Della Fisk's Funeral

The parable of Bob

Pulling vines on a property.

5 workers $100 for a 12 hour day of clearing

It wasn’t going to be enough

He doubled them by lunch

He came back in the evening and added 10 more.

The end of the day he paid them all $100 starting with the ones who had only worked an hour.

Those who had been there 12 didn’t think it was fair.

“Then we’re all square. Is there a rule that says I can’t pay people what I want to with my own money?”

Not Fair

This should sound familiar, it is a parable told by Jesus in .

Every parent knows fairness is a tricky thing.

If I were a worker

If I were Bob

Fairness is great when it works in my favor!

Fortunately for us, the kingdom of God does not operate according to the principles of fairness.

The kingdom of God is fair the way Bob measured fairness. God opted for fair in the sense of him extending mercy and grace.

A parable is one thing, seeing in practice is quite another.

Stephen

All was great for the Christian movement at first. Everyone considered each other family, regardless of background.

But all good things must come to an end.

The New International Version Chapter 6

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

~

The 12 instructed the congregation to find 7 people to oversee this, one of the men mentioned is Stephen (Gentile).

He was very good at public defense of the faith. Soon the religious and political powers got frustrated with Stephen.

The New International Version Chapter 6

This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”

~

The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

So he ends up in front of the Sanhedrin (Jewish supreme court). He demonstrates from scripture that clinging to the Law (of Moses) instead of Christ is idolatry.

The New International Version Chapter 7

“You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him—you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”

~

Paul

Stark contrast to Stephen

The New International Version Chapter 3

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

~

All this law goodness eventually led him to murder:

The New International Version Chapter 1

For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

~

The New International Version Chapter 1

Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man

~

Once, while persecuting the church, he has encounter with God. He joins the ranks of Christianity

Paul became a hero of the faith. He was confident he would be with Christ.

Before Paul and Stephen

There was another man whose faith in Christ made him somewhat famous. He is certainly no hero of the faith, yet his story is told and retold wherever the gospel is preached. We don’t know his name. But we know his character, and apparently, he was quite a character. When we are introduced, his story is in the final pages of its final chapter: He was hanging on a cross within earshot of Jesus

Criminal = he was guilty of crimes so heinous he couldn’t even be trusted to row a roman warship.

The New International Version Chapter 23

Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.

~

Religious leader stopped to sneer “Save yourself if you’re the messiah.” The soldiers mocked “if you’re the king save yourself.” Eventually one of the men crucified beside Jesus joined in as well, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”

Unexpectedly, Someone comes to Jesus’ defense. He interrupts the streams of cursing and mocking with a question and confession.

The New International Version Chapter 23

But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

~

Grace was his only hope...

If the kingdom of God was reserved for good people, this guy didn’t have a chance. Repentance from a cross is meaningless. Re-dedication when you only have hours to live doesn’t count for anything. We are all sorry once we are facing the penalty of our actions. There was nothing to promise. He had nothing to offer. Restitution for his crimes was impossible. He had no bargaining power. He had earned the cross, and he had earned an eternity separated from all that was good. He was on his way to receiving exactly what he deserved.

Then Jesus trumped justice as justice was understood. He decided to be extravagantly unfair.

Jesus answered him...

It took effort to breathe, let alone talk. Every inhale and exhale caused incredible pain!

The New International Version Chapter 23

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

~

Lets not rush past this. Jesus, God in a bod, perfection in skin, holiness with hands and feet, promised a man who was as opposite him as opposite could be, “Where I’m going, you’re going.”

Jesus granted the eleventh hour convert the same eternal reward as Stephen! That’s not fair.

It’s better than fair, it’s grace.

I don’t understand

I don’t understand why people are so resistant to the gospel. I realize it has been mischaracterized through the years. Some of us Christians certainly haven’t helped the cause with our less than consistent behavior. But once someone gets past US and looks at the offer of grace, it just seems too good to pass up. When we stop to consider the implications of the exchange between the criminal and Jesus, it is quite astonishing. Why would anyone opt for a religious system based on personal performance? Who thinks they are good enough to earn heaven? And then there’s the question, earn it based on what? There really isn’t an objective standard of behavior to go by. Americans like to lean into the Ten Commandments as the standard. But as we’ve discussed at Holiness Heritage, the Ten Commandments weren’t given for that purpose. So where do we go to find out how good you have to be?

Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus… all have versions of the golden rule. But that’s a pretty high standard to attain consistently. Which brings up an issue no one likes to talk bout: Is 70% a passing grade for heaven? 60? Does the same percentage apply to family?

As silly as it starts to get, I think those are relevant questions for anyone who thinks he can behave his way into God’s good graces. If God is looking for good people, then we need to know what’s good and where the pass/fail line is.

In the abolition of man by C.S. Lewis, he gives 8 teachings that are found to be in common by most religions in addition to the golden rule.

Don’t harm others with word or deed.

Honor your parents.

Be kind to siblings and the elderly.

Be honest in all your dealings.

Don’t lie.

Don’t have sex with another person’s spouse.

Care for those who are weaker.

Put others first.

The other thing those religions share is the understanding that everyone will fail to live up to this standard.

Summarize:

There is a God.

God has a standard for individuals to live by.

But it’s too hard.

Good luck!

See you on the other side… maybe.

Religion highlights our ability to live up to a divine standard, thus creating a gap. But experience highlights it as well. We fall short of our own expectations; we don’t need religion to tel us that we really aren’t all that good. There is something in us that tries to make up for our bad behavior, “I’m sorry.” We can’t go back and be a better husband, father, un-addict, un-cheat, un-lie.

That’s what makes Christianity so unique. That’s what makes grace to powerful. Jesus came into the world and did what nobody else could do. He affirmed the list. He kept the law. He declared God’s law good. But then he offered himself as the answer to the question no one else could answer: “Now that I’ve messed up, what do I do?”

What the rules and the rule givers could not do, Jesus did by laying down his life as the full and final sacrifice for sin. Christ’s death and resurrection signaled to the world that the kingdom of God is not reserved for good people. It is reserved for forgiven people. Good forgiven people, pretty good forgiven people, not-so-good forgiven people, and people like the criminal on the cross who didn’t have nay good to bargain with.

Invitation

The gospel is actually the fairest system imaginable. It’s fairer than fair. Think about it:

Everybody is invited.

Everybody gets in the same way.

Everybody can meet the requirement.

This kind of fair didn’t come without a price. Grace was costly, but it didn’t cost us. It was the sacrificial death of Jesus that gave God the latitude to grant the Stephens, Sauls, and last-minute converts of the world the same eternal home. And it was Christ’s death on the cross that makes the kingdom of God available to you and me as well. Is that fair?

No. It’s far better than fair.

It’s grace.

It wouldn’t be good for me to leave this space, this moment, without giving you an opportunity to receive the grace of God.

Do you want to follow Jesus, do want the grace of God?

I want you to be bold with me today (close your eyes), raise your hand if you want this grace today.

If you raised your hand, I want you to take the next steps:

Tell someone...

Find a group of Jesus followers to meet with...

We all know that is what Della would love.

Lord’s prayer