In the Name of Jesus
Philippians 1,15-21 2012Lätare (4. Sonntag der Passionszeit) 027
Alexander, Bishop of Jerusalem, Martyr 251
18. March 2012
1. O Gracious Father, whose Blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the True Bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this Bread, so that Christ may live in us, and we in Him (Book of Common Prayer). Amen.
2. Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
3. The city of Philippi was a unique city. The city was founded in Greek Macedonia by King Philip II in 356 B.C. The Romans conquered the city in 42 B.C., and Emperor Octavian (27 B.C. - A.D. 14) established it as a Roman colony with equal status to cities in Italy and free from direct taxation. Philippi soon became a popular haven where retired Roman soldiers chose to live. Paul visited the city during his second missionary journey (49-51), and a church was soon established. Paul returned to Philippi during his third missionary journey (52-55).
4. The Apostle Paul wrote his Epistle to the Philippians and three other letters (Ephesians, Colossians and Philemon) while in Rome as a prisoner. In 55, Jewish authorities arrested Paul in the temple. The judicial process lagged on for three years, and finally Paul exercised his right as a Roman citizen to have his case heard by the emperor himself. Once in Rome, Emperor Nero (54-68) waited another two years before he heard Paul’s case. While in Rome, Paul was under house arrest and chained to a Roman guard. He could thus travel about the city, receive guests and continue his ministry, all under the watchful eyes of his military guard.
5. As an apostle, Paul was living the very words Christ Jesus had spoken to His apostles: »Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life« (John 12,25). Paul was imprisoned on account of preaching Christ crucified, for he wrote the Philippians: »it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to all the rest, that my imprisonment is for Christ« (1,13). As Paul awaited his judicial audience with Nero, Roman opinion of Christians began to simmer and then boil with antipathy. In his Annals, Tacitus (56-117) describes Christians and their faith as: „a class hated for their abominations ... and a most destructive superstition“ (Tacitus 15,44). A contemporary of Tacitus, Pliny the Younger (61-112) lists the abominable Christian practices as: gathering before dawn on Sunday to worship Christ as a god, promising to obey the Commandments and celebrating the Lord’s Supper (Pliny to the Emperor Trajan). Such were the tribulations the Church suffered in the middle of the first century.
6. The Apostle Paul knew that: »the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us, and that for those who love God all things work together for good« (Romans 8,18-28). If Paul lived, then it was more opportunity for him to preach Christ; but if Paul was executed, then he gained eternal life in heaven. Paul, therefore, saw his imprisonment as a win:win situation, and he used every opportunity at his disposal to preach Christ crucified.
7. Segments of American Christianity have forgotten that the gospel and the Christian life is all about Christ. We gather this morning in comfort and wealth without fear of being rounded up and thrown in jail for worshipping Jesus as the Christ. Many Christians in Asia, the Middle East and Africa do not enjoy such religious liberty. Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has been in an Iranian prison for three years because he renounced Islam and converted to the Christian faith when he was a child. 50,000 Christians are killed each year (1.5 million since 1984) in Sudan by the Janjaweed (the Arab Muslim militia). Every year, 200 million Christians in over 60 countries are denied fundamental human rights solely because of their Christian faith (Yogarajah 86). Christians, therefore, are the most persecuted group in the world (D’Emillo).
8. In spite of trials, persecutions and martyrdom of Christians here and around the world, the Christian faith continues to spread and flourish. Christianity numbers more converts to the faith per year than any other religion. Truly, truly, I say to you: When the gospel is proclaimed, then the Holy Spirit creates faith. Persecuted Christians remain steadfast in their faith because Christ remains the Solid Cornerstone and Unshakable Foundation of His Church. Jesus speaks of His fidelity and faithfulness to His apostles: » The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Now My soul is troubled. And what shall I say? „Father, save Me from this hour“? But for this purpose I have arrived for this hour. Now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, then I will draw all people to Myself« (John 12,23.27.31-32). The hour Jesus spoke of was His crucifixion, and the ruler that was cast out was the devil.
9. Therefore, we should not be surprised that Christians are persecuted. Christ’s resurrection proved the devil’s downfall. His rule over sinners on this earth had been broken. He has been thrown out of heaven. The devil is angry, and he cannot regain what he has had taken away by Jesus. So the devil unleashes his fury against Christ’s people. He harasses them, persecutes them and martyrs them (Revelation 12) through his devils and the wicked people of the world.
10. We are not discouraged by the devil’s raging. Christ’s hour is the hour of His glory. What is Christ’s is yours. His hour is your hour of salvation. His glory is your glory of eternal life. Thus the Apostle Paul exhorts us that whether you live or die, are at peace or are persecuted, you are Christ’s (Romans 14,8), and as Christ’s He honors you in your body. While you live, you proclaim the grace of Christ. When you die, you gain entrance into Christ’s heavenly reign. The world with all its enticements cannot offer any gift so precious or invaluable as the gift of security and salvation that Christ gives to His Church. You are Christ’s, and He is yours. Rejoice and be glad, for in Christ you have life and peace, now and always. Amen.
11. Let us pray. O Christ Jesus, the Heavenly Grain who fell into the earth and died; send us the Holy Spirit so that living in the reality of Your death and resurrection we bear the fruit of good works that are a blessing in this troubled world. Amen.
One Message: Christ crucified and risen for you!
All Scriptural quotations are translations done by The Rev. Peter A. Bauernfeind using the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 4th Edition © 1990 by the Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, and the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 27th Edition © 1993 by Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart.
Book of Common Prayer, The. Copyright © 1990 Oxford University Press.
Die Bekenntnisschriften der evangelisch-lutherischen Kirche. © 1998 by Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttigen.
ELKB. Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche in Bayern. www.bayern-evangelisch.de/www/index.php. Copyright © Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche in Bayern.
D’Emillo, Frances. „Pope calls Christians the most persecuted“. 16. December 2010. Associated Press.
Yogarajah, Godfrey. „Disinformation, discrimination, destruction and growth: A case study on persecution of Christians in Sri Lanka“. International Institute for Religious Freedom, Vol. 1, Issue 1, 2008.
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