See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. (Col 2.8)

Taken Hostage (What can take us hostage?)

This past week we were again shocked by a situation which occurred just ‘round the corner in Bailey, Colorado. The story is becoming all too familiar: for any one of a hundred wrong reasons a gunman took innocent people hostage; by his action, lives were shattered and scarred; a community there and even here lost a little more of its innocence. The front page of Thursday’s Rocky Mtn News, captured the anguish and hurt that taking of hostages causes. We decry how could this happen and this must never happen again and yet it keeps happening.

As a parent and a former school principal, now pastor, my heart aches and goes out to everyone involved. As the week unfolded I kept thinking about the taking of hostages and how horrible that was and is, and as I thought about it, I pondered how many of us know about that situation, and our hearts go out to them, but how many of us never gave thought to the others who were taken hostage this past week- people taken hostage and we never heard about it.

How many kids or young adults were taken hostage by drugs like meth or alcohol? How many people were taken hostage by pornography- their lives and the lives of others scarred by its deceiving message, and what about gambling or workaholism? All these addictions take hostages and their families and friends suffer real hurt.

How many people this past week suffered a loss of innocence- I know these things happen but I never thought it would happen here or to me? How many people were taken hostage by cancer, mental illness, or some other disease? How many were taken hostage by unfairness or trouble or loneliness or by a hundred other things? How many of us have been taken hostage by the suicide of a friend or family member?

I believe that the hostages taken in these situations along with their families and friends suffer as much as the people in Bailey; they may suffer more because many of these hostage situations went largely unnoticed. Many were left to suffer and struggle alone.

And it isn’t just being taken hostage. How many of us have made hostages of others- by our sinful behavior: bullying others or withholding forgiveness? How many parents or grandparents have set up their children or grandchildren to be taken hostage by failing to teach them the things of God over the wisdom and reasoning of the world? Of all this St Paul writes: See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. (Col 2.8)

In one way or another we are all hostages of sin. It is written in St. Paul’s letter to the Romans; All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Rms 3.23) Some of us are hostages by what we’ve thought or said, others by what we have done or left undone; not one of us is righteous- innocent before God- all of us are hostages to sin from the youngest to the oldest from the most seemingly deserving to the most despicable.

The Hostage Exchange (What was His plan?)

I must confess that I love to watch those cliff hanger movies or read those books where all seems lost and into the hopeless situations comes that person who risks it all to save others. It might be Gary Cooper in High Noon, or Mel Gibson in Braveheart or one of the Sackett boys in a Louis Le’More westerns. I love to read real life stories of courage and of the people who gave unselfishly to save others. Let me tell you about a real live person who did step in to give His life to save others- to give His life as a ransom for the rest of us. Let me tell you of my Jesus.

Into the middle of all this chaos: hostages, hostage takers, and people sick with worry strides Jesus- a real life, larger than life hero. Jesus, who is God, came from heaven to rescue us. Yet, His plan to rescue us- taking on the very nature of a servant, humbling Himself even unto death on a cross- didn’t make sense to His followers. As we hear in the Gospel- upon hearing the plan- Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke Him. (Phil 2.6-8 & 1 Cor 1.18)

In true hero fashion He walked in among the chaos and said, “Let them go it is Me you want.” St Paul writes it this way: God made Him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us. (2 Cor 5.21) Laid upon Him was all our sins, the sins of others, the pain and suffering that accompanies and results from sin and living in a world devastated by sin. He became the hostage, and they led Him away to crucify Him.

He was delivered over to death for our sins (and the sins of the whole world). (Rms 4.25) The price set and paid to ransom us was all of His blood- the blood of one fully innocent person poured out in full. Truly, He is the atoning sacrifice (the ransom) for our sins and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.(1 Jn 2.2) He died victorious over sin but He still died…and they buried Him.

Throughout history there have been those who gave up their lives to save others. What makes this Jesus’ sacrifice different? Yes, He took the place of convicted felon, Barabbas, but how do we know that did anything for us. How do we know that it set us free from sin and death that accompanies it? We know it because three days later, just as He had foretold, He rose from the dead. His resurrection was witnessed and attested to by friend and foe alike. He rose victorious over sin and death. That victory He shares with any and all hostages- with you and me and that young girl in Bailey, Colorado. If you believe in Me, declares Jesus, you will not perish but have eternal life. (Jn 3.16) By His life, death, and resurrection we are set free.

But What About All Those who are Still Hostages (How can we help? What can we bring?)

But there are still many hostages out there. People who are left hostage by hurt, unfairness, disease, and the hardness of living in a fallen world. What about them? What about those who are left to pick up the pieces of losing a loved one or living with a life shattered by addictions or unfairness? What about those who have to go on living in this fallen world? What about them… They need us to come along side and tell them about our Jesus through His Words and by our deeds.

Some of us may come along side those who are struggling with all manner of addiction. We can walk with them until they hit bottom enough times that it gets their attention. Then when the time is right we have that which was given us- the Gospel. It is by and through the Words of Christ that we can offer real and lasting hope, comfort, direction, and even forgiveness. Blessed are those who have done all manner of sinful things for when they like us are brought to repent- to confess their sins and seek to turn from them- they like us will find comfort in God’s forgiveness. Truly, Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. (Matt 5.4)

Around us are those taken hostage by disease, life’s unfairness, loneliness and all manner of brokenness. Jesus has sent us to minister to them, to tell them of the Bethlehem stable, His miracles and teachings, the cross and the empty tomb.

As I tell you this, I am reminded of the man held hostage by a legion of demons. He, who having been set free of these demons, wanted to go with Jesus and His disciples and Jesus said to him, Return home, and tell how much God has done for you. (Luke 8.38)

It is with the Word of God that we are to go in and among those who are hurting. It is by that Word that we can offer real hope, healing, and comfort. God declared through the prophet Isaiah to and for all people, My Word will not return to me empty but will accomplish the purpose for which it is sent. (Is 55.11) It is by God’s Word and His Sacraments that we can wash and bind up the wounds of the hurting. They need us to speak the reassuring Words of the Psalms: Even though, I walk through the valley of the shadow of addiction, unfairness, hurt, disease, and all manner of struggle, I will fear none of this for You are with Me. (Ps 23.4)

Around us and even among us are those who are fearful of a world that seems to be spinning out of control; those who worry: could this violence or hard time over take me? What if this or that happens to me? Jesus, being fully God and yet very much fully man, knew first hand of the hardships and hard-times, of loss and uncertainty that come to us living in this fallen world- He says to us, In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world. (Jn 16.33) They, like us, need to hear again and again these comforting and victorious Words of Jesus.

It is the Word of God and all that Jesus has done for us that often compels us to action- to be the hands and feet of Christ to those in need. It is that Word that leads us: to visit the sick, to care for the hostages, to minister to the addicted, to speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves, and to share our gifts with others. (Matt 25.35-36 &James 1.27) By and through the ministry to others- telling, teaching and doing- we will find that our faith will be tested and it will be refined, so that when hard times come to us we may be better able to stand firm because of Him who stood firm for us and because the Holy Spirit who stands firm within us.

All around us are those who have been taken hostage by all manner of things. They need to hear of Jesus who sets the hostages free. They need to hear of Jesus who can minister to those who have been wounded and are hurting. They like us need to hear and see Jesus.

Amen