The Barrel
by
John H. Pavelko
.Never too FamiliarJohn 3:14-21 |
| NEGLECTING FAMILIAR
This morning's passage has become one of the most familiar Scripture references in America. Sports enthusiast sit in the grandstands at football games with mulit-dyed hair holding up signs with the verse painted on them. Former President Jimmy Carter wrote in his book, Sources of Strength, that John 3:16 and Ephesians 4:32 define the basic message of the Christian faith.1 But familiarity can lead to neglect. It may cause us to assume mastery. Familiarity may prompt us to direct our attention onto other matters that are less familiar. The famous British preacher Charles Spurgeon discovered during a review of his sermons that although he made frequent reverence to John 3:16 he had never preached on the text alone. He was startled because he believed that "this sole verse contained the sole topic of [his] life's ministry."2 The text does contain the essence of the gospel and its message should never be too familiar. We should not be insulted by another review of the familiar. Spurgeon exhorts his congregation with these words, Come, ye aged saints, be children again; and you that have long known your Lord, take up your first spelling-book, and go over your A B C again, by learning that God so loved the world, that he gave his Son to die, that man might live through him. I do not call you to an elementary lesson because you have forgotten your letters, but because it is a good thing to refresh the memory, and a blessed thing to feel young again THE FAMILIAR LOVE OF GOD
Consider for a moment the feelings of guilt and shame you still experience when certain memories are recalled. Consider your hesitation to take on responsibilities at work or for the church because of a sense of inadequacy. Consider the personal embarrassment you feel when you remember all those really dumb things you did in a past life. Consider how those memories still plague your thoughts, influence your decisions, and affect your behavior long after the experience. We are plagued with these negative thoughts and feelings because we do not accept who we are. That lack of self-acceptance stems from an inability to believe that God really loves us and accepts us exactly as we are. We are not born with the capacity to accept ourselves. I believe this is one of the consequences of the Fall. Separated from God, we must rediscover his unqualified love and acceptance. Until that occurs we struggle with feelings of self-loathing or develop the unhealthy narcissistic self-love peddled by the media of our culture. The American culture has become engrossed with itself. Everything must be about me. People who truly accept themselves through an encounter with God's love direct their thoughts, deeds, and lives away from themselves toward others; just as God does. The Scriptures tell us that God is love. This love does not come from another source outside of God but defines the very essence of God Himself. Spurgeon writes, "This stream of love flows from its own secret source in the eternal Deity..." But love is not something that can be contained, hidden, or imprisoned. Love must be expressed and God chose to express that love toward humanity by giving his Son. Once again, that British preacher offers some profound wisdom by admonishing us to consider how God gave his son. He gave his son by sending him down to yonder manager in human form. He gave his son in infant form to sleep where oxen fed. He gave his son to toil in a carpenter's shop; to drive the nail and push the plane, and use the saw. He gave his son to the scribes and Pharisees whose cunning eyes watched him and cruel tongues scourged him with slander. He gave his son to hunger, thirst, and poverty. He gave his son to feel the sting of the wipe, the piercing of the thorns and the penetrating puncture of driven nails. He gave his son to hang on tree and to be cursed by those who stood and watched him die. In theological circles, we call this penal substitution; penal means penalty, or punishment. The Son of God stood in our place; he substituted himself, and accepted the punishment that should have been ours. For some this familiar scene is too gruesome and brutal to accept. They cannot reconcile their understanding of a loving God resorting to such a barbaric act of cruelty. They are repulsed by the notion that God would require that his one and only Son should have to suffer such a horrible and grizzly death. Such cruel intentions do seem to be the antithesis of love. The concept of Jesus' substitutionary death does appear inhuman and excessively brutal. However, I would like to suggest that Jesus not only understood the purpose of his life but also accepted the nature and destiny of his death. Jesus draws on an illustration from the wilderness wanderings of ancient Israel to explain the purpose of his coming. After gaining their freedom from the Egyptians, the nation traveled in the desert on their journey to the Promised Land. God provided for them by sending first manna than quail for food and water. But