And End to the Law and to Questions

Deuteronomy 34:1-12; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8; Matthew 22:34-46

In Romans 10:4 the apostle Paul tells the Jewish Christians living in Rome that Christ is the end of the Law of Moses. Now, some have taken this to mean that when you believe in Jesus you are doing everything that the law requires, as laid down by Moses in the Old Testament. However, upon further examination we would learn that what the apostle Paul really meant was that Christ truly was the end of the Law of Moses; that with the coming of Christ the Law of Moses was no longer needed; that Christ fulfilled it with his death upon the cross. As Christians we believe that we are saved, not by following the Law of Moses, including the Ten Commandments, but that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Now, understanding things this way, our gospel lesson takes on a special meaning for us, for it is in this lesson that Jesus defined the greatest commandment in the Law: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. And it was here that Jesus also defined the second greatest commandment in the Law: "Love your neighbor as yourself." And, it should be remembered here that Jesus wasn't saying anything new. Rather, he was simply quoting scripture.

But the real point of our gospel lesson for today isn't that Jesus proclaimed something novel or unheard of. The main points of this particular lesson and the scriptures surrounding it really ask three basic questions: The first question is, "Who was and is Jesus? And, also, related to this is the question, "Who are we in relation to God?" And, finally, there is the question, "What or who do we ultimately trust when we want to do what is right?"

So, let's take a look at that first question: "Who was and is Jesus Christ?" Certainly, the Pharisees and the Sadducees wanted to know the answer to this question. The Sadducees had never run into a teacher like Jesus before. In fact, while the Sadducees were attempting to trap Jesus in a philosophical argument concerning the Law, Jesus blew them all away when he used a teaching out of the book of Exodus to prove that the dead are raised to life by the power of faith. We're told that the crowds were astonished at his teaching. And the Pharisees, who prided themselves at their expertise in the Law of Moses, couldn't trap him, either, but were thoroughly amazed when he was baffled them with the question, "What do you think of the Christ?"

And what a baffling question that is and has always been! "Who was and is Jesus Christ?" Or, more personally, as Jesus asked it, What do you think of the Christ?"

How important it is for us to grapple with that question daily, and personally! It doesn't matter who you are, or how good you are, or how faithful you are at attending church, or how active you are in the community. What is important is how you define Christ in the midst of all those activities. Is Christ really the Way, the Truth, and the Life for you in the midst of a world of questions and options? Is Christ really the Bread of Life for you in this world full of hunger? Is Christ really the Water of Life for you in the midst of all of our thirsts? Is Christ really the Prince of Peace for you in the midst of your turmoil? Is Christ really the Master in the mix of all the other things in life that vie for that title? Just who is Christ in our life?

There is a fifteen-hundred-year-old prayer which may be helpful to us. It is called "St. Patrick's Breastplate." It goes something like this: "Christ be with me, Christ in the front, Christ in the rear, Christ within me, Christ below me, Christ above me, Christ at my right hand, Christ at my left, Christ in the fort, Christ in the Chariot seat, Christ at the helm, Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me."

But, the second question that we need to grapple with as we look at our gospel lesson for today is this one: Who are we in relation to God? I truly believe that whenever we are asked to define who Christ is in our lives, we are also forced to answer this question -- "Who are we to Christ?" Jesus forced the Pharisees to look at this question when we asked them, "What do you think of Christ? Whose son is he? When the Pharisees answered, as Jesus knew they would, that the Christ was the son of David, Jesus asked, "How is it then that David, inspired by the Spirit, called him Lord?" And then Jesus quoted Psalm 110 where it reads, "The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand, till I put thy enemies under thy feet." Then Jesus asked the Pharisees the question, "Would a father, David in this instance, call his son, Lord?" And no one was able to answer his riddle, and they were so astonished that no one even dared ask him any more questions. In other words, their encounter with Christ shook them to the point that they were no longer sure of their position, of who they were, in relation to God. They could no longer be sure that they were right.

