What's The Point?

Sermon-4 Easter May 15, 2011
John 10:1-10

[Jesus said:] "Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers." Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

So again Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

The Cloud of Unknowing, "O God, our great companion, lead us ever more deeply into the mystery of your life and ours, that we may be faithful interpreters of that Life to each other, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
Stick with me on this one, it’s going to take a while to develop. I don’t get to the point til near the end.
First, some history. Every year on the 4th Sunday of Easter we have what is known as “Good Shepherd Sunday”. For some reason the church decided that every year a part of the 10th chapter of the gospel of John would be read. It’s in this chapter that Jesus says he is the Good Shepherd. Every year we read a different one third of this chapter and Jesus explains this self image. We always read the 23rd psalm on this Sunday-the 4th Sunday of Easter. The image on this Sunday is not just of a shepherd, but of sheep, a place where sheep are kept (the sheepfold), a gate, strangers, thieves and bandits. Lots if images for a short reading. And we even have John the gospel writer tell us, “Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.” It’s not always clear what Jesus is trying to say. In this reading from chapter 10 Jesus says, “I am the Gate.” You all know many of the “I am” phrases Jesus uses-“I am the bread of Life, I am the light of the world, I am the way, the truth, and the life”-but very few people get this one-“I am the gate”! But I can shed a little light on it. The shepherd in Israel would bring the sheep into the enclosure, the sheepfold, at night, and then the shepherd would lay down in front of the opening, like a human gate-so that danger could not come in, and sheep could not go out. Jesus says, “I am the gate” I am the shepherd who lies down to protect the sheep.
Ok, all of that is interesting-but it’s not my point.
There is a program on PBS called Frontline. They do some pretty interesting in depth stories. They did a series two years ago called “The Persuaders”. The Persuaders was about modern advertising. The program said that starting in the 1990s, brands stopped talking about whiter, brighter, bigger and instead advertisers began to invest in “pseudo spiritual marketing.” Khaki pants were sold without ever referring to pants. You just saw a bunch of guys talking and being cool. Nike was about” achieving transcendence through sports.” Starbucks wasn’t a coffee shop-they were a place where you could go and be part of a community. Starbucks said, we want to be your “3rd place”-not home, not work-just a place where you could go and just “be”-with other people. Do you remember all the ads about the colors of Benetton? They always showed a million colors-they were selling multiculturalism, diversity. Each brand was trying to connect with people emotionally-and spiritually. Every company had to have a “big idea” behind their brand-not just a product. One advertising guy said that his job now is to create a whole “meaning system for people through which they get identity and understanding of the world.” Advertisers began looking at different groups and why they are so devoted to something. They discovered that people join a cult or buy a product-for exactly the same reason-they want to belong, and they want to have a meaningful life. They want to figure out what the world is all about and they want the company of others as they go on that journey of discovery.
The narrator at one point said this, “that "emotional branding" seeks to fill the empty places that non commercial institutions like schools and churches might have once done the job…brands become an invitation to a longed for lifestyle”
Advertisers are” fulfilling the needs that we have for community and a life story and belonging to something bigger than just ourselves” At the end of the day-a running shoe, a cup of coffee, a box of cereal, laundry detergent-even a car- doesn’t give your life meaning-they’re just things. That’s what one advertiser said-the only thing a person could do, he believed, was simply to keep going out to buy more-hoping that they would feel a connection to other people-and find a purpose in their life. But, he said, these “things” don’t make our life abundant-no matter much they promise, no matter how many we buy.
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31But these are written so that you may come to believe* that Jesus is the Messiah,* the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
That’s how the Gospel of John ends in chapter 20. That through believing we may have life. 42 times in this Gospel the word “life” is used. 5 times in the 10th chapter of John alone. Do you think John the gospel writer thinks that Jesus is life? Do you think that it’s important? “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."
Do you think Jesus wants us to live? John 1.4: in him was life,* and the life was the light of all people. John 3.16:‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life., ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Over and over throughout this gospel Jesus offers all who listen a new way, the way of life. It begins with believing in him-and it ends in eternal life. It is both in this existence, AND in the next one. It is a spiritual life that takes us into a new way. It is often difficult, sometimes it is sad, it requires a great deal of trust, it will find resistance and there are a lot of people out there who will see it and try to offer us a knock off version of it-thus the thieves and robbers. But they are not true, and we will stay hungry for the “true life” until we find Jesus..John 8.12:”Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’”
This is from a sermon by Sr. Joan Delaplane many years ago: "The glory of God, is the person fully alive," said Irenaeus. We've seen what that looked like for Jesus! What would it look like for each of us at this time? Would it mean that we could finally let go of our anger and refusal to forgive a past hurt or betrayal? Would it mean less fear of the new and different? Would it mean less clinging to what other people think about us, less grasping and clutching for things in our search for happiness and peace? Instead, would we be able to pray confidently Psalm 23: "Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long."
We have the gift of life today to take time to look at our lives and our priorities in the face of eternity. Jesus has come that we might have life, and have it to the full and it is in doing just that—living fully—that God is glorified by each moment of our existence. In the words of John Henry Newman: "Fear not that your life will come to an end, but rather that it shall never have a beginning."
Here’s the point of my sermon. Jesus came so that we might live. And live abundantly, fully, completely. Jesus came that we might not just exist, but that we would flourish and thrive. Jesus came so that we might live lives of intensity and faith, hope and power. Jesus came and offered a life that would be so attractive, so wonderful that every other kind of life would look like theft of the real thing. Here’s the point-Jesus came so that we might live abundantly. He was made , he came, he taught, he healed, he suffered, he died, he rose, all so we could live. “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. ”Our purpose in faith-is to live –and to say to the world-this is what real life looks like. Here’s the point , Jesus wants us to live incredible, amazing, wonderful, exciting, intense, full and abundant lives. And that’s the point. Amen.

