God’s Work With Our Hands
God’s Work With Our Hands
Luke 14:25-33
Pastor Barry Kerner
In the past, many churches staged rally days as they were beginning a new program or season of ministry. They used these times to promote their ideas and to rally their members to come on board and provide support. After a long, weary winter a church man hold a rally day to mobilize their church members to perform service at the church or in the community. At the beginning of summer a call is made to rally like minded volunteers to prepare for one of the fiercest battles to be fought – the annual Vacation Bible School. At the end of the summer, rally days are held to welcome back members who have taken a vacation from church and to rally the forces for the work of fall and winter ministries.
Rally Days have become more of being a church event rather than a focus towards ministry. People are welcomed back to church without a word these days, though I doubt that the church leaders of a century ago would have approved of a winter break or a summer vacation from any ministry. I’ll would ask you this question, “Has the church negotiated a truce with Satan? Has the church declared a cease fire in its war to win souls?”
Here’s a crazy idea, perhaps what the church needs is a new type of rallying cry.
A rallying cry can be like a lightning rod for our members. It should harness and focus their energy, and guide them towards the things that really matter.
America’s first rallying battle cry, was used during the Revolutionary War, It was, “Remember Paoli.” On September 20, 1777 over 1800 British Light Infantry (Special Forces) attacked 2000 hardened American Continental soldiers under Gen. “Mad Anthony” Wayne at midnight with bayonets and swords, dispersing them in one of the bloodiest battles of the War of Independence. But, in accomplishing the mission, the Redcoats committed numerous atrocities murdering soldiers who surrendered, burning some alive, and repeatedly stabbing wounded men with their bayonets. This so outraged American civilians and soldiers alike that it crystallized American hatred of the British. The cry “Remember Paoli” was heard repeatedly in later battles.
Two years later, General Wayne led America’s first official Light Infantry unit in a midnight, bayonets only, attack against Stony Point, high on the Hudson Palisade. Wayne was successful. But more importantly, General Wayne spared 600 captured British soldiers when all thought him justified to put them to the sword. Wayne took the high ground and no atrocities were committed.
Remember Paoli took on an additional luster for now it meant more than revenge. As Benjamin Rush (Founding Father, signer of the Declaration of Independence, and Surgeon General of the Continental Army) said to AGeneral Wayne: “You have established the national character of our country. You have taught our enemies that bravery, humanity, and magnanimity are the virtues of the Americans.”
The American Revolution gave rise to dozens of other rallying cries—“No Taxation Without Representation;” “Join or Die;” “Don’t Tread on Me”—but few had as significant an impact as “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death.” The phrase first appeared in a March 1775 address by Patrick Henry, which concluded with the immortal line, “I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” Henry’s speech convinced the Second Virginia Convention to raise militias, and his words immediately became a battle cry among colonial minutemen. They considered them a symbol of their determination to shake off the yoke of British rule. Many Virginia militia recruits marched under banners emblazoned with “Liberty or Death,” and some even sewed the words onto their shirts.
On February 23, 1836, Mexican General Santa Anna besieged Colonel William B. Travis and some 200 Texas independence fighters at a former Franciscan mission known as the Alamo. The Texans were outnumbered and outgunned, but they held out for 13 grueling days until March 6, when the Mexicans stormed the fort and killed nearly all its defenders. The defeat was catastrophic—Travis, James Bowie and famed frontiersman Davy Crockett all died in the onslaught—but the Texans’ courage under fire helped galvanize their compatriots. General Sam Houston and others used the rallying cry “Remember the Alamo” to whet their troops’ appetite for vengeance, and in April 1836, the Texans routed a superior Mexican army and captured Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto. “Remember the Alamo” lived on even after the United States annexed Texas in 1845, and was later revived by U.S. troops during the Mexican-American War.
Soon after the towers fell on September 11th, 20001, a cry went up and “Remember 911” still rings in our ears today. America’s outrage against terrorists launched the longest war-time footing in U.S. history. The American Character brought out by this horrendous tragedy still endures today.
Rallying cries are often easy to spot. They masquerade as the slogan or tagline of a company:
- Nike tells everyone, “Just do it.”
- Technology company One Plus is committed to “Never Settle.”
- Dunkin’ Donuts reminds us that “America runs on Dunkin’”
- McDonald’s customers voice their support as they say “I’m lovin’ it”
- Apple wants us all to “Think Different.”
Each statement is proudly proclaimed in the organization’s branding and marketing campaigns, but its true value is felt internally. The slogan guides behaviors. It frames the brand, and clearly articulates what the company represents. This is the power of a brand’s rallying cry. It guides an organization to greatness. A rallying cry is more than a tagline. It has a deep meaning for the organization that transcends marketing and sales.
In 1997 Apple launched its slogan, “Think Different.” The slogan became a rallying cry for the brand, and it still guides the company twenty years later.
