Matthew 27:55-28:20: Mary and Mary From Galilee.

Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army Resurrection Easter Sunday, 20 April 2014 and 614 Warehouse, 16 April 2017

 Mary and Mary from Galilee: Matthew 27:55-28:20 that we just read: this is Matthew’s account of the resurrection.[1] This is really quite something. First, we know who Matthew is, right? Matthew is Levi – a former customs officer / tollbooth operator / tax collector. Matthew is one of the disciples. He is one of the Eleven who are gathered at the end of this story. This is quite interesting.

What we have just read then would be Matthew’s answer to people who meet him as he heads out from receiving the Great Commission of our Lord. We read how Jesus has just told him and the other disciples to, “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

You can then picture people asking Matthew, ‘Why are you baptizing people in Jesus’ Name; isn’t he dead?’ ‘How do you know this is all true?’ ‘What exactly happened?’ And then Matthew tells them the whole story that we have here in the Gospel of Matthew, of which the last chapters of his story are the most important to us on Easter, Resurrection Sunday. He tells the whole story of how Matthew learned of the resurrection first and then how he first came to believe and how he had this whole experience verified by an encounter with the Christ himself – after Jesus was raised from the dead.

First, before we go into the conclusion of Matthew’s story that we read today and entitled the our illustrations, Mary and Mary from Galilee; before we look at Mary and Mary and their encounter with the resurrected Christ, do we know who this Mary and Mary from Galilee are?

We know who is Mary Magdalene? Luke tells us that she was a financial supporter of Jesus’ – and probably one of means - as well as one of his key followers right from the earliest days of His formal ministry. Luke also tells that at some point prior seven demons were actually cast out of her (Luke 8:2).[2] And some people even think that she is the same Mary who is the sister of Martha and Lazarus and who anointed Christ’s feat with perfume and cleansed them with her tears.[3] Whether she is the sister of Martha or not, Mary Magdalene was certainly an early disciple of Jesus who supported him with both her purse and her deeds. She was a lady who –like the contemporary proverb says – ‘put her money where her mouth was’ as she shared the gospel unashamedly.

We know who is this other Mary? The mother of James and Joseph; we know who are James and Joseph, right? We - Protestants and Evangelicals anyway - acknowledge that James and Joseph are the names of two of the biological half-brothers of Jesus; therefore Mary in our text today might even be the one whom the Roman Catholics refer to as the ‘Mother of God’.[4] This might be the same Mary who was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit; this might be the same Mary whose son remained at the Temple as a 12 year-old; and this might be the same Mary whose child is between the cross and the empty tomb in our text today.

We notice that these women are everywhere in our story: they are at the cross. They see Jesus die with their own eyes and they feel it in their own heart. Mothers, if this Mary is Mary the mother of Jesus, then Mary witnessed the very public death of her own son and she could do nothing about it.

Mary and Mary are then the first ones to whom God chooses to reveal that He has raised Jesus from the dead.  After they watch Jesus die, Mary and Mary from Galilee go out to the tomb together to perform the requisite funeral preparation practices of their day when an Angel tells them, ‘Jesus is raised from the dead; go to Galilee and you will see Jesus.’ And then as they are leaving to do just that, Jesus himself appears to Mary and Mary Magdalene. And this is neat…

Here we have the first two ministers of the Gospel of the Resurrected Christ; here we have the first two Christian preachers in all of history; the first two people that God ordains and commissions to go and share the Gospel are Mary and Mary Magdalene – the latter, who, though not one of the Twelve, was one of his earliest disciples. These first preachers of the Gospel of the Resurrected Christ are these two women, preaching to Matthew, John, and the others all about the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour.

The whole Good News of Easter and the Resurrection and the Salvation of the whole world that comes to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is brought to us all through history and even to us here today, first through the testimony and proclamation, the preaching of these two women from Galilee.

So today I do have this encouragement for us. This account that Matthew shares with us about Mary and Mary preaching the Gospel is attested to by many throughout history and – of course – even in the account we read today Jesus later appears to the surviving 11 disciples; and he then appears to more than 500 other disciples many of whom were still alive at the time these things were recorded for history (1 Corinthians 15:1-11). Jesus appears to all these people. This is historically verified and we have many eyewitness accounts but the first two to whom the resurrected Christ chose to present himself are very simply May and Mary from Galilee and then Jesus ordains and commissions them to go and tell others and they do and others even move beyond their initial doubt and believe. 

