Hebrews 12: 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

I. Introduction: Lent is a 4 letter word

I try not to use loaded, shock value four-letter words anywhere, especially not in church, but I have to use one today. Its the four-letter word “Lent,” the season of the church year for many Christians that began this week. I can tell that “Lent” is a loaded word of high-impact shock value just by some people’s involuntary reactions whenever I say it. Some people’s responses remind me of Inspector Dreyfus around Inspector Clouseau in the old Pink Panther movies: anything from a nervous tick, to moans and groans, or worse.

I know why: its that time of year when winter overstays its welcome (in a normal year at least), the snow is peeling back to leave gritty residues of sooty black ice and slush, revealing six months worth of trash along the roadside, taxes are due, all the songs and scriptures at church are about how Jesus is going to suffer and die, indeed everything is about suffering, death, repentance and confession.

And we can’t even eat chocolate?

Bummer. How quickly can we make the next seven weeks until Easter pass?

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 Mark 4: 26 He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”  30 Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”  33 With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. 34 He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

I hope you all are up for one more farm and garden-related sermon. I’m simply following the series of Jesus’ teachings in Mark chapter 4, in which we find Jesus using a lot of agricultural images. This one will have a pretty strong peace message. But instead of lifting out Jesus’ questions to us, like I’ve done the last two weeks, I’ll focus on our most likely questions of Jesus.

Speaking of questions: On a brick wall in some major American city was seen the following graffiti: “Jesus is the Answer.” A few days after it appeared, someone spray-painted underneath it, “So, what’s the question?” How would you answer that question? I have an idea, but I’ll save it for later, so that this sermon might hopefully make some sense of it. Read more …