Think Different was launched with an ad called “Here’s to the Crazy Ones.” The narrator speaks over a series of photographs of time-honored visionaries — people like Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King, Jr., Thomas Edison, and Alfred Hitchcock.
He says, Here’s to the crazy ones.
The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently.
They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo.
You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them.
About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward.
While some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.
The rallying image is still a useful one for us today, especially because the meaning can vary so much. In some cases, it’s the troops getting assembling for battle — in others a listless patient gathering strength to rise off a sickbed.
Let’s take a moment and turn to the Gospel of Luke. The 14th chapter. Starting in verse 25.
25 Now large crowds were traveling with [Jesus;] and he turned and said to them, 26“Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, 30 saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. 33 So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.”
This is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Grace and peace be unto you from God who is our Creator and from Jesus Christ who is our Savior and our Friend. Amen.
Now, large crowds were traveling with Jesus, because summer was finally over and it was Rally Day in Galilee. So Jesus turned and began his “welcome back to church” sermon by saying: “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” Can I get an Amen?
It’s not a message many want to hear and I don’t think it went over very well when Jesus preached it, either! This was one heckuva sermon for Jesus to deliver, especially after the Pharisee’s dinner party during which he proclaimed “all are welcome!” Now that all those sinners, outcasts, and other folk have heard His message and rallied around Him, He tells them “hate your family” and “carry the cross or you can’t be my disciple?” Today we might call that bait and switch. Jesus was realing them in hook, line and sinker. Well played, Jesus, well played.
Like the people of the Apple commercial, the crowd must have thought that Jesus was one of the “crazy ones!” Throughout His ministry He was thought of as a misfit, a rebel. The Pharisees and Sadducees believed Him to be a troublemaker. Jesus was the round peg trying to fit into the square hole of Israel’s religious system. Jesus saw things differently than those in charge. He wasn’t fond of all of the rules with which they had added to God’s Word, burdening God’s people. Jesus had no respect for the status quo when it conflicted with the will of His Father. Millions have quoted Him. Whole populations disagree with Him. His followers glorify Him while the rest of the world vilifies Him.
About the only thing you can’t do is ignore Him. Because Jesus changed things. He thought and acted outside the box and pushed the human race forward.
Back then as today many think Him a crazy one. Others number Him among the geniuses.
Because, like the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, Jesus was one who did.
Jesus embodied Apple’s rallying slogan long before they were even founded. Jesus wanted His followers, His church to “THINK DIFFERENT!”
That day, as He sat and preached, Jesus must have been at least somewhat excited to see that his message was reaching more and more people. But the words He spoke indicates His concern, too: Do the people really understand what they’re signing up for? Do they realize this is an “all or nothing” proposition? Do they know where this path leads?
Looking out at the crowd, Jesus may have noticed how some of the folks seemed to have one foot on the path with Jesus and one foot back at home. A few were keeping one eye on the door just in case someone more important or interesting showed up. Others appeared to be listening to the sermon, but were in fact mentally making a shopping list for later on (go ahead you can nod if you know what I mean. And don’t worry – I’ve actually written sermons in my head while listening to other preachers’ sermons! In the name of Jesus Christ, we are all forgiven! Amen?)
It may not be a crowd pleaser, but this passage from the 14th chapter of Luke represents one of Jesus’ central messages: All are welcome, grace is for everyone, but following Jesus is a costly affair. This was literally a “come to Jesus” rally day talk for the crowds that day! Jesus says to all who would follow him: “No one comes any further on this journey until you know what you’re getting into and where we are going. I need you to be all in: Both feet forward, eyes on the prize, and, most importantly, hands free of possessions so you can carry the cross and follow me.”
You see, Jesus calls us to practice “hands-free discipleship.” He asks us to give up all that stuff we love to hold on to so tightly—our over-packed schedules, our control over everyone and everything, our personal comforts and privileges, our strongly held beliefs, and everything else we’re proud to possess—so that our hands will be free to carry the one thing Jesus requires of us: the cross of Christ.
When Jesus spoke to the crowds that day He basically said, “Hey. I need to clue you in about what it means to be my disciple. It isn’t going to be easy. Don’t follow me unless you are ready.”
He reminded them that they would have to leave their homes, their professions, and their families. He reminded them that they would have to carry the cross. He told them parables about a contractor building a tower and a king going to war. He warned them, “Think it through. Make sure you have the resources you need to finish what you start.” Jesus was saying, “Count the cost before you commit to following me.”
Today most of us are not called to leave family and home and profession behind to follow Jesus. But, there is one thing required of all of us, and that is to carry the cross.
When we think of carrying the cross, we tend to think it will be something very dramatic and difficult. We imagine that carrying the cross for Jesus must involve a huge sacrifice or spiritual battle. Maybe it’s terrible sickness or indeed the loss of family and possessions. And it could be, if those things serve the Kingdom of God.
But in general, the meaning is really much simpler. It’s closer to home, to our real lives. Here it is: Carrying a cross is what we do voluntarily as a consequence of our commitment to Jesus Christ.
