God's Upside-Down Community - The Core
1 Corinthians 13
<Intro>
For the sake of those who were not here last week, lets do a really quick review.
Last week, we considered Eph 2:11-22. In that incredible passage we discovered that before we believed the gospel we not only had a judicial problem before God, we had a relational one. Our status was described as separated, alienated and without God. We also discovered that just as Jesus had resolved our judicial problem by taking on our sin and giving us his righteousness, Jesus had resolved our relational problem with God. He himself is our peace and he has broken down the wall of hostility and enmity and restored our relationship with God. But he did more than that. Jesus has brought people together into his body who, humanly speaking, have no reason to be together. He did this to demonstrate his wisdom, which is foolishness to man and to be a display of his glory. In fact, the picture we saw last week was that Jesus has joined us together to be a holy temple where God himself can dwell by his Spirit.
I subtitled last week's sermon "The Foundation" on purpose. I didn't simply want to dump on us a 12 point plan of how to live as God's upside down community. For one I don't think that is helpful and for another I don't see that approach taken anywhere in Scripture. Instead, I see the Biblical writers laying down strong theological pillars and then building upon those truths. That way the implications and applications flow not from one man's opinion, but from the worldview that Spirit has crafted in us by his word.
But now that we have these foundational truths in our hearts and minds, the next question that we should ask is what drives us to live this out? Certainly our desire to glorify God in all things is a driver (1 Cor 10:21) as is our desire to be obedient to Christ (Col 3:23-24)
And yet, the engine for all that we do, our evangelism, our giving, our behind the scenes service, our making of meals and serving in the nursery, our praying after midnight for wayward children and indifferent spouses is driven by something given to us by God. It is the love that Christ has placed in our hearts through the Spirit.
Before we dive into 1 Cor 13, I would like to set the stage with a couple of other verses. The first is [Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self- control; against such things there is no law.] I'm highlighting these verses as a simple reminder that love is not a gift like encouragement or teaching that some believers have and others do not. No, love is part of the fruit of the Spirit which is given to all believers.
Next, lets look at [2Cor 5:14-15 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this:
1 Corinthians 13
<Intro>
For the sake of those who were not here last week, lets do a really quick review.
Last week, we considered Eph 2:11-22. In that incredible passage we discovered that before we believed the gospel we not only had a judicial problem before God, we had a relational one. Our status was described as separated, alienated and without God. We also discovered that just as Jesus had resolved our judicial problem by taking on our sin and giving us his righteousness, Jesus had resolved our relational problem with God. He himself is our peace and he has broken down the wall of hostility and enmity and restored our relationship with God. But he did more than that. Jesus has brought people together into his body who, humanly speaking, have no reason to be together. He did this to demonstrate his wisdom, which is foolishness to man and to be a display of his glory. In fact, the picture we saw last week was that Jesus has joined us together to be a holy temple where God himself can dwell by his Spirit.
I subtitled last week's sermon "The Foundation" on purpose. I didn't simply want to dump on us a 12 point plan of how to live as God's upside down community. For one I don't think that is helpful and for another I don't see that approach taken anywhere in Scripture. Instead, I see the Biblical writers laying down strong theological pillars and then building upon those truths. That way the implications and applications flow not from one man's opinion, but from the worldview that Spirit has crafted in us by his word.
But now that we have these foundational truths in our hearts and minds, the next question that we should ask is what drives us to live this out? Certainly our desire to glorify God in all things is a driver (1 Cor 10:21) as is our desire to be obedient to Christ (Col 3:23-24)
And yet, the engine for all that we do, our evangelism, our giving, our behind the scenes service, our making of meals and serving in the nursery, our praying after midnight for wayward children and indifferent spouses is driven by something given to us by God. It is the love that Christ has placed in our hearts through the Spirit.
Before we dive into 1 Cor 13, I would like to set the stage with a couple of other verses. The first is [Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self- control; against such things there is no law.] I'm highlighting these verses as a simple reminder that love is not a gift like encouragement or teaching that some believers have and others do not. No, love is part of the fruit of the Spirit which is given to all believers.
Next, lets look at [2Cor 5:14-15 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this:
that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no
longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.] We have a union with
Jesus, both in his death and inhis resurrection. Remember Dan's baptism sermon? Because of this
union, the love of Christ (not just a love for Christ) controls us and compels us.
