Dear friends: grace and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ

Let's pray:

[Mike the headless chicken and various and sundry chicken facts.]

The Bible lessons are full of animals this morning. There are animals in the first lesson from Genesis, when God's covenant is made with Abraham. In the reading from Luke there are chickens and a fox – and we all know what happens to chickens when the fox is around. Chickens die. Foxes get fed. So what's up with all the animals?

In our lesson from Genesis, we have the word of the Lord coming to Abram. That was his name before God changed his name. Abram and Sarai mean “exalted father,” and “My princess.” God had promised to Abram and Sarai that they would have children, that they would have a land – a “promised” land - and that through them the nations would be blessed. (Later God changed Abram to Abraham – “exalted father” becomes “father of many”. Sarai - “my princess” - becomes Sarah “princess” - honoured by more than just her parents, husband or children.)

The word comes to Abram – Don't be afraid, I am your shield. And Abram says, “Um, Lord? I don't wanna complain or anything, but you had promised offspring to Sarai and myself, and thus far, nothing. The only heir in my house is my servant, Eliezer. No heir born to me. I mean, I'm just saying...”

And God says, “Come outside and look at the stars. Can you count them?That's how many your descendants will be.” And the next words are so very important to us who come after Abram: “Abram believed the LORD, and God credited it to him as righteousness.” God promised and Abram trusted God, and he was made righteous – right with God. How? By working hard? By climbing up the spiritual ladder? By getting circumcised? No, by trusting the promises of God. He was saved by faith in God who promises.

These cut up animals that follow, and the smoking pot that follows – and no, they weren't smoking pot - the smoking firepot and torch– that's the covenant-making process that says, “May this happen to me – to be cut in pieces – if I don't fulfill my end of the bargain. You will have children, I promise you. You will have a land, I promise you. You will be a blessing to the nations, I promise you.”

And you notice? In making the covenant, in passing between the cut up animals, only God does it. Only God passed between the cut up animals. Only God says, “May this happen to me, if I don't keep my promises.” Abram did not. He was passed out. God will do this for Abram, whether Abram is faithful or not. It's a one-way, you-don't-deserve-this, but-I am-gonna-do-it-out-of love-for-you, you-cantankerous-old man – kind of promise.

So. Animals in the Old Testament. And for Jesus? Animals. In one of the only positive portrayals of a Pharisee in the New Testament, we have a Pharisee warning Jesus. Remember the Pharisees and Jesus were often at odds with each other. The Pharisees were careful not to break the law, thinking, if I keep the law, then God will keep His promises. Jesus, knowing we cannot keep the law because of our sin, well, Jesus is on the side of faith. Trust God who forgives sin, not yourself and your ability to fulfill the law. It cannot be done by us. Trust God, who keeps His promises.

Herod wants to kill you, the Pharisee says to Jesus. This was not the Herod from Jesus' birth. A different Herod – Herod Antipas, who had killed John the Baptist. Apparently Herod Antipas wants to get rid of any religious leaders save the ones with official stamps of approval.

And Jesus says, “You tell that fox that I am busy.” I don't think it's an accident that Jesus called Herod a fox. Sly, crafty, stealing chickens from the hen house. I don't know if you saw the movie – Fantastic Mr. Fox. Great, old-school animation and a wonderful story and cast. Not as nice at Fantastic Mr. Fox, Herod is a fox, with chicken feathers and blood in his teeth.

So Jesus says, “You tell that fox that I am busy. Today and tomorrow I will be healing the sick, casting out demons; the third day” – and just think for a minute just what happened on the third day – on the third day he rose from the dead. “The third day, I'm wrapping things up.”

In Luke 9, we read that Jesus has set his face towards Jerusalem. In the translation, The Message, it says, “He gathered up his courage and steeled himself for the journey to Jerusalem.” He's not tin Jerusalem yet – but there he is going to suffer and die, and on the third die rise from the dead. God will set things right through the death and resurrection of Jesus. God's promise of doing something about sin once and for all will be fulfilled.

Herod would not be the cause of Jesus' death. It would be Rome and the Jewish religious leaders, and it would happen in Jerusalem. Jesus says, “Besides, it's not proper for a prophet to come to a bad end outside Jerusalem.”

And then he begins his lament – his mourning and crying over Jerusalem and their hard-heartedness towards God: “

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killer of prophets, 
abuser of the messengers of God! 
 How often I've longed to gather your children, 
gather your children like a hen, 
Her brood safe under her wings— 
but you refused and turned away! And now it's too late: You won't see me again until the day you say, 
'Blessed is he who comes in 
the name of God.'" Jerusalem would not see Jesus again until they welcome him with palms and hosannas, just before they kill him.

There are desires and wants woven through this passage we have from Luke. Herod wants to kill, Jesus wants to protect, to save, the people of God, the chicks do not want any help, thank you very much. Herod the fox might have his way, Jerusalem the chicks might have their way, but it is ultimately Jesus the hen who has His way. The desire of God is for mercy, for reconciliation, for forgiveness of sins and for peace and rest, and it will only come through the death of the hen, through the death of the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

So – who are we trusting in this morning? Are we trusting in our selves and our plans? Or are we trusting in the one who fulfills His promises? Are we trusting our won arms to save us? Or are we trusting in the one who would gather us under his wings, who then he spread out his arms on the cross. The chicken is dead, but in dying, he offers to all forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. Trust Him. He is faithful to his promises.

Amen.