Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Epistle Lesson just read, from Hebrews 5. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- Much of life in this world seems like “pushing and shoving.” You may not set out each day with a desire to push and shove others around, but you quickly experience other drivers “butting into” your space and getting in your way. Then your boss has things to tell you, what you are supposed to do, and he/she has to make sure you understand who is in charge. Co-workers also assert their importance – and we feel as if they are diminishing our importance. At times they presume upon us, dump on us, and it feels as if they are trying to push us around.
- What to do under such circumstances? I suppose that we have three basic options: first, we could run away; second, we could just let others have their way with us, become doormats and let everyone walk on us; or third, we can find ways to stand our ground, to push back, to shove others away.
- Most of us are not in a position where “flight” is possible – we have responsibilities and obligations to care for loved ones. And often we find ourselves in dynamics where to fight may not be possible – the power disparity is too great and there is no hope of success, or where to fight would bring greater harm than allowing ourselves to be walked on, even if we won the fight. But such circumstances feel as though we are being eroded away and destroyed inwardly – as if we are becoming worthless, of no value whatsoever.
- So when we have opportunity we tend to push back – and it feels good, because it affirms that we are still something, and still do have some power and gumption! But when we push and shove others simply for the sake of our own ego, or out of selfishness, we either have to overlook the harm done to others or to not care about them – and neither of these options is very “Christ-like.”
- Now there are times when we should push back, when we have to push back – not for the sake of ego, or for the sake of selfishness, but for the sake of principle, for what is true, right, good, and beneficial to all. If you have read the Gospels you know that Jesus frequently had to engage in this – as He did in the Gospel reading this morning.
- But there is a proper way to do this, and it would be a blessing for all of us to learn to be “HUMBLE LIKE CHRIST.” This is the gist of what our text conveys of Jesus – how He laid down His life to serve us, not only on the cross, but in everything that He did and how He did it.
- So, if we are to follow Him and emulate Him, then:
I. Let Us Walk In The Calling God Has Given Us As We Allow Christ To Minister To Us
Text: “Every high priest chosen from among men is appointed . . . So also Christ did not exalt Himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by Him Who said to Him, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten you,’ and also He says in another place, ‘You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.’”
Statement: A lot of the pushing and shoving in our life in this world has to do with the “office” to which we have been appointed. It is considered to be kind of “un-American” and lacking ambition to think that we have been “destined” to a certain place in life and limited in our power, authority, and ability to influence things. As young people we are often told that America is a place of promise and upward mobility, that “you can be whatever you want to be.” This is good for encouraging ambition and overcoming laziness, but it isn’t exactly the truth. And it can actually implant some very wrong and destructive arrogance into people’s hearts and minds!
Application: Most of us do end up choosing a career or life-path – and there are pros and cons to what we experience. We have some prerogatives, but they bring responsibility. We have some benefits to our work, but these bring obligations. We have some determination in regard to our circumstances, but a lot of things we have to simply accept. This is true of virtually any and every “job,” position, or “office” that we accept. The untoward “pushing” and “shoving” often comes when we are not content and satisfied with the responsibilities and obligations that we have been given, and are unhappy that others have responsibilities that impact us and are unappreciative or disapproving of what they are doing – and decide that we’ll push and shove. But this is always disruptive, counter-productive, angering, and stirs up strife and animosity.
But consider that Christ did not do His work without an office, and that He did not take an office that was not appointed to Him. And this is a principle that applies to all – to Aaron, Moses, the Old Testament priesthood, the prophets, and as Jesus told His disciples, also to New Testament servants of the church: “to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” So, if we are to follow Christ, and if we are going to be subject to Christ, and if we are going to humbly serve Christ and be “HUMBLE LIKE CHRIST,” then we must be attentive to the office Christ has given us – and not attempt to usurp authority, influence, power, prerogative, or even service that has not been “appointed” to us, that we have simply not been called to.
Transition: This may seem “defeatist” at times, or even a kind of “weak resignation” and capitulation. But consider the office to which Christ was called, and what He endured, and the great blessings that have come to us because He remained faithful to His calling! For because of His patient faithfulness “he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” And His example provides us with the potential for great blessedness, so:
II. Let Us Walk Prayerfully In Our Calling With Faith, Trust, And Reliance On God To Save Us
Text: “In the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to Him Who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence.”
