John 10:22-30
I have known several famous people in my life. I won't name them because you might think I was dropping names. But on occasion I have had the opportunity to rub shoulders with world renowned people. Or at least I have been in the same room, well, auditorium with them. I once play "Hail to the Chief" for Ronald Regan, well, me and the rest of the Carolina band. Maybe if I told you the exact circumstances of my encounters with those famous people I might actually embarrass myself.
I guess it would be best to say that I knew some famous people. But I seriously doubt they knew me. In reality I was just another of a sea of faces at some event. There really is a big difference between knowing someone and being known by them. It is one thing to say "I know So and So." It is quite another to say "So and So knows me."
The reason I bring this us is that the religious leaders in our passage did not know Jesus. Oh, they knew that he was a preacher and healer from Nazareth. But they didn't know who he really was. And Jesus makes the point that not only do his followers know him but he knows them.
First of all John tells us that this happened at the "Feast of Dedication." This was the feast that celebrated the rededication of the temple. It is also known as the Festival of Lights or to most of us as Hanukah. Over a century before Jesus, the temple had been desecrated by a Greek ruler and when it was liberated by the rebelling Jews it was cleansed and rededicated. The story of these events is not in our Bible, but if you have a Bible with an Apocrypha in it you can find it in 1 Maccabees. The Greek King Antiochus Epiphanies who declared himself a revelation or "epiphany" of God had basically outlawed Judaism and had ordered swine and other unclean animals to be sacrificed ion the altar in the temple in Jerusalem.
As you can guess the Jewish people rebelled against these actions. One of their leaders Judas Maccabeus liberated the temple. It was rededicated and in the month that we call December for 8 days they celebrated the rededication of the Temple and the defeat of the Greek king. In our day this is an 8 day festival when candles are lit and people celebrate.
Among other things this winter festival of dedication was a celebration of freedom. The theme of liberation from oppression was part of the celebration. Judas Maccabeus and the other warriors had liberated God's people. There is also the idea of God shining the light on his people. In the darkest part of the year, the winter, candles are lit to represent the light of God shining in the darkness just as the light of true worshipped shined through the darkness of the oppression of Antiochus Epiphanies.
Ironically Jesus the light of God come into the world was standing right there in the temple. He was there to liberate them from the oppression of sin and death. He had come to enlighten them with God's Word. Yet the religious leaders asked "Are you the messiah?" Jesus' actions and words leading up to this event make it clear who he was. Clearly they did not know Jesus.
So why couldn't the religious leaders see who Jesus was? Have you ever looked for something that was right in front of you but you still could not see it. It's like the expression "I didn't see the forest for the trees." But the trees make up the forest. If you can see the trees you are looking at the forest! I remember one time I could not find my glasses. I looked high and low and they were nowhere to be seen. Turns out I was wearing them at the time. I was literally looking through what I was looking for.
It's not that the religious leaders were not looking for the messiah. They just were not seeing the light in front of their faces. Maybe Jesus' light was so bright they could not see it because it was too bright. They assumed that nothing good could come out of Nazareth and that the Messiah would look more like a warrior king like David. They were celebrating the story of Judas Maccabeus who defeated the Greeks and liberated the people. So when Jesus' actions seemed to say "I am the Messiah" they thought "Well when are you going to do something about the Romans?" So they looked right past Jesus.
I think that same kind of thing happens with people today. People are looking for light from above. Young people especially are seeking enlightenment and truth and something real to believe in. Too often they look right past Jesus. They think that something as old or as common as Christ could not be the answer. It must be something more exotic and eastern or something that seems more profound. I have a news flash for you: Jesus is a eastern religious leader. And what can me more profound than "Do unto others�", "The truth shall set you free," "Judge not lest ye be judged," "As you do unto even the least of these�?"
But of course I am preaching to the choir now! You all know who Jesus is. He is the light of the world. He is the savior come to liberate us. He is the one who enlightens us with the trust that liberates us. You know who Jesus is right?
