Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Word of the Lord which engages us this evening comes from our Gospel lesson (Matthew 26: 57-68).
There was a lot of confusion that night of Jesus' trial, even now that the religious leaders of the nation had him in their grasp. They can't agree on the charges against him. Their plan didn't seem to be working. They can't find witnesses who will agree in their accusations against Jesus. Even when they find two who agree on something that Jesus did say, Jesus is silent. He refuses to answer.
He refuses to answer because that's not the point. It's not what Jesus said or didn't say, what Jesus taught or didn't teach, not what Jesus did or didn't do. It is not until the high priest himself speaks that the REAL issue finally comes up. It's not until he speaks to Jesus does their plan start to converge with God the Father's plan. The Priest says: "YOU MAN � helpless, arrested, doomed, on the way to death man � are YOU the Christ, the Anointed One chosen by God and God's own very Son?" Two ways of thinking about saviors, two ways of thinking about God: Power or weakness, strength or helplessness.
No one, by nature, wants this kind of a helpless, doomed Savior. Jesus' reply to the high priest: YOU said it! Even though you don't believe that it is true, YOU said it. He'll say the same thing to Pilate when asked whether he is the king of the Jews. "YOU are saying it � it's the truth, even though you don't believe it yourself (26: 64).
If the Savior is a helpless prisoner on his way to death, what does that say? A powerful Savior, a Judge and a Conqueror would not have taken care of the problem, because the enemies are not primarily OUT THERE somewhere. The problem must be a lot worse � the problem of human sin. If the Savior is suffering and dying and he's really the Savior� he's not doing this for his own sins� then he must be suffering for someone else's sins� then he must be suffering for mine. That must mean that Jesus has not come to save me from someone else: He's come to save me from myself!
Then I must be helpless and guilty before God, and unable to help myself. And God's love must be totally unmerited, totally unearned and un-earnable. There is nothing for me to do but be silent, and repent and marvel!
Their reaction shows how strong sin and unbelief really are: "NO! We will not have this kind of Savior" (vv 65-68). In them unbelief is manifested � anguish, hatred, condemnation, spitting, slapping, beating, mocking! His Plan is not their plan. The message about sin they will reject, and hate us for it. And how will many people today respond to message about this one and only Savior? To those who will not believe, they will despise us as closed-minded and bigoted for saying that other "saviors" are no saviors at all.
It would be the same with us! By nature, we would be no different! This is why so much "religious talk" never gets around to the issue of sin. Have you ever noticed that most of the religious talk in the press and even in much of "Christian literature" speaks about the "power of" the faith-filled life. Rarely do you hear sin mentioned in religious talk -- because if you don't have much sin, then you don't need a real Savior. What we are willing to admit, by nature, is that we need to be helped, helped to have a better life, more money, happier existence. What we don't like to admit is that we must be saved, continually, throughout our lives.
This is the only Savior that God has sent. From now on, (not "in the future" as the NIV puts it) you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of heaven (v. 64). The heavens WERE literally shaken and the rocks were split when Jesus died. When he rose from the dead, all authority in heaven and earth WERE given to him. When the Gospel message about Him went out, IT turned the hearts of men and women to faith in this Jesus. This helpless, bound, suffering Savior � He is the Savior, the only one! If there is a problem that offends our human nature, Jesus Himself is the problem.
For the eyes of faith, eyes opened only by the Holy Spirit, THIS ONE is our Savior! That shows what a miracle "faith" really is! "Faith" is believing what God says about us, and wanting what God offers to us! Faith says "My sin is that great" and repents. And then, faith rejoices as it says, "This Jesus is my Savior, I believe what HE says."
On the last day � behold every eye will see him! Eyes of faith, and yes, eyes of unbelief, all eyes will see him. In our day, as in the days of Caiaphas and the Council, many will hear, understand and yet reject the message. They may even hate us who belief and speak his message. But just as it has for us, for others the message will become God's power for salvation, and they will believe.
The issue is not what Jesus taught about "morality" or "values" or "Christian principles." The issue is Jesus himself. God grant us to humble ourselves and always know our need for a suffering, helpless, dying Christ who has come to save us from ourselves, and in confident faith to cling to him always.
And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4: 7)
(This sermon series was suggested by Rev. Dr. Jeff Gibbs of Concordia Seminary to pastors in the Kansas District at our convocation in January 2003. This particular sermon is modified from, but heavily dependent upon suggestions by Dr. Gibbs.)