the people grumbled and complained. They become bored with God's basic provisions. God became bored with their grumbling and complaining and sent snakes to afflict them. The people understood that they were being punished and so pleaded with Moses for relief. Moses took one of the snakes, nailed it to a pole, and lifted high overheard. Whenever, a person would be bitten by a snake, if they would look up at the snake they would be saved, otherwise they would die from the poisonous venom. Jesus compares himself to the snake that is lifted up. The children of God cannot be saved unless he is willing to allow himself to be nailed to the pole. Its cruel. Its painful but it is the method by which God ordained the salvation of the world. In his book, The Magician's Nephew, C.S. Lewis captures the drama, foresight, and love in God's ordained plan of salvation. Two children, Digory and Polly happen to stumble into the enchanted world of Narnia on the day of its creation. They hear the glorious song that brings life into the world. They enjoy the miracle of life being born out of nothing. They witness the beauty of creation taking shape. But they also have the tragic responsibility of introducing evil into the land of Narnia. After he is finished with his created works, Aslan takes all the animals aside to explain what has happened. He confronts Digory and makes him confess that his curiosity prompted him to commit the act that would eventually allow an evil Queen to come into Narnia on the day of its creation. Then Aslan explained to the animals of Narnia You see friends, that before the new, clean world I gave you is seven hours old, a force of evil has already entered it; waked and brought hither by this son on Adam....But do, Evil will come of that evil, but it is still a long way off, and I will see to it that the worst falls upon myself. Aslan's love for his creation is so great that he is unwilling to make them suffer for the introduction of evil. It was Digory's crime that introduced evil. Many years later, a descendant of Digory's, Edmund, would commit another act of treachery that would offer the Queen another opportunity to yield her power. But Aslan loved Digory and later Edmund too much to require them to pay the penalty for the misdeeds themselves. Aslan would not ask anyone else to suffer the punishment of evil. He only would suffer the sting of death. We could spend endless hours debating the wisdom of his methods. We may question the civility of the plan. We may ask why God would choose such a barbaric act to produce salvation. But to do so would divert our attention away from the supreme splendor of the sacrifice. God loves us so much that from the moment after the Fall, he could look into the future to the day when he himself would give his own son for our salvation. We lift high the cross not to display his cruelty but to celebrate his love. DISCOVERING THE FAMILIAR
For God so love the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him, should not perish but have eternal life. Salvation is not enjoyed until we are willing to place our faith in the one who came to die for us. Speaking at the funeral of the golfing legend, Payne Stewart, who died in a tragic airplane crash, the minister told a story to describe the faith of his friend and speak to those who gathered. ...After the accident, Payne was standing at the door of heaven and God asked him, "What did you do Payne, that I should allow you entrance into heave." Payne held up his stainless steel US Open trophy but God told him that trophies do not amount to much in heaven. Then Payne showed God his gold PGA card but once again God told him that it did not have any eternal value. Payne's anxiety began to rise and he nervously said, "Well, I was a terrific husband to my wife Tracy." But God said, "you were suppose to be that." Now Payne started to sweet as he quickly said, "I was a loving father to my children." But God said, "You were suppose to be that." Finally, in desperation, Payne said, "You know God, two years ago, I turned my life over to Jesus." God said, "You can come in now."4 For the apostle John, the gift of God's love is neither automatic nor earned. Personal awards for community involvement, athletic trophies, and honorary titles are impressive. Acts of charity, being a loving, kind, and gracious person is important but salvation comes through faith, not works. Nor is familiarity with the words enough to guarantee the eternal reward. Not until the familiar becomes a living life changing faith will be entitled to hear the words "Enter into the joy of you salvation. FAMILIARITY THAT BRINGS JOY
1. Online: http://www.sermonillustrations.com quoting Jimmy Carter, Sources of Strength, (Random House, 1997), 83. 2. Charles H. Spurgeon, Online: http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/1850.htm. 3. William Barclay, The Gospel of John : Volume 1. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 2000, 1975), electronic ed. Logos Library System;The Daily study Bible series, Rev. ed., Jn 3:17. 4. Unknown source. |