The religious leaders didn't know Jesus. Many people today don't know Jesus. At least 2 out of three people don't know Jesus. There are about 6 billion people alive today. About 1/3 or 2 billion claim to be Christians. So at least 4 billion or 2/3 don't know Jesus.
But you know Jesus. He is your shepherd. You hear his voice and you come to be led to streams of mercy and green pastures. He guides you through dark valleys.
But like I said there is a difference between knowing someone and being known by them. Not only do you know Jesus but Jesus knows you. Do you see how profound that is? The son of God who was there at creation knows you. You are not just a nameless face in the crowd.
In fact Jesus calls you by name. To you or I, one sheep may look just like another. But to a shepherd they know their sheep. In the same way Jesus knows us.
You know Jesus and Jesus knows you. He is your good Shepherd. No one can take you from him. Because Jesus knows you God gives you eternal life!
"Brothers and Sisters in Christ we gather here this day to witness to our faith and celebrate the life of Dorcus. We come together in grief acknowledging our human loss but seeking help from God. May God search our hearts that in pain we may find comfort, in sorrow hope, and in death resurrection. Who was Dorcus? She was better known to her friends as Tabitha. To some she was just another good seamstress. She was someone who could skillfully weave thread into a useful or even beautiful cover for the human body. A talent that undoubtedly put her in contact with many influential people.
But to her brothers and sisters of Christ she was more. She was one who openly gave of herself to help the other widows in the church. She was one on whom you could call day and night. She was tireless in her acts of mercy and charity and diligent in her witness to all. To us who were one with her in Christ she was not just a person who provided garments for the body. She was one who helped others obtain robes of righteousness for the soul.
Before Jesus died he promised us that he would go to prepare a place for us. So we are sure that there is laid up for Dorcus a crown of righteousness. We may mourn her now but we will see one another again. Earth to earth, Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. Henceforth, says the spirit, they rest from their labors and their deeds follow them. Amen."
These are the kinds of words that Tabitha's friends expected to hear from Peter when he came to them. When she died some of her friends realized that Peter the Apostle was near by. Here was one who had seen the Lord. Peter had broken bread with Jesus and had been given the keys to the kingdom. Here was one who personally knew the Lord that she had served in her life.
So they sent for him to come immediately. When he arrived they told him all about her and her loving service to God and her neighbor. The widows showed him the lovely garments she had made and probably given to them. These were physical demonstrations of her willingness to serve like Jesus.
They expected Peter to offer them some word of comfort. They wanted him to speak a word of grace to heal their broken hearts. They wanted him to give a fitting summary of her life in the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They wanted him to put into words their admiration of this woman and the way she had inspired them. This is what they expected from their pastor Peter: a fitting eulogy and funeral service for a Christian saint.
So what did Peter say? He said, "Tabitha, cum." "Tabitha, arise." They were expecting a funeral and Peter gave them a resurrection! My mind can't help but to go back to the Gospels and Jesus raising the daughter of Jarius. You remember the story? Jesus is called to heal the dying daughter of a leader in the synagogue named Jarius. He is delayed and in the mean time the girl dies. When Jesus gets there the people say he is too late. But Jesus said, "She is only sleeping." Then he takes just the parents and Peter, James, and John, and then he says, "Child arise," which the Bible tells us in Aramaic is "Talitha, cum."
"Talitha, cum" - Child, arise. "Tabitha, cum" - Tabitha, arise. Is it just a coincidence that Peter's words at raising Tabitha are so much like Jesus' words at raising Jarius' daughter? Is it also a coincidence that someone went to get Peter just as someone had gone to get Jesus? Is it just a coincidence that Jesus put them all out of the room except a few when he raised Jarius' daughter and likewise Peter put them out of the room when he raised Tabitha? Of course Peter had seen Jesus raise Jarius' daughter, but there is more to it. There is an economy of words in the Bible. The Bible uses just enough words and no more to make its point. Every word has meaning and a purpose.
