September 1, 2019, Joint Service

In today's Gospel lesson, Jesus talks about selecting seats at a party. Jesus gives this advice: "10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

You know, Sunday morning at church is like a dinner party, especially when there is the Lord's Supper. Then of course the place of honor is the Altar where Jesus is our Host. Jesus is front and center where we can all see him. When Jesus speaks, we all want to hear his words clearly: "This is my body given for you for the forgiveness of sins."

When we come to the Sunday morning Church Banquet, where do you like to sit? Some people enjoy the front row, some enjoy the back row. If we were to say to the people sitting in the back like Jesus did, "Come up and sit in the front," they would probably refuse "the honor." When I was a kid, we always sat in the back pews which were marked, "Reserved for Families with Small Children." When we kids got older, my mother was sad that she had to sit up closer to the front. But many mothers have told me that they are happy when their kids can sit still through the service and so they can listen to the sermon, etc.

My grandfather always sat up in the balcony. There were only a few people up there, rather lonely, I thought. I asked him, "Why do you sit by yourself in the balcony?" He said, "There is a loudspeaker very close to where I sit so I can hear the service and sermon better." Years later when he lived at our house and couldn't always go to church, we would come home after Sunday School and he would be sitting in his chair, with his portable transistor radio near his ear listening to the Lutheran Hour and then he would pray the Lord's Prayer out loud together with Oswald Hoffman.

He wasn’t IN church, but he was in CHURCH.

My favorite place in church is standing behind the pulpit speaking the word of God. For me it is a place of honor, and humility. It is also exciting when I know that I have been given a great sermon from the Holy Spirit that speaks the Word of God to the congregation. Both Law and Gospel. The Law shows not only our sin, but the results of sin in the world, like disease, hate, war, pain, sadness, loneliness, fear, etc. And when the Gospel message brings us out of all our human misery, it is miracle of the Holy Spirit. The suffering and death of Jesus on the cross shows the love of God toward us. And his resurrection shows the love and power of God. That means forgiveness, healing, hope and peace.

Jesus talks about choosing seats. It is important to choose wisely. Listen to this story about two of Jesus’ disciples.

Mark 10:35-40.
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask."
36 "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked.
37 They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory."
38 "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?"
39 "We can," they answered.
Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared."

The time of Jesus’ glory was when he was crowned with a crown of thorns as King of the Jews on the cross. For us and for our salvation, Jesus chose the seat of the cross. That was the time of his bitter cup of suffering and baptism into death. And in his glory, on his right and left were the two thieves. And yet, both James and John, and we too, must join with Jesus in his death so that we can join him in his resurrection. We too have a baptism and a cup to drink, but they bring us eternal life and joy.

Jesus said, "10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Jesus calls us to come up to where he is. He calls us to come to his Table. He is the Host and gives us the Holy Sacrament. He loves us and bestows on us the honor of being his friends, of being his brothers and sisters, and of being children of the Heavenly Father.

My favorite place in church is at the altar. But Jesus is always with us where ever we are, and so we can be happy where ever we are. We are always honored that Christ shares his presence with us!

Amen.

Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church

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