“Nothing can stop us!” That was the sentiment of many Canadians going into the 2010 Winter Olympics. After all the Olympics were in our backyard and athletes were competing on snow and ice…something we have an abundance of in Canada (er, except for on Cyprus Mountain – the site of many skiing events that kept getting rained on). To top it off the Canadian Olympic Committee invested a lot of money training its athletes in a program called “Own the Podium.” About a week into the competition, however, a Canadian journalist entitled his article, “Flown the Podium.” He, along with much of Canada, was wondering what had happened to the promise of Olympic medals. Of course some feel there was too much pressure on Canadian athletes. They’re only human after all. No matter how big, how fast, how strong they are, or how hard they have trained no athlete is unstoppable. A slight steering error, for example, can cause a bobsled to flip over in an instant dashing medal hopes. Or an overeager start can ruin the race for a speed skater.
While Canada sent 206 athletes to the Winter Games boosting its chances to do well in the overall medal standings, the tiny nation of Israel only sent three competitors. None medaled. But what if one of those athletes had been Jesus of Nazareth? Where would Israel have ended up in the medal standings then? I guess it depends how many events Jesus could have entered. Don’t you think he would have easily won every event in which he competed - whether downhill skiing, speed skating, and even figure skating? He would have won them all because he is the God-man. Nothing can stop Jesus! Actually there is one thing that can stop Jesus. It’s worth finding out what that is because it will make the difference in your final standing with God.
Our text describes Jesus making his last journey to Jerusalem. This journey wasn’t unlike an Olympic torch run. Jesus took his time stopping in little towns and villages, gathering crowds around him to preach and to heal. Somewhere along the way, however, a group of Pharisees warned: “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you” (Luke 13:31b). There is some debate whether these Pharisees were sincere but the threat was credible. Herod had beheaded Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist, after all. If Olympic organizers had received such a threat to any particular torch runner, they would have heightened security and perhaps even have changed the route of the run. But Jesus wasn’t impressed. He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’ 33 In any case, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!” (Luke 13:32, 33)
Really, why should the Lion of Judah be afraid of a fox like old Herod (Daron Lindemann)? Cunning and powerful as he may have been, Herod was no match for Jesus. The one who, with a simple command, stilled a storm could easily depose of assassins, even a whole army sent to kill him. Think of the time Jesus walked right through the mob in Nazareth when they had tried to throw them off the cliff for claiming to be the Messiah. Not a hand could be raised to grab him. Jesus wouldn’t allow it. No, brute force can’t stop Jesus. Not even demonic forces can. In fact Jesus was driving them out.
Did you notice what else can’t stop Jesus? The prospect of death. Jesus knew that death awaited him in Jerusalem but he still pressed on. Well that’s not that impressive is it? I mean the luge athletes didn’t pack it in after one of their number died in a practice run before the Olympics started. And why didn’t they? Glory. They all wanted the gold medal and the accolades that come with it and were willing to risk death to attain it.
Was it a similar desire for personal glory that drove Jesus to Jerusalem? On the contrary. The Lion of Judah strove for Jerusalem so that he could become the Lamb of God and sacrifice himself to pay for the sins of the world. Like a mother who does not hesitate to put her life on the line by diving into the water to save her drowning child, not because she wants her picture in the paper but because she wants her child to live, so motivated by love for us Jesus pressed on for Jerusalem even though he knew that a crown of thorns and not a laurel wreath awaited. What’s more, Jesus gave his life to save people who were not very lovable. How many of you would dive in to save someone who had just stolen your car and driven it into the river after running over your family? That’s what makes Jesus march to Jerusalem so incredible. He forged ahead even though we weren’t deserving of his love. What’s more he pressed on even when it was clear that many could care less about what he was doing for them. In fact many were outwardly opposed to Jesus. Not even ingratitude could stop him, and thank goodness it didn’t or none of us would have been saved.
Herod. Demons. Death. Ingratitude. None of these could stop Jesus. So what is the one thing that can stop him? Listen to Jesus. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Luke 13:34) Unwillingness for his love and forgiveness - that’s what can stop Jesus. While Jesus wanted to pull the people of Jerusalem close to him like a mother bird protecting her brood from predators, they wanted something completely different. They didn’t want forgiveness from their sins. They wanted prophets who told them how good they were and how their kindnesses to others made up for their bad words and how they’d go to heaven someday because they never murdered anyone. They “were not willing” to be gathered under Jesus’ forgiveness because their inner pride insisted they didn’t need it. As a matter of fact, it was an insult for Jesus or the prophets to suggest that they did (Daron Lindemann)!
Do you know people like that? Sure you do. I’m one of them…and so are you. If Jesus were weeping the words of our text today, they might sound like this: “O St. Peter’s, St. Peter’s. You who forget your confirmation instruction, who sing hymns half-heartedly if they’re not your favourite, and who neglect the blessing of prayer. How often I have longed to have you enjoy my loving companionship but you were not willing! Not willing to grow. Not willing to obey. Not willing to change. Not willing to commit. Not willing to trust. Not willing to deny your sinful desires. Not willing to forgive, not really.” And Jesus isn’t done with us. “Look,” he laments to Jerusalem and to us, “your house is left to you desolate” (Luke 13:35a). Like Kevin, the little boy in the Home Alone movies, we’ve willed and been thrilled to have more freedom and independence without Jesus bugging us and bossing us around. Be careful of what you wish. Being alone here and hereafter without God’s love and mercy is scary and lonely (Daron Lindemann). Because of their rejection of Jesus the Jews lost their beloved temple when the Romans destroyed it in 70 A.D.
It’s interesting isn’t it? The thing that sets a good athlete apart from a great athlete, confidence in one’s ability, is the one thing that can stop Jesus. The opposite of relying on oneself is, of course, to rely on Jesus. Jesus encouraged such reliance when he said to his listeners: “I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’” (Luke 13:35b). People eager to greet Jesus do so because they have come to learn just how sinful they are and how they need Jesus’ forgiving touch. How do we cultivate such an attitude in ourselves? We don’t. We can’t. That’s the Holy Spirit’s job. That’s why it’s so important for us to stay in God’s Word to be reminded daily that we are not the strong people many think we are, and to be assured that Jesus was not deterred from winning our salvation. Nothing stopped Jesus’ march to own the podium, even though that podium was a rough wooden cross. The best part is that through faith we share in Jesus’ victory, like the disgraced goalie who still receives the gold medal and joins in the celebrations that follow even though he made a mess out of the opening round games.
You know, I would like to see Jesus compete at the Winter Olympics. There’s no doubt he would blaze his way through all the racing events but what would his figure skating routine look like? What music would he pick? Amazing Grace? A Mighty Fortress? In Christ Alone (our closing hymn today)? Whatever the song it would be sure to remind us that neither Satan, nor evil rulers, or even death can stop him - though our sinful pride can. So stop marching behind the flag of Team Ego and fall in line with Team Jesus. He will lead you to victory over Satan, this world, and our sinful nature. Canadian Olympians may not have owned the podium at the 2010 Winter Olympics as hoped, but because of Jesus, every Canadian already owns the podium of eternal life. Stand tall atop this podium by letting go of your pride and holding on to Jesus. Amen.