These similarities between the raising of Jarius' daughter and the raising of Tabitha are no coincidence. These similarities show us that while Peter was saying the words it was Jesus who was speaking through him telling Tabitha to arise. In Peter, God's servant, the life giving power of Jesus was still present. Yes, Jesus had raised Jarius' daughter and Lazarus and others, but Jesus had ascended into heaven. This story demonstrated that even after Jesus had gone to heaven his power was still at work in and through those who believed in him.
So, who was Dorcus? She was a first century Christian who made her living by sewing. She served the Lord well, and sometime around 35 AD she died. A few days later Jesus, at work through Peter, brought her back to life. But Dorcus is more than an historical figure. She is a symbol of new life. She shows us that in this age Christ is still amongst us giving new life.
Jesus said to Jarius' daughter, "Talitha, cum" - "Child, arise," and she came to life. Through Peter Jesus said to Dorcus, "Tabitha, cum" - "Tabitha, arise," and she came to life. And so Jesus is saying to you today, "Talitha, cum" - "Child, arise." The same life giving power present in Christ and in Peter is present here today. We have all sinned and the wages of sin is death. Jesus is here to bring new life, not only to our bodies at the resurrection, but to the deadness of our souls here and now. To speak a word of resurrection to sin dead souls. To speak a word of life to those in hopeless situations. To say arise to those who have fallen morally and spiritually.
Surrender yourself to the power of God at work in Christ. Ask Jesus to come into you and to resurrect the deadness of your life. Confess your need for him and repent from your attempts to save yourself. Allow him to enter your heart and bring new life into you and make you alive again. Allow yourself to hear Jesus' voice saying to you "Child arise!"
(this sermon was originally prepared for Mother's Day)
Psalm 23
John 10:22-30
People are fiercely loyal to their mothers. You have seen the scene a hundred times. It is so common place you probably never thought about the meaning behind it. It is an expression of something we assume so deeply that we expect it. It is something so basic to us it is almost instinct.
The scene is the Super Bowl, or the Hula Bowl, or the pro bowl, or the World series, final four.... It is near the end of the game. One of the two teams is ahead enough that the celebration has begun. The camera starts panning the sidelines of the winning team. And all the players are holding up a #1. Then one after another we hear them, or maybe we just read their lips. They are all saying, "Hi Mom!"
This tells us something. Think about it. Of all the people they could say hi to on national T.V., why is it always Mom. Why not a wife, or children, or a father. Why not that high school coach who taught them the basic skills that are earning them millions. It is always Mom. People are fiercely loyal to their mothers. Even the physically strongest men in our society display their loyalty to their mothers for all to see.
People are so loyal to their mother's, because a mother's love is so great. Consider what mothers go through. First there is child birth. That is no picnic. Now that men are in the delivery room more and more we are beginning to respect what women go through. And once the child is born, most of the work of child rearing falls on the mothers. Often it is out of necessity. The father can earn more so he goes and earns while the mother stays at home. But studies show that even in two career families, force of habit places most of the burden on the mother. All that time and energy, for what? So that the child can leave.
A mother gives and gives and gives asking nothing in return. And no matter what happens they still love. A person can commit an unspeakable crime and everyone will abandon that person. But their mother won't. Consider Mary, Jesus' mother. When almost everybody else fled in terror, who was one of the few at the foot of the cross: Mary, the mother of Jesus.
A mother's love is so unconditional and exceptional that it is in a category by itself. Some give it it's own name. They call it " Motherlove." It is a degree of love that is only fully expressed by the love of a mother. It is the kind of love that persists no matter what wrong is done to it. Even among wild animals, a mother will give her life to save her offspring. So people respond to that degree of love with an equally fierce loyalty.
Jesus told us to call God "Father," but God's love is much like a mother's love. The Bible is full of examples of God's "motherlove." God is constantly feeding and nurturing his children. God is the one who gave us life, who breathed us into existence, just as our mothers birthed us into this world. And God is constantly giving for our benefit. And God hurts when we walk away and reject love.
