New Covenant
“The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant”.
We have been talking the past few weeks about covenants and today we get to the final and most glorious covenant, the covenant in Jeremiah - “I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people…”
We are heading toward the end of our Lenten season and God is doing familiar things in new and disturbing ways. Covenants had been made, the people had turned against them time and again, but God kept returning to the people. Here in Jeremiah, God presents a new deal, that will be sealed in a new way. The Mosaic covenant had been sealed by carving the commandments in stone; in the Abrahamic the agreement was sealed with the sacrifice of animals. In Hebrew the language says God “cuts a covenant”, in reference to the animals. But this new covenant that God states is going to be different - not recognizable or acknowledged on some outward object- but the terms are to be inscribed directly onto the human heart.
In the past year or two, many of us have watched an episode or two of the hit series, Yellowstone. John Dutton, played by wonderful and easy to look at Kevin Costner, his rough and tumble daughter Beth, and the ranch hand Rip, (who has made quite a few of us want go to a ranch), has made for some addictive TV watching for some. The story is of a man trying to save his ranch and his land, Yellowstone from increasing encroachment and development on all sides and all of the drama that goes along with it.
Part of belonging to the Ranch, with all of its love and chaos, are some not so good things. One thing that happens is in order to show their dedication and commitment to the ranch, the ranch hands are branded. They are branded signifying their loyalty and dedication to the ranch. Many are appalled by this act of control.
Branding is not new. In the Thirteen American Colonies, Christian slaveholders had their slaves branded like cattle. Farmers brand their cattle. Hitler tattooed Jews with ID numbers. Branding can cause scars and pain knowing that you have been marked for life, sometimes for something you have not chosen. It can cause shame and disgrace.
Tattoos and body piercing are a thing these days as well. People choose to have things that are meaningful to them marked on their body. Sometimes people change their minds and choose to undergo procedures to remove these marks. They can mostly be removed through laser surgery but often a new scar is created in its place. Our marks tell the world what we think is beautiful or important; with them on or off, they are part of people’s identity. It speaks to the world of who you are.
So this new covenant with God is sealed by the carving of the Law into the human heart. There is no external marking to identify us as God’s people, but there is an internal marking - our heart. Our inward identity is changed and that identity should through the actions and directions of our lives, by how we carry ourselves and what things are important to us, become external. Our behavior becomes a reflection of the nature of God to the world around us.
In our Gospel text today, some Greeks came to Philip and said, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”
Phillips Brooks, (1835-1893) was an Episcopal clergyman, and long time Rector of Boston’s Trinity Church. He is also author of the lyrics to the beloved hymn, “O Little Town of Bethlehem”. Rev. Brooks was not just the Rector of Trinity Church, but he was instrumental in the building and architectural design of Trinity Church. One design is only visible to those who preach in Trinity church. Brooks had the words, “Sir, we would see Jesus” carved into the inside of the pulpit. All of those who would come to stand in the pulpit would be reminded as they proclaimed the Word of God of why they were there; to show and bring Jesus to the congregation.
The Greeks who spoke these words were more than likely non-Jews who were fascinated by Judaism and its antiquity; they were known as God-fearers. Many probably would have converted to Judaism had it not been for the requirement of circumcision. Many were on their way to celebrate Passover in Jerusalem.
When Philip reported to Jesus that the Greeks had asked to see him, Jesus exclaimed, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”
Jesus makes this statement that the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified and we realize that Jesus’ idea of glory and our idea of glory are radically different. Jesus was not getting ready to be made an earthly king; Jesus was on his way to suffer, die on the cross and be raised again.
For Jesus to be glorified was to embrace the cross.
“Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit…. Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say - ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason I have come to this hour…and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” (John 12: 20-33 paraphrase)
Because non-Jews such as the Greeks were seeking to meet Jesus, Jesus knew that his mission was no longer restricted to Israel alone but had become universal. It was time for him to be lifted up - that is, crucified - so that all people could be drawn to him.
For us glory is about having more: more money, more prestige, more power. For Jesus, glory was about giving more.
Jesus gave to the crowds through food. He gave healings to those who came to him; he gives himself to his friends by washing their feet. He gives himself to the world by dying on the cross.
“Sir, we would see Jesus.” Phillips Brooks knew that everyone who steps into a pulpit needs to think about these words, making sure that we as preachers give our people Jesus. Not just things we know, comments of the day, news or witty jokes.
People need to see Jesus.
What do people see when they look at you? The world all around us is full of people who need Jesus. Do they see him in us? Do they see a servant-Lord who washed the feet of his friends? Do they see the prophet who was zealous for the Lord’s house and cleaned the Temple? Do they see a healer who brought kindness and made the blind see?
The Lord has marked and made a covenant in our hearts. A new covenant. One that is not outwardly visible but should bring inward changes that are outwardly demonstrated. A covenant that changes who we are.
“No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, “Know the Lord,” they shall know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their inquity, and remember their sin no more.” Jeremiah 31: 34.
The cross is coming. Our inquities and sins will be forgiven and known no more. Our lives and hearts are changed. Forever.
“I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Jeremiah 31:31-34
Amen.