Today is Easter. Today is Resurrection Sunday. Today we all – no matter who we are - have the opportunity to be like Mary and Mary from Galilee. We too have the opportunity to tell all those we meet about the Glory of the Resurrected Christ. We too have the opportunity to point others to the Salvation that Jesus provided for the whole world; for God so love the world that He sent His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

Let us pray.

www.sheepspeak.com 

---

---

[1] Mary and Mary from Galilee: Matthew 27:55-28:20. Illustrated by Captain Michael Ramsay (Sheepspeak.com, Swift Current, SK: 2014). Available on-line: http://www.sheepspeak.com/Mary%20and%20Mary%20from%20Galilee1.pdf

[2] Cf. William Hendriksen, Matthew, (NTC: Baker Academic: Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2007), 977-978.

[3] Cf. Ángel Manuel Rodríguez, Is Mary, the sister of Martha, the same as Mary Magdalene?, (Biblical Research Institute: Silver Spring, MD), available on-line: https://adventistbiblicalresearch.org/materials/bible-interpretation-hermeneutics/mary-magdalene-sister-martha

[4] Cf. DA Caron, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Pradis CD-ROM:Matthew/Exposition of Matthew/VII. The Passion and Resurrection of Jesus (26:6-28:20)/A. The Passion (26:6-27:66)/15. Immediate impact of the death (27:51-56), Book Version: 4.0.2 for a good discussion of this.

My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me: Psalm 22 and the Blessing of Easter

Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army, 20 April 2014 by Rebecca and Sarah-Grace Ramsay; compiled by Captain Michael Ramsay

Psalm 22:1: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?  Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?

Matthew 27:45-46: From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli lema sabachthani?” (Which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

Psalm 22:2-3 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest.

Mark 16:19: After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.

Psalm 22:3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises.

Matthew 21:4-9: This took place to fulfil what was spoken through the prophet:

 “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”

The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“[Save us!] Hosanna to the Son of David!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“[Save us!] Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

Psalm 22:4-5: In you our ancestors put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them.

To you they cried out and were saved; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.

Romans 9:33 and Isaiah 8:14: As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”

Psalm 22:6-7: But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads.

Matthew 27:38-44: Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

Psalm 22:8-10: “He trusts in the LORD,” they say, “let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.” Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast. From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God.

Matthew 1:20-21:  ...an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Psalm 22:11:14a: Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. Roaring lions that tear their prey open their mouths wide against me. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint.

John 19:32-37: The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken” and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”

Psalm 22:14b-15a: My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me. My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;

John 19:28: Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”

Psalm 22:15b: you lay me in the dust of death.

John 19:41-42: At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

Psalm 22:16: Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet.

John 20:26-28: A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

Psalm 22:17: All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me.

John 19:18-24: There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”

Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

 “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”

This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said,

Psalm 22:18-21: They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment. But you, LORD, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me. Deliver me from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs. Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen.

Hebrews 2:12: He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.”

Psalm 22:22-24: I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you. You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honour him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel! For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help

[God did not forsake Jesus!] Hebrews 5:7-9: During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

Psalm 22:25-26: From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you I will fulfil my vows. The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the LORD will praise him - may your hearts live forever!

Luke 4:18-19, Isaiah 58:6 and 61:1-2: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.

Psalm 22:27-28: All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations.

Matthew 28:18-20: Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Psalm 22:29: All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him - those who cannot keep themselves alive.

Romans 14:11: It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’”

Psalm 22:30: Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord.

John 19:30: When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Psalm 22:31: They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!

Jesus has done it. 

He has provided the Salvation for the whole world so that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. Today is the day that we commemorate the most exciting day in the Christian calendar. Today is the day that we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Today is the day that we recall the women coming to the empty tomb and experiencing the reality of the Resurrected Christ. Today is the day that we celebrate Jesus, as the first fruits of all who will be raised incorruptible. Today is the day we celebrate and today is the day that we proclaim, Psalm 22:31, His righteousness to a people who - like us - on that first Easter Sunday so many years ago were yet unborn. Today is the day that we proclaim how Jesus has provided for the Salvation of the world. He has done it! He has risen! He has risen indeed.

