THE FEAST OF ST. JAMES OF JERUSALEM,

BROTHER OF JESUS AND MARTYR

21 October Anno + Domini 2008 (Observed)

"The Offense of Jesus”

Matthew 13:54-48

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

It is not that the hometown folk failed to realize that there was something different about Jesus.  How could they not?  They watched Him grow up.  They witnessed His childhood and adolescent years.  He wasn't like the other kids.  He didn't get into trouble or engage in destructive activities.  He didn't lie, cheat, or steal.  He didn't argue with His parents or question their authority, even though He had the right to do so.  He was different.  The people of Nazareth were well aware of that.  That's not what troubled them.  That's not why they took offense at Him. 

The problem the people of Nazareth had with Jesus is the explanation He offered for why He was different.  He claimed to be God in the Flesh.  That's why they took offense at Him.  They could live with the fact that He was different.  They could even accept that He was exceptional, full of wisdom, and able to do unexplainable things.  But, to accept that He was the sinless Son of God walking among them in the Flesh - No way!  Impossible!  They ain't buying that!  He's just Jesus, the son of Joseph, the carpenter, and Mary, his wife.  They knew His family.  They knew from where He came - or, at least, they thought they did.  And, while they couldn't figure out where He received the authority to say the things He said and do the things He did, the one thing they were certain of was that He was not God! 

Jesus experienced the same fate as the prophets who came before Him.  The reason the people persecuted and killed the prophets of old was because they claimed to speak the very Word of the Lord to them.  They didn't say, "This is what I believe the Lord is saying,” or "I have a feeling this is what the Lord wants from us.”  They said, "Thus says the Lord.”  That's why the people took offense at them.  They could preach all they wanted, just so long as they didn't claim to be speaking on behalf of the Lord God.  That crossed the line. 

How much more did Jesus cross the line when He claimed not to just be speaking on behalf of the Lord God, but to be the Lord God in the Flesh?  If the people couldn't handle the fact that the prophets spoke the Word of the Lord given them to proclaim, it is little wonder that the Nazarenes took offense at Jesus claiming not to just speak the Word of the Lord, but to be the very Word Incarnate. 

Things have not changed much, have they?  Why is it that people take offense at Jesus and His Church today?  They are offended by the cross.  Not by the cross in and of itself, nor by the fact that a man named Jesus was crucified on the cross, but that the Man named Jesus was not just a Man, but the God-Man.  They are offended by the truth that no less than God Himself died on the cross.  They are offended at the thought of Divine Blood being shed.  That doesn't make sense to their sinful human reason and, thus, can't possibly be true. 

Even St. James, the brother of Jesus, concluded as much once upon a time.  He couldn't believe that Jesus was who He said He was.  He knew Jesus and, like the people in his hometown, he was unwilling to fathom the possibility that Jesus could be God.  St. James lived in unbelief, and animosity toward Jesus, right up to the moment that Jesus appeared to him in His resurrected Flesh.  Then, St. James believed.  His Brother and Lord forgave his unbelief, created faith in him, and ordained him to serve as Bishop in Jerusalem.  St. James spent the rest of his days on earth proclaiming Jesus Christ and Him Crucified for sinners.  Nothing could prevent him from doing so, not even his own countrymen hurling stones at him to put him to death in 62 A.D. 

We are right to honor St. James today, dear friends in Christ, for his death testifies to the truth of Jesus' identity.  His blood cries out to us, "Jesus is who He claims to be.  He is the Lord, the Incarnate Word of God, who suffered and died for your sins, and who rose from the tomb to open the way to everlasting life for you.  I have seen Him.  I know this is true!  Jesus is Lord!  Listen to Him!”

It is the testimony of St. James, and, indeed, of all the prophets, apostles, and martyrs who have gone before us, which assures us that our faith in Jesus Christ is not in vain.  We need that testimony, for, truth be told, in and of ourselves, we're no different than the unbelieving Israelites who persecuted and killed the prophets sent to them, or the people in Jesus' hometown of Nazareth who rejected, and wanted to kill, Him.  It is just as offensive to our sinful human reason to conclude that the Son born of Mary is very God of very God.  It is every bit as ridiculous to our sinful human reason to believe that the eternal God of the universe, Creator of all things, took on human Flesh and suffered and died on a cross for us. 

But, miracle of miracles, we do believe it.  That's why we're here tonight as the rest of the world goes about its business.  We're here because the same Jesus who appeared to the apostles in His resurrected Flesh appeared to us at the Baptismal font, marked us as redeemed, and brought us into the household of faith.  We're here because the Holy Spirit has assured us that the inspired testimony of the apostles revealed to us in Holy Scripture is trustworthy and true.  We're here because our Brother and Lord, Jesus the Christ, has brought us here to gift us with forgiveness, life, and salvation.  And, because He has given us the faith to believe all that He says, we respond to His gracious invitation to come to His Table and eat and drink bread and wine, knowing that, in doing so, we receive nothing less than His very Body and Blood, given and shed for us for the forgiveness of our sins.  Nonsensical?  Yes!  Offensive?  Certainly!  Ridiculous?  You bet!  And yet, it is as true for us as the sun rising in the east. 

Thanks be to God for the testimony of St. James, and of all the prophets and apostles, through whom we are strengthened in our faith.  Their blood was not shed in vain, but continues to testify to the truth about Jesus Christ to this day.  We are living proof of that, for we believe in Jesus and are gathered here in His Holy House in His Holy Name.  Thank God, indeed!  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

Now the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, unto life everlasting.  Amen.