4/2/50

Scripture: Matthew 21: 1-11; 27: 35.

Text: Matthew 27: 35a; “And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots.”

How well assured some of the circumstances of living seem! Here was Jesus, the prophet of Nazareth, riding into the Palestinian city of Jerusalem. His people had long expected a Messiah. Those who could read the sacred writings remembered, when they saw him, that it had been written that the king would come to Sion meek, riding on a donkey. Here it was coming true - before their eyes! Late-comers to the little procession joined the crowd of enthusiasts, and swelled it into a multitude. They all shouted their praises, and they paved the narrow street with their garments and with tree branches. It was an occasion of such enthusiasm that the growing triumph of the carpenter’s son must have been taken for granted by all except those who had already determined to use their power to get rid of him as soon as the circumstances could be shaped.

With Jesus, it must have been quite otherwise from the crowd. He must have known that a swift-moving drama was shaping up. While multitudes of people would listen, he would teach all who would hear of the ways of God. But long before the week was out, he would have had his last meal with his chosen disciples, would have been taken by the cunning of his mortal enemies, tried, sentenced, and put to death. And, of course, that is exactly what happened. For on Friday a group of Roman soldiers, on execution detail, were gambling for his clothes while they waited for him to die on a cross where they had nailed him.

1) Life is full of chances, some of them quite unforseeable, and others not so opaque. Sometimes one hears it said that all life is a gamble and that every one of us is a gambler. I always wince a little at the statement for it so often connotes a recklessness and selfish disregard for others that ill fits a sober follower of the Nazarene Lord.

An ethically-minded civilization does well to make constant war on organized gambling as we know it in the popularly accepted sense. There is something about it that urges participants toward degradation. Not that everyone who ever laid a bet on an election outcome or an auto race is a depraved soul. But organized gambling has so much of sheer selfishness in it as to be morally dangerous. Perhaps the element of danger is a part of its fascination for some.

A drug store clerk, his face strained and flushed, asks intently, “Mister, who won the third race?” And the hearer knows that he is not referring to the human race but to the horse races at the track nearby. He had taken a chance on winning something much more quickly than he could have earned it by his work. Of course, statistically, he is always the loser. But he hopes to be one of the few who come out ahead --- on the loss of others, of course.

Times do not change much in some respects. Those Roman soldiers, waiting for a man to die, passed the time gambling for his clothes. That was all he had; a tunic, an outer robe, probably a turban, sash and sandals. Who wore them afterward? The clothes of a condemned man were usually taken by his executioners, and they cast lots for that small booty. Of course they were past feeling or they would have had the remnant of decency to wait until he had died. But, no -- to the unimaginable cruelty of his torture they added the ghoulish torture of dividing up his very clothes in front of his eyes -- gambling for them. But really, is gambling always wrong? Or does it just appear unusually out-of-taste in such an instance as this? Is there a harmless kind of chancing? May there even be a noble form of gambling?

The “harmless” kind, if it exists, is still a little like having a lion cub in the house -- a charming pet which, if uncurbed, can grow into a ravenous beast. What is wrong with so much of gambling? If a man win, he has that which he has neither earned nor received as a good will gift. If he lose, some of the stuff of his life -- or the living even of others -- is gone without any exchange except the hollow thrill of mistaken anticipation that preceded the loss. It is waste and he knows it.

A certain student, having an “inside tip” that proved to be really “inside” (for once) on the market, took a flyer on the strength of the tip. Later he bragged quite openly about his profits on the market rise. An old Scotch professor asked quietly, “Did you earn it? Was it given?” Then he added, much more quietly, “Somebody lost it.”

2) So much for a comment on that kind of gambling. But let us be concerned with much wider issues. Caiaphas and Pilate “took a chance,” as indeed those in seats of authority must do. Living is a venture for everyone. You can not walk down the street without taking risks. When Dr. G. A. Johnston-Ross, a great theologian of the past generation retired from the professor’s chair, he went from New York to Honolulu to spend the rest of his days. Toward the end of his life he was often a bit gloomy over the uncertainty of his days, for he had a progressive cardiac ailment. A former student of his, who was a minister, came to town for a few days and was invited to stay at his home. Talmadge was about to leave the house one morning on a brief errand when Dr. Ross said, “Well, goodbye; I may not be here when you get back.” Perceiving that the good doctor needed a little joshing or cheering, Talmadge put on a solemn face and said, “I know just how you feel, Dr. Ross. It is highly uncertain that you will see me again - for I may not get back. I may get hit by a car downtown!”

Some wag remarked that there are only two kinds of pedestrians in New York City - the quick and the dead! There is an uncertainty - an element of chance in much of living which one must accept in order to have any semblance of serenity. No business can be conducted without venture. A farmer “gambles” on the weather for his harvest. All new discovery is by a large element of risk. Our nation seems bent on cutting out, or at least cutting down on the risk. But it is foolishness to think it can all be eliminated. There is no such thing as absolute security for human living.

