Acts 21:17-26 “Visiting Just James”

Last week in our journeys with Saint Paul, we saw Paul crying in prayer with his apostles in the town Miletus, outside of Ephesus. From that point, we know that at least Luke gets on the boat with him at the port because the text turns to “we.” We know that Luke is the writer of Acts, so at least Paul is not completely alone as he travels back to Jerusalem. The ship sails with prevailing winds past the island of Rhodes and then along the coast of Cypress, finally landing at Tyre (present day Tyre in Lebanon) then skirting down the coast to Caesarea Maritima (present day Israel), where he stays with the Apostle Philip. .

Everywhere Saint Paul goes during this time, the prophecy says to turn back–”Do NOT go to Jerusalem.” One particular prophet and follower of Jesus named Agrabus actually takes Saint Paul’s belt off of him, proceeds then to tie his own hands and feet together with the belt, and then pointedly states that Saint Paul will be in the same predicament if he goes to Jerusalem. I have to say that one cannot get much more clear than that. By the way, the bible does not state that Saint Paul ever got his belt back. Poor Agrabus might still be tied up somewhere. That is right, “He is all tied up at the moment.”

Paul states that he is fine with the idea of going to prison (again). “Anything for Jesus!” He is ready to lay his life out on the line for the Gospel. This is like ending your summer vacation by going back home where you know already that you will be arrested.

Why is Saint Paul so intent on getting to Jerusalem?

(1)I believe that we are looking at a special relationship that developed between Saint Paul and Saint James. After all, James was on the council in Jerusalem when Paul (after his conversion) was presented by Baranabas; that is, Paul’s meeting the risen Christ on the Road to Damascus. You will recall that Paul was on his way to persecute and kill Christians when Jesus appeared to him in a bright light on the road, making Paul blind until his sight was restored to him by the believer Ananais.

James has had somewhat of a similar experience, being the true brother of Jesus. Throughout the gospels there are references to the brothers and sisters of Jesus. Yet, they are not listed as disciples of Jesus. They do not seem to accept the godhood of their brother. Then, after the resurrection, Jesus, the risen Jesus who was just crucified, appears before his brother James. We can read this in 1 Corinthians 15:7-8. So, both James and Paul were once non-believers who have met the risen Lord in their lives and now believe. Saint James could very much relate to Paul’s meeting Christ on the road. So, James commissions Paul in his ministry to be an apostle, one who is sent.

(2) I believe that Paul was so predisposed to go to Jerusalem because he knew that Jesus’ brother James was about to be martyred for his faith, just as Saint Paul understood and accepted his own future martyrdom. Not long after Saint Paul’s visit, historians (Justinian and Eusebius) report that Saint James was apprehended by a mob of angry Jewish scholars who threw him from the Temple wall. Seeing that he was not quite dead, they then stoned him to death for blasphemy. So, Paul is going to see James in this life while they can still be together in this world and before being in heaven together.

You know, in my own summer travels over these last years, it has been to see people that I might not ever get to see again. This is the first summer in many years that I have not been back to Germany, that is of course because my favorite Uncle Olaf did pass away two years ago. All of the memorials are over now. That is what I tend to do. I travel to go be with people. I am not really interested in just seeing places anymore. That was for my teenage years! Frankly, I think I have seen almost every place I would want to see, but maybe with a few exceptions still. So, Saint Paul is going to Jerusalem to be in the company of Saint James–not to mention that Saint Paul used to be on the Sanhedrin there in Jerusalem and still has other family and friends in town, too.

(3) The last reason that I see that Saint Paul really needs to go to Jerusalem has to do with the fact that he had been collecting offerings to help the church there. You may recall earlier in this sermon series how it was that Lydia in Philippi had entrusted a gift to Jerusalem with Paul. Since last week we heard Paul reiterate Christ’s words that it is better to give than to receive, we find that Paul is seeking a personal blessing from James whilst bringing a blessing from the other churches. We are seeing mutual blessings going in both directions.

Back in the day people traveled to go to holy sites to receive blessings. This was especially true for those with infirmities. Chaucer wrote the Canterbury Tales in the thirteenth century to describe the journey that a group of pilgrims took to the church in Canterbury. Over twenty million visitors every year go to the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico to receive blessings. Several of our own members have gone on El Camino de Santiago in Spain. That journey is all about blessings!