So that brings us to 1 Cor 13. This is what many call the "love" chapter and clearly for good reason. Unfortunately, the chapter is often preached out of its context. And while it makes for a wonderful, sentimental reading at a wedding, if we don't see God's intent for the magnificent love he is describing here, we really will misapply the truths this chapter contains.
<1 Cor 12 - context
The setup for chapter 13, of course is chapter 12, which is where Paul begins his teaching on the grace gifts. But, what's interesting about 1 Cor 12 is that Paul's inspired focus is not so much on the gifts, but on the purpose and use of those gifts. Look at [1Co 12:4-7 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. One God. One Lord. One Spirit. And, the gifts were given for the common good.]
Next, let's skip to [1Co 12:12-13 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.] One Jesus. One Spirit. One body. And, as we saw last week, our external distinctions are subsumed into something bigger; something better.
There is one more passage from 1 Cor 12 to set the stage for the "love" chapter. Here is [1Co 12:25- 27 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. ] You can see here the grace gifts have a purpose which is to build up the body. And Paul is laying down his cards regarding his holistic view on the function of the body of Christ. We really and deeply care for one another. When some one succeeds, we all rejoice as if we or our spouse or kids had succeeded. And when one suffers, the ache of our heart is just as grievous as we ourselves had suffered.
Yet, the question remains, how to do we get there? What is the engine, grace given to be sure, that allows us to begin to live and act the way God is calling us to? I submit to you that it is allowing the love of Christ to begin flowing in and through you for the glory of God and the benefit of others. This is without a doubt upside down and, I would dare say "unamerican", but I am convinced it is Jesus' call on all of our lives.
So that brings us to 1 Cor 13. This is what many call the "love" chapter and clearly for good reason. Unfortunately, the chapter is often preached out of its context. And while it makes for a wonderful, sentimental reading at a wedding, if we don't see God's intent for the magnificent love he is describing here, we really will misapply the truths this chapter contains.
<1 Cor 12 - context
The setup for chapter 13, of course is chapter 12, which is where Paul begins his teaching on the grace gifts. But, what's interesting about 1 Cor 12 is that Paul's inspired focus is not so much on the gifts, but on the purpose and use of those gifts. Look at [1Co 12:4-7 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. One God. One Lord. One Spirit. And, the gifts were given for the common good.]
Next, let's skip to [1Co 12:12-13 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.] One Jesus. One Spirit. One body. And, as we saw last week, our external distinctions are subsumed into something bigger; something better.
There is one more passage from 1 Cor 12 to set the stage for the "love" chapter. Here is [1Co 12:25- 27 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. ] You can see here the grace gifts have a purpose which is to build up the body. And Paul is laying down his cards regarding his holistic view on the function of the body of Christ. We really and deeply care for one another. When some one succeeds, we all rejoice as if we or our spouse or kids had succeeded. And when one suffers, the ache of our heart is just as grievous as we ourselves had suffered.
Yet, the question remains, how to do we get there? What is the engine, grace given to be sure, that allows us to begin to live and act the way God is calling us to? I submit to you that it is allowing the love of Christ to begin flowing in and through you for the glory of God and the benefit of others. This is without a doubt upside down and, I would dare say "unamerican", but I am convinced it is Jesus' call on all of our lives.
<1 Cor 13 - love vs gifts>
With this setting in mind, lets consider verses 1-3 of chapter 13. Paul is continuing his discussion about the use of the grace gifts. Tongues. Prophecy. Faith. Sacrificial giving. Martyrdom. These were some of the more spectacular, front office gifts in Corinth. And yet Paul reminds the Corinthians that without love even these prominent, seemingly more valuable gifts are worthless.
Remember Paul's point about why the grace gifts are given. They are given for the common good. How could any gift whether prophecy or working in the nursery or preaching or cleaning the church be done for the common good if it is not motivated by love. And if we are not motivated by love in our service to others within the body, our service is not having its intended affect within the body of Christ.
Remember also God's design of this body we are a part of. It is designed to be a single entity made up of many parts. It is designed to represent both the unity and diversity of the Trinity. So when we look to the Trinity what is the glue that holds the Father, the Son and the Spirit together, isn't it love?
