Let’s imagine (October 18, 2009)
By Rev. Bert A. Thompsonl

Let’s imagine. Imagine your country is invaded by foreign troops. Their soldiers crush all rebellion. You are forced to pay high taxes to finance the occupying army. Society is ripping apart. Politicians and many church leaders are corrupt. Fornication, adultery, divorce and homosexuality are all over. You are afraid to bring children into such an evil world.

Does such a place exist? Yes. Welcome to the world in which Jesus lived. Welcome to the first century Roman Empire. The more things change, the more they stay the same. There are no new sins. There are no new troubles. Welcome to our world. This is a world at war – war against each other and war against God.

Into this world, comes Christ, the Prince of Peace. Into this world, Jesus sends seventy men to preach peace. Jesus says “Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’”

What is peace? Peace is the opposite of war. What is war? War begins in the Garden of Eden. Man declares war against God. Then war begins in the home, the home of Adam and Eve. With war against God comes war against each other. Now, war continues in our homes: husbands against wives and wives against husbands; children against parents and parents against children. Everyone wants to be boss. Everyone wants their own way. Wars of nation against nation are only extensions of our own house wars.

“Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’” War flows from sin. Where sin is forgiven, there is peace. Jesus came to forgive all sin and to give us peace.

When you are at peace, it is easy to fall asleep. Have you ever fallen asleep in church? Have you ever almost fallen asleep in church? Have you tried not to fall asleep in church? Listen to this: it is not necessarily a sin to fall asleep in church.

Do you fall asleep swerving to avoid an accident? No! Do you fall asleep as the doctor says you might have cancer? No! Do you fall asleep running back to the clubhouse in the rain and thunder and lightning? No!

But we gently drift off to sleep when we are at peace. We doze when we feel safe. After losing your job, you come here to hear the message that God will take care of you. After knowing your illness may get worse, you listen to your Lord and Savior say He will be with you no matter what. Struggling with a sin that just won’t leave you alone, you hear those comforting words: “In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, I forgive you all your sins.”

Here in God’s house, a wave of heavenly comfort sweeps over you. You close your eyes in peace. Don’t misunderstand: I don’t encourage people to sleep in church, but here you receive peace. When you receive peace from Jesus, peaceful sleep is easy.

Jesus says, “Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’” Jesus gives His disciples His peace to give to others. This peace comes from God’s house to your house, because in this house, the war is over.

Your war against God caused by your sins and your war against each other caused by your sins – these wars have been cancelled on the cross. In this house, you receive. You receive full and complete forgiveness through His Name in the Baptismal waters, though His words of Absolution spoken by your pastor and through the real Body and Blood of His Son, placed in your mouth; His Body given into your body. you receive. You receive a God-given desire to stop sinning.

Jesus sends His disciples out so everyone can receive His peace through the voice of His disciples. Jesus sends your pastors to you here to forgive you, because this house is where God promises to give you His gift of peace.

You are here week after week, because you need God’s peace all the time. There is always a war raging around you and inside you as you are led to think sinful thoughts, to say sinful words and to do sinful actions. Sin creates war. Jesus cancels our war by forgiving our sin and giving us peace. So, what is peace?

Two artists are commissioned to paint a picture that best shows peace. One artist paints a beautiful outdoor scene with the sun shining, the deer grazing, the flowers blooming and the butterflies fluttering. It looks as peaceful as the Garden of Eden. The other artist paints a long, sturdy tree branch with a nest tightly bound in the end of the branch. Baby robins are in the nest. The mother robin carefully feeds each one as much as they need. But something in this second picture is scary. The sturdy branch of this tree is reaching far out over the roaring waters of Niagara Falls. However, above the roar and thunder of those deadly falls, the baby robins are safe and at peace.

Which painting more closely pictures our lives? I think the second one. As that tree grows in the dust of this earth, we too, are but dust and ashes. But we are lifted up, above the roar of this world. Real danger is down there, but we are safe here – in this nest of our Father’s house. He feeds us all we need for this body and life.

But this place is only an outpost, as we anticipate of our rescue from this valley of sorrows. The kingdoms of this world will pass away. Although we are to be faithful citizens of this nation, we are already citizens of another kingdom, an ever-lasting kingdom, the kingdom of peace: the kingdom of heaven.

The seventy disciples bring the peace of Christ to each home. Then they announce that the kingdom of God has come near because Jesus is coming. But their job is dangerous. Many people love the war of sin rather than the peace of forgiveness. Jesus warns them: “I send you out as lambs among wolves.” Satan looks for someone to devour. Jesus must help them, or His message of peace will never get preached. Jesus protects them and through His people, He supplies all their physical needs.

Then, Jesus says something strange: He tells them not to talk to anyone along the way. Why not? Middle east etiquette on the road can last a long time. But their mission is urgent. They must go where they are going quickly and with no interruptions.

The kingdom of sin and Satan and death is crumbling. These seventy are messengers of victory. Although Christ is on His way to crucifixion, it’s a done deal. Satan’s already lost the war. After the victory on the cross and the empty tomb, sin and death lay defeated. After Pentecost, the disciples will go and preach the Good News, the Gospel of the kingdom of God.

You live in two worlds at once. You live here with all the war of your sin and the sin of others raging around you. But the price of your release has been paid. You already are citizens in another world –the kingdom of peace. You bring your household here, to God’s house of peace, where the Prince of Peace constantly cancels your war of sin. Jesus gives you His peace of sins forgiven. Trust Him. Do not trust your fears. Do not fear the roar of the world around you. It cannot harm you. Even if this world kills you, as it did many who followed Jesus, you will be resurrected with a perfect body, never to die again.

Swim in the peaceful water of your baptism. Hear the gentle words of Christ’s forgiveness. If your sins still trouble you, come here and receive specific forgiveness for your specific sins at this altar in private Confession and Absolution. Eat eagerly of His Body and drink deeply of His Blood. You are joined to Him Who alone is perfect peace, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.