John 8:36 - We Are All Beggars (10-28-07)

“And if the son makes you free you will be free indeed.” Today is reformation day and it is the day we remember that we celebrate that we are set free from sin by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ.

Today is the day we remember that Martin Luther wrote this note and placed it on the door of the Wittenberg, Germany church: stating Disputation of Doctor Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences by Dr. Martin Luther, 1517, effectively starting the Reformation!

In 1999 – a joint declaration of faith was signed by the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation. Over 30 years of dialogue between Catholics and Lutherans, we agreed that we are saved only by grace in Christ Jesus; which is what the reformation was all about! I had the chance to preach at Elizabeth Ann Seaton Roman Catholic church here in town that day and the Roman Catholic priests and Lutheran pastors present signed our own ceremonial declaration. In 2017, yes in ten years, we will remember the 500^th anniversary of that date and I wonder how things will look then!

How did this dispute start almost 500 years ago? What was an Indulgence? Indulgences were pieces of paper that had the seal of the pope that would guarantee that you are forgiven. You could even pay to ensure that your family members who have died were in heaven by purchasing one for them. This would provide relief and comfort to people who weren’t sure of the grace of Jesus Christ. They would be reassured by the letter of the law that their dead family members were forgiven. The dispute had a great impact upon us all! We just don’t want to admit we are all beggars and need God’s grace!

The reformation day gospel is always this passage from John 8:31-36 Jesus is in Jerusalem confronting the attitude that we are not beggars, we have made it in life; we are good people and will not admit we are beggars, never! Jesus said, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; ³²and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” The word Jesus was referring to was either the words himself he spoke; or it was Jesus who was the “word” of God; or it was the “logic” of the words of Jesus (as the word in Greek for “word” is logos, where we get logic) that we are all sinners and need to be set free; we are all beggars. “We have never been beggars” they complained.

It is so freeing to admit we are beggars! There is great logic in doing so, as our bodies can take a breath from all this doing. So I want you to look at someone and say, “I’m a beggar.” (let them do this). Now say, “You are a beggar.” (let them do this). Now say, “Wouldn’t you like to be a beggar too. Be a beggar… (Dr. Pepper tune sing with these words.)

What does a beggar do? Ask for something, bread perhaps or some type of food substance. In August, I did a 24 campout @Pearl Lake. We went to the Walmart to get some dinner food to cook that night and I picked out a big bag of Doritos. We actually opened it in the truck and started eating it in the parking lot. We got out to the stop sign and there was a man with a sign for money to get a bus. I opened the side window and asked if he needed food, which he said yes. I grabbed the bag we just opened and we handed it to him. No sacrifice! Yes it’s a band aid. I didn’t teach him how to fish; but he was a beggar with a sign. There are signs all around us of people who are admitting they are beggars. We just don’t want to ask, but I see the signs on the hearts of all those I see. So many beggars…

In 2000, I remember my mother asking or begging for help to deal with her mortgage troubles. She called me a week before the house was going to be foreclosed, looking for help, as she didn’t know she qualified for the senior citizen exemption which was why she couldn’t make payments anymore on time and for the correct amount. She gave me an example in her later years of begging and after I took over her finances. In this past year and in her passing three weeks ago, I saw how she was begging for help. We are all beggars.

It’s a blessing to be a Pastor in a church where I can ask for help. I could beg for your support and encouragement during this time of loss in dealing with the death of my mother three weeks ago. I was able to ask for the Bishop to find preachers so I could just sit at worship or be with family. It’s been three weeks out of the pulpit and I am grateful that you don’t mind me begging.

WE BEG EVERYDAY FOR GRACE! We ask, we plead; we beg. We ask for mercy from family, friends, neighbors and co-workers everyday. We don’t beg for food because we have so much! IT IS EASY TO HIDE OUR BEGGING.

Two days before he died in 1546, Martin Luther wrote his last note. It was found in his pocket after he died: "We are beggars: This is true." In these words, the last which Martin Luther's tireless pen wrote for us, lays his legacy to Christianity.

Today we gather with you to beg for God’s mercy. We gather to admit we are hungry for bread; for the bread of life and Jesus comes to us and we are fed! Fed in a few ways:

1. By COMMUNITY; as we gather in relationships; like these 5 teenagers who will affirm their faith in the one we beg for strength to face the struggles of life; so when car accidents happen like the one that took place last weekend, we are surrounded by people who will sing and say the words we might not be able to.

2. By the WATER; as we gather at this font; we gather with Karli Launius who is baptized at the 8am service

3. By the WORD; as we continue to read and hear scripture that reminds us we are forgiven and are empowered to forgive those around us by God’s mercy and love

We beg for bread and we are fed by Jesus, the living bread! We are never hungry again. We have been set free; so what are you going to do with that freedom? These teenagers are set free to continue to beg God for strength and grace. We are all beggars! Let us pray:

Gracious God, we come to you as beggars with our hands and hearts open to your grace. We come to you and you set us free from the power of death, sin and the grace to live and love freely, looking for the signs of those all around us who are beggars.