Matthew 27:11-54: April Fools

Presented to the Swift Current Community at the Ecumenical Lenten Lunch, 10 April 2014, at Christ the Redeemer Roman Catholic Parish by Captain Michael Ramsay.

The other week, on April Fools Day, we found out Judy, our receptionist, won $5000 from Tim Horton’s Roll up the Rim contest. On the morning of April Fools Day, Judy told us that she had won $5000 from Tim Horton’s Roll up the Rim contest. At our staff meeting on April’s Fools Day when we just had a very somber discussion about prostituted peoples in our country…on April Fool’s Day when we were each telling what we are working towards this week in our various ministries… on April Fools Day in front of almost all of our department heads and in front of many of our support staff, Judy told us that she had won $5000 on Roll up the Rim. She told us she may need time off work to go to Tim Horton’s to get her picture taken by the newspaper and she answered every question we had about her winnings on this April Fools Day. We were so happy for Judy, who is so honest and who is so trustworthy, that she had won $5000 on April Fools Day, that we were all simply stunned when an hour later when she concluded our staff meeting with the words, ‘April Fools!’

Even though we were all aware that the day was April Fools Day, even though we all had joked about it being April Fools Day, even though we all had openly spoke about April Fool’s Day, we were all completely shocked when our dear honest trustworthy Judy ended our staff meeting with the words ‘Happy April Fools Day.’

Of course now that trust was broken in our little sacred circle of department heads and support staff, someone needed to respond to this perfectly executed April Fools Day joke. So after an hour or so and phone call or two, we invited Judy to the coffee room where as well as our staff and volunteers, was waiting the newspaper reporter to take her picture and interview her about her winnings. We had tried to reach both the Booster and the Prairie Post and Matthew from the Prairie Post was nice enough to come down to the office and ask Judy about her winnings as well as to take her picture on this April Fools Day. When we called, he asked us when we would like him to come by, and we replied as long as it was before noon because that is when April Fools day ends. He was a wonderful assistant in this matter.

Now, of course, our office, as you can understand – even as we are all having a lot of fun – our office now becomes a little bit tense as we are all awaiting a further reply to the April Fools Day jokes. Once these things start you never know how they will end. And at this point in the day there is still at least another hour before April Fools Day is over. And I, for one, am watching the clock very closely as the minutes tick by very, very slowly.

Now, thanks to dear, sweet, honest, trustworthy Judy; every time someone tells me something on the morning of April Fools Day, I subtlety acknowledge their comments and I try to do it in such a way as to avoid falling prey to any further April Fools Day jokes but at the same time I have to respond in such a way as to not offend them should they be actually telling me the truth. Now, it is becoming quite difficult to know who and what to believe.

It is then that I decide upon the best course of action to take, the best way to deal with this. As a Christian leader whose job is to set an example of integrity, bravery, and leadership I decided that now is the time to end this matter in the simplest way I know. Now is the time to… lock myself in my office and hide until April fools Day is over at noon.

Now, of course, as soon as I do this, Judy -honest, trustworthy Judy- calls me: ‘Michael phone call line 1’.

‘Really?’ I said.

‘Yes. It is a lady and she’s crying.’

‘Really?’ I said. ‘What time is it? Its not noon yet.’

‘Really’, she assures me, ‘there is a lady crying on the phone’. So – I do – I pick up the phone. And as the lady on the phone is speaking I find myself straining to figure out is she crying or is she laughing? And again it is quite tense as I am trying to figure out what to believe. It turns out that this lady is a person in very real need and I am able to listen to her, to help, to provide assistance and to pray with her and this takes me quite happily until almost noon.

But the point of these stories today is that once the fun had began on this morning of April Fools Day, we didn’t know who to believe. No matter who told us something that morning, we didn’t know what to believe. No matter what happened that morning, we didn’t know what to believe. No matter how serious the need someone appeared have that morning, we didn’t know what to believe. No matter how sincere and honest a person ordinarily is, on this morning we didn’t know who to believe and we didn’t know what to believe?

