Sermon: Wittenberg Academy – Tuesday of Easter 4 - 2021

April 27, 2021

Text: Luke 9:37-62

In the name of + Jesus.  Amen.

Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

Sometimes it seems as if our Lord’s disciples will never learn.  And this is especially ironic, because a “disciple” is a student – and Jesus is their “Rabbi,” their Teacher.  Jesus has been telling them plainly what is going to happen when they get to Jerusalem.  This time, He even hammers home the point: “Let these words sink into your ears,” before yet again predicting His own passion.  But they don’t get it.  “And they were afraid to ask Him about it.”

Being in denial about the nature of the Lord coming into His kingdom, the disciples begin to jockey for position in the kingdom they think Jesus is going to enter into – a political, worldly kingdom.  “An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest.”  And our Lord rains on their parade by referring them to a child, and by telling them, “He who is least among you is the one who is great.”

And once again, instead of playing to their delusions of worldly grandeur in following Him, He bursts their bubble about fame and accolades.  Our Lord reminds them that to be a disciple is to adopt an existence not of mansions and fancy transportation, but that of the “Son of Man” who “has nowhere to lay His head.” 

And in fact, to follow Jesus means everything else is secondary – even good things like the filial duty toward one’s parents, even attending funerals or squaring things with families first.  To this, our Lord says: “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Even as Jesus leads them to Jerusalem to witness His passion, death, and resurrection, He is still teaching them – and they are clueless at times.  In fact, they will not figure out completely who Jesus is until He is crucified, dead, buried, raised, and ascended – and the Holy Spirit comes to them to complete their training as disciples.  It is then that they will learn about greatness in the kingdom as they preach the Gospel and suffer while they do so.

Amen.

Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.