A Stolen Hero

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming the law for us.” Gal. 3:13a

Spoiler Alert!!!  The hit British TV series Downtown Abby just recently ended its third season.  Over these episodes viewers have gotten to know the aristocratic family and the house staff.  The story line has moved from the sinking of the Titanic though the First World War and into the 20’s.  So much has taken place as viewers have been captivated with the deeply significant roles the large cast has taken on.  However, there has been one who has stood out these past few seasons as what you would envision as the “hero” of the story.  Matthew Crawley, the unlikely heir to the estate, a completely Middle Class stranger to the rest of the family in the beginning, now deeply loved and cherished by all.  Matthew has played the role of hero time and time again.  From the beginning this character has never done anything that would make him unlikable to anyone.  At the end of season three the life of the Hero seemed to just be coming together as he and wife Mary begin their family.  Viewers anticipate watching his life unfold as he takes on managing the estate escorting it though a depression and into a more modern era.  Tragically this is not the case, suddenly during the last minute of the season finale Matthew Crawly is in a car accident where he appears to be fatally wounded.  The way the scene plays out allows for the viewers to get an idea that something bad is about to take place.  Hearts were pounding and eyes covered.  I recall throwing the blanket over my head and yelling at the TV “no no please stop… no oh no…”  I imagine many viewers experienced shock as I did.  The hearts of viewer were crushed!!  The hero of the story was ripped from the story line  never to return again, as millions of viewers posted “how can this be??” on Facebook.

              
 How the hearts of the disciples and friends of Jesus must have been crushed as they watched their Lord suffer the tumultuous events of the Passion.   What agony it must have been for the disciples when just a few hours ago they had been in the Upper Room celebrating the Feast of the Passover with their teacher.  What a future they were looking forward to! After all wasn't he supposed to be the promised Messiah, wasn't he going to be king?  Now their hero was hanging on a cross like a common criminal though he had not committed a single crime or sin.  Who would blame the disciples for their reaction of denial and hiding, their hero was ripped away as they muttered “how can this be”?

               
We today like the disciples find it far more comfortable to take refuge in our denial and hiding.  We hide in the mist of ourselves and what we want and what pleasures the world would have us seek, based on our own reason and strength.  Most of the time we don’t even realize we are doing it. Idolatry has a grip on us and like the disciples we seek and cling to an earthly kingdom.  A kingdom where we make the rules, where culture has become our dictator, and what feels good reigns supreme. The twisty words of the devil even whisper to us “use this method or accept this and you can grow your congregation.”  The root of the problem is the same as it was so long in the Garden, the one liner of the devils temptation “did God really say”?  This lie bends and curbs our eyes inward to doubt and forget the Word of God.

 Most significantly we do this when we forget “who” the story of scripture is about approaching the Bible as if it were about us rather than Christ’s history.  We rip the hero away.  When the bible becomes a guide book to a better life we seek to make the gospel a different gospel.  This is not a new trend in the history of the Church.  Paul admonishes the Galatians for doing this very thing “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel- not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.” (Gal. 1:6,7) In our doubt we seek to find God outside of where he has located himself, Word and Sacrament.  Believing the twisty parsel-tongued words of the devil most of the time we seek God within ourselves, our merits and feelings.  As we do in our hearts we whisper against the cross “how can this be?”

But the Word become flesh is not content to let this be.  Jesus has more for us then an earthy kingdom.  Our Lord desires us to be a part of a heavenly kingdom. Therefore this hero refuses to be ripped away from the lives of the disciples, from our lives, and from all of history!  Oh, no the tomb cannot contain him!  He is not content to let our eyes be bent and fixed on how we must save ourselves. On the cross Jesus took all of the twisty words of Satan, our sins, and our doubts, saying “you cannot save yourself but I will suffer for you.  I will fight for you.”  Jesus the everlasting hero has fought for us, for you, winning the war with the shedding of his blood.  In Him the kingdom of God is at hand, as the promise of the empty tomb reconciles us to God for all eternity!  By faith the Holy Spirit unhinges our eyes from the depths of our own navels up to the cross of Christ, so that we can proclaim “Hosanna to the highest”.  In his Word and in the gifts of Baptism, Absolution, and the Lords Supper, Christ locates himself; foreshadowing the Kingdom to come, sanctifying us and preparing us for our heavenly home. “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteous and all these things will be added to you.”  (Matt. 6:33)