1 Samuel 24, 26: Respect: The Torn Cape.

Presented to 614 Warehouse afternoon service, 30 July 2017 by Capt. M Ramsay

  

1 Samuel 24:6: He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the LORD.”

1 Samuel 26:9-11: But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? 10 As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11 But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed.

--------------------------------------------------

Have you ever had a bad leader? A politician? A boss? A pastor? Headquarters? What would you about it if you had a chance and some impunity? David was in this spot. Neither would David strike his leader NOR would he let people under his authority act against the Lord's anointed. David wouldn't do or say anything against his boss the king. We believe God still raises up our political leaders and anoints our religious and spiritual leaders to this day. As such, just like David, we need to respect those who God Himself places in authority over us.[1]

            We know about King Saul, the one to whom David needed and did offer respect and to whom he did submit. King Saul was jealous of David: going back to 1 Samuel 17 and the David and Goliath episode – remember the people said that Saul had killed his thousands and David had killed his tens of thousands…Saul didn’t like that much. But David refused to say anything bad about him.

            On another occasion, King Saul, being upset with David tried to trick David into getting killed. He told David that he could marry Saul’s daughter (as he was already promised when he defeated Goliath in battle) if he brought him 100 of their enemies', the Philistines, foreskins (1 Samuel 18:25-27). Saul didn’t think that David would live to pull this off  (or all 100 of these!) But he, and his comrades, did.

            Saul then tried to pin David to the wall with a spear and twice tried to kill his own heir and eldest son in the same manner when Prince Jonathan supported David.

            Now in our stories today, King Saul has taken three thousand chosen and skilled warriors and has headed off in pursuit of David with the express goal of killing him. This is David's boss, whom, David - in full knowledge of this - 1 Samuel 24:6: He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to [my boss] my master, the LORD’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the LORD.”

            Have you ever had an enemy? Have you ever had someone who attacked you at every opportunity? Have you ever had someone who hated you? ...who spread lies about you? ...who wanted you dead? What would you do if you had a chance to get them off your back? What would you do if you had a chance to say something bad about them or have someone beat them up or get them arrested or get them banned from some place? Would you let it pass? Now imagine that they are your boss or your pastor or DHQ. This is David’s situation.

            In Samuel 24, David’s friends are telling David to be done with Major, I mean, King Saul. Like the devil in the Gospels, they even quote Scripture to pressure him into it (cf. Matthew 4, Luke 4). Saul, after all, has done all that stuff we’ve talked about: not only turning people against David and choosing 3000 people to attack him but he has actually tried to kill David more than once and is trying to kill him right now. All those who have an axe to grind with Saul are surrounding David (1 Samuel 22:2). All those who owe Saul's supporters money and don't want to pay them back, all those who are grumbling for this or for that. They point out that God has delivered Saul into David's hands.[2] They surround David; he becomes their Captain and they attempt to tempt David (some maybe unwittingly) with the poison chalice of self-righteousness, spite and revenge. David’s friends in Chapter 24 encourage David to betray and even kill Colonel, I mean, King Saul. And in Chapter 26, they even volunteer to finish off Captain, I mean King Saul for him. 1 Samuel 26: 8ff:

Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t strike him twice.”9 But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? 10 As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11 But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed.

            This response reminds us of Arc Angel Michael's response to Satan when the devil tries to draw him into an argument. Michael refuses to engage but rather leaves the rebuking to the Lord (Jude); remember too how our Lord Jesus Christ responds when Peter chops the ear off a soldier who is coming to arrest Jesus in order that Jesus can be killed. How does Jesus respond? He heals the soldier's ear and goes with him willingly (John 18). These responses: David's, Michael's, Jesus' should be ours;[3] but have you -like David- ever had a friend who offered revenge on your behalf?

            Have you ever had someone offer to get someone back for you? Have you ever had someone, out of misplaced loyalty, gang up on someone else? Have you ever acted out towards someone because of what you THINK they have done to a someone else? If the person you are provoking or letting others gang up on is in a position of authority then you have committed the sin that David’s friends -and all the grumbling discontent people- are trying to tempt him to do.[4]

            In The Salvation Army, Susan and I are the pastors, the Captains, and the local bosses here at 614 and Warehouse. In some respects we are in the pace of Saul. In other respects we are in the place of David. We have our bosses - AC, DC, TC - and if we have a difference with them, if we have a problem with them; if we encourage you to call headquarters or if we turn a blind eye when you do then we are acting out in a bad way towards our bosses and we are acting in a bad way towards God. When we betray, provoke, or otherwise rebel against our God-appointed leaders, we are committing the sin that David here - who is in a much more pressing situation than any of our corps and any of us have ever been - is refusing to commit.

            David's men have a list of grievances against their current leadership –the leadership is trying to kill David for one; their leader is jealous, envious of David; the leader’s leadership is going in a different direction from God even; David has been anointed! He is chosen to lead his people and his people want David to lead. They know what has to be done – in their opinion - and they want it done now!

            This is not unlike our own experiences, many churches' experiences, many work place experiences, and many Salvation Army experiences. I admit when I was younger I got caught up in this more than once - believing that I was right and those in authority must be complained against and otherwise resisted, evaded, or deceived. I grew up in a church much larger than any in our Salvation Army. I must admit that I sinned more than once by starting a petition or forming a faction or a clique or speaking about someone instead of speaking to them. I have been a part of movements that have tried to force our own agenda opposed to those in authority. That is sin against our Lord.

            There have even been times when I have spoken poorly of Officers or pastors and –because of that- the devil has been able to use me to cause problems. I admit even as an Officer I myself a long time ago may have utter those ill-advised words, "then call DHQ". There was a time and a place when I even knew people were writing to a DHQ and THQ and I at best sat back giving it my tacit approval (reminiscent of Acts 7:58 and Saul watching the coats for people who were killing the Christian, Stephen) or worse I have fanned the flames of rebellion myself. In my recent memory I have even erred by listening to people's rebellious complaints about my bosses and not set people straight. If I have reinforced the grumbling of anyone who is here, I really do apologize. These experiences are equivalent to if David had tried to kill or maim King Saul in the cave or while he slept.[5] That is wrong; that is sin. That is what we do when we disrespect, complain about, or try to undermine those God has raised up as our leaders.

