Christmas Eve Sermon
The Covenant

Dr. Michael Browder, Pastor
Sunday, January 11, 2009

The best part of human life is relationships. There is nothing like having a friend, someone to share life with. Truly blessed is the person who has a lot of friends, that they can count on, who are really understanding. We know that God created not only the relationship of friendship, but God also created the relationships of romance and marriage. If you don’t do anything else today, take a moment to lift up a prayer, and thank God for your friends and for your sweetheart.

Relationships center around being able to meet the needs of another person. In the best cases, this includes the need for accountability. Good relationships are based on good communication. I suppose that it is possible for two people to know each other so well, and love each other so effectively, that they could have a great relationship without ever having to say a word. I cannot image that as a reality, however. For us flesh and blood human beings, it takes a lot of communication to build a relationship.

Legal documents are about relationships and communication. Did you ever think about that? If you have ever been married, I know you have. Also, a legal document is a form of communication, setting out the expectations in a relationship. Usually, it communicates a penalty for not living up to the mutual expectations. Sometimes there is a reward for exceeding expectations. For instance, a builder will sometimes receive a bonus for finishing a project early, or incur a penalty for finishing late. Another example is a treaty, which is a legal document, setting out the relationship between nations.

So it’s all about relationships, and knowing the rules for a good relationship. One of our most precious relationships is our relationship with God. Since the time of creation, God has been lovingly initiating this relationship with us. And, through the centuries, the Lord has been communicating the rules for a good relationship with him. That’s what the Bible is all about.

Throughout the Bible, God’s relationship with us, and the rules for being God’s people, are outlined in something called a covenant. In many ways, a covenant is like a legal contract. A covenant is similar to the way a King, in ancient times, would outline his relationship with his people.

Archeologists have discovered the royal documents of the Hittite empire from 1400 B.C. The Hittites, who are mentioned a number of times in the Bible, lived in what is now Turkey, the same region of Asia Minor where the Apostle Paul would preach to their descendents a millennium and a half later. The Hittites would install a vassal king to rule over one of the smaller kingdoms of their empire. And the Hittite emperor would write a contract for the vassal king, which is very similar to the language of the covenants we have in the Bible.

The document would say: “I am Mursilis, King of Kings, Emperor of the Hittites, and I am making you my vassal ruler of this kingdom. Not only have I given you this honor, but I promise to protect you and your people, and to see that you have peace so that you can prosper and have a good living. In return, this is what I expect from you and your people: I expect you to provide the empire with tribute and taxes, and I expect you to provide soldiers for the imperial army when we need to defend our realm. I expect you to respect my authority and not be murmuring and complaining. [We also find this problem in the Bible.] If you abide by this covenant, these are the blessings I wish upon you. And if you violate this covenant, here are the curses and punishments, which I promise will befall you.”

You can see how this runs parallel to the language of the Bible: God says: “I have loved you, and blessed you, and saved you. Now, this is what I expect from you.”

In the Bible, there are three main parts to a covenant. First, an agreement is made between two parties. Second, an animal is sacrificed. The blood of the sacrifice is placed on the altar. And then the sacrifice is divided in half and the two parties walk through the middle. In Hebrew, the word for “make” a covenant actually means to “cut” a covenant. This symbolizes the fact that there are two parties and one agreement. Finally, the two parties share a ceremonial meal together.

We see all three of these steps in the Covenant of Christ in the New Testament. God has set out a plan of salvation for us through Jesus. This plan is made possible by his sacrifice on the cross for our sins. Holy Communion is the sacred meal that reminds us of that covenant.

There are several other landmark covenants in the Bible. There is the Abrahamic Covenant that God made with Abraham. This involved circumcision which is why Jews, to this day, refer to circumcision as beris “the covenant”. Then there was the Noaic covenant with Noah. Our first reading this morning came from that covenant. Then the Mosaic Covenant set out the law, especially the Ten Commandments. And then the Davidic Covenant set out the royal line of the Messiah.

In our reading, from Jeremiah, God promises a new and final covenant. This promise is fulfilled in the Messiah, who is Jesus. His covenant of salvation is sealed in the fact that he is the Lamb of God, whose sacrifice has taken away the sins of the world. His covenant is God’s salvation, made possible by God’s love. In Greek and in Old English, the word covenant is sometimes translated as Testament. That’s why we call it the “Old Testament” and the “New Testament” in the Bible. All the covenants

(small c) down to Christ have become the Old Covenant, now that Jesus has fulfilled their promises and has saved us. Christ is the New and ever-lasting Covenant (capital C). This final Covenant will never pass away!

This is what God has done for us. Now, what do we do for God? What is our part of the relationship, the “covenant”? Jesus said that it is about loving God and loving our neighbors. That’s what we are all about as a church. Jesus also said that it is about discipleship: growing in the word, active in fellowship, diligent in worship, compassionate in mission, open-armed in evangelism.

Membership in a church is a public commitment to the covenant of discipleship. We Methodists have always encouraged people to be committed as members of the church they attend. We value the discipleship of Christians in all churches because they are a part of the one Body of Jesus Christ. As members of this church, First United Methodist Church, we treasure the relationship which we have with Christ in this uplifting community.

The covenant relationship is a longstanding part of the Methodist tradition. As early as the 1750’s, John Wesley encouraged all Methodists to renew their covenant relationship with God, especially at the beginning of the year.

We now have a written membership covenant, for anyone who joins First United Methodist Church. I would like to read it to you this morning.

Here are the questions of the membership covenant:

This morning, I would like for us to spend some time renewing our relationship with God. I would like for us to do four things as a response to God’s Covenant with us.

First, I would like for us to read the Wesley Covenant prayer together. (p. 607)

Second, please spend a moment in silence talking to God about your relationship with Him and asking for guidance in the year ahead.

Third, I ask you to sign one of the green Covenant forms renewing your membership vows.

And then come forward, and kneel at the rail, and leave your signed Covenant form here at the altar of the Lord.

May God bless you as we spend time now renewing our covenant and relationship with God through Jesus Christ our Savior.

Genesis 9:12-16

Jeremiah 31:31-36

Gen. 15:9-10, 17-18

Jer. 34:18

Jer. 32:40