Posted on by Fred Scragg 5

A Mission From God

Luke 9.51-62 / Galatians 5.16-26

In his 2017 book, The God Shaped Heart, author Timothy Jennings writes of the dangers of unrecognized heart issues:

Hypertension—high blood pressure—has been called the silent killer, but medical professionals didn’t always realize this. In fact, some doctors argued that hypertension was a made-up disorder that didn’t need to be treated at all. For instance, in 1931 Dr. J.H. Hay proclaimed, “The greatest danger to a man with high blood pressure lies in its discovery, because then some fool is certain to try and reduce it.”

Tragic results followed from this idea. Consider the true case of Frank. Frank was diagnosed with hypertension in 1937 at the age of fifty-four. His blood pressure was 162/98 and was considered by physicians at the time to be “mild hypertension.” No treatment was initiated. By 1940, his blood pressure was running 180/88. In 1941, his pressure was 188/105. He was encouraged to cut back on smoking and work. But his condition didn’t improve.

By 1944, his pressure was running higher, and he suffered a series of small strokes. This was followed by classic symptoms of heart failure, so he was placed on a low-salt diet with hydrotherapy and experienced some improvement.

But by February 1945, his pressure was 260/145, and on April 12, 1945, he complained of a severe headache with his blood pressure measuring at 300/190. He lost consciousness and died later that day at the age of sixty-three. Perhaps you know him better as Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the thirty-second president of the United States.

In this morning’s text, chosen for us by the lectionary, we are going to hear more about the dangers of unrecognized heart issues. However, the heart issues that Jesus tells us about, in this Biblical text, have more than immediate physical consequences.  The heart issues that Jesus points out have spiritual and eternal consequences.

Luke 9:51–62 shares this piece of history with us:

[51] When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. [52] And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. [53] But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. [54] And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” [55] But he turned and rebuked them. [56] And they went on to another village.

[57] As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” [58] And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” [59] To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” [60] And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” [61] Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” [62] Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (ESV)

The first thing we hear in this text is that Jesus set his face toward Jerusalem.

Why does the Gospel writer Luke tell us this fact? What does this mean for Jesus and His disciples?

Well, borrowing the words of John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd in 1980’s, The Blues Brothers, Jesus and His disciples could answer “our faces are set on Jerusalem because,” “We’re on a mission from God!”

And, what was the mission from God that Jesus was on?

The mission from God that Jesus was on was to save you and me, and every other man, woman, and child, at every point in mankind’s history, from having the wrath of God poured out upon us condemning us for our Sin.

When asked why the baby given to Mary and Joseph should be named Jesus, the answer was, “for He will save people from their sins” (Matthew 1.21, ESV).

On His way to Jerusalem, where Jesus would would solidify the forgiveness of Sin by dying on the cross in our place, Jesus was stopping along the way to prepare the people to be reconciled to God with His simple message of, “Repent and Believe.”

However, just like today, people reject that message for many reasons.

Some think, “Who are you to tell me that I am a sinner in need of forgiveness? Don’t judge me!”

Some think, “I am a good person doing good things that will certainly earn me points in the afterlife—whatever that looks like. I don’t need to confess anything or ask for forgiveness.”

While others think, “There is no god.  Or, we can’t know if there is a god.  Stop throwing that God-talk in my face.”

Something similar happened in the village of the Samaritans that Jesus wanted to visit.  The Samaritans made it clear that they didn’t want or need Jesus.  They didn’t want or think they needed His message of Good News.  And, they didn’t think they needed what He was offering them—forgiveness of sin and reconciliation with God, their Father, their Creator and Redeemer.

So, as today’s Biblical text tells us, Jesus was never able to set foot in the Samaritan village to bring His Good News of forgiveness and eternal life because His disciples were told that Jesus wasn’t welcome in that place.

In reaction to the Samaritans rejection of Jesus, Jesus’ disciples do what we often do.  Jesus’ disciples jump to immediate and total judgment of those that deny Christ.  They ask Jesus if they can call down fire from Heaven to completely destroy these unbelievers and wipe them off the face of the earth with eternal punishment.

At this point an interesting thing happened.

The interesting and Good News for you and me is this part of the story where we see Jesus’ reaction to the the Samaritans rejection of Him and His disciples sinful quick-to-judge attitude.  

