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Walking on the road to Jerusalem, the time had come to sacrifice again. My two small sons, they walked beside me on the road. The reason they came was to watch the lamb.
Daddy, daddy what will we see there? There’s so much that we don’t understand. So I told them of Moses and Father Abraham and then I said, “Dear children, watch the lamb.”
For there will be many in Jerusalem today. We must be sure the lamb doesn’t run away. And I told them of Moses and Father Abraham. And then I said, “Dear children, watch the lamb.”
When we reached the city I knew something must be wrong. There were no joyful worshippers, no worship songs. I stood there with my children in the midst of angry men. And then I heard the crowd cry out crucify Him.
We tried to leave the city but we could not get away. Forced to play in this drama a part I did not want to play. Why upon this day were men condemned to die? Why were we standing here where soon they would be passing by?
I looked and said even now they come. The first one cried for mercy, the people gave him none. The second one was violent he was arrogant and loud. I can still hear his angry voice screaming at the crowd.
Then someone said there’s Jesus and I scarce believed my eyes. A man so badly beaten He barely looked alive. Blood poured from His body from then thorns upon His brow, running down the cross and falling upon the ground.
I watched Him as He struggled. I watched Him as He fell. The cross came down upon His back; the crowd began to yell. In that moment I felt such agony in that moment I felt such loss. Until a Roman soldier grabbed my arm and screamed, “You carry the cross.”
At first I tried to resist him but his hand reached for his sword. And so I knelt and took the cross from the Lord. I placed it on my shoulder and I started down the street. The blood that He had been shedding was running down my cheek.
They led us to Golgotha they drove nails in his feet and hands. And yet upon the cross I heard Him pray, “Father forgive them.”
Oh never have I seen such love in any other eyes. “Into thy hands I commit my Spirit” and then he died.
I stood for what seemed like years I’d lost all sense of time. Until I felt two tiny hands holding tight to mine. My children stood there weeping I heard the oldest say, “Father please forgive us, the lamb ran away.”
Daddy, daddy what have we seen here? There’s so much we don’t understand. So I took them in my arms and we turned and faced the cross. And then I said, “Dear children, watch the lamb.”
Matthew 16: 13-20
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea’s Philippi He asked His disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of man is?” And Jesus disciples said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Jesus said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then Jesus strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
Last Sunday Barbara Cornelius shared with you in an excellent sermon titled the Five Golden Rings for the symbol of the Olympics is five interlocking rings that symbolize:
Integrity
Excellence
Perseverance
Sportsmanship
Brotherhood
And the colors of the rings are:
Blue: symbolizing Authority.
Black: symbolizing Rich, elegant, formal, mourning.
Red: symbolizing Strength, courageous, confidence.
Yellow: symbolizing being positive.
Green: symbolizing Motion, mobility, tranquility, health and freshness.
Barbara shared in her sermon that when we consider the five Olympic rings in our Christian lives they become golden rings in our own life.
I thought of what Barbara shared last week as my wife Pilar and I were watching the Olympics. When watching the track event we were both awe-struck and sick to our stomachs at the same time as we watched a runner from Jamaica whose last name appropriately is Bolt. Usain Bolt broke the 100-meter dash world record in a time of 9.69 seconds. All one could see was the tall mass of human energy that ran leaving everyone behind. As Bolt approached the finish line knowing he was clearly going to win and beat his previous time of 9.72 seconds he grabbed his top pulling on it and waved his arms as to show how good he was. Sadly, if Bolt had not been showboating at the end of his race he could have broken his previous time of 9.72 seconds even more.
From what I have shared with you, what is the primary difference in the actions between Jesus Christ and Usain Bolt? The primary difference is a three-letter word pronounced “Ego.”
“Ego” which thrives on our own greed, and self-image and is the downfall of the church, the community the church exists in and our lives.
For our “Ego” lives in the present wanting to be not only recognized but also to have authority for “I” can do it better, and who are you anyway?
The ego treats the present moment as a means to an end. As an obstacle to overcome and an enemy to be defeated. BRING IT ON AND I’LL SHOW YOU WHO’S IN CHARGE!! I DON’T CARE WHAT DAMAGE IS DONE! FOR I WILL BE RIGHT IN THE END!!
In the United States of America all we have to do is look around us. Look right where we live and at the leaders of this country.
It wasn’t that long ago when one of the well-known religious leaders (not only in the United States of America but also in the world) got into trouble because of his ego. Jim Baker served time in prison for his ego and he and his wife Tammy Faye watched their world crumble right before them.
When asked why he had an affair with Monica Lewinski, without blinking an eye President Bill Clinton replied, “Because I knew I could.”
Our worst enemy lives within us. For our ego can make us feel above the law and others.
And we don’t have to look far to see the destruction ego has caused in the church, in our community. Ego corrupts and exists among those who are elected officials. Among those who do not know how to respect others let alone themselves. Let alone how to put the needs of the community and the people before their own egocentric needs for power.
Ego wants to get back at people to prove a point and to feel the rush of self-power.
