No Longer Rejected by God

We have finally reached Paul’s conclusion. If you have not been following the argument he has been dealing with God’s promise to Israel. His struggle has been, if Christ is how one finds salvation what about the Jews who had rejected Jesus as the Messiah? Asking that question was almost like asking, “If God can do anything, can God make a stone too big for God to pick up?” While that question is silly, the one Paul asks is very important to him. Our text from Romans gives the answer. God will do what God has planned. In fact, Paul suggests that God allowed the Jewish people to be disobedient so that gentiles will be able to join in God’s promises with them. I am not sure that God needs any plan to include any people in God’s salvation, Paul says the same in a more round-about way. But here we find Paul suggesting that our faith has come about because of the action of the Jewish people. Since they were disobedient, we are able to share in the promise God made to them. Christians need to thank the Jews for this, not belittle and persecute them. (We also note that in Revelation it is the Jewish people who are first saved.)

That means, in the end, it is God who will decide the fate of creation. I suppose that is, in part, Jesus’ message here. Your salvation does not rely upon following some set of rules about everyday life such as what you eat. Your salvation depends upon the work of Jesus – his life, death, and resurrection. And in thanks for this gift you choose to live your life as God asks. If you are lost in how to do that, all you need to do is look to Jesus. He is your model, leader, and shepherd. We see several examples of how to act in our Gospel reading today. The first thing we see Jesus doing is teaching the people about God’s love. Now, he teaches in parables which many people do not understand. We are called to teach others about God’s love. We see two results of teaching in our story today. The first is that some people, like the Pharisees, will ignore your message. Do not let that bother you. The second is that the people you talk to will not understand. You are to tell it to them again – and again and again until they do understand. Lastly, as the story of the Canaanite women shows, we are to listen to others. That is what Jesus ultimately did. While his first reaction was to ignore her because she was not an Israelite. He listened to her and even changed his mind. This reminds me of another story Jesus tells. That one about those who were allowed into heaven because of the good things they had done and said even though they did not remember when they had said and done those things. You know the story of entertaining angels unaware. So listen to others, you may be able to hear God’s call to you from unexpected people and places (remember Elijah from last week).

So the message today is that you do not need to worry about your place in God’s kingdom. It has been prearranged for you. Jesus has taken the test and passed the bar for you and given you a place in God’s kingdom. What you do with that gift is now your choice. Pray this week that when the opportunity comes to share God’s gifts you will be able to rely on Jesus to guide you. You are God’s messengers. Share the message, proclaim the good news of Jesus, and show the world what God has done.