[Title Slide] One of the greatest stories I have ever come across is the story of the father and son Dick and Rick Hoyt. Rick, was born in 1962 with severe cerebral palsy and would be unable to walk or care for himself. It was a trying time for the family. At the age of 15 he communicated to his dad that he wanted to race in a five mile benefit for a Lacrosse player who had been paralyzed in an accident. So his dad created a special wheel chair that would allow him push Ricky throughout the race. Later that night after the race he told his father, “Dad, when I’m running it feels like I’m not handicapped.” Thirty years later the father and son are still racing together as Team Hoyt.
I remember the first time I heard their story. They were in the Ironman Triathlon that takes place in Hawaii. It is one of the world’s most demanding endurance races. It begins with a 2.4 mile swim in the ocean, followed by cycling 112 topping it al off with a 26.2 mile run. The scene was an aerial view from a helicopter over the water where hundreds of athletes were swimming. The camera shot changes to someone in a boat among the swimmers following a swimmer for a few yards and then panning back to catch the next one. Eventually the camera locks in on a slow swimmer with others passing him by. You could tell he was laboring as if pulling a heavy weight. As he swam by the camera a rope appeared off of his back as if he was pulling something. And then the front of an inflatable life raft creeps into view and there lying in the back is his son Rick with his head cropped up on the back edge. His father pulled him 2.4 miles in the water, picked him up at the beach and carried him to a waiting bike where he placed him in a special seat on the front and road 112 miles. Hours later and exhausted, Dick lifts his son out of the bike seat and places him in a specially designed wheel chair and sets off for their 26.2 miles across the finish line.
The love this father demonstrates for his child reminds me of the love of Another that is even more inspiring, redeeming and transforming.
[S] John 3.16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
[S] “What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 8.31-39 [S]
The Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.
Today, we have just unwrapped the second unbreakable gift of Christmas, the gift of God’s love.
Have you ever wondered if God really loves you? Have you ever thought that God has turned his back on you for good? Have you ever speculated that God couldn’t or wouldn’t love you because of something you said or did or didn’t do? Have you ever doubted God’s love for you because you’ve let God and others down too many times or because you’re going through a tough time?
Well, you’re not alone. So did some of the Christ followers in Rome who were facing a difficult time. Life wasn’t as smooth sailing as they thought it would be as a faithful Christian. They assumed that if they were faithful to Jesus then life would be characterized by the absence of conflict, tension or difficult times. And it was anything but. And so some of them began to question whether or not they had fallen out of God’s favor. After all, if God loved them he wouldn’t let them experience persecution like this would he?
Paul tries to assure them, that regardless of what one’s current situation is like, they can be confidant that God loves them. His reasoning went something like this. God left the glory of heaven to enter into our human existence in order to make his love known to you. Jesus then voluntarily experienced injustice and persecution ultimately going to the cross and dying your benefit. Jesus then fought with the devil in hell and rose from the dead victorious for our justification. And that even now, he is standing at the right hand of God interceding for them, fighting for them, day and night, 24/7, 365 days a year. Now does that sound like a God who would give up on you? Does that sound like Jesus doesn’t love you? Quite the contrary! Nothing, absolutely nothing will keep God from loving them.
There’s another story in John 13 that illustrates this truth. Jesus and his disciples are preparing to celebrate the Seer Meal at Passover. [S] Prior to the meal itself Jesus stood up, picked up a pitcher of water, an empty bowl and a towel and then proceeded to wash each of the disciples feet as they reclined around the table. As you can imagine they felt very uncomfortable about this. Some talked among themselves while Peter spoke up voicing what everyone else was thinking. “What are you doing? This is unacceptable.” Pulling his feet up underneath him he says, “I will not let you wash my feet.”
Washing fee was the task of servants not Rabbi’s. This was beneath even the most common of people, let alone someone like Jesus. Jesus responds, “Peter, if you don’t let me wash your feet, then you can’t be part of what I’m doing.” It’s like Jesus was saying, “If you don’t do this, you’re out.” Peter replies, “In that case, don’t stop at my feet. Wash my hands, my head and my face.” Peter wanted Jesus to know that he was all in. Maybe Jesus chuckled a little, “Peter, the only part of you that is in need of washing or cleaning is your feet. The rest of you is clean” referring that he is holy and righteous. “But”, Jesus says, “Not everyone here is.” And then he washes the feet of Judas who would betray him shortly.
When Jesus finished washing the feet of all the disciples he returned to his place and said, “Do you know what I have just done?” You call me Rabbi and Lord- and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Rabbi, have washed your feet, you also should wash each other’s feet. For I have set you an example that you also should do as I have done to you.”
[S] This still gets me. Jesus loved Judas even though he knew Judas had already made arrangements to betray him. Nothing could separate Judas from the love of Christ, not even betrayal!
But that’s not all to the story. There is more. Jesus washed the feet of all the disciples even though they would all scatter when the Temple Police came to arrest Jesus, including Peter, who would also deny Jesus three times in the next few hours.
Maybe you know someone who has deserted God, denied God, doubted God, or something else that has left them thinking they are outside God’s embrace. [S] Well, the truth of Christmas is that while we were still sinners Christ was born for us. Like the Christmas carol we sang earlier, “Love came down at Christmas.”
[S] “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you; You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2.8-12, NIV)
Christmas has always been God’s gift of love for us. So, if you or someone you know doubts this or wonders about this point out the nativity an say, that proves God’s love for you. And that is good news that makes a difference! [S]
8:30AM Traditional
The 2009 Boston Marathon was officially Team Hoyt's 1000th race. Rick always says if it comes down to doing one race a year he would like it to be the Boston Marathon. His dad said he hopes that he is able to push Rick in the Boston Marathon when he is 70 years old which will be in 2011.
Rick was once asked, if he could give his father one thing, what would it be? He responded, "The thing I'd like most is for my dad to sit in the chair and I would push him for once."
What’s the one thing you’d like to do for your heavenly Father who loves you so much? How about returning the favor.
It’s one thing to acknowledge that God loves you through Christ, it’s another to reciprocate by letting the love of God compel you to love and live for Christ in return.
If you’re a devoted disciple of Jesus then celebrate the gift of God’s love and renew your love for God as we participate in the gift of love the Church calls Communion or the Eucharist.
If you’re a disciple who has fallen away in some way, I invite you to accept God’s gracious love again and to renew your commitment to living for him by participating in the sacrament.
If you’ve never been a disciple of Christ, I want to extend the invitation for you to respond to God’s love by giving God your love in return. A love that chooses to trust Jesus to make them right with God and then who spends the rest of their life growing into someone more like Jesus. Let the act of Communion be symbolic of your first public act of profession of faith in Jesus as your Messiah.
Unwrap the gift of love. And let our Heavenly Father pull you, push you or carry you across the finish line too.
Merry Christmas.