It is the same thing in our text today but a little more serious. The scene in 1^st Century Jerusalem is probably potentially a lot like the recent scenes we may have seen on the news of Kiev, Cairo, Tripoli, and various Syrian cities where a foreign power has been fomenting revolt: there are people yelling in the streets and in some cases this leads to riots and in some cases this leads to full out revolutions as outsiders pour discord, money and weapons into these various communities.[1]

And just like in our world today where some diplomats have been caught on tape inciting these recent revolts so too the chief priests and elders in our text today are caught threatening the very same thing. They are whipping the people up and this is Passover; so the area is full. There are people everywhere.[2] Locals and foreigners alike are filling the area and the chief priests and elders are riling them up and Pilate knows that he doesn’t have the military might to quell this immediately if it gets out of hand.[3] Pilate knows that his very life might hang in the balance here - as much as Jesus’ – if it gets out of hand; Pilate knows he has to decide very quickly what to do?[4] Who is this man, Jesus? Who should he believe? What should he believe?

The people in the area – whether they are Diaspora, foreigners brought in for Passover who may never have even heard of Jesus before or whether they are locals who have heard all the stories and possibly even seen the Lord perform some of his miracles – the people in the square they need to quickly decide what to believe. Who to believe? Who is this person? Is he a revolutionary like the chief priests are shouting? If he is, is that bad? Maybe he will deliver us from Rome? Is so, is that good? Who is he? They need to decide quickly if they are going to do anything other than be swept up with the crowd. Imagine you are in this crowd.

Imagine that you are a visitor here for the Passover and you are celebrating with the crowds in the streets and you get drawn into this square where something important is going on. Imagine you hear your religious leaders shouting out to the crowds in this way, calling this man a rebel in need of death. What do you do? Do you join in the chants of ‘Give us Barabbas’? What do you do? Who do you believe? What do you believe?

Imagine that you are from Galilee and you have seen more than one miracle that Jesus has performed. Imagine that you - or someone you know - has been healed by this person or his disciples. Imagine that you have heard his teaching or heard of his teaching and now your religious leaders are calling for his execution. Imagine you believed him until now but now your religious leader is calling for his head. Who do you believe? Do you believe your initial thoughts or do you believe your leaders? Do you believe what people told you previously or do you believe with the mob that is quickly gaining shape before your eyes? Something is going to happen tonight and you are a part of it; what role are you going to play? Are you going to call for Jesus’ head? What do you do? Who do you believe? What do you believe? What do you believe?

The soldiers in our text today have to decide if he really is a threat or not. How to respond? Is he a revolutionary that they can make an example out of? Or is he someone they need to respect for their own life and limb and salvation in this occupied territory?

The people even later in our text, as they are walking by Jesus, while he hangs dying upon the cross, they think that the decision has been made. They see him being executed alongside two other convicted people. Someone has decided who Jesus is.

And then something happens. And then something happens. Jesus is on the cross and he calls out in a loud voice at least and with maybe even more meaning than the title and first line of the Psalm number 22 in our psalm books, ‘My God, My God Why Have You Forsaken Me.’[5] This psalm is a wonderful Messianic prophecy that tells all about the Christ and how the events that are unfolding before their eyes fulfill those prophecies. And as he calls out, people pay attention to him but they don’t necessarily know what he is calling about; he calls it out again, he breathes his last, the curtain in the temple is torn from top to bottom, the earth shakes, the rocks split, the tombs are opened and then some of the dead come to life and –after the resurrection- actually walk into the city. Can you imagine if the guest of honour at the last funeral you went to showed up here today? This is what is going on and even before all of this is known but in the midst of the earthquake, the Centurion in charge of soldiers like the ones that mocked Jesus and struck him, the Roman Centurion declares in terror, “Truly, this man was God’s Son!”

We now. here today, two millennia later, we have that very same decision to make and it is just important now as it ever was. Our very life depends upon it. Who is Jesus? What do we believe? It is my hope and prayer that today you and I will answer with the Centurion, declaring now and forever more that truly, this man Jesus is God’s own Son!

Let us pray.

