Scripture: Mark 9:30-37
There are many confused people all around us. They are searching for something, anything really that might make them feel accepted, loved, wanted, and needed. The songs we just listened to were released by a band a couple of years ago, Mumford and Sons, they speak of the hunger and the emptiness found in the world. They recognize a darkness that seems to be enveloping their communities, and the world around them. A darkness that seems to have many faces: poverty, war, and environmental decline.
This is an emptiness that has been around since man first walked out of the God’s Garden. Yet there is something that keeps urging them to look back and search for something that they may have known but forgotten, even generations back. This void of the soul is spoken of throughout scriptures in many terms, things like the hardening of the heart. Theologians speak of it in other terms, one spoke of it as being the God shaped vacuum. Mystics spoke of it in more imaginative terms like the cloud of unknowing or the dark night’s journey.
There is darkness in the world that seeks to consume every aspect of humanity. No one is truly safe from its effects. It seeks to shade the light in its shadow sucking life into its black hole of despair.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
This passage from the first chapter of John speaks of this war between the darkness and the light. It alludes to the darkness corrupting and sucking life out of the world but the light holding its ground. John wrote this gospel after several years of walking with and remembering his life with his Lord. But even he as a great saint, an apostle sent out by Jesus Himself to carry on the ministry He started did not always or even fully understands what life with God meant.
He as a young man walked with Jesus during Jesus’ ministry. He was with Jesus during this trip mentioned by John Mark in his Gospel called Mark. Jesus was teaching them as they traveled through Galilee to Capernaum. I can imagine it would be like a discussion in the car that many of us have had with our friends, coworkers, and children. There was a spontaneous conversation about the deeper things of life. During this particular discussion Jesus tried to explain how the light would over come the darkness.
“The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” Just imagine for a moment if you were there during that discussion. You were walking along the dusty road with rocks slipping into your sandals. You had hopes that finally the king had come and would drive away the Orc-ish Romans, the darkness plaguing the nation set apart to be the light of nations. Now the one that you thought was king was telling you straight up that he was going to be killed. What does that mean? How would that affect your future? Would it happen before or after he rose to power and delivered the nation?
They were asking questions in their minds that each of us would have asked. You yourself probably wondered about a few more that you would have asked. Then he spoke about rising again? Was this whole discussion metaphorical or was Jesus speaking of literal death and resurrection?
Mark goes on to say that they did not understand what Jesus was saying and they were afraid to ask him about it. Fear is darkness. Darkness was right there among the disciples trying to corrupt the closet friends to the light.
Well they walked on and the disciples probably fell back a bit because they did not know what to talk to the teacher about, and they picked up a different subject matter. I imagine that this second private discussion was spun off of the discussion of Jesus’ pending death, so they were trying to determine where in the line of succession they would fall. Corruption is seeping deeper into the lives of the disciples as they begin to plot their alliances and playing their political clout.
They arrive at their destination, and Jesus asks them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” Again there was silence. How could they tell the king that they were arguing about who would take His place, because in nearly every revolutionary order plotting the overthrow of an empire that would be an act of treason against the cause. It shows weakness and they knew it.
Jesus does not push the issue instead He looks out among those in the camp and He sees a child among the followers. So he calls the disciples over to Him and they go to this child. Jesus takes the kid into His arms and begins to teach using whatever is around to illustrate the point. And He says, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”
A child, a common child one of probably a few dozen that was hanging around that camp taught these respectable adults what it meant to be a true follower of the king. We can learn much from this illustration about what it means to be a leader. A child is in the process of learning about the world around them. Their eyes are wide open looking at every aspect of their environment. They see things differently. A child observes a mother getting pleasure from receiving a gift of flowers, so the child runs out to pick every dandelion in the yard so that they can bring her joy. They may even include other weeds that most of us adults would dig up or spay with an herbicide. A child asks questions and they are full of wonder. They will walk all day exploring if we would let them, just to find out what is over beyond what they can see from the door. Many of the greatest scientists of the world had child like abilities to wonder and desire to explore.
Jesus is saying that if you want to be first in the kingdom, the number one thing is to welcome the children. What that means is not only having a church full of kids, but to interact with the kids. To walk with them as they explore, to invest our time and energy teaching them and assisting them as they learn the boundaries of their own abilities. If we want to be true effective citizens of the kingdom we need to bring the sense of wonder back into our culture. And to be effective leaders we should be willing to do what ever we can to walk with people as they learn and explore aspects of life.