            If we have a problem with those in authority over us we are never supposed to undermine them. If we have a problem with those in authority over us we are never supposed to complain about them secretly to others. If we have a problem with those in authority over us we are never supposed to go over their heads. If we have a problem with those in authority over us we are never supposed to go behind their back. If we have a problem with those in authority over us we are never supposed to gossip, slander, malign, or even THINK bad things about our bosses, pastors, our bosses’ bosses or our pastor’s pastors (remember as well the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5-7). If we have a problem with those in authority we are never supposed to even listen to those who try to undermine them. That is disastrous to a church. If you attack a pastor, a Captain, a Major, a Colonel, a leader in that way; you may actually be a part of the ruin of the whole church. It really is pushing the self-destruct button. If I get drawn into the trap of complaining about my boss to my employees, my parishioners, or as bad or worse – to his or her boss, I am holding a grenade to my soul and that cannot end well. If you get drawn into the trap of complaining about your pastor to our employees, our parishioners, or as bad or worse – to my boss, then you are holding a grenade to all of our souls and that cannot end well for the church or for any of us.

            The Apostle Paul, who writes much the same things about respecting authorities in his letter to the Romans and elsewhere: Romans 13:1-7, Colossians 3:18-4:1, Ephesians 5:21-6:9, 1 Corinthians 15:28, Titus 2:9; likewise Luke in Luke 2:51; 10:17; and James, the brother of Jesus, in James 4:7; 3:1-2. Paul and Peter receive martyrs' crowns via a state execution and en route to their death they still refuse to disrespect the authorities God placed over them (cf. Acts 23:1-5).  Peter writes, 1 Peter 2:13-15, “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.”

            Submit ourselves to the leaders of the places we are citizens -both on earth and in heaven - and in the church where God has called us. If someone gossips or complains to you, refuse to listen to them! By doing this good, as the scriptures say, you will silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. And my friends –if any of us are indulging in complaining, make no mistake, it is ignorant and we need to be silenced.

            However, as we refuse to take part in these behaviours the darkness and troubles around us will really turn into light and life.[6] I promise. Leo Tolstoy, a couple of hundred years before 'pay it forward' wrote a book called 'The Forged Coupon'.[7] This book starts with one person giving into a little temptation and then it spirals way out of control with lots of people down the road creating lots of serious problems -even death -for others. But then at a mid-way point of the book, the story reverses. One lady refuses to partake in selfishness and her act of goodness reverses the trend and is the first in a series of blessed events that sees all the characters,  instead of spreading darkness, shining the light of Christ into the world.

            It is the same with us. If the next time someone complains to you about The Salvation Army of which you by your very presence are a part, if the next time someone complains to you about HQ, if the next time someone complains to you about these Captains or those Majors, if the next time someone complains to you about someone at 614 or the Warehouse, if you refuse to listen to it and counter by saying something good about that person and direct the complainant -with a smile - to speak to the person instead of about him/her; if you pray for him/her and refuse to gossip or even listen to her/him then you can be that turning point which God uses to transform a whole community from darkness to light.

            However, if we choose to complain ourselves or listen to others gossip. grumble and complain then we are feeding the darkness. Today the choice is ours, like Saul (both NT and OT), we can hunt down our enemies on a seemingly righteous campaign and spread darkness and death  or, like David  in today's stories, we can love and support those in authority over us; we can love and support our neighbours, refusing to repay evil with even a bad thought. The choice is ours. We can choose the light of salvation or darkness and death. It is my hope that we will choose the light and love of God, for as we do we will see the whole world changed, our churches changed, and indeed we will see our very own souls transformed.

Let us pray.

www.sheepspeak.com

---

 

---

---

[1] Gbile Akanni and Nupanga Weanzana, Africa Bible Commentary, (Nairobi, Kenya: Word Alive Publishers, 2010), ' 1 Samuel 24:3-6: a test for David's heart': God may have done this to test David's heart: Humility is the understanding of the boundaries we need to observe in relation to anyone to whom God has given authority.

[2] Gbile Akanni and Nupanga Weanzana, Africa Bible Commentary, (Nairobi, Kenya: Word Alive Publishers, 2010), '1 Samuel 24:3-6: a test for David's heart': God may have done this to test David's heart

[3] But cf. Ronald F. Youngblood, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Pradis CD-ROM:1 and 2 Samuel/Exposition of First Samuel/III. Establishment of Monarchy in Israel (16:1-31:13)/A. The Rise of David (16:1-28:2)/12. Sparing Saul's life (24:1-22), Book Version: 4.0.2: David may have sinned in cutting the robe; he did repent publicly.

[4] Gbile Akanni and Nupanga Weanzana, Africa Bible Commentary, (Nairobi, Kenya: Word Alive Publishers, 2010), '1 Samuel 24:7-16: The Power of the Spoken Word', 367

[5] Gbile Akanni and Nupanga Weanzana, Africa Bible Commentary, (Nairobi, Kenya: Word Alive Publishers, 2010), '1 Samuel 24:7-16: The Power of the Spoken Word', 367

[6] cf. Bruce C. Birch, 'The First and Second Books of Samuel' in The New Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. 2, ed. Leander E. Keck, et el. (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1998), 1160.

[7] cf. Leo Tolstoy, The Forged Coupon

---

FURTHER QUESTIONS:

David honours God and Saul (1 Sam 23-26) July 30,2017

“The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” - 1 Samuel 24:6

Group 1

I. Life

1. What is something you noticed about God this week?

II. Text

Re-read 1 Samuel 24

1. What happened in this story?

2. Who raised up and anointed King Saul? Who raise up our leaders in church and society (both those better than Saul and, if possible, those who aren’t)?

3. King Saul, David’s boss, was trying to kill him; the spirit of the Lord had left him; people who hated David’s boss surrounded him and told him that God had given him this opportunity to be rid of his boss. David would not strike King Saul nor would he let anyone else; why?

4. Theologians GbileAkanni and Nupanga Weanzana write, "Are we not called to work for righteousness in the church and society? We are, but we must not speak so much of the evils with the leadership of the church and society that leaders become objects of scorn. Those who listen to such talk will come to despise all leadership and will not grow in holiness and humility. The Lord must teach us how to use words that can restore the church and society"
a. David did not allow anyone to attack his leader. Why must we avoid the temptation to speak of the evils of the leadership in the church and society? What is a better way to affect change?

b. Gossip and speaking bad about our leaders and others is one of the most destructive things to the church and we Christians; words are powerful: what should we do if someone attacks another in our hearing? How can we use words to build each other up instead of tearing each other down?

5. How can we each replace a spirit of discord in our own society or church community? Are you willing to commit to not listen to things about our leaders (pastors, bosses, etc) and others?


6. This week when you hear someone say something negative about someone, I invite you to say something nice about them instead. Please take turns saying something nice about your pastor (and/or HQ), your boss and then someone else in the circle; then pray for them.