We have been talking the past few weeks about covenants and today we get to the final and most glorious covenant, the covenant in Jeremiah - “I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people…”
We are heading toward the end of our Lenten season and God is doing familiar things in new and disturbing ways. Covenants had been made, the people had turned against them time and again, but God kept returning to the people. Here in Jeremiah, God presents a new deal, that will be sealed in a new way. The Mosaic covenant had been sealed by carving the commandments in stone; in the Abrahamic the agreement was sealed with the sacrifice of animals. In Hebrew the language says God “cuts a covenant”, in reference to the animals. But this new covenant that God states is going to be different - not recognizable or acknowledged on some outward object- but the terms are to be inscribed directly onto the human heart.
In the past year or two, many of us have watched an episode or two of the hit series, Yellowstone. John Dutton, played by wonderful and easy to look at Kevin Costner, his rough and tumble daughter Beth, and the ranch hand Rip, (who has made quite a few of us want go to a ranch), has made for some addictive TV watching for some. The story is of a man trying to save his ranch and his land, Yellowstone from increasing encroachment and development on all sides and all of the drama that goes along with it.
Part of belonging to the Ranch, with all of its love and chaos, are some not so good things. One thing that happens is in order to show their dedication and commitment to the ranch, the ranch hands are branded. They are branded signifying their loyalty and dedication to the ranch. Many are appalled by this act of control.
Branding is not new. In the Thirteen American Colonies, Christian slaveholders had their slaves branded like cattle. Farmers brand their cattle. Hitler tattooed Jews with ID numbers. Branding can cause scars and pain knowing that you have been marked for life, sometimes for something you have not chosen. It can cause shame and disgrace.
Tattoos and body piercing are a thing these days as well. People choose to have things that are meaningful to them marked on their body. Sometimes people change their minds and choose to undergo procedures to remove these marks. They can mostly be removed through laser surgery but often a new scar is created in its place. Our marks tell the world what we think is beautiful or important; with them on or off, they are part of people’s identity. It speaks to the world of who you are.
So this new covenant with God is sealed by the carving of the Law into the human heart. There is no external marking to identify us as God’s people, but there is an internal marking - our heart. Our inward identity is changed and that identity should through the actions and directions of our lives, by how we carry ourselves and what things are important to us, become external. Our behavior becomes a reflection of the nature of God to the world around us.
In our Gospel text today, some Greeks came to Philip and said, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”
Phillips Brooks, (1835-1893) was an Episcopal clergyman, and long time Rector of Boston’s Trinity Church. He is also author of the lyrics to the beloved hymn, “O Little Town of Bethlehem”. Rev. Brooks was not just the Rector of Trinity Church, but he was instrumental in the building and architectural design of Trinity Church. One design is only visible to those who preach in Trinity church. Brooks had the words, “Sir, we would see Jesus” carved into the inside of the pulpit. All of those who would come to stand in the pulpit would be reminded as they proclaimed the Word of God of why they were there; to show and bring Jesus to the congregation.
The Greeks who spoke these words were more than likely non-Jews who were fascinated by Judaism and its antiquity; they were known as God-fearers. Many probably would have converted to Judaism had it not been for the requirement of circumcision. Many were on their way to celebrate Passover in Jerusalem.
When Philip reported to Jesus that the Greeks had asked to see him, Jesus exclaimed, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”
Jesus makes this statement that the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified and we realize that Jesus’ idea of glory and our idea of glory are radically different. Jesus was not getting ready to be made an earthly king; Jesus was on his way to suffer, die on the cross and be raised again.
For Jesus to be glorified was to embrace the cross.
“Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit…. Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say - ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason I have come to this hour…and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” (John 12: 20-33 paraphrase)
Because non-Jews such as the Greeks were seeking to meet Jesus, Jesus knew that his mission was no longer restricted to Israel alone but had become universal. It was time for him to be lifted up - that is, crucified - so that all people could be drawn to him.
For us glory is about having more: more money, more prestige, more power. For Jesus, glory was about giving more.
Jesus gave to the crowds through food. He gave healings to those who came to him; he gives himself to his friends by washing their feet. He gives himself to the world by dying on the cross.
“Sir, we would see Jesus.” Phillips Brooks knew that everyone who steps into a pulpit needs to think about these words, making sure that we as preachers give our people Jesus. Not just things we know, comments of the day, news or witty jokes.
People need to see Jesus.
What do people see when they look at you? The world all around us is full of people who need Jesus. Do they see him in us? Do they see a servant-Lord who washed the feet of his friends? Do they see the prophet who was zealous for the Lord’s house and cleaned the Temple? Do they see a healer who brought kindness and made the blind see?
The Lord has marked and made a covenant in our hearts. A new covenant. One that is not outwardly visible but should bring inward changes that are outwardly demonstrated. A covenant that changes who we are.
“No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, “Know the Lord,” they shall know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their inquity, and remember their sin no more.” Jeremiah 31: 34.
The cross is coming. Our inquities and sins will be forgiven and known no more. Our lives and hearts are changed. Forever.
“I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Jeremiah 31:31-34
Amen.