"HE INCLUDED ME"
Mark 1:14-15
April 13, 2003

Lenten Sermon Series
The Seven First Words of Jesus

David W. Hull, Pastor
First Baptist Church
Huntsville, Alabama

Everyone likes to be included. Nobody wants to be left out. We want to be included in the action, the fun, the secret, and the group. Carl Sandburg expressed our feelings when he claimed the ugliest word in the English language to be "exclusive."

The people around Jesus felt this way. They followed him around in a desire for him to include them in this new kingdom he talked about. The crowd on that first Palm Sunday cheered him and paved his way into Jerusalem because they wanted to be counted in when he established his kingdom. The problem was, they never really understood what it meant to be included by Jesus. So they waved their palms and shouted "Hosannas" trying desperately to be included in this mysterious kingdom.

We must return to the early words of Jesus to understand how he includes us. Our text is Mark's version of the beginning of Jesus' ministry. The foundation he laid at the beginning of his work will guide our quest to be included today. He included you and me.

I.

Jesus included you as a witness. Mark says that "Jesus came. . . proclaiming." At first glance that does not sound like an earth-shaking statement. Think for a moment of the significance of those words. Jesus did not come writing. Maybe he should have. Things would have been so much easier if he had simply written down every thing we need to know about God. These could be placed on big stone tablets and put in the temple. There could be no questions about his revelation. It was all there in black and white.

Our Lord chose to use another approach. He came preaching. He trusted the magnificence of his gospel and the royalty of his kingdom to the frailty of the spoken word. Think of how tender a spoken word is. It may be misunderstood, forgotten, or never heard. It trusts the listener to hear and then act upon what was said. That is just the point. Jesus came preaching to include his followers as witnesses. A book was needed, but Jesus allowed Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Peter, and others to be included in that project. An institution known as the church was needed, but Jesus chose Peter, Paul, Barnabas, Silas, and others to carry out that task. Because he came preaching, Jesus needed to include followers who would hear and then spread his word.

Do you see what this means for you? The same principle holds true. Jesus has spoken the words, now you are included in the army of witnesses who hear them and share them. Don't let his words fall like seed on rocky ground. Instead, let them change you and then use you to be spread to others. Remember, Christianity is always one generation away from extinction. Jesus needs you as a witness. You are included in the program.

Several years ago at the Academy Awards, when Steven Speilberg was announced as the Best Director for the movie Schindler's List, he made an interesting statement. During the time when he thanked people for their input to this film, he began by thanking a man whose name I did not know. This man had been a survivor of The Holocaust and he was the one who first told the story of Oskar Schindler and his effort to free the Jews from Hitler's tyranny. This story was told to a writer who wrote a book that caught the attention of Steven Speilberg. The rest is history. Speilberg reminded the audience that none of the tremendous impact of the award-winning movie would have been possible without one man telling the story of his suffering and his salvation. Just think about the power of that one witness. If he told a gruesome story of horror, can we not tell a story that is based on good news?

Several of you came into church this morning as witnesses to good news that I had not heard. The release of the seven allied prisoners of war was a cause of great celebration, and more than one of you were happy to share that good news with me. Let's take that same sense of excitement that we feel when seven are set free from imprisonment and be witnesses to the fact that Jesus died to set all humanity free from sin! Now that is a wonderful story to tell.

You may be asking, "But what do I do?" Jesus came preaching - and so can you. Now before you shake your head and declare that you could never preach, hear this. Not everyone is called to preach from behind a pulpit to a church congregation. But everyone who follows Christ is included as a witness. Your sermon is your life! You and I are needed to take the words of Jesus and keep them alive. He came preaching which means you and I are included as witnesses. Perhaps the well-known poem by Edgar Guest explains what I mean by preaching a sermon with your life.

"SERMONS WE SEE"
I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day;
I'd rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way.
The eye's a better pupil and more willing than the ear,
Fine counsel is confusing, but example's always clear;
And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds,
For to see good put in action is what everybody needs.

I soon can learn to do it if you'll let me see it done;
I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run.
And the lecture you deliver may be very wise and true,
But I'd rather get my lessons by observing what you do;
For I might misunderstand you and the high advice you give,
But there's no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.

When I see a deed of kindness, I am eager to be kind.
When weaker brother stumbles and a strong man stays behind
Just to see if he can help him, then the wish grows strong in me
To become as big and thoughtful as I know that friend to be.
And all travelers can witness that the best of guides to-day
Is not the one who tells them, but the one who shows the way.

One good man teaches many, men believe what they behold;
One deed of kindness noticed is worth forty that are told.
Who stands with men of honor learns to hold his honor dear,
For right living speaks a language which to everyone is clear.
Though an able speaker charms me with his eloquence, I say,
I'd rather see a sermon than to hear one, any day.

II.

Jesus included you in his kingdom. The preaching of Jesus began like this, "The time has come, and the kingdom of God is near." In other words, the kingdom has begun with us right now. It is within our reach. It is near enough for us to touch, taste and feel. The kingdom is not some fairy tale land that is hidden away at the top of the mountain or in the center of the forest. The gates are close enough to reach out and take us in now.

This idea was foreign to the people in Jesus' day. They assumed the kingdom was far away. The zealots felt it only possible when Rome was overthrown, while the Pharisees thought the kingdom would be realized when all the religious rules were kept. Either situation spoke of only a distinct possibility. Many felt they could never be included in this kingdom. The message of Jesus was that it was ready for them now.

