Resurrection: Belief or Follow?

 Luke 24:1-12

Some things to note in Luke’s account of the Sunday morning.

The women go at first light, really early, maybe even pre-dawn.

They were following the customs of caring for the body.

The tomb was empty, then two men in dazzling clothes – reminiscent of the people in dazzling clothes at Transfiguration [maybe] – appear.

 

The women tell the men.

The men think the women are talking nonsense.

Peter goes and checks it out and doesn’t know what to make of it.  

 

Some ancient texts do not have the verse where Peter goes and looks in the tomb, the story ends with the women not being believed.

Now that would make for an interesting ending.

The women came and told the disciples the tomb was empty, they didn’t believe the women.

End of story.  

 

And the biggie - Jesus does not appear!

That’s right, in Luke’s Sunday morning account, we have women and spices and an empty tomb and men in white dazzling clothes, but no Jesus.

 …..

 We sit here this morning celebrating resurrection, yet on the Sunday morning of that first Easter, there was mystery and possibility.

The ones dressed in dazzling clothes spoke of what Jesus had said before his death, and the women remembered.

There is a slow realisation of what is happening.

 I wonder if it is like a seed being planted, most of what it needs to grow into a plant is within it. during the time a seed germinates it looks like nothing is happening, but much is happening under the soil. When we are faced with major changes to our thinking, we too need time to see how this new experience fits into our world.

[I will have seeds for people as they leave]

 A major change in our world view takes time, not a click of our fingers. All the clues Jesus had given in his life did not make sense to the disciples, or the others who followed Jesus. Now, following from the words of the ones dressed in white, they begin to sift through their memories.

 The women showed courage to go to the tomb on Sunday morning. Jesus was executed because he upset the religious leaders, what would they do with women tending to his body? But the women go, as dictated by tradition, the body needed to be prepared properly for burial, and this would be done, even though he had already been placed in the tomb.

 Notice no-one says I told you so, no-one says we knew this would happen, no-one shouts Hallelujah. No-one was expecting this to happen, even though Jesus had told them about it beforehand.

 The men in dazzling white ask: Why are you looking in the place of the dead for someone who is alive?

I imagine the women thinking: But he was dead, we saw his body taken form the cross and paced in the tomb, and dead people stay dead, well expect for Lazarus, but that was a miracle, and ….

I understand why the women scratched their heads; I understand why the eleven thought they were talking nonsense; the idea of someone rising from death, even Jesus, takes a while to get your head around.

 I sometimes wonder if the gospels and in particular the story of resurrection is so amazing that we don’t think too much about it, because if we did it would create too many questions for us.

 Each of the Gospel writers includes different accounts of Jesus appearing after the resurrection, including:

• ·       Jesus appearing behind locked doors, so maybe a ghost
• ·       but then Jesus eats in other stories, so not a ghost;
• ·       in some of the resurrection appearances people recognise him instantly,
• ·       and in others they do not recognise him.

 

It seems so easy to say the words I believe in the resurrection. But can you explain that to someone who has not experienced Jesus?

 Yet I know that the resurrection is real, not because I can explain it, not because I understand it, but because of the new life I have been offered.

 I believe because of my experience, because of times when the presence of God is all that kept me breathing; because of times when I have been aware of something happening in my life, of a warmth, a glow, a voice. I don’t understand any of these things, but they happened to me, and still do; and the Christian gospel is what makes sense of those experiences for me.

 The Gospel isn’t just about God and me, sure there is the personal relationship that we have through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus; but there is more to it than that.

 Believing is one thing, but the call of Jesus is not to believe, but to follow. Not just about what is in our head, or even our heart, but our hands, our voice, our life.

Will we listen to the voices of women speaking about violence and harassment without discounting their experience because it is not our experience.

Will we listen to experience of people addicted to drugs without condemning them to prison.

Will we listen to the voices of our indigenous brothers and sisters without discounting their experience because it is not our experience.

The Uniting Church Synod of NSW and ACT is encouraging people to sign a petition based on a decision of the Synod meeting in 2019, in support of the Statement from the Heart and the establishment of a Makarrata (Truth Telling) Commission.  If you would like to more know, talk to me, and I can provide you with further information, or look at our Facebook page.

Once the gospel is about more than me and Jesus and heaven;
once we read the gospel as a manifesto to change the world,
to rid the world of terror and violence and oppression and poverty;
the gospel becomes more uncomfortable.

 Because if I am honest, the transformation Jesus is asking us to work towards, a kingdom of peace and justice, is at odds with my lifestyle. The transformation Jesus is asking me to work towards, the transformation not only of my heart and my life, but the transformation of the community and nation, is about more than me.

 It asks for my voice, just like the women used their voices, even when not believed.

