Two more sermons on The Last Week
in Jesus Life
March 25 - The Parable of the Talents
Matthew 25:14-30
Extravagant grace prompts an extravagant response.
The gospel (John 12:1-8) is characterized by ‘extravagance’. Jesus has
gone to have dinner with Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Mary anoints Jesus with a very costly perfume
– certainly more than she could afford.
Its purchase was a personal sacrifice.
Then she wipes his feet with her hair – an extravagant gesture.
Her sacrifice is offered to Jesus in thanksgiving – in response to His
extravagant grace. Jesus had raised her
brother Lazarus from the dead.
Extravagant grace prompts an extravagant
response.
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In the parable of the talents, three servants are entrusted with
talents by their master. The word talent
describes a gift or natural ability – and that definition points to the meaning
of the parable. But in Jesus time, the
word talent also had another meaning – a large sum of money. A gold talent was the biggest denomination of
money. If you translated a gold talent
into today’s currency, it would be the equivalent of $100,000.
So the parable of the talents is also a story of extravagance. The master gives each servant a huge sum of
money – more than they’d normally see in lifetime. He entrusts it to them and leaves for a long
time. It’s theirs to use.
But with the other definition of talent - gift or ability – then the
parable suggests your God-given abilities and natural gifts are of tremendous
value – worth more than all the money you’ll ever earn. But the Master entrusted those precious gifts
to you – and he’ll be back to checkup on what you’re doing with them. As Paul commented, having
gifts that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them.
Rom. 12:6
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Extravagant grace should prompt an extravagant response.
The first two servants used their talents – worked with them – and had
extravagant results – they doubled their value.
The master is pleased: Well done, good and faithful servant… Enter
into the joy of your master.
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On one level a wisdom story.
It’s a universal truth: “use it or lose it”.
Those who use their talents multiply them – see them grow. On the other hand, a muscle that is spared is
lost. A capacity for love is not used in
loving after a while becomes empty. Even
what one has is taken away.
To this fundamental truth, the parable adds that the giver of the
natural abilities - gifts – is the Lord God.
And he has expectations of us. So Peter writes: As each of us has
received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God’s varied
grace. 1 Peter 4:10
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But there’s more. The third servant is negative illustration of the
mysterious
challenge of Jesus’ words: Whoever would save their life will lose it, but
whoever would lose their life for my sake will find it. Matthew 10:39
It has been rightly heard as a call to sacrifice for the Lord. But it can also be heard as a call to take
chances for his sake – to take risks.
The third guy in the parable is the one who is not going to take any
chances. So he buries his talent – thus
keeping it safe and pure. But Whoever would save their life will lose it. His unused talent is taken away – he
loses it. Rather than being called
prudent, the master said he’s lazy and condemns him
You see the problem. The fear of
making a mistake can cause us to be too cautious. I won’t try anything new
because it might not work out. Our
vision becomes narrow.
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We can apply the parable to the Christian life – our walk with the
Lord. It is a corrective to interpreting
God’s law defensively and thinking that goodness only means not sinning – and
therefore not taking any chances of offending God. Then you’re trying to save your life by being
careful you don’t do anything bad – so don’t do anything – keep yourself pure
and safe.
The fallacy is to define being good primarily in negative ways –
focusing on the “Thou shalt not”.
Maybe it’s better to view the law as a corrective – a guide steering
our lives to something better. When the
law confronts our behavior, it’s not so much a limitation, but rather a sign
directing us to a better way. It
requires us to give something up, so that we can take up something that is
really more desirable.
The goal is more than avoiding bad stuff, but instead having the best
life we can now. We strive ahead toward
a new future made possible by Christ. It
is by His grace that the law is transformed into the way to a more abundant
life. The goal is, we pray, to experience
life now “on earth, as it is in heaven” - To begin to experience some of the
joy of heaven in this life.
