Sinful Appendages

Mark 9:38-50

Today I have a confession to make.  I am a sinner.  I have been a sinner my whole life.  I probably should have already cut off my hand or tied a millstone to my neck and been thrown into the sea.  I am a sinner.  You are a sinner, too.  Each and every one of us are sinners.  We live in a world full of sinners.

            Ever since Adam and Eve ate of the fruit from the tree in the garden, which they were told not to eat, humanity has been sinful.  This sinful nature is present in all of humanity.  It is known as original sin.  Sin is that which separates us from God.  The things we think, say, and do that are not in line with God commandments.  Sin is the things that cause us to stumble or cause others to stumble.

            Jesus says, “If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone tied around his neck and to be thrown into the sea.”  The huge millstone refers to a large millstone that could be found in the middle of a village and would serve the whole village.  A donkey would turn that giant millstone and grind the grain, olives, and other foods for people of the village.  So, those who cause others, especially children and other vulnerable people in society, to sin should tie the millstone around their neck and be thrown into the sea.  Not thrown into a wading pool or a pond, where one could get back out.  Jesus says these people should be thrown into the sea with a very heavy object tied around their neck.  This would mean death for these people.  They could not be rescued, found, or saved by a lifeguard or a search party.  Jesus’ words are harsh.  Sin is offensive to God and to other people.  Therefore, it requires harsh punishment.

            Not only is it a violation of God’s law to cause a little one to sin, it is also an offense to sin in any way.  No matter what type of sin it is it is still offensive in God’s eyes.  So in this text Jesus convicts us, each one of us.  “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off!”  “If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off!”  “If your eye causes you to sin, tear it out!”  In saying this Jesus helps us recognize our sin.  Not only does Jesus point out our sin, he goes as far as to tell us how to get rid of our sinful appendages.  This can seem very brutal.  Cut off my hand or my foot, pluck out my eye.  Really, Jesus?  You want me to do what?!

            Hands cause sin.  Hands are used in stealing.  Hands are used in killing.  Hands are used in anger.  Hands are used in abuse.  Hands are used in pointing.  Hands are used in insulting.  Feet cause sin.  Feet are used in trespassing.  Feet are used in kicking.  Feet are used in speeding, breaking civil law.  Eyes cause sin.  Eyes are used in coveting someone else’s possessions.  Eyes are used in lustfully looking at a person’s body.  Eyes are used in cheating.  I could go on, but I think you get the idea.  I am sinful.  You are sinful.  We are sinful.

            No matter what appendage commits the sin, all of our sins originate in the mind.  They originate with our thoughts.  Sin comes from within us, and is often made manifest by our appendages.  In calling us to remove our sinful appendages, Jesus is calling us to repentance.  He is calling us to turn from our ways and cut off the thoughts, words, and actions that make us sin.  Jesus is calling for radical measures. 

            In this text Jesus uses a hyperbole or exaggeration in explaining that we must cut off those parts of us that are sinful.  Jesus’ words about sin in this text show us the seriousness of sin.  If Jesus were to say, “If your eye causes you to sin you should be sorry,” his approach would not seem so drastic and he might not be taken very seriously.  Instead, Jesus is radical in his approach.  Jesus convicts us of our sinful nature and tells us to remove our sinful parts.  If we really stop and think about it every part of our human body has the potential to be sinful.  If we actually cut off our sinful appendages there is the possibility that we may do away with our whole body.  Then, we would die.  Jesus demands that we remove our sinful appendages and die to our sin.

            The good news is that through our baptisms we die to our sin and are given new life through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Each week in worship we also die to our sins through corporate confession, “we confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves.”  The law convicts us of our sin.  Our appendages are metaphorically cut off, as we recognize our sin.  However, it does not end there.  In the same part of our liturgy, the gospel heals us from our sins and we are redeemed.  We are forgiven and freed from the weight of our sin, because of Jesus Christ.  Jesus, God’s only Son, who became human and dwelled among us.  Jesus, whose ministry touched a variety of people.  Jesus, who bore the sins of the entire world on the cross and endured death.  Jesus, who gave his appendages, his entire life, for our salvation and our forgiveness.  Jesus, who rose again and in so doing, conquered death once and for all that we may have everlasting life.  This is the good news of the gospel.  Amen.

