Sermon -- 2nd Sunday after Epiphany (January 14, 2024)

2 THESSALONIANS 2:13-17

JESUS CALLS US TO FOLLOW HIM.

In the name + of Jesus.

      St. Paul gave thanks to God for the Christians who lived in Thessalonica.  In two brief letters to these Thessalonians—eight total chapters—St. Paul gave thanks to God five times for their faithfulness to the Lord.  If you know their history, you know why.

     When St. Paul first came to Thessalonica, he went to the synagogue as was his custom.  He proclaimed to the Jews the fulfillment of the Old Testament promises.  He showed from Scripture that Jesus of Nazareth is the long-promised Messiah.  That news was not always so eagerly received.  Even Nathanael in our Gospel reading could not believe that anything worthwhile could come out of Nazareth, much less the Savior of the world.  Some in Thessalonica received God’s word eagerly, glad that God had fulfilled his promises.  Others bitterly rejected the message.  They did not tell Paul, “We will agree to disagree.”  Instead, they turned to violence.  They gathered a mob and stirred up a riot.  As a result, the Christians hurried St. Paul and his co-workers out of town in the middle of the night so that they would not be killed.   

     Paul, Silas, and Timothy were safe, but the Christians in Thessalonica remained.  Their homes, families, friends, and businesses were in Thessalonica, but so was the persecution.  St. Paul ached for those new Christians.  He prayed fervently for them, but he had to wonder: Would they remain faithful to Jesus if they had to suffer for his name?  Would they follow Jesus if the way involved violence or mockery or loss of friends and business?  Did they resort back to life without Jesus, living as they did before St. Paul showed up?

     When he could stand it no longer, Paul sent Timothy back to see if there was still a church in Thessalonica.  Timothy returned with great news.  Despite the persecution, the people had continued to follow Jesus.  Then Paul wrote two letters in quick succession.  The first letter expressed joy that the Thessalonians remained faithful to Jesus.  The second letter encouraged them to continue following Jesus, even if there was a cost to do so. 

     Jesus calls us to follow him.  Rather than consider what we might suffer for the sake of Jesus, let us consider what we gain.  After all, if following Jesus means suffering, what we gain from him had better be worth it.  St. Paul reminded the Thessalonians what they gained by following Jesus.  He wrote, “God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:13). 

     First, he notes, “God chose you.”  Their meeting with St. Paul was not coincidental.  Yes, it was Paul’s plan to go there and to preach, but the Thessalonians had not planned this.  The good news of Jesus was new to them.  The summons to follow Jesus was by God’s design.  Their faith in God’s promises was God’s working.  And so it is with you.  Perhaps you grew up in a Christian family and never knew any differently.  That is by God’s design, too.  God put you where he wanted you so that you would be set apart by the Holy Spirit and would know the truth.  Perhaps the summons to follow Jesus came later in life for you.  God arranged it that you would meet someone who told you about Jesus.  And God worked in you so that you would acknowledge that God’s word is true.

     Sometimes, the truth of God’s word gets rejected.  Those who rejected it in Thessalonica distorted the message to discourage others from even listening to it.  These were the charges lobbed against St. Paul and his co-workers: “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, …and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus” (Acts 17:6-7).  Kind of true, but not really.  Yes, we do pledge our allegiance to King Jesus who lives and reigns over heaven and earth, but we do not call for insurrection against our governing authorities. 

     Do not be surprised when people misrepresent the Christian faith.  People who hate Jesus will say anything to dishonor him and to scorn the people who follow him.  They make false assertions about the Christian faith.  Because they are made boldly, many believe they are true.  Because they are made repeatedly, many regard them as common knowledge.  One common complaint that people make is that they are against organized religion.  But what does that mean?  What is “organized religion” and what about it do they hate?  Challenge the assertion, and listen to their reply.  Maybe someone was lied to or conned.  Their anger would be valid, but it should be aimed at the liar, not Jesus.  Jesus does not lie or cheat anyone.  But many do not know why they hate the church.  It sounds wise just to repeat what others say.  Assertions often go unchallenged.  Many regard assertions as facts.  They are like the mob in Thessalonica who got stirred up, even if they did not know what there was to be angry about.  Just because assertions are popular does not mean they are true.  Jesus calls us to follow him so that we are not deceived. 

     When Philip told Nathanael about Jesus, Nathanael was skeptical.  He did not think a Savior would come from some nowhere village like Nazareth.  Philip did not engage in a debate.  He simply invited Nathanael, “Come and see” (John 1:46).  This is all you need to do, too.  If you feel that you are capable of debating someone about what is true and what is not, go for it.  But often, this ends up being more about winning the debate with “Gotcha” statements than it does proclaiming God’s promises.  Rather than debate, ask, “Do you know what Jesus taught?  Maybe you would like to know, then your mockery can at least be informed.”  Many who despise Jesus don’t even know what he has to say or give.  In order for anyone to turn from sin and follow Jesus, they must hear the words of Jesus.

     Jesus calls us to follow him so that we continue to hear and grow in his word.  St. Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to continue in it for the same reason.  They needed to follow Jesus so that they could stand firm as they suffered for the sake of his name.  St. Paul encouraged them, “Brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter” (2 Thessalonians 2:15). 

     To follow Jesus is to listen to him.  The apostles like Philip and Nathanael were called to follow Jesus.  They heard his teachings and observed his actions.  Since we cannot do that, but the apostles recorded the words and works of Jesus so that we can know them.  These are the traditions that St. Paul referred to.  Traditions are literally, “things handed down” to us.  We have Jesus’ words handed down to us—whether they are preached or we read them for ourselves.  To hear the words of Jesus—to mark, read, learn, and inwardly digest them—is to follow him and to gain all he offers and gives. 

     Jesus calls us to follow him.  So, what does he give us that makes it worth it?  St. Paul wrote, “Our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace” (2 Thessalonians 2:16).  Our Lord Jesus gives us eternal comfort.  That means the comfort he gives us is always consoling our consciences and granting peace to us.  I don’t know how long the persecution endured in Thessalonica.  I don’t know how intense it got.  I would imagine even a week of persecution would make life miserable—either suffering the hardships or enduring the stress of what might happen.  Who would not be tempted to abandon Jesus if there were a real cost to following him—loss of friends, reputation, or business?  If the persecution were particularly intense, they may have lost their lives.  But they never lost the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  They never lost God’s favor so that, whenever or however death came to them, they would be welcomed into the glories of the heavenly kingdom.  That comfort is eternal.  That hope remains secure.

     So it is for you, too.  You and I have not suffered intense persecution—ridicule, perhaps, but not confiscated homes or imprisonment.  Even if our troubles are not to the level of the Thessalonians, we still have our share of troubles.  Jesus calls us to follow him.  That means we are set apart not just from the curse but also the practice of sin.  It means we are set apart for good works and holy living.  If you continue in godly thoughts and godly living, the world will think you are strange.  You will be pressured to put away your faith, or at least to limit your faith to these four walls.  You will be told, “Keep your faith in your head.  You can believe what you want, just don’t talk about it.  Do not bring it out into the open.”  But if you follow Jesus—not just in church or in your head, but also “in every good work and word” (2 Thessalonians 2:17)—some may make your life miserable.

     Yes, the world can be a miserable place for God’s people.  But Jesus calls us to follow him to find eternal comfort in spite of any misery you may face—whether persecution, sickness, job loss, betrayal by friends, or your own death.  None of these cancels Jesus’ sufferings and death for you.  Nothing erases Jesus’ payment for your sins.  No matter what you suffer in this life, your eternal life is guaranteed by Jesus.  The world may condemn you; Jesus will not.  He has taken away your sins.  The world will judge you, but Jesus’ judgment is the only one that matters.  His judgment is eternal and final, and he has told you what it is: You have been cleansed by his blood and are innocent of all charges.  Everyone in the world is on their way to the grave.  You and I are too.  But Jesus has overcome death, and he will deliver us out of it.  If death should come through violence or virus, Jesus assures you of a resurrection with an incorruptible body and an endless life of glorious splendor.  This is the Christian hope. 

     Jesus calls you to follow him because he alone supplies eternal comfort and good hope.  Rather than call it hope, let’s call it expectation.  We expect to have eternal life.  We expect the resurrection of the body.  We expect endless peace and glory with Jesus.  We expect it because Jesus has promised it.  He has backed up every promise with his death and resurrection.  No matter what the world promises you, it cannot give you the blessings Jesus gives.  No matter how the world threatens you, it cannot take away the blessings Jesus gives.  Jesus calls us to follow him.  All who do will pass through a world of sorrow and follow Jesus into endless glory.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.