“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.
No comments:
Post a Comment