17th Sunday after Trinity – Sermon 182

13th February 2011 Off By Derek Buckthorpe

Bible References :

 

Prayer to start

May the words of my lips and the thought of our hearts be graciously received for the Glory and Honour of our Lord Jesus Christ
AMEN

Introduction

Picture the scene – you’re at airport arrivals waiting with a friend –

a man walks towards you – carrying two light bags – he stops nearby – to greet his family – first he hugs his six year old son – ‘I’ve missed you so much son’ – he says – ‘me too dad! – says the boy

The oldest son – maybe nine or ten was next – ‘you’re quite the young man now’ – he says – and gives him a big hug – ‘I love you very much’ –

Then he turns to his little 18 month old daughter – he kisses her and holds her close – and – gives her to his oldest son –

and then he says – ‘ I’ve saved the best till last’ – turns to his wife – and gives her a long and passionate kiss – I love you so much – darling he says –

This idyllic scene is interrupted by a passerby – ‘How long have you been married?’ – We’ve been together 14 years in total’ he replies – 12 of them married’ – ‘and how long have you been away?’ – two whole days says the man –

Gosh – ‘I hope my marriage is still that passionate after twelve years’ – ‘ Don’t hope friend’ said the man – decide!’

Our relationships are important – whether they are with our families – our friends – our neighbours – or our maker – and we all need to work at them – if we want to make them last –

Our readings this morning focus on the relationships between a man and a woman – our relationship with children and with God – we are going to look again at what was said – to see if it can help us – decide how we can improve the relationships we care about
Point 1      Our relationships have their origins in God

 

First we need to realise that our relationships – have their origins in God –

As our reading from Genesis reminds us – we were created by God – in His likeness – to be social beings –

In the first chapter – on six separate occasions – God says that His creation was ‘good’ – and when He completed it and stepped back – He said it was ‘very Good’ – but in chapter 2 God saw something that was not Good – Adam’s loneliness –

For the first time He says something negative about His creation –

God sees that we need each other and that we need to share –

The story is set in the garden – in God’s inner most sanctuary – before the fall – it brings man and God at close quarters – and nothing appears to separate them

It portrays a hands – on God – for whom we are His crowning achievement – created personally by Him for a purpose –

He breaths life into us – gives us a place – as stewards over – the animals and plants around us – places us in an ideal environment – and provides us – with a partner – to cure our loneliness –

The man tells of the joy in having someone to share
his life with – both he and God realised that things were incomplete without her –

Spare rib apart – it also shows that man and woman are part of each other – and belong to each other –

The woman is presented as a partner and counterpart – valued for herself alone – the union of the two is to be inclusive – with God Himself – like the Father of the bride leading her to the man –

The story shows that mankind is – made for fellowship – rather than power – designed to live and love – giving themselves away – to one another on their own level –

it also shows that our well being is important to God – and that a healthy relationship in which a man and woman commit to one another is at the heart of God’s creation purposes for mankind –

Point 2       God strengthens family relationships

 

But as Jesus reminds us in our Gospel reading – success is not only about finding the right mate – its also about being the right mate –

The reading begins with a question from the Pharisees – on divorce

This subject was much debated by the Rabbis of the day – and although the law allowed a man to divorce his wife – there were many arguments on what grounds he could do it – for some adultery was the only ground – for others – much less serious grounds were allowed –

The pharisees believed that in marriage – as in all matters – it was the man who made the decisions – if a wife became irritating – or in his eyes unsatisfactory – produced no sons – failed to provide the meal on time – or developed too many premature wrinkles – then he had the right to send her packing –

We need to remember too that – this incident took place near the Jordan – where John the Baptist had been arrested and then beheaded – He had criticised King Herod – for marrying his cousin Herodious who herself – had to divorce her husband so the wedding could take place – and spoken freely of the arrival of the Messiah – and this question was clearly aimed at catching Jesus out –

The Pharisees quoted Moses – who doesn’t command or encourage divorce – but places strict controls on it –

Jesus doesn’t take sides – but instead moves to the heart of the matter – directing his reply at the Pharisees –
Moses gave you this rule – He says – because of your hardheartedness –
and He then makes a classic restatement of the text in Genesis –

in a lifelong partnership ‘two shall become one flesh’ (v8) – and in an ideal world – such a relationship blessed by God from the beginning – is not subject to the whim of one of the partners –

Jesus view on marriage is that it should be based on mutual love – and on the gift of self – to the other –

Marriage breakups – devastate people – devastate families- and millions of Christians pray each day for grace to remain faithful to their marriage vows –

For those that work to achieve it – the ideal remains – and in such marriages – people are able to learn and grow – together –

For those where marriage becomes intolerable – and divorce the outcome – Christian love remains – to support and to care – and to encourage forgiveness –

hardheartedness too – is the theme of the next incident – when Jesus shows His anger at the disciples preventing little children feeling the warmth of God’s love and welcome –

To the disciples – the children were probably an interruption – in more serious matters – but to Jesus they are people – and people are to be loved –

‘Truly I tell you’, says Jesus, ‘ whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it’.

As any parent or grandparent will know – spending quality time with a young child is a moving experience – of course they are by no means – always sweetness and light – not even the little ones – but the qualities that Jesus is talking about are those not yet bruised by the world around us – honesty – openness – willingness to learn – trusting – a zest for life –

receiving the kingdom as a child means – depending wholly on Father God – as children depend on their parents – coming to Him in trust for life’s real needs –

In any family its not only the children that grow – the adults grow too – as much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives – they are watching us – to see what we do with ours –

whether male – female – child or adult – we are all part of God’s creation – and all equally loved by God

However old we are – we still need to look at the world around us in wonder and see God in it – we need to trust God – even when we don’t understand what is happening to us – we need to approach life with the same sense of openness – the same hunger to learn – seeking God’s help in our unfolding journey –

Point 3     Christ above all things

There will be times in our relationships with each other and with God – that the going gets too slippery – and we start to lose our footing –

Along with joy and fulfilment – we experience frustration and pain – we want intimacy and closeness with our families and friends yet sometimes struggle with the personal sacrifice it takes.

before we realise it our confidence is shaken – and our faith is undermined –

But as our reading from Hebrews reminds us – all is not lost – we have with us a Saviour who has tasted all the very highs and lows of life –

‘All has been subjected beneath His feet’

In His suffering – Jesus has by God’s grace experienced the lowest of the low – and come through it – He has even tasted – death – and dealt with it on our behalf –

Jesus has burst into the world and reached the status that God has marked out for us – He has shared our flesh and blood – as our brother and father – and by God’s grace – He is family with us

Jesus is our ideal – He can stand in for us – doing for us what we can’t do for ourselves –

The writer to the Hebrews warns us that – Jesus is too great and too valuable to ignore – He is already ruling the world as rightful Lord – and – it is Jesus who will bring us to eternal life and to our heavenly home –

So – if we are to become the loving people God expects us to be – then we have to die to self – and follow the way that Jesus is showing us –

Conclusion

God knew what was best for Adam – He knows what is best for us –

We have been made by God – to care and share – and He has given us the ideal follow –

Are we ready to involve Jesus – in the relationships in our lives – If we do – the difference will be truly amazing –
Prayer to finish

In the name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit

AMEN