The Disruption of Christ; Message on Matthew 21:1-17

Rev. George Miller
April 14, 2019
Matthew 21:1-17

A few nights ago I was in my cozy cottage; lights off, music on. As the velvet voice of Luther Vandross drifted through the living room, I laid on the couch looking at my fish tank.

Golden fish glided over blue gravel, slipping through green, pink, and white plants while bubbles of freshly filtered water waltzed across the tank’s surface.

In a word: PEACE.

Which allowed my relaxed mind to think of the Peace of Christ. The Joy of Christ. The Love of Christ. Being United in Christ…

How very good and pleasant it is whenever we get say to one another “The Peace of Christ be with you.”

…but then another thought entered my calm mind: do we ever think about being Divided in Christ?

Or the Disappointment of Christ? Or the Anger of Christ? Or the Disruption of Christ?

Think about that- could you imagine if you were asked to turn to your neighbor and say “The Disruption of Christ be with you”?

Yet this is exactly what we experience in today’s reading- complete and utter disruption; and we shouldn’t be at all surprised, after all John the Baptist did try to prepare us.

Do you remember back on January 13, we read from Matthew 3, and met John in the wilderness, baptizing folk and calling them to repent?

He had a very clear message. He challenged the Sadducees and Pharisees about the wrath to come.

He talked about an ax on the ground ready to cut down trees and a winnowing fork that will gather the chaff from the floor.

Well, in Matthew 21 it appears the time has come.

Sure, in the past it seemed as if Jesus had played nice.

He walked along the shore gathering his disciples, he cured the sick and called us blessed.

Jesus taught us to pray and to do unto others. He fed us on the mountaintop, walked on water, and saved Peter from drowning.

Jesus encouraged us to forgive and called us “Friend.”

But now, now the time has come, just as Jesus told us. He is entering into Jerusalem, heading towards his death.

The crowds are shouting “Hosanna” which actually means “Save Us!”, and Jesus goes about doing just that.

He teaches parables about wedding banquets, bridesmaids, goats and sheep.

He goes to the cross.

But before any of that happens, the very 1st thing Jesus does is to go to the Temple, the holiest place in the Hebrew World.

And just as if he had an ax in his hand, or fire flaming from his mouth, Jesus, Son of David, disrupts everything, by throwing tables and driving folk away.

How interesting that what John predicted in chapter 3 about cutting down and winnowing away will eventually take place in the courtyard of the holiest of places.

That Jesus, full of wrath, will direct it at the very place where organized religion took place, where there was supposed to be praise and worship; the very House of God.

Note that Jesus did not direct his wrath at the crowds of ordinary folk singing “Hosanna!”

Nor did Jesus take it out on the blind, the lame, or the children crying out “Save us!”

Jesus took it out on the one place that should have been the most filled with justice, kindness, and humility…but was not.

Jesus utterly, completely disrupts the order of things and how they had been done for years, decades, and centuries.

And then after cleansing the temple, he continues to disrupt as he denounces the Pharisees and scribes, teaches about God’s Kingdom, and calls us “Good Goats.”

…I realize that many of us have come here today expecting worship to be all about waving palms, shouting “Hosanna!” and having a joyful time.

But that would not be very authentic.

Because as we read through the Gospel of Matthew, really read through it, we realize that Jesus entering the city of Jerusalem was not all about praise and joy and celebration, but it was primarily about disruption…

…so the question for today is- what good news can we take away from this story? What was the purpose of coming here today?

There is the chance to think. There is the chance to wrestle. There is the chance to grow.

We can start by asking this question-

What disruption do you think needs to take place in our church for Christ to be truly known?

Then a step closer- what in our community do you think Jesus need to disrupt?

Then another step, right up to your very heartbeat and breath- what in your life needs to be disrupted if you are to truly be authentic to who you are in Christ?

What is the very thing in your life that needs to be turned over?

What cage needs to be opened up? What doves need to be set free?

What or who is it that you need to be saved from?

What has blocked or prohibited your inner child, your authentic self from singing out, rejoicing and offering praise?

What table does Jesus need to overturn in your life so you are no longer blind and lame or silent and shamed?

I can’t tell you what that is. Only you and Jesus know, but this is the spiritual work we are invited to do this week.

To ponder, to wonder, to look back over our life.

With the ax on the orchard floor, what non-bearing fruit-tree in your life is best cut down?

With the winnowing fork in hand, what is the chaff that you are ready to release into the purifying fires?

How can Jesus best disrupt your life?

How can that disruption ultimately bring you peace beyond peace beyond understanding?

In Christ’s name we say “Amen.”