I Smell What You’re Steppin’ In

Sunday, March 29, 2009
5th Sunday in Lent
Preacher: Pastor Gary Johnson

Readings:
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Hebrews 5:5-10
John 12:20-33



Audio sermon file:

http://fileresource.sitepro.com/filemanager/74/filecollections/742/87919B9F-7560-28C7-4A7D-431C8E878FE5.mp3


Pastor Johnson focused on the New Testament text from Hebrews today, particularly two key verses:

Verse 7: In the days of his flesh ….
Verse 9: … and having been made perfect

Verse 7 refers specifically to Jesus having become human while divine. In coming into this world, He experiences humanity as we know it. He gets hungry, he feels pain, he gets tired and short-tempered. He has cried loudly and shed tears … much like us in our moments of despair. He gets brokenness, temptation; he knows what it’s like to “not fit in”, to be betrayed, to feel abandoned by his closest friends, to be tortured and crucified. It’s hard to believe there’s anything we’ve fretted over that he did not experience or could not understand.

Pastor Johnson shared that in our congregation just this week … collectively experienced death, grieving, unemployment, surgery, incarceration, homelessness. It’s easy to believe our collective hurt is not felt, that our prayers are to no avail. “Have you ever been in that place where you wondered if God heard your prayers?” Pastor Johnson asked.

But Jesus today tells us this is not the case. He asked that the cup of his crucifixion pass by him, but it was not in the plan. Sometimes Jesus does not intervene to make the sorrow go away, but he is there to go through it with us. Just this past week, Pastor Mohn wrote a telling Lenten devotional about wanting to have a friend travel along side us and “Go first …” when there’s something unexpected or a rocky road just ahead. She makes a convincing case that Jesus is that friend when no friend, even our best friends, don’t or can’t tow that line with us. In “the days of His flesh”, Jesus knew what we go through when times are rough and He says he’s right alongside of us and willing to “go first” and then along with us … every step of the way.

I have a former student I consider a very good friend … probably the best student I ever had the privilege to teach – NOT because he’s smart .. he is … ,but because he has a keen sense of what matters in this world and is mature beyond his years. I dearly love a favorite expression of his. He is apt to use it when you share a bad experience with him. There comes the moment you need a pat on the back and he says

“I smell what you’re steppin’ in …”

Translation: he’s been there and he knows it’s no fun. Sometimes you just want to know you’re not all alone. And Jesus knows this too. He “smells what we’re stepping in every day”. He smells what the culture of his time made the children “step in”. He knew they were the misbegotten and they were not valued. And he told those who would “keep them away” to allow the children to approach him.

The moral of the story is … there’s nothing you’ve felt that He doesn’t know.

And verse 9 tells of his “having been made perfect”. Pastor Johnson shared that the translation does not mean he’s “got 100 on the test”, he’s error-free. The translation more accurately means “he’s come to the fullness of his life” … having come to the point of fulfilling his purpose in a bigger plan.

Along the way to “having been made perfect”, everyone of us will move toward fulfilling our purpose in God’s plan … but that road will be strewn with “stuff we’ll step in” and, boy, some days it will surely smell. In the grit and grime of your life, Jesus smells what you’re steppin’ in. In the old Gospel song “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” , the lyrics go:

Have we trials and temptations
Is there trouble anywhere
We should never be discouraged
Take it to the Lord in prayer

Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share
Jesus knows our every weakness
Take it to the Lord in prayer

Are we weak and heavy laden
Encumbered with a load of care
Precious Savior still our refuge
Take it to the Lord in prayer

Do your friends in spite forsake you
Take it to the Lord in prayer
In his arms he’ll take and shield you
And you will find your solace there
And you will find your solace there

Jesus says “You’re not alone. Keep on trucking. I’ll ‘go first’ and ‘step in it’ with you” … because The Plan needs all its participants, the tapestry needs every thread; there’s true meaning in your journey …

He knows exactly how you feel.

He “smells what you’re stepping in”.