One in Christ Jesus | Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (ELCA) Manchester MO

Pastor:

Pr. John Gerike

Sermon audio:

Sermon: One in Christ Jesus

June 19 and 20, 2010

Galatians 3:23-29; Luke 8:26-39

We’re in the middle of 5 weeks,

where one of the Bible readings is from Galatians.

And Pastor Tom and I are keeping our eyes on those lessons

to listen to what they have to say to us.

So, here in the middle,

a quick refresher course on Galatians.

The letter to the Galatians was written by:

Paul.

The Apostle Paul.

I thought about saying

Paul’s letter to the Galatians was written by…

But that seemed a little easy.

The letter was written about when?

About 55 or 56 AD.

Although some would argue it was written as early as 49 AD.

It was actually one of the first New Testament books written—

--roughly 20 years after Jesus’ death.

Who was it written to?

The Galatians.

Who are the Galatians?

That’s not totally clear.

There are different ideas about that.

But it could be the churches in:

Antioch

Iconium

Lystra; and

Derbe.

But that’s not totally clear.

Why was Paul writing the letter?

He was concerned about them.

Arguing with them.

Mainly around the question—

--to be Christian,

do you have to be Jewish first.

When we think about the New Testament,

sometimes we think that everyone was in agreement about everything—

--that there wasn’t any controversy.

That everyone got along.

That no one had fights.

Not true.

Lots of conflict in the New Testament.

And one of the big arguments was this one.

To be Christian,

do you have to become Jewish first?

At this point,

no one was arguing that you had to start out Jewish.

But they were saying,

to be Christian,

you also have to follow the Jewish

rituals and practices.

And Peter and Paul saw this very differently.

And they fought about it.

Eventually came to somewhat of an understanding.

But it was a big deal.

And that’s what prompted the writing of the book.

So, as we hear this passage,

knowing the background

helps us hear it more clearly.

Would you read verse 28 with me:

There is no longer Jew or Greek,

there is no longer slave or free,

there is no longer male and female;

for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

What makes us one?

Is it because we look a certain way?

Or come from a certain background?

Or follow certain laws?

No.

What makes us one is Christ Jesus.

Verse 29:

And if you belong to Christ,

then you are Abraham’s offspring,

heirs according to the promise.

The key is belonging to Christ.

And Christ reaches out to everyone.

Everyone.

Even you.

Even me.

We hear that good news in Galatians.

We see it lived out in our reading from Luke.

Galatians tells us.

The reading from Luke shows us

that God loves all of us.

Everyone.

Even a Gerasene Demoniac.

That’s what he’s called.

We don’t know his name.

He was from Gerasa.

He was possessed by demons.

He’s the Gerasene demoniac.

Surely, Jesus couldn’t love the Garasene demoniac.

He wasn’t Jewish.

He was a Gentile.

He was possessed by demons—

--lots of demons.

He had no sense of self.

He was out of control and dangerous—

--they kept him chained up,

in the tombs,

under guard

--and still he broke free.

--and they were scared.

Everyone had given up on him.

But not Jesus.

Jesus cared about him.

Jesus reached out to him.

Jesus gave him purpose and identity.

Jesus loved him.

And Jesus sent him back into his community.

Let’s look at the story.

Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes,

which is opposite Galilee.

As it says in the intro to the Gospel in your bulletin,

Jesus’ mission includes foreigners…

Which is good for us.

Jesus and his disciples have just crossed over the Sea of Galilee.

Now, they are landing in foreign territory.

They are in the region of the Decapolis—

--10 cities

--10 Gentile cities

--10 cities most Jewish people would avoid.

But not Jesus.

To Jesus,

there is neither Jew or Greek.

Jesus loves all people.

Even you.

Even me.

And what do they find when they land in Gerasa?

As he stepped out on land,

a man of the city who had demons met him.

I’m not sure how to understand demon language.

I believe that there are evil things that shape how we live sometimes.

We are drawn to things that aren’t good for us,

that break down healthy relationships,

that separate us from God.

Addictions.

Inappropriate materialism.

Having to have everything our way.

I believe those are demonic—evil.

But is that what Jesus was talking about?

Or was it more like mental illness?