It asks me to add my voice to the voices of the Pacific Islanders being disposessed because of climate change, even if it means limiting my petrol and energy usage.

Resurrection tells me that

•  the impossible is possible;
• ·       that renewal is possible;
• ·       that we already have what we need for the next step in our journey,
  when we look deep within ourselves

 

Resurrection, new life, a new Kingdom is about

• ·       justice that transforms not retribution
• ·       peace that is abundant life not stifling
• ·       hope based on trust, not wishful thinking.

 

Resurrection can be life changing, will we let it be transforming?

Will we work for the coming of a new kingdom?

Are you open to new possibilities? 

speaking up or staying quiet

Luke 19:28-48

Palm Sunday,

no palms

no Hosannas

a triumphant entry, without triumph

 

for 10 chapters now, Jesus has been heading toward Jerusalem.

the tension has been growing,

there are those who want to be rid of him,

not necessarily because they disagree with him,

but because he makes it hard for everyone.

He draws attention to the way the world works,

and if he draws too much attention from Rome,

the crackdown would be swift and deadly.

 

Here, one week before the Passover festival

as people are arriving from all over the country to celebrate

to celebrate the freedom from oppression

and the liberation from slavery

when the Lord passed over the houses of the Israelites

when the first-born sons of Egypt were killed

Jesus comes riding into town.

 

He is also here for the Passover festival

but he knows the odds are against him
the religious leaders will find a way to silence him.

 

But first, they tell Jesus to silence the crowd.

Silence the crowd who are praising God and shouting:

 

“Blessed is the king who comes
    in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven
    and glory to God.”

 

How dare they call anyone else king

these are dangerous words

taken as a sign of political revolt

rather than a truth that has always existed.

 

Silence these people

they are stirring up trouble

and making life unsafe.

And Jesus reply

If they do not praise God, the stones will.

 

The stones will praise God

and the trees

and birds

and streams and …. all of creation

will praise and speak and announce

 

“Blessed is the king who comes
    in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven
    and glory to God.”

 

And I wonder when do we speak up?

Praising God

Blessing another

Speaking against

         Poverty

         Oppression

Racism

Sexism

And violence and discrimination

And damaging the earth and hurting each other.

 

When do we get angry and overturn the tables in the Temple

Or challenge the gatekeepers

The ones who turn another away, not for safety

But out of fear

or panic

or for a quiet life

or speak against the systems of oppression.

It is  easier and safer and more comfortable

to say nothing

to offer our prayers

to let someone else speak

but softly, because

too much noise and who knows what will happen.

what will need to change

what we will need to give up or take up

and our lives be as familiar.

 

The temptation, the desire,

is for order

for normal

for quiet and calm

even if we know it is not God’s dream for us pr the world or creation.

 

It is easier to keep silent

to let the world be the way it is then stand and speak

or to listen to the stories

of abuse

of war

of violence

of despair

of broken dreams

and broken lives.

 

The temptation,

the desire for peace is for calm and quiet and order,

not the peace of God that is justice and wholeness and recognising our interdependence and interconnection not only with other people but all of creation, past present and future. [i]

 

Jesus rode into Jerusalem to celebrate Passover

reading the signs of the times

knowing this will likely be his last Passover

still, he did not silence the crowd

he did not play safe

or stay quiet

he overturned the tables of the temple traders

he taught in the temple each day

knowing soon, but not knowing when

the inevitable would happen.

 

Has anything changed?

We praise God

do we live in the mess and danger of discipleship

do we live into God’s dream?

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[i] 1See Martin Luther King, Jr. “Letter From Birmingham City Jail.”

https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/narrative-lectionary/palm-sunday/commentary-on-luke-1929-44

Interruptions on the road to death

 The beginning of this passage is the third time Jesus has told the disciples he will be killed. The first time Jesus tells the disciples:

Jesus told his disciples, “The nation’s leaders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law of Moses will make the Son of Man suffer terribly. They will reject him and kill him, but three days later he will rise to life.” [Luke 9:22 CEV]

Then later in the same chapter:

“Pay close attention to what I am telling you! The Son of Man will be handed over to his enemies.” But the disciples did not know what he meant. The meaning was hidden from them. They could not understand it, and they were afraid to ask. [Luke 9:44-45 CEV]

And in the passage this morning:

He will be handed over to foreigners, who will make fun of him, mistreat him, and spit on him. They will beat him and kill him, but three days later he will rise to life.

The apostles did not understand what Jesus was talking about. They could not understand, because the meaning of what he said was hidden from them.

 As the disciples travelled with Jesus, there were many times they did not understand, yet they continued to follow.

 Then we hear two events when Jesus stops on his travels. Jesus is intent on travelling to Jerusalem, next week we read later in this chapter as he enters Jerusalem at Passover.   

