Tag: Rev. Jaebok Gu

Genesis 50:15-21, Psalm 103:8-13, and Matthew 18:21-35

 

I want to begin today’s sermon with a controversial question. Our Knox Youth Group discussed this during the Bible study. The question is whether Jesus forgave Judas Iscariot. Actually, everyone probably has their own thoughts on this question. In fact, since there are some very shy people among us, if you think Jesus would have forgiven him, it would be good if you blinked your left eye. Of course, there are traditional interpretations as well as various interpretations within modern society, but honestly, I don’t know the answer. This question is like asking, “Do all criminals go to hell?” It’s like when someone asks me, and I answer, “I don’t really know.” However, I hope that after listening to today’s sermon, you will receive the rich interpretation and grace that the Bible offers.

The first reading is the story of Joseph and his brothers. Personally, I think Joseph lacked social skills in childhood, especially in how he boasted to his brothers about the various dreams he received, which earned him their hatred. However, that does not excuse the brothers’ sin of hating him and selling him to another merchant. Thus, Joseph’s life as an enslaved person in Egypt was very exhausting. He faced various difficulties and unfair situations. He was even imprisoned. He spent a considerable amount of time suffering injustice. An ordinary person might have developed a mental illness. However, thankfully, he remained hopeful. He also had a talent for interpreting dreams. God gave him a few opportunities. Although he was enslaved, he was diligent and helped those around him even in prison. This allowed him to help high-ranking officials. And eventually, he became the Prime Minister of Egypt. Under the king, he became a wise ruler who resolved the impending drought and food shortage.

However, life sometimes involves meeting people you shouldn’t meet in unexpected alleys. It is an irony. The other brothers who had abandoned him came to Egypt to find food and met Joseph. On the one hand, he has finally met his enemy. He can wait patiently and take revenge on them after his father passes away. However, he reassures his trembling brothers. “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? The One who established me is God. I am not in a position as a judge. I cannot take the place of God. Rather, God has prepared today. Although you intended to harm me, God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” It means that God, who repays evil with good, prepared Joseph to save the lives of His children. This is a truly gracious interpretation and a powerful declaration that overcomes injustice and wounds. This declaration marked the beginning of restoring the relationship between brothers who had become enemies.

If I were Joseph, could I offer such forgiveness? Honestly, I’m not confident. Even though I should write injuries in dust and benefits in marble, I can’t do it like that. Forgiveness is not easy. However, we have lived receiving a great deal of forgiveness. When we were clumsy parents, our children always tolerated our mistakes. Children always hold their parents’ hands again. And it helps immature parents overcome conflict and recover. For example, how many mistakes did we make as students or when we were starting in the workforce? However, one thing is certain: we can meet at Knox today because we have come this far thanks to the efforts of many people who understood and cared for us with love. Not only the people we have met in our lives, but also our Saviour Jesus, God the Creator, and the Holy Spirit, who is with us always, understand us. God forgives our mistakes and wrongdoings. God continues to grant us opportunities. So, we can get the strength to live a life of restoration and grace.

Beloved, Matthew 18:21 offers significant insights. Peter asks Jesus about forgiveness. “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” ²² Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

In Jesus’ time, rabbis considered forgiving someone who had wronged them three times to be a great act of tolerance. However, Peter showed a much greater tolerance, and keeping in mind the number ‘7,’ which holds great significance to the Hebrews, he asked Jesus, “Isn’t it enough to forgive seven times?” In response, Jesus exhorts him to forgive seventy-seven times, meaning he must forgive without ceasing.

In fact, today’s passage from the Gospel of Matthew is very intentional, and the author’s purpose is clear. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke share much, but today’s story appears only in Matthew. At the same time, the disciple who asks the question is identified as Peter. We know a person who denied and betrayed Jesus three times. He is Peter. Did Jesus forgive him? We can find the answer today in Jesus’ words. Jesus would have certainly forgiven him. In fact, Jesus himself continued to forgive and accept him. Of course, we are not Jesus. Therefore, it is a challenge to understand and show tolerance toward one’s enemies as Jesus did. Sometimes, it is even hard for me to forgive myself.

However, we can strive to practice Jesus’ teachings and exhortations. It means repeatedly offering forgiveness from the heart. It is to forgive today and tomorrow intentionally, and to accept the enemy within my heart. I believe that in such times, you will also realize how easy it is to tolerate people with different opinions. Beloved, God waits for our forgiveness even today. This is because forgiveness and generosity are the very beginning of love and restoration. The history of salvation for brothers and countless people through Joseph can begin here today. I hope that the history of God’s love and salvation will be realized right through us. Amen.