<1 Cor 13 - love described>
Now consider what this love looks like. Verses 4 through 7 describe the love that Christ has for us and the love that should mark this upside down community that we are a part of. I am going to slowly reread these verses and I'd like you to meditate on two things. First, how are these true of Jesus? and second is how are these true of you?
[1Co 13:4-7 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.]
Can you see Christ in this description? Patience and kindness? Isn't that essence of the gospel? No envying or boasting or arrogance or rudeness? Wasn't that the nature of his earthly ministry? Not insisting on his own way? The garden of Gethsemane. Not irritable or rude? Every interaction with Peter or the pharisees. Not rejoicing at wrongs, but rejoicing in the truth. His teaching as well as calling people out of their sinful lifestyles both before and after the cross. Bears all things and endures all things. Isa 53 comes to mind. Believes all things and hopes all things. Jesus' prayer in John 17.
Now what about us? How do we measure up to 1 Cor 13? Quite frankly, I am the opposite of most of these. And the more I reflect on them the more I realize I don't even try to live up to some of them them. Which, I think is part of Paul's point. To really be the church, to really be the dwelling place for God by the Spirit, we need to be living not in a love we can produce, but in the love that Christ himself provides.
With this setting in mind, lets consider verses 1-3 of chapter 13. Paul is continuing his discussion about the use of the grace gifts. Tongues. Prophecy. Faith. Sacrificial giving. Martyrdom. These were some of the more spectacular, front office gifts in Corinth. And yet Paul reminds the Corinthians that without love even these prominent, seemingly more valuable gifts are worthless.
Remember Paul's point about why the grace gifts are given. They are given for the common good. How could any gift whether prophecy or working in the nursery or preaching or cleaning the church be done for the common good if it is not motivated by love. And if we are not motivated by love in our service to others within the body, our service is not having its intended affect within the body of Christ.
Remember also God's design of this body we are a part of. It is designed to be a single entity made up of many parts. It is designed to represent both the unity and diversity of the Trinity. So when we look to the Trinity what is the glue that holds the Father, the Son and the Spirit together, isn't it love?
<1 Cor 13 - love described>
Now consider what this love looks like. Verses 4 through 7 describe the love that Christ has for us and the love that should mark this upside down community that we are a part of. I am going to slowly reread these verses and I'd like you to meditate on two things. First, how are these true of Jesus? and second is how are these true of you?
[1Co 13:4-7 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.]
Can you see Christ in this description? Patience and kindness? Isn't that essence of the gospel? No envying or boasting or arrogance or rudeness? Wasn't that the nature of his earthly ministry? Not insisting on his own way? The garden of Gethsemane. Not irritable or rude? Every interaction with Peter or the pharisees. Not rejoicing at wrongs, but rejoicing in the truth. His teaching as well as calling people out of their sinful lifestyles both before and after the cross. Bears all things and endures all things. Isa 53 comes to mind. Believes all things and hopes all things. Jesus' prayer in John 17.
Now what about us? How do we measure up to 1 Cor 13? Quite frankly, I am the opposite of most of these. And the more I reflect on them the more I realize I don't even try to live up to some of them them. Which, I think is part of Paul's point. To really be the church, to really be the dwelling place for God by the Spirit, we need to be living not in a love we can produce, but in the love that Christ himself provides.
But living out this love is difficult, isn't it? Each of these aspects of love seem to be at war with what's
inside of me. And to make it even worse, many aspects of our culture seem to push us away from
this kind of love. Yet, it is these very realities that make this love the core of God's upside down
community.
How else could we pray for those who persecute us? How else could we give without expecting anything in return? How else could endure rejection and ridicule. How else could we hope for restoration and repentance? How else could we place our rights as subservient to the rights of others within our body? It is all driven by the love of Christ.
<1 Cor 13 - gifts limitation vs love's perfection - affect>
But there are other aspects of this love that both overshadow and undergird how we serve and relate to one another. As we see in verses 8 - 12, there is a permanence and a completeness to love that our gifts will never possess. We know this don't we? The limitations of what we can do, even in the power of the Spirit. For example, if have the gift of giving, there is only so much I can give. Even if I sell everything I have, it would never match the need that is out there. Or, if my gift is encouragement, at some point I will be the one who needs encouragement (2 Cor 1). That is just the nature of how things are now. They are limited by time, space, and our own frailness. But the love of Christ is perfect and complete.