 As Jesus and the disciples enter Jericho, a man who is blind hears the noise of a crowd forming. He is told that Jesus of Nazareth is walking past.

The man who is blind seizes the opportunity

He calls out

The crowd try to stop him

Too much shouting could draw the wrong kind of attention

But he continues to call out: Son of David have mercy on me!

 

There is so much wrong with the actions of the man who is blind.

Calling out Son of David is a political statement

Yelling was considered disorderly and not showing honour to Jesus.

 

But this man who cannot see gets who Jesus is.

He has heard, or knows, or senses that Jesus is the Son of David – a bold statement.

 And Jesus stops.

And asks the man what he wants.

Jesus doesn’t heal him; he asks what he wants.

And the man has the guts to say: I want to see again.

Not making excuses for his life or blindness

Not if you can or want or ….

 

I want to see again.

 

Do you have the courage to be honest with yourself and Jesus about what you really want?

Are you willing to risk asking for what you want?

Maybe when you think about it,
you don’t really know what you want.
Or you think it is too hard even for God,
or that God has more important things to do …..

 The man who was blind can now see, he follows Jesus and praises God.

 Jesus and the disciples continue their journey. The crowds continue milling around and people line the streets to catch a glimpse of Jesus.

By this time, he has been travelling around for three years, word about him has spread. We come to the meeting of Jesus and Zacchaeus.

 Here is what a friend wrote a few years ago:

“So, you’re in the crowd, watching and waiting for Jesus; suddenly you notice that there’s a bloke in the gum tree next to you, six feet up and climbing. …..

He is wearing a good suit and carrying a briefcase; he looks like he hasn’t negotiated a tree in his life. His balance is, to say the least, precarious. However, his ineptitude is outweighed by his energy, searching the road.”[i]

 

Zacchaeus, like so many others, wanted to see Jesus.  
Did he want something from Jesus, we don’t know.

While Zacchaeus was up a tree trying to get a glimpse of Jesus,
Jesus saw him,

and says: Come on Down!

“Zacchaeus came down at once, happy to welcome Jesus.”

The text doesn’t suggest that Zacchaeus is upset or ashamed to have Jesus come to his house.

Jesus doesn’t mention guilt, shame, or sin.

It is the crowd who get upset! Why him! He is a sinner!

Jesus is going to the house of the villain!

 The crowd are upset that Jesus is going to the house of Zacchaeus,  Zacchaeus responds by saying – “I give half of my possessions to the poor. And if I have cheated anyone, I repay them four times as much.”

 These two ‘interruptions’ in Jericho,

the man who is blind and the one who collects taxes,
both told by the crowd to stay out of the way,
both reminded they do not fit into proper society

Both have their lives transformed by their encounter with Jesus.

In both events we are told they are saved.

 

The one who was blind recognised Jesus as the Son of David

Sight restored

The one who collected taxes

Welcomes Jesus into his home

In both events we hear of the crowd
who tried to stop the man calling out

And told Jesus how sinful Zacchaeus was

 

I wonder how much we are like the crowd

·       This is the way to behave

·       We are Christians we don’t march/shout/upset the status quo

·       We don’t associate with sinful people, you know the ‘bad’ ones

 

The man who was blind saw Jesus in ways the disciples did not until after the resurrection

The one who associated with the roman occupiers went up a tree in the hope of seeing Jesus.

 

I wonder if our Christianity, our discipleship, is too orderly

too proper

too perfect.

 

What are we missing out on by not being honest with ourselves
with each other
with God

I wonder what we would be willing to do to see Jesus
to help others see Jesus
for eyes to be opened

for lives to be transformed.

even our lives.

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[i]  https://talbragar.wordpress.com/2016/10/27/tree-change/

Love and Wealth

 It is one year since churches and other groups were closed due to COVID. In that time, we have seen how different approaches to the pandemic have played out. We have also seen inequality around the world.

Inequality of access to health care, to medicine,
we have seen some health systems having to decide who gets a ventilator and who does not.
we have seen some people refuse to follow health advice and stay home, wear masks, wash their hands – because they feel their liberty is being infringed.

Now with the vaccine becoming available, we see an uneven distribution of vaccine between countries and within countries.

In Australia, in the past 2 months, we have seen an increasing number of women speaking out about sexual harassment and rape.  

again, we hear that women need to protect themselves
         not be out after dark

         be careful about what we wear

         always take a trusted friend with you

         ………

 

 

For many of us this parable hits a nerve, a comfortable middle class, I have all I need nerve. This is a challenging parable. But for some people, for the “Lazarus’s” of the world this parable is empowering and offers hope that things will not always be this way.

