Lectionary 25; September 23, 2007; Bethel Lutheran Church, Rochester.
1 Timothy 2:1-7.

Dear Friends in Christ, Grace to you and Peace, from God our Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. AMEN.


What is your life worth? Perhaps $20,000? Such a strange and sad story came to us from Apple Valley this past week. Reportedly, a man impersonating a police officer lied his way into the home of a two-year-old boy whose grandmother was caring for him while the boy’s mother and father were at work—both happen to work for TCF Bank. The man then held the woman and grandson as hostages until a ransom could be paid. He threatened to harm the two unless the boy’s mother, a TCF bank manager, came up with about $20,000 to pay him off.

The dropoff of the money was completed, and the two were released unharmed near a kindergarten. The grandmother is quoted as saying that she was really broken up over the whole ordeal, that she didn’t know if she was going to die or not. Police are obviously investigating.

Evidently the two lives were worth $20,000. And the chances of success for the kidnapper, at least in the United States, are quite low. Peter Dobbs, agent for a London-based firm that deals with kidnappings and paying of ransoms, says that more than 95% of kidnappers are caught in the United States.

That is quite a contrast to Latin America where a ransom is almost certain to be paid and where many are successful with the crime. Or, worse, in the Middle East where the life of a kidnap victim is very precarious. A United Kingdom newspaper, The Independent, tells the story of an armed gang who kidnapped a family in Baghdad. The woman, Nadia, was accused of being a Christian. The husband, Mohammed, was accused of collaborating with the United States. They, along with their two children were taken by 12 armed men as hostages. The family was tortured, and Nadia was told she would be released so that she could raise $10,000 in ransom. She and Mohammed had a last tearful meeting in which Mohammed told her that they would never see each other again. The ransom was paid. Later the same day Nadia was told that Mohammed was at the morgue.

What is your life worth--$20,000, $10,000, millions? We read that European countries are offering millions to free their citizens from terrorists. Germany, France, and Italy would pay anything—as much as $6.7 million for one man—rather than risk the death of a citizen. Britain, the U.S., and Israel officially will not negotiate ransom demands, but it is an open secret that there have been exceptions. Because Germany will pay, German citizens, especially in Afghanistan because there are almost none left in Iraq, are attractive targets for kidnappers.

I have news for you. Your life is not worth $10,000 or $20,000. It isn’t even worth millions. It is of immeasurable worth! Your life is worth so much that the Son of God gave his life as a ransom for you. In Martin Luther’s explanation to the second article of the Apostles’ Creed, we read, in part, “At great cost Jesus Christ has freed me from sin, death, and the power of the devil—not with silver or gold, but with his holy and precious blood and his innocent suffering and death.”

Spend all the silver and gold you want on a king’s ransom. No matter what the amount, it is a paltry sum compared to the holy and precious blood of Jesus Christ.

This is the last week in which we consider Christian duty. Two weeks ago we lifted up our duty in Christ. Last week we offered the source of strength for that duty—the grace of Christ. And today we consider Christ himself—Christ doing Christ’s duty—for us!

Most of us have committed to memory the verse of the Bible that Martin Luther said is the gospel in miniature, John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” God gave up his Son to the world to do life-saving duty!

Paul, in the First Letter to Timothy, indicates that part of the duty is being a mediator between God and humankind. We don’t stand before God without the benefit of representation. On our own, we would be convicted of endless sins against God. There is no defense for us. The evidence is overwhelming—even for those we consider most Godly. Recent word has come to us that Mother Theresa, the sainted one who spent her life caring for the poor and dispossessed in Calcutta, had doubts about her faith. Do you think that Mother Theresa needed a mediator between herself and God? Without doubt.

Normally those we ask to represent us in certain matters come to us with qualifications. Lawyers have studied case law and passed the bar exam. Mediators have had to go through a training process and need to prove that they can effectively negotiate people through crises.

What of this Jesus—what has he done to prove that he can effectively represent us before almighty God? What of this—he gave himself as a ransom for all! This Jesus paid the price—more than a king’s ransom for us!

Sometimes we use courtroom language in the church, saying that we are justified, obviously coming form the root word, justice. In the church we say that we are justified by grace through faith; we receive justice through Jesus Christ. We really don’t want justice for ourselves. We want justice based on the ransom paid by Christ. We want justice through a mediator. We want justice that is given to us as a gift.

And so it is. Mother Theresa can work her fingers to the bone, but she needed justice through Christ the mediator. Pastors and bishops can appear to have the upper hand, an “in” with God, but all pastors including Billy Graham will need justice through Christ the mediator. That loving aunt that never seemed to do anything wrong—she will need Christ. That perfect family who lives down the street—they need Christ.

Christ is doing his duty. Christ has paid the ransom. Christ will mediate for us. What more do we need? Most of us need convincing of that fact. It is just too good to be true. Why would the only perfect person to have walked the face of this earth pay a ransom for me?

Even Mother Theresa had doubts. This past week I talked with a young woman undergoing a battery of tests about an unknown ailment. Her spirit is tired and she wonders why she is being tested. I visited with a wonderful student who is preparing for confirmation who has a strong faith—yet there are elements of the faith that still seem very odd her—almost a joke in some ways. Would Jesus pay the ransom for them? More seriously, would Jesus pay a ransom for those sitting on death row, for those who would abuse children, for those who willingly hurt or cheat others? There is no distinction. Christ Jesus has paid the ransom for all. Christ has done his duty.

Paul writes that God our Savior “desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” It doesn’t say that everyone will be saved or come to the knowledge of the truth. God certainly desires that, and God has paid the ransom through Jesus Christ.

Who is saved and who is not? We don’t know. Only God can look into the hearts of men and women. What we do know is this. The debt has been paid. Christ has done his duty. God gives us the strength to do our duty. Thus, in response to God’s great love in Christ Jesus, we are called to gladly do our duty—even being heralds of the good news. AMEN.