To bring back the sense of wonder is a difficult thing. With the corruption darkness brings, there is also a squelching of wonder. Poverty kills a child before they have a chance in many ways. A hungry child sits because they lack the energy to explore. Many children live in a poverty of affection; their parents are so busy trying to feed them that the child fails to develop senses of love and belonging. These children are starved for attention in any way possible and seek it out in the darkness that begins to suck the life out of them. We are seeing the product of the attention starved generations.
Those attention-starved people of the western world are the ones that have the greatest spiritual hunger, but they do not realize it. They fill their lives with so much junk they look like their lives are perfect but reality is that they are malnourished. Their lives are filled with spiritual junk food. Their empty soul is being filled with quick empty calories, which turns into apathy and obesity.
Our culture is a picture of unhealthy spirituality. We must change the direction, and to do that means that all followers of Christ must begin to interact with the world. Our greatest need is not money but time. If the followers of Christ would take the time to teach people to manage their money and time so that they could then invest love in their families we can begin to change our communities. If we as followers of Christ would change our lifestyles just a bit and invite someone else to eat with them when they go out they can possibly spark a spontaneous conversation that may change the direction of someone’s life.
If we were to examine our own lives we could see where the darkness is creeping into our lives, and into our communities. The interesting thing about darkness is that it leaves when light is present. As we enter this time of open worship let us shine the light of Christ into our own lives. Let us allow Him to show us ever so gently where our own arguments and politicking has allowed the darkness of our adversary to gain a foothold and cause our testimonies to fail and cause spiritual malnutrition in our lives. We cannot share what we do not have.
James the brother of Jesus says that we do not have because we do not ask, or we ask for the wrong reason. And if we draw closer to God that He will come closer to us. We do not need to fear God, he is the source of light and life. He is the vine that feeds the branches of our lives. And He is the friend that walks with us down our own dusty roads. Let us now seek Christ and let Him lead us down that road.
Scripture: Wisdom of Solomon 1:16-2:1, 12-22
I read the pages of post through the social media sites and find a divided world, a world divided between the left and right, conservative and liberal, Christian and Muslim, tomato and tamoto. It is not a laughing matter I know. We are filled with emotions and opinions that we will stand by to our dying breath. Our reasons are probably very good, but what are we actually saying to those that are on the opposite side? Are we saying you are loved by God and He has a plan and purpose for your life, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans that will allow you to live with Him forever if you were to turn around and follow Him? I have caught myself on a number of occasions, having to stop what I was doing and rethink my responses to people.
This passage causes me to consider things from a different perspective, the prospective of the “sinner.” It allows us to step into the shoes of for just a moment and look at things from their perspective. We as followers of Jesus say a lot. We have answers for everything right in the Bible, but what about those areas that really hurt, when things do not make sense. We say that God is in control, that He is our protector and provider, but what do we do if everything is seemingly out of control. We are tested every day, observed like mice running in a maze. Those around us are watching to see if our words and actions are in harmony. They are checking our actions to what they think scriptures say. Often times these things do not balance out, and when they do not we do not have a good answer. Why do good, hard working people lose their jobs? Why do people act treat some people better than others?
Now we can step into our own shoes again, knowing that everyone is watching our response to whatever is thrown at us, how well do we react. If everything around us is threatened are we able and willing to respond accoding to our belief? This has been a struggle for me over tha past few weeks. If you are my friend on facebook you have probably seen my posts are both liberal and conservative. Some even make me sick to read. I cry out who will save me from myself, because cearly I don’t know who I am. But that’s pretty much the point.
We are all humans. We come from the same base. We are all equally messed up and that is what scripture is really about. There is a standard that noone is able to meet. There is a goal for communitees and even nations that have never been fullfilled. Sure some come pretty close but we have failed as humans and nations. And the point is we need to practice what we preach. Not just the Muslims, the republicans, liberals, Baptists, Quaker, Americans or Arabs but each one of us. We all need to look at what we say we believe, look at what we do, and look at how we treat others according to the entire book we follow.
I know that sounds like a unitarian reponse, but let’s focus on how we live our lives first, before we get to upset about how someone else is responding to us. It is their job to test our faith and to question our beliefs. In the end it is not about who has the best belief system but who cares and loves the most as a culture, community, and individually. I challenge Christians, pagans, athiests, Jews, and Muslims a like to a duel of charity. Let us all out do the other group in showing hospitality and care to those around us. Then let’s come back to the table and discuss the who says what and why.
