First Presbyterian Church of Baton Rouge FPC BR

Jesus would bring a salvation beyond Jonah’s imagining. Jonah got rescued by a fish. The Son of God came and went three days and nights not only into the belly of a beast but into death and hell itself. Three days and nights he left this world. Then returned victorious to save the whole cosmos. Jonah spoke beyond his life to the truth of this story: salvation belongs to the LORD! What we most need belongs to God alone. But he freely shares with those who turn to him with their whole hearts. 

For many of us, we simply try to wall off part of our minds and souls from God. We don’t speak honestly to our God. We keep very busy and avoid down time. We can even show up at worship and still keep a part of us tucked away. Our prayers are always buffered. We try to hold up “good”
parts of ourselves and keep secrets from our Lord. Like that works!
The effect on us, though, is that we become spiritual sleepwalkers. We walk through our life with the deep, heartfelt connection to God blocked. We could be enjoying sweet fellowship. But somehow we fear what God will convict us of, and so we just go to sleep.

We all take the role of Lazarus. Not worth the King’s attention except that his name is Love. Not presentable in our rags with our sores oozing and showing, except that he has clothes of grace and healing ointments of mercy awaiting. We cannot charm him, cajole him, demand from him or connive his favors. We only trust that his words are true and meant for us.

It’s not just about me personally. It’s about the call to be a soil cultivator. To carry the water of love and mercy that softens hard, stony hearts. To risk getting pricked as you help others untangle from the thorns. To help people dig up the rocks and sink deeper roots. Changing soils is about our each becoming more devoted disciples. Fruitfulness is about helping others become devoted disciples. We cultivate the soil of our lives in the field of our community, this fellowship of believers.

The invitations are still out. It is not too late. When the king enters the hall, how will he find us? The classic hymn “On Christ the Solid Rock,” contains the lines, “O may I then be found, dressed in his righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.” Christ Jesus has a graceful robe of rightness and wholeness and peace to give us. He wants us at the feast. So for heaven’s sake, put your clothes on!

We celebrate today how a mother’s love is faithful, often hidden, persistent and ever hopeful. Good mothers reflect to all of us these qualities in our Lord. Our God seeking the lost coin of our humanity, got down on hands and knees to come find us. He laid aside his glory and took up the confines of flesh. He offered himself utterly, even to the last drop of blood on the cross.