 

Ezekiel 33:7-11, Psalm 119:33-40 and, Romans 13:8-14

 

The Book of Ezekiel is a collection of prophecies from around 586 B.C., just before the fall of the Kingdom of Judah in Israel’s history. The collapse of a nation entails not only great tangible loss but also spiritual and cultural exploitation. Therefore, invaders obliterate the language and culture that form the foundation of the colonized nation. They eliminate both spiritual and material centers of resistance. Then the empire deprives the colonized nation of many things, and it must spend a long time in a period when despair is closer than hope. Of course, Canada, a civilized nation in modern society, has demonstrated responsible behaviour regarding the issues of global refugees and chaos caused by the invasion of other countries. However, in the Bible, Israel’s case was slightly different from our situation today. The prophet Ezekiel prophesied Israel’s destruction and judgment, and later delivered restoration.

The fall of the chosen people, the ensuing judgment, Jehovah’s grace, mercy, and restoration are like a cycle in the Old Testament. When the people of Israel went astray, God sent a prophet to warn them. However, they did not respect the prophet. God raised up other great nations and empires to invade Israel. The destroyed Israel once again asks God for help. God extends a merciful hand to them and restores them. It is a repetition of history. At times, God raised up Egypt, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome to conquer Israel.

Specifically, God chooses Ezekiel as the nation’s watchman, as in verse 7. So God commands him to warn Israel. That word came from the mouth of God. Therefore, a prophet must first hear God’s word and convey it exactly as it is. God’s work begins with hearing. In an era filled with shouting and pleading prayers, pausing to wait for God’s voice requires a decision of faith. So, while I value the inspiration I receive from enthusiastic praise services, I truly love the time of rest, meditation, and worship within the Presbyterian liturgy.

The prophet’s warning to the people of Israel is based on God’s justice. Because the people’s lives at that time were far from God and evil deeds were closer than good deeds, God gave Ezekiel a heavy responsibility. It is a proclamation and an exhortation for the people to repent. It is a command to lead people away from the way of the wicked and to fully fear God. It is the destiny of a prophet and the responsibility of a person of faith. Many of the things happening in the world today are actually due to humans. In addition, this is because the current generation is enjoying many things in a short period of time that no generation in the past 2,000 years has ever enjoyed. Never in Earth’s history has there been a time like this where so many people can simultaneously order something with a single finger and have it delivered smoothly. There have been instances where a minority exploited and enjoyed benefits at the expense of the majority, whether through slavery or colonial rule. However, there has never been an era like today, when so many people can buy a car, a cell phone, a house, and multiple pieces of clothing. I even find myself hesitating in front of my closet this morning, unable to decide what to wear from among my several possessions.

Beloved, as I meditate on righteousness in this way, my heart feels heavy. It is because it keeps making me meditate on my mistakes and wrongdoings. If I only consider my own things, that is fine too. However, when that direction deviates from me and heads toward other beings and society, the word ‘Rightness’ sometimes turns into a blade. It condemns and criticizes others. It leaves scars and casts shadows of frustration and despair. So, the fate of a prophet is very challenging. Furthermore, for us believers today, praying about social issues is often accompanied by pain, much like climbing a mountain with a heavy burden. So, one thing is needed. This is the most important thing. It is love.

It is easy to criticize. However, providing alternatives and changing people is not easy. Let us consider what Saul, who would readily resort to killing people for the sake of his own version of Law and Rightness, said after becoming Paul: “8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.”

Love fulfills all laws and makes all teachings perfect. This is because Paul learned this through Jesus. The law of Christ lies in embracing others. Seeking the benefit of others is love and the way to God’s glory. Therefore, we can understand the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. What benefit would the path toward the cross bring to Jesus? It is nothing but a path of humiliation, contempt, and dishonour. However, Jesus walked silently because at the end of that path lay the benefit of salvation for His children. That is why Paul emphasized love so that we Christians could fulfill the law of Jesus Christ.

Love is the beginning. And it is the end. We can do it just as Jesus did. Love unites the church and society and leads them to God. And we must act so that this word ‘love’ is used more as a verb rather than a noun. Just as ‘agape,’ meaning unconditional love, transforms into ‘agapao,’ which signifies a dynamically active love, we must love unconditionally and without limitation.

