Easter 4

Do you suppose they just didn't know?
Shortly after the Holy Spirit was given on Pentecost, Peter and John went to the temple. While they were there they met a man who had been crippled since his birth. The man was a beggar and he asked the two companions for a few coins so he could buy a meal. “Silver and gold we do not have,” said Peter. “But what I do have I will give you. In the name of Jesus get up and walk.”
The man got up and was leaping up and down in the temple, praising God and attracting a good deal of attention so that Peter and John were compelled to give witness to the death and resurrection of Jesus as the author of life for the forgiveness of sins.
This is the background for our first lesson from Acts. As the narrative begins here in our text, we discover that the rulers of the temple took issue with Peter and John for their preaching. They arrested them, put them in Jail, and tried them for their crime of healing a lame man and preaching the crucifixion of Jesus.
Peter and John were in the temple, the headquarters for the men behind the murder of Jesus. The crucifixion had been only weeks before – still fresh in the minds of everyone in Jerusalem. Wouldn't you think Peter and John would want to lay low for a while? Wouldn't you think they would wait a while longer? Maybe move to a new town? Maybe begin their ministry in quiet places, back alleyways, out in the countryside? Away from the temple. Do you suppose they just were not that smart, that shrewd to be able to discern their very real danger?
That would seem to make sense. Why else would they take such a risk? But these men were no fools. They knew what they were doing. They knew the risk they incurred. Yet they did it anyway. These men understood, they knew, the reality of the Love of Jesus.
This same John who went walking with Peter in the temple, who was arrested by the temple authorities and on trial here in our New Testament Lesson is the very same man who penned the words of our sermon text.
“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.”
Peter and John knew the love of Jesus. They knew that this love was real love. Not just words, not just noble ideas, not just philosophies and feelings. This was love that compelled Jesus to give up his very self for you and me so that we could have life. This same love compelled Peter and John to heal a man, to reach out to a man who had needs that they were able to meet. This same love compelled Peter and John to preach about Jesus even when it cost them dearly. This love of Jesus also aught to compel us to similar works of sacrifice.
“Little Children,” John writes, “let us not love in word or talk but in deed and truth!”
Just as Jesus sacrificed himself for us, just as Peter and John sacrificed themselves for this lame beggar, in the same way, we ought to sacrifice ourselves for each other. Jesus has shown us what it means to love. We ought to show that love to each other – freely, liberally. Without restraint.
Peter and John are a great example. They had received the love of Jesus. Because of Jesus self sacrifice they had the promise of heaven. Therefore they did not hesitate to lay down their lives for this total stranger.
Have we done the same? We would like to tell ourselves that we have. We would like to believe that we do love our neighbors, our Christian brothers and sisters as Jesus has loved us and Peter and John loved this lame beggar. But we have not. We aught to love them with our very selves, we aught to be willing to surrender our health, our well being, for the good of our neighbor. But we don't even want to surrender our stuff!
God has given to us everything that we have. God gives us our bodies; our eyes and ears, a sharp mind, hands and feet to work and he rewards that work with the things we need to care for our bodies. He gives us food and shelter and transportation, clothing and even things for our comfort and pleasure.
It is because of the goodness of God that have not just food on our table, but food that fills our cupboards and food that tastes good so that we enjoy eating it.
It is because of the goodness of God that we have not just a roof over our head, but also walls with windows and insulation and heat and air conditioning and furniture.
It is because of the goodness of God that we have not just clothes to cover our bodies but many changes of clothes of various styles and colors.
It is because of the goodness of God that we have not just a bed to sleep in but also a couch, a table, an entertainment center, china cabinets.
It is because of the goodness of God that we have not just transportation, not just a car to get us from point a to b, but two, three or more cars. And not just beat up clunkers, but nice with climate controlled environments, comfortable seating, little gadgets to play your music tell you the weather forecast and how to get to your destination.
God has given to us, to you so many good things. He has given to you, your self, your body and he has given to you all of these other things for the care and the enjoyment of your body.
While these things are so good, while they are all gifts from God, if God would have us to lay down our self, surely we should also lay down also all these other things. Surely we should also gladly surrender our worldly goods, these extra things that God has given. Yet because of sin, we have not. We have refused. We have instead chosen to hold on to these things, to horde these things, to selfishly and sinfully keep them for ourselves.
Our text says, “If anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?” We have the world's goods. There is no questing that. The question is, have we closed our hearts against our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Oh and we have. WE have kept our things for ourselves. We have held on to our cash. We have protected what's ours. WE have refused to give. Refused to share. Refused to help. God has given us greater wealth than the world has ever seen in its entire history. We have nicer things, greater comfort, more amenities and we have seen these thing not as a means to set us free for greater service but as the goal, as an ends to themselves, as something to be held on to and protected and defended. Maybe its when you plan your schedule and won't give up an afternoon to help a brother so you can earn more money for yourself. Maybe its when you place your money in the offering plate on Sunday morning. Maybe its when you haven't stopped to lend a hand to that person in need.
“Little children. Let us not love in words or talk, but in deed and truth.”
Children of God. Know this. As you confess this sin, it has already been forgiven. Jesus has already washed it away. You are already clean. Your sin is already gone. The same God who loved the world so much that he gave his only son has loved you. He has forgiven you for this sin because of the innocent death of Jesus.
As we have been counting costs and tallying up our pennies, he has been piling on the forgiveness and tallying up his grace.
While we have been collecting the World's goods he has been collecting our sin so that he could die for it all.
While we have been turning our hearts away from our neighbors in sin and selfishness he has been opening up his heart to us in love. Your sins have been washed away because Jesus bought and paid for your sin with His own perfect and righteous life and with his own blood.
When Peter and John made their way to the temple on that day they were met with a man who had a great need. He was lame, he could not work and he had to beg. They did not have the worlds goods. They were poor in possessions but what they had to give was by far greater than only a few coins. They had healing for the mans body, and what was even better than strength for his legs was the strength they had for his heart. They offered to the man the forgiveness of sins that comes through the knowledge that Jesus died for me.
Just as your hearts are crippled and lame with sin, the pronouncement of God's forgiveness has healed you. Your hearts are strong.
The beggar used the newly given strength in his legs to leap for joy and for praise to God. May you use the same strength given to your renewed hearts to love and to serve your neighbor.
Amen.