{"id":482,"date":"2002-03-24T17:15:11","date_gmt":"2002-03-24T17:15:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/?p=482"},"modified":"2020-12-03T08:48:54","modified_gmt":"2020-12-03T08:48:54","slug":"empty-yet-full","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/empty-yet-full\/","title":{"rendered":"Empty Yet Full"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Matthew 21:1-11<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

March 24, 2002<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sermon preached by Rev. Donald Ng at the First Chinese Baptist Church of San Francisco.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Imagine with me how it must have been like when Jesus entered Jerusalem. We got a sense from what the Scripture lesson said. But when we contrast how Jesus came into Jerusalem with how a Roman general would enter Rome, we see the difference of two worlds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Jesus rides upon a donkey, a symbol of peace and friendship, the Roman general would stand proudly in a chariot, a symbol of war and conquest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Jesus is surrounded by his ragtag band of former fishermen, peasants, and a tax collector, the Roman general would lead a marching army of battle-scarred soldiers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Jesus\u2019 followers wave palm branches that they have cut from trees, Roman soldiers would carry army battle banners and long poles, topped by proud eagles towering over columns of soldiers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the disciples and crowds hail Jesus with messianic quotations from the Psalms, the Roman crowds would praised the bloody victories won by the general, evidenced by the long lines of shackled prisoners behind his chariot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Jesus anticipates a week of controversy, the Roman general looks forward to a lengthy time of wining and dining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Jesus knows that soon his name will be made fun of and he will be condemned to death, the Roman general will see his name enshrined in the annals of the Roman Senate and his name added to the list of the heroes of the Empire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whereas the Roman general would have been \u201cfull of himself\u201d at fulfilling his ambitions, Jesus empties himself of all ambition and pride as he enters into the city where his enemies await him. From the temptations in the wilderness to his struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane, the only battle Jesus was having was with himself. \u201cHow would I submit to my Father\u2019s will?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emptying Himself<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

The metaphor of Jesus emptying himself comes from Paul\u2019s letter to the Philippians. (Read Philippians 2:5-11<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus who though was God did not think that he was equal to God. He didn\u2019t take advantage of that special relationship he had with God. Rather he emptied himself of all heavenly powers and entered into the body of a human being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus was not a powerful ruler or an upper-class noble. And for sure he was not a Roman general. He became a servant\u2014a slave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus humbled himself. Jesus became so obedient to God that he even went to the point of death on the cross.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But because of his obedience to empty himself of all privileges and advantages, God raised him up\u2014exalted him so high that God gave him the name that is above every name. All of creation\u2014every tongue\u2014Chinese and English, youth and adults, children and seniors would pay homage to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Jesus became empty, God made him full.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Imagine what the disciples must have been saying among themselves. When the disciples tried to talk him into giving them important positions in the coming kingdom, Jesus told them to become like children. When the disciples wanted him to take charge and lead them into battle for a redeemed Israel, Jesus told them, \u201cI have come not to be served, but to serve.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then Jesus told them that those who would like to follow him must pick up their own cross too. We are not talking about picking up little golden crosses in a jewelry store but life-sized rugged crosses used to crucify people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus flip-flopped things from what was expected of him\u2014giving up total power to become powerless.  In giving up power, he is able to have power to bring everyone to God. Roman soldiers might rise to posts of power and enjoy ordering around their underlings. But for Jesus\u2019 followers to be first in the kingdom, they would have to empty themselves of any thoughts based on acquiring power and authority over others. Jesus\u2019 disciples are to serve people not in ordering them around. Whereas most ambitious people are full of themselves, Jesus followers are to be full of God\u2019s Spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Filled with Riches<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