Jesus tells His disciples that He does not wish for them to punish the Samaritans for their unbelief.  In fact, Jesus rebukes His disciples for their sinful attitude of being quick-to-judge others.

This is the interesting part because it shows us nothing less than the overwhelming patience and grace of God with sinners like you and me.

It is God’s desire, as Scripture tells us, that every man, woman, and child come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ alive, dead, and resurrected for their eternal good.

In order for that to happen, God is patient with us along the way because He knows that Sin makes us stubborn and we will be quick to deny Christ, like the Samaritans did.  And, like His disciples, we will be quick to claim self-righteousness, and quick to Sin in ways such as judging others for their faults while we are unrepentant sinners ourselves.

God loves us.  So, God gives us more than one chance, more than 1000 chances, more chances than we will ever know, to hear about Jesus Christ and respond with faith.

After this incident with both the Samaritan villagers and the disciples following their hearts into the Sin of denying Jesus and His Commandments, which prompt us to love God and love others, we are given a few more examples of people wanting what their sinful hearts want and not the blessings that Jesus offers them.

One person wants to follow Jesus for all of the blessings that He has to offer them, but doesn’t want the suffering and rejection that come from doing what God commands instead of doing what the broken world encourages.

And, two other separate individuals want to follow Jesus only after they have take care of matters at home and feel like everything is in order as they would like it to be.

In 1862, American Poet Emily Dickinson wrote, “The heart wants what it wants, or else it does not care.”  This quote has made it’s way into popular culture in numerous ways.  Two examples from my lifetime were Woody Allen using it in an interview in the 1990s and Selena Gomez stealing it for a song in 2014.

The sad reality is that we hear Dickinson’s quote and miss the warning in it.  We don’t hear that our heart is selfish and doesn’t care about anyone or anything except what will make us happy in the immediate moment.  We only hear what we want to hear. So, we hear that our heart should be our light and our guide, leading us to true happiness.  

When my son was younger, he watched a show on the Disney Channel called Jake and the Neverland Pirates.  In one segment of one of the episodes, Jake danced around his pirate ship  encouraging children with the terrible advice to “always follow you heart.”

What we miss in all of this heart-talk is the truth of humanity.  The truth is that the heart is sinful from the moment of conception.  Our default setting is to follow the heart and what the heart wants, even though what the heart wants is to deny God and destroy others.

In 2 Peter 3:8–18, the Apostle Peter, speaks of God’s grace-led patience with us.  Peter says:

[8] But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. [9] The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. [10] But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

[11] Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, [12] waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! [13] But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

[14] Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. [15] And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, [16] as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. [17] You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. [18] But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (ESV)

Jesus was on a mission from God.

The mission from God that Jesus was on was to fix the ultimate problem with your heart—the problem of Sin that made you selfish, self-centered, and self-righteous, denying your need for God’s intervention to forgive you and give you the new life that leads to an enteral home in His Kingdom of Heaven.

And, as you are told, Jesus’ mission was completely successful.

Through Jesus’ sinless life, sacrificial atoning death on the cross, and victorious defeat of death in the resurrection, your Sin is forgiven, you are made righteous and sinless in God’s eyes, and you have been made victorious over death’s power to kill and condemn you.

So, today, as we have been set free by Jesus Christ to live and love with brand new hearts set on God our Father in Heaven and the things above, not the things of this earth, I ask you to hear and heed Paul’s words from Galatians 5:16–26 which say to you:

[16] But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. [17] For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. [18] But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. [19] Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, [20] idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, [21] envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. [24] And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

[25] If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. [26] Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (ESV)

This is the Word of God for you today.

This is the Grace of God for you today.

Amen.

Reverend Fred Scragg V.

June 29, 2025.

Posted on by Fred Scragg 5

Providing Wine

John 2.1-11

Have you ever committed a faux pa?

A faux pa, is a fancy way of saying that you did something embarrassing or culturally insensitive.

Have you ever done something so embarrassing that you still think about it today and cringe when you relive that moment in your mind?

Well, there are many ways to be involved in faux pas, especially if you take your ingrained Western ways to another country.

In China, if you keep your shoes on inside someone’s home, you are disrespecting their family.

In the United Arab Emirates, it is disrespectful to wear revealing clothes.  Women are to wear clothing that covers their body from their shoulder to their toes.  And, men are not to wear tight fitting clothes, such as cycling shorts or under armor, unless you are on a sports team participating in that sport.

