February 17, 2021 – Ash Wednesday Text: John 11:45-57
Dear Friends in Christ,
We live in an era of platitudes. You know many of them – “alone together”, “united as one”, “let’s end so-and so.” Almost every college basketball team has some sort of short saying on their warm-up jerseys or even on their uniforms. We think that a saying is going to change behavior.
The definition of platitude is “a flat or trite remark.” It’s nice but it doesn’t carry much weight. We can use all the words we want but only the Lord can change hearts and minds. It really is that simple.
“The New Normal.” You have heard this one over and over and you will continue to hear it over and over. Ask some to define it and you would get many diverse opinions. Continue to social distance . . . wear a mask in certain situations . . . limit travel . . . be ready for the next virus . . . listen to me or I will destroy you. Nobody knows what they mean but they continue to use the words like they do. It is a flat and trite remark.
During this penitential season of Lent our overall theme is going to be, “The New Normal Or Is It?” We will use the Gospel of John to prayerfully show that nothing has changed in our world since the time of Jesus. What we deal with on a daily basis is exactly what Jesus and his followers dealt with. We know we need Jesus and His teachings – “not more than ever” – but the same way we have always needed them.
It’s Ash Wednesday and Caiaphas has a platitude . . .
“IT IS BETTER FOR YOU THAT ONE MAN DIE FOR THE PEOPLE, NOT THAT THE
WHOLE NATION SHOULD PERISH.”
Try putting that on a t-shirt. In our text we have the plot to kill Jesus, but why? Well, right before this he had raised Lazarus from the dead. Now, shouldn’t this be a good thing? Giving someone their life back? Jesus lived in a sinful, upside down world. Sound familiar? The Jews and Pharisees were threatened. Jesus had greater power than they had. There are also political considerations. Sound familiar? If Jesus led a rebellion the Jews could lose their nation to the Romans.
Caiaphas knew he needed to do something. He is going to utter a phrase which he thinks will satisfy the people and keep them in power. He is basically saying that if one guy dies then the nation can be saved. Great plan. It should work. These must have been the whispers. Let’s get a billboard up.
What they miss is God’s hand in all of this. Sound familiar? God compels Caiaphas to utter this simple sentence and as they say in the country, “it has a whole lot of buckshot in it.” Jesus would die for the nation. He would die for the Jews and the Pharisees and Caiaphas. But it would be more than that. Jesus would die for the world. Jesus would die for you and me. Jesus would die for the platitude speakers and the sloganeers.
The cross He died on would be a simple, wood structure, so easy to design that the cross would adorn His followers until His return. On an altar or above it, hanging on a church sign, worn around the neck, tattooed on an arm, scratched in the dirt of a cell, written in chalk, found on a hymnal, seen in the design of a telephone pole or other structure, standing above an interstate, hanging on a mountain, found on a rearview mirror and adorning a coffee cup. See, the Lord God always knew what He was doing. He always will.
Jesus practiced social distancing, at least from certain people. He couldn’t walk openly because of the public opposition. His life was at stake and they couldn’t take His life, He had to give it.
Jewish leaders had hearts that were hard. They wanted to kill Jesus before the Passover. Their hatred made them callous to God’s grace and mercy and compassion. Sound familiar? We need every day to repent of our sin and be in prayer. May the Holy Spirit confirm this faith daily as we fulfill our calling faithfully. Look around there is no new normal. There is only what has been. Rejoice that nothing stopped Jesus from graciously giving His life for all people at God’s appointed time. He gathered us, His children, to Himself.
Don’t live in platitudes, unless you can define or explain them. Live with God’s Word. It explains itself when it works on the heart of the atheist or agnostic or misguided. It explains itself when it changes the mind of a relative or friend. It has been explaining itself for centuries and it works for the good of those who love Him.
It is not a trite remark because it’s true – “Jesus Died So We Might Live.”
Next week the Gospel of John tackles the cancel culture. See you at the foot of the cross.
Amen.