Group 2

I. Life

1. What is something you noticed about God this week?

II. Text

Re-read 1 Samuel 26

1. What happened in this story?

2. Who raised up and anointed King Saul? Who raises up our leaders in church and society (both those better than Saul and those who aren’t)?

3. 1 Samuel 26:9-11: "…David said to Abishai, 'Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless? 10 As surely as the LORD lives,' he said, 'the LORD himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11 But the LORD forbid that I should lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.”David would not strike King Saul nor would he let anyone else; why?

4. James 3:5,9&10: “…the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark....With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Words are power." David did not allow anyone to attack his leader. Why must we avoid the temptation to speak evil of our leaders in the church and society? What is a better way to affect change?

5. Gossip and speaking bad about our leaders and others is one of the most destructive things to the church and Christians; words are powerful: what should we do if someone attacks another in our hearing? How can we use words to build each other up instead of tearing each other down?

6. How can we each replace a spirit of discord in our own society or church community? Are you willing to commit to not listen to things about our leaders (pastors, bosses, etc) and others?

7. This week when you hear someone say something negative about someone, I invite you to say something nice about them instead. Please take turns saying something nice about your pastor (and/or HQ), your boss and then someone else in the circle; then pray for them.

Acts 13:13-34: Who Will Save Us?

Presented to TSA Corps 614 Regent Park, 18 October 2015 
by Captain Michael Ramsay

Some review questions for us:

1. Who wrote Acts?
2. What Gospel did he also write?
3. About how much of the NT do these two works comprise?[1]

The General Election is coming up very quickly - tomorrow, October 19 -  and I encourage all of you, if you haven't already, to vote AFTER spending some time in prayer, fasting, and study to determine which candidate you should support in your riding. The Canadian Council of Churches has a VERY good election resource that I invite you to look at. I have a few copies of it at the back. I will also re-post it on-line and can email it to people it they like https://www.councilofchurches.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/CCC_FederalElectionResource_FINAL_WEB_REV.pdf . This does seem to be a very significant election. It really does -according to some -seem to be a choice between light and darkness, love and hate, acceptance and rejection. We are encouraged in our pericope today not to reject our Salvation. We are also encouraged to learn, know, and remember who is the ONLY Messiah.

Some more questions for us today:

1. Who is the Messiah? (Jesus)
2. Messiah is a Hebrew word, what is the Greek equivalent? (Christ)
3. What is the Messiah/Christ? What does it mean? What does he do? (Anointed One/King)

This is important. Acts 1:8: " But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Do we know what and where these places are?

Jerusalem was the capital of the united kingdoms of Israel and Judah and later the capital of the southern kingdom of Judah while Samaria was the capital of Israel. The countries of Israel and Judah both ceased to exist as independent nations by 586 BCE. As occupied nations, they were each looking for a saviour; Samaria was looking for prophet, a teacher and many in Judea were looking for a King to deliver them from their occupier and set everything right in the world.[2] Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria were looking for a saviour, a Messiah, the Christ.

One of the key differences between Christianity and Judaism is that contemporary Judaism (like Acts 13:27ff) rejects Jesus and his Kingdom while Christians accept Jesus as King of Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the world.[3] The King has come and he is gone away (sort of) but he is coming back. In both Biblical records and in history we have seen kings do this sort of thing before (cf. Luke 19:11-28). Herod the Great - for one example - who was a king of the Jews, went to the Emperor in Rome in 40 BCE to confirm his victory and authority and then returned to have his realm placed at his feet (cf. Josephus, Antiquities i..358) at which time among his supporters there was much celebration and among his adversaries a certain amount of weeping and gnashing of teeth (cf. Matthew 25).[4] Jesus won the victory between the cross and the empty tomb and Jesus is now in Heaven and he will return tot his realm placed at his feet.[5] Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Romans 14:11).

Some more good news: This has been the longest election campaign in memory. Who is sick and tired of all the hate and attack ads? Who is ready  for this election to be done? Tomorrow, it is done. I hope you vote and vote well but I have some more good news: When Jesus ultimately returns you won't ever have to vote again. You won't ever have another election campaign like this one. You won't ever have to vote again. So vote now while you have the chance! Jesus is King of the world and that is NOT nor should it be nor will it ever be an elected position.[6] We are not asked to choose who we want to rule for eternity, we are only asked do we want to serve the ruler or not. If we do, we are in. If we don't we are out. It's that simple.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ really is that simple. Jesus is the King of the World. He is coming back. If we serve Him we are part of His Kingdom, if we don't we aren't. And Jesus' Kingdom is and is going to be the best of the best of best of the best.[7]

There is an even greater hope embedded in this as well. You will notice that the central part of all Christianity, what the Apostle Paul talks about most and NT relates more than anything else is the resurrection of the dead.[8] This pericope mentions Christ's resurrection more than once (Acts 13:30, 34,35,35). This Kingdom to come is the greatest thing ever and God loves us so much that he doesn't want any of us citizens of heaven to miss its culmination; he cares about us all so much that even people who die before Jesus returns will come back to life so that they can be a part of his Kingdom. All election scandals, attack ads, corruption and the like will be wiped away as the whole world is made anew!

King Jesus - who died and rose from the grave - went to be with the Father in Heaven and He will come back to claim His Kingdom here on earth. At some point (I am not going to get drawn into any amillenial apologetics, rapturous pre-trib, post-trib, or other trivial pursuits here), those of us who die before Jesus returns to sit on His throne will be raised from the dead and invited to be a part of His Kingdom forever - no more elections, just everyone loving God and loving their neighbour (Leviticus 19:18; Mathew 5:43-44, 19:19, 22:39; Mark 12:31-33; Luke 10:27; Romans 13:9-10; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8). These are the basics of early Christian beliefs. And this love for one's neighbour and serving the unelected Jesus as Christ is one reason why some good Christian groups throughout history have actually refused to partake in democracy - because we don't serve the powers and principalities of this age but instead we serve the unelected Messiah, Jesus, the Christ (Ephesians 6:12).

If ruler of this world is not an elected position and Jesus is ruler of this world and He is coming back to set everything straight anyway, why should we vote? What difference will it make? The leaders of the four of the main political parties in Canada have claimed Christianity. Justin Trudeau has a great testimony of growing in his personal relationship with Jesus Christ around the Promotion to Glory of his brother. Thomas Mulclair credits the clergy at his school for teaching him the Christian basics of loving God and loving and taking care of your neighbour. And listen to this quote from Elizabeth May of the Green Party: She said, "We have a moral obligation to our Lord and Father to ensure we don't destroy the creation that was given to us. Through the power of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we can meet this moral obligation." That's a pretty solid proclamation of faith in action. I would probably vote for any of them if they were running in my riding, which they are not.