---

---

[1] Cf. Kruse, Colin G.: John: An Introduction and Commentary. Downers Grove, IL : InterVarsity Press, 2003 (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries 4), S. 351

[2] Cf. France, R. T.: Matthew: An Introduction and Commentary. Downers Grove, IL : InterVarsity Press, 1985 (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries 1), S. 393

[3] Cf. Captain Michael Ramsay, John 18:28-19:16: Pilates at 6am. Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army (03 Feb 2013). Available on-line: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2013/02/john-1828-1916-pilates-at-6am.html

[4] Cf. D.A. Carson, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Pradis CD-ROM:Matthew/Exposition of Matthew/VII. The Passion and Resurrection of Jesus (26:6-28:20)/A. The Passion (26:6-27:66)/11. Jesus before Pilate (27:11-26), Book Version: 4.0.2

[5] Cf. William Hendriksen, Matthew, (NTC: Baker Academic: Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2007), p. 971-972

1 Corinthians 7:17 -24: Don’t Worry About Adiaphoron

Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army, 06 April 2014 by Captain Michael Ramsay

*Based on the sermon, '1 Corinthians 7 21-24:Don’t Worry, Be Happy; It’s Just Adiaphoron' which was presented to Nipawin and Tisdale Corps on August 31, 2008. By Captain Michael Ramsay. Available on-line: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2008/08/1-corinthians-7-21-24dont-worry-be.html 

Today’s passage speaks about slavery. This is actually a big social justice issue in the Salvation Army not only historically but right now as well. The Salvation Army has just sent a letter to the Prime Minister of Canada advising him about sex slavery and prostituted peoples in our day and age. There is a copy of the letter, for anyone who is interested in reading it, just outside the sanctuary doors. I invite you to take a copy and peruse it at your leisure. Trailview church in town here is also hosting an event related to prostituted peoples on April 14 that we may be interested in attending.

Social justice issues like this are important. It is too bad that sometimes social justice becomes more about justice for ourselves than for the victimized, the marginalized, or anyone else. I can remember when I was a child whenever I felt hard done by; whenever I felt that the world was ganging up on me; whenever I would get a detention for something that I didn’t do at school or whenever I got in trouble for something that my little sister did at home – all of a sudden justice becomes important. It is funny how important justice is when we feel wronged. Now, when I got upset about this unjust world that was ganging up on me, I would do something. I would do something: I would complain. I complain to my mom. I would rant on and on about how life is treating me so poorly and about how my rights are being trampled and about how I deserve so much more and when I inevitably finish my whining and complaining and making much of an ado about whatever, my mother would answer my complaints with these important words of comfort: “Michael, suck it up – stop your whining – deal with it.”

In the 80’s there was a song that would sum it up in a more positive phraseology – it was Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry. Be Happy.”[1] This is actually part of what our text today, 1 Corinthians 7:17-24, is talking about– and I’ll come back to that in a minute. First we should address a real social justice issue here because if we don’t it may not sit quite right with some of us. Verses 21-24 are speaking about slavery; so how can we sing “Don’t Worry. Be Happy” about something as serious as slavery.[2]

One thing that we should make clear in this passage is that Paul is not saying that slavery is good (cf. re slavery.1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:28, 4; Ephesians 6; Colossians 3-4; 1 Timothy 1:10, 6:1; Titus 2:9; Philippians 1:16).[3] Paul is not endorsing slavery here – but neither is he condemning it.[4] Many people today when we think of slavery will immediately have images in our minds of the movie and the ship Amistad[5] and other such slave ships bringing kidnapped people, bound and subdued, to be tortured and abused when they are sold on the US slave market. This – like the illegal sex slave trade of today – was slavery at its worst and be convinced that Paul is not explicitly addressing the 19^th century American slave trade or North America’s 21^st century sexual slave trade with his “don’t worry, be happy” as it were. He is not actually speaking about important social justice issues in our text today and these events are way too far in the future for Paul to even consider them anyway.