The image of God as Shepherd is a good example of this. God cares for us as a good shepherd. God provides for our every need. God takes us to green pastures and leads us beside still waters. And God protects us from wild animals that would devour us.
Like a mother God prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies. When others would flee, God remains steadfast. Just like a mother who stands by her child even though others ridicule, deride and even crucify him. And what is God doing in the face of our enemies? God is providing for our earthly needs by preparing a table for us.
Of course God's love is greater than any love a human can produce. "Motherlove": is only an analogy that helps us understand God's love. But it is a good analogy. It helps us understand how loving and giving God's love is. The most unconditional example of human love is a Mother's love. To say that God loves us more than that at least gives us a frame of reference.
Jesus is the prime example of God's "Motherlove." In Jesus God died for his children. The ultimate expression of love is to give one's life for another.(John 15:13) We see that expressed when a mother risks her life to save her child. Jesus is the Son of God, but even he tells us that he and the Father are one. When the Father sent Jesus to die on the cross, he was sending himself to suffer and die. Like a mother Jesus was unselfishly giving his life so that his children could live.
The amazing thing is Jesus died for humanity even though we rejected him. God's love in Christ loved even though people spat upon him and cursed him. One might think that the God of the universe would squash people for treating him so. But God's love does not depend on us loving him back. We can reject God, and God hurts, but like a mother's love God's love continues.
Paul preached about this love. He said, "Though they could charge him with nothing deserving death, yet they asked Pilate to have him killed." And yet God sent them the good news of the resurrection that they might repent and live.(Acts 13:26-33) That is love. God could have condemned them once they killed Jesus. But instead God sent them Paul and other preachers to try to save them. God continued to love them even though they rejected and mistreated Jesus, God in the flesh. God loves us even though we do the same.
The problem is that most people don't know this aspect of God's love. They mistakenly think God is vengeful or mean. God is righteous, and God seeks justice. But it is more like the punishment that a loving mother gives a child. It's purpose is to keep the child safe. A mother punishes a child for playing with matches not to be mean but so that the child doesn't burn herself.
The greatest quality of God is God's love and God's forgiving spirit. Ideally a mother will always love her child no matter how evil they get. God will always love his children no matter what they do. God loves us even though we reject him and hurt him. Even though we crucify him daily with our sin, he still loves us. And he sent us the good news of that love.
Love God! Why? For the same reason you love your mother. God gave us life. God loves us, and gave his life for us. Like the Martyrs of old, let us decided to love back by giving our whole lives to God.
You would die for your mother. Why not be willing to die for God? Why not be willing to live for God?
Revelation 7:9-17
One day St. John was visiting heaven. And he saw many wonderful and awe inspiring things. One of the things he saw was a crowd. It was a great throng of people in white robes waving palm branches and singing like some celestial Palm Sunday procession. They were singing praises to the Lamb of God who sits on the throne. One of the elders that attends to the worship of God in heaven asked John who these people were. John said, "Beats me. Who are they?" The elder replied, "These are the ones who have come through a great ordeal and have washed their robes in the blood of the lamb."
I can remember the first time I head someone preach on this passage. It was in a small rural church near Rock Hill and Bishop Bethea was preaching. This small African American church had been vandalized and racial slurs had been painted on the building. The bishop decided to act as a pastor to this congregation and so he came to preach the good news to them. And if any of you ever saw Bishop Bethea preach you know he could preach.
First he read this passage from Revelation and then began to point out that this crowd of people had come through a great ordeal. They did not get to heaven because their lives were perfect. They did not reach this pinnacle of heavenly bliss and praise because they knew no trouble. This heavenly throng were the ones who had come through a great ordeal. And they had washed their robes in the blood of the lamb.
God never promised us a rose garden. Like the song says, "Along with the sunshine there's got to be a little rain sometime." God's people are not promised a life free of trouble. Your life won't have fewer troubles just because you get closer to God. In fact it sometimes seems that the closer you get to God the more troubles you have. Think of the Godliest people you know. Now look at their lives. Often times they were persecuted or suffered great hardship. But at the same time the closer you get to God the more you can face those troubles.