That’s an ambitious goal, but one worth pursuing even if it takes
time. And it does – even
Not that I have already obtained this or have already
reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has
made me his own. Philippians 3:12
The goal of the Christian life is to become more like
Christ and to share in His power in this life.
And then the prize is the full pack of benefits available to those who
realize that Christ is making them “his own” right now; assurance and peace,
grace and transformation.
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As we strive forward, they’ll be set-backs – mistakes – but God’s grace
gives us the ‘freedom to fail”.
We’re not stuck where we are in life – because we can venture forward
in faith. From experience we know that
any change – anything new – carries with it the risk of stumbling – of even
failing.
But by grace we have the “freedom to fail”, so in faith we can move
ahead anyway knowing that should we stumble and fall, the Lord will still be
there for us. His grace and forgiveness
can give us a new start – so no failure will be final. We can admit our mistake, take his hand,
stand up and move forward.
So like Paul we can strive ahead to the new future
made possible by Christ. This one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind
and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the
prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13f
The heavenly call is to experience life “on earth, as it is in heaven.”
- to share in the holy joy. We can press on, knowing that there is more
to come.
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Do not remember the former things,
or consider the things of old.
I am about
to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
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This parable of the talents is a warning to those who may content to
save their faith – more is expected.
Extravagant grace should prompt an extravagant response.
This applies both to us as individuals and as a church.
Churches that only try to save themselves – just maintain what they
have - and are not striving to save their community - run the risk of losing
what they have. The Lord has given us a
mission – and blessed us with many gifts – you all. He expects us to use our talents together to
fulfill the assignment he’s given us.
In the parable, the Lord rewarded those who were willing to risk. Maybe you can’t save anything without risking
it. It’s an invitation to venture forth
in faith.
That could mean going down a path whose destination is unknown – maybe
we can’t see how we’ll do it – but if we feel called by the Lord, we’ll take
the risk and venture in faith.
If this is really the way he wants us to go, then we’ll trust that he
will provide the means and the guidance we need at each step along the
way. His power will complete what is
lacking in us.
But we also realize that we see only dimly. Maybe this is more our idea than His. Maybe this won’t work.
But he encourages us to venture forth – even to take risks – because
His grace will sustain us even if we are wrong.
He has given us the freedom to make mistakes.
If it’s not really His way, we’ll soon find out. Then we can admit that we made the wrong
choice, and turn back. He’ll guide us
back home – even sustain us along the way.
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Being a disciple is a life long process of growth. Often the Lord confronts us through His word
to correct us. He encourages us to
venture in faith and has given us the freedom to fail. So He keeps pushing us to be more – to become
the person He gifted us to be. The goal
is not just avoiding judgment, but having the best life we can - to experience
life now “on earth, as it is in heaven”.
March 28
Luke22:1-38
Thursday in the Last Week of Jesus
Life
Tonight
we study Thursday in the Last Week in
Jesus Life, and the death of Jesus is at hand.
The
place says so:
The
time says so. Passover,
the festival celebrating the exodus - the deliverance of God’s people from
slavery. Jesus would deliver his
people from slavery to sin.
The
characters say so. The chief priests and
scribes have been looking to get rid of Jesus.
Their schemes to entrap him had failed.
He remained popular with the crowds.
But their resolve to get him now intensified.
The Conspiracy against
Jesus – Luke 22:1-6
We last heard about Satan in the gospel for
the first Sunday in Lent - the temptation scene. It concluded when Satan left off tempting
Jesus until an opportune time. The opportunity comes through one of the
twelve. Judas agrees to hand Jesus over to the chief priests and officers when
the crowd is absent.
Satan entered into Judas. But Judas had to let him in. For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man
by whom he is betrayed. Don’t say “The devil made me do it.” You always have a choice and you, not he, is responsible for your decision.
Judas
was chosen by Jesus after a night of prayer.
He walked with Jesus for three years.
He was an apostle. What happened?
One
might speculate, but maybe Judas is a warning.
