Jesus' call for mercy and Justice

Jesus was born into an oppressive tyrannical state.   The Roman Empire was brutal, ruthless, and without mercy. They would not stand for any civil unrest. They taxed everyone to death, throwing out thousands into the streets to beg, and then to die.   Even before the birth of Jesus, the Romans crucified thousands of Jews who contested their authority.

However, Jesus’ very life –His very existence, threatened the great Roman Empire—as well as the tyrannical temple authorities.

From the beginning of his life, He was controversial. After He was born and the 3 Kings visited the vassal King Herod to inquire of the whereabouts of this new born King of the Jews? The Bible says that Herod and all Jerusalem were terrified!!!!  Why?  Because this new King—this Messiah, posed a threat to the existing order.  Herod and the temple authorities had worked out a system where they collaborated with the Roman occupation, whereby the ruling class profited handsomely.   A new King—a new Messiah, threatened all of that.  So, in an unsuccessful attempt to kill Jesus, Herod ordered that all male child, ages 3 & under, be slaughtered in Bethlehem and the surrounding areas.  But, Jesus escaped to Egypt, and his family did not return until God slayed Herod by infesting his brain with worms. 

During the years before Jesus public ministry, His enemies forgot about Him.  At age 30, Jesus preached his first sermon in his home town synagogue. He called for justice for the poor, the imprisoned, the blind, the lame and the oppressed; and He insinuated that he was the Messiah who would bring this about. Well, the whole congregation was so outraged that they threw him out of the synagogue and threw Him out of town. 

The fascinating & unusual aspect of Jesus’ fight against tyranny was that He would never have considered any sort of violence.  Rather, He chose the route of civil and religious disobedience.  Although forbidden by the temple leadership, He preached God’s word, and thousands and thousands grew to follow Him. 

Jesus was not calling for a government program, but rather for a change of heart for all who follow Him.  So He boldly proclaimed, “As you feed the hungry, invite them into your homes, have mercy on the needy, so you have done it unto me.”

Today’s video begins the climax of Jesus’ revolutionary activity. No longer did He sush the crowds when they called Him the Messiah.  The .demonstration of thousands of people marching with Him to the Temple terrified the authorities, especially the Temple leadership.

Jesus condemned the Temple leadership as thugs, crooks, and collaborators with the enemy.  Indeed, as long as they could control their people, they could maintain their positions and squeeze the people for temple taxes.

You see, it was all a show. People were duped into paying ridiculous prices to secure temple money, and they were robbed again when they purchased their lamb or doves for their annual sacrifice, which was supposed to atone for their sins.  However, Jesus knew that this was simply a scheme to profit from the innocent.  As we heard in this morning’s reading form the prophet Amos, God does not care about these sacrifices. What is the sacrifice that God requires?   Please repeat after me, ‘LET JUSTICE ROLL ON LIKE A RIVER, RIGHTOEUNESS AS A NEVER FALILING STREAM.”

All Jesus did was to talk and to engage in civil disobedience by refusing the Temple leadership’s demand for Jesus not to preach.  So, they decided to silence Him through crucixion.  But much to their surprise, Jesus rose from the dead and empowered a movement for mercy and justice that is still going on two thousand years later through the Church.

To this day, Jesus followers have the power to challenge an empire. Some of us have heard of nonviolent, civil disobedience at various times in history.  One of the great untold stories of modern times was how churches in East Germany in 1990 organized huge nonviolent protests, which grew to involve millions of freedom hungry citizens. And that was all voluntary—people risking harm and imprisonment for the cause of liberty.  The communist authorities folded. When that Iron curtain wall fell, and the oppressed people from the tyrannical communist state were released, there was joy on earth and in heaven.

So, Jesus whole earthly life was a bold cry for mercy and justice. His emphasis was not upon political activism, but upon good works by regular Christians, like you and me.  Thus, He proclaimed,” Let you light so shine before people, that they would see you good works and give glory to your father in heaven.” 

As His followers, we, like wise are called to go and do likewise.  What does God require of you?  Let us read that together from the front bulletin cover: WHAT DOES GOD REQUIRE OF YOU?  DO JUSTICE, LOVE MERCY, AND WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD.”  So, we cannot walk humbly with our god unless we seek to discern how we all can do justice and love mercy.”

As a church, we participate in Jesus’ mission of mercy and justice.

·       A portion of your offerings go to the national church, which supports feeding & justice programs in this nation, and beyond.

·       Of course, once a month this church hosts a shelter dinner for the homeless.

However, we believe that the Lord may be calling more of us to take a bold step on behalf of the poor and the needy.

·       Next year, we will be instituting a more organized way to solicit nonperishable food for the needy.  Once a month, we will have a special Sunday when you will be encouraged to bring such a donation.

They will be collected in a wagon, which the Sunday school will present at the offering time.

·       One small group is considering the possibility of hosting a blood drive.

·       Another is considering feeding the homeless.

·       Still is investigating outreach to abused women.

I think that Jesus is seeking for us to change our hearts.  We wants us to move from the fearful, self-centered attitude of saying, “OH, the needs of the poor are so great, and I do not have the time or money to help.”  Instead, He wants us to feel compassion and empathy for the needy, which will motivate discover how we might work with others to help shine the light of Christ’s love through our church and into the world.

----------The Rev. John Donnelly, Oct. 10, 2015