Also worth noting this the fact that the term ‘slavery’ in the time and place of Paul’s writing this letter referred to something very different than the American experience. Scholar Richard B. Hays cautions us about what we do know about ancient slavery and that how Paul is using the term in this illustration are important: He writes:

“Slavery in the ancient Greco-Roman world was a pervasive institution but was not invariably perceived as oppressive… Dale Martin’s book Slavery as Salvation has shown that slavery provided for many people not only economic security but also upward social mobility. To be the slave of a powerful master could be an honourable station, and slaves were sometimes highly educated and entrusted with major administrative responsibilities…many of the early Christian converts came from these lower ranks in society, being either slaves or former slaves.”[6]

The institution that we refer to with the word ‘slavery’ in First Corinthians isn’t the same as what we think of when we think of the American slavery of recent history or the sex slavery of today. In the Roman world of the 1^st Century, the word ‘slavery’ did not refer to something inherently bad as it does today. Then and there the term ‘slavery’ referred more generally to something akin to the difference today between an employee and an independent contractor. Then and there, the word ‘slavery’ would simply refer to an alternative economic system and as that was the case Paul did not outright condemn it (but cf. 1 Timothy 1:10) but neither did he extol it. It was simply a common way to express one employer-employee relationship of his day. 

But how does this apply to us? None of us are here are directly involved in the slave trade so far as I know and not all of us here are even involved in employer-employee relationships. How does this passage of scripture affect us? There are a number of ways.

One way is as it relates to the prosperity heresy that is prevalent in parts of the US and South Korea today. This heresy says that God, like a genie or good employee, is at your command: ‘God only wants you to be happy and rich; so if things are going well and you are getting rich then God is blessing you but if your selfish desires aren’t being met, if things are going poorly for you or if you can’t make ends meet or if you even get ill (or go bald – like the prophet Elisha) then that must be because you have sin in your life.’ Now we all know this is wrong from the Law and the prophets (cf. Elisha and Amos) and we all know this is wrong from the story of Job and we all know this is wrong from Luke’s account of the Beatitudes (Blessed be the poor…Blessed are the hungry; Luke 6:20ff…). We all know this is wrong and Paul intentionally strikes out against this heresy here in this, his verse (cf. Ps 73; Acts 11:29; 20:35), as it were, of the song “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.”[7] 

Paul says here that whether you are a slave or whether you are free, it is not an indication of favour with God. He is saying rather that [spiritually and eternally speaking] it doesn’t really matter. Paul is saying whether you are a salaried worker or paid an hourly rate, it doesn’t matter. Paul is saying whether you are an employee or an independent contractor, it doesn’t matter. The Greek word that Paul uses here is significant; it is ‘adiaphoron’ and as anyone who attends Bible study should be able to tell you, this word literally means ‘an indifferent matter.’ Paul is saying, as he does elsewhere, that whether you are free or a slave, Paul is saying it is ‘adiaphoron’. It is an indifferent matter so don’t worry, be happy because all believers can experience the full freedom that we really do have in our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 7:23, 6:20. cf. also Galatians 3:28).[8] 

Now be assured that Paul isn’t addressing social justice here at all really: we do definitely need to speak up for the poor and the oppressed. Paul is saying here that we shouldn’t let the enemy distract us from the word and work of the Lord by focussing on the circumstances in our own life.

Now this next point is important too as we look at this pericope (1 Corinthians 7 21-24) in the context of all of Chapter Seven[9]. In verses 1-16, Paul is talking about marriage and how one should not get divorced –but if one’s spouse dies then one is certainly free to re-marry (cf. Romans 7:1,2). And then Paul talks about circumcision and slavery, (vv.17-20; 21-24) and then Paul (v. 25 ff.) talks again about marriage and then about virgins and then about marriage again and how one is bound to one’s husband or wife – no matter what happens - until death do you part (7:39).

In the middle of this discourse about being married for life – Paul brings up the topic of slavery. So what is Paul saying? You've heard the expression, ‘the old ball and chain’; is Paul saying that being married is like being a slave? Paul also brings up circumcision; is Paul saying that marriage is as pleasant getting circumcised? No, I don’t think so.

How this whole chapter ties together is actually quite interesting. There is an early refrain that Christians used to repeat when they were baptised. It went along the lines of this: “for into one Spirit we were all baptised into one body – Jews or Greeks, slaves or free – and we were all made to drink one Spirit”[10] (1 Corinthians 12:13). Everyone – no matter what our station in life has equal access to God. Or, as it reads Galatians 3:28 records, “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male or female; for all of you are one in the body of Jesus Christ.” This is exciting because in Chapter Seven here, Paul talks about the slave and the free (vv. 21-24), the male and the female (vv 1-16, 25-39), the Jew and the Greek (vv.17-20). We all have the same access to God. Paul brings this all together quite nicely; why does he do it like this?