This kind of venture holds high matters of the soul. Shall we live for a noisy world -- a crowd shouting Hosannas; or for the still, patient, insistent voice of God-given conscience? Shall we live for the moment, or for eternity? It is a least reasonable to suppose that a universe that has brought forth personal life is governed by a personal God -- fully as reasonable as to believe that creation is a mere spasm. It is intelligent to judge life by its best, namely, the spirit of Jesus - fully as intelligent as to judge it by its worst, namely a devilish deadness that shoots dice at the foot of a suffering man’s cross.

Of course reason can not demonstrate, with laboratory certainty, that conscience is a better treasure than cash. It that were the case then men would choose good for advantage and the real virtue of the choice would vanish. We must take the risk of soul against body or body against soul. Caiaphas and Pilate bet on the body politic as against the soul. It seemed a sure-fire thing that could not miss. In the light of history, would you want their winnings?

3) Jesus -- let us say it reverently -- took a chance. He must have known, even as he entered Jerusalem, that the dice were loaded against his winning the victory so many others wanted- the power of influence over many people. All he really wanted for others was the influence of God. He knew of the chance he was taking before he reached Jerusalem. His disciples sensed it, too, and they were frankly dismayed when he set his face to go to Jerusalem. They tried to dissuade him from the risk that even they could see. Their trouble was that they could not then see the prize which only God can bestow -- that peace of soul that one wins from doing what is right regardless of the way that “luck” may turn.

Jesus ventured his soul on God, for the love of mankind -- and at terrific hazard. “I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me,” he had said. [John 12: 32]. He was “lifted up” in shame upon a cross. By logic or other visible proof, he lost in life’s gamble. By faith, and only by faith, he knew that God was on the side he had chosen. Even while his pain-racked body was screaming “No,” his soul continued to say “Yes.” When it was over, a Roman centurion, who had seen it, said in fearsome awe, “Truly this was the son of God!” [Mark 15: 39].

Jesus risked his entire life, his very physical existence, on a righteousness so overwhelmingly great that it was worth his losses. It was a fulfillment of his own teaching that “he that loseth (that is, spendeth) his life shall find it.” There is a reverent sense in which one may say Jesus lost to win! Perhaps that is an overturning of human wisdom, but perhaps, again our human wisdom should be so overturned! Let a man lose his life in lowliness while others climb for name and fame and prestige. Let him lose his life in alleviating human need while others seek the main chance. Let him die like a hopeful seed in the dark, moist earth, that perchance, a new radiance may bloom above the sod. Thus did Jesus take a chance in entering mighty Jerusalem. Thus did the Savior venture the tremendous risk of the cross!

The tragedy of Jesus’ venture reveals the sorrow of God for the cleansing of our souls from sin and stubbornness. Beyond that tragedy, Jesus returns -- because he hazarded his very soul unto death. His victory was won by the loss of his body in death.

4) You and I must gamble in the higher style. Someone says that “Religion is betting your life that there is a Christ-like God.” It is not a blind bet. It does not depend on an inside tip. Reason gives as much support, and I believe more, to faith than to unfaith. But God can not be proved as a theorem can be demonstrated. God can be known only by a venture of faith. Receive him, and live your life as though he does watch over his own. And you will find a growing assurance of His care over your going out and your coming in.

When all the arguments are over, you and I must stake our lives at something! How are you betting? Like those Roman soldiers? Have a care! That kind of chancing is at best the turning of life over to a casual pastime; at its worst it is a destroying fever!

Then how are you betting? Like Pilate and Caiaphas? Do not bet time against eternity. Blessedness is not the winning to be had from that kind of gambling. Do not bet that God is looking the other way.

Then how shall you bet? Like Christ? You can not; for there is only one Christ. But you can bet on his suffering sacrifice, for it cleanses you with God’s pardon for your repented sin. You can venture your soul with Christ for all eternity!

A doctor in a quiet little town heard of an epidemic in a lonely island out on a lake. He wasn’t too much of a doctor so far as equipment, and even method, was concerned. His strips of adhesive were tacked to the door casing where they hung for a long time and the scissors with which he cut the strips were long innocent of any sterilizer. But he had a truly great heart. He must get to that island! No boat could hope to get 30 or 40 miles through that ice. Perhaps an airplane? But the airport was miserable in summer. Was it even possible as a landing strip in winter? A pilot with a sense of venture as great as his, decided to try the flight -- and somehow they made it! Was it worth the risk? Reason could have been enlisted on the side of security --- the trip was too dangerous. And after all, there were plenty of sick people to care for where he was. But two men’s souls gathered to the venture, with the feeling that the gamble was worth the risk come life or death.

Why gamble a cheap way when you can take life’s chances in noble soul? Race track stuff is so petty while the world waits for men who will hazard their lives for peace, for brotherhood, for God -- accepting great risks day by day in the name of Christ.

The log of Columbus read, night after night: “And this day we sailed on” --- “And this day we sailed on” ---- “And this day we sailed on.” Still no sight of land. But you and I live in America!

The man who sails by faith, taking his chances with the one who rode lowly into Jerusalem, and even on the Golgotha if it works out that way, will reach a shore of blessedness for himself and his posterity. -- Or will he? You and I can prove it only with the venture.

Jesus took a high and holy chance. High religion, for us, is betting our lives that there is a Christ-like God.

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Delivered in Wisconsin Rapids, April 2, 1950.