Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost – October 9, 2016

Remember Jesus Christ

2 Timothy 2:8-13 – Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

11 Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; 13 if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

What does a person who is about to die think about? Do they think of childhood joys? Memories of teenage freedom? Professional accomplishments? Friends? Family? Loved ones? For the apostle Paul, he thought about Jesus Christ.

The writing was on the wall for Paul. He knew that his work for the Lord on earth was coming to a close. He knew that soon he would join those who had died for their faith. So he writes a personal farewell letter to his dear friend Timothy in order to encourage him. In it he tells Timothy that he is remembering Jesus Christ and that Timothy should remember him too. So we use this simplistic, yet golden, encouragement as the theme under which we study our lesson this morning: Remember Jesus Christ.

Now perhaps you are surprised by the simplicity of such a statement. After all, you say, we wouldn’t be here this morning if we didn’t remember Jesus Christ. While I pray that this is true, do not for that reason power down your ears and stop listening. For isn’t it also true that in your day to day living - as the storms of life blow around you; as the busyness of family and work whip by; as the pursuits of personal interests and play call to you; that there are more than a few times when we aren’t remembering Jesus Christ.

How many times did Jesus say to his followers during his earthly ministry – “remember, remember, remember?” And it was a necessary reminder for followers who are described in Scripture as being slow to believe, afraid, people with doubts arising in their minds. And are we any different? You see, the heart of Christian faith is remembering – remembering what God has done for us. Contrary to popular belief, the main message that God has for us is not “go and do;” but rather “see, believe and remember.” So what is it that we are to remember?

“Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David.” It’s only nine words, but what a glorious nine words they are. Remember Jesus, Paul says, the name that God himself gave to his Son. The name that means “Savior.” Remember that he came to this earth in the quietness of Christmas on a violent mission. He came to do battle with the forces of hell. On that day we call Good Friday that battle reached its final, decisive hour. Remember the agony of the cross; remember Jesus’ forsaken cry; as God and Satan went head to head for the eternal possession of your soul.

That’s right – for your soul. As we remember Jesus– we remember why he had to come; why he had to be forsaken by his father; why he had to do battle with the forces of hell. It’s because hell was to be our destination. It’s the rightful place for sinners – and that is what we are. What else can we call ourselves when on Sunday mornings we don’t remember Jesus? What else can we call ourselves when our actions with a boyfriend or girlfriend made it clear we were not remembering? What else can we call ourselves when the words of our mouth give evidence that we did not remember Jesus? What else can we call ourselves when we look into God’s law and hear him say – love me first; love me best?

Oh how our lives give evidence to the fact that into this world we are born with a heart inclined only toward sin – shaking a collective fist at God. And each sin accuses; each sin stains us with guilt. Try as we might, none of us can say we’ve never done wrong; we’ve never sinned. Each sin condemns. So remember Jesus, and remember why we need him: because by nature we are dead in transgressions and sins! Because we are powerless to save ourselves!

And then remember Christ – the name meaning the anointed one; the name that declares Jesus to be the one God promised to send; the name that assures us he came to serve as our great High Priest by offering himself as the sacrifice to pay for our sins. That’s what was taking place on the cross: our sins that accuse and stain us with guilt were set squarely on the shoulders of Christ and he suffered the punishment for them all. The condemnation that our sins deserve was willingly picked up by Christ, God’s anointed, and carried by him to the cross where he was forsaken and died in our place.

But “remember Jesus Christ…raised from the dead.” Out of the tomb has come the One who paid for all your sins. He carried them to the cross. He left them in the tomb. Your sins are gone! They are dead! They are buried! They are forgiven and forgotten in God’s sight! Out of the tomb came a holy Lord Jesus Christ. On the cross he had been covered with our sins, and he suffered death. But now he is alive; proof that God has accepted his sacrifice. Believe in him, and you are covered with his holiness. Believe in him, and you will have everlasting life!

“Remember Jesus Christ…descended from David.” It wasn’t just the Son of God who came out of the tomb on Easter morning, but also the Son of Man. It was a human being, fully like us, who rose from the dead. By his resurrection he gives believers (you and me) a glimpse of the glory that will one day be ours when Christ, by his almighty power, calls believers out of their graves to glory everlasting.

