Our Savior Lutheran, Pastor Eberhart
Second sunday in lent
Sunday 20, February 2005: 10:30
Genesis 12:1-8
Romans 4:1-5,13-17
John 4:5-26[27-30,39-42]
Children's sermon:
"I have a broken cup. How can I fix it? Should I use tape?...Staples?...Actually, superglue is the best method. (Or buy a new one). In the same way, Jesus repairs our lives.
Sermon:
There was once a university that had no classes. You could buy any degree you wanted, though. It was closed in 2004 by the British government. A very lucrative business, even though it was a false university. The place had impressive credentials, but the base was in Romania, the bank account was in Cyprus, and the publication mill in Jerusalem. They sold 70,000 diplomas, over $100 million in fake degrees. The job market is competitive. People got desperate and bought fakes. People didn't check their personnell. One government agency had 28 fake B.A.'s. Other governments had people who bought fake diplomas for promotions, etc. and U.S. scholarships paid for them.
A woman had her daughter taken to the doctor for a diagnosis. She was diagnosed with diabetes, but she went elsewhere for a second opinion. The specialist took her off insulin, and she promptly went into shock. The doctor went to jail.
Do we want a counterfeit salvation? Are we going to church just to drop by and see God? To merely glance at the river of God? Or are we seeking a relationship? When you pray, you look crazy. But Jesus is a person who's there when we're alone. When you need guidance, he's there, especially at your death. Do you want a real God or a superficial image? We're all too often satisfied with a cheap imitiation.
A lady once got a dead battery. She said to a man who offered to repair it that all he had to do is jiggle the wires to get it to run again. "That's all I have to do," when the real fix takes more effort. We want God to just `jiggle the wires.' But God wants to make a more permanent fix. He wants a real fix.
We want good credentials. Jesus approached the woman at Samaria. She would have been satisfied with a jug of water. Jesus wanted to give her more. In the culture of the day, men weren't supposed to talk to women in public. High noon. The hottest part of the day. The social hour was in the morning when it was cool, but the woman had a bad reputation. She didn't want the abuse. People get self righteous and get judgemental attitudes about your life and how it should be. Jesus breaks barriers, judgements, arbitrary judgements, pushes them aside and forgives. Jesus gives life and preserves. Jesus didn't condemn, just told the truth, stated the facts. She had many husbands. Jesus accepts and loves people regardless, despite all he knows about us, you and me.
Sometimes we grow spiritually in huge spurts, but other days it's two steps forward, one step back. Christ never gives up.
A famous preacher taught in a plymouth church. One day they had a substitute. Some congregands left because of this. So the preacher said, "All those who came to worship Henry may leave. Those who want to worship Christ can stay." Jesus is who he says. He has the correct credentials as son of God.