In Jesus Holy Name January 21, 2024
Epiphany III Psalm 62:7,8 Redeemer
“Peacocks and the Pride of Life”
Today’s message is not about how you can eternal peace with God. Today’s message is not about how your broken commandments can be forgiven. The message is about your walk with God, your Christian character.
The writer of Psalm 62 is asking “Where do you put your trust?” In God or yourself? Human pride is rooted in two words: “trust yourself.” The Hebrew word for “abomination” refers to anything that God finds personally disgusting. Something that is abominable to God offends His character, and He takes particular exception to it. So what does He find detestable? A “haughty” attitude, human pride.
On the bulletin cover I have chosen a beautiful Peacock displaying his pride in his plumage. Peacocks, beautiful birds, originally brought to America from India. Peacocks are an example of pride. When they strut, their tail is beautiful. They strut to attract their counterpart the female peacock. She is usually walking around, pecking for food here and there and not paying much attention…so the male peacock struts more.
He is showing off with pride, he is trusting in his plumage to attract a female, he is projecting his own glory. Pride is also a human problem.
(title for the sermon comes from Professor Leonard Sweet Youtube Lentalk)
In what do people put their trust? Science and technology. Yes, science and technology have given us great advances in medicine extending and improving human life, but there is a down side as well, when people use medicine for gender transition. Another area for the display of human pride is “education”. What is the old saying? Attend the best schools like Harvard…. Display or brag about your Doctorate as proof of your intelligence. Well, we know how that recently turned out at Harvard.
People also put trust in hard work and grit, that’s the American way…. I did it on my own. Then there is the great call to trust government and politics to save us from poverty or illness, or depression. The downside? Government begins to make decisions, about tackle football for 12 and 14 year old boys, intruding on decisions that should be left to the family. We are now familiar with government laws that no longer consider stealing up to $900 a crime. The downside, the definition of right and wrong, respect for another’s property is lost. Culture suffers. Large and small businesses and every individual must make up the difference with higher prices for goods. Does the bible ever say that God will send politicians to save us?
Last week millions of football fans were angry and upset at the cost of Peacock,
not the bird, but the Peacock media that bought the rights to the NFL Playoff game between Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins. If you wanted to watch the game you had to log into Peacock Media, part of NBC, then pay to stream the game. Of course you had to sign up for the special rate of $2.99 per month for the first year, then 5.99 each year following. People were not happy with once proud “Peacock” that NBC uses as their logo.
Of course I have another Peacock story. Years ago I officiated at a wedding here in Fresno. It was a destination wedding before there were destination weddings. The family had a ranch on which they raised grapes, which sold for wine. The bride and her family were members of Emmanuel and the groom happened to be Jewish. So it was a wedding in which the Rabbi and I, both officiated. I did my part and the Jewish Rabbi did his part. He drove up from L.A. in a chauffeured Limo and received several cases of wine. It was quite the show. I was happy with the $100.
During the outdoor wedding ceremony the event was moving along smoothly until the family “peacock” flew to the roof of the house overlooking the wedding guests. And yes, right in the middle of the Rabbi’s message the “peacock” decided to strut, and make his appearance known with their very loud “Me ow” scream. The Rabbi thought someone was making fun of him until I pointed out the Peacock on the roof. But privately I thought to myself… God was making a statement.
Max Lucado calls “human pride” the “poison pill”. Pride relies on “self” rather than God. Pride will direct all glory to self, much like the male Peacock, rather than giving glory to God. Pride is rooted in the trust of self, trust in government, trust in education, or your stock portfolio, rather than God.
King Nebuchadnezzar had no peers. He was the uncontested ruler of the world of the 6th century B.C. Babylon, his city, rose out of the desert plains like a Manhattan skyline. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, which legend says he built for his wife, were one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. His royal palace was immense. Its walls were 387 feet high and 87 feet thick. Four chariots abreast could ride on them. The mighty Euphrates flowed through the city. Its population reached two million people. It boasted temples, terraces, and palaces. All of this was under the 43-year reign of Nebuchadnezzar. He was part oil baron, part royalty, part hedge fund billionaire. Were he alive today, he would dominate the Forbes list of billionaires.