Why does he lump all of these things together? He does it to let his audience know that none of these things that mattered so much to people then and there – gender, nationalist (or racist) pride, and status issues – he does this to let them know that none of these things that are so important to people – none of these things really matter at all. We all have equal access to Christ. It is important for us too today to know that the things that matter so much to us today – gender issues, nationalist (or racist) wars, wealth and status issues, our petty differences with one another - these things that matter to us today are just ‘adiaphoron’, a matter of indifference. They don’t really eternally matter. So we really shouldn’t worry (Matthew 6:25ff; Luke 12:22ff; cf. Matthew 10:19, 13:11; Luke 12:11, 21:14) about these things; we should be happy in the Lord (Philippians 4:4; cf. Matthew 5:12; Luke 6:23; John 16:22; Romans 5; Philippians 2:17-18, 3:1; 1 Peter 4:13). He will provide so we should rejoice in all circumstances.

We all have access to Christ. We shouldn’t be distracted from serving the Lord by side issues. Our needs in this world, God will take care of. The concerns of this world: our employment, our status, our wealth, our pride, whatever it is that is getting under our skin, even theological issues like pre-trib, post-trib, a-millennialism; evolution versus seven, six or three day creationism; even abortion or homosexual marriage; eternally and salvificly speaking, this stuff that means so much to people, are each ‘an indifferent matter.’ Arguing about any of these issues may not save anyone from hell. It reminds me of a story.

At the end of last century there was a revolution in an African country. As it became obvious that the government was going to fall, the wealthy North Americans had to flee. They really made it out just by the skin of their teeth. Some boarded the last plane out of the country and others just managed to get on a foreign oil tanker as it was leaving. Everyone got out just before the freedom fighters liberated the country.

A disappointing thing happened on the plane that left with the Americans on it. You see it was a commercial airline which had a first class section that had so much more comfortable seating than the rest of the plane. Now on this plane were all rich, famous and important people. One of them first got it in her mind that because of who she was she deserved one of the good seats. Then someone else thought, ‘if she deserves a good seat than how much more do I deserve a good seat’; then the next person, then the next; soon everyone on the plane was fighting. They were so busy fighting that they did not notice that the plane was going down. In a sad irony while they were fighting about who was the most important in this life – the plane crashed and they all wound up facing the next life – where none of the things of this world matter anymore. Do we fight over which theological seat we are sitting in when our world, like that flight, is quickly racing to its conclusion?

Our lives are like this plane going down or like the Titanic after it hit the iceberg. Worrying about our wealth or our status or our pride or the small selfish things that try to bother us in this life is like, as the expression says, ‘rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic’. As Paul says, it is ‘adiaphoron’ - it doesn’t matter!

What matters is what will happen when Jesus returns. What matters is not our personal preferences in this short voyage on a sinking ship or falling aeroplane, what really matters is our and others’ eternal salvation. Our life here is going to end – and as such our position and our petty complaints and everything we are whining about doesn’t matter – what really matters is what happens afterwards and afterwards, though all may be eligible for heaven, some will choose to crash and burn and experience the fires of hell.

Major Glenn Patey told us this past weekend about an officer that he believes was stationed here in Swift Current once upon a time. One Sunday morning a fellow showed up at the corps demanding food and a bus ticket. The officer said, I don’t have the time or the money to help you right now but after the service if you want you can join my wife and I for lunch. This wasn’t good enough for the man. He said some bad words to the captain but the captain said, ‘Suit yourself. You can come and enjoy the service if you want and the offer still stands you can have lunch at our place after we’re done, if you would like’. The man grumbled and complained but he did stay quite noisily out in the hallway for most of the service. Near the end of the Meeting in he came and lurked around the back as the captain was preaching. At the end of the preaching, the officer gave an altar call and the man came right to the front. He came to the Mercy Seat crying and praying; he gave his life to the Lord. But that isn’t the end of the story. Later the captain was posted somewhere else and a local pastor came into his office. This pastor asked the captain, ‘do you remember me? I’m the man you led to the Lord on that Sunday many years ago’ and he recounted the details of that day. This man that came to town so antagonistic towards the gospel wound up not only experiencing the gospel but also preaching and sharing the gospel of salvation with others for the rest of his life. This is what matters eternally.