<1 Cor 13 - gifts limitation vs love's perfection - extent>
There is another limitation of these gifts that set apart love. The gifts won't always be needed, at least not for their purposes today. Consider each of the grace gifts, think about all the various encouragements Jesus and the other New Testament writers express about service within the body. What is their overriding purpose? Isn't it to build, strengthen and restore people in their faith. What is preaching and prophecying? Isn't it for calling us to faith in Christ or to live out that faith (or live up to it)? Encouragement and helps? Isn't it coming alongside people who have lost sight of the goal of Christ and need a hand or a boost? What about leadership or administration? Isn't that simply providing a framework where people can more clearly hear the word of Christ and respond in faith and repentance?
Now, picture the new heavens and the new earth. Streets of gold, city gates of pearls, etc. Which of the gifts are needed for the purposes we've listed? Will anyone struggle in their faith? Will any one's health, family or job situation be so overwhelming that the gospel is obscured? Will anyone be wayward or struggling with doubt? Will the followers of the Lamb not know when to gather before the throne? My friends the gifts are temporary, or at least their current purposes are temporary, because our current task is temporary. But a rejoice in this: a day is coming when all this will be unnecessary. We will see God face to to face. And we will know him, even as today we are fully known.
Can I be candid for a moment? I often wrestle with how best to express the truths contained within God's word. I see the immensity of it, the beauty of it and the power in it. And I know after 20ish years I am only beginning to begin to begin to grasp these things. Yet there is a compulsion in me to convey what I do see. To teach, to preach, to lead and facilitate bible studies. I'm guessing many of you don't have 1 Cor 9:16 highlighted, underlined or circled. Well, I do because of the reality of the middle sentence "Necessity is laid upon me". I can't not teach.
How else could we pray for those who persecute us? How else could we give without expecting anything in return? How else could endure rejection and ridicule. How else could we hope for restoration and repentance? How else could we place our rights as subservient to the rights of others within our body? It is all driven by the love of Christ.
<1 Cor 13 - gifts limitation vs love's perfection - affect>
But there are other aspects of this love that both overshadow and undergird how we serve and relate to one another. As we see in verses 8 - 12, there is a permanence and a completeness to love that our gifts will never possess. We know this don't we? The limitations of what we can do, even in the power of the Spirit. For example, if have the gift of giving, there is only so much I can give. Even if I sell everything I have, it would never match the need that is out there. Or, if my gift is encouragement, at some point I will be the one who needs encouragement (2 Cor 1). That is just the nature of how things are now. They are limited by time, space, and our own frailness. But the love of Christ is perfect and complete.
<1 Cor 13 - gifts limitation vs love's perfection - extent>
There is another limitation of these gifts that set apart love. The gifts won't always be needed, at least not for their purposes today. Consider each of the grace gifts, think about all the various encouragements Jesus and the other New Testament writers express about service within the body. What is their overriding purpose? Isn't it to build, strengthen and restore people in their faith. What is preaching and prophecying? Isn't it for calling us to faith in Christ or to live out that faith (or live up to it)? Encouragement and helps? Isn't it coming alongside people who have lost sight of the goal of Christ and need a hand or a boost? What about leadership or administration? Isn't that simply providing a framework where people can more clearly hear the word of Christ and respond in faith and repentance?
Now, picture the new heavens and the new earth. Streets of gold, city gates of pearls, etc. Which of the gifts are needed for the purposes we've listed? Will anyone struggle in their faith? Will any one's health, family or job situation be so overwhelming that the gospel is obscured? Will anyone be wayward or struggling with doubt? Will the followers of the Lamb not know when to gather before the throne? My friends the gifts are temporary, or at least their current purposes are temporary, because our current task is temporary. But a rejoice in this: a day is coming when all this will be unnecessary. We will see God face to to face. And we will know him, even as today we are fully known.