Scripture: Mark 8:27-38
This week yet again our nation was in mourning. It seems that over the past few months the flag that flies over our government buildings and homes seems to have been at half mast more often than it has been fully raised. The past week we remember a dark day a day where religious fervor and cultures clashed. On the very day of remembrance yet again there was a clash of two cultures and our hearts weigh heavy in our chests.
We do not understand why people would act the way they do to our nation. We have such great respect and pride in our heritage. A heritage that was earned by blood, sweat, and tears carved out of virgin ground to be lifted up into a place of honor. We question why anyone would disrespect the ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Yet our embassies are burned and our countrymen threatened, harmed, or killed. We sit in a state of shock because everything we hold collectively sacred is threatened. Our very lifestyle is challenged.
What would drive a person to such fervor? Why would they risk so much for something so seemingly small in our definition? It really is not so difficult to consider if we were to just contemplate it for a bit. Religions around the world have been acting out in similar ways from the dawn of time. Even our spiritual heritage as Christians has shared in this sort of religious fervor several times in our 2000-year history.
The first century Palestine region, the region we know as Israel, but to the government of that day up until the 1940’s this region was Palestine, was a place of unrest. It was a place of clashing ideals in many areas but the greatest was in the area of religion. Many things could spark a religious fire that would threaten to burn across the nation faster than fire can spread across the wind blown prairie. If the flag of the United States of America would have even entered the city of Jerusalem in that day riots would have broken out which would have been endured till the last person breathed their last. Every day an outside force threatened the shared values and religion of the Judean culture. Some in the culture opposed everything about the Latin and Greek influence, others embraced the potential wealth this vast empire offered.
They lived in a constant state of flux. The common people, the middle class so to speak, were caught between opposing views. One that wanted to keep the religion and culture pure to the letter of the law, while the other strove to adapt to the changing times. It is a story that is not all that different in our own world today. We often speak about liberal and conservative values the right and the left. On both hold strong and often times correct views of religion, and both are equally wrong.
Right in the middle of this crazy and often hostile environment we find a group of disciples led by a rabbi not trained by either of the opposing sides. This rabbi took a route not held by the others, not that it was a wrong or opposite route. It was a unique route. They sat in a city built in honor of an emperor. A city built by a king wishing to gain favor and wealth through flattery. Sitting in this city Jesus, this unique rabbi asks a question. “Who do people say that I am?”
This seems like an odd question, but Jesus was unique. Because of this people were talking. He did not teach, or preach as the other rabbis taught. He did not act as others acted. They had a history of unique teachers, they where honored by some and despised by others. These teachers were known as the prophets. Who do people say I am? The question comes because people did not quite know what to make of this unique teacher. He was similar to the contemporary rabbis, similar to the prophets of old, yet unlike both.
Some say John the Baptist. This man was one that taught strict religion, going above and beyond the letter of the law. He baptized not only the God fearers, but also the hereditary Jews. By doing so he was saying that all people are equally wrong in the eyes of God, that none is pure. And that because of this none is worthy to enter into the temple of the one true Living God, not even the high priest.
Others say Elijah. This is a unique man that spoke in the face of a culture at odds with God. They no longer worshiped the true God but embraced the sensual erotic religions of the world. They thought that the ways of their ancestors were old fashioned and out of date and wanted something new and exciting. Yet this prophet called fire from heaven to embarrass the priest for Baal and prove which god was true. He then beheaded those false teachers and ran for his life into the wilderness.
Or one of the other prophets. Each of the prophets had a specific message one that called judgment. They used images unique in their own ways. One was called to marry a wife that sold herself for profit instead of remaining faithful to her husband. One was called to lie on his side for a number of days, some faced lions and exile. Each spoke of judgment to come if people did not turn to God. Some boldly proclaimed that it was mercy not sacrifice that God desired.
The people that spoke about Jesus focusing on a different aspect of His ministry, and each were unique. It differed from the contemporary teachers just as much as it did the prophets. They could not fully explain or describe Jesus.
So Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am?” The answer to this question changes everything. Who is Jesus? How we answer this question determines how we live our lives. Is he a great teacher, a prophet, a king, or something more?
Jesus goes on to teach about the days to come, how He will be rejected and killed. This surprises his disciples. You see they answered his question by saying, “You are the Messiah.” This statement to them held a very deep meaning. The Messiah was the one that they were waiting for, a king that was to restore Israel to a place of honor among the nations. This figure was to unite the tribes yet again and cause the nations to tremble at the name of their God. This man was to lead the charge against all others, to reject and kill, not to be rejected and killed by them. The disciples would proclaim and serve this man with all their life could give. He was their king. They had in their minds a vision of who and what the Messiah was to be, but in their religious fervor they were wrong.
