Onesimus – The NT Hobo

Book of Philemon

Introduction: For some, especially the young, the word or term ‘hobo’ might not be familiar.

Growing up there was an understanding in my mind that there were actually hobos who would jump onto trains to get them to and from wherever they were going.

What is the history of the hobo?

• Hobos travelled to work and worked to travel.

They were often associated with trains, but some travelled by car or on foot.

They were often depicted with a sack of their belongings hanging from a stick they carried up in the air.

The term emerged in the American West around 1890, though its origins are hazy. Some say it was an abbreviation of “homeward bound” or “homeless boy”; author Bill Bryson wrote in his 1998 book “Made in America” that it may have come from “Ho, beau!”, a railroad greeting.

Movies: The Tramp (1915) Charlie Chaplin

• Charlie is a tramp on the road. A hobo manages to exchange Charlie’s sandwich for a brick so Charlie must eat grass.
• The same hobo molests a farmer’s daughter; Charlie comes to aid with the help of the brick.
• When two more hobos show up Charlie throws all three into a lake. The grateful girl takes Charlie home where he fails as a farmhand.
• He again helps drive off the hobos (who are now trying to break into the house). The girl’s fiancé arrives.
• Though a hero, Charlie, knowing he must go, writes a farewell note and leaves for the open road.

Transition: For today’s communion service I want to consider the Book of Philemon and an individual by the name of Onesimus.

Philemon:

• Wealthy Christian landowner.
• Apparently saved / converted under Paul’s ministry
• The Colossian Church met in his house.

Paul and Philemon were close.

• They mutually prayed for each other.
• They shared an ‘open door’ hospitality (‘Mi casa es tu casa’).
• Philemon had come to visit Paul when Paul was in jail.
• There friendship was characterised by love, trust and respect.

Onesimus:

Runaway: Slave who had fled to Rome.

Place / Role / Significance of Slaves

• Slavery was an accepted economic and social reality in the Roman world.
• A slave was his master’s property, without rights.
• Under Roman law, runaway slaves could be severely punished and even condemned to death.
• Slave uprisings in the first century resulted in fearful and suspicious owners.
• While the early church did not directly attack the institution of slavery, it reordered the relationship between master and slave.
• Both were equal before God (Gal.3:28) and both were accountable for their behavior.

The heart of the Paul’s epistle to Philemon from his first imprisonment and was this:

He desired a genuine Reconciliation between a wronged slaveowner and a ‘brother in Christ’.

Paul tactfully, yet urgently, intercedes on Onesimus’ behalf and expressed complete confidence that Philemon’s faith and love would result in restoration.

A few things to understand about Philemon:

1. Onesimus was running.

Isaiah 53:6, ‘All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all.’ (NLT)

I speak to you often about the Prodigal Son. ( He was running)

Psalm 139:1-12

Transition: Not only was Onesimus running but he was guilty.

2. Onesimus was guilty.

1 John 1:8 ‘If we claim/say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth’. (NLT)

Nathan and the great King David: 2 Samuel 12

7 ‘Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8 I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. 9 Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10 Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’

Psalm 51:1-

Numbers 32:23 “But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the LORD; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.’ (NIV)

3. Onesimus was subject to penalty.

Onesimus was, by law, subject to Physical punishment, imprisonment or even death.

Not only are we subject to reaping what we sow now,

Exodus 21, OT ‘eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth’ but…

Application: If we break the law we are subject to fines, incarcerations,we can become un-hireable, separated from family, children, others, (restraining orders), even banishment from social settings (sex offenders).

But also…Eternal Penalty.

Man’s Greatest penalty for sin is separation from God both physical and eternal.

Transition: So Onesimus was running, guilty, and subject to penalty, but he also found the escape from his past.

As a result of Pauls plea, and Philemon’s grace and love, Onesimus found himself forgiven and restored.

4. Found Forgiven and restored.

Application: Back again to the Prodigal Son right?

John 15:15, ‘No longer call you servants but friends..’

(Jesus paid the price). Jesus like Paul, was penalized for no rightful reason.