Sunday Sermons
Sermon: 10-14-07, Pentecost season
Pastor Phil Lee
Title: "Breaking Down The Barriers"
Text: Luke 17:11-19
Theme: Jesus breaks down the barrier of sin and we are called to break down barriers that divide.
Introduction
As we all know, disabilities come in many forms. Some people struggle with mental disabilities that create barriers to healthy cognitive capacities. We all struggle with the spiritual disability called sin that creates a barrier between ourselves and God and between ourselves and others. Many people struggle with barriers to good and effective communication in their personal relationships. Others struggle with barriers that limit their physical mobility.
Contemporary building codes have continued to change many of the barriers to physical disabilities. Counselors and other help people with the barriers that their mental, emotional, and communication disabilities create. And the spiritual discipline of confession and absolution enables us to combat the barrier of sin.
Point
Today’s Gospel – Luke 17 – is about dealing with disabilities by breaking down barriers that cause divisions.
Jesus was in a barrier area – the border between the two enemy territories of Samaria and Galilee. There, ten lepers were together, undoubtedly Jews and one Samaritan, who had “community” only because of their disease (they were all unclean and so they were fellow social outcasts).
Dr. John Paul Isaak, a Lutheran theologian from Namibia, says it this way: “…in this group a common sickness had broken down the racial and religious barriers. In the common tragedy of their leprosy they had remembered only that they were sick people who were in need. The need for social, cultural, religious and racial segregation was gone.” (Africa Bible Commentary, p.1238)
And so, because of their disease, they kept their distance from Jesus – another barrier. And, one of the lepers even experienced a kind of “double jeopardy” – his disease and his ethnicity as a Samaritan were both barriers – his disease was a barrier to good health and his ethnicity was a barrier to community.
But, all of the lepers together appealed to Jesus to take away the barriers to health and community – “Have mercy on us!”
And together they obeyed Jesus’ instruction (directive) to show themselves to the priest (the priest was the one to certify healing), and they did this before there was any evidence of healing – a remarkable sign of faith.
The Samaritan, who was healed from his “double jeopardy,” was the only one to praise God and thank Jesus (note that his healing meant that he would have no more “community with the other lepers who were Jews).
As this “foreigner” prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet, he demonstrated healing from the disease (he no longer had to keep his distance) and healing from ethnic division (Jesus accepted him for who he was). Yes, Jesus tears down barriers that divide!
Again, Dr. John Paul Isaak writes: “It is worth noting the changing distance between Jesus and the Samaritan. As the Samaritan came closer to Jesus and finally threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him, the physical distance was gone and so was the social, racial and religious separation and every kind of alienation between himself and Jesus…All were removed with the gift, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well.’”
Problem
I few weeks ago I was walking around Moscow, a huge city with many kinds of different historical, religious, and cultural sites to see. I found it fascinating, and very enjoyable. However, it quickly became obvious that Russia does not have an equivalent to our Americans With Disabilities Act. There are many barriers in Moscow, and it was clear to me that Russia provides little public assistance to those who are disabled.
In a similar way, our sin (thought, word, deed, commission, omission) creates a barrier between ourselves and God. The leprosy of our sin keeps a distance between us and God, and there is a profound disconnect.
Power
But, Jesus came into our world to break down that barrier and provides the life-giving connection between us and God through his atoning death on the cross. We call that GRACE.
(God the Father) has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Col.1:13-14)
…when [we] were dead in trespasses … God made [us] alive together with [Christ], when he forgave us all our trespasses, erasing the record that stood against us…He set this aside, nailing it to the cross. (Col.2:13-14)
Once [we] were not a people, but now [we] are God's people; once [we] had not received mercy, but now [we] have received mercy. (1Pet.2:10)
For by grace [we] have been saved through faith, and this is not [our] own doing; it is the gift of God, not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. (Eph.2:8-10)
And so we come here to worship God and to offer our thanks and praise for God’s life-giving and life-saving grace that breaks down the barrier!
Conclusion
Now, then, let me ask you this: Can we who have received God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ then refuse to be gracious toward others?! No, we cannot!
Jesus said: “…if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Mt.6:15)
Last Sunday’s sermon included the subject of forgiveness – a great way to tear down barriers. I mentioned that our congregation has work to do in that area. But then I mentioned that every congregation has work to do in that area, which is true. But, in saying that, I also “normalized” the struggle of forgiveness, implying that “no one’s perfect,” which lets us off the hook. We need to take seriously the need for forgiveness here at Glendale, and how practicing forgiveness can tear down barriers between us and bring healing to this community. Give that some serious thought and prayer. Where, and with whom, do you need to practice forgiveness?
It’s about God’s grace in action, changing our lives and making each of us a new creation in Christ Jesus. It’s about God’s grace in action, changing relationships as we are reconciled to one another when we practice forgiveness. It’s about breaking down the barriers! Amen.
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