In the more modern mythology of Hollywood we have the enchanting story of The Wizard of Oz. The young girl Dorothy is set upon the “yellow brick road” to find the Wizard of Oz who can perhaps send her home to Kansas once more. Along the way she meets three unlikely traveling companions. The scarecrow needs the blessing of a brain. The tin man needs the blessing of a heart. The lion needs the blessing of courage. So, they are “off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz.” It is a journey for blessings.

When was the last time that you traveled to be a blessing or to receive a blessing? I will tell you! When you came to church this morning. With no offense intended to our online congregation, but clicking on the link is not the same as making the journey! I may click on my phone and be virtually anywhere in the world. I can look at pictures and videos of Kauai, or I can live the blessings in this place here and now. Paul never wrote a letter to James or the church in Jerusalem. He got on the ship and sailed, and walked, to be there–to be a blessing and to receive the blessing of being with the brother of Christ. Yes, there is a difference.

Saint Paul reaches Jerusalem with his heart set to share his ministry with James and the church there. He brings the offerings from Philippi that Lydia had gathered on their behalves. He is with Luke who chronicles everything precisely. Yes, he is ready to bless the church there as he had in other places by sharing the gospel, healing, and doing miracles even in the name of Jesus. How do the people in Jerusalem react? There is a false claim made against Paul: “You are leading people away from the faith!” The same claim is always made by desperate and degenerate priests! These were not unlike the charges brought against Jesus at the time of his death on the cross.

All Paul has to do is prove himself. He has to shave his head as a vow. Not only that, he has to pay for four others to also take the vow. He does this. Remember, he has shaved his head before in Cenchraea before going on his next mission trip. He is very much okay with keeping the ancient Jewish traditions.

I find it interesting though that they do not want Paul to preach. They do not want him to do some of those incredible healing miracles had been doing in the name of Jesus. They do not want him to share in the Lord’s Supper. They want him to shave his head and go in to pray in the Temple with them. Yes, this is the same temple that will be destroyed as Jesus foretold really very shortly after this. What a waste of time and trouble! Right?!

Why do they insist that Paul shave his head, wear the traditional robe, and make the sacrifice of hosting four others that are young men moving into the ministry. In his travels, Saint Paul has been stoned, beaten, and mobbed. Saint Paul has worshipped with women in Philippi down by the river. He has preached in the agora and on the Areopagus in Athens. He has sat in the marketplace in Corinth and spoken of Jesus while sewing tents together for a living. He has already privately shaved his head in Cenchrae and made a vow to God. However, the church in Jerusalem sees all that as simply not enough to hear Paul out. Saint Paul must be properly cut and dressed to perform the rituals in the Temple that is already cursed by Jesus!

James instructs that Paul must also pay for the four young men and their sacrifices in the Temple. Sooooo, it seems that at least part of the money that was given to Paul to bring to the needy in the church in Jerusalem is going into the coffers of the cursed Temple instead.

Do you want to hear a funny story? A few years ago I was privileged to be invited to preach in a church in Zurich, Switzerland, to help mark the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s protestant reformation. I was specifically asked to share something Hawaiian as subject matter. I chose to talk about the concept of “ho’oponopono.” Also, I decided to just wear what I wear here, the Hawaiian floral shirt. I thought that would add to the flavor of the sermon.

The pastor of the church saw me (and note that he is a friend from seminary) and quickly told me that I needed to wear at least a formal jacket, if not an entire robe. He was sure that nobody would listen to me if I did not look like a Swiss pastor. He let me borrow a suit jacket from his closet–it fit so tightly that I really looked ridiculous, but that is how I preached.

So it is that when we are traveling and representing Christ to the rest of the world, we have to respect and even emulate other cultures so that we may be heard. By the way, the next week I travelled to Germany and preached in the town of Unna as well–the Germans did not really mind the floral shirt at all–no jacket or robe was needed. Everything was Ho’oponopono.

In the end, Saint Paul did what was expected of a great religious leader of Jerusalem in order that people would listen to the gospel that he had to share and accept the gifts that he had to give in the name of Jesus. He did this to save souls. If it is for the goodness of God, simply do what is expected of you!

Amen.