Free tickets for Third Class

Text: John 15:26 "When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning….   INTRODUCTION:  My dear friends in Christ, back when the West was being settled the major means of transportation was the stagecoach. We have seen persons riding in stagecoaches in western movies. What we might not know is that the stagecoach had three different kinds of tickets: first class, second class, and third class. If you had a first class ticket, that meant you could remain seated during the entire trip no matter what happened. If the stagecoach got stuck in the mud, or had trouble making it up a steep hill, or even if a wheel fell off, you could remain seated because you had a first class ticket. If you had a second class ticket you also could remain seated "until there was a problem.” In case of a problem, second-class ticket holders would have to get off until the problem was resolved. You could stand off to the side and watch as other people worked. You didn't have to get your hands dirty. But second-class ticket holders were not allowed to stay on board. When the stagecoach was unstuck you would get back on and take your seat. If you had a third-class ticket, you would definitely have to get off if there was a problem.  Why? Because it was your responsibility to help solve the problem. You had to get out and push or help lift to fix a broken wheel or whatever was needed because you only had a third class ticket.1  Fortunately, the stagecoach is no longer a major means of transportation. Few today would like this system. In a way you can apply this to Jesus.  It seems that Jesus had a third class ticket
A.  You could say he got off the stagecoach of heaven because there was a problem here on earth.  You might expect the King of heaven to have a first class ticket.  But not this King.
	1.  His work began in a stable.  There probably were no draft horses there, but He was probably familiar with other animals.
			a.  He got his hands dirty working as a carpenter.  I’m sure He could fix a broken stagecoach wheel if necessary. He did fix a broken humanity. b. Part of His work was to keep God’s law for us.  That’s one thing it took to fix us.  And His work included His teaching people how to live, how to repent, how to forgive, and how to love and care for others.  c. Seldom did He ride--certainly no stagecoaches anyway.  The only record of Him riding was that time he rode a donkey on Palm Sunday. There was no first class ticket here.
	2.  Another part of His work involved being taken by hate-filled men and being beaten and mocked. And then He was taken to a cross and nailed upon it.
			a.  He shed his blood for us.  God punished Him for our sin.  He paid the infinite price for our almost infinite amount of sin.  He died.  b.  He did this all for us.  He took responsibility for the problem of sin and conquered it out of love for us.  He certainly had a third class ticket and did His work. c.  He did His work so well that God commended Him by raising Him from the dead on that first Easter.
B.  The disciples of Jesus had third-class tickets, too--although it took them a while to realize it.
	1.  They were the ones who were charged with the responsibility of telling others the good news of Christ.
			a. And there were some things Christ needed them to see.   The apostles watched as Jesus was taken up to heaven in a cloud. b. They stood there looking up amazed at what had taken place. Suddenly two men in bright white robes stood before them. They asked the apostles, "Why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven, will return in the same way...."
	2. Notice what happened next. The apostles returned to Jerusalem with great joy. They met daily for prayer.
			a. They began to prepare themselves for what lay ahead.  Then they were given the Spirit.  Now they began to understand that they were on third class tickets, too.  And they went to work preaching and teaching about Jesus. And through them the news of what Jesus had done spread throughout the world.  b. What Jesus and the Spirit did was more significant than this: And in that way the Spirit gave birth to the Church, which is like a stagecoach whose job it was to bring people to it and to make third class travelers, who also carry the news of Jesus throughout the world.
II. Now he comes to us in Word and Sacrament and gives us the blessings He won.  We are given forgiveness, salvation and life.  These are given to us freely for no cost.
A.  We are changed.  He makes us new creatures.  He begins to make us like Him.
		1.  He makes us part of His church – and that puts us on the stagecoach headed for the ultimate destination, heaven.  2. And He moves us to see that we have third class tickets, because we are like Him.  And people with third class tickets work just like Jesus did.  I know our work is not as large scale as Jesus’ was but we all have our parts.  Not as large scale as the disciples but are called to do His work too.
B.   But today we often forget that we are made to be like him.  We are made to have third class tickets.
		1.  It seems that one of the problems the church is facing today is that too many people think they have first-class tickets.
			a.  Such people just sit and expect to be catered to, waited on, and, of course, pampered. These people expect everything to go their way, and when things don't, they get upset. b. A pastor was talking with a man who was about to join his church. The man said, "I want to join the church because I want to be fed." The pastor replied, "Well, that's fine, but we all would be better off if you would take off your bib and put on an apron!"2   Obviously this pastor was getting tired of having members content with sitting in the first-class section. This is not being like the Jesus who saved us.
		2.  We also have a few who think they have second class tickets, too. These folks ride along until there is a problem. Then they become detached spectators. They attend church on a regular basis, but you can’t ask persons with second class tickets to get more than nominally involved, because they will not.
			a. Second class travelers are often like this: A wealthy family from Massachusetts used to take a month’s vacation every summer to the coast of Maine, taking their maid with them. The maid had an annual ritual at the beach. She wore an old-fashioned bathing suit, complete with a little white hat, and carried enough paraphernalia to stock Wal-Mart. She would settle herself on the beach, cover every inch of her exposed flesh and journey down to the water’s edge. There she would hesitate while taking deep breaths and working up her courage to enter the icy-cold water. Finally, she would daintily extend one foot and lower it slowly into the water until she barely had her big toe submerged. Then she repeated the act with the other foot. Then, having satisfied her minimal urge for a swim, she would retreat to her chair and umbrella and spend the remainder of the vacation curled around a book. b. I’m afraid that may be a parable of a second class ticket passenger.
		3. Thankfully we have a few folks left in the church willing to travel with a third-class ticket. There are always some who are willing to get out and push when the going gets tough.
			a. And the going will get tough.  It was tough for Jesus.  It was tough for the disciples. It will be tough for us as we ride on our stagecoach, the church. When those stagecoaches went through the West there was always rough terrain, that might break wheels or axles.  [Video]  John Wayne is definitely a third class passenger.  It’s the same today for the church.  There’s always leaky roofs and difficult people who give the church rough times. b. There were enemies then.  In the movies the enemies were the Indians.  [Video]  But today there are those working for the devil against the movement of the Church.  But Jesus has defeated this enemy as we have seen.  c. And so often the third class passengers get tired, they get burned out.  It would be better if more and more were on third class tickets. The more who are involved the easier the tasks and more will get done.  And fewer will get burned out.  The easier the rough patches would be overcome. d. Jesus is counting on you and you and you and me to all be third class passengers. And the good news is, we are not alone. The Holy Spirit is here to mold us, fill us, and use us.
CONCLUSION:  Yes the church is a bit like being on a stagecoach.  We’ve been put on the coach by Jesus, and given a free ticket.  And third class tickets call us to work for Him, not to get heaven, but because we’ve been given heaven and are made to be like Jesus.   And as we travel He gives us all the gifts we need to overcome the rough patches that come before us and to do the work He desires.  Amen.    [1]  Yes, Lord, I Have Sinned. James W. Moore. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1991, pp. 45-46. [2]  Ibid., p. 51.