Finally, righteousness without love becomes a sharp sword that easily condemns and wounds others. At the same time, love without righteousness sometimes causes us to lose our sense of right and wrong. Therefore, we need to balance between the two. When love and righteousness kiss each other, we can go far together, partnering in ministry. We will not lose our identity as people of faith. We must continue to give, love, and be merciful. Let’s walk this path together. Small churches, with their limited resources and small numbers, sometimes feel overwhelmed and experience burnout. At the same time, there are also abundant opportunities for faith training and service. I have a lot of work to do. I hope that in this season of ripening and harvest, our faith will grow and take a leap forward.

Psalm 67, Matthew 15:21-28, and Romans 11: 1-2a, 29-32

 

When you think of Jesus, what image of Him do you have? We have numerous images of Jesus’ ministry, such as Jesus with his disciples, performing miracles, healing people, teaching many people on a hill, entering Jerusalem riding a donkey, being crucified, resurrecting and visiting his disciples, and ascending to heaven. The message of the Gospel of Matthew today is a little unfamiliar. This is because it differs from the image of Jesus, who always embraces others and holds their hands. Jesus gives priority value to Israel’s lost sheep. Therefore, He strictly excludes the remaining outsiders. Generally, the dogs mentioned in the Bible are mostly fierce wild dogs or dogs similar to wolves. However, the original term recorded here refers to a dog raised at home. Of course, pets are precious family members, but I think I would be a little upset if I were compared to a pet or treated as having less value. In that case, we can ask: Why did Jesus say this to her?

First, it was because of the priorities of Jesus’ ministry. At that time, Jesus and his disciples were being rejected by the Jewish leaders. To the disciples who had not yet completely abandoned their Jewish habits, the regions of Tyre and Sidon were Gentile lands and unclean places. Conversely, it was a region where many Israelites were reluctant to find Jesus. So, it was a place where Jesus and his disciples could find quieter rest and recharge. Right there, the Canaanite woman cried out and earnestly and persistently asked Jesus for help. However, Jesus wanted to use the time to train the lost sheep of Israel and his disciples. Other nations and foreigners were a secondary priority for Jesus.

Secondly, many scholars believe it was to test her faith. If you look at Matthew 15:1-20, you will see the behavior of people who pride themselves on keeping God’s laws and commandments well. They distorted the interpretation of the law. The Bible and the commandments say to honor your father and mother, but they begrudged giving to their parents and claimed to have given to God, so they did not honor their parents. They also displayed double standards, using the law as a weapon to violate the commandments. Now, they use the law as a weapon to criticize Jesus and the disciples. The Pharisees and scribes, who prided themselves on knowing God best, rejected Jesus. However, it is actually the Canaanite woman, who was mistreated by the Jews, who confesses Jesus as the Messiah. This is an event in itself.

From the time she met Jesus, she called Him “Lord, Son of David.” This confession acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah. Although this woman was a Gentile, she had a sound faith that the Jewish religious leaders did not. And she requested Jesus. “Have mercy on me. My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” It was a simple but earnest request. At the same time, she had faith that Jesus could heal her daughter. She kept requesting. Let’s look at Jesus’ actual reaction to her. In verse 23, Jesus did not answer a word. In verse 24, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” In verse 26, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” He refused as many as three times. No one likes being rejected by others. Sometimes, whether because of discrimination or economic hardship, it is not easy to remain resilient in the face of such exclusion. However, the woman did her best and humbly pleaded and pleaded again. Even though she was lower in priority than the people of Israel, she trusted and expected Jesus’ mercy and grace. Finally, Jesus praises her faith and speaks declaratively. “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.”

Consequently, it foreshadows that the gospel will be extended to the Gentiles as well. We can interpret Jesus’ specific use of the phrase “dog raised in a house” as an indication that there is a place for Gentiles to dwell in the Kingdom of God as well. However, no matter how much a dog is raised in the house, Jesus deliberately contrasts ‘children’ and ‘dogs’ to remind us of this point. What we must note here is that this means the priority regarding the Gospel belongs to the Jews, but it certainly does not mean that Gentiles cannot join the ranks of the Gospel. This is clearly demonstrated by the fact that Jesus did not refuse the Canaanite woman’s plea but healed her daughter’s illness, and later gave his disciples the Great Commission to preach the gospel to the ends of the earth, thereby opening the door of the gospel to the Gentiles.

