Jesus On Trial

Jeremiah 23:1-6; Revelation 1:4b-8; John 18:33-37

The prophet Jeremiah was very much a part of the Jewish tradition which said that any good leader of his/her people is like a good shepherd who lays down his/her life for the sheep. For in our Old Testament lesson for today, we hear the prophet warning the leaders of his day, saying, "Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done."

It is no mistake; it is no coincidence that King David, the greatest king Israel ever had, next to Jesus Christ, himself, was called from being a shepherd to being a king. For a shepherd is one who does not use his office to feed upon the sheep. Rather, he knows that it is his job to look after the sheep, to make sure that they have food, and shelter, and protection from the storms. And so it should be with those whom we choose to be our leaders, whether it is leaders in government, leaders in civic organizations, or leaders within the church.

Jeremiah criticized the leaders of his day for scattering the flock and driving them away and not taking care of them. In other words, while the leaders were just sitting back and enjoying life, things were getting so bad in Israel that the people were leaving the country to find other places to live.

That reminds me of something I read the other day in a news paper. It said that more and more good executives were leaving the United States and going to other countries to find jobs because the business climate is getting to be so bad here. And the reason given was that over the past decade or so Americans have been led to believe that they could spend money abroad, buying inexpensive products produced by cheap exploited labor, in order to have a high standard of living for the short-term, while avoiding the kind of investments at home needed to maintain a high standard of living over the long haul. In other words, we've been paying foreigners to come to our house to put on a big long party for us. And while we've run out of money the ones who've been coming to our house and putting on the party have steadily reinvested the money we paid them so that they are now in the process of buying our house.

And so, now, many of the good jobs are overseas. And there are quite a few of our college graduates, some of them our brightest young people, who are now going overseas, looking for those jobs, while the poor are beginning to find themselves without food and shelter, and the elderly are beginning to fear for their pensions, savings accounts, investments and life insurance policies. Indeed, our leaders and those who have done the most to influence the philosophy and lifestyle of the American people over the last 10 or 15 years may be a lot like those of Israel to whom Jeremiah said, "Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!"

I think King David and Jeremiah would agree with those who insist that there can be no basis for growth and prosperity in any nation which does not concentrate on its infrastructure, its own internal moral, physical, intellectual, and spiritual health. I pray that in the decade to come we will be able to use the "peace dividend" that we so often hear about to invest in making this nation a better, safer, place to live and work.

It is fitting that Jeremiah told the people that God would raise up another king, like David, who would come and do what was right and just; that the people would return back to their homeland, once again, no longer afraid, and not one among them missing.

Just about every nation has gone through periods where the people can relate to a promise like this. As we look at the nation, Israel, for example, we are astounded by the fact that thousands have returned to Israel from countries all over the world, including the Soviet Union, in order to feel safe and to put fear aside. And we can understand why during this time of negotiations in the Middle East many of Israel's leaders take very seriously the words of Jeremiah where he says, "I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number." Indeed, we can understand how many of Israel's leaders feel driven by destiny when they read such words as, "In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety."

It is interesting that Jeremiah said that the one who would come to lead Israel into prosperity would be called, "The LORD Our Righteousness."

Now, for a few moments I'd like to ask the question, "What ever became of righteousness?" When I was a kid someone who wanted to do what was right was called a "square." Being called a "square" was an insult. Today, kids in school who want to do what is right are called "geeks" or "nurds." And, if you listen to many of our youth today, something that they think is good is "bad." I mean, if they really like the way someone looks they say, "Ooo, is she bad!" So, what has become of righteousness?

A couple of weeks ago, poor old Magic Johnson came out and confessed that he had tested positive for HIV. Now, I don't want to belittle poor Ervin in any way. I mean, he's got a lot to worry about now, because his years are really numbered. But, what bothers me about Magic Johnson is that everyone is now praising him because he has AIDS. I mean there are some people in this world who just can't seem to do anything wrong! Never mind that he acquired the disease through fornication, which is a very serious sin. Never mind that he may have transmitted this fatal disease to God knows how many other immoral persons over the last few months! I just don't hear society complaining much about his lifestyle. All I hear Ervin being praised for is saying stuff about "safe sex!" as though there was such a thing! (And there isn't, except for the kind of sex between a faithful husband and wife. And such relationships seem to be passé, old fashioned, even obsolete in this day and age.) So, indeed, I'll ask it again: "What ever became of righteousness?"

Jeremiah was concerned about the problems in his nation. He was worried about crime, about sickness, about the decline of the family, about poverty, about greed and selfishness and dishonest, irresponsible leadership. And he said that the one who would come along and fix it would be called "The LORD Our Righteousness."

Someone told me a while back that if somehow everyone got saved and stopped committing crimes this country's gross national product would be twice what it is today. I mean, if everyone started to act righteous, imagine the things that we wouldn't have to pay for anymore! Talk about a peace dividend! I once heard that if people stopped cheating on their taxes everyone's taxes could be lowered by about one third. And if people started to believe in marriage as an institution to cherish, guard and protect for the sake of future generations imagine the tax dollars that could be saved on A.D.C. programs, for instance. And if all people did was just swear off booze and cigarettes, the savings in health care costs, alone, would be enough to send another man to the moon. What a tremendous amount of money we would save if suddenly the "The LORD Our Righteousness," became the Lord of our lives.

And, yet, if someone gets up, like Magic Johnson did a couple of weeks ago, but says, "Sex should be reserved for marriage," instead of what Magic said, they'd be laughed off the stage. And the same is true for anyone who might suggest a return to traditional biblical values. Who would be as stupid as to promote anything as corny as that?

So, what ever became of righteousness? Well, in Israel's history, "The LORD Our Righteousness" finally came. He taught, he healed, he even challenged the so called "morality" of his day. And, for that he was put on trial, convicted, and put to death. But, he's still the King of kings. He's still The LORD Our Righteousness. And as we look through our history it has been faithfulness to that LORD that has made God's people great and given character and strength.

So, should we be afraid to share "The LORD Our Righteousness" with our friends and neighbors? Should we be afraid to follow that blessed example, center our lives around Christ, and stand up for what is right? I should hope not. For in the breast of every Christian there is the light of God's promise and a warning to those who fail to acknowledge him: "Look," The Bible says, "he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the unrighteous of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen."