Back in the 1980's I read several books by Leo Buscaglia, popular author on love and relationships.  In one of his works Felice Leonardo Buscaglia, his real name, told of his grief at watching his mother die.  He didn't want to let her go and spent every moment of her last days at her bedside.  In her last moment, she looked at him, touched his hand and said, "Felice, what are you holding on to?"  And then she died.

          Good question - what are we holding on to?  Jesus spoke the words of our text near the end of His ministry, after He had entered Jerusalem and cleansed the temple.  Once again He'd angered the church leaders who wouldn't let go of the old ways.  He had challenged them to let go of their legalism and embrace God's love in the new kingdom.  He'd asked them, "What are you holding on to?" and did miracles without asking their permission.  Change was coming and making big changes in church or society causes an uproar.  But His latest actions were the last straw.  The Jewish leaders met and decided it was time to get rid of Jesus.

          There is much drama and intrigue in the last days of Jesus, and in the midst of it all some Greeks show up to speak with Him.  They first came to Philip, perhaps because his name was Greek and they thought he could get them an audience with the Rabbi.  Philip wasn't sure.  Maybe Jesus didn't want to see Gentiles right then, so he asked Andrew and together they went to Jesus.

          The coming of these Greeks seemed to disturb Jesus, not because they were Gentiles, but because He had other things on His mind.  "The hour has come," He said.  "Whoever loves his life will lose it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life."  Holding on to life will risk our losing it.  Those Greeks represented a whole world of people outside the Jewish faith ready to hear Him.  It also meant most of His fellow Jews would not accept His message.  And it certainly meant walking the road of suffering, going through the arrest, the mock trial, humiliation and the beating, carrying His cross along the Way of Sorrows.  And finally it would mean crucifixion and terrible death on the cross of Calvary.

          Like His critics, we have a hard time being told we're wrong.  We'd rather hear only good things about ourselves.  I can understand that;  I don't like being told I'm wrong.  A cartoon going around an office caught my eye.  Dennis the Menace is coming out of church with his parents and says to the pastor, "Next Sunday, just for fun, could you tell us what we're doin' right?"

          Often churches are judgmental.  But conversely, far too many churches today have gone the wrong way, scrapping all talk of sin.  People don't want to hear it, they say, so let's avoid all talk of sin and hell.  That's too negative.  It's another example of adopting the ways of the world rather than witnessing to it, as we're told to do.

          But if one is trying to make a difference, one must expect criticism.  Jesus knew what was coming.  He knew the suffering He'd have to endure.  He knew most people who hear His message would reject it.  That alone might have moved Him to quit His mission.  He'd already heard enough complaints about His message, and easily could have said, "Enough already!" and ascended back to heaven on the spot.

          Many people today would have applauded that as a courageous act.  They'd have said He was right in quitting.  But quitting is not always the best way.  In fact, it's most often the cowardly way.  And certainly His quitting would have been a death sentence.

          But cowardice was not needed, then or now.  Walking the high road of faith, and taking the risk of following God -- that's what was needed.  Jesus taking the sentence of death for us was needed.  To cut and run or to change the rules to make them easier is what some may do.  But Jesus stayed the course and paid the cost, and so should we.  "The hour has come," He said.  This hour is why Jesus had lived.  This was His defining moment.  He had to let go of this world and hold on to the work of His Father, the work of saving the world for eternity.

          So what are we holding on to?  "Whoever loves his life will lose it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life."  If we hold on to this life, like it's the only thing that matters, we're endangering our eternity.  Indeed, with people like us who live in an "I want it now!" society of microwaves, 500 MHz computers and instant gratification, any thought of eternity is unimaginable.  Even tomorrow is too far away.

          And even those who live only a day at a time might forget there's an eternity.  We think we must hold on to life or we'll miss everything.  But Jesus says, "Don't hold too tightly to the things of this life!  If you think this is all there is, you'll miss the big one - life with God.  Whoever loves his life will lose it."

          It is so easy to get wrapped up in this life only.  It's so easy to hold on to the things we think we need.  But only one thing is needful, a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  The things of life are fleeting and grow old.  If God would ask each of us here today, "What are you holding on to?" how would we answer Him?  Are we a giver in life, or just a taker, getting whatever we want?

          There was once an apple tree who loved a little boy who came every day to climb its branches and eat its apples.  They were happy with their life together, and spent hours and days together in their friendship.  But as the boy grew older, his interest in the tree began to wane.  He stopped coming every day and came every few weeks.  Then he stopped coming at all.

          The tree became lonely because it loved being with the little boy and giving him gifts.  Some years later the boy returned, now much bigger for he was a teenager.  The tree offered him its branches to climb in once again, but the teenaged boy said he was too old to play.  He was now interested in money.  "Could you give me some apples?" he asked.  "I will sell them for money and that will make me happy."  The tree was eager and happy to give him lots of its good, red apples.  And the boy was happy with his money, but soon stopped coming again and this time stayed away several years.

          One day the boy returned, now a grown man.  The tree was excited to see him and invited him to swing on its branches and eat its apples.  But the man said he was too busy.  What he really wanted was a house for his family.  "I can't build you a home," said the tree, "but you may have some of my branches for lumber."  So the man sawed off most all its branches and took them and left.  And the tree, now just a bare trunk with a few small branches, was also happy for he had given his friend something of value.  But now once again, the tree was all alone and very lonely.

          A decade or two later the boy, now a middle-aged man, returned.  The tree was ovejoyed to see him and invited him to play, but the man said he was too old to play.  All he wanted was to get away, to fulfill his dreams.  "I have missed so much in life.  Can you give me a boat so that I can pursue my dreams?"  And the tree, always willing to give, invited him to cut down its trunk to make a boat.  The man did and now the tree was just a stump, but it was happy.  And of course the man left on his journey for a very long time.

          Many, many years later the boy returned, now an old, bent-over man.  The tree apologized for having nothing to offer him, no more apples to eat or branches to climb, not even shade.  But the old man said, "My teeth are too weak to eat apples, and my arms have no strength to climb.  All I want is a quiet place to sit and rest, for I am very tired."  "Well," said the tree, straightening up as best it could, "How about an old stump?  It's all I have.  Come here, my friend, sit down and rest."  And the boy, now a very old man, did just that.  And the tree was happy once again.

          Jesus has given His all.  In Him we have all we need.  We're His beloved friends.  We've seen Him give His life for us and we know we are loved.  Like a kernel of wheat, we have seen Him cast into the ground to die, and like the heavenly seed that He is, we have seen Him rise again, giving new life and nourishment for all.  Are you a taker or a giver?  Do you find your joy in holding on to life or in giving it away?

          Because Jesus is a giver, we will live forever.  If He had not given His life for us, we'd have no hope and no life.  If the seed had not been cast into the ground, it would remain alone, perhaps admired or even treasured, but useless.  And we, too, would be alone.  Without Christ's giving we'd have nothing, and all too soon would be like that old bent-over old man, the life-long taker looking for a place to rest.

          Dear friends, what are you holding on to?  Don't let the things of this world blind you to the joys of fellowship with Jesus.  Be a taker and a giver.  Take from God what is lasting, your faith that saves you.  Take it, but then give it away.  Take the faith God offers you, then give it away, for only in your giving it away can you keep it.  Amen

Copyright © 2000 by Pastor Bob Tasler.  All rights reserved.