The same is true for us today. The kingdom of God is the reign, or rule, of God. It will reach its final climactic form when Christ returns. But the reign of Christ has begun and he wants to include you in the kingdom. This is not some faraway dream, but a very present reality. It is here for you now. There is no need to wait until you have all the answers of the faith, no need to wait until your life is in perfect order and all is well with your soul. Christ has brought his kingdom to you here and now. The time has come. He wants to include you.

When the reign of God becomes real in our lives, then God begins to transform the way we live. In other words, his kingdom comes "on earth as it is in heaven." Jesus proclaimed that the kingdom of God is near, but it is up to us to accept his rule over our lives. When this happens, our attitudes are adjusted, our values are changed, and we begin to live and think in a different way.

Because the Kingdom of God is at hand, that does not mean that everyone goes along with this new kingdom. Jesus introduced this new kingdom, but faced opposition from those who liked the old power structure of the Jewish establishment. He was cheered on Palm Sunday by crowds who wanted him to establish a different kind of kingdom that would rid the land of the Roman menace. They simply did not understand this new kingdom. It was at hand, and realized in the life and ministry of Jesus, but everyone was not aware.

Perhaps the events of the last few days in Iraq will illustrate what I mean. Yesterday the headlines of our morning paper said, "U.S. says regime over." General Tommy Franks, the allied commander was quoted as saying, "The Saddam regime has ended, is over, and we will stay until there is a free government. Does that mean that the fighting is over? No. A subheading read, "Anarchy reigns in three major cities as Iraq looting spreads." Fighting continues in small pockets, even as a regime falls and a new one is established.

Jesus announced that the new kingdom is established. But the last vestiges of struggle, resistance, and fighting continue to this day from people who do not acknowledge this beginning of this new kingdom.

III.

Jesus included me as a sinner. We don't really care to be included on this list. Neither did the religious leaders of his day. They spoke of other people as sinners, those who broke the commandments. Jesus continued the message of John the Baptist. "Repent" was his word for everyone, because all are included on his list of sinners.

Sometimes we are like the little boy who was playing around the lake when his mother called him to dinner. When she asked him to wash his hands he replied with a quizzical look on his face, "Why? I haven't touched anything dead." Is that what you feel about repentance? Those who have committed the really heinous crimes and broken the big commandments are the ones in need of repentance. "But me, I haven't touched anything dead." All sin is death, and every one of us needs to repent.

What is repentance, anyway? You have noticed the road signs which say "No U-Turns Permitted." They mean we are not allowed to change our direction by making a U-Turn. Nowhere in the Bible do you find those signs posted! In fact, repentance means that U-Turns are legal and encouraged. When we travel in the wrong lane of sin, repentance is our effort to stop, turn around, and head back toward God. We should know how this works in Huntsville. When you get off of the South Memorial Parkway, right at our Governors Drive exit, there is a most unusual sign in the far left lane. It says, "UTurn Anytime." You are allowed to turn around and go in the opposite direction. That is the what Jesus had in mind. Repentance is for all of us, because we are all included as sinners. Our sin should grieve us to the point that we want to move in a new direction. As II Corinthians 7:10 says, "Godly sorrow leads to repentance."

College basketball fans had their big day this week as the National Championship game was played to climax March Madness. As one of these basketball fans, an exciting trip for me was when I was able to attend the Final Four in 1989. Michigan won the Championship that year in a thrilling game. Only later did I read some background information that gave new meaning to that event.

When Michigan played Wisconsin in basketball early in the season in 1989, Michigan's Rumeal Robinson stepped to the foul line for two shots late in the fourth quarter. His team trailed by one point, so Rumeal could regain the lead for Michigan. He missed both shots, allowing Wisconsin to upset favored Michigan. Rumeal felt awful about costing his team the game, but his sorrow didn't stop at the emotional level. He decided to do something about it. After each practice for the rest of the season, Rumeal shot one hundred extra foul shots. Thus, Rumeal was ready when he stepped to the foul line to shoot two shots with three seconds left in overtime in the national-championship game. I saw him swish both free throws that allowed Michigan to win the national championship. Rumeal's repentance had been genuine, and sorrow motivated him to work so that he would never make that mistake again. He moved in a new direction.

Our entry into the kingdom of God begins with repentance. We say no to a life of sin and turn away from the dead end which it offers. But Jesus did not just tell us to say no. He also shows us that we are included in the kingdom of God when we are able to say yes. This leads us to one final thought.

IV.

Jesus included you in the faith. Jesus said "Repent, and believe the good news!" Once we realize our sinfulness, we are asked to trust in the grace of God. Belief, faith, and trust all go together. There are many ways to illustrate this, but take a simple example that is close by. Everyone of you sat down on your pew today believing it would hold you up. You didn't worry about your safety, you believed in the strength of the wood. In an even greater way, Jesus calls for us to trust our lives in his hands. He asks us to have faith in his goodness, mercy, and love. All who believe are included in his kingdom. We believe when we say "yes" to Christ!

Everyone wants to be included. The good news of the gospel is that Christ included you. The old hymn "He Included Me" rings this song of joy in the chorus:

Jesus included me, yes, he included me
When the Lord said, "Whosoever," he included me

Thanks be to God for including you and me!