Even our Prime Minister I think may still attend an Alliance Church; and even in the USA - a nation born of rebellion against God, King and country - today their leaders profess Christ. But how can that be possible? I have been asked more than once in my role as an evangelist, how can servants of the King of the World - Jesus Christ - be attempting to conquer the world in the name of the twin gods of democracy and capitalism?[9] How can they be invading county after country after country after country to further the interests of their own country at the expense of all other countries and still claim to be servants of the King of the World? I am not at all convinced that we can both have this cake and eat it too. I remember being involved in ministry on the streets of downtown Winnipeg years ago and someone asked/told me: 'how can you be a Christian? George Bush is a Christian and look what he's doing!' We had a good conversation but - whether you liked George Bush's presidency or not - the question does arise that has arisen many times in history: why should Christians get drawn into all this? Why should we bother to vote? Our battle, after all is not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers (Ephesians 6:12). The Liberals, NDP, Greens, the Conservatives won't save us.

This is truth. People will let us down. The Messiah does not lead any of these parties and I would caution you about getting drawn into the idea that He does. The prolonged feverish pitch that has overtaken social media and coffee shop conversations since this election began is terrible. You talk to some people and so-and-so is the only chosen one who can deliver us, who can save us from the enemy. Don't get drawn into all that.

Do not vote for the fallacy that a leader of a political party will make everything right. Trudeau cannot walk on water, Mulclair cannot part the seas, May may not add a moment to your life. Harper will let you down. Leaders will disappoint you. Vote and vote well but please don't put your faith in them. As important as this election is, our next Prime Minister will not cause the lame to walk or the blind to see, no matter what their campaign ads tell us; so vote to make this world a better place but remember Salvation comes from Christ alone. Jesus tells us that his followers will love God and love their neighbour. Vote for a candidate in your riding who loves God and loves your neighbour. Jesus tells us that the nations who will be a part of His Kingdom to come - Matthew 25 and elsewhere - will be the ones who take care of the sick, the poor, the widow, the prisoners, and the immigrants. After praying and fasting, vote tomorrow for the person in your riding who most reflects Christ in this way (This is one of the reasons -by the way- that I tend not to vote for proponents of tax-cuts because taxes are the primary way that a society provides for the poor and the needy; cf. Exodus 22:21, 23:9; Leviticus 19:34; Numbers 19:10, 35:15; Deuteronomy 10:18-19, 14:10, 16:11-14, 23:7, 27:19; Isaiah 10:2; Jeremiah 7:6, 22:3; Malachi 3:5; etc.). Vote for Jesus.[10]

But remember whoever wins the election tomorrow is probably not the devil incarnate and they are definitely not the Christ. Vote for someone who will help the less fortunate for Jesus' sake and then hold them accountable but more important that than even: pray, pray, pray! And pay attention to where God is moving in our community and follow the Holy Spirit. The whole book of Acts records what happens when we follow the Holy Spirit in proclaiming Jesus - not Caesar, not the president, not the Prime Minister - as Saviour of the World.  Acts 13:38 tells us that it is only through Jesus that the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed and it is only through Jesus that we can be set free from committing sin (TSA doc 10). Just think, if every Christian talked and posted on social media as much about the love and the forgiveness of sins offered by Jesus Christ as some have spoken about the election, hate, and attack ads in the past few weeks what a different world this would be (cf. Acts 13:38-39). For one, If we spent as much effort promoting God as politics, I imagine every church in this city and country would be full today. So vote tomorrow and vote well but remember: the Gospel of Jesus Christ really is simple. Salvation comes through Christ alone. Jesus is the King of the world. He is coming back. If we serve Him we are part of His Kingdom, if we don't we aren't. Salvation comes from Christ alone. 

As such it is my prayer that we will all spend our lives campaigning for Jesus.

Let us pray.

www.sheespeak.com

---

---

[1] Luke, 2) Luke, 3) 30%

[2] Cf. Robert W. Wall, ‘Acts’ The New Interpreter’s Bible 10, (Nashville, Tenn.: Abingdon Press, 2002), 191.

[3] Cf. The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Pradis CD-ROM:Acts/Exposition of Acts/Part II. The Christian Mission to the Gentile World (12:25-28:31)/Panel 4-The First Missionary Journey and the Jerusalem Council (12:25-16:5)/C. At Antioch of Pisidia (13:14-52)/2. Paul's synagogue sermon at Antioch (13:16-41), Book Version: 4.0.2

[4] Cf. R. Alan Culpepper, Luke (NIB 8: Nashville, Tenn.: Abingdon, 1995), 363.

[5] Cf. Captain Michael Ramsay, 'Luke 19:11-27: Time, Talent and Treasure Series, Part 2: Employee Evaluation: What About the Slaves?' (Swift Current, SK: Sheepspeak, 19 December 2010) On-line: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2010/09/luke-1911-27-time-talent-and-treasure.html

[6] Cf. William H. William, ‘Acts’, Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, (Atlanta, Georgia: John Knox Press, 1988), 125.

[7] Cf. N.T. Wright, Acts for Everyone Part 2 (Louisville, Kentucky, USA: WJK, 2004), 16.

[8] Cf. William H. William, ‘Acts’, Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, (Atlanta, Georgia: John Knox Press, 1988), 125.

[9] Cf. N.T. Wright, Acts for Everyone Part 2 (Louisville, Kentucky, USA: WJK, 2004), 14.

[10] Cf. Captain Michael Ramsay, 'Vote for Jesus' in Journal of Aggressive Christianity, Issue 57, October 2008 – November 2008 (pp. 27-39). On-line: http://www.armybarmy.com/pdf/JAC_Issue_057.pdf

Acts 1:12-26: Show Us Which You Have Chosen

Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army, 19 May 2013

By Captain Michael Ramsay

To read a version of this sermon presented to Toronto's Corps 614, 20 Sept 2015, click here: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2015/09/acts-112-26-who-have-you-chosen.html 

To read a 2024 TSA AVM BC version click here: https://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2024/04/acts-112-26-show-us-which-you-have.html 

1) How do we choose an important employee, manager, CEO, etc.? (Resume, ability)

2) How do we choose the Head of State? (Heredity: intense job-training programme from the moment they are born)

3) How do we choose the Canadian Idol, talent show winners and politicians in this country? (Popularity contest AKA an election)

4) What is the traditional way that one decides whether the one they fancy truly loves them or not: ‘she loves me, she loves me not’? (Removing leaves from a flower)

5) How does one decide which team is going to start with the ball in Canadian football or in a soccer game? (Coin toss)

6) How does one decide where to transfer Salvation Army Officers? (Prayer and fasting?)

