Proper 9 A
The Hidden yet Revealed Kingdom
St. Matthew 11:25-30
9 July 2017 – Redeemer
One of my favorite hymns as a child was “Onward Christian Soldiers.” I’m not sure why. Perhaps because as a little boy I liked the military overtones, the marching rhythm of the hymn, or the idea that the church was going to win.
“Like a mighty army Moves the Church of God.
Brothers we a treading Where the saints have trod.
We are not divided. All one body we
One in hope and doctrine, One in charity.
If communion takes enough time this morning, you’ll get a chance to sing that hymn. What do you think of that hymn? Is it telling the truth? Is that how you see the church? A mighty army. Following the Saints before us. United in hope, doctrine, and love toward others. Forward into battle.
The hymn is true, but you will not see it. To your eyes the church appears to be in retreat and decline. If you read the article in the Times this past week about Lutherans you know that the largest Lutheran church bodies in North America, including our beloved Missouri Synod are in decline. Whether it is you plural (the church) or you singular (the individual Christian) you will not see what you truly are, because it is hidden from your eyes. As Jesus says to begin today’s text, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children.”
You worship a God you cannot see. Every year you give a quarter million dollars to this church and about $60,000 of that you give away to support the expansion of this unseen Kingdom. You believe that the greatest enemy of humanity is not climate change or the wickedness in the world, but a fallen angel named Satan. You believe the greatest problem of humanity is not something or someone out there, but something in here – the sinful desires of your own heart, the anger and pride and selfishness that finds their way out of your heart via your tongue or hands or eyes. Your lives, by and large, appear no better than your neighbors. Someone might well ask you, “What do you see in your Christian religion?” The correct answer is “Not a thing.”
What you believe about God’s Kingdom cannot be seen and will not be seen until Christ returns. It is hidden from the eyes and revealed to the ears of little children. Perhaps that too is why this Kingdom is so hidden from the world. The Kingdom of God is more similar to a family than to a Kingdom or an Army. It is marked more by the ordinary than the mighty. It is more plain than powerful.
Consider this for a moment. The Kingdoms of the world are largely judged by their activity, by what they do. Right now, North Korea is on the mind of the world because it launched an intercontinental ballistic missile. We may not like what they are doing, but they are known because they are doing something, building a nuclear arsenal and threatening their enemies. The Kingdom of God is largely hidden because it is not our activity that marks the Kingdom, but our passivity. What are the greatest events in the Kingdom of God? A baby being baptized and receiving forgiveness for her sins. A sinner repenting and hearing Christ’s word of absolution. Doing nothing on a Sunday morning but listening to God’s Word tell us of Jesus’ death. Kneeling to eat the bread we are fed and drink the wine we are given and thus receiving Christ’s very own body and blood. The Kingdom of God is about receiving gifts from our Father, gifts purchased by His Son, gifts delivered by the Spirit. It is God’s work, God’s gifts that mark the Kingdom – as Jesus says, “yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.”
The Father’s gracious will toward us is revealed in His Son. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. You will never see or understand the true God by looking around the world. He is revealed in His Son and even there He is hidden. We heard the Palm Sunday prophecy from Zechariah the Prophet today. “Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he.” Now, that sounds great – we want a King who does what is right; Who saves us from our problems and enemies. But then Zechariah goes on to say, “Humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Who wants a humble King? A meek King? Not the wise and learned. Isaiah the Prophet tells us there wouldn’t be much to see in Jesus. His mom was from backwater Nazareth and He was born in little Bethlehem. His own people, the Jews, who had the promise and election of God, did not see Jesus as the Messiah. His closest disciples (the twelve) appeared to be uneducated, impulsive, and somewhat corrupt. All but a few rejected Him. The most significant event of His Kingly reign was His death and over that we sing and praise God and rejoice.
If you want to know the Father, look at Jesus – He is the Savior who is not too proud to save you, who is not so great that He won’t bear your sins and suffer your punishment and hang on your cross. His gracious Kingdom is not giving you everything your heart desires, but giving you the one thing your heart needs to beat for all eternity – the forgiveness of sins purchased by His blood and delivered to you in church – hidden in Word and Water and Bread and Wine. This Kingdom is about life – if you’re dying, listen up – there’s one way out of your grave. His name is Jesus. He did everything necessary for you to live forever – He died for your sins because sin alone is what’s killing you.
So Jesus says to you, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
This is your rest – you are forgiven. Rest from the devil’s accusations – Christ has taken your sin away. Rest from trying to escape the grave – Christ has risen from the dead and by faith in Him you too will rise. Find rest for your soul – life is not what you have done or failed to do, it is not lost by your sins or earned by your successes – Christ has carried your sins to Calvary and died your death there. Listen to Saint Paul, “Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
The Lord Jesus has lifted the heavy yoke of sin, death, and hell from your sinful shoulders. He has carried them away by His death. Now He lays on you the yoke of faith, the burden of believing, the load of living in this hidden Kingdom of your Father. One weight of that yoke is following Jesus’ example of being gentle and lowly of heart. Jesus did not hate His enemies. He loved them enough to speak to them of their sins and pray for their salvation. He considered even His enemies above Him – so He died for them as well – He died for all sinners. Many times, your good works are hidden, hidden in your prayers for your unbelieving neighbors, hidden in your homes as you pray with your children or grandchildren and read them stories from God’s Word, hidden in an act of kindness for a stranger. Hidden in speaking to a son or daughter about their sin – that doesn’t look like love, but it is, for in so doing you put your children above yourself. You don’t want them to lose Jesus. You bear that yoke because Jesus carried your load to the cross.
Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
But the Church of Jesus constant will remain
Gates of hell can never ‘gainst the church prevail;
We have Christ’s own promise, and that cannot fail.
That’s the Church which you are in – a Kingdom that is constant, that will prevail, that is eternal. It’s the Father’s Kingdom revealed and given to you His children, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Pr. Bruce Timm
8 July 2017 anno Domini