One of the things that an encounter with Christ does for us is make us honest. Compared with Christ, not one of us sitting here today can claim any righteousness on his or her own. But, we have all met persons who go through their life insisting upon their own righteousness. In fact, don't we all catch ourselves at it, once in a while? I was talking to someone the other day who asked me if I'd read the book, I'm Ok, You're OK, a book that was popular back in the '70's. When I told him that I had read the book, he replied that as far as he was concerned the book's title was wrong, that it should have been titled, I'm Messed Up and You're Messed Up. At least it would have been a little more honest. And such honesty is important. For it is only when we realize that we are sinful, that we are "messed up," that we are not righteous that Christ can do anything for us. If we weren't messed up, if we didn't make mistakes, if never had any regrets, if we never hurt anyone, if we never got angry or unpleasant, if we never did anything wrong, if we were completely righteous (as we often insist that we are), then Jesus didn't die on the cross for us!

But, in fact, Christ died on the cross for us. Christ died on the cross for me. And I can't say that, and I can't mean it, I can't really benefit from the miracle of the cross and the reality and nature of Christ until I can confess, in humility and on my knees, who and what I really am! It is only then that I can know the glory of true righteousness and the peace and joy of God's acceptance.

But, then, finally, there is the third question that we should grapple with as we consider our gospel lesson for today. And what was that question? It was: "What or who do we ultimately trust when we want to do what is right?" In other words, what is our authority? If you think you're right and that someone else is wrong, how do you know? The Sadducees and the Pharisees trusted in their interpretation of the Law and the Talmud. In fact, the Sadducees were so certain of their righteousness that they even called themselves "The Righteous Ones." That's what Sadducees means in Hebrew. And the Pharisees, who could never agree with the Sadducees about much, believed in their own righteousness so much that they separated themselves from the rest of society so that they wouldn't be polluted by the unrighteousness of others. And that's what "Pharisee" means -- Separated Ones. In effect each of these groups believed so firmly in their own correctness that Jesus had to criticize them for their lack of love. And that's where he had them. When they asked him what the greatest commandment was, it nailed them with, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." He nailed them with, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." He nailed them all by telling them that it was upon these commandments concerning love that depend all the law and the prophets.

Could he nail us, as well? One of the things I've learned about working in the church for as long as I have is that the church is like a laboratory where Christians can try out and practice the teachings of Christ on each other. I mean, Jesus said, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." We may say, "That's fine!" But, if we can't love our neighbor here at church, how are we going to do it when we get home? And, Jesus said, "Walk an extra mile." And he said, "Give your even shirt to the person who asks for your coat." And he said, "Forgive seventy time seven." And he said, "Love your enemies." But, how can we even begin to put these teachings to use in the world, unless we practice those things in our life together as Christians? Isn't it interesting that the most difficult folks to love are often the folks we are supposed to love first?

And, yet, Jesus said that it was upon love that everything hangs. So, if you really want to define yourself, ask yourself, "How is your love life" (and I'm speaking in general terms when I say those words)? Even upon quick examination, the Sadducees and the Pharisees had to admit that as far as lacking love was concerned they stood convicted. They knew they weren't perfect. And so they couldn't say a word. There could be no more questions about who Jesus was. They could test him no longer lest they risk revealing the depth of their imperfections. And their silence was deafening to the point of revealing the very weaknesses and imperfections and failings of their faith.

How is our life? Sometimes that question is too painful to answer. So, we need the love of Christ and the power of Christ in our lives, for the love we have on our own doesn't often seem to be enough for much.

There is the story of an old Christian woman who started to lose her memory, due to Alzheimer's. She had once known much of the Bible by heart. Eventually, though, only one precious bit stayed with her: "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I committed unto him against that day."

By and by part of that even slipped away and she would quietly repeat, "That which I have committed to him." At last, as she lay on her death bed, her loved ones noticed her lips moving. They bent down to see if she needed anything. She was repeating over and over again to herself the one word of the text, "Him, Him, Him."

She had lost the whole Bible, but one word. But, she had the whole Bible in that one word: "Him." And so should it be for us! Amen.