But all of this was about to end. The prophet Daniel warned him:
“You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes” (Daniel 4:25 NIV).
What did Nebuchadnezzar do that warranted such a collapse? What was the crime of Nebuchadnezzar? The king was afflicted by the oldest and most insidious of lies: pride. He thought that he ruled. He thought that Babylon ruled. He thought that his kingdom ran the world.
King Nebuchadnezzar was all about King Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel was sent to warn him: when the mighty fall, the fall is mighty. God’s discipline was drastic and swift. Nebuchadnezzar became an ancient version of Howard Hughes: corkscrew fingernails, wild hair, animalistic (see Dan. 4:30-33). One minute he was on the cover of Time Magazine, the next he was banished like the beast of Babylon. It took seven years before he gave glory to God. And we are left with a lesson.
God hates pride. The Lord detests all the proud of heart (Proverbs 16:5 NIV). The Lord hates pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech (Proverbs 8:13 NIV).
Here’s the problem with Pride.
Pride prevents salvation. If we see only self, we never see our Savior.
Pride prevents reconciliation. How many marriages have collapsed beneath the weight of foolish pride? How many apologies have gone unoffered, due to a lack of humility?
Johnny Appleseed (born John Chapman; September 26, 1774 – March 18, 1845) was an American pioneer nurseryman who introduced apple trees to large parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and present-day Ontario, as well as the northern counties of present-day West Virginia. He became an American legend.
Johnny Chapman Appleseed spent his entire life sowing and planting apple trees. Mostly he planted crab apples. They are hardy, adaptable to various soil types, and they grow fast. Crab Apples have a high sugar content from which you can make apple cider. Apple cider was a staple on the American frontier. Apple orchards were planted all over the Midwest providing an essential food source for generations. He did not grow rich nor was he overcome with self pride because of his legendary status. He is remembered for planting apple trees and his kind, generous ways. His humility gave glory to God.
Johnny Appleseed was called to be a sower of apple trees, the fruit of which would serve as an essential commodity and food for generations to come. In our gospel lesson today, (Mark 1:15-18) Jesus called several “fishermen” to follow Him, and He would make them fishers of men. They would sow the good news of God’s grace and forgiveness which has been purchased by the death and resurrection of Jesus.
I can't believe the things that Simon and Andrew didn't do when they walked away from their livelihood. It's amazing! They didn't turn in their two week notice. They didn't sit down with their lawyer and redo their wills. They didn't shut off the gas and water at the house, they didn't cancel their subscriptions to newspapers and magazines; they didn't rush home and do laundry.
They didn't take out an ad in the Capernaum Daily News to sell their boats or their houses. They didn't go to the Post Office and fill out a card to have their mail forwarded. They left what they were doing and followed Jesus. They didn't ask Him about a retirement, medical, or dental plan. They didn't even ask where they were going; how long they were going; why they were going; and a million other questions that you and I would have to know before we made such a move. There's not even any indication that either of them went and talked to any of their family members. They just went and followed Jesus.
I wonder if they had known of His arrest and crucifixion to come if they would have followed Him…. They heard the “call” to follow. They became Johnny Appleseed disciples sowing the good news of forgiveness from sin, and with that forgiveness, a new eternal life of joy with Jesus in heaven. We too have heard the “call” to tell the story of Jesus. I know and believe that God will bring people into your sphere of influence, just as He brings people to a specific church, so that you can tell your story. Listen for the voice of Jesus and follow.
So why the picture of the peacock on the front of our bulletin? It is a classic picture of pride on display. When human pride is on display it is often there to cover up something in the person’s past or personality that is not so pretty. But there is always a back side to the Peacock. Not so pretty. Turn to the back of the bulletin.!!!!
Every time you take a bite of a Braeburn apple, a Granny Smith, a Crisp, a Fuji, a Golden Delicious, remember Johnny Appleseed and the One who created the Apple. Give God glory for our salvation depends on God He is our fortress and refuge.