I am reminded also of the Empress of Ireland. This was a ship that sank in 1914. “When the Empress of Ireland went down with a hundred and thirty Canadian Salvation Army officers on board [29th May 1914], one hundred and nine officers were drowned, and not one body that was picked up had on a life-belt. The few survivors told how the Salvationists, finding there were not enough life-preservers for all, took off their own belts and strapped them upon even strong men, saying, ‘I can die better than you can;’ and from the deck of that sinking boat they flung their battle-cry around the world – Others!”[11]

Friends, the boat of our lives is sinking. No man knows the time or the hour when it will end (Matthew 24:26, 25:13; Mark 13:32; Luke 12:39-40, 46). Are we more concerned with having a comfortable deck chair or we are serving God by handing others the life preservers?

This is very much what the scripture today is saying: Nothing else matters compared to serving Christ and experiencing salvation. Nothing else matters but serving Christ and pointing others to eternal salvation. All else in this world by comparison is simply ‘adiaphoron’ –an indifferent matter.

So whatever it is that is getting in the way of our praying for the salvation of the world; whatever it is that is getting in the way of our praying for our friend; whatever it is that is getting in the way of our praying with our friend; whatever it is that we are so concerned about; whatever it is that we have been worrying about; whatever it is that is stopping us from serving the Lord by giving our life-preservers to the lost; whatever it is, I invite us now to come and bring it to the Lord –who can take care of all our needs – so that we can focus on serving Him by pointing others to that great salvation that he provided on the cross for us all so many years ago.

Let us pray.

www.sheepspeak.com

---

---

[1] The song reached number 1on the top 100 Billboard  in September of 1988.

[2] JustSalvos: Men women and children are trafficked across borders at a rate of one per minute: http://www.justsalvos.com/userfiles/file/traffic_a4_LOWRES.pdf

[3] He speaks more than once in scriptures about how masters shouldn’t mistreat their slaves.

[4]This is important because there is still slavery of the worst kind going on today – Coming up this 28 September, The Salvation Army is asking us all to pray for the victims of the sex slave trade. We are presently fighting the sex slave trade and the Army has even appointed Canada’s previous leader, Commissioner Christine MacMillian (a great women you can read about her in the September edition of the Salvationist) as an ambassador to the UN on Social Justice issues. Danielle Strickland, (another great women) who was one of the Officers who sent Susan and I into training to be Officers holds The Salvation Army’s social justice portfolio in Australia. Social justice is important to The Salvation Army and slavery is one of the things we are currently fighting. Now, historically, you know of course too that Christians helped to end the legalized world slave trade (cf. 1 Tim. 1:10) and the person who wrote the great anthem of the Church, ‘Amazing Grace’, John Newton, himself, was a reformed slave trader who gave it up after accepting the Lord and he was one of the influential Christians who worked to end this world slave trade.

[5] There was a famous 1997 movie about the 1839 mutiny aboard this boat.

[6]Richard B. Hays. Interpretation: First Corinthians. P. 124.

[7] W. Harold Mare. The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Pradis CD-ROM:1 Corinthians/Exposition of 1 Corinthians/VII. Christian obligation to live according to God's call (7:17-24), Book Version: 4.0.2: Observe, however, that the Bible teaches that Christianity does not guarantee material or social betterment but makes it a matter of individual responsibility (cf. Ps 73; Acts 11:29; 20:35).

[8] J. Paul Sampley. NIB X. ‘1 Corinthians’, p.881.

[9] Michael Ramsay. Mark 3:20-35 The Family of God. (Feb. 17, 2008) available on-line at http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/02/mark-320-35-family-of-god.html: An “inclusio”  is a story within a story and this is sort of like that here albeit in an expository letter form.

[10] J. Paul Sampley. NIB X. ‘1 Corinthians’, p.882.

[11]http://www1.salvationarmy.org/heritage.nsf/36c107e27b0ba7a98025692e0032abaa/df2ca83194d5599b802568cd00377023!OpenDocument