 

Lastly, God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. God’s mercy and grace are directed toward all people. Therefore, He invites us every day to live as the people of the Kingdom of God. Even though the people of Israel sometimes failed to trust God’s promises and worshipped foreign gods, God’s promise of salvation did not fall to the ground. The Creator’s compassion has no limits toward us, to the extent that God even used the extreme method of sending Jesus to this earth. Presbyterian doctrine emphasizes God’s sovereign election and justification more than other denominations. Even though humans are full of mistakes, even if we lose our way, even if we are lacking and commit sins, God has chosen us. The Creator decided to make us righteous. Therefore, God conveyed the righteousness of Jesus to us and elevated our status to that of children of God. All of this is due to faith in God and God’s grace and mercy. Let us spend this week giving thanks to God, who predestined our salvation and guides us. Because of this, we are always guided by God and can humbly make requests every day. I pray that God’s mercy be with you. Amen.

1 Kings 19:9-18, Psalm 85:8-13, and Matthew 14:22-33

 

There are biblical figures named Elijah and Peter. One is a representative prophet of the Old Testament. The other person is someone who could be called Jesus’ chief disciple. However, apart from their nickname, today’s biblical expression describes them differently. Elijah was deeply hurt by Queen Jezebel and the people of Israel, who ignored the prophecy and threatened his life. He was in despair amidst deep frustration and burnout. He didn’t know what to do and didn’t have the ability to solve the problem. All he could do was complain. However, looking back, before this situation, Elijah had blessed the widow at Zarephath’s house, ensuring the jar of flour never ran out and providing the jug of oil. Even her son became ill. And he could not breathe and died. Elijah prayed to God, and God saved her son. It is an amazing thing. On Mount Carmel, Elijah confronted and defeated 850 prophets of Baals and Asherah. He, who was brave enough to win a fight against 850, has now fled to Mount Horeb and is in fear.

Peter’s situation is no different. Shameful stories of Jesus’ disciples are recorded in various places in the Gospels. Even modern people 2,000 years later can easily identify their shortcomings and mistakes. The disciples, whose faith was weak and lacking, saw Jesus walking on the lake and thought he was a ghost. Among them, Peter wanted to walk on water like Jesus. And with Jesus’ help, he finally walked. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and began to sink. Leaving behind the power of Jesus, who makes one walk on water, he nearly lost his life due to fear and doubt. Even though just moments before, he had witnessed the miracle of feeding over 5,000 to 10,000 people on the shores of the Sea of Galilee with five loaves of bread and two fish.

In the example of Peter and Elijah, I would like to share the following three things with you. The first is to remember the miracle. There are personal and collective memories. While the history of individuals and society is important, the memories held through the community of the church are also very precious. Church members are baptized at the church, lead a life of faith, and attend the Sunday Service. Many of them help someone through various events prepared by the church and experience the dynamics of faith and the touch of God. Some people sometimes have astonishing experiences through the Holy Spirit. Some Christians experience continuing grace in their very ordinary religious lives. The important thing is to remember the grace we received. It is remembering the miraculous things we have experienced.

Among the many famous people in this world and renowned ministers in the church, there are quite a few who experience great frustration and failure after achieving remarkable accomplishments. We often come across news about people who have lost their talents and are complaining of burnout. How often do many modern people get stressed because they do their best at many tasks beyond their capabilities?

If there is one key to be found in the face of all these religious and social difficulties, it is to start anew from memory. It is to remember that Christianity is a religion that, through the Bible over the past thousands of years, remembers and practices God’s unchanging love for humanity. By remembering our church’s past, we can gain the strength to overcome present difficulties. It is to have the expectation that the members can revive again, and that their descendants can grow just like us. How is this possible? You can begin by trusting the Lord through those very memories.

The second is to focus on being together. There were so many members of the Baby Boom generation that the church space was insufficient. As a result, there are often places that built very large church buildings back then but are struggling with maintenance today. On the other hand, we can meditate on God Immanuel, who was with us in those times and is with us in these difficult times now. Jesus approached Peter, who was sinking into the water in fear and trembling. Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. Peter met Jesus, who came to him immediately. Sometimes even the disciples could not trust Jesus, even though He was right beside them. They failed to recognize the presence of Jesus, the source of the greatest power. However, we know of God’s omniscience and omnipotence. We cannot walk and eat together as the disciples did 2,000 years ago, but we can confess. “God is with us.” The Lord is with me, and it resonates in my heart. Both Peter and Elijah often missed God Immanuel. We may do the same. However, you just need to remember and focus again. “God is with us.”