Near the conclusion of Acts Chapter 1, the believers who have gathered in Jerusalem – about 120 of them – are faced with a choice that needs to be made: they need to choose a successor to one of the 12 disciples. This whole episode that we are examining today raises three layers of questions.

1) The first layer is composed of questions to which the solutions are not all that difficult to find, such as:

Ø      Who are these disciples here - particularly Judas Iscariot?

Ø      What did Judas do?

2) A little more challenging are the questions of the second layer:

Ø      Why do they need a successor to Judas? Outside of the RC tradition, I believe, we don’t believe that they even need successors to any of the apostles anymore; so why do they need a successor in Acts here?

Ø      And did they choose the correct successor? What about the apostle Paul? Some people say Paul was supposed to be the successor to Judas Iscariot, not Matthias. According to Luke, did the disciples make a mistake in selecting Matthias?

3) Once we have resolved the issues in these two layers of questioning, we should look at the third layer and ask ourselves the most important question inherent to the text: how should we resolve the difficult questions in our lives? How should we make the important decisions that we have to make in our life and in our world on a daily basis?

In answering these questions, let's look a little bit at the context of our pericope here. This book, Acts, is the second book written by the author Luke to his friend Theophilus. Can anyone tell me what is the name of the first book Luke wrote to his friend Theophilus? (Luke.) The book of Acts is a sequel to the book of Luke. It is a continuation of the story: The book of Luke tells about Jesus and his followers prior to Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection and ascension. Acts picks up the story from where Luke finishes off.

We read Acts 1:1-11 earlier in the meeting today. This recaps what Luke had written to Theophilus in his previous book. As recorded in Acts 1:1-2, Luke writes, ‘In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.’ Luke then lists some of those things:

Ø      Jesus’ suffering,

Ø      His presenting himself alive after he was killed,

Ø      And showing many other convincing proofs (Acts 1:3-4).

Luke then tells Theophilus that Jesus also reminded the believers to stay in Jerusalem while they await the Holy Spirit to give their post-resurrection ministry a kick-start. Once Gods sends the Holy Spirit like a starter pistol, Luke tells us, the believers are to run to the ends of the earth sharing this Gospel of Salvation with everyone they meet (Acts 1:1-11). This review of his earlier book is how Luke sets the stage for this book of Acts.

Now let's look at one or two of the questions that we asked ourselves off the top today. Who are the disciples here?  Acts 1:13 mentions them by name. We’ll highlight a few of them. Peter, James and John were Jesus’ inner circle of disciples. They were all fishermen in their previous career, as was Andrew. Peter is the one who is going to take a leadership role among the disciples. Philip we will learn more about in the next few chapters of the book of Acts. We know the story of doubting Thomas. We also recognize the name of Matthew in the list. Someone can tell me what book did Matthew write? (Matthew). Luke also mentions, Verse 13, Simon the Zealot, Judas son of James, James son of Aphaeus, and Bartholomew. These were the 11.

Who was the 12th disciple? (Judas Iscariot). For what is Judas infamous? Judas Iscariot, Judas is remembered as Jesus’ betrayer. He led the Romans and the priests to Jesus and betrayed him with a kiss. Then Jesus was led off to be killed, to be crucified. Now this Judas Iscariot was one of Jesus’ 12 chosen disciples and he was the one trusted enough to be placed in charge of the disciples’ money. He was their treasurer. Luke, through Peter, tells us a few more things about Judas Iscariot in our text today. Acts 1:15-20 records that Judas:

Ø      Was a guide to those arresting Jesus, Verse 16 (like we said);

Ø      Was allotted a full share in Jesus ministry, Verse 17 (like we said);

Ø      And then, with the money he was paid for helping arrest Jesus –Verse 18 – he bought and field;

Ø      And he killed himself.

Judas was one of Jesus’ closest twelve followers, he betrayed Jesus for whatever reason, and then he took his own life (Acts 1:18-20 contrasts Matthew 27:3-10).

This is sad and this brings us to our second level of questions: Why do the disciples need a successor to Judas? And did they choose the right successor?

Why do the disciples even need a successor to Judas? As Jesus is already crucified, resurrected, and glorified; why do they need someone to replace Judas? They don’t replace any of the other disciples when they die; so, why do they need to replace Judas when Judas dies? Jesus gives us the answer to this question, as recorded in Matthew 19:28 and Luke 22:30. Jesus tells us that “at the renewal of all things,” his twelve disciples will “sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew 19:28, Luke 22:30). OT Scriptures, in particular the psalmist, also speak to this need: Psalm 69:25, 109:8.[1] John, in the book of Revelation writes that at “the consummation of God’s redemption as a ‘Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God’, having twelve gates with ‘the names of the twelve tribes of Israel’ written on them and twelve foundations with ‘the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb’ written on them (Revelation 21:10, 12, 14).”[2] Israelite tradition, Jesus’ teaching and subsequent Christian thought and belief record that the apostles have a role still to play at the resurrection of the dead. Jesus says that it is their job to judge the tribes of Israel after the resurrection of the dead.

So then, it is not because Judas died that he needs to be replaced because he will be raised on the last day with all the rest of us and none of the other disciples were replaced when they died. It is because Judas abrogated his responsibility, he forfeited his position as one of the twelve judges of Israel when he betrayed Jesus - who is Israel and the world’s Messiah - and then took his own life.[3] This is why they need a replacement; this is why they need a twelfth disciple. They need a twelfth person who will help judge the twelve tribes of Israel on the last day. As a side note, this is probably where originates the idea that continues even to this time and place that we should have 12 people sitting on juries to determine innocence or guilt in court.

The next question in this second layer of questions is, did they choose the correct successor? What about the Apostle Paul? Some people say that Paul was supposed to be the successor to Judas Iscariot, not Matthias. According to Luke, did the disciples make a mistake in selecting Matthias? No. The short answer is no. The reasons that some offer for Paul being the correct replacement for Judas rather than Matthias do not hold up to scrutiny.  Howard Marshall writes,

 “Some commentators have argued ... that the church acted wrongly in choosing Matthias: it should have waited for the ‘twelfth man’ of God’s own choice, Paul, instead of giving God his choice between two others who are never heard of again. But we never hear any more of [any of]the other members of the Twelve (apart from Peter, James, and John) in Acts, and Paul did not [even] possess the essential qualifications to be one of the Twelve.”[4]

The list of the qualifications for the job of disciple here include:

1. Acts 1:21, that, ^“… it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us” (The expression “was living among us” is a Semitic idiom for familiar and unhindered association; cf. Deuteronomy 31:2; 2 Samuel 3:25; Psalm 121:8; Acts 9:28).
2. Acts 1:22: “For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” He must have seen Christ in person both before and after the resurrection.
3. And, Acts 1:14, Judas’ successor must also be appointed by the same Lord who appointed the Eleven.

