Remember: People Are Like Grass

Text: Isaiah 51:9-16

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Perhaps you have heard the phrase before, 

“He puts on his pants the same way as you.”

It is a phrase that reminds us that no matter a person’s status, wealth, or accomplishments, they are fundamentally just like you and me.  This phrase emphasizes that no one is inherently ‘better’ than anyone else – that we are all the same… that we all have basic and similar routines, like putting on pants in the morning.  

Now, there are other phrases out there that help communicate the same thing.  Just the other day, I heard in a documentary the phrase, 

“We bleed the same.”  

This phrase means that everyone shares the same humanity regardless of race, culture, background, or status.  The idea of bleeding the same shows that we are all vulnerable in the same emotional and physical ways.  It reminds us that, at our core, we are more alike than different.   

Now, the Bible does not use the phrase of pants or bleeding but uses another phrase to communicate something very similar.  That phrase is, 

“People are like grass.”  

Yes, you heard that correctly, 

“People are like grass”

This phrase is used in today’s Old Testament reading from Isaiah.  It is also used in the Psalms, the Epistle of James, and the Epistle of 1 Peter. That is to say, it is a very common Biblical description of humanity. But what exactly does it mean that humanity is like grass? 

As you know, grass grows briefly and then withers away in scorching heat; it is highly sensitive to changes in weather and temperature. Furthermore, grass is easy to cut down—with little effort, a sharp blade can cut it down with one swipe. Finally, grass is easily trampled underfoot; one week, there is grass, and the next week, a worn walking path can form.  

And so, grass is a perfect illustration for mankind.  To say that mankind is like grass is to say that humankind is fragile, mortal, and fleeting.  Like grass, a human person is here one season and then cut down in the next season.  Even the most robust blades of grass are mortal, fragile, and fleeting.   Even the strongest people and most powerful people in the world will perish.  

And so, this all brings us to the point of our Old Testament reading from Isaiah.  If all mankind is grass, why are you and I so afraid of people - people that will dry up and die?  Why are we afraid of people who will soon be dead – some poor wretch destined for dust?  Wouldn’t it be wiser to be fearful of the God who made the skies and founded the earth?  

But we may say, 

“Tyrants, political leaders, and nations are quite powerful!” 

Are they, though?  

A tyrant may have a tantrum, thinking that he can kick down the world, but what comes of the tyrant?  What has come of all the major earthly kingdoms of the world?  

Friends, please take note that the great Egyptian Empire crumbled in 1100 BC.  The mighty Assyrian Empire fell in 600 BC.  The Babylonians lasted about 100 years until the Persians conquered them.  The Persian Empire collapsed in 330 BC.  And the Roman Empire – done in 476 AD.  In more recent times, the Ottoman Empire ended in 1922, the British Empire declined after World War II, and the Japanese and Nazi Empires – collapsed after their defeat.  These Empires appear to be nothing more than grass – maybe straw at best.  

We all know the story of the Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf.  The first pig builds a house of straw, the second a house of sticks, and the third a house of bricks.  The wolf easily blows down the straw and stick houses but cannot destroy the brick house.  Now, we would like to think that humanity, nations, and the world's great leaders are like brick houses, but they are not.  They are all like straw. Their glory is like the flowers of the field. In the end, the grass withers and the flowers fade.  

And so, if this is all true (and it is), this begs the question again: why are we Christians so afraid of people who are like grass – man that dies?  Why are we so quick to fear the worldly powers and a dime of a dozen tyrant who rages one moment and, the next moment, is dead in the grave?  

The Lord God, in our reading from Isaiah, tells us the reason: it is because our fear of our enemies is equivalent to the lack of fear and trust in God Himself.  That is to say, when we perceive God as small, mankind becomes very big.  And when mankind is very big,… we will do just about anything to gain approval, eliminate fear, and uphold our image before mankind.  But again, our Old Testament reading from Isaiah confronts our thinking here: why are we so concerned about earning approval, finding security, avoiding criticism, and upholding our status before grass that withers and fades away while not giving 2 cents before the One who has the power to set all the grass on fire?  

Dear friends, the Lord God confronts the original hearers of Isaiah 51 and confronts us.  Let me paraphrase what is being said, 

“Have you forgotten that I – the Lord God – have made the heavens and earth – I am the one who stirs up the sea and whips up the waves.  I am the One who should comfort you, for I have given you the words to say and kept you safe in the palms of my hand.”

Dear friends, when the Lord God is small, mankind becomes big.  And when mankind is big, well… we then resort to fearing mankind, which results in us giving reverence to mere grass.   

* * *

As you know, this last week, America had a big election.  I have spent a lot of time this week observing the reactions of this election among the citizens of America.  Generally speaking, I have seen two responses.  On the one hand, some have fallen into depression, despair, tears, and crisis.  On the other hand, some have given way to euphoric bliss, salvific assurance, and heavenly confidence.  Both of these extreme reactions need a sober dose of reality.  That reality is this: both the Democratic and Republican parties are like grass.  Both Vice President Harris and President Donald Trump are flowers that will soon fade away in the dust of death.  Now, please hear me clearly.  We Christians will always work through our voting and involvement in politics to preserve life, protect the weak, work for peace, break the plans of the wicked, and encourage what is righteous and good.  However, we Christians must guard ourselves against putting our wholehearted trust and emotions in politicians and political parties, for, in the end, they are mere grass. 

Instead, we Christians need to echo the words of the Apostle Paul, saying, 

"I've learned to be content no matter which party is in control. I know how to live with Democrats in power, and I know how to live with Republicans at the helm. I've faced times when my values felt supported and times when they seemed opposed, but through it all, my strength, contentment, and affirmation do not come from any political party – it does not come from wither grass – it comes from Christ. Whatever I have, wherever I am, and whoever is in control, I can make it through by the One who possesses me as His very own - Christ."

Baptized Saints, beware of the temptation of fearing grass and beware of the temptation of putting your wholehearted trust in rulers and princes, in human beings, who cannot save you, for they too are mere grass, flowers that fade. Instead, remember who you belong to.  Remember whom you were baptized into.  Remember who forgives you.  Remember whose table you sit at.  Remember who will claim and keep you at the moment of your death.  Remember who will make all things new at the last day.  Remember the One who neither whither nor fades – Christ Jesus, your Lord.  

In a word, the Lord God is bigger than mere man.  And so, today, we fear, love, and trust not in grass but in the One who created the grass, redeems the grass, and sanctifies the grass – the Triune God: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  

Baptized Saints, today, take comfort, do not be afraid, and do not forget who you belong to and who is in control. 

In the name of Jesus. Amen