“Danger”

Second Sunday in Lent C 2007

Luke 13:31-34

              Several weeks ago, I shared with you my sense of call to the ministry and told my story of how I went to the seminary and became a pastor.  I remember qualifying my remarks by saying, “I don’t have a very exciting story to tell – no big conversion or earth-shattering event.”  Well, I continue to stand by my story, but I want to add that I have never faced any real obstacles or opposition in my ministry either.  It has been a relatively safe road for me, except for an occasional comment or two like, “We better behave now that the pastor is here” or “Sorry, pastor, I haven’t been in church for a while.”  Although it’s been a rather safe and gentle road for me, I know that it hasn’t always been safe for others who wish to be a disciple and follow Jesus.  For many, the road of discipleship is full of danger and in some instances requires one’s life.

              Such was the case of Tim Olson.  Tim grew up in south Minneapolis, the son of Gordon and Betty Olson.  His story of discipleship was told in the St. Olaf alumni news.  Tim was an aspiring architect who majored in visual arts and mathematics at St. Olaf and was accepted at the Harvard University School of Design.  In the months before graduate school, Tim volunteered to supervise the construction of a church for the ELCA Global Mission and was assigned to a project in the Central African Republic, a politically unstable and economically depressed country.  Tim began construction in June 1991, foreman of 40 unskilled African workers who spoke only French and Songo.  They did everything by hand, digging holes, making ladders, chipping granite block.

              Tim worked steadily for five and a half months until his girlfriend Valerie came to visit.  The couple was returning to the town of Bangui after a trip to game preserves in the north when they were attacked by a group of bandits.  Both were shot.  Valerie was injured; Tim bled to death within 30 minutes.  His last words were the Lord’s Prayer.

              His family was devastated when they learned of the news on Thanksgiving Day. Work on the church that was begun by Tim continued and was completed in 1992.  Tim’s parents went to Africa and attended the dedication service, hoping to bring some closure to this whole ordeal.  As a result of that trip and that experience, something beautiful came out of their grief, the establishment of the organization Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry, the same organization that has helped us at United to establish a partnership with Cruz Del Sur Lutheran Church in Argentina.  We have a group of six people worshipping with them today.  This global ministry organization also does work in Madagascar, Tanzania, Estonia and India.  Gordon Olson, Tim’s father and president of Lutheran Partners said, “Tim’s life and death are now changing the lives of many.  As parents, we feel privileged to be able to walk in Tim’s footsteps and follow the path of servant hood.”

              The life of discipleship is not always an easy road.  As we journey with Jesus to the cross during this Lenten season, we are confronted today with the possibility of danger along the way.  It was the case for Jesus himself as he was told by some Pharisees “Go away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.”  Herod was the king who was given that position by the Romans who really had the power and authority.  We really don’t know what the motivation of the Pharisees was who tried to warn Jesus.  Usually Jesus was in conflict with the Pharisees because of his teaching and the works of healing he performed, sometimes on the Sabbath Day.  Many of the Pharisees had a desire to get rid of Jesus, but there were some who watched from the sidelines to see whether or not this new movement of Jesus was of God and turned out to be successful.  Whatever the motivation, this threat is similar, I think, to the temptations Jesus faced in the wilderness from last week which tempted Jesus to turn away from his mission God sent him to do.  What we discover today is that nothing is going to stop Jesus from accomplishing his mission, not even the threat of danger from Herod.  Jesus responds to this present danger by saying, “Go and tell that fox…that I must finish my work.”

              Jesus had a destiny to fulfill.         He was on his way to Jerusalem and nothing was going to stop him.  For two days Jesus was to cast out demons and cure illnesses, and, as Jesus says, “on the third day I finish my work.”  Of course, we know why Jesus had to go to Jerusalem.  He was going there to suffer and die, and on the third day be raised.  In contrast to the desires of Herod and the danger presented by that fox, Jesus uses a different image to portray his purpose, that of a mother hen covering her chicks under her wings.  Jesus’ desire is to provide protection and security for all people, that they come to realize the grace of God and the salvation that God provides for all through him.  This desire of Jesus is again contrasted by the desires of the people who do not accept it.  Jesus voices his feelings with this lament, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!  How often I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing.”  As much as Jesus desire their salvation and protection from evil, the people reject it and are left, as Jesus says, “to their own house.”

              Jesus will face the present and future danger on our behalf so that he can protect and preserve us from the dangers that confront and face us, now and into eternity.  We know where Jesus is going.  The question for us is do we know where we are going?  Are we willing to go with Jesus on his journey to the cross?  Are we willing to face danger for the sake of Jesus?  We may not face the danger of losing our own life, but there are other dangers, other obstacles and opposition that may confront us.  There may be times when we are confronted with the choice of doing the right thing, of telling the truth, of standing up for what you believe in, of making a witness to your faith in Jesus when others ridicule and make fun of you.  Everyday we are confronted with the choice of running away from under the holy wings of our Savior Jesus Christ to seek protection and security elsewhere and in other places.

              Scripture provides us with a lot of strength and courage in the face of these kinds of danger.  It was Jesus himself who said, “For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it.”  In the face of many dangers and even imprisonment, the Apostle Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith.”  Again it was Paul who said, “God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.”

              It is Jesus who goes before us and will go with us in times of danger.  When the time comes, may we not be like those who shout out “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord” at one moment and then fall away with the rest of the crowd in the face of opposition and strife.   Let us trust in him always and stay under the protection and security of his holy wings.  Jesus is the one who has given his life for us all.  Amen.