English manuscript of the February 23rd Sunday sermon

Luke 18:1-8"What Kind of Faith Does He Expect?"

1.     Today's passage is one that I preached on once in 2022. You may or may not remember it, but it is a passage where a widow, who was wronged by an unjust judge, persistently cried out for justice until the judge granted her request. One could interpret this passage as saying that if we earnestly cry out, God will hear us. However, I previously emphasized that we should focus more on the phrase in verse 1: "Do not lose heart."

2.     This is the last week of February, and soon we will enter March. As Koreans, we know that March 1st is a very significant date. Because of this, Korean churches observe the last Sunday of February as the March 1st Commemoration Sunday. Among historical churches, the San Francisco Korean Church still shouts "Long live Korean independence!" during worship as a commemoration.

3.     Though it is meaningful and something we should remember, the reality is that our memory of the March 1st Movement has faded over time. During my recent visit to Korea, I walked through Seochon, the area west of Gyeongbokgung Palace leading to Sajik Tunnel, for the first time. Though I had often passed by in a car, walking there felt like an entirely new experience—I even questioned whether I was truly a Seoulite, given how unfamiliar it all seemed.

4.     Among the places I encountered was Dilkusha, a modern Western-style house built by Albert Taylor, a mining entrepreneur and an Associated Press correspondent. Taylor was the one who reported the March 1st Movement to the world. He was expelled by the Japanese authorities and later passed away from a heart attack in California. According to his will, he was buried at the Yanghwajin Foreigners' Cemetery in Korea. Though his role in the March 1st Movement is not often emphasized, learning about him felt significant and new to me. We tend to remember only a few fixed figures in historical events. For example, Ryu Gwan-sun is still primarily introduced as the symbolic figure of the movement, but I believe it is meaningful to recognize others who also dedicated everything to the cause.

5.     When Taylor’s wife was hospitalized at Severance Hospital for childbirth, nurses hid copies of the March 1st Declaration of Independence under Taylor’s bed the night before the movement. Taylor then smuggled the document by hiding it in his brother’s shoe heel and sent it to the U.S. through Japan, ensuring that it was published. As a result, on March 13, 1919, The New York Times reported:"The Korean Declaration of Independence speaks for 20 million people, in the name of justice and humanity."Beyond this, Taylor also reported on the Jaeam-ri Church Massacre and the trials of independence activists. His efforts led to his expulsion from Korea by the Japanese Governor-General’s Office.

6.     The historical significance of the March 1st Movement remains deeply ingrained in our memory, but through Albert Taylor’s perspective, we see it recorded as a moment of justice and humanity, where a peaceful demonstration led people to courageously declare independence in the streets. It is important to remember that out of the 33 national representatives of the movement, 16 were Protestant leaders. At that time, the church played a key role in representing the people's desire for independence. Regardless of later historical betrayals, it is undeniable that the church actively sacrificed for independence under the banner of justice and humanitarianism. Even in San Francisco, the Korean immigrant community gathered every Sunday in church to worship, raised the Korean flag, and prayed for independence. They also sent donations to the Provisional Government of Korea. This history shows how Korean churches and Christians truly served as the salt and light of the world.

7.     With this painful history in mind, we can better understand today’s passage. The early church believers also faced immense suffering and hardship.

8.     In Luke 17:20, just before today’s passage, the Pharisees ask, "When will the Kingdom of God come?" Jesus replies in verse 21, "The Kingdom of God is within you." He then goes on to discuss His Second Coming, which confuses His disciples:"22 The time will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. 23 People will tell you, ‘There He is!’ or ‘Here He is!’ Do not go running after them."This puzzling passage reveals the early church’s struggles with understanding Jesus' return. They expected it to happen soon, but as time passed, they wrestled with doubts and ridicule. Yet, they continued to seek understanding through Jesus’ teachings.

9.     We should not assume that the Gospels were written in real-time during Jesus’ ministry. Instead, they were documented about 10 years after Jesus' crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. The Gospel of Mark was the first to be written, followed by Matthew and Luke, with Luke’s Gospel estimated to have been written around 60 AD.

10.   As the eyewitness disciples aged, the early church felt an urgent need to record Jesus' teachings before memories faded. Since literacy was uncommon and writing tools were not widely available, documenting the Gospels was a desperate effort to preserve Jesus’ words amid the church’s challenges.

11.   Understanding this context, we see that the early church was struggling with the delay of Jesus’ return. The parable of the unjust judge and the widow is Jesus’ way of telling His followers: "Pray and do not lose heart." Even though His return seemed delayed, they were to remain faithful and patient.

12. First of all, the widow in this parable is someone who does not give up. The term widow was used to represent one of the weakest members of society at that time. This widow has suffered injustice. In this parable, Jesus introduces the most vulnerable and struggling person to convey His message. The unjust judge, on the other hand, is the one who could resolve her grievance. However, by defining this judge as unjust, Jesus presents the situation as nearly impossible for the widow to receive justice through him.

