have taken yours.  And all that is yours has been put to death in my flesh, and I give you all that is mine as a free gift, by grace.  My Kingdom is yours, my life, my joy before the Father.  You are forgiven.  You are healed.  You are whole.  And you are mine. 

            Now God the Father has said to His crucified Son, “Friend, move up higher.”  Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.  And we are the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind, the sinners He invites to His Feast.  The way of Jesus is the way of mercy.  He has mercy on us.  And He sets a table before us, His true body and blood for our forgiveness, life, and salvation, and He says, “Friend, move up higher.”  Come on up here, to the Altar, for all is now ready and there is a place here, at my Table, a place of honor, for you.

            Do you see how this is so different from walking in the way of the Law?  Do you see how Jesus’ mercy for you changes how you live toward your neighbor?  No more competition.  No more jockeying for position.  No more insisting upon your rights.  Your position is secure in Jesus.  Your righteousness is perfect in Jesus.  You have everything Jesus has coming to you.  By grace.  Apart from the Law.  This means that you no longer judge your neighbor by the Law.  Yes, you still believe in right and wrong, of course, and that is determined by God’s Law.  But you do not condemn your neighbor.  Because you recognize in your neighbor, a fellow sinner for whom Jesus shed His precious blood.  You recognize in your neighbor, a fellow sinner for whom Christ died.  And if Christ forgives him, who are you to damn?  And if Christ has mercy on you, how can you not have mercy on your neighbor? 

            Stop comparing yourself to others.  Stop trying to get ahead.  That’s the way of the Law, and it ends in death and condemnation.  Yours!  Put your neighbor first, in mercy.  Take the lowest place, in humility.  You’re in good company.  That’s the place Jesus took, for you.  The way of mercy is the way of Jesus.  In Him, you’re now in the highest place.  The right hand of God.  Forgive your neighbor.  Do good to your neighbor.  Serve him.  Love him.  Because Christ does all these things for you.  There is nothing you can give of yourself that will not be repaid, and more, at the Resurrection of the Justified.  Give your neighbor a break.  Give him rest.  Your rest is coming on that Day when you see Jesus and He makes you whole.  In the Name of the Father, and of the Son (+), and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.