I’m going to say it again. Carrying a cross is what we voluntarily do as a consequence of our commitment to Jesus Christ. It’s when we do God’s work with our hands.
So, what does that mean? Well, God doesn’t hand us a contract and say, “Donate this percentage of your income and every Tuesday and Thursday volunteer for this charity, and be in church 48 out of 52 Sundays.” As your pastor, I’d like to sign a contract like that, but God doesn’t.
God says, “O.K. We’re in a relationship, you and me. We love one another. And you’ve made a commitment to follow Me. You know what I’m like. You know where my heart is, because Jesus came and told you and He showed you. So how is your life going to look like Jesus’s?” And then we have a decision to make. Are you in? Or, are you out?
One way to think about it is to say that carrying the cross means living a cross-shaped life. A vertical relationship with God and a horizontal relationship with arms stretched out to others. It is really simple but also really challenging. It’s a moving target because it’s different for each person and it keeps changing as our lives and resources change.
But for everyone, living a cross-shaped life means Monday through Saturday, as well as Sunday.
Carrying the cross certainly can be a deeply personal struggle with any number of things: loving our neighbors, dealing with an addiction or an illness, or overcoming adversity. Some days, carrying the cross and following Jesus means just putting one foot in front of the other and struggling forward in spite of what life throws at you. Day by day, we all seek to see Him more clearly, to love him more dearly, and to follow him more nearly. (nod if you just started humming the music of Godspell)
Today, when we hear Jesus ask us to “take up the cross and follow”, we most often think of our daily discipleship walk. We imagine ourselves enduring life’s difficulties and coming out a better Christian at the end. But in Jesus’ time, the only people who carried the cross were criminals. Carrying a cross meant only one thing: a death sentence. The only people you saw with a cross on their backs were trudging through the city to their execution. This was not an attractive lifestyle choice. Carrying a cross didn’t make you a better person, build character, help you win elections, or give you better arm muscles. It just made you dead.
So for Jesus to say to the large crowd rallying around him “Listen, you can’t be my disciple unless you carry the cross and follow me” must have been quite a shock to the hearers. How many do you suppose turned around and went home? How many do you suppose turned to each other to ask, “What did he just say? Carry the what? Is He crazy? Where is He going with this?”
For those who stayed for the whole sermon, the point was made clear: discipleship is serious business. It’s time to get real about what it’s like to follow Jesus, and to trust in God, when the party’s over, when the crowds are gone, and when Rally Day is finished. It’s time to contemplate just where Jesus is leading us in this cross-carrying itinerary—because it sure looks like we’re all headed to Calvary.
While we all have personal crosses to bear, discipleship is not chiefly about our own daily struggles. Carrying the cross of Christ means lightening the load for others. It means keeping our hands free to do God’s work of loving our neighbors, bearing one another’s burdens.
The ones that are carrying their cross are the ones that very quietly give their time, effort, energy, money, love, compassion, acceptance to the homeless, the hungry, the sick, the dying, the addicts and alcoholics, those imprisoned/in jail, those requiring emergency assistance, those that give their lives during natural catastrophes and wars to save people and protect people – all without asking for anything in return, without asking for fame or acknowledgment.
Those are Christ’s people doing EXACTLY “God’s” work.
With absolute and unconditional love, compassion and care and kindness, acceptance and humility.
“All their hands are blessed hands”
Those are examples of what it means to carry the cross and follow Jesus wherever He leads.
Today can be your Rally Day to lift up your cross. I’ll call it “God’s work, with your hands” Sunday.
This is a day to celebrate. It’s a day to roll up our sleeves and to get to work, in the name of Christ.
But let’s be clear about one thing: we seek to do God’s work not to puff ourselves up, and never to save ourselves or become better people, but rather to join with God in the work of loving our neighbors, and sharing their burdens. Because we are free in Christ—free of sin and death and everything else that would possess us—our hands are available to take up the cross and become instruments of God’s love, peace, and mercy using our God-given gifts and talents to comfort and to heal.
As we mark this day with a “God’s Work, Our Hands” day, I give thanks for each of you and the ways in which you will practice “hands-free discipleship”. Your hands are truly blessed!
And now, dear friends in Christ, as we prepare to move forward with a new season of work in the church, and as we celebrate all the work we do with our hands, let us also give thanks to God for the work we DO NOT do. Let us rejoice again in the work that God’s already got covered, for it is in Jesus Christ, our brother, that we see God’s work most clearly:
We see God’s work of love for the world through the birth of Jesus Christ.
We see God’s work of compassion in the life of Jesus Christ.
And we chiefly see God’s work of redemption for all sinners in the walk Jesus made to Calvary, carrying the cross, His cross, and loving us to the end—even to death on that very cross.
God’s work is love. God’s work is sacrifice for the sake of others. God’s work is redemption for all of creation. In Christ, our hands are free to carry on God’s work for the sake of our neighbors, easing their burdens, and loving them as we have been loved – to the very end.