Or something completely different?

I’m not sure.

But this guy’s in bad shape.

He hasn’t worn clothes for a long time.

He didn’t live in a house,

but in the cemetery.

He was kept under guard,

chained up.

He kept breaking loose—

--and the people kept chaining him up again.

Was he dangerous?

Was he a criminal?

Not sure.

But he was certainly an outcast.

Not a person that sounds easy to love.

But still Jesus loves him.

Just as Jesus loves you.

And me.

Jesus asked him,

“What is your name?”

What did he say?

He said legion.

What does that mean?

A legion was a Roman military unit,

with 3000 – 6000 men.

So, when Jesus asked this man his name,

the only way he can answer

is by that which possesses him.

And he’s overwhelmed by all that possesses him.

Too much to count.

Actually,

we can probably identify with him

to some extent.

We can understand how we can see ourselves

only by that which holds us captive.

A little one comes home from school

and says to his dad (I’ll make it a dad since it’s Father’s Day weekend),

he says to his dad:

“I’m so stupid.”

And in a gift to his son,

the dad says:

“Tell me about it.

Did something happen at school?”

And dad finds out

that he hadn’t done well on a test,

and the person at the next desk saw it and said:

“You’re so stupid.”

And all of a sudden

that’s how the boy saw himself.

Until he got home,

and had a chance to see himself through his father’s love.

You’re so stupid.

Or you never get anything right.

Or you’re really clumsy.

Or, I’ll never pick you to be on my team.

Or you’re no good.

Or you’ll never amount to anything.

Maybe, as we get older,

the words become more refined—

--but they bite just the same.

And sometimes all we can see of ourselves

is that which holds us captive.

But God sees more.

God didn’t walk away from the man who scared so many others.

He loved him.

And gave him new life.

Just like God does for you.

And for me.

And he sent the demons into the pigs.

Who rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.

I always felt a little sorry for the pigs.

But the demons went into these unclean animals—

--unclean by Jewish standards

--and were taken away to the deeps

--where they couldn’t bother the man anymore.

And the people watching the pigs

went and told the whole city.

And people came out to see what had happened.

You’d think they’d be happy.

Excited for this man

who had caused so much trouble.

But no.

They saw him clothed,

in his right mind,

sitting and Jesus’ feet.

And they were….

….afraid.

And they asked Jesus to leave,

because they were seized with great fear.

Interesting use of language.

The man had been seized by demons.

Now that he was free,

the people were seized with fear.

Why?

Why were they afraid?

What do you think?

Maybe because they didn’t believe it could be real.

They’d been living with this man for a long time.

Surely he couldn’t be healed.

And what about this Jesus?

What kind of man is it

that has so much power?

Can he be trusted?

Or maybe it goes back to our desire to draw lines.

Over here the Jews, over there the Greeks.

Over here the slaves, over there the free.

Over here the males, over there the females.

And Jesus wants to take away the power of the lines.

Who is that person you think you’re better than?

Jesus says—

--you are all one in Christ Jesus.

And sometimes we don’t like that.

Surely you’re not saying that we’re the same.

Not me and him.

If that’s what you think—

--than get away from me

--just leave

(we say).

Maybe there’s someone you just don’t like.

And Jesus says—

--I love you both

--the line between you is gone.

And we want to say—

--that’s just not acceptable, God.

In fact,

what eventually happened to Jesus?

They crucified him.

Hung him on a cross.

Maybe at least one reason

is because he messed with their lines.

Their ways of looking at things.

And they couldn’t handle that.

And we crucified him.

God loves all of us.

Even the one we can’t stand.

Even you.

Even me.

And feeling that love,

the man begged to go with Jesus.

And what did Jesus say?

He told him no.

He said:

“Your mission is here.

At home.

Return to your home,

and declare how much God has done for you.

And for most of our lives,

our mission is at home.

There may be seasons of being sent far away.

But mostly,

God sends us back into our communities—

--our families

--our churches

--our schools

--our workplaces

--our neighborhoods.

God sends us to remind one another again and again

of the wonderful God who loves us—

--no matter who we are

--no matter what we’ve done.

God loves even you.

Even me.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen