FIRSTBORN IN ALL THINGS

 

      As the firstborn in my own family, I was always seen a bit differently.  Maybe that has something to do with how my family and many others see me-really different.  In our Scripture this morning we hear about another firstborn that was different.  However, this man was extremely and divinely different.  I don't recall my parents calling me as divinely different, it was probably a lot closer to devilishly.  As the firstborn, I sometimes was blamed for many things, yet unlike Christ, I had it coming.  This is Christ the King Sunday and I can say unequivocally, that I was never treated like or even mentioned in those divine or wise terms.  Historically, shepherds were kings who were to lead their flocks in righteousness instead of idolatry and evil.  The shepherds referred to in Jeremiah are more like me and not very king-like in action or nature.  Instead, these shepherds described by this prophet were scattering the flock.  So God promises new shepherds and takes back the loan of divine power for simply because these kings had abused God's favor by misleading God's people.  They had bankrupted God's blessings and had forfeited the support for leading the people of Israel.  We see Jeremiah pining and longing for a true king; one that was concerned not just with being king but kingdom, not heaven on earth but heaven in earth.  Listen, 'AND not one shall be missing.'  Each of them and including ourselves would be cared for in God's kingdom and this was the missing part.  We remember the parable of the lost sheep and the total focus by the shepherd that seeks us.  And not one shall be missing.  Jeremiah promises that earthly kings would die alone and forgotten; possibly at the hands of their own sons who sought kingship.  And we know from our Old Testament that many of the Israelite kings came to power in horribly sinful manners.  Earthly kings thought that they had conquered God's kingdom and sent Israel and Judah into exile so that they could never reassemble the nation or worship their God.  There doesn't seem to be any glimmer of Thanksgiving here.  Yet God promises a righteous Branch from the house of David.  This new king will execute justice and righteousness in all lands.  And now God's purpose is revealed; the real kingdom is coming.  Are we giving thanks for its arrival? 

      Let's take a closer look at Jeremiah's situation.  The last ruler of Judah, the final nation of the Hebrew people to fall was King Zedekiah.  God's purpose and will being   done is apparent as Zedekiah is Hebrew for legitimate righteousness.  This righteousness is taken into the conquering nation of Babylon where it will sow the seeds of God's purpose in a new land.  The firstborn's mission is planted.  A new shepherd's purpose is planted and will later be revealed in God's good time.  This new legitimate ruler will demonstrate God's eternal plan.  We can plot to thwart God and we can connive to change the future but we fool only ourselves.  Mankind cannot undo the Good News and its message being spread.  We can erect idols, we can pursue goals, we can chase dreams but all of that is wasteful vanity, as Solomon reminds us.  Nothing can overcome the purpose of Almighty God.  And amidst all of our wanderings and plans for our lives, Paul reminds us in the letter to the Colossians, "Joyfully give thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light."  We are called to joyfully give thanks for the seeds planted thousands of years ago that allow us to participate in the community of the Firstborn.  God's plan is revealed; "He is the image of the invisible God."  Do we know what God looks like?  This proves that we do.  The image planted into our hearts that is Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit is the exact portrait of the Living God.  Do our minds see it; yes, through the love within our hearts.  When Christ comes again will we recognize him?  Of course we will; through the image inflamed on our hearts.  "For in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible."  God has pre-ordained that we will know all things invisible through the eyes of Christ Jesus.  Why?  Because Christ was there at Creation and will open our eyes to himself as the Firstborn of God!  Christ is one in the Alpha and the Omega.  We will recognize Christ because we already know him through the love of God and our own unfailing hearts that are etched there by the infallible Holy Spirit.  We remain faithful and thankful because God has loved each of us faithfully.  We can clutter our hearts with worldly idols and goals but God will cut through the webs and chains when we fall at Christ, the Firstborn's feet and say that we know him.  We will rid ourselves of our own plans and works when we accept the gift of salvation offered to us by God's firstborn sacrifice.

      How can we possibly not give thanks every single day, much less as a nation on this particular week?  Thanksgiving is hope.  Thanksgiving is obedience.  Thanksgiving is faithfulness.  It is all of this and much, much more.  Our strength is only from his glorious power.  Why?  Giving thanks to God lets us share in this light as we see and are seen through the Glory of God.  One contemporary translation of this passage reminds us that, "God rescued us from the dead-end alleys and dark dungeons.  He's set us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much, the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating."  We have received a free transfer to heaven from total darkness.  Jesus Christ has paid the fare-F-A-R-E and the fair-F-A-I-R.  Remember your parents telling you not to expect fairness in this life?  I do!  And here is the only overwhelming and undeniable exception; the exceptional Lamb of God.

      Look at this kingly procession.  We will be treated fairly in the next life only because of the branch of David.  The Firstborn of creation-all was created in him, through him, and for him.  Therefore, he is the head of the church.  He is its beginning; the beginning and the end, the Alpha and Omega once more.  He is firstborn from the dead.  No one else has transcended death and transmitted life to every tongue that confesses him.  Through him God reconciles the world and all things.  In his book, A Generous Orthodoxy, Brian McLaren talks about the deep meaning of this act of reconciliation from the Firstborn King of Heaven, "Jesus comes as a liberating, revolutionary leader, freeing us from the dehumanization and oppression that come from all 'the powers that be' in our world, including religious powers.  His kingdom, then, is a kingdom not of oppressive control but of dreamed-of freedom, not of coercive dominance but of liberating love, not of top-down domination but of bottom-up service, not of a clenched iron fist but of open, wounded hands extended in a welcoming embrace of kindness, gentleness, forgiveness, and grace."  The firstborn comes offering eternal life not just earthly comfort, the gift of grace not just earthly power, the intimacy with God not just earthly acquaintance. 

      In a few weeks, we will celebrate Epiphany.  Three wise men, thought by many to be kings, find the Christ child and offer expensive and wonderful gifts.  This Firstborn Child-King breaks the mold of kings forever.  He doesn't come in power and expectations of fealty, honorariums, or homage.  This Firstborn in all things offers the most amazing gift forever.  This King brings freely the Kingdom of God for each of us.  How could any of us sit on our hands and not fold them in prayer to offer our Thanks?