In the U.K., the peace sign that you make with your hand here in America is the equivalent of flipping someone the middle finger and asking them to fight you.

In Brazil, raising a fist in the air, as you would do at a sporting event or concert in America, is a signal that a man’s wife is cheating on him.

In Iran and Irag, giving the thumb’s up, that commonly shows someone that they did a good job in America, is actually one of the worst non-verbal insults you can give another human being.

I am no stranger to faux pas.

A few years ago, I did one of the most embarrassing things that I think you could ever do.  I congregated a woman on being pregnant when in fact she was not pregnant.

In this morning’s text, we are going to hear about a wedding party, a wedding celebration, a wedding feast, where the groom who was responsible for providing for the needs of his guest ends up in the middle of a faux pa, doing the most embarrassing thing that a groom can do at a wedding he is hosting.

Let’s hear about this wedding and this faux pa as recorded for us in John 2.1-11.

John 2:1–11 tells us this:

[1] On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. [2] Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. [3] When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” [4] And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” [5] His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

[6] Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. [7] Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. [8] And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. [9] When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom [10] and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” [11] This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. (ESV)

This text begins the public ministry of Jesus when he is somewhere around the age of 30.

What a strange beginning to Jesus’ ministry!

Jesus goes to a wedding.

The wine runs out.

Jesus’ mother puts Jesus on the spot.

Jesus somewhat reluctantly listens to his mother and helps out the one throwing the party by miraculously changing jars full of water into jars full of wine.

Let’s begin by asking, “What is this text NOT about?”

Well, this text is not about Jesus approving drunkenness.  Even though Jesus served more wine after the initial batch of wine ran out, no where in the text does it say people were over drinking or were drunk.  Drunkenness is an assumption made by many who approach this text.

How do we know that the people were not being over served alcohol? We know that because drunkenness is a sin and Jesus would never lead anyone into sin.

The Apostle Paul, gave this command in Ephesians 5:18–21:

[18] And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, [19] addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, [20] giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, [21] submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. (ESV)

And, the Apostle Paul lists a life of continual unrepentant drunkenness as something that separates you from God the Father in Heaven.

Writing to the Christians gathered in the city of Galatia during the 1st Century A.D., Paul said:

[19] Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, [20] idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, [21] envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. [24] And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5.19-24, ESV)

This morning’s Biblical text has also been used to prove that Jesus simply supports the drinking of alcohol.  Although that is not what this text is about, drinking in moderation that does not lead to drunkenness is allowed.  That allowance is for you who are not what Alcoholics Anonymous would label one of the “hopeless variety” (meaning you can have one drink and be done).

Instead of being a treatise on alcohol, this is an amazing text that tells us about God’s goodness and God’s grace in our lives.

So, this morning, we have to set all of our preconceived thoughts about drinking, serving, and making alcohol aside to receive the good news that God wants to give us.

At this wedding, the wine is just a means by which Jesus reveals a great truth about who He is and what He is here on earth to say and do.

So, with all of that said, I now give you the message that this text gives you, and that message is this:

Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus is the One Anointed by God to forgive your sins, give you His righteousness, and give you eternal life in Heaven.

The message is that here, in His first public miracle, Jesus proves that he is both fully man and fully God by doing what is impossible for man to do.

And, in addition to do for you what you can’t do for yourself—provide the forgiveness of sins, righteousness before the throne of God, and eternal life in Heaven—God enters into your life in the person and work of Jesus Christ to meet your daily needs.

Let’s briefly examine our text.

In the ancient Hebraic world, the marriage celebration lasted seven days.  During that week, the groom was responsible for providing enough food and wine for all of those in attendance.  The groom’s responsibility was taken seriously by all and there were even laws set up to protect the invited guests.  If the groom failed to meet their party needs, the bride’s family could sue to groom for reparations.   

In addition to the legal regulations weighing down upon the groom, he also lived in a shame based culture.  Running out of wine was a major social faux pa and could ruin his reputation in the small village which he lived and worked.  

Cana was a small village approximately 10 miles from Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth.  Due to the closeness of the village and the guest list which included Mary, Jesus’ mother, Jesus, and his associates, the disciples, we can deduce that this celebration was for a close family relative or friend.  Therefore, when the wine runs out, Mary feels a responsibility to help remedy the situation.  

