6th Sunday after Pentecost
I don’t know about you, but I’ve always loved magicians. Growing up in a pre-internet, pre-cable TV age (at least in our household), it was a rare occurrence to see a magician perform. There was Harry Blackstone, who was the classic magician in white tie and tails. The Amazing Randi, who was somewhat of the same type. There was Doug Henning, who had more of a hippy vibe. And after him there was David Copperfield, who was a more modern version of the classic illusionist. It wasn’t until I got to college that I ever heard about Penn & Teller, who were a whole new thing. Then, of course, there was always Rocky & Bullwinkle “Hey Rocky, watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat!! Nothin’ up my sleeve… Presto!!”
There was a little magic shop in the town of Sunbury, PA, and I loved going there any chance I could. I even learned a couple a couple of magic tricks when I was a kid. Nothing fancy, no sleight of hand or anything like that. Just some simple card tricks and a couple of little gimmicks.
I preface this week’s sermon with all of this because in the book we’re using to inform this series, the heading for this chapter is the following: “Making Visible the invisible Jesus.” That sounds like magic to me. If only it were that simple! Imagine if all it took was a wave of the hand and, Presto! suddenly everyone can see the Jesus that we’ve all been talking about. Imagine that! No convincing! No sweat! No strain! No muss! No fuss! If only…
Honestly, even magic takes work. Card tricks don’t just happen. They take work. They take preparation. The illusion is not the trick. The trick is making it possible for people to think that they really have been picked at random. The trick is making it possible for people to believe that the deck of cards you’re cracking open really is a fresh, unopened pack of cards. The trick is making it possible for people to believe the illusion is real. It’s as true for little tricks as it is for great big tricks. We all know that when David Copperfield made the Statue of Liberty “disappear” that the Statue of Liberty was still there, atop her pedestal, in New York harbor, between Ellis Island and Governor’s Island. There’s a lot of work that goes into making something appear to be magical and effortless.
So, when I talk about making the invisible Jesus visible? Don’t be surprised when I say that it’s a lot of work. Over the past twelve weeks we’ve been looking at the story of the Bible and how the pieces fit with one another. This, then, is where it all comes together. So, what does it all mean?
Well, let’s review it a bit, shall we? (See illustration)
1) In the beginning, there was God. The arrows symbolize God’s continuously outpouring love.
2) God, in love, created all things, the sun, the moon, the stars, and humankind.
3) God created humankind in God’s image: God’s intention for humankind was that they should serve God and one another with love.
4) But people sinned. Their love was turned in upon itself. They lived only to serve themselves, and the result was death.
5) People had changed, not God. So, God became the God-Man in the person of Jesus the Messiah, and lived the life we were meant to live but cannot. Jesus lived to serve God the Creator and others – full time and without limit.
6) Jesus suffered the death which we brought upon ourselves by virtue of our sinfulness (cross). But his crucifixion was also his coronation (crown above cross), because when his opponents did their worst to him, he did his best for them and us – as the servant without limit.
7) Jesus lived a sinless life for us, died to suffer the consequences of our sin, and rose again as the Lord of life, death, and eternity. He’s among us through the Holy Spirit (dove) to assure us that our sins are forgiven (cross through sin), and that death has been transformed from a fearsome event into a doorway leading to eternal life. (Door with slats – we can see in faith what lies on the other side of death). God now desires that we strive to live according to God’s original plan, living in love and service to one another. Because our love is not yet perfect, the arrows of our love are likewise not yet perfect.
8) In the life to come, God will restore all things so that they conform to God’s original plan. In eternity we shall live to praise God and serve others. While we wait for jesus to welcome us into his eternal home, we are to heed his one commandment and serve God full-time by serving others full-time.
It’s these last two images that concern us particularly today, because this is where we now find ourselves. This is the space that we currently occupy and have occupied since the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. It’s a space we will continue to occupy, as will those who come after us, until Jesus’ own return.
God calls us to live our lives in a manner that reflects God’s original intention for creation. That being created in God’s image we serve God by loving God and loving our neighbors as we love ourselves. Martin Luther once said that “The Bible is the cradle that brings us Jesus of Nazareth.”
The Jesus revealed in the Bible is still with and among us – forgiving, serving, guiding, and empowering us. Jesus doesn’t ask us to put him first. Jesus is unequivocal: 28 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. 30 For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
It’s that final verse that is so pivotal: 31 Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. In other words, Jesus’ kingdom claim upon us isn’t the first among many things which lay claim to us. As far as Jesus is concerned it is the only thing that has any claim to us.
Put another way, the Christian faith is not the most important part of life; it is life itself! Period. Full-stop. All of life is a sacred affair, lived in the presence of Jesus, 24/7/365. Our one desire is to reflect Jesus’ servant mind and manner in everything that we think, say, and do. We live as informed and responsible citizens, helping to empower everyone to live together in the spirit of love God intends for us at the local, national, and international levels.
We develop our skill and abilities to the fullest extent possible, so that we are best equipped to serve others in meaningful and useful ways.
The food we put into our bodies matters. We eat healthily in order to live usefully. We eat to live, rather than living to eat.
The family, regardless of the shape or form that it takes, is the basic unit of our lives together. As parents and caregivers, we influence enormously those who have been entrusted to our care. Faith is something that is to be taught, first and foremost, in the home! It needs to be taught by people who equip themselves to know, share, and model the truths that we embrace.
Do you know what money is in this context? It’s servanthood in a storable, transferable form. It’s not wrong to have money. The question is: A) How did we get it? And, B) How are we using it?
We need to look after for our own care and feeding. It’s part of faithful stewardship to participate in leisure activities and to follow intellectual pursuits so that we can keep our bodies healthy and our minds alert.
We view our daily work as a service opportunity to do useful things or produce needed products for the good of humanity. As Martin Luther put it, “A dairymaid can milk cows to the glory of God.”
Lastly, we worship together, regularly. According to the Bible the church is always a community of people and never a building. Nevertheless, we gather together in a dedicated space to worship God together and to help one another grow in faith and discipleship.
Jesus says in Matthew, “…strive for [God’s] kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.” And in Luke he says, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” To understand our role and function in God’s ongoing work to restore God’s plan and unite all things in God, things in heaven and things on earth. As the Anglican catechism puts it: “The mission of the Church is to restore all people to unit with God and each other, in Christ.
There is no such thing as private of secret Christianity. We, as followers of Jesus, are called to personal faith, but it’s never private. We are called not merely to believe in Jesus, but to follow him. We are called to live in community as servants of God and of one another.
It’s not magic. It’s work. It’s difficult, demanding, sacrificial work. But when it happens… (Notice I say “when” and not “if”) When it happens, it’s an amazing thing to behold. Lives are restored and true lasting joy is found. And it will be clear to all those who see it that the resurrected Christ is indeed alive and well. Right here. In this place. A place of faithful witness to God’s incredible, redeeming, sacrificial love.
AMEN