Moving From Death To Life
Sermon
Cross, Resurrection, And Ascension
First Lesson Sermons For Lent/Easter
He was chained, held bound in a life of torment and blasphemy. In the end, however, God would set him free. John Newton, a name probably not familiar to many people, was born in July 1725 to a pious English woman and her seafaring husband. From his earliest days, young Newton was attracted to his father's side of the family and to the life at sea. Thus, when he was only eleven years old he became an apprentice aboard his father's vessel, a cargo ship, which ferried products throughout the major ports of the Mediterranean region. To say the least, at this time in his life, John Newton did not know God. Those with whom he associated on his father's vessel were, for the most part, criminals, rogues, and other "undesirables" of society, many of whom were sent to Captain Newton's ship as punishment for some offense in the State of England.
When Newton was nineteen he became a midshipman on another vessel. After only one year, however, he was publicly flogged for insubordination. Despite this event, and most probably with the help of his father, John was able to secure a commission and a few years later his own vessel, a slave trading ship. John Newton commanded a vessel which ferried Africans from their native land to the American colonies. He was good at what he did; he carried out his duties fully and with precision. Yet, he felt chained to his life at sea, trapped and dead inside; he was unable to release himself.
This all changed one night in 1748. That evening while at sea Newton's slave ship was caught in a vicious storm. Waves crashed over the bow and the ship was tossed about like a toy. Through the skill of the captain and his crew, the ship and all personnel were saved. The experience, however, changed Newton forever. He felt the chains that held him bound begin to weaken; a new sense of spirit invaded his soul. It took seven more years, but finally in 1755 John Newton gave up the slave trade and his life at sea. That same year he met John Wesley and George Whitefield, two Anglican clergymen, who at that time were leaders in the evangelical revival which would lead to the foundation of Methodism in the United States. In 1764 Newton himself was ordained an Anglican priest. He became a well-known preacher and was one of the first members of what later became known as the Abolitionist movement, with such leaders as Daniel O'Connell in Ireland and William Lloyd Garrison in the United States. In 1779 Newton wrote some famous words, autobiographical in nature, that are familiar to us all: "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I'm found, was blind but now I see." Yes, John Newton wrote the words to "Amazing Grace." He was held bound in a life he did not want; he experienced spiritual death. In the end, however, God was the one who set him free and granted him new life.
The experience of John Newton serves as a good example to illustrate an important point. Humans many times are trapped in situations that are not desired, bring no benefit, and often make us feel as if we are spiritually dead, without hope for any resolution to our problems. We try different solutions, varied ways to free ourselves, but in the end realize that God alone can free us and raise us to new life.
The prophecy of Ezekiel, which we hear in an almost mystical metaphorical passage in today's reading, was proclaimed to the Hebrews while they were in exile in Babylonia. The prophet brings a message of hope that a new spirit will come to Israel to allow the nation and its people to rise from death and find renewed hope in the future. The Hebrews, like John Newton, were dead inside and trapped by the circumstances of life; they could perceive no reason for future hope. God's messenger, however, proclaimed a new day for the Hebrews when they would rise from their graves and return to their home.
As we heard, Ezekiel is led by the Spirit of God onto a plain near Babylon, one which is strewn with the bones of those who have fallen in battle. On the plain the prophet has a mystical experience which symbolizes his mission as the bearer of hope to the Hebrew exiles. Dry bones, the lifeless remains of the human race which Ezekiel views spread across the land, represent the Hebrews in captivity. In extraordinary words of great power and image, he prophesies how these bones will rise again as a great army. The people had lost hope. We hear, "Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely" (Ezekiel 37:11b). God, however, will bring a new day as the prophet relates: "I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel" (Ezekiel 37:12b). God will give the people a new start through a renewed spirit and they will be returned to their homeland.
Ezekiel prophesies how God will save the people, raise them to new life, give them a renewed spirit, and return them to the land. It will be necessary, however, that each person take personal responsibility in assuring that God's renewal of spirit will be used wisely to further the community in its path back home to God. God has given the people a new chance; it is now up to them to move forward and make something positive of this new opportunity to life.