The Apostle Paul does not meet all these criteria.[5] God used the Apostle Paul greatly -as Paul himself acknowledges- as an apostle to the gentiles not necessarily as the one to judge the tribes of Israel at the resurrection (cf. Galatians 1:18, 2:1-10).[6]

So, to review: the disciples referred to in this pericope were the 12 chosen ones who were with Jesus during his ministry. These apostles, at the eschaton, on the last day will judge the tribes of Israel. Therefore the successful applicant for Judas’ old job will have been a witness to the resurrection, will have met Jesus in person both before and after His death and resurrection and he will need to be appointed by Jesus Christ himself.

In our text then the disciples have before them then two viable candidates, Acts 1:23-26, “Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, ‘Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.’ Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.” Luke records that these people who are gathered together in Jesus’ name when it comes time to make a decision pray, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen.”

This is important and this brings us to our third and most important layer of questioning today. How do we make decisions that need to be made in our lives? I know that Susan, the kids and I have had to discern God’s leading in a few significant matters in our lives. How do we discern which paths to take in our own lives?

When we were called by God into full-time ministry with The Salvation Army, it was a tough decision. We were first called as urban missionaries in Vancouver’s infamous downtown eastside. We had two small children. I had businesses both on the Island (Victoria, Saanich, Sidney) and in and around Greater Vancouver; but my home, my wife with my children and our immediate families were all on the Island. I loved my businesses. I would have to give up my businesses that I founded and raised almost like a first child in order to enter the ministry and we would have to leave our long-time friends and extended family.

We had to make a decision. We could make an economic decision and stay on the Island with our house and our businesses or we could say, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two [options] You have chosen.” We could make a family decision and stay near the children’s grandparents and at that time great-grandparents or we could pray, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen.” We could make a sentimental decision and stay by all that we have ever known and loved on the Island or we could pray, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen.” As we are here today we thankfully took the latter option as our way forward. Praise the Lord; we followed Him into the mission field.

But our reliance on God is not a one-time thing. There are still many more decisions that each and every one of us are faced with everyday in our lives. And every time that we are faced with a decision we have to decide whether we are going to try to decide on our own or whether we are going to trust God to show us the way and then follow Him.

Our first month or so here in Swift Current, I think every staff member of our Thrift Store quit including the manager. Two Christmases ago our CFS director needed to be let go right as we were heading into our busiest time of year. Every year the Army has to declare whether we as Officers are going to stay in our communities or whether we are going to be transferred. In any of these situations any of us can just try to make up our own minds; we can dig our heels in and say to the Lord that we are not going to do what you or anyone else says; we can be bullied by those around us who have an agenda or who are just not very skilled at discerning the will of God; we can just rely on own devices to make the decisions ourselves; we can tell the Lord to please bless the decision that we are about to make. But really - no matter how skilled we are at making decisions - it would gain much better results if instead of any of these ways of deciding what to do, we would pray like the disciples in Acts 1, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen.” And then we need to wait to see how He actually responds.

When we don’t do this we can be tricked into making the wrong choice. I remember once when I was living in a different part of the country, there was an election. I prayed. I looked at the various candidates in my riding. I checked out their resumes and past experiences and there were two of the myriad people running who seemed to have the prerequisite qualifications for the position, so I picked one and voted for him. He was elected but no sooner was he elected then he immediately betrayed those of us who voted for him by joining an opposing political party. He ran as if he belonged to one party so everyone who voted for him thought they were voting for a member of political party 'A' but as soon as he was elected, before he was ever even sworn it, he defected to political party 'B'; so in essence political party 'B' had two candidates in that riding in that election. No matter how much effort I put into casting my ballot, like everyone else who voted for this candidate, I was betrayed.

The disciples, in our passage today, have before them then two viable candidates to replace the one who betrayed Jesus, Acts 1:23-26, “Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, ‘Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.’ Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.” Luke records that these people who are gathered together in Jesus’ name when it comes time to make a decision pray, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen.”

This is important. How do we make decisions that need to be made in our lives? Do we attempt to make up our own minds or do we -like the disciples here- correctly attempt to discern the will of the Lord.

The disciples, they don’t pray, “Lord please bless our decision making process” and then do whatever they see fit; they pray, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have already chosen.” They don’t pray, “Lord, please help us to make the right decision” and then do whatever they see fit; they pray, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have already chosen.” They don’t pray, “Lord, show us what we should do” and then do whatever they see fit; they pray, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have already chosen.”

Do you see the difference? The disciples, they don’t call a big meeting and pray for God to bless the proceedings and then make up their own minds anyway after pouring over all of the resumes, conducting interviews, checking references; they don't make the decision all on their own and then ask God to bless it. Quite the opposite, they pray, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have already chosen.”

So what about us? When we are faced with life’s choices how do we decide what to do? Do we pray and then make up our own minds or do we ask for God to show us what he has already decided and keep our eyes and ears open to see what he is showing us? This is the end to which I would encourage us today. Whenever we are faced with a critical decision let us each seek the will of God in our lives and let us each pray as the disciples prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have already chosen.” And then let us actually wait for His answer. I know that as we do, He will show us what He has already chosen for our lives.

 

Let us pray.

www.sheepspeak.com

---

---

[1] Cf. Robert W. Wall, ‘Acts’ The New Interpreter’s Bible 10, (Nashville, Tenn.: Abingdon Press, 2002), 49-50.

[2] Richard N. Longenecker, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Pradis CD-ROM:Acts/Exposition of Acts/Introduction: The Constitutive Events of the Christian Mission (1:1-2:41)/D. The Full Complement of Apostles (1:12-26)/2. Matthias chosen to replace Judas Iscariot (1:15-26), Book Version: 4.0.2

[3] Cf. William H. William, ‘Acts’, Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, (Atlanta, Georgia: John Knox Press, 1988), 23.

[4] I. Howard Marshall: Acts: An Introduction and Commentary. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1980 (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries 5), S.71

[5] Cf. Richard N. Longenecker, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Pradis CD-ROM:Acts/Exposition of Acts/Introduction: The Constitutive Events of the Christian Mission (1:1-2:41)/D. The Full Complement of Apostles (1:12-26)/2. Matthias chosen to replace Judas Iscariot (1:15-26), Book Version: 4.0.2

[6] Cf. Simon J. Kistemaker, ‘Acts’, New Testament Commentary, (Grand Rapids Michigan: Baker Academic, 2007), 68.

