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We are nearing the end of the book of Romans and in chapter 15 Paul begins his closing remarks. If you reflect on the life of this man, you really have to be amazed. Paul is nothing out of the ordinary in stature and presence, over time his body would become disfigured because of the violence brought against him. Yet, he would be one of the most significant individuals in the history of the world. Paul changed the course of Rome and Western civilization, not through the power of an army, but through the power of a message. His calling was to take the Gospel of Jesus where it had never gone before.
 
God used Paul to spread the message of hope and directed his steps along the way. This happened through much trial and tribulation but with God it is not about the destination, it is about the journey. In the journey we learn, grow and mature. The hardships along the way should cause us to lean on God. In the end, God’s will is accomplished and He is glorified. We focus on the prize; God focuses on the process.
 
What do you want to accomplish for God in this life? What God-sized dreams do you have? You might not have any, but it is never too late to begin. Without a vision of what you want to achieve, you will never start the journey. God won’t condemn you for not accomplishing what you want to do for Him. Rather he might say, “You didn’t have any desires, so you never even started.” The fulfillment is in His hands, but the initiative is in yours.

In Romans chapter 15, Paul encourages the church to maintain her unity once again. It turns out, this was quite a challenge for early Christians. I’ll give you some examples of what was happening in the local congregations…
 
The church in Galatia was known for its legalism. The church in Corinth was divided because some were tolerating the kind of sins that many unbelievers didn’t tolerate. The church in Pergamum was splitting because Christians were marrying pagans and it appears their pagan gods were being introduced. Many of Paul’s letters aim at preventing division due to doctrinal perversion.
 
Some scholars believe that the church in Rome was the most fragmented of all. Primarily, because it existed in the heart of the Roman Empire at a time when Christianity was out of favor. Nero was torturing Christians and some researchers say that early Christian martyrs were turned over to Nero by other Christians. The motivation behind this was envy, jealousy and rivalry.
 
Churches have been known to divide over the smallest and most insignificant matters. So it’s little wonder that three times Jesus prayed for our unity. The request came at a remarkable time in his life. We don’t wake up knowing when we are going to die. Jesus did. He knew exactly how much time he had. What does he do with his last 24 hours? He spends time instructing his disciples and he prays. More than once, he prays for our oneness.
 
Paul urges the strong not to become a stumbling block to the weak by exercising liberties that might cause the weak to stumble. If they are walking in love, the strong will gladly surrender the exercise of their liberties for the good of the weak. The benefits our liberties offer are so small, and the blessings for limiting our liberties are so great that this should not be an agonizing decision.
 
There’s an aphorism you might be familiar with: “Might makes right.” What this refers to is society’s view of what is right is determined by those in power. The Christian ethic upends this. Those who are strong have an obligation to the weak. They are not to victimize the weak but to come to their aid. All for the sake of unity.

This Sunday we're back in our study of Romans chapter fourteen. Paul isn’t finished talking about the importance of Christian unity. This can be challenging because we don’t all come from the same backgrounds, experiences and cultures. In Paul’s day, Rome was a cosmopolitan city with diverse people now joined together under the banner of Christianity. Many of these folks had very little in common. 
 
Picture this incredible scene…
 
Jews and Gentiles, Greeks and Barbarians, servants of the house and owners of the same house sharing the same meal around the same table. Many come from pagan backgrounds and yet all are gathered together because of their newly formed faith in Jesus. This environment gave many opportunities for discord. One example Paul uses is that of eating meat. He introduces this at the beginning of chapter two. 
 
One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Romans 14:2
 
Jewish Christians did not eat meat sold by the local butcher because it had been offered to pagan gods. For this reason the food was tainted so they kept it vegetarian. Gentile believers had no problem eating because they believed all meat was created by the one true God and idols are nothing. So what happens when the Gentile invites the Jew over for dinner? It could get awkward. There is opportunity for disunity.
 
Once again Paul helps us understand what it means to live in unity with one another in matters of conscience that are not sinful. I need to emphasize this - we are not talking about the clear violations of Scripture. Rather, this is between those whose faith is “weak” and those whose faith is "strong.”
Paul agrees with Jesus…
 
And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” Mark 7:14-19
 
Inanimate things such as food are morally neutral. However, if someone thinks such things are unclean, then for that person it is so. If a Jewish believer says, “I can’t eat what has been sacrificed to idols and if I do, I will be morally wrecked!” and you’re the host of this dinner party, then Paul has a warning for you.
 
For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. Romans 14:15
 
Back in chapter twelve Paul gave us an incredible description of Christian love. It seeks to bless and honor others. One way the strong can bless the weak is by putting limitations on his or her Christian freedoms. R. Kent Hughes says that exercising Christian liberty is like walking a tightrope. As you walk the rope with a balancing pole in your hands, one end of the pole is "love for others" and the other end is "Christian liberty." When these are in balance, you walk as you should. The stronger Christian voluntarily gives up his freedoms out of love for his weaker brothers and sisters. This is the way we maintain unity within the body and show the world we are disciples of Jesus.

"Then the disciples went back to their homes. But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). John 20:10-16
 

 
 

Notice the question Mary is asked twice - "Why do you cry?" I was told by a very wise man to pay attention to what makes me laugh and what makes me cry. Laughter reveals a light heart, sorrow reveals a heavy burden. Jesus was Mary's friend and she wants to pay respect at his tomb. However, he’s not there and she is devastated. She carries a heavey burden when Jesus speaks.
 