No matter how well you’re doing in your walk with the Lord, you still
must be careful that you don’t fall into temptation. Closeness to Jesus doesn’t mean Satan will
not attack you - and the tempter is clever and deceitful. Be on guard that you do not yield to
temptation.
Preparation for the
Passover Meal - Luke 22:7-13
Passover
is at hand, and Jesus is anxious to celebrate it with his disciples before his
arrest. So the preparations are
mysterious for the location is a secret – even His disciples don’t know. Peter and John are told to go and make
preparations.
Where? So that no one over-hear the location, they
are told Go and when you see a man
carrying a jar of water - unusual for normally women carry the water - follow him and he will lead you to the
room where you will make ready for the meal.
The
room was already furnished - and Peter and John would stay there - preparing
the food - until Jesus led the other disciples to the still secret location of
the upper room.
Institution of the
Lord’s Supper - Luke 22:14-20
It is His Last Supper: "I have eagerly desired to eat this
Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the
His
next Passover will be in the kingdom when all is fulfilled: Jesus will fulfill
all that the prophets foretold in perfect obedience to the Father’s will.
At
the time of the Exodus, the first Passover meal was forward-looking. The food was to be eaten after the family had
packed its belongings for the journey to the Promised Land - eaten in faith
that God would fulfill his promises. And
He did.
Jesus
said: From now on I shall not drink of
the fruit of the vine until the
Until
the kingdom comes: This new Passover meal looks forward to the kingdom coming
in its fullness, as we pray, Thy Kingdom
come. Every celebration of Holy
Communion is a foretaste of that feast to come - an anticipation of the
The
Passover meal was the seal of the covenant.
It commemorated the covenant offered to the faith community by a God who
sets free.
This cup which is poured out
for you is the new covenant in my blood.
Jesus’
blood seals a new covenant offering a new kind of freedom, a release from
captivity to sin and death - a new covenant extended by the liberating Christ
to all who believe.
Those
who share this covenant are joined to one another, as signified by the cup
divided among them.
Farewell Instructions
- Luke 22:21-38
While
they are still at the table, Jesus bids them farewell with words of warning,
both exhorting and encouraging them.
First
there is the prediction of his betrayal by one of the twelve. It is
not I, is it?
The
warning: betrayal of Christ has occurred - and can occur again by those who
partake at the Lord’s table. Pray that you not give in to temptation.
Second,
a dispute about greatness breaks out.
The leaders of the Gentiles lord it over them. But it is not so among you, the greatest among you must become like the least, and the leader like one who serves.”
The
Greatness
is measured by service and humility.
The
Lord Jesus shows us, by his example, that the only life worth living - and
dying for - is the life of faithful service to God by serving others.
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With
Jesus betrayal and arrest, all the disciples will be put to a severe test. For a time fear will overpower faith.
How can they be restored?
Jesus
turns to Simon Peter who will falter.
Through Jesus’ prayer of intercession, Peter will repent, regain his
courage, and become a source of strength for others.
Christians
are not those who are exempt from fear and doubt, from discouragement and
repeated testing.
Christians
are those who are supported by prayer, and who through repentance and
forgiveness, find grace and strength to continue.
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That
Thursday evening is marked by a striking contrast. Jesus has gathered his closest disciples for
the meal of the covenant – the sharing the bread and cup symbolizes their close
fellowship with one another and Christ. Yet at the table sat one who would betray and another who will deny
him. All of them will be overcome
by fear – their faith will falter.
Thus a warning for His disciples of today. We are not exempt from fear and doubt – our
faith may falter. We may become
discouraged – or perhaps give in temptation.
We are no better – no less human than those who first sat at the Lord’s
Table.
But
Thursday is the night when, at the table, Jesus announced the new covenant in my blood – the grace which offers
forgiveness. Like Peter, if we falter,
we can admit our sin, repent and turn again to the Lord. He offers grace – forgiveness and strength to
start again and continue in His way.