In this morning’s Scripture Lesson did you pick up the difference between Jesus’ ego as He spoke to His disciples, and Usain Bolt’s ego as he crossed the finish line at the 2008 Olympics?
Jesus asked “Who do men say the Son of man is?”
“Then Jesus strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that He was the Christ.”
Usain Bolt did not wait to cross the finish line as he told the world by his actions how great he is for we are all famous in our own mind.
At the beginning of this sermon we listened to Ray Boltz as he sang of Jesus carrying the cross on the road to Golgotha and of the Roman solider who grabbed Simon of Cyrene and ordered him, “You carry the cross.”
As Jesus Christ carried His cross Jesus is our example not of ego but of humbleness. For Jesus was not heard shouting
“HEY LOOK AT ME THE SON OF GOD WHO IS THE GREATEST OF ALL FOR I’M GOING TO HANG ON THIS CROSS FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS. I AM THE GREATEST!! FOLLOW MY EXAMPLE!!
Irrelevant of our age or situation, the words of Proverbs 11:2 say it all.
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace; but with the humble is wisdom.”
If you noticed in your bulletin the title of this sermon is “Gnothi Seauton”, which translated from Greek to English means “Know Thyself,”
The difference between ego and humbleness lies in one who “Know Thyself” for they are living in the present and they have nothing to prove as they walk in the footsteps of God.
It is only when one is humble that they may come to “Know yourself” and not worry what others think of you as you serve God in this world.
In this community, in this world, maybe the people could all get along with the people around them where they live if they would only come to know themselves and quit feeling they have to live in power plays. Live in power plays while letting everyone know how great they are as they cross the finish line.
For in the end all that matters is not titles and degrees. In the end all that matters is what we do with that dash between our birth date and our death date.
In the end if one does not “Know Yourself, if one makes the choice to let their ego run their life then they are held captives of this world. Look in the Bible at Sampson in the Book of Judges and his strength, and Goliath who was so big nobody could knock him down let alone kill him. And don’t forget Jezebel in the Book of 1 Kings. In the end their ego was their destruction.
In closing I recently heard a song titled, ‘The Outlaw’s Prayer’ sung by country western singer Johnny Paycheck. I am so happy this song is not a portrayal of the Tremont City United Methodist Church. In fact, THANKS BE TO GOD this church is just the opposite of the words of this ego song as I have seen it first hand in worship here. Sadly it is true of some churches I have visited. Turn to the back of your bulletin and follow along.
You know, I worked the Big Packet show in Fort Worth, Saturday night. We had all day Sunday to rest and relax, before I caught another flight. So I decided to walk down town an’ get myself a little fresh air. Before long, I found myself in front of a big church on the corner of the square.
Boy, I could hear that singin’ way out in the street, sure was a beautiful sound. So I just walked up the steps an’ opened the door an’ started to go inside an’ sit down. But before I could, a young man walked over to me an said” “Excuse me, Sir, But I can’t let you in with that big black hat, those jeans, that beard an’ long hair.
So I just left, went back outside, sat down on that kerbing, an’ I thought to myself: That’s the house of the Lord. That guy’s got the hell of a nerve tellin’ me I can’t worship anywhere I please. So right there, in front of that Church. I just knelt on my knees. I said: “Lord, I know I don’t look like much, but I didn’t think you’d mine. I just wanted to be with your people, Lord; it’s been along time. A while ago, I saw a wino over there in the alley, all bent over in tears. An’ I thought how one stain glass window, from this Church, would feed his family for years.
Then there’s those fine cars parked outside: too many for me to count. Made me think how people walked for days to hear your Sermon on the Mount.
Then there’s those fine ladies in the choir, Lord, singin’ like they really love it. Hell, last night, they were dancin’ on the front row of my show: drinkin beer, screamin” ‘Sing shove it.’ You know even John the Baptist wouldn’t be welcomed in this place, With his coat made of Camel hair an’ sandals on his feet an’ a long beard on his face. You know Lord, when you come back to get your children, an’ take em’ beyond the clouds, to live forever in Heaven with you: well, I’d sure hate to be in this crowd.”
“You know Lord, I’m not perfect, and some even call me no ‘count. But I’ll tell you: I believe a man is judged by what’s in his heart, not what’s in his bank account. So if this is what religion is: a big car, a suit an’ a tie, then I might as well as forget it Lord, ‘cause I can’t qualify.”
“Oh, by the way Lord, right before they kicked me out, didn’t I see a picture of you? With sandals and a beard. Believe you had long hair too.”
“Well, this is Paycheck, signing off. I’ll be seein’ you Lord…. I hope.”
In the words of the thirty-third President of the United States, President Harry Truman: “It doesn’t matter how big of a ranch you own, or how many cows ya’ brand, the size of your funeral is still gonna’ depend on the weather.”
Let us pray, Father God in our lives may we remember it is not I that matters it is serving You that matters. May we keep the focus of our e-y-e on you and not the letter I on me so that all are welcome in our lives, in worship, in this world that we live in. Amen
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