Death is experienced in life in many ways, not simply the physical reality that all people will one day die. Like John Newton we are at times held captive by forces beyond our immediate control. We are weighed down, burdened, and trapped by things, people, and events. Although our heart is pumping and our brain operating, we feel dead in many ways and look for a solution to our dilemma. The physical death of family members, relatives, and friends causes us great grief. Death is always more difficult for those who are left behind. Sometimes when we experience the emotion of great sorrow, we wish we were the ones who had died; we die inside to some extent. In order to right our ship of life we seek a remedy or possibly a substitute for our grief. Disappointments in people and events, failures in life's tasks, and problems that seem unsolvable cause us to wonder if God has abandoned us, a feeling I am sure much like that of the Hebrews when they were in exile in Babylonia. We experience spiritual dryness and stagnation. We cannot find the time for prayer or it seems ineffective; we drift away from celebrating the Lord's day with the Christian community and see no reason to humble ourselves before God.
Injury, disease, or physical death, disappointment and failure, and spiritual emptiness are the dry lifeless bones of today's world. The pressures, tensions, and vicissitudes of life cause us to feel powerless against an unsympathetic, demanding, and goal-oriented world. We must find a way out; we must discover someone or something that can break the bonds that hold us bound in order to bring together the dry bones of our life and raise us to renewed life. Like John Newton we may not consciously seek a new direction and spirit, but we know things must change.
Lent is a journey where we have the opportunity to discover answers to the feelings of death that we experience in life. In moving from the desert to the cross to resurrection we come to realize that all our experiences of death were also felt by Jesus during his time on earth. During his public ministry he broke the bonds of slavery and death of those whom he encountered. For some, like the son of the widow of Nain and his friend Lazarus, Jesus' gift was resurrection from death; for others it was release from sin, like the woman caught in adultery. Still others, like those who daily walked the roads of Judea and Galilee with him, were given a new spirit, a whole new opportunity and way to encounter God. Jesus set all people free.
John Newton only realized his spiritual sickness when he came near to physical death during the great storm at sea. What will it take for us to discover our need for God? God rescued the Hebrews time and again as we read in the Scriptures. The Israelites were liberated from Egypt by Moses and the Judges defeated Israel's enemies in battle. The prophets, like Ezekiel, brought a message of new hope to the people if they would only heed God's law. God is ever active in our world. We have the Church, the Scriptures, and the example of many who have gone before us, marked by the sign of faith, who have conquered death and been raised to new life, to aid us in our journey home to God. Let us rise from our spiritual graves. Let us put on the armor of light which is Christ and continue our journey to Calvary, resurrection, and eternal life.
When Newton was nineteen he became a midshipman on another vessel. After only one year, however, he was publicly flogged for insubordination. Despite this event, and most probably with the help of his father, John was able to secure a commission and a few years later his own vessel, a slave trading ship. John Newton commanded a vessel which ferried Africans from their native land to the American colonies. He was good at what he did; he carried out his duties fully and with precision. Yet, he felt chained to his life at sea, trapped and dead inside; he was unable to release himself.
This all changed one night in 1748. That evening while at sea Newton's slave ship was caught in a vicious storm. Waves crashed over the bow and the ship was tossed about like a toy. Through the skill of the captain and his crew, the ship and all personnel were saved. The experience, however, changed Newton forever. He felt the chains that held him bound begin to weaken; a new sense of spirit invaded his soul. It took seven more years, but finally in 1755 John Newton gave up the slave trade and his life at sea. That same year he met John Wesley and George Whitefield, two Anglican clergymen, who at that time were leaders in the evangelical revival which would lead to the foundation of Methodism in the United States. In 1764 Newton himself was ordained an Anglican priest. He became a well-known preacher and was one of the first members of what later became known as the Abolitionist movement, with such leaders as Daniel O'Connell in Ireland and William Lloyd Garrison in the United States. In 1779 Newton wrote some famous words, autobiographical in nature, that are familiar to us all: "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I'm found, was blind but now I see." Yes, John Newton wrote the words to "Amazing Grace." He was held bound in a life he did not want; he experienced spiritual death. In the end, however, God was the one who set him free and granted him new life.
The experience of John Newton serves as a good example to illustrate an important point. Humans many times are trapped in situations that are not desired, bring no benefit, and often make us feel as if we are spiritually dead, without hope for any resolution to our problems. We try different solutions, varied ways to free ourselves, but in the end realize that God alone can free us and raise us to new life.