Can I be candid for a moment? I often wrestle with how best to express the truths contained within God's word. I see the immensity of it, the beauty of it and the power in it. And I know after 20ish years I am only beginning to begin to begin to grasp these things. Yet there is a compulsion in me to convey what I do see. To teach, to preach, to lead and facilitate bible studies. I'm guessing many of you don't have 1 Cor 9:16 highlighted, underlined or circled. Well, I do because of the reality of the middle sentence "Necessity is laid upon me". I can't not teach.
I share all of that to say this: a day is coming when this type of teaching will not be needed. We will
know God better than we know our spouses or our closest friends today. In fact we will know him
better than we currently know ourselves. We will see and experience him in his fullness. Everything
that is shadow will on that day become substance. Blueprint will become completed building. Fuzzy
tv will become dazzling reality. But in all that three things will remain. Faith. Hope. Love. And the
greatest of these is love.
God through Jesus in the power of the Spirit has given us this engine of love to make the promise of Eph 2 a reality. But if any of you are like me, you are asking what does this look like? How do we put this into practice? God wouldn't just leave us hanging here, would he?
Those are really questions that I pray will be more fully answered in two weeks. But for now let me set the stage in two ways. First let's take a quick survey of where this is pictured in the New Testament. Here is my quick scan: Rom 12-15. 1 Cor 3-14, 2 Cor 1-9, Gal 6, Eph 2-6, Phil 1-4, Col 3- 4, 1 Th 4, 2 Th 3, 1 Tim 2, 5, Tit 3, Phm, Heb 12-13, Jm 1-5, 1 Pt 1-5, 1 John 2-5, 3 John. In fact, it is summed up well in [1Jo 5:1-3 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.]
<start of good Samaritan> <power point> <12 min>
But to drill into a more specific example, let's look at Lk 10:25-37. This encounter and parable will be familiar to most of us, but I think it really paints the upside down nature of God's community and models the kind of love it takes at the core of such a community. And, as you're turning to Luke, remember my comments from last week about loosing the awesomeness in the familiar. Lets read with fresh eyes. Listen with fresh ears. Engage with a fresh mind. Be affected with a fresh heart.
<good Samaritan setup>
The passage begins with Jesus interacting with a religious lawyer who essentially asks him how to be saved. Interesting Jesus doesn't answer directly, but replies by asking the lawyer what the lawyer thought. The lawyer's reply is to quote Dt 6:5 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind" and Lv 19:18 "love your neighbor as yourself.” Even more interestingly, Jesus says "yep, do this and you will live".
God through Jesus in the power of the Spirit has given us this engine of love to make the promise of Eph 2 a reality. But if any of you are like me, you are asking what does this look like? How do we put this into practice? God wouldn't just leave us hanging here, would he?
Those are really questions that I pray will be more fully answered in two weeks. But for now let me set the stage in two ways. First let's take a quick survey of where this is pictured in the New Testament. Here is my quick scan: Rom 12-15. 1 Cor 3-14, 2 Cor 1-9, Gal 6, Eph 2-6, Phil 1-4, Col 3- 4, 1 Th 4, 2 Th 3, 1 Tim 2, 5, Tit 3, Phm, Heb 12-13, Jm 1-5, 1 Pt 1-5, 1 John 2-5, 3 John. In fact, it is summed up well in [1Jo 5:1-3 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.]
<start of good Samaritan> <power point> <12 min>
But to drill into a more specific example, let's look at Lk 10:25-37. This encounter and parable will be familiar to most of us, but I think it really paints the upside down nature of God's community and models the kind of love it takes at the core of such a community. And, as you're turning to Luke, remember my comments from last week about loosing the awesomeness in the familiar. Lets read with fresh eyes. Listen with fresh ears. Engage with a fresh mind. Be affected with a fresh heart.
<good Samaritan setup>
The passage begins with Jesus interacting with a religious lawyer who essentially asks him how to be saved. Interesting Jesus doesn't answer directly, but replies by asking the lawyer what the lawyer thought. The lawyer's reply is to quote Dt 6:5 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind" and Lv 19:18 "love your neighbor as yourself.” Even more interestingly, Jesus says "yep, do this and you will live".
