A Great Multitude

Remember that its purpose is the consolation for folks who are undergoing persecution for the faith, written by one who has experienced it first-hand.

Two weeks ago we heard him introduce his location as the island of Patmos, where he was at the same time “in the Spirit”, and experienced visions of the outcome of creation and God's final intentions for his people.

Who is the subject of the passage that we heard a few minutes ago?

The first answer we would likely give is that it is about the great multitude whom no one can number; it is about us together with the saints and martyrs of all the ages of the church.

That is the first answer, but is it the best answer?

As always, we would like it to be about us, what we have accomplished and to what we aspire.

“A great multitude” of us who have been good and faithful Christians, everything cleaned up and in perfect order, ones who deserve to be the beloved of the Lord.

Are we beginning to feel a bit overwhelmed with the sticky sweetness of that approach? We should.

The subject is much more to be found in the One who gathers the multitude, the One who is Lord of all.

This passage is really a hymn to the One who makes it possible, and discerning what is the nature of this Lord God.

Let's digress for a few moments and take a whirlwind tour through the parables that Jesus taught and look for the nature of this God.

But let's begin with a little exercise which we could do most anywhere: at the mall, or walking down the street., at work or at school.

Focus on a person and ask ourselves: “Did Christ die and was Christ raised for this person?

And repeat this question with person after person that we see.

What is the nature of this God whom we worship?

What do we learn from the parables?

--A farmer goes out to sow seed, and instead of placing it only on the best soil, flings it everywhere, even in the most unlikely of places.

--The dragnet hauls into the boat both the good and bad creatures, and the sorting is left to the master.

--There are weeds growing in the wheat field, and again, the sorting and weeding is left to the master.

--Which one of us, having lost one sheep will not leave 99 and search for the one, carry it home, and then call together our friends and hold a party?

--Which one of us, when we lose a quarter, will not rip up the carpet and search the house bare until we find it, and then call together the entire neighborhood for a party?

--Which one of us, having two rapscallion sons will not have a party when at least one of them can be welcomed home?

--Which of us, traveling down the road to Jericho, when we see a perfect stranger lying in the ditch would not risk our lives, put the bloodied man in the back of our expensive car, take him to the hospital, sign the papers to be responsible for his care which will run into the thousands in a matter of a few hours?

Which of us would do these things?

The answer is of course that none of us would act in these unseemly, extravagant ways.

All these parables are not about us, but rather are explorations of the nature of God.

These are God's stories: God the searching shepherd, God the careless farmer, God the undiscerning fisherman, God like the reckless woman,God the extravagant father, God the prodigal Samaritan.

Through all these stories, Jesus is revealing to us that our God is the Lord of abundance.

When Jesus is confronted by the hunger of the multitudes, he takes the meager resources and opportunities which we think we have and turns them into far more than we even need, a great surplus.

This is at the heart of the reality of God.

--We sing of it in the 23^rd Psalm: “Thou preparest a table before me.... my cup is running over.”

--We hear it from Jesus as he speaks of the Good Shepherd: “I give my sheep eternal life, and they will never perish.”

--We rejoice with Tabitha's friends as Peter calls on the Lord Jesus to restore Tabitha to life for the sake of the work she does with so many persons in need.

It does seem that instead of rejoicing in what we have been given, we spend much more time complaining about what we have not.

We are invited to look at things from the perspective of the outcome of creation.

The heavenly voice demands that John answer his question: “Who are these robed in white, and whence have they come?”

John wisely replies to the heavenly voice, “You know better than I do.”

And so the heavenly voice continues the description: “These are they who have come through the great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

Whatever we might think the “great tribulation” or “ordeal” to be, it will not be something easy, comfortable, or problem-free.

It involves a dying to the old life and a rebirth to the new life in Christ Jesus.

We have the sign and beginning of that in Holy Baptism, but there is much to be unfolded and unpacked in the living and dying that is the consequence of baptism.

There is a verse of scripture which I frequently recite at graveside.

Paul says: “None of us lives to himself, and none of us does to himself. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.”[Romans 14:7-8]

Again, the true subject of these verses is not us, but the graciousness of God to us: we belong to him, and that makes all the difference in facing the ordeals of life.

What is a worthy use of our time?

Do we get stuck on things that in the long run really don't matter so much?

Many years ago there was a TV show during which the contestants had to choose one door from among several.

Behind one of them was a great prize, and behind another was a booby prize, worth nothing.

Which to choose, which to choose?

Is life about luck, or skill in deciphering the clues?

We are not stuck with this choice: Jesus is going to change the game!

Some of the choices that we make, or some of the situations in which we are caught up are good and some are not so good.

In fact, some of them are deadly!

Jesus is beside us in all of the choices, good and not so good, and will not ultimately let go of those to whom he has given his word and promise.

Parents don't hover over their children and prevent every bad choice that kids may make, but that parent does not stop loving those children and working with them in the easy times and the difficult ones.

How much more does the Lord Jesus stand near us, and never stop loving us, even in our worst moments.

At the close of life we do not try to justify ourselves by saying: “Golly, I did my best; I'm not perfect, but I'm better than a lot of other people”.

Rather, let our speech be “Thank you , Lord, for not making my entrance to your heavenly multitude dependent on the strength of my faith or the great things I was able to do, for they don't amount to much.

I know that even when I do my best, it is not adequate or enough to make myself or the world what it should be.

As Edward Mote said, 'No merit of my own I claim, But wholly lean on Jesus' Name.' [LBW#494.1]

'Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner.' “[Luke 18:13]

And he is!

He holds onto us and by way of John, lets us join the hymn that the angels are already singing:Amen. Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and blessing and might be to our God forever and ever. Amen.[Rev. 7:12] for Christ is risen; He is risen indeed. Amen.

Please note: The preceding sermon is provided as a resource for the thought, prayer, and meditation of the members and friends of St. Mark's. It is the residue of a verbal event, and thus it does not have academic footnotes and other details that would be expected in a written document. The writer gladly acknowledges the prior thought and work of many Christians before him.