Jesus being aware of the needs of this close acquaintance and the consequences of those needs not being met, Jesus steps in to help meet the current needs of the groom.

Jesus cares about the groom and his everyday needs, no matter how big or small that they are.

And, that means that Jesus cares about your everyday needs, no matter how big or small that they are.

I often forget that God cares about the everyday needs that I have—especially those that I deem small and relatively insignificant, like a lost stuffed animal that helps my younger son peacefully sleep at night, or a lost book that helps calm the thoughts of my older son before bedtime so he is able to enter a period of rest.

However, my mother often reminds me that God cares about the needs we have on a daily basis by telling me, “I am glad you found that stuffed animal and that book, I was praying for that.”

Later on in Jesus’ life, he ends up in a conversation with a man who is name in the text as a ruler, and who has become known as the rich young ruler throughout church history.

Luke 18:18–30 records this conversation between the rich young ruler and Jesus.

The conversation goes like this:

[18] And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” [19] And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. [20] You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” [21] And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” [22] When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” [23] But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. [24] Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! [25] For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” [26] Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” [27] But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” [28] And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” [29] And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, [30] who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.” (ESV)

What is impossible for man is possible for God.

It was impossible for the groom at the wedding to provide more wine for his guests.  But, for God in Christ, it was possible to rescue the groom from the guilt and shame of running out of provisions for those celebrating with him.

It is impossible for you to provide a way to be forgiven for sin before the throne of God. But, for God, it is possible to provide you with the forgiveness you need through the death of His One and Only Son, Jesus, the perfect, unblemished, sacrificial, once-for-all, Lamb.

It is impossible for you to get to Heaven by yourself.

But, with the help of God, it is possible for you to have eternal life.

Jesus does what is impossible for you.  Did you hear that?  Jesus  does what Jesus does—lives, dies, and resurrects—FOR YOU!!!

Jesus lived a life that perfectly met God’s standards of life and love for you.

Jesus died on the cross to provide forgiveness for your sin, you ungodliness, your faux pas, and your embarrassingly insensitive moments.

Jesus rose from the dead on the first Easter morning to defeat the power of sin and death for you.

Jesus gives you his perfect record of righteousness…

And, Jesus brings you into God’s eternal kingdom of Heaven and gives you eternal life.

In sin, you have performed the ultimate faux pa and you find yourself guilty and embarrassed in front of God due to your failure to think, speak, and act in a godly way.

However, in Jesus Christ, every failure in your life up to this point and every failure in your life after this point has been forgiven and will be forgiven simply through faith in Jesus who can do the impossible and turn water in wine, and who can turn a sinner into a saint.

This is the Word of God for you today.

This is the Grace of God for you today.

Amen.

Reverend Fred Scragg V.

January 19, 2025.

Prayer:

Holy God, 

We are people who cannot wash ourselves or make ourselves clean. Even as your children, we love evil and resist what you have said is good. We demand justice for ourselves, but fail to pursue it vigorously on behalf of others. We are indignant about the oppression we read of in faraway lands, yet blind to the oppression taking place right here before our eyes in our families, homes, and work places. We feel good when we give money to feed orphans in foreign countries, but we often don’t know or care about the widows and orphans who need your love right around us. Father, forgive us. 

Redeeming God, we praise you that you have washed us clean in the blood of your Son. You placed all our evil on him so that it could be removed from your sight forever. Jesus suffered profound injustice for our lukewarm apathy, and was fatally oppressed for our continuing failure to love and help the oppressed, here and abroad. He became fatherless to pay for our careless disregard for the fatherless and widows in our own towns. We crucified your precious Son, and instead of hating us, you have given us his perfect goodness and welcomed us to your feast. We are left undone by your extravagant love and complete salvation. 

We ask you to wash our minds and hearts clean, moment by moment. Make our hearts good so that works of kindness and mercy flow from us to the needy people you have placed in our lives. May we love them as you have loved us in our great need. Cause us to love justice and, like your Son, to suffer joyfully great injustice on behalf of others. Help us to love extravagantly, as we have been loved by you. Amen.

Benediction:

Go, in peace, today.  Jesus has proven that He is the Messiah, God-in-flesh, and saves you from being ashamed and embarrassed before God because of the guilt of your sin.