Without spending a ton of time on this part of the passage, Jesus is basically affirming what the
entire Bible holds out as being the essence of true religion, loving and worshiping God and loving and
serving others. Yet we must do this perfectly to be rightly related to God and failing just one point is
the same as failing at all points. (Jm 2:10)
To read into this part of the passage just a bit, in the moment between the lawyer hearing Jesus' response and his opening his mouth, he had to be thinking, "what are the boundaries here? These verses are way too open ended. I may have to put this into practice." He could have just as easily asked about where or when. He could have addressed worship instead of service. You see, this lawyer was smart. He saw the implications if the verses he quoted were left unconstrained. It would turn more than 2 millennia of Judaism on its head. An unconstrained love of God and neighbor is beyond us. If that is what God requires for us to be saved, we are all doomed. (Which, of course, is part of the point)
In order to answer the lawyer's second question and actually highlight and intensify his previous answer, Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan. We don't have the time to look into the details of the parable this morning. Instead, we'll take a flyover and engage the parable at a more holistic level.
<parable rule>
The first thing we need to remember is that each parable has only one main point. Discerning that point is key to understanding the characters, settings and events within the parable itself. For this particular parable, the main point Jesus is trying to convey is that there is no set definition of neighbor. It is really open ended, just like the lawyer was afraid of. In fact, I would dare to say that Jesus intentionally pushed some racial and religious boundaries in picking the hero of his story.
<priest and levite>
Next, track with the first two characters who encounter the guy who was robbed and beaten. Since we know the "punchline" we see them and think "ooh they're bad boys". But if we're listening for the first time and we're in the cultural context of the lawyer, the first two characters are actually doing what you would expect. At least the lawyer would think so. After all, a lawyer obeys the law, doesn't he? Stay pure, keep to the letter of the law, keep your love and mercy constrained so it is manageable and within our grasp.
<Samaritan>
When the Samaritan arrives, Jesus' parable busts several paradigms wide open. However, I would like to note here that these paradigm busters are entirely consistent with what Jesus has been saying all along. First, the fact that he uses a Samaritan as his hero is a shocker. That would be the akin to retelling the parable today with a Catholic priest, a Baptist pastor and an Al-Qaeda terrorist.
To read into this part of the passage just a bit, in the moment between the lawyer hearing Jesus' response and his opening his mouth, he had to be thinking, "what are the boundaries here? These verses are way too open ended. I may have to put this into practice." He could have just as easily asked about where or when. He could have addressed worship instead of service. You see, this lawyer was smart. He saw the implications if the verses he quoted were left unconstrained. It would turn more than 2 millennia of Judaism on its head. An unconstrained love of God and neighbor is beyond us. If that is what God requires for us to be saved, we are all doomed. (Which, of course, is part of the point)
In order to answer the lawyer's second question and actually highlight and intensify his previous answer, Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan. We don't have the time to look into the details of the parable this morning. Instead, we'll take a flyover and engage the parable at a more holistic level.
<parable rule>
The first thing we need to remember is that each parable has only one main point. Discerning that point is key to understanding the characters, settings and events within the parable itself. For this particular parable, the main point Jesus is trying to convey is that there is no set definition of neighbor. It is really open ended, just like the lawyer was afraid of. In fact, I would dare to say that Jesus intentionally pushed some racial and religious boundaries in picking the hero of his story.
<priest and levite>
Next, track with the first two characters who encounter the guy who was robbed and beaten. Since we know the "punchline" we see them and think "ooh they're bad boys". But if we're listening for the first time and we're in the cultural context of the lawyer, the first two characters are actually doing what you would expect. At least the lawyer would think so. After all, a lawyer obeys the law, doesn't he? Stay pure, keep to the letter of the law, keep your love and mercy constrained so it is manageable and within our grasp.
<Samaritan>
When the Samaritan arrives, Jesus' parable busts several paradigms wide open. However, I would like to note here that these paradigm busters are entirely consistent with what Jesus has been saying all along. First, the fact that he uses a Samaritan as his hero is a shocker. That would be the akin to retelling the parable today with a Catholic priest, a Baptist pastor and an Al-Qaeda terrorist.
The listeners would have had really no categories to place this hero in.