And that is why we do well to remember the great things our Lord Jesus has done for us, so that through him we may have the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. And in the Greek language, as in the English language, this word “remember” is in the present tense. It isn’t just something to remember on Sunday’s when you get ready for church, are at church, and drive home from church. It is to be continuous and ongoing. So remember when you are in the backyard playing or working in the garden. Remember when your child is driving you crazy or your siblings are annoying you. Remember when you’re tired and hungry. Remember when you are at work or school. Remember before you open your mouth; when you sit down to watch TV; and when you are surfing the internet.

Yes, remember as the busyness of family and work whip by; as the pursuits of personal interests and play call; and especially remember when the storms of life blow around you. Remember that Jesus and what he has done isn’t just something that benefits us in the future, he helps us also in the here and now.

So how is your here and now? How was this past week for you? The past month? The past year? Did you have to bury a loved one? Have finances become tight? Are you stressed, upset or angry? Are you being picked on at school? Have classes become more difficult? Are those near and dear to you sick? Has your health taken something from you? Is life simply not going as planned?

Paul knew something about that. This was now the second time he was a prisoner in Rome. And why – because he was trying to help people by sharing with them the message of salvation. But this time his imprisonment was different. The first time he was imprisoned he lived in his own rented place. This time he was in chains. The first time his friends could come and go as they pleased. This time he was alone. His friends could hardly find him. Associates had deserted him. This time death looked to be coming soon. So what did he do: “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel.”

Paul remembered Jesus Christ – and that is what we should do too. Remembering Jesus Christ makes it clear that God does not lead his children from one success to another in this world, skirting all hardship. The Christian’s path through life is not a bed of roses. Jesus’ path was a cross; so we who follow him should expect no different. For this reason God does not always lead his children around heartache and loss, but sometimes into it and then through it. But in this we learn through experience that in hardship our Savior is nearer than ever before.

“Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead.” Remember that he who suffered, died and rose from the dead to declare you not guilty is not going to shed all his sweat, blood and tears on you only to abandon you when you need him the most. By faith, you are his brother or sister. In him, nothing can separate you from God. “Because he suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted” (Hebrews 2:18).

“Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David.” Remember that he who rose from the dead lacks no power to be able to help. His power is limitless. He is descended from a king. He is a king. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. Heaven is his throne and earth is his footstool. He commands and rules all things by his powerful word. And this King with all power protects you. In this same letter Paul says what every believer in Jesus can say, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom” (2 Timothy 4:18).

He knows your trials. He knows what you need. He knows how to help. Turn to him. Trust in him. Place your cares, worries, problems, sorrows, hurts, fears and troubles before him. Remember what he has done for you. Remember that he fought for you. He will continue to fight for you.

And you can trust that this is true because Jesus made you a promise, and Jesus cannot lie. That is the idea behind the words “he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.” God’s gracious forgiveness in Christ is real and reliable. His grace is unchanging. No, that doesn’t mean we can go do whatever we want. It doesn’t mean we can believe whatever we want. It doesn’t mean we can disown him to escape sorrow and suffering or the punishment turning away from Christ will bring. But it does mean God is faithful to all his promises and those promises will be enjoyed by all who repent and believe.

Jesus Christ is the Savior whom you can safely trust, the master whom you can safely follow. Without Jesus Christ, our past would be only a trail of unforgiven sin, our present only a wasted moment in time, our future a hazardous road to hell. But with Jesus as our Savior and guide, our past is a book of forgiveness, our present a daily experience in his love, and our future secure in his hands. So we can say with the hymn writer:

If God himself be for me, I may a host defy;

For when I pray, before me My foes, confounded, fly.

If Christ, my head and master, Befriend me from above,

What foe or what disaster Can drive me from his love?

He canceled my offenses, Delivered me from death;

He is the Lord who cleanses My soul from sin through faith.

In him I can be cheerful, Courageous on my way;

In him I am not fearful Of God’s great Judgment Day.

No sin can now condemn me Or set my hope aside.

Now hell no more can claim me; Its fury I deride.

No sentence now reproves me; No guilt destroys my peace,

For Christ, my Savior, loves me And shields me with his grace.

No danger, thirst, or hunger, No pain or poverty,

No earthly tyrant’s anger Shall ever vanquish me.

Though earth should break asunder, You are my Savior true;

No fire or sword or thunder Shall sever me from you. (CW 419 v. 1,4-6)

Amen.