John 13:1-17: Helping To Get Their Feet Wet

Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army, 20 Jan 2013

by Captain Michael Ramsay

The weather has been strange here lately: Snowy and then –20 and then Sunny and +2 or +3. With all this snowing and melting, there have been some days when it has been pretty icy the last couple of weeks. I admit that more than once I even accidentally did a 180-degree turn, put my car into a spin, and wound up facing the other direction in the other lane. This makes for a bit of a different winter experience than I was accustomed to when and where I grew up.

I remember once when I was teenager; there was ice on the roads. I know that’s not too memorable around these parts but on the Island that was a big deal. Alex, a friend of mine, showed up at my house in the middle of the night once when we were teenagers and the two of us took our cars to the university parking lot where he would show me one way teenage boys could have fun in the icy weather: he would drive quickly on the iced-over parking lot and then slam on the breaks put his car into a spin. I sat and watched in my car. He then came over to my car and showed me how to do the same thing. He had a 1975 Chevy Nova and I had a 1974 Pontiac Ventura at this point. These were basically the same car and we often used the parts from one car to repair the other because it was rare when we could actually both afford to have a car on the road at the same time. So now we were having a great time just racing and spinning our cars around and round in circles in the parking lot – seeing who can get their car to spin around the most times. We then naturally become braver and braver even if we don’t get brighter and brighter as we go along. We begin to drive towards each other at faster and faster speeds and slam on the breaks and spin every which way and we are having a lot of fun and getting pretty good at this when Billy shows up in his little Honda Civic. He is watching us and he tries to join in but for some reason his car won’t spin so I think that I will help Bill the way that Alex helped me. I get out of my car and go over to his car. He tells me to be careful. I tell him not to worry. We have been doing this for about an hour now - driving our cars full speed at each other and spinning in circles - and we are okay. Billy says ‘be careful I just got this car’.

I tell him not to worry. ‘I have a whole hour’s worth of experience driving on the ice. What can go wrong? If you can’t make you car spin, you probably just aren’t driving fast enough’, I say.

‘Be careful’, he says. I then race as fast as I can across the parking lot in his car. At the last possible moment with the concrete barrier before us – Bill exclaims ‘be careful!’

I say, ‘don’t worry about it’ – as we are going straight towards the concrete at a good clip, I slam on the breaks and… guess what happens? Apparently not all cars will turn 180-degrees on command. I turn the steering wheel, I slam on the breaks: that does absolutely nothing. We slide into the barricade. We are fine and his car isn’t hurt enough to worry about it so I immediately jump out of Bill’s car and run towards mine. Because I got his car that he wanted me to be so careful with into this accident, he revs his engine pretending that he is going to try to run me over. So as I am running away I call out, ‘be careful, you don’t want to hurt your car. Be careful.’

That night was the beginning of the end of my winter driving experience before moving to the prairies a couple of decades later. It was certainly the end of automotive horseplay on ice.

In our Biblical story today, it is the beginning of the end of Jesus’ ministry on earth before his crucifixion. This is his final dinner with his twelve chosen disciples with whom he has spent every possible moment of the last one to three years. They are really close. They are his devoted followers. Jesus knows that his hour has come to depart from this world (Verse 1). Jesus knows that one of his twelve closest followers is going to betray him (Verse 2). Jesus knows that the one who is going to betray him is the only one who is from a different region of the country. Jesus knows that the one who is going to betray him is one that he has trusted to look after the money for the group here (Verse 19). Jesus knows all this and he knows that – Verse 3 – God has put all things into Jesus’ hands, that he has come from God and that he is about to return to God. Jesus knows all this and this is his last supper before all of this takes place.[1] Our pericope today records what Jesus does at his last supper on his last night with his friends (John 13:1-27 and all of John 13:1-17:26).[2]

What would you do on your last night with your friends at your last supper? Growing up on the Island, I remember going to at least one party the before friends and acquaintances shipped out on a naval mission. I remember going to more than one dinner party, as a friend was about to move to the mainland or another part of the world. I have been involved in more than one supper and bachelor party as friends were about to move from one lifestyle into the next.

Here, in John Chapter 13, we have not just a friend eating his last meal with his friends but we have a teacher having his last meal with his students that he loves. He is having this last meal before he is handed over to the courts to be tried and convicted and then handed over to the soldiers to be mocked and tormented and then handed over to the executioner to be hanged on a cross and executed. This is the context. Think about it. You are looking at your friends, students, and loved ones one last time before you know that you are going die and that you know you are going to die a violent death and then you know, your friends, your pupils, they are going to be on their own. This dinner is Jesus’ last supper with his disciples and over these next 5 chapters of John (John 13-17), Jesus is preparing them for what is about to come.

It is in this context that our story today unfolds. The twelve are all at this dinner. Now it was common in those days for servants –like a waiter or a busboy or a coat-check girl- to wash people’s feet. Then and there people wore sandals all the time and they walked all the time, everywhere they went, so there would often be a servant to wash people’s feat.[3] Today in our text, today is different. Jesus, Verses 4-5:

 … got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵ After that, he [Jesus] poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

Picture this with me. Jesus knows this is the beginning of the end. Pretend that you are one of his disciples with Jesus now. This is another dinner together with your boss, your teacher, your leader whom you love and for whom you are literally and really prepared to die. You are his servant. You are his student. You are his disciple and all of a sudden he is taking off his clothes and washing your feet like he is your servant.  This would be like if you were invited to a fancy dinner with the Queen of Canada and – you’re all dressed up in your fanciest clothes and everything - then the Queen shows up as the valet to park your car. Or there is a big celebrity dinner for charity – think of your favourite actor or singer - and before they are supposed to go on and make their key note address, you walk past the kitchen and see them washing dishes by hand. This is the idea here. This is over the top.[4] This is one reason why this story is remembered all these generations later. Who of us wouldn’t react with Peter? Verses 6-10:

 He [Jesus] came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

⁷ Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

⁸ “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

⁹ “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

¹⁰ Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.”

So here we have Peter. He has experienced one or two little quizzes and challenges from Christ over the past one to three years. Peter is the volunteer in another object lesson from his teacher now and he is determined to get the answer right this time. If this was a multiple-choice quiz, the question before Peter would look like this: God, the Son of God, the Christ is standing there and he is about to wash your feet, do you…

A)    Say, “No, you are Lord! I should wash your feet. You are the master; I am the servant; I should serve you.”

B)     Say, “Yes, Lord wash my feet and I love you so much Lord that if you say you want to wash my feet, then go ahead wash anything of me you want: not just my feet, wash all of me.”

C)    None of the above.

D)    All of the above.

What would you do? What would you answer? This is Peter’s predicament and Peter, he goes through all the answers before he finally gets to ‘C’ and finally just submits to Christ’s will for his life and then things get really interesting. 