Why Is This Here?

Sermon-2 Easter May 1, 2011
The Cloud of Unknowing, "O God, our great companion, lead us ever more deeply into the mystery of your life and ours, that we may be faithful interpreters of that Life to each other, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. John 20:19-31

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

I ask you this all the time, why do you think John, the gospel writer, kept in the story about Thomas? It doesn’t really flatter Thomas, does it? Was this some kind of payback by John? Was John settling a score by portraying Thomas as unbelieving, difficult to convince, hard hearted? Think about it, Thomas looks bad in today’s story-why would John essentially end his book with a story about someone who had so much trouble with their faith? Does it strike you as, I don’t know, a little odd? Why end a book about Jesus with a story that has gone down in history with an example of uncertainty and skepticism? Doesn’t it make you kind of wonder? Why end the gospel, the good news about Jesus, this way?
I was in my mid 20s, and I went in to see the Bishop of Chicago, Jim Montgomery. He was a legend in the diocese as a man of great holiness and piety. So I go in to ask his permission to begin the process of ordination. And he gives me the “bishop talk” about the priesthood. And finally I interrupt him, and say, “Bishop, I’m worried. What if the Standing Committee asks me if I’m 100% sure that I’m called to be a priest-I don’t know that I am.” And he looked stunned, and a little embarrassed. “Well,” he said,” you shouldn’t lie, but none of us is ever 100 % sure of anything.” I couldn’t believe it. Even Bishop Montgomery wasn’t sure???
I told you last week that the resurrection story hung by a thread. First Mary Magdalene, then Peter and John. So much of our faith rested on such fragile people, people of great frailty, doing the right thing. If you listened closely you heard it again in today’s reading. The story begins on Easter day, AFTER the disciples have seen the risen Lord-and what are they doing? They’re still hiding behind locked doors. They are still afraid. This is the day of the Resurrection. Look at these guys. “When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews,” It’s EASTER SUNDAY-the day we celebrate with joy. Why does John record this? The disciples aren’t filled with joy, they’re full of fear.
Years ago, I had a fellow in my first church by the name of Harry. Harry was a great guy and wanted desperately to serve God and the church. So he went off to retreat weekend for all those who wanted to be deacons. At the retreat the leader, a very important diocesan person, told all the participants that unless they had truly experienced a vision Jesus in a powerful and real way-like Paul the apostle, that they weren’t really called. Harry went back to his dorm room, packed his bags and went home. His faith wasn’t good enough-he had never experienced Jesus in right way.
We don’t just question our faith-we question everything in our lives-our relationships, our truths, our selves. Constantly. Think about it, even though you have some things in your life you are absolutely sure of-have you ever questioned them, wondered about them, second guessed them? Was there ever a moment when you were unsure, conflicted, even about the things you were sure of?
“But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."
Mary told Peter and John. Jesus appeared to 11 of the 12 and they told Thomas. And still Thomas refused to believe. Why? Because he hadn’t seen him? Because it was impossible that someone rises from the dead? Because Thomas didn’t trust his fellow disciples? Why was Thomas so unsure?
I think John the gospel writer includes these last difficult stories because they are supposed to represent us, you and I. We believe John was writing this gospel 60 years after the resurrection. Hardly anyone was still alive who had seen the risen Lord. So how did people come to faith? How were people supposed to believe after Jesus stopped appearing? That’s what I think John is trying to address-that’s why I think he wrote this gospel-how are people who don’t see the Risen Lord supposed to have faith. And Thomas, more than anyone else in his gospel, is supposed to be you and I.
David Lose writes in Working Preacher: “Little wonder that John follows this scene with his own two-sentence purpose statement: "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:30-31). In other words, what happens to Thomas is exactly what John hopes will happen to each of us when we read his story.”
I Think Thomas refuses to believe not because he needs proof, which is usually how he is portrayed, but because he is afraid of being wrong. I think he is afraid of getting his hopes up. I think Thomas is afraid of not being 100% sure. I think Thomas is like us-he’s afraid. And yet the last thing Thomas says in the gospel of John has become the greatest confession of the church, My Lord and My God!
Thomas did everything he could to question, challenge, and test the experience-but in the end, it wasn’t settled for him, in his soul-until he made a decision. Until Thomas made a choice, the resurrection wasn’t real. And finally, ultimately, Thomas had to choose-was Jesus being raised worth his life, or not.
As I keep saying, I think it’s what everyone of us is confronted with-we make a choice, we make a decision-regardless of how much, or how little, proof or evidence that we have. Do we believe God raised Jesus from the dead? Do we believe that Jesus was the messiah? Do we believe God came to rescue us? Do we think God has power over death? Do we think love is the greatest force in the universe? I don’t think, finally, it’s about proof-as Thomas finally realizes at the end of this gospel. I think it’s a matter of commitment. What are we willing to stake our lives on? Thomas has an overwhelming experience-and decides, finally, that he will choose Jesus. It was painful for him. It was, in many ways, excruciating. But when John ends his gospel, there is only one thing left for Thomas to do, one decision that he feels he can make. He never does touch the risen Lord. Never does all the things that he says he requires for proof. At the end, all Thomas can do is face his own life and make a decision. And he does. “My Lord and my God.” And John the gospel writer tells us, we are all left with that same choice-not, are we afraid of being wrong, but are we afraid of making a decision. You decide.