Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Sermon - 18th Sunday after Pentecost - 2 Timothy 2:1-13

2 Timothy 2:1-13
“Remember Jesus Christ”



Paul’s young protégé’ Timothy was certainly dear to the apostle.  We in the church are blessed to have 2 letters that Paul wrote to Timothy, with all manner of helpful instruction and encouragement.  Much of this concerns the pastoral office in which Timothy served, shepherding the congregation at Ephesus.  But it does, of course, bear broader application.

Timothy was a dear friend and traveling companion of Paul’s, and his name appears as the co-author on 2 Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, and Philemon.  Paul wrote to the Philippians about Timothy, "I have no one like him".

Last week we heard a reading just prior to this one, in which Paul also commended the faith of Timothy – which he credited to his mother and grandmother.  All in all you could say that Timothy was a faithful companion, a diligent laborer in the kingdom, and a good soldier.  Indeed, Paul calls him, “my child”.

Which may make it seem strange that Paul spends so much time and ink to encourage him.  Here in the first paragraph of our reading, Paul encourages Timothy especially in his vocation of teaching.  Entrusting the Gospel of Jesus Christ to other faithful men, so that it may be passed on and that many would be saved. 

And while you and I may have different vocations, some of us pastors, some soldiers, some farmers, some athletes:  or around here it’s more like, some IT guys, some engineers, some accountants, and some more engineers….  And a few more engineers…  Nonetheless we all share in the calling or vocation as “Christian”. 

And as such, we too can learn something of that from the suffering soldier, who keeps himself about his business.  We, too, can look to the athlete who competes in an honorable way, according to the rules, and to the hard-working farmer, whose labor and patience pay off when the crops are harvested.  All of these are good examples with applications for young pastor Timothy.  But they have a broader application to all Christians:  Be serious about your vocation, and aim to please your superiors.  Play by the rules.  Work hard.  Be patient.  And think over the advice and wisdom of those in a position to teach you – and you will grow in the fear and knowledge of God.  All of these are Christian things to do.

Most of this, though, is law-talk.  It is exhortation to Christian living, which is good and helpful, but is only part of the story.  The law also, always, accuses us – even when the law-giver may be trying to be helpful and encouraging – because we sinners never meet a law we don’t break.  Am I serious and focused on the callings God places before me?  Do I work hard, patiently, and follow all the rules?  Or am I lazy and rebellious and impatient and so on?  No, the law can’t be the only word of encouragement, for by itself, it is no encouragement at all.

Paul never strays too far from the basis for our living, and for our life:  the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  And so in the next section he lays it forth beautifully, and even, eventually, poetically.

But more than anything, Paul encourages Timothy, “Remember Jesus Christ”.  That’s really the keynote of this passage. If we remember anything -  Remember Jesus Christ. 

For the people of the ancient world, “remembering” was far more than recalling facts and figures – a simple mental exercise in which our brain engages, pulls something out of the old files, and regurgitates it for our use.  Remembering is far more than that.  It means to hold fast and cherish.  It means to, in a sense, relive the past in a broader way than the merely intellectual.  And it means action, too.

And so too when scripture speaks of God remembering, i.e., when God “remembers his mercy”,  it moves him to action, to actually BE merciful.  When he “remembers his promises” (it’s not like he ever forgot them), “he remembers” them means he is about to fulfill them.  When we pray, “Jesus, remember me” like the prayer of the thief on the cross – Jesus doesn’t just think nice thought about you – but this kind of “remembering” does something – it saves us.

So, also, for the Christian to “remember” is more than an intellectual recall – it’s faith talk.  It’s the clinging to and trusting in the promises of God. 

For instance, when we observe the Lord’s Supper and “do this in remembrance”, it’s far more than just a memorial to Jesus, a thing of the past simply acknowledged – it is an ongoing testament, and a real-time and real-space real presence of his body and blood there for us in the meal. 

Paul says, “Remember Jesus Christ… risen from the dead”!  Yes, place your hope and faith and trust again and always in the Christ who rose from the dead.  This is not just any Christ, mind you, but the one who conquered death and left it in the dust.  The one who destroys the last and greatest enemy we must all face.  The one who takes the sting of death away by forgiving our sins and takes the fear of death away by promising a place for us in his Father’s house.  Remember Jesus is the firstborn of the dead, the first of many, for many who sleep in dust will rise and in Christ will shine like stars in a glorious resurrection like his.

Remember Jesus Christ… offspring of David.  The shoot that came up from the stump of Jess.  The temple that was built from the shabby tatters of David’s fallen tent.  The long promised heir to the throne of David, that is, a king to rule and protect the people of God.  The one promised and delivered, prophesied and fulfilled.  The babe of Bethlehem and the receiver of Hosannas.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!  And his throne and reign shall endure forever. 

Remember Jesus Christ… the one preached by St. Paul, and by every preacher of the Gospel.  For in Jesus Christ is the good news of all good news – the forgiveness of sins by his blood, the destruction of death by his death, the the promise of life in his life.  Jesus who preached the kingdom of God and also fulfilled it in himself.  Jesus who declared, “it is finished” and completed his mission for us.  Remember this Jesus, and all that he has done for us, and still does for us.  Remember Jesus Christ.

And though Paul was imprisoned for preaching this Jesus, and suffered for the same, and though many other preachers and Christians of all stripes and ranks, of all nations and times have faced persecution and danger and sword for the sake of Christ – yet Paul still encourages.  He still remains hopeful.  He knows the Word of God is not bound, for it really never can be bound. 

And remembering Jesus Christ, and only then, can Paul encourage Timothy toward endurance.  “Endure everything for the sake of the elect”.  There is a purpose and aim in our Christian vocation – and it is for the sake of others that we endure suffering. 

And these final words from Paul, scholars believe, were from a hymn:
If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
if we are faithless, whe remains faithful—
for he cannot deny himself.

So, Christians, take this encouragement from St. Paul, meant for Timothy, but useful for us all.  Remember Jesus Christ!  And live out your vocation – first as a Christiain, and then in whatever role he has placed you.

Die with him in baptism, and so live with him.  Die with him by carrying your cross, and so live by his cross.

Don’t deny him, but confess him, be faithful to him who is always faithful.
For he cannot deny himself, but he will remember and be faithful to his promises.  

So you, too, Remember Jesus Christ, and endure to the end in him.  Amen.

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