John is proof of this. The Bible tells us that John was in prison "on account of the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus." We are not entirely sure of the details, but apparently John was in prison because of the faith. He was suffering because he was a Christian. In John's day Christians were persecuted because they refused to worship the Emperor. Some were executed publicly. Some were fed to wild animals. Some were burned alive to light the arenas. Some were merely thrown in prison. John was one of the ones thrown in prison. Now prison is never a fun place, but Roman prisons were more like concentration camps than the ones we have now a day. These were work camps and Patmos was a center for mining ore. John probably spent his time literally breaking rocks. It was also a hot Mediterranean Island.
John was in prison but he was also close to God. It says that John was in prayer on the Lord's day. Remember his religion was against the law but he was still practicing it in prison. Probably before dawn, when the soldiers would have come to get him, he prayed and worshipped even thought it could cost him his life, physically speaking. But in the midst of that prison Jesus appeared to him and showed him heavenly glories beyond imagination. Throughout Revelation John keeps describing what he sees by saying it was like this or like that. He had trouble putting his experience of God into words. He had to say, "Well its like..." The things he was seeing were unlike anything he had every seen or experienced. Yes, John suffered, but he also knew comfort beyond imagination.
God never promised John a rose garden. But we should expect that because God never promised Jesus a rose garden either. Jesus was the only begotten Son of God. He was so close to God that he said "The Father and I are one." And he wasn't lying.
Jesus was closer to God than anyone else ever had been since Adam and Eve. And God didn't promise him a rose garden. He was the King of Kings yet he lived in utter obscurity for 30 years. When he finally did come to the public eye he was ridiculed. His own hometown tried to kill him after his first sermon.
His cousin and forerunner was beheaded by Herod. And the crowds just could not get it. Over and over again he told them that he was going to Jerusalem to die and rise again. But they refused to believe. And then one of his own disciples betrayed him with a Kiss while the others ran and denied any knowledge of him.
Finally there was the cross. The cruelest form of torture and death yet devised. Designed to display a person as they died. Nails were driven through the hand and feet and a person hung in such a way that the lungs filled with fluid and the person literally drowns. The nails in the feet actually allowed the person to push up and get a breath, but at some point the pain becomes too much and the person stops pushing up. That is why they went to break the legs of the thieves so that they couldn't push up any more and they would hurry up and die.
God never promised John or Jesus a rose garden so why should we expect it. I remember when I was in college one day before an exam the students were quizzing each other to get ready. It was a psychology class and we were asking each other definitions of psychological aliments. What is psychosis? What is dementia? The girl in the seat next to me said, "Define Alzheimer's Disease." I described it with the textbook definition but we both knew the tragic human face behind it. Then off the cuff she said, "I'm glad I won't ever have that." I asked what she meant. She said, "I'm a Christian and I won't ever have that."
She truly believed that because she was a Christian she would never get Alzheimer's! But Christians do. Christians get cancer, and AIDS, and die in car accidents. Christians lose loved ones and get fired and laid off and are killed in drive by shootings. Awful things happen to Christians.
God never promised us a rose garden. But God did promise to be with us. God promises to raise us up when the world beats us down. God promises us a white robe and victory branch after we get through the great tribulation. And God promises that we will get through.
Please don't misunderstand me. I am not saying that you are not a Christian if you are not going through great tribulations. Some Christians think their level of suffering corresponds to their level of spirituality. Sometimes we do suffer for the faith, and sometimes we don't. I am also not saying that the times of healing and comfort only come after death. What I am saying is best summed up in these words: "Life is hard, but God is good." Both parts of that statement are true and the one does not negate the other. God never promised us a rose garden, but he did promise us the rose of Sharon, Jesus Christ, to be with us and strengthen us and to give us a crown of victory and a robe of salvation!