Mark 9 30-37When I was studying for my Methodist Lay-preachers examinations in the U.K., I was given some advice about sermons: Have a good beginning and a good ending, and bring them as close together as possible!
Romans 5 1-5
I phoned my sister the other day- I simply pressed fifteen numbers, and within a few seconds I was able to talk to her. We push a remote control button, and a television set switches on, giving us pictures of what is happening all around the world- right now in Iraq, China, Russia and so on. Given computers, e-mail, FAX machines, radio, and fast transport, we can discover what is going on almost anywhere in the world’s communities.
When Jesus lived, there were none of these things. He had simply twelve disciples, and even one of these had to be replaced. But through this wonderful dozen, the news of God’s son was sent around the world. Two thousand years later, we are here in Squamish United Church, worshipping and praising God because of what happened then.
Today is the second Sunday in Lent, a time which reflects the 40 days at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, when he “wrestled with the devil”, deciding which way he was to go, and a time when we, needing repentance and dedication, prepare for the death and resurrection of Jesus, the heart of our faith. Jesus spent these last twelve months mostly with his special twelve. He “set his face towards Jerusalem”. He deliberately left the crowds who wanted Him to heal them and who loved to listen to His stories, to concentrate on his disciples, giving them extra teaching to continue His work.
It took Jesus a while to comprehend the difficulty of his task. Early on, I don’t think he knew his death would be on a cross. He was fully human, and it took time for Him to realize that saving humankind would take the ultimate sacrifice. Was it any wonder that His disciples didn’t understand, and were afraid to ask Him (Mark 922)? Sometimes, Jesus must have despaired of them ever understanding. Would these men ever learn? Had He made a mistake in His choice? Somehow, he must make them see that His days with them were numbered. They must have enough information, conviction, and knowledge of God’s love to continue His mission.
I wonder if the thought ever crossed His mind that he should have been born in Rome or sent to the highly educated who had attended the equivalent of a university? Well, we can survive without degrees, but we would not get far without a carpenter! The writer to the Romans says “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love Him”. And Jesus had to trust He had made the right choice. Maybe, he had the same thought as an old farm worker, who was asked by a tourist for directions to a distant town. His reply was “If I was going there, I wouldn’t start from here!”
So, here is Jesus, the Son of God, knowing that death is inevitable, trying to give a crash course to His followers, and we also are attempting to learn a little more to help our faith to grow.
During these 40 days (and our “little Easters” of intervening Sundays) we have an extra incentive to “spring-clean” our souls, maybe by self-denial and extra study, emptying ourselves of selfishness and bad habits, refusing to nurse our guilt, making up with someone we have crossed, and finally accepting God’s healing.
Now I’m supposed to be preaching about Servanthood today! At least I am mentioning it! This is really what following Jesus is all about. The disciples were discussing who would be greatest in the coming Kingdom. They knew this was wrong, for they were discussing it when they thought that Jesus wasn’t listening. But He knew, and he told them that to be greatest means to be the servant. If everyone knew and practised this, there wouldn’t be so many problems in the world. Jesus was the “suffering servant” We celebrate this brokenness when we celebrate Holy Communion. It helps to give purpose to our own sufferings. I know that we are all praying for peace. What can we do in our own corner to enlarge the peace in the world? We have to be peace-loving in our own lives, performing our daily job knowing Jesus is there, watching and helping, breaking down barriers between us, helping to ease the sufferings of the lonely, and fostering peace within our families. Let us pray for these things.
God works in mysterious ways. Somehow, this God of ours, surrounded in mystery, works for our good. How can we understand a little better? In St. Mark’s gospel, we read how the little group were coming out of the temple, and remarked the huge stones and buildings with wonder. And Jesus told them that these would soon be destroyed. He was not impressed by a beautiful, huge temple. We are more like the disciples, impressed by large houses, fancy cars and other belongings. But Jesus tells us that these are not important. What is important is to worship and to serve God humbly, to the best of our ability, every day.
Did Jesus have options? The temptations clarified His possibilities. Michael Green describes Jesus’ time in the desert thus: “Stan aimed to separate Jesus from His Father by doubt, by disloyalty, by compromise, by exhibitionism, by idolatry, and by short-circuiting Calvary”. Jesus could have performed miracles like turning the stones of the desert into bread. Bread must have been need then, even as it is today. Such action would have brought the masses to Him for a moment, but it wouldn’t have lasted. We certainly wouldn’t be here today if this had happened. Many people would still like to follow that kind of Jesus, joining Him in heaven eventually. But Jesus knew that creative suffering was the only way of getting His message out into the world. Making bread out of stones wouldn’t do it. So, Jesus performed miracles, but only secondary to his teachings.
One young lady was trying to help the elderly poor in New York. She tied bandages tightly around her legs and arms to simulate stiffness of the knees, elbows and shoulders. She plugged her ears to simulate deafness, and used darkened glasses so that she had difficulty in seeing. She thought that if she could find out how these people felt, it would help her to understand. And this is what Jesus did. The Lord God became human. So we know that He can understand. He didn’t slough it off at the end of His earthly life. He joined the Father again, but still carrying the marks of His humanity. Is this the reason for His immense sorrow at the end? God actually became human, and had this quality as a part of Himself.
Are you suffering from ill-health? He knows and understands. Do you have trouble with your fellow workers? Does He ever understand that! The twelve were His only method of spreading the Gospel, and He could tell that they weren’t ready for this task. They couldn’t even stay awake in the garden of Gethsemane, when He desperately needed their support. Are you studying? Jesus did a lot of this, too! A carpenter by trade, presumably supporting His mother and family, but becoming thoroughly familiar with the scriptures. He knew what it was like to live in a large family, sorting out squabbles. Are you lonely? He knew about that! At the end, He was alone, with no-one to understand.
This is some God! In my youth (many years ago!), members of the royal family (especially Princess Margaret) liked to don headscarves and go out shopping in the west end of London incognito, so that they could experience ordinary life. Two thousand years ago, God came into the world. He also was, and often still is unrecognized. He appears in a friend’s concern, in the smile of a stranger, or a phone call from a relative. Can we recognize Him?
The old farmer’s answer can change. “You CAN get there from here- and you HAVE TO!”
(Sermon preached by Christine Tribe)