Ash Wednesday
at Epiphany on
Mark
Have you ever dreaded going somewhere? Maybe it was the dentist office for a root canal. Maybe you weren’t very athletic in school and dreaded Phy. Ed. and getting beaned with dodgeballs or you hadn’t studied and dreaded the big test. Maybe you dreaded going to Aunt Ethel’s home because the house smelled kind of funny and she had this little yipping dog that wouldn’t be quiet. When we have to go to such places, we look for every excuse in the book not to go.
While a trip to the dentist, the classroom, or Aunt Ethel’s may all be less than inviting, what if we knew the time and place we were going to die? What if you had 100 percent guaranteed information that after you left church tonight, as soon as you opened your front door, your house would blow up? Would you eagerly go home tonight or would you book a room at the Marriott, then call the bomb squad and then a moving company to start packing your things. If we knew that someone was planning on killing us in our home, we would avoid even getting close to our homes again.
Tonight, as we begin our journey with Jesus on his crossroads, we find ourselves
on the longest geographical route we’ll travel over the next six weeks. We’re on
the road from the northern region of
How would
you define a
leader? Someone once said, “A real leader
faces the music, even when he doesn’t like the tune.” Can’t that be said of Jesus
in this case? Down the road, he could see the Roman hammer driving a nail through
his flesh. In the distance, he could feel the spit of mockers oozing down his cheeks.
He could hear his friends betraying and denying him. This was the music playing
in Jesus’ future—yet he faced it head-on. Our lesson says,
“Jesus [was] leading the
way.” He wasn’t just part of a pilgrim crowd heading to celebrate
the Passover. He wasn’t being dragged along for the ride. He was out in front, urging,
“C’mon, let’s go.” Hear him coaching the disciples along the way: “C’mon Peter,
you can’t be tired. Let’s pick it up, Philip, c’mon. Let’s get to the next town
before dark. Hustle. Mach schnell.”
While
Jesus was determined to push forward to get to
A farmer
was once sitting on his front porch when a friend dropped by to visit. "How's your
wheat going this year?" asked the visitor. "Ain't got any" replied the farmer. "I
didn't plant any. I'm afraid the weevil will get into it and ruin me." "Oh, well
how's your corn?" "Ain't got any" replied the farmer. "I didn't plant any. I'm afraid
the crows will eat it all up and ruin me." "Oh, well how are your potatoes going?"
"Ain't got any" replied the farmer. "I didn't plant any. I'm afraid the tater bugs
will poison them and ruin me." "Well, what did you plant this year?" asked the confused
visitor. "Nuthin'" replied the farmer. "I just played it safe."
The disciples were afraid and wanted to play it safe. Are you afraid of what lies ahead? Maybe your job is falling apart. Maybe your spouse is acting strangely. Maybe a child is worrying you sick? Maybe you are waiting for test results from the doctor. Maybe your years of bad habits are finally reaching critical mass. We doubt God’s presence in a time of turmoil. We doubt his wisdom. But then, out of the blue, we see Jesus leading. Through his Word, we see his love shining through. We see Jesus grabbing us by the hand, picking us up from the dirt of despair. We hear him say, “C’mon, let’s go. I’ll be with you. Follow me. I’ll lead.” We often find ourselves on our own fear-filled crossroads — yet crossroads that are far less dangerous than the one Jesus traveled. While on these crossroads, we need to see Jesus leading.
But there is more to being a good leader than just being out in front, being a cheerleader
and an example. A good leader will
also take the time to explain his actions to his followers, thus equipping them
to face similar adversity in the future. On the crossroad from
Our text
continues,
“Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him.”
The key word here is again. This
is at least the fifth time that Jesus has told his disciples about his upcoming
suffering and death. Perhaps there were even other times that are not recorded for
us in Scripture. This shows the patience of Jesus. As a teacher, Jesus had every
right to bang his head against the wall, frustrated that his pupils just didn’t
seem to get it at times. In one instance he says that the first shall be last, but
soon afterward we see the disciples arguing about who is the greatest among them.
In one scene the disciples witness a miracle, a few hours later they completely
forget about Jesus’ power and are scared for their lives. Jesus so easily could
have thrown his hands up in disgust and given up on this group. But he didn’t. Rather,
time and time again he patiently taught them. And here, on his final trip to
As a teacher,
Jesus didn’t just wow his students with miracles. He didn’t just share the flashy
news about himself. He didn’t gloss over the difficult teachers. In fact, he called
special attention to them. “We are going up to
I imagine
this news was difficult to face for the disciples. They were “astonished.” Jesus
knew that in the long run, this seemingly gloomy prediction would comfort the disciples.
Therefore, he didn’t hide it from them. As a great teacher, Jesus knew that months
later the disciples would recall this conversation and see how he had taught them
that he was in control. They could look back and see that Jesus had taught them
how everything that had happened during Holy Week had been according to God’s plan.
And imagine the comfort that would eventually bring. Comfort from their teacher.
We also
are students of Jesus. So often we fail to “get it.” He invites, “Come to me with
your problems,” and we seek so many other solutions first. He soothingly says, “You’re
forgiven,” and we beat ourselves up over our sins. He instructs, “Let my Word be
your guide,” and we choose alternate paths. Yet he’s patient with us. Again and
again he pulls us aside and speaks to us through his Word. Oh, the message may not
always be what we want to hear. Sometimes he may need to hit us over the head with
the 2x4 of his Law to demonstrate the seriousness of our sin. We may not want to
hear that we should expect difficult times as Christ’s followers. We may want to
hold a grudge, but Jesus tells us to forgive those who have hurt us with their words
and actions. We may receive letters from the pastor or shepherding committee or
school elders about worship attendance or school involvement. We may cringe when
the law pierces us so sharply. But in the end, the masterful teacher knows such
things are what we need to hear. The law ultimately is for our good because it paves
the way for Jesus to teach us the most important truth, the truth he taught his
disciples on this crossroad: Not only is he our leader and teacher, but most importantly,
he’s our Savior.
Jesus
drives home this point with a concise little sentence to end the conversation with
his disciples. It’s almost as if Jesus is describing a boxing match. He piles up
one verb upon another, like a boxer taking one little jab after another. He’s mocked
(jab 1); he’s spit on (jab 2); he’s flogged (3); he’s killed (KO). Jesus falls to
the canvas of the tomb, seemingly knocked out for good. But then, with the referee
about to slam down his hand for the final count and declare Jesus defeated, Jesus
pops up from the canvas and delivers a KO himself as Jesus declares,
“Three days later [I] will
rise.”
Unfortunately,
the disciples at this time didn’t comprehend Jesus’ prediction that he would deliver
the knockout punch. Luke’s gospel reports, “The disciples did not understand any of this”
(
If we look at our own lives and look out into our world, it may seem as though Christ lost his battle with Satan. It seems as though Satan is more powerful than ever. People’s lives – your life – are hurt by cruelty, crime, and cancer. Violent actions and harmful words are everywhere. Marriages are collapsing. Children are abused by people they trusted. People would rather be hurtful than helpful.
And yet that is why we need to again travel these crossroads with Jesus this Lenten
season. We see again how Jesus absorbed all of our jabs of sin, the body blows of
the Pharisees and the uppercuts of Satan’s temptations. He did die. And that looks
like defeat. But he rose again. He fought back and won. He conquered our sins. He
knocked out the devil. He saved us from ourselves. One Sunday afternoon