After Jesus washes all his disciples’ feet, after Jesus has this little exchange with Peter, after all this, after Jesus gets dressed again and after Jesus is sitting at his spot at the table, he asks them, Verse 12, “do you know what I have done for you?” So this is interesting. Jesus goes through the process of washing these 12 men’s feet. No doubt they are all thinking the same things as Peter. They are wondering what Jesus is doing. Peter has this little exchange and it is only after Jesus is dressed and it is only after they are all seated back down at the table that Jesus finally rhetorically asks them “do you know what I have done for you?” As he proceeds to explain it to them, Jesus knows that this is his last supper. Jesus knows he is about to be betrayed. This foot washing is an object lesson that he wants his disciples to remember as they eat and drink tonight for tomorrow he dies. “Do you know what I have done for you?” Jesus asks.

Here today, do we know what Jesus is doing for his disciples? Do we know, through this, what he has done for us? Do we know what Jesus is doing for us?  Why is he doing this? These questions arise, of course. So then, what now is the author of the Gospel of John leading to in this story? What is the text doing? And more importantly: what is God doing here in the story and today in our lives?

I have another story for us. This one is from one of the periodicals to which I subscribe: The Expository Times. This is from an article by Reverend Dr. Darren J.N. Middleton where he relates this Ghanaian parable:[5]

Once Kwaku Anansie lived in a town filled with wicked [selfish] people. They were always fighting, backbiting … [gossiping, and just being selfish]. Finally Kwaku decides to teach the people a lesson. He tells his wife to prepare a large banquet. Then he invites everyone in the town on one condition, that they have to eat with the spoons that are provided. As the guests arrive Kwaku hands each guest a spoon with a very [very] long handle. The guests then begin to eat the delicious food set before them. But since they are sitting close together they begin to disturb each other with their long spoons. In a short time all the guests are pushing, shouting, and fighting with one another. Kwaku [then] stands on a chair and calls for order. ‘I have invited you to a banquet and you have turned it into a battleground. Why are you doing this?’ One of the guests then raises his spoon and shouts, ‘Kwaku Anansie, you have [betrayed and] deceived us and made us look foolish! Nobody can eat with these long spoons you have given us! Kwaku responds, ‘no, it is not that I have made you look foolish but rather your own selfishness has betrayed you.’ Then he calls one of the guests to sit across the table from him. ‘This is the way to use these spoons’, he says as he dips his long spoon into the soup and feeds the person across from him.

Kwaku fed his guest personally, everyone at the banquet needed to do the same in order to enjoy the meal. Jesus washed his disciples feet and every one of us who has been cleansed by Jesus needs to do likewise at the eschatological banquet as we inherit everlasting life.[6] Jesus says, Verses 13-17:

“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Now that we know these things, we will be blessed if we do them. This is important. There is no room for selfishness at the everlasting banquet. There is no room for thinking we are above helping others and serving them as a servant would serve a friend of his master. This is the only way we can truly enjoy our place at the eternal feast with Christ.[7]

Nowadays, sadly, Canadians seems to be serving one another less and less and our culture and our country is seemingly becoming less and less helpful as it is seemingly becoming more and more selfish and less and less Christ-like everyday. And as less and less of us seem to be accepting Jesus’ cleansing, likewise less and less of us seem to be washing others’ feet. Some examples: There are people –even people who got to church services – who don’t declare money on their taxes and see no problem with that. There are people leave work early but write the full hours on their timesheet and see no problem with that. People tell what they call ‘white lies’ because that is easier than gently handling the truth in a situation. Some people refuse to tithe because they think of their own needs before God and the needs of others. Some people in this very country and this very community even regularly lie, cheat, steal, gossip, and act as badly as a contestant on a reality TV show or a guest at Kwanu’s banquet, putting themselves first – refusing to serve each other and refusing to wash each others’ feet. But we know that as Christians, as we each grow in Christ, we will begin to put Jesus first, we will begin to put others second, and we will begin to put ourselves last. Then, as we wash each one another’s feet in this way we will indeed enjoy our time at the eschatological banquet for evermore with our Lord and saviour.

I know that there are many people indeed who are doing this kind of Christ-like foot washing in our congregation. I have seen people here symbolically washing others feet by giving then a ride where they need to go and asking nothing in return. I have seen people here who make a meal for people in need. I have seen people slip children or others something who otherwise might not have anything that they could worship the Lord by placing in the offering plate. I have seen people who have gone through the Alpha course 3, 4, or 5 times before still invite their friends who have never experienced it and enjoy it anew all over again. I have seen people offer an encouraging word and a word of prayer to those in need. I have seen people who are here in this place, come alongside one another and encourage them, walk alongside them, and love them. I have seen you folks do all of this! And if even I have seen these things among us here, then how much more has our Father in heaven seen us worshipping Him by washing each other’s feet in these and other ways. For all of you that do this selfless Christian service to God and your neighbour today, I would like to say thank you and praise the Lord for your acts of selflessness. For as we each grow in Christ we will put Jesus first, we will put others second, and we will put ourselves last. And then, as we all continue to wash each other’s feet in this way we will all indeed enjoy our time at the eschatological banquet of eternal life with our Lord and saviour.

Let us pray.

 www.sheepspeak.com

---

---

[1] Cf. Paul Duke, "John 13:1-17, 31b-45. (Last Supper narrative)(Between Text and Sermon)," Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology 49, no. 4 (October 1995).

[2] Cf. William Hendricksen, John, New Testament Commentary, (Grand Rapids, Mi: Baker Academic, 2007), 221-227.

[3] Merrill C. Tenney, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Pradis CD-ROM:John/Exposition of John/III. The Private Ministry of the Word (13:1-17:26)/A. The Last Supper (13:1-30)/1. The washing of feet (13:1-20), Book Version: 4.0.2 and Colin G. Kruse: John: An Introduction and Commentary. Downers Grove, IL : InterVarsity Press, 2003 (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries 4), S. 275

[4] Gail R. O’Day, The Gospel of John, The New Interpreter's Bible, Vol. 9, ed Leander E. Keck, et. al. (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1995), 722.

[5] Reverend Dr. Darren J.N. Middleton, “4th October: Sermon for World Communion Sunday (Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-15)," The Expository Times 120, no. 12 (September 2009): 600

[6] cf. Gerard Sloyan, John, Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, ed. James L. Mays, et. al. (Atlanta, Georgia: John Knox Press, 1988), 171.

[7] Cf. Colin G. Kruse: John: An Introduction and Commentary. Downers Grove, IL : InterVarsity Press, 2003 (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries 4), S. 275