Statement: Rather than pushing and shoving, rather than reneging His office and usurping that of another, Jesus entrusted Himself to the Father – in humility, in reverence, with prayers, and with complete openness and integrity [loud cries and tears]. He put all things in God’s hands – Him Who was able to save Him from death. And we are encouraged to do the same rather than looking around for ways in which to “save” ourselves, or to make things better for ourselves, or to boost our own egos, or simply to cause trouble and problems for others out of envy or rebelliousness. The fact is, the Peter Principle applies to each of us in many ways, that we all have far more duty in the place in life which God has appointed to us than we are able to master and perfect – not only in our job, or in retirement, but as parents, grandparents, friends, spouses, brothers or sisters, and even as children toward our parents.
Application: And this is true also within the life of the church, in our various “callings” here within the congregation. But for some “pushing and shoving” becomes a way of life, and they cannot help but do the same within the fellowship of the church – not satisfied with the “office” they have been appointed to, not fully devoted to carrying out their own duties – which no one can perfect, but rather usurping other responsibilities and prerogatives, butting their noses into other peoples duties, or even arrogating to themselves the prerogative of criticizing and supervising others.
When this happens, it is an astonishing arrogance – completely contrary to the example of Jesus, and completely contrary to the will of Him Who choses, calls, appoints, and prepares our places for us. But there is plenty of this in all of us – perhaps a sinful pleasant diversion from the frustrations and guilt of our failings in our own office. But it is always sinful, always destructive, always contrary to the will of God and the Person of Christ, always arrogant, and always subject to the discipline of God. Our text is the Word of God, as is the Gospel reading – so rather than rebel let us hear it and learn from it. For it is certainly God’s will that we be:
III. Humbly Learning Obedience From What We Suffer, Under God’s Allowance And Discipline – Just As Our Savior And Lord Did
Text: “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered. And being made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.”
Statement: Part of what we suffer as we continue in our offices is the pushing and shoving of the arrogant, the self-righteous judgers, the hypocrites who usurp authority – just as Jesus did had to endure this from the Scribes and Pharisees. None of them had the “office” to criticize, argue with, reject His Word, urge others to unbelief, to arrest Him, try Him, and see to it that He was crucified. It was part of His office to forgive them, and to provide forgiveness for them in His self-sacrificial crucifixion. And it is part of our office to forgive them – and also to stand up to them if need be for the sake of principle and the protection of others, or even for the integrity of our own office – just as Jesus did. But it is certain that we will suffer somewhat from them, whatever they are able to muster against us – but we must remember that the same One to Whom Jesus prayed is also able to deliver us, and He will hear us if we have humble reverence for Him and are willing to learn obedience from Him in our sufferings.
Application: Now, you might be tempted to conclude that if good things come to others by your plaguing and afflicting them then you might continue doing what you have been doing, but I would strongly advise you to think again. Do you really want to be in the same “function” as those who crucified Jesus? Is it really a wise thing to violate God’s law in maligning others and increasing their troubles? Be assured – God will judge, and unless there is repentance, humble and genuine repentance, God will inflict justice and discipline with the same measure that these kind of people mete out trouble and persecution to others.
But the other course of action is to learn from Jesus, how He conducted His office, His attitude, His life of faith even in His suffering. There is no question that God wills for us to be “HUMBLE LIKE CHRIST,” to take up the very office He has appointed to us and to serve humbly and lovingly, and to take care not to “push and shove” others who are tending to the offices that He has appointed to them.
Conclusion: It is certainly permissible for us to seek another office, to change what we are doing in life, and to desire to serve in a greater capacity – knowing that this involves drinking even more of the cup that Jesus drank from. But it is not certain that simply because we desire an office that we will be chosen and appointed to it. As Jesus said, it is the Father Who prepares such things, and we must accept what we receive from Him.
So let us be content and happy in the works God has foreordained that we should be walking in them, as His workmanship, in the offices He has placed us in – and humbly and reverently attend to those duties. We will not have completed them or perfected them prior to our death or His second coming. And just as we wish others to let off of us, let us leave off pushing and shoving others – that we may humbly serve as Christ has served us. Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting. Amen.