The prophecy of Ezekiel, which we hear in an almost mystical metaphorical passage in today's reading, was proclaimed to the Hebrews while they were in exile in Babylonia. The prophet brings a message of hope that a new spirit will come to Israel to allow the nation and its people to rise from death and find renewed hope in the future. The Hebrews, like John Newton, were dead inside and trapped by the circumstances of life; they could perceive no reason for future hope. God's messenger, however, proclaimed a new day for the Hebrews when they would rise from their graves and return to their home.
As we heard, Ezekiel is led by the Spirit of God onto a plain near Babylon, one which is strewn with the bones of those who have fallen in battle. On the plain the prophet has a mystical experience which symbolizes his mission as the bearer of hope to the Hebrew exiles. Dry bones, the lifeless remains of the human race which Ezekiel views spread across the land, represent the Hebrews in captivity. In extraordinary words of great power and image, he prophesies how these bones will rise again as a great army. The people had lost hope. We hear, "Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely" (Ezekiel 37:11b). God, however, will bring a new day as the prophet relates: "I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel" (Ezekiel 37:12b). God will give the people a new start through a renewed spirit and they will be returned to their homeland.
Ezekiel prophesies how God will save the people, raise them to new life, give them a renewed spirit, and return them to the land. It will be necessary, however, that each person take personal responsibility in assuring that God's renewal of spirit will be used wisely to further the community in its path back home to God. God has given the people a new chance; it is now up to them to move forward and make something positive of this new opportunity to life.
Death is experienced in life in many ways, not simply the physical reality that all people will one day die. Like John Newton we are at times held captive by forces beyond our immediate control. We are weighed down, burdened, and trapped by things, people, and events. Although our heart is pumping and our brain operating, we feel dead in many ways and look for a solution to our dilemma. The physical death of family members, relatives, and friends causes us great grief. Death is always more difficult for those who are left behind. Sometimes when we experience the emotion of great sorrow, we wish we were the ones who had died; we die inside to some extent. In order to right our ship of life we seek a remedy or possibly a substitute for our grief. Disappointments in people and events, failures in life's tasks, and problems that seem unsolvable cause us to wonder if God has abandoned us, a feeling I am sure much like that of the Hebrews when they were in exile in Babylonia. We experience spiritual dryness and stagnation. We cannot find the time for prayer or it seems ineffective; we drift away from celebrating the Lord's day with the Christian community and see no reason to humble ourselves before God.
Injury, disease, or physical death, disappointment and failure, and spiritual emptiness are the dry lifeless bones of today's world. The pressures, tensions, and vicissitudes of life cause us to feel powerless against an unsympathetic, demanding, and goal-oriented world. We must find a way out; we must discover someone or something that can break the bonds that hold us bound in order to bring together the dry bones of our life and raise us to renewed life. Like John Newton we may not consciously seek a new direction and spirit, but we know things must change.
Lent is a journey where we have the opportunity to discover answers to the feelings of death that we experience in life. In moving from the desert to the cross to resurrection we come to realize that all our experiences of death were also felt by Jesus during his time on earth. During his public ministry he broke the bonds of slavery and death of those whom he encountered. For some, like the son of the widow of Nain and his friend Lazarus, Jesus' gift was resurrection from death; for others it was release from sin, like the woman caught in adultery. Still others, like those who daily walked the roads of Judea and Galilee with him, were given a new spirit, a whole new opportunity and way to encounter God. Jesus set all people free.
John Newton only realized his spiritual sickness when he came near to physical death during the great storm at sea. What will it take for us to discover our need for God? God rescued the Hebrews time and again as we read in the Scriptures. The Israelites were liberated from Egypt by Moses and the Judges defeated Israel's enemies in battle. The prophets, like Ezekiel, brought a message of new hope to the people if they would only heed God's law. God is ever active in our world. We have the Church, the Scriptures, and the example of many who have gone before us, marked by the sign of faith, who have conquered death and been raised to new life, to aid us in our journey home to God. Let us rise from our spiritual graves. Let us put on the armor of light which is Christ and continue our journey to Calvary, resurrection, and eternal life.