"Why are you crying?"
The angels asked the same question out of curiosity. They probably thought, “This earth creature should know Jesus is alive, so why is she sad?” Jesus asked the question out of compassion. He loved Mary, and His heart was moved by her tears. “Why are you crying?” He knew the answer, but He wanted her to come to the realization of what was happening.
You know why Mary cried? Because she had yet to receive the message of Easter. When people die they don’t come back. The good news of Easter was about to hit her like a ton of bricks. She hears the voice of Jesus and recognizes him. He is alive! The good news of Easter is that because Jesus came back from death, we also will live after death. Jesus said this very thing to his disciples in John 14:19, "Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live." Ancient tombs carried the stench of death. But Jesus' tomb carried the aroma of life. 
“Why are you crying?”
 
Jesus recognizes human pain and loss. He experienced it himself. His good friend Lazarus died and Jesus shows up and sees everyone weeping and the tears start to flow down his face. Jesus knows what’s causing your pain. He just wants you to admit the point of your pain because once you see it you can begin to address it.
We all battle sorrow. You may be hurting from the loss of a loved one. You may be struggling because of a recent diagnosis you or someone you love has received. There may be some relationship you are grieving. Your eyes may be filled with tears because of problems with your children or grandchildren. The list is endless, but Jesus sees your pain and cares about your suffering. In fact, he died and rose again to help you see beyond the heartache to the joy of what lies ahead - eternal life.

This weekend we celebrate Palm Sunday which marks the time when Jesus arrived in Jerusalem riding on a donkey. The crowds waved palm branches as a sign of respect as he passed by. They shouted, “Hosanna!” which means, save us! This is the action displayed by those who are receiving their king. However, by the end of the week, some of these same people will be shouting, “Crucify him!” What happened? Well, Jesus was not the king they wanted him to be, but rather he was the king they needed him to be. You see, they did not understand the ultimate purpose for which he arrived. If Jesus came riding a white horse and wielding a sword to cut down the Romans - what ultimate good for mankind does that accomplish? He would not come in human power but in divine humility. As a result, his kingdom had greater impact than anyone could imagine. Jesus was different. He is the King of love and strength. Unlike the kings of this world who crave power, Jesus came to serve and to die for his people. There’s an old hymn that confronts our response to the truth of who Jesus is... Crown Him or Crucify Him Mary Brainerd Smith Today you have come to the valley of choice, Today to your heart speaks the Saviour’s own voice, “Tis your hand must lay the wreathed crown on my brow, Or drive cruel nails thro’ my pleading hands now.” Crown Him or crucify Him, which shall it be? This is the choice from which you cannot flee; Crown Him your King, or most surely ‘tis true, You crucify Jesus, your Saviour anew. Do you say with the Christ you have nothing to do, That the crown and the cross have no meaning for you? Yet the choice you have made, and your Saviour nailed then To a cross of neglect where He suffers again. Crown Him or crucify Him, which shall it be? This is the choice from which you cannot flee; Crown Him your King, or most surely ‘tis true, You crucify Jesus, your Saviour anew. Your job can’t die for your sins why would you worship the career path? Your politics can’t die for your sins so keep them in their proper place. Your wealth can’t die for your sins so stop bowing to your stuff. Your family can’t die for your sins so don’t make them your king. Only Jesus did what no other could do. Let’s keep the crown in its proper place!

Normally, diversity does not easily breed unity. The human tendency is to judge and look down upon those who are different than we are. This was certainly true in Paul’s day. The Jews living in Jerusalem viewed the Jews living in Rome as sellouts because they had adopted Roman customs. The Jerusalem Jews shunned Roman culture and therefore they were holier…or so they thought. Both groups looked down on the Gentiles who practiced paganism and had very little spiritual life. When people from these divergent groups met Jesus they soon met together. Their backgrounds had very little in common but their present belief in Christ brought them close. There had never been anything like Christianity in forming heterogeneous groups. Yet much was to be overcome because some of the differences were quite intense. This is what Paul addresses in Romans chapter 14…
 
"As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables." Romans 14:1-2
 
It was the "Meat-eaters" versus the “Vegetarians." The simple solution is to create two distinct churches. Paul gives another and better choice. Take the higher and more noble road and live together in harmony. But how?
 
1. Don’t despise each other.
2. Don’t judge each other.
3. Welcome each other.
4. Let God be one another’s judge.
 
"Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand." Romans 14:3-4
 
The weak are inclined to say, “You should not be doing this!” The strong are inclined to say, “You’re so immature!” If we are to be honest, we would have to say both misguided attitudes are within each of us. One of Paul’s main points is that people with opposing viewpoints on non-essentials can both be perfectly right with God.
 
Now to be clear, we are not talking about issues of sin. We are not talking about basic doctrines such as the deity of Christ, salvation by faith or matters of moral conduct as listed in the Ten Commandments for example. Instead, these are matters of Christian conscience.
 
"Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then each of us will give an account of himself to God." Hebrews 14:10-12
 
Twice in these verses Paul refers to us as family members so we should treat each other this way. Then he essentially says that we should stop trying to be God and leave the judging to Him. This should cause us to pull back from a critical spirit because God will hold us accountable for playing His role. Some things are less important than others and we need to pray that God will give us the wisdom to see what is essential and where we need to display liberty and charity for the sake of unity.