Finally, those who fear God prepare the way of the Lord. Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps. This verse is an expression that brings to mind a royal procession. In other words, “righteousness” goes ahead before God the King, and following the guidance of “righteousness,” God the King marches to open a new era of salvation. We can also understand this to mean that God is present as the King of Israel and transforms the state of Israel into righteousness.

The poet emphasizes God’s righteousness and highlights God’s work of leading His people to the path of righteousness. The psalmist understood this to mean that God’s justice and God’s peace will be fully realized on this earth. Beloved, the faithful God desires to usher in an era of righteousness and peace through us. I pray that we may all become people who experience and anticipate God’s presence in hope. Amen.

Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21, Isaiah 55:1-5, and Matthew 14:13-21

 

The words of Matthew make us recall many things. Herod the tetrarch killed John the Baptist. However, upon hearing the news of Jesus’ ministry, he thought that John the Baptist had risen. Upon hearing this news in Galilee, Jesus must have thought about the mission and time given to him.

First, resurrection makes us think of someone. The concept of resurrection was held among Zoroastrians and Jews in the Persian region at that time. However, they also could not see this with their own eyes. Herod was filled with fear and guilt, so he mistakenly thought that John the Baptist had risen. At the same time, Jesus came to be recognized as a prophet surpassing John the Baptist through various miracles and teachings.

Beloved, John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus through his faithful ministry. It is a valuable thing to be remembered by many people to the extent that they think of John through the ministry of Jesus. Likewise, if someone can think of Jesus through our lives, it will be a great and valuable thing.

Second, we need to pay close attention to the beginning of the miracle of feeding over 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish. This is because there is Jesus’ compassion and gratitude there. Jesus wanted to go to a solitary place, but a large crowd followed him. This was an act that helped Herod, who wanted to execute Jesus. If 5,000 to 10,000 people suddenly marched in downtown Red Deer and gathered at Bower Ponds or Westerner Park right now, it would be news. Likewise, at that time, the fact that as many as 10,000 people who were not favourable to the regime gathered and moved was an event that would cause a major problem. Despite the threats approaching Jesus, He first felt compassion for the people.

The original word for this large crowd is “oklos,” and they were not rich or nobles. It is a word used to refer to disadvantaged people in society. So, Jesus understood their hunger and worried about them. Naturally, these were people who didn’t even have a good house. For them, mealtime is meaningless. Since there was nothing to eat, it would be reasonable for the disciples to suggest sending them to a village to buy food. However, that was not responsible behaviour. Faced with the attempt to separate the disciples from “Oklos,” Jesus speaks to the disciples. “You give them something to eat.” The disciples’ response to Jesus’ statement is also very right. “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish.” It is difficult to share what I have with others when I don’t even have enough to eat myself. It was not enough for the 13 of them to eat, so how could they share this with over 5,000 or 10,000 people? Here, we can discover compassion and gratitude that transcend rationality. Jesus tells his disciples to bring bread and fish. Then, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Everyone ate their fill, and the leftover pieces filled twelve baskets. Jesus performs miracles starting with thanksgiving. He confirms their mission to the disciples, who are disappointed by the less bread and fish. He tells them, “You are the ones who must serve them and give them something to eat.” Of course, it may be difficult for us to perform miracles as Jesus did. However, our identity is as clear as that of the disciples. The fact is that we are servants. At the same time, we are also children who receive grace from Jesus.

As one example, I believe that the magic of exchange rates can create another miracle. The fact is that if the power of the dollar grows stronger as Canada becomes wealthier, we can effectively work miracles by pooling small amounts of money through Presbyterian Sharing and Presbyterian World Service and Development.

Most recently, last winter, we delivered groceries to the Food Bank and Mustard Seed through our church’s Mission Committee. This spring, we supported the Red Deer Amethyst House (Canadian Mental Health Association) through pancake fundraising. I believe that although our church is small, it is a meaningful community. And I hope that we become a church that expands these miraculous things.

So, I would like to deliver this message to you again and again. Please tell everyone—neighbours and friends—“Come all of you.” As proclaimed by the prophet Isaiah, “Come all who are thirsty, have no money. Give ear and come to me. Listen, that you may live.” Please continue to invite all of them to come to God. Let us continue to encourage our friends to live a satisfying life in the Lord, just like the people who became the main characters of the miracles performed by Jesus. If my soul lives and the souls of my neighbours live, and the sure grace granted by God does not cease, we will be able to experience the Kingdom of God on earth. I hope you dwell in God’s sovereignty.

Finally, the gracious and compassionate Lord will give the Lord’s peace to all of us. Let us live responding with “Amen.”