Luke isn’t saying that being wealthy is a bad thing in itself. We know the rich man is wealthy, he is called ‘the rich man', but he also wears purple and fine linen, he lives in the equivalent of a palace, with gates and security. This all adds up to serious wealth!

There is nothing to suggest the rich man gained his wealth by exploiting people. The problem is that being wealthy isolated him from the community around him.

Then, as now some people will see wealth as confirmation of being blessed by God, which also means being poor is a sign of being lazy or not being blessed by God – and you must have done something to deserve God not blessing you.

Wealth and poverty are not a sign of God’s blessing, or lack of blessing.

 A quote from a sermon by Martin Luther King Junior:

There is a gulf that originates in the accident of circumstance. Circumstances make it possible for some people to get an education, while other people are denied the opportunity. Circumstances make some people rich, social prestige, while others are left gnawing on the crumbs of obscurity. There are certain gulfs in life which originate in the accident of circumstance. So, in the parable Lazarus was poor, not because he wanted to be, but because tragic circumstances had made him so.

On the other hand, (Dives) the rich man was rich because fortunate circumstances had made him so. There is a circumstantial gulf between Lazarus and (Dives) the rich man. Now (Dives) the rich man’s sin was not that he made this gulf between him and Lazarus; this gulf had come into being through the accidents of circumstance. The sin of (Dives) the rich man was that he felt that the gulf which existed between him and Lazarus was a proper condition of life. (Dives) the rich man felt that this was the way things were to be.[i]

 

It is so easy to think that this is the way things are.

There will always be some people with more money or resources than others, but why do we accept a society where some people are homeless, hungry, and cold.

 

Through the ages:

people having slaves was the way things were meant to be

coloured people were considered to be inferior to white people

women were thought of as less than men

children did not have a voice

people with a disability were isolated

 

it can be easy for us to think that

low wages,
poor health outcomes,
shorter life spans
addiction and
poverty

are just the way things are for some people.

That there is nothing we can do about these things.

 

As individuals we cannot solve any of those issues on our own, it is easy to think we cannot do anything.

But notice, the rich man asked for a drop of water to ease his torment. He didn’t ask for all his problems to be solved.

 

Remember the story of the starfish-

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.

 Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”

 The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”

“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!”

 After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf.

 Then, smiling at the man, he said…..“I made a difference for that one.”[ii]

 

as an individual the problems of the world can seem overwhelming, but many of those problems come from a lack of love for neighbour.

 

In the parable, Father Abraham tells the rich man that his brothers should listen to Moses and the prophets.

 The prophets in the Bible were a feisty lot, Isaiah and Jeremiah, Amos and Hosea, Micah and Malachi. Have you noticed that many of the prophets did not speak to individuals but to the nation of Israel and Judah, and at times other nations?

 There are some comforting messages, but mainly speeches telling of the demise of nation because they haven’t lived in Gods ways. Forsake your idols and return to the Lord; return to God’s righteous ways and don’t make yourself rich at the expense of others; trust in God’s love. 

What will it take for us to really hear the prophets, to hear and act on God’s call to justice and righteousness?

 A few weeks ago, we read parts of chapter 10,

An expert in the Law of Moses stood up and asked Jesus a question to see what he would say. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to have eternal life?”

Jesus answered, “What is written in the Scriptures? How do you understand them?”

The man replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.’ They also say, ‘Love your neighbours as much as you love yourself.’”

Jesus said, “You have given the right answer. If you do this, you will have eternal life.” [Luke 10: 25-28]

 The rich man’s crime was not his wealth but inordinate self-love.[iii]

 Until we know people

living with a disability,

living in poverty,

homeless,

until we recognise the systems that continue to treat some people as less than others

until we are prepared to listen to women when they speak of harassment and rape

we deny people their humanity and dignity.

 

We go back to the beginning of the reading:

The Pharisees really loved money. So when they heard what Jesus said, they made fun of him. But Jesus told them:

You are always making yourselves look good, but God sees what is in your heart. The things that most people think are important are worthless as far as God is concerned.

 The rich man looked good, threw lavish parties, dressed well, but, as Paul writes: without love, we are nothing.

 

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[i] https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/impassable-gulf-parable-dives-and-lazarus-sermon-dexter-avenue-baptist-church?fbclid=IwAR0ngxWcuTccjJhiiugq06lkFragoopvMwc_QgKBN_K8Q5yGqKv98lr1HKg

[ii] https://academictherapycenter.com/about/the-starfish-story/

[iii] https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/impassable-gulf-parable-dives-and-lazarus-sermon-dexter-avenue-baptist-church?fbclid=IwAR0ngxWcuTccjJhiiugq06lkFragoopvMwc_QgKBN_K8Q5yGqKv98lr1HKg