<love connection>
Next look at the motive for the Samaritan's behavior. He was moved with compassion. Literally the word would be moved in his gut with compassion. It took him over. Sound like 2 Cor 5:14 to anyone? Also notice that this was an unconditional, unidirectional expression of love. There was no sign of a quid pro quo. What payback could he expect from a beaten up half dead guy laying on the side of the road. And then there is the extent of the Samaritan's care for the victim. It would be a stretch to say it was unlimited, but he certainly cared for everything that was in front of him and laid out some resources for any unexpected contingencies. To use a modern day phrase, he certainly went above and beyond the call of duty for someone who racially and religiously was his enemy.
But lastly, notice there was no connection between the Samaritan and the victim. This really feeds into Jesus' main point: there is no limit to the expectations for showing God's love. These guys weren't friends, they clearly weren't from the same town or synagogue. And yet the Samaritan lavished him with care, compassion and love.
<Jesus' punch line>
So Jesus asked and lawyer and he asks us: who was the neighbor to the victim? Don't just read the answer. Feel it in you heart. Feel it in your gut. The call of Jesus, the call for followers of Christ is not just to know the gospel. It is to live the gospel. And isn't that what the Samaritan did?
Unmerited mercy and grace. Gifts that we need but are unable to ask for and unable to repay. Care for needs that are leading to our death. A supply of resources that extend beyond our present need. All of this from one who before this we would have considered our enemy. (Remember the dividing wall of hostility? - Eph 2:14) By the way, if you are seeing Christ in the character of the Samaritan, that's a good thing.
<conclusion>
So, where do we go with all of this? In a nutshell, that's the question I'm trusting the Spirit to answer in two weeks. For now, let me leave you with some thoughts to meditate upon in your quiet time or while you are working out or while you are driving to or from work.
1) Why did God leave you behind, so to speak, after he gave you new life in Christ? (Couldn't we all have been like the thief on the cross?)
2) How does our satisfaction in Christ translate into our service for our brothers and sisters in Christ?
3) When you read the "weaker brother" passages (Rom 14, 1 Cor 8) on which side of the equation do you see yourself? Why?
Next look at the motive for the Samaritan's behavior. He was moved with compassion. Literally the word would be moved in his gut with compassion. It took him over. Sound like 2 Cor 5:14 to anyone? Also notice that this was an unconditional, unidirectional expression of love. There was no sign of a quid pro quo. What payback could he expect from a beaten up half dead guy laying on the side of the road. And then there is the extent of the Samaritan's care for the victim. It would be a stretch to say it was unlimited, but he certainly cared for everything that was in front of him and laid out some resources for any unexpected contingencies. To use a modern day phrase, he certainly went above and beyond the call of duty for someone who racially and religiously was his enemy.
But lastly, notice there was no connection between the Samaritan and the victim. This really feeds into Jesus' main point: there is no limit to the expectations for showing God's love. These guys weren't friends, they clearly weren't from the same town or synagogue. And yet the Samaritan lavished him with care, compassion and love.
<Jesus' punch line>
So Jesus asked and lawyer and he asks us: who was the neighbor to the victim? Don't just read the answer. Feel it in you heart. Feel it in your gut. The call of Jesus, the call for followers of Christ is not just to know the gospel. It is to live the gospel. And isn't that what the Samaritan did?
Unmerited mercy and grace. Gifts that we need but are unable to ask for and unable to repay. Care for needs that are leading to our death. A supply of resources that extend beyond our present need. All of this from one who before this we would have considered our enemy. (Remember the dividing wall of hostility? - Eph 2:14) By the way, if you are seeing Christ in the character of the Samaritan, that's a good thing.
<conclusion>
So, where do we go with all of this? In a nutshell, that's the question I'm trusting the Spirit to answer in two weeks. For now, let me leave you with some thoughts to meditate upon in your quiet time or while you are working out or while you are driving to or from work.
1) Why did God leave you behind, so to speak, after he gave you new life in Christ? (Couldn't we all have been like the thief on the cross?)
2) How does our satisfaction in Christ translate into our service for our brothers and sisters in Christ?
3) When you read the "weaker brother" passages (Rom 14, 1 Cor 8) on which side of the equation do you see yourself? Why?
4) If we are truly the upside down community of God, how do we reorient ourselves so we see the
Father, Son and Spirit, plus the church Jesus bought with his own blood as right side up? In other
words, what will it take to really, seriously and honestly change our entire worldview to align it with
God's?
To God Alone be the Glory
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