Peter pulls Jesus off to the side and rebukes him. Peter willing to give his life for his rabbi and king. Not for this man to be killed. He followed so that he could lead the armies of Israel, yet Jesus said that he would be rejected by the nation. Jesus then says to him, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
Get behind me, Satan. Get back adversary, you enemy of God. The religious around the world are gearing up for a fight for their god. They defend the honor of their prophet; they defend the honor of their God. I ask a question, does God need a defense? Do we honor God by screaming and protesting? Do we honor God by declaring war on those that hold a different opinion than ours? Do we honor God? Many sit worried about a threat from another religion, yes they may kill the body but do they hold power over the soul? Jesus says GET BEHIND ME SATAN.
People across the ocean are protesting because some man made a movie that questioned a religion. Some of those protesters brought deadly force. Who are they defending? Do they defend their God or their political control over people? In our own country we are not much better. We drag God into the courts of law, but whom are we defending? We believe that we are defending our rights and expanding the kingdom, but do we need to fight for God or can God defend Himself? Enemies surrounded Elisha and his disciple on all sides, they were a remnant of people faithful to God, and now they were about to meet their doom. The disciple was scared and questioned his teacher; Elisha prayed a simple prayer that God would open the young man’s eyes. And suddenly he saw an army of heavenly hosts surrounding them both, God does not need us to defend him. He has an entire army poised to defend Him. Yet he does call us to do something.
Jesus says, “to be my follower you must take up your cross and follow him.” Take up a cross, not take up arms, not to take up lawsuits, but a cross. The cross is a symbol of suffering and oppression, not of strength. The cross is a symbol of opposing the status quo and receiving the judgment for it. He is calling us to stop thinking of our own ideas and selfish ambitions and to put others first. To follow Jesus we are to strive to live life according to His ways not our own. Peter was called Satan because he was in pursuit of his personal idea of messiah and not God’s idea. What would Jesus be saying to us?
This is why the Quaker business meeting is set up the way it is. We do not just take a vote and let the majority rule. Instead we strive to find a sense of the meeting. This gives voice to all people. Sure at times the majority does rule, but there are also times where the minority rule. If done correctly we are to seek the Spirit in our decisions as a group, believing that if we all seek God’s will that He will provide the direction we need. He will lead us to love Him with all our hearts, all our strength and will all our minds, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.
We are called to love. Love people that seem to hate everything we stand for. We are called to love the people that oppose our God. Jesus says that we should love our enemies and do good to those that persecute us. This is the opposite of the ways of the world. To love is to take up the cross, to love is to take up the cause of the oppressed and lift them into God’s grace. How should we respond to radical Islam, with fear, anger, or despair? No we should respond with love. Is this hard to do? You bet it is. When I heard of the embassy fire I was furious. But we cannot let anger and fear rule our lives, we cannot let hatred control our actions. We must love the one that persecutes us. If you say anything other than that you are not a true follower of Jesus. Do not get me wrong I am not saying they are right. They are wrong; they are following a god that is opposed to ours. They follow a false god. We should not hate them because of their ignorance but love them for being made in the image of God and love by God. Jesus came for them just as much as us.
Who do you say Jesus is? Does your response and actions reflect your answer? Are we seeking the true God and responding in His love or are we letting the world around us dictate who our god is? To be a disciple of Christ is not an easy thing. It requires us to completely give our ambitions, our hopes, our dreams, and ourselves to God. It is a scary proposition, but in God all things will be made new. If we let the dreams we have in ourselves die with Christ on that cross, He will give us new dreams. If we let our hopes die with Christ on that cross, He will give us a new restored hope. These are things built not by worldly standards but on the supernatural power of God who humbled Himself to become man for us. He took on the shame of our sin, and died on a cross that was meant to place fear and hopelessness into the lives of those who saw it. He was buried in a tomb meant to separate the dead from the living, but after three days He rose from that grave to bring a new restored hope to all who believe and follow him. Death and fear no longer rule us but we have been raised with Christ, we no longer fear those that can kill the body, but cling fast to the one that preserves the soul.
As we enter into this time of holy expectancy let us ask ourselves are we is Christ, and who are we with Him? The next question is how are you living your answer?