Enemies of the Cross

Midweek Lent   2014                            Philippians 3:18   Enemies of the Cross

by Pastor David Wierschke

For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.

As we look to the Cross this Lent we realize the people of this world have many different reactions to it. Tonight we consider those who are Enemies of the Cross. Now an “enemy” is someone or something who can hurt you, you have to watch out for and guard against an enemy.  To just fill out that picture imagine yourself being dropped off in the deepest, darkest wilds of Africa. What would you consider the greatest enemy who would come against you? Now it has been a few years since I have been to the zoo, and I’ve forgotten the names of lots of animals since then  – so I could maybe use some help....What might be some animals I would have to be on the look out for, that I would have guard against in the wilds of Africa?

SUGGESTIONS

But did you know the most dangerous...the large animal responsible for more human fatalities in Africa than any other....an animal that can run over 20 mph in a short burst, posseses 20 inch long canine teeth, is.......the HIPPOPOTAMUS. Crocodiles are so wary of them, they don’t even mess with them in the river. A hippo can bite a croc in half. BUT, even more deadly... ....responsible for a 1000 X more human deaths....as it spreads disease from victim to victim, including malaria and other diseases is the MOSQUITO. Great progress has been made and is continuing to be made in decreasing the dangers of the mosquito throughout the continent of Africa. However, the one enemy for whom there seems to be nothing to contain his rampage; the one still responsible for millions of deaths a year and there seems to be no good solution in sight (in fact we know there is no human remedy) is MAN. Human beings through war, through long-running hatred and power struggles, through policies that allow or even bring about famine and starvation, that pollute and deplete the natural resources available to maintain life, are responsible for the deaths of millions every year.

The most dangerous enemies aren’t always the ones that jump out at you and for which you guard against first. It was true during Jesus’ lifetime also. Who were the enemies of the cross that opposed Jesus? Well, there predictably were the people in power who benefited from the way things were and didn’t want to see any changes, the religious leaders. But then also many of the morally upright, the rule-follower branch of society the Pharisees, the ones who said they loved God and said they showed it in their lives, they also opposed Jesus. Even one of his own disciples betrayed Him.

What about that first group, those enemies from the get-go who didn’t like Jesus, who couldn’t stand the mention of His name? It is shocking that on the pages of Scripture the only ones who more quickly and readily express a better grasp of just who Jesus IS, understood WHOM He claimed to be and what that meant than the religious leaders who rejected Jesus, were the evil spirits. On a number of occasions when Jesus cast out evil spirits they said, “We know how you are. You are the Holy One of God come to destroy us!” But unlike the demons, the religious leaders who were enemies of the cross– even though they clearly understood Jesus’ claim to be the Son of God - didn’t even acknowledge Jesus’ power over them. They were the ones who brazenly planned and set in motion the plot that demanded Jesus be crucified.

There are those in our day who still hate with great vehemence the Holy One of God, our Savior Jesus. Some can not even bear the mention of His name; want to remove anything that even acknowledges His presence and importance: NO Merry CHRISTmas – it’s Happy Holidays; NO God Bless you; NO reference to 10 COMMANDMENTS or displaying of  CRUCIFIXES or CROSSES; LENT is just the let down after Mardi Gras and waiting for spring. Their abject hatred is palpable when even the mention of the possibility of a divine Creator is considered regarding our existence – any variance from the hard line of evolution is forbidden and not tolerated. Those are enemies whom we can see coming from far away. We know to stay away from them.

Then there are those pesky enemies whom we know can cause complications. They are an irritation for sure but the danger seems so small and insignificant compared to those big hulking enemies. But their poisonous infection gets under our skin, makes its way into our blood stream. Jesus warned of the dangers. Jesus said, “Be careful, be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Saducees.” Jesus was teaching his disciples that just as a little amount of yeast works through a whole batch of dough, so the false teachings of the Pharisees and Saducees affect the whole person’s relationship with God. False teaching – the ultimate and inevitable end of any and all false teaching – will lead the individual away from Jesus. Many false teachings focus on the goodness, the potential, the ability of man to make a difference in his own life with God. WE can do it, they urge. WE are okay, just the way we ARE, they cheer on. But then WHY do we need Jesus? If we can do it, if we are okay already.....What reason did Jesus go to the cross for? Enemies of the cross, they don’t speak much of Jesus’ suffering for the sins WE have done; why dwell on the past, on the negative? They cajole. They look past the cross without a further glance, thinking they don’t need what is offered there. We heard their standard bearer in our Gospel Lesson today: “God, I thank you that I am not like other men” the Pharisee boasted – he was so much better than others, he was good enough by himself......wasn’t God lucky to have him on His side.

But you and I have come together this evening in the hope and for the promise that we will go home declared right before God – justified. We join the tax collector in praying, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” We confessed together this evening... .....Ash Wednesday is a time that invites us to “Repent,” turn from sinful ways that lead away from God and come before our God humbly, contritely.... .....confessing our unworthiness, but relying on His promise of mercy: “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Repentance finds a home TRUSTING in God’s promises. God’s promises that are fulfilled at the cross where our Savior suffered in our place and washed us clean of all our wrong doing. He has already paid the price that the Father required....It is finished!

But the Enemies of the Cross that the Apostle Paul had most directly in mind in the passage before us, the ones he had repeatedly warned them about, that seemed to be ever present around them so that the intensity, the urgency of the warning moved him to tears even now, were ones so much like themselves. The Apostle saw it as a clear and present danger that they would be tempted to join in following their example, living life as these enemies did. This was NOT an immediately noticeable enemy. They could do as this enemy did perhaps without even realizing where it would eventually lead. This enemy of the cross of Christ had its mind on earthly things. This enemy exchanged the cross of Christ for whatever they wanted instead.....satisfying their own desires and indulgences was always top priority. This enemy grew so comfortable and complacent in their faulty confidence before God that they boasted about things that were truly shameful. They weren’t going to change their ways – why did they have to? I  submit to you that the reason this enemy of the cross drove the Apostle Paul to tears and warranted so many repeated warnings is that this enemy is those who are “in name only Christians.” They know all the right answers, they can say all the right things, at all the right times; but their hearts are far from God. Their mind is on earthly things – don’t bother me, God, with all that religious stuff! I’ve heard it all before.....I’m good. Their destruction is certain; there can be no denying it.

To be an enemy – to hate, to oppose, to not want – the cross of Christ – the cross that hangs around our neck, close to our heart, over our heart – the place where love and sorrow meet....this, THIS is where my salvation was purchased; this is where I was set free. The Cross of Christ is the path to citizenship in heaven; it is the only way to eternal life. To be an enemy of cross of Christ is to separate yourself from the only hope and rescue there is! No wonder, the Apostle Paul was moved to tears. No wonder we flood with tears our prayers for those who stray away from following Christ!

The cross is central to the Bible and integral to our Christian faith. It is good to gather together during this time of Lent to learn from each other, to be encouraged by each other; to be on guard together against the enemies of the cross of Christ – that is just the very thing the Apostle encourages us to do.  And also, to gather together  to rejoice in the old, rugged cross, the wondrous cross where our Savior died for ME; to wash away MY sins. Humbly, confidently we pray, “God, have mercy on me a sinner.” Following, clinging, lifting high the cross of Christ we know how true it is that Repentance finds a home TRUSTING in God’s promises.

Amen.