September 5, 2010
Jesus gives two illustrations to show that the commitment to Christ is to be real and earnest. Building a "tower" is an expensive project. Jesus probably meant, not a water tower or a guard tower, but a monument tower. The disciple's whole life is to be a grand, lofty monument to God's glory. What a pity if it remains unfinished, a monument to the sinner's folly and the bricks become only stumbling blocks on the way to heaven. To make a tower is expensive; to raise a cross shaped tower is costly too. The fact is we don't have the resources. In the last verse of today's Gospel lesson, Jesus said, "Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." If we have given up everything, we have nothing. We have nothing to build a cross-like-tower. We have even given up our claim to offerings and to our good deeds and good opinions. We can't even claim merit for bearing our cross. Jesus would say, "Was it heavy with the sins of the world? No, it wasn't. Was it heavy with your own sin? No, because that was carried on my cross! I even had to give you grace and the Holy Spirit to carry your cross. Your cross is a sign that you have given up everything to follow me." We are bankrupt. Only that we find that Jesus carried his cross for us. He carried the burdens of the cross and our sin. Then on that cross that lifted him up, he died to forgive that sin. It is that forgiveness and grace which gives us the power and confidence to carry our crosses.
Then there is the illustration of the king about to go to war against another king. Can he defeat the other king's 20,000 men with his own 10,000? Probably not, so he sends a delegation to ask for terms of peace, which might mean paying tribute money and taxes and perhaps losing territory. Discipleship means war against three great enemies: the devil, the unbelieving world and our own sinful nature (S.C., L.P.3). But the three is like an overwhelming force of 20,000 troops, twice as strong as our own 10,000. In other words, if we rely on our own power and resources, our own good intentions and wit; then we will surely fail. The point is not that we must surrender to the enemy or that we try to escape the fight from the beginning. That is impossible for the person who wants to follow Jesus. St. Paul said in Ephesians 6:10-17 that we fight the good fight of faith by putting on the armor of God. We need that, because if we are following Jesus, we are following him into battle against the devil and the world. Jesus counted the costs. Before he left heaven, he knew there would be at least one casualty. Jesus knew that when he did battle with the devil, that he would die on the cross. And yet it was that very act of dying that made Jesus the Victor! On the third day he rose again! Jesus did not ask for terms of peace, but rather he dictated them to the devil! The terms of peace were of forgiveness, our innocence, our release from death and hell, and eternal life in heaven.
If a person knows the cost of the building, if he realizes the strength of the foe, and if he recognizes his own poverty and weakness as a sinner, then he should despair, that is give up, to realize that it is impossible to be a disciple. This despair might mean rejecting Christ and the cross. We might decide not to be a Christian. We might decide not to take up the tower-cross or to meet the enemy of our faith. Or the despair might mean that we look to Jesus. We have to rely completely on the grace, love, and forgiveness of Christ. Jesus said, "Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." We give up everything, and then Christ gives us everything we need. He gives us a cross. It's no longer a symbol of shame, but a symbol of the glory of God, who loves us and died to forgive our sin.
Is it worthwhile being a Christian? Do you want to be a follower, a disciple of Christ? The kids in the confirmation class have to give a public answer to that. We are studying the Bible so that we can be sure. When we come to church and confess our sins, recite the Creed and receive communion, we are declaring our faith and saying that we find it worthwhile. Because in following Christ we have forgiveness of sins, eternal life and salvation.
Amen.
Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church