Deny, Take, Follow

Mark 8:27-38

Today’s text begins with Jesus and his disciples.  The disciples were his main groupies.  Jesus was the leader of their group and they were the followers.  He taught them many things as they journeyed together.  Today there would be yet another lesson.  Jesus was predicting his death and resurrection.  Peter, specifically, did not like this prediction that his leader was giving.  So, he rebuked Jesus.  And what does Jesus do, he rebukes Peter, saying, “Get behind me, Satan.”  Jesus explains that Peter is not setting his mind on God’s interests, but on that of humanity’s interests.  In fact, the role of a disciple was not to guide or protect, but to follow.  Regardless of the fact that Peter is rebuked he is still a disciple.  Jesus does not revoke his disciple status.  Instead, Jesus uses this as a teachable moment.  He explains to the disciples and the crowd what a follower of Jesus is called to do.

            Jesus says, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”  This is a call to Christian life and discipleship.  However, the way in which we understand this summon from Jesus is much different than the way the disciples and the crowd understood it.  Taking up one’s cross would not have been seen as metaphorical, like it is today.  Taking up one’s cross would have meant carrying one’s cross.  It would have meant crucifixion.  It would have meant spike wounds and pain.  It would likely have meant eventual suffocation.  It would have been a very public event, often taking place near major roads, where many people would see the event.  So as Jesus tells the crowd and the disciples that in order to follow him they need to take up their cross, the people would have been shocked and terrified.  Today, in a country where we do not crucify people, we can barely understand the sting that those words would have had for the  followers of Jesus at the time. 

            Imagine this situation with me.  There are 100 middle school youth walking in silence throughout bible camp while watching a reenactment of Jesus’ life.  As their counselor, I walk along with them.  Jesus is baptized.  He calls the disciples.  He ministers to a variety of people.  Jesus and the disciples celebrate the Last Supper.  Jesus prays in the garden.  Jesus is arrested.  Peter denies Jesus.  Jesus is handed over to Pilate.  Barabbas is released.  Jesus carries his cross to the place where he will be crucified.  As Jesus carries this heavy cross he falls to the ground.  The soldiers that walk with him point to me and tell me to take his cross and carry it for him.  It was at this moment when I began to realize how difficult it was to carry that cross.  It was physically difficult.  It was also emotionally, psychologically, and socially difficult.  I wondered how much larger and heavier the cross actually was that Jesus was crucified upon.  As I carried that cross and the middle school youth followed me to the place where Jesus’ crucifixion would be reenacted they stared at me, watching my every move.  I could only imagine what Jesus felt like.  Today, as I reflect on that moment, I wonder what it would be like to literally take up my own cross.

            Jesus says deny yourself.  Take up your cross.  Follow me.  Jesus summarizes this process of being his follower in three important actions or steps, all of which are not easy.  Deny yourself.  In this action we are called to stop striving for what we think is right in our lives, those things that might hinder us from doing God’s will.  We are called to entrust God with this control over our lives.  Not easy.  Take up your cross.  This is not just about bearing burdens.  It is also about dedicating our whole lives to Christ.  Also, not easy.  Follow me.  This signifies that Jesus will be with us.  Jesus is leading us.  We are not alone, because Jesus is our leader and we are the followers.  Jesus, our leader, has already taken each step that he calls us, his followers, to take.  Up to this point in Jesus’ life we have seen his ministry, healing, and compassion.  Now we are called to follow him into his suffering, the suffering of death on a the cross.  Once again, not easy.

            As Jesus continues to explain what this life of discipleship looks like he says, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and for the gospel will save it.”  This is not the road toward personal gain.  It is a way of service and love.  It is also a way of sacrifice and suffering.  With Jesus as our leader he calls us to follow this road.  Along this road there is not necessarily a destination, but there is a journey, a way of living into discipleship and cross bearing. 

            So, what does this life of discipleship and cross bearing look like today?  It is about being a Christian in our church lives and our public lives, in our whole lives.  When we are at work we must not allow the pressures of our co-workers to lead us to deny our faith.  We must not allow the coaches at our schools to punish young people for not attending practice on Sunday morning or Wednesday evenings because they are at church.  Cross bearing discipleship is about living the Christian life even when it may be difficult, discouraging, or unpopular.  It is about bearing our Christian identity no matter what the rest of the world thinks.  With that in mind we understand that this life of discipleship is not easy and it is certainly not a one-time deal.  Christ calls us to deny ourselves, bear our cross, and follow him each moment of every day and each and every day of our lives.

            So Jesus says to each of us, “Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?  Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same?  Will you let my love be shown, will you let my name be known, will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?”  Amen.