Sermon - 2019-02-24

Today’s gospel is one that is sometimes known as the building blocks of our faith.  It is something that we want our children to know but that as we grow older, we do not regard these words of Jesus as speaking to us to follow.  They are meant for children but when you get older, you will learn the way of the world. Sadly, it is the way of the world that Jesus was actually striving against.  It is the way of the world that Jesus saw people following and not the way that God had called them to live.

So we enter into the struggle between the first Adam and the last Adam.  The first Adam is the Adam that is found in the Genesis creation story. The last Adam is not named Adam at all but has the name of Jesus.  One of the man of dust, the other is a man of heaven. Now the Adam of the dust, is one that we often experience and through experience, we are often taught and fall back into the worldly ways.  When Jesus comes, he comes to raise us out of the filth that we have fallen into and lift not only one person up but all people up.

Now it was because of the first Adam and the sin that he brought into the world that there is even need for the last Adam to be here.  Now both Adams enter into the world but change the world in vastly different ways. One can be highlighted in the Old Testament and the other in the New Testament.  Now I understand I am talking in very broad terms but bear with me, I will be making my point. For this all comes together because of one word: Forgiveness. Have you ever wondered: Is there a difference between Forgiveness of the Old Testament and the New Testament?  

More often than not, when you think of forgiveness within the Old Testament, you probably think of an animal sacrifice.  For the people of God, they established five kinds of sacrifices.

1. Burnt Offering, The burnt offering was offered both in the morning and in the evening, as well as on special days such as the Sabbath, the new moon, and the yearly feasts.  It was an offering that given to God for the sake of God.

2. Grain Offering - this offering was given for a good harvest.  This was typically flour, oil, and frankincense made into cakes. Some was burnt and other parts were given to the priest.

3. Peace Offering - this offering was for celebration.  This was typically a bull, cow, lamb, or goat that had no defect. As with the burnt offering, the individual laid a hand on the animal and killed it. The priests, in turn, sprinkled the blood around the altar. Only certain parts of the internal organs were burned.

4. Sin Offering - This was designed to deal with sin that was committed unintentionally. The sacrifice varied according to who committed the sin. If the priest or the congregation of Israel sinned, then a bull was required. A leader of the people had to bring a male goat, while anyone else sacrificed a female goat or a lamb. The poor were allowed to bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons. The one bringing the offering placed a hand on the animal and then slaughtered it. When the priest or the congregation sinned, the blood was sprinkled seven times before the veil in the sanctuary, and some of it was placed on the horns of the incense altar. The rest of the blood was poured out at the base of the sacrificial altar.

5. Guilt Offering - the guilt offering is called the sin offering. Both offerings also were made for similar types of sin. The guilt offering was concerned supremely with restitution. Someone who took something illegally was expected to repay it in full plus 20 percent of the value and then bring a ram for the guilt offering.

Yet the first one to offer an animal sacrifice was God.  God killed animals so that Adam and Eve could have clothes.  The people continue the tradition of sacrificing animals to be aware of the hurt, the anger, and the innocence that was lost and the need for restoration with God.  The sacrifices were a physical reminder of these very things, however, they were for past sins and particularly for those that the people would name. Even as the prophets spoke the Word of God among the people, they did not condemn the sacrifices but they did condemn the fact that they were only traditions, going through the motions, saying the words but not understanding the meaning and the purpose of them.    

These sacrifices were continued by the people until 70 AD.  Nearly 40 years after Jesus died. Within the New Testament, we hear of Jesus being the final sacrifice, the lamb that was slain, fully and completely fulfilling all sins.  For truly Jesus becomes our lamb of the Passover, so that death may pass over us and we may be saved. Truly the words that are spoken within the Lord’s Supper are true, “Again after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks and gave it to all to drink. Saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sins.”

So did Jesus completely change the system?   Yes and no. Jesus became the sacrifice and was killed so that we would not need to slaughter animals anymore, however, we are still called to be reminded of the reason for that sacrifice.  For Christ came to fulfill the Law that God had given and also to give us that honor as well. That we are indeed in need of that forgiveness and now God has given it to us. Fully, Completely and without any doubts.  God has forgiven you. For all my sins? YES FOR ALL!

Throughout the ages, God has provided for his people. God continues to reach out to us and yet I wonder, how many of us listen and trust in that promise?  To know that God gives completely and fully to us even when it means that everything that we are and have are gone. That God is making the first move and sharing the first word of love and compassion that is so desperately needed in this world.  That no more life would need to end because of someone else’s sin, greed, or hate.

We need to hear this message of hope and love now more than ever.  But beyond hearing, I wonder, will it actually change the way that we live our lives and be members of the Kingdom of God?