Only a Few?

August 21, 2016


GOSPEL LESSON: 　 Luke 13:22-30 [The Narrow Door]
22 Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’
26 “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’
27 “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’
28 “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 30 Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”

Someone asked Jesus, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” Actually, many people wonder the same thing today. First they wonder if they will make it or not if the number is limited. Or they wonder about their family members. The person who asked the question to Jesus was a Jew and probably wondered if all Jews would automatically be saved, but how about those Pharisees and Sadducees and the Samaritans and the poor Jewish sinners? How narrow is the door? People today wonder the similar thing. Will only Lutherans get to heaven? How about the Baptists and Roman Catholics? Of course the Baptists and Roman Catholics wonder, or perhaps doubt, if Lutherans can get through the Pearly Gates. How wide is the door? How wide is the mercy and grace of God? How about Jews and Mohammedans? Or how about Buddhists and other groups? For many people, the phrase “to go to heaven” is a nice expression that means the same as “to die.” Many people think that everyone will go to heaven when they die.

This last week in Japan was “Obon.” This is the time when families get together around the family altar to greet their ancestors who have come back from the land of the dead for a yearly visit. My chorus group friend said that when his wife’s family gets together, since they are all Christians, they have a Christian memorial service with prayers and hymns. I thought that this was an excellent idea. It reminded me of the church festival on November First of All Saints Day, which, as I understand it, was started because of the pagan ideas similar to “Obon” where the dead come back, like Halloween. In Christian teaching, the dead cannot return like that because they are with the Lord. It is great comfort to know that we will meet our beloved family and friends again in heaven. But it is not automatic.

In street evangelism there are the famous two questions: “If you were to die tonight, would you go to heaven?” And, “If Jesus met you at the gate of heaven and asked you, ‘Why should I let you into my heaven?’ what would you answer?” For the first question, it is surprising how many non-Christians say they would go to heaven. And it is also surprising how many Christians say that they are not sure. For the second question, non-Christians would say something like that they have been good people so have earned their way into heaven. On the other hand, Christians know that they are sinners and feel unworthy to go to heaven, and so fall on the mercy of Jesus who died on the cross to forgive their sin. In other words, Christians know they are saved by faith alone, by grace alone, by Christ alone.

“Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” Jesus did not answer about how many, he just said to make sure that YOU find the door! And yet Jesus did say that many would enter the Kingdom of God. At the time of Jesus, many people thought that only Jews would go to heaven. Gentiles could enter only if they became like Jews. But Jesus says that the Gospel is for the salvation of the whole world. Jesus said, “29 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.” And this is the Great Evangelism Mission that Jesus gave his disciples before he ascended into heaven. “Mt.28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’”

The mission was to tell the world about heaven’s door and how to enter it. Baptism is important because it is the confession of faith, the forgiveness of sins, and the beginning of a life in the presence of Jesus who is always with us.

Because of the sure promises of God given to in our Baptisms and reaffirmed to us in the Holy Communion and the Word of God, we never need to doubt our salvation. Here are some Bible passages to remember.

• John 3:16-18, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son."

• Acts 4:12, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

• Mark 16:16, "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."

• Romans 10:9-10, "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."

• Luke 13:24, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to."

It is the work of the Holy Spirit that saves us. The Holy Spirit brings faith into our hearts. And in faith we receive the benefits of Jesus' death on the cross, that is, we receive the forgiveness of sin, salvation and eternal life. No matter what denomination you are in, if you believe in Jesus as your Savior, that faith is the one and only narrow door. It is too narrow to carry our good deeds. It's too narrow to carry our bad deeds. The door is the cross. It is the open door of the tomb of Jesus. And finally, Jesus invites us in. Luke 11:9, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." And Jesus assures us that there will be many who will come to heaven. All who believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior will be saved. Jesus says, Luke 13:29, "People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God."

Jesus has opened the door for us. Let’s enter with faith and thanksgiving!

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY　　Let us pray. O Lord, You have called us to enter Your kingdom through the narrow door. Guide us by Your Word and Spirit, and lead us now and always into the feast of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church


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