13. In verse 2, the judge is described as someone who "neither feared God nor respected people." This characterization suggests that he had almost no capacity for sympathy or willingness to help the widow. Essentially, this judge, the one responsible for delivering justice in the town, is the least likely person to assist her.

14. However, in verse 3, the widow persistently goes to the judge every day, pleading for justice. The passage states that she "kept coming and begging." Her desperation is evident here. In response to her persistence, the unjust judge eventually relents. In verse 5, he changes his mind, saying, "Because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice."

15. After sharing this parable, Jesus then says in verses 6-7:

    
    

    "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off?"

    
    

     Then, in verse 8:

    
    

    "I tell you, He will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?"

16. If we focus only on the phrase "He will grant them justice," we might conclude that this passage simply teaches that God answers the prayers of those who persistently pray. Many interpret this as the central message. However, as I mentioned earlier, Jesus tells this parable with the purpose of teaching us to "pray and not lose heart."

17. Discouragement comes from many causes, but the greatest is disappointment when things do not go as we expected. The Greek word used for discouragement here is ἀποψύχω (apopsucho, ap-ops-oo'-kho), which means "to have a heart attack, to faint, to fall, or to fail." It is fascinating that the same word for heart attack is used to mean discouragement. Just as the Chinese character for discouragement means "the heart falls away," this Greek term also conveys the sense of feeling as if one is about to die. Jesus teaches this parable specifically to warn against this kind of despair.

18. The return of Jesus, which was expected to be soon, was delayed. People outside the church kept asking Christians when Jesus would return. But it was not just outsiders—inside the church, believers also began questioning and doubting. In the early church, one of the most central teachings of the Gospel was "the imminent end." If taken literally, this would mean that Jesus was expected to return at any moment. However, what Jesus truly meant by "the end" was "the reign and work of God." In other words, the phrase "imminent" should not be understood in terms of time but in terms of priority. The most important message of the Gospel is that those who believe in Jesus must prioritize living with an eschatological perspective—a life focused on God’s eternal purpose.

19. The Christian understanding of the end times is not about "the world coming to an end," but rather about "the realization of God's divine order." Because the early church did not fully grasp this, people began to ask questions. The Pharisees mocked believers, while within the church, some members lost heart and even left.

20. In this context, the Gospel of Luke recalls Jesus’ parable featuring two extreme characters: "a judge who neither feared God nor respected people" and "a widow who had suffered injustice." These two figures are not meant to represent real-life individuals but rather serve as extreme examples to convey the message.

21. The widow, despite suffering injustice, refuses to give up. She persistently troubles the unjust judge, pleading, "I have suffered an injustice. Please grant me justice!" The English translations of this passage often render her plea as "Avenge me!" Because of her relentless persistence, the judge’s heart is eventually moved, and he grants her justice. Jesus then draws an important contrast: "If even an unjust judge eventually grants justice, how much more will God, who is just and loving, act on behalf of His chosen ones?" He challenges us with a fundamental question: "Should our relationship with God be as fragile as the widow's relationship with the unjust judge?"

22. In critical moments, we sometimes allow our fears to overshadow our faith in God's power. Even though we profess with our mouths that God is great, in our daily lives, we often seek solutions through external changes or expect circumstances to improve rather than trusting in God. This weakness forces us to reflect on what it truly means to believe in Jesus.

23. Life is filled with unexpected difficulties and hardships. To grow up and mature means learning how to overcome these unforeseen challenges. The March 1st Movement is a historical event that has been deeply embedded in the Korean people’s collective memory. We take pride in this event because we have overcome that period of suffering and transformed it into a source of national pride.

24. The same principle applies to our faith journey. The church experiences various challenges and conflicts. As our church celebrates its 39th anniversary, one can only imagine how many stories and events have unfolded over those years. There must have been both joyful and painful moments, times of excitement and times of boredom. However, the most important thing for us to remember is this: "In every situation, God is with us." When life is easy, we often fail to recognize our need for help and believe we are in control. But the true essence of faith is not just about finding God in times of peace or in times of suffering—it is about consistently discovering God’s unchanging love at all times. That is why we gather here to worship and read His Word.

25. Therefore, as Jesus said, we must pray and not lose heart. Do not lose heart. The Lord is near.

    Do not lose heart. This season will pass, and a new day will come.

    Do not lose heart. Spring is approaching, followed by the vibrant summer.

    Do not lose heart. You will graduate and step into a new life.

    Do not lose heart. Our church will grow and mature, and one day our faith will be widely known.

    Do not lose heart. Though things may be uncomfortable now, the time will come when we embrace one another and share grace once more.

    Do not lose heart. Though your small group may feel awkward now, soon you will laugh, cry, and pray together as close companions. Let us hold on to these truths and walk firmly with the Lord.

26. Do not lose heart! God will be with us forever.