Sermon for St Mark’s, 27th August 2017
Pentecost 12 – Who do YOU say that I am? Did Jesus have all his fingers? When he began his ministry, it was as a travelling rabbi, but until that time Scripture identifies him as a “carpenter’s son” (Matthew 13.55). In Jesus’ day the son followed the father’s trade, so Jesus was a skilled carpenter, a worker with axe and mallet and saw. Joseph probably went out into the land and cut down trees to finish them as lumber for house beams, furniture, and tools, and so would the young Jesus. It is not an easy skill. I have known carpenters and woodworkers, and it is not uncommon for them to have scarred hands and missing fingers, accidents in the trade. Do you think Jesus had all his fingers? I asked that question of a Confirmation class once. My goal was not the answer, but to get them to think about Jesus, to wonder about him as a person, not just a religious notion. I tried to help them assemble a picture of him as a person who walked this same earth, though a time long ago. Jesus was never a Christian, but a faithful Jew. He was not a white man; did not have blue eyes. He was dark skinned, black or brown eyes like others of his nation, probably around five feet tall, maybe a little more. A carpenter of his time would have been illiterate, reading some words and numbers, but not able to write a letter. Yet Luke indicates Jesus read the prophet Isaiah in synagogue (4.16f). Another fact which may support his literacy is that the word “carpenter” was also a code name for “scholar”. Jesus was radical in some of his teaching (turn the other cheek), brilliant before adversaries (Render unto Caesar) and comfortable with the oppressed and despised people of his day (lepers and tax collectors). He turned his religion on its ear, when he insisted the law of love is higher than the law of righteousness. Jesus was possessed by an intense prayer life, and he had a prayer book, which maybe he read, but certainly knew by heart. There is a copy of Jesus’ prayer book within your arm’s reach. It is the Book of Psalms, and you will find it in the middle of your Book of Common Prayer. We heard this morning from Mathew that when Peter acknowledged Jesus as “Messiah”, Jesus ordered the disciples not to tell anyone. He was quite serious about that. Jesus knew the danger of exalted titles. Next week we will hear the same Peter called “Satan” for challenging Jesus’ directives. Jesus even resisted being called “good” (Mark 10.17). Nevertheless, Jesus has been misidentified as John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the prophets (Matthew 16.14). He has been described as Messiah, Prince of Peace, and only Son of God. His opponents knew him as peasant, magician, bandit and rebel. We call him Lord, Savior, Redeemer, Christ and Blessed Jesus. Even other religions honor him as prophet, holy man, great Teacher. The question that matters, though, is the question he put to the disciples. To those who knew him best, his own friends, he said, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16.15) That is our question. Who is Jesus to you? For me, Jesus has many faces. Through study, I know Jesus by all those names – prophet, holy man, great Teacher; peasant, revolutionary, master of debate and parable, awesome in ability to love. In my heart, I have come to know him as companion and elder brother. Witness to my foolishness, healer of my memories, he is one who smiles at my accomplishments and who speaks through me at holy moments. I believe strongly that Jesus was a man of laughter, as well as tears. Jesus is often silent when I pray to him, but I sense he is listening. And I know he knows my sin. All my desires are known and no secrets are hid, but there is no danger in Jesus knowing I fall short. In my spirit I know him intimately, as he knows me. I experience him particularly at Eucharist, in moments of great beauty or simple tenderness. I see the face of Jesus in my wife, in my son and daughter, and in the wise and loving people I have known. I recognize Jesus in the smiles of infants and toddlers, in the gaze of lovers of all ages, in the eyes of those who are dying, and in the heartbreak of deep grief, tragedy, and human suffering. For me, there is no question: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. And yet, all of that really matters little, except that I do not ask you to answer a question I am not willing to answer myself. So back to you, in this moment, and later in your quiet time. Who is Jesus to you? Does he have all his fingers? You might be interested to know that one of my young students thought seriously about Jesus’ fingers. At the next meeting of the Confirmation class, she was quite confident that he did have all his fingers. She quoted John’s Gospel that at his crucifixion: “No bone of his shall be broken” (19.36). The amazing Albert Schweitzer, physician, theologian, and recipient of the Nobel Prize for Peace, (1875-1965) is perhaps best known for monumental historical life-of-Jesus research. The last four sentences in his 400+ page book tell a truth which has resonated in countless souls, and may catch hold in yours, or perhaps is an invitation yet to be accepted. About the risen Jesus Schweitzer wrote: He comes to us as One unknown, without a name, as of old, by the lake-side, He came to those men who knew Him not. He speaks to us the same word: “Follow thou me!” and sets us to the tasks which He has to fulfill in our time. He commands. And to those who obey, whether they be wise or simple, He will reveal Himself in the toils, the conflicts, the sufferings which they shall pass through in his fellowship, and, as an ineffable, mystery, they shall learn in their own experience Who He is.” (The Quest for the Historical Jesus, 1906, p403) Who is Jesus to you? Come, if you wish, and let’s talk. Amen.
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AuthorI don't know what the future of the church is, but I know that we will continue to be a place of sanctuary and hope, working towards healing in the world. Archives
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