One of the biggest front-page news this past week was the voting by the stockholders of HP and Compaq to decide whether to merge the two companies together or to keep them separate. Although thousands of jobs would be cut, successful CEOs of American corporations are looking forward to reaping big rewards. Filling their pockets with credits and then lending their names to serve on powerful boards equates to achieving success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the realm of business lusting for power and dominance, leading to us being \u201cfull of ourselves\u201d can also be found in some of today\u2019s spiritual gurus. In their books, these so- called spiritual leaders have promised us wealth, health, and success if we follow the laws that they have discovered. Some even blatantly assure us that God wants us to be rich and famous. If we follow them, it leads us directly away from the Man who rode into Jerusalem on a donkey today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Right before I became your Christian Education minister in 1975, I invited my homiletics professor, Dr. Eddie O\u2019Neal to preach at my ordination service. I was pretty proud of myself! I finished seminary. I received the call by you to work in San Francisco. People in my class were ending up in small churches in out of the way places like Vermont and worn out churches in cities. But I was coming to California! Everyone was envious. In my \u201cnew\u201d robe, I was full of myself! Until Dr. O\u2019Neal got up behind the pulpit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The title of his sermon was \u201cCoolie for Christ!\u201d He told me and to all of my friends, family, and home church members who came to witness my accomplishments that for me to follow Jesus, I needed to be a \u201ccoolie.\u201d At that moment, I was shocked at what I heard. I realized I had a lot of personal ego to empty out of my life. But now I thank Dr. O\u2019Neal for speaking the word of God to me that I needed to hear before I started my first ministry. It\u2019s not where I graduated from. It\u2019s not this black robe I\u2019m wearing. It has never been what I have thought to be important. It has always been to be a servant, a slave, a coolie for Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Except for a few outstanding disciples such as an Albert Schweitzer or a Mother Teresa or a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Baptist Christians who have emptied themselves of personal ambitions, power and glory will seldom see themselves on the covers of magazines or invited into the halls of the rich and famous. By forgetting about ourselves and laying aside any prerogative of rank or privilege, we will be able to achieve great things for the kingdom of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Filled with the Spirit<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Today we witnessed how Nick Chan and Leslie Hirata emptied themselves of any privileges or honor to put on simple white robes. They humbled themselves like Jesus did. Being obedient to God and following Jesus\u2019 teachings, they received Baptism, a sign of emptying oneself with Christ so that they will be raised up with Jesus Christ as their Lord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Short-termed Mission Team is giving up an entire week to work with people in Mexico. They are not going for their own ambitions or pride. Rather they have learned that they are merely God\u2019s servants\u2014sharing God\u2019s love and making God known. They won\u2019t be famous and have their pictures on the covers of magazines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We all like to be full and flushed with money and power. But Jesus showed us that it is only when we empty ourselves of earthly treasures and fame that we are able to receive God\u2019s full measure of promise and eternal life. Instead of feeling full and complete by being full of ourselves, we are more often just \u201crunning on empty.\u201d We are running on false teachings. Unless we empty from our lives all pretensions of how great and wonderful we are, there\u2019s just not enough room for God\u2019s glory and power in our lives and in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Jesus became empty, God made him full. When we humble ourselves by emptying out all of our ambitions and pride, God will fill us and call us \u201cservant.\u201d God will say, \u201cWell done, good and faithful servant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

St. Francis<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

In January 1206, a conflict arose between Pietro Bernardone and his rebellious son, Francesco in a little Italian hill town named Assisi. After young Francesco came home from war and recovered from a long illness, he was acting strangely. In a little chapel named San Damiano, just outside the walls of Assisi, Francesco had a conversion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When he started to give away the family\u2019s cloth fabrics and money to the poor, his father was enraged. The father has built up the business and his son seems bent on tearing it down by giving everything away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conflict came to a head when the father appealed to the bishop. Pietro charged his son with being disobedient and ungrateful. Francesco\u2019s response was to tell his father that he would now cheerfully give him back his money and his clothes. At that moment, Francesco took off all his clothes and stood naked before everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to one account, the embarrassed bishop placed his own coat over the young man. Another says that Francesco walked away with a shepherd\u2019s rude cloak on him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In one brief act the son emptied himself of his inheritance\u2014his wealth and fine clothes, his status and security in the community\u2014in order to claim a greater inheritance, that of the Kingdom of God. To this day, the world continues to admire St. Francis of Assisi\u2019s daring commitment to the poor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fill by Jesus<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

On this Palm Sunday, we begin Passion Week. There will be many worship services for you to discover how Jesus emptied himself in obedience to God. In so doing, Jesus was filled with God\u2019s Spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We too can be empty and yet full at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Empty of selfishness, we are full of Christlikeness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Empty of ambition, we are full of willingness to do God\u2019s will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Empty of despair, we are full of hope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Empty of pride, we are full of compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let us pray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gracious Lord, we offer our lives to you by emptying out all of our personal ambitions of power and glory so that you may filled us with your Holy Spirit. Lead us not to succumb to our temptations but to strive to follow as your faithful disciples. Be with us this week as we experience your trial and passion knowing that the promise of Easter will come in your mercy and love. Amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Matthew 21:1-11 March 24, 2002 Sermon preached by Rev. Donald Ng at the First Chinese Baptist Church of San Francisco. Imagine with me how it must have been like whenContinue readingEmpty Yet Full<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[11,12],"class_list":["post-482","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-donald-ng-sermons","tag-fcbc","tag-matthew"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/482","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=482"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/482\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2553,"href":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/482\/revisions\/2553"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=482"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=482"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=482"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}