The Birth of Hope - March 20, 2016 sermon

By Pastor Greg

Everyone in the apartment complex knew Ugly. Ugly was the resident tomcat. Ugly loved three things in this world: fighting, eating garbage, and, shall we say, love.  These things, combined with a life spent outside, had their effect on Ugly.  To start with, he had only one eye, and where the other should have been there was a gaping hole. He was also missing his ear on the same side, his left foot appeared to have been badly broken at one time, and had healed at an unnatural angle. His tail had been lost, leaving only the smallest stub, which he would constantly jerk and twitch.  Ugly had sores covering his head, neck, even his shoulders.  And every time someone saw Ugly there was the same reaction.  "That's one UGLY cat!!"

All the children were warned not to touch him. The adults threw rocks at him, or would hose him down when he tried to come into their homes. But Ugly always had the same reaction. If you turned the hose on him, he would stand there, getting soaked until you gave up and quit. If you threw things at him, he would curl his lanky body around feet in forgiveness.

Whenever he spied children, he would come running meowing frantically and bump his head against their hands, begging for their love.  But sadly they too saw the cat as Ugly and treated him just like everyone else did.

One day a new man moved into the apartment complex.  He seemed gentle and quiet.  That very day Ugly was mauled by some dogs in the neighborhood, and his sad life of rejection was coming to an end.  But this new neighbor rushed to where ugly lay tore and bleeding.  He picked that ugly cat up into his arms and started to carry him home.  And as this gentle, loving man cradled Ugly in his hands, that cat began to purr and snuggle in those loving arms.

What strikes me about that story is not that I might be the kind, benevolent man overflowing with compassion, but that I am Ugly.  I am the scarred and wounded cat longing for compassion and affection and tenderness.  And Christ is the One who takes me in His arms, gently holding me and caring for me and loving me while others would not.

When I realize that I am the broken one; when I understand my sin and the wounds caused by living in a sinful world, then I can understand why the people of Israel shouted when Jesus rode into town.

¹² The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors ¹³ took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hail to the King of Israel!” ¹⁴ Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said: ¹⁵ “Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem. Look, your King is coming, riding on a donkey’s colt.” ¹⁶ His disciples didn’t understand at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. But after Jesus entered into his glory, they remembered what had happened and realized that these things had been written about him. ¹⁷ Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others about it. ¹⁸ That was the reason so many went out to meet him—because they had heard about this miraculous sign. ¹⁹ Then the Pharisees said to each other, “There’s nothing we can do. Look, everyone* has gone after him!” (John 12:12-19).

“Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” The people shouted.  This crowd of people was enthusiastic.  They raised their hands and made a carpet of coats and palm branches.  John says much of the enthusiasm surrounded what Jesus had done for Lazarus.  However, others in the crowd had been given back their sight, been healed from diseases, were able to walk again because of Jesus, and were free from the demons that held them hostage.  In the crowd shouting praise to Jesus were the ugly ones; the people the world rejected.  Yet it was these ugly, broken people whom Jesus held and healed.  How could they keep from praising the Lord?  How could they possibly remain silent?  If they were to remain silent, surely the rocks would cry out “Blessed is the Lord” (compare Luke 19:40).

Also in the crowd that day were the scoffers.  They are the ones who told Jesus to silence the people.  “Tell them to stop saying those words” they scolded.  When I think of the scoffers in the crowd – those who threw rocks at the ugly ones – I am reminded that even today there are people like this.  It is people like this who come to mind when I read Paul’s words from Romans 3.  “No one is righteous - not even one. ¹¹ No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. ¹² All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one. Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are filled with lies. Snake venom drips from their lips. ¹⁴ Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. ¹⁵ They rush to commit murder. ¹⁶ Destruction and misery always follow them” (Romans 3:10-16).  The sinful, wicked people in this world seem so ugly sometimes.  Their words cut, their deeds bruise. But then I realize that they are not the only people who are ugly.  Yes, they are cruel and destructive, but I too am a sinful person.  I have been just as cruel.  I am also ugly.

The only difference between me and those who are cruel and ugly is that I have recognized my ugliness.  “They don’t know where to find peace,” says Paul (Romans 3:17), but I have found my hope in Jesus Christ.  As ugly as I am, the Lord held me in His arms.  Smelling like death, He touched my wounds and healed me.  This is why I praise His name.  In my heart, the Lord has given birth to hope.

Please don’t take this personally, but you are ugly too.  You bear the scars of living in this sinful, evil world.  Your heart is scarred from the cruel words spoken, the years of rejection.  Your mind is filled with memories of failure and regret.  Even our bodies bear the marks.  Smelling like death, we lay on the ground bleeding and broken; a person without any hope.  Then along comes Jesus, who, in tenderness and compassion, picks us up and holds us in His loving arms.  Why wouldn’t we shout with Joy?  Why would we remain silent?  We join our voices with the other ugly people around us and praise the Lord.  Blessed is He who has come!  Blessed is He who has ransomed our souls!  Blessed is He who holds us and loves us!  Blessed is He who touched us and made us whole.