12 July 2009
St. Athanasius Lutheran Church
Pentecost 6 Vienna, VA
“The
Freedom of a Christian”
Text:
Mark 6:14-29
Grace, mercy, and peace
to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
In the Holy Gospel that
we heard today, who was in prison?
You will probably tell
me John. John the Baptist. And you would not be wrong. King Herod had John
seized and bound and thrown into his dungeon.
But now, think some
more; think a little deeper. In the Holy Gospel that we heard today, who was in
prison?
The answer is: those to
whom John preached. For Herod, Herodias, and Herodias’ daughter Salome, were
all in the prison house of sin and death. John’s prison was a physical prison
that would last only for a time, but the house of Herod was in a spiritual
prison that if not stormed and broken down, would last for eternity.
And so John preaches to
them, both before he is thrown into
prison, and after he is thrown into
prison. They are his neighbors, who need his love, who need his preaching, who
need his care. They are his neighbors, even after they do him wrong. They are
his neighbors, even though they do not consider him as one.
And so John preaches to
them, that even as he sits in darkness and chains, they might be set free from
their captivity to sin. John preaches to them because, in reality, he is the
one who is free. Free in Christ to love and serve. Free in Christ, no matter
what the outward situation. Free in Christ to lay down his life for others.
And for his efforts,
John is beheaded. And not just
beheaded, but made a spectacle of, as his head is put on a platter and given as
a bloody gift. But this is not to his shame but to his glory - he is counted
worthy of suffering for the name of Jesus Christ.
Which now brings us to
you. For you know both these prisons - the prison of sin, and the prison of
suffering.
You know the prison of
sin, for the truth is that you and your house are not so different from the
house of Herod. You know the weight of the chains of sin from which you cannot
set yourselves free. You know the darkness of the evil that lurks in your
heart. You know the shame of that which seeks to hold you in its captivity.
Like the house of Herod, you may look free on the outside, but inside, it’s
quite another story, isn’t it?
For what is it with
you? What sins have enslaved you? Perhaps they are sins like those of Salome,
Herodias’ daughter - those sins you have done for pleasure and delight, but of
which now you are ashamed. Perhaps they are sins like those of Herodias,
Herod’s illegitimate wife - those sins you have done because of grudges and
hatred and anger and revenge. Or perhaps they are sins like those of Herod
himself - sins you have done because you wanted what was not yours, or sins you
have done because you have feared looking bad in front of your friends more
than you have feared looking bad in the eyes of God. And what other sins, for
what other reasons?
You know the prison of
suffering as well - suffering perhaps even for doing good, like John. Suffering
because you have faithfully fulfilled a God-given vocation, like John, but your
good was met with hardship, pain, and difficulty. And maybe those God-given
vocations of parent or child, boss or worker, student or teacher, friend or
neighbor now even feel like prisons themselves. Like great chains weighing you
down. Chains from which you would like to be set free. Chains of obligations
and commitments and responsibilities, where the good that you would do is met
only with ingratitude and even scorn. And all the future looks to hold is more
of the same. More demands, more languishing; less joy, less freedom; unfairly
treated, unappreciated, and overlooked. Maybe it will even be your head next on
the chopping block . . .
But whether your chains
come from your own self-seeking sins or from the self-indulgent sins of others
- or both - you have hope. Hope, for
the One to whom John pointed, the One of whom He preached, has come. The Lamb
of God who takes away the sin of the world. The One who came to fulfill all
righteousness. The One who came not to be served, but to serve you, and to give
His life to set you free. To set you free from your chains of sin and from your
chains of suffering. To give you the freedom of a child of God. Freedom from
sin, not freedom for sin. Freedom to serve, not freedom from serving. And the
freedom to live, even now - no matter what obstacles stand in your way, no
matter what dungeons surround you - knowing that you are not alone, not
forgotten, and that your suffering is not in vain.
For the One to whom
John pointed, the One of whom He preached, has come. The Lamb of God who takes
away the sin of the world has come, for
you. To take the sins that you inflict on others, and to take the sins that
others inflict on you. To take the sins of your past, and to take the sins of
your future. To take the sins that rob you of life, and to take the sins you
think you need to give you life. To take all the sins that weigh you down and
imprison you and be the bloody gift that sets you free. For He takes the
judgment of sin in your place on the cross. He feels the sting of death and is
laid in the grave in your place. He enters the prison house of sin and death
with you, for you. That in His
resurrection, not only He be free, but you be set free.
And so when Jesus burst
the bonds of the grave on the Easter morning, it was as if a whole army came
with Him. A whole army of people from every nation, tribe, people, and language
set free. Free from sin, free from death, free to now live - to live like our
first parents, who did not know sin or death, but only life.
That is the life that
has been given to you - the life into which you have been baptized. A life
where the judgment of sin and the fear of death have been put away and where
the sins of others cannot keep you down because of the power of Jesus’ death
and resurrection. A resurrection which is not just a future hope, but a present
reality that you get to live now. A present reality every time you hear His
Word of forgiveness. A present reality every time you receive the gift of His
body and blood. A present reality every time you lay down your life for others,
in the sure and certain hope that you cannot give more than Christ has given to
you. For the water and blood that flowed from His side are a never-ending
banquet feast for you and me - a banquet where the devil does not dance, but
where the angels sing, and a whole kingdom is given to you and me. The kingdom
of God given to sons and daughters of God. Sons and daughters born of water and
the Spirit.
That is the faith that
enabled John to preach and serve his neighbor in prison or out of prison. No
matter his outward situation, he was free in Christ Jesus.
And that is the faith
that now enables you to live, in your
God-given stations, whether in prison or out of prison, in suffering or in joy.
For no matter your outward situation, you are free in Christ Jesus.
For quite frankly,
sometimes, when you stick your neck out for others, your head’s gonna get
chopped off! A bloody gift to your
neighbor. And if it does, what will you do? Retreat into your shell and into a
prison of fear? Or in the forgiveness, love, and life of Christ, be raised to
live another day? Another day of freedom. Another day of resurrection. And
whether you are counted worthy to suffer for the name of Christ Jesus, or
spared from such suffering, thanks be to God! Thanks be to God that no matter
what comes your way, you are safe in the ark of the body of Christ Jesus.
So today, John is
calling you to repentance and to faith. And today, Jesus is calling you to His
Table of forgiveness, life, and salvation. So come now, child of God, and live. And then go, child of God, and live. In freedom. For the Son has set you
free. And if the Son sets you free - no matter where you are or what you
are - you are free. Free indeed!
In the Name of the
Father and of the (+) Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Now the peace of God
which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through faith in
Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.
(Thanks to Rev. Erik Rottmann and Rev. Dr. Rick Stuckwisch
for some of the thoughts, words, and inspiration for this sermon.)