Matthew 26:14 - 27:66 is the lectionary text for Sunday of the Passion/Palm Sunday
What a whirlwind.
In the reading of this long passage, there is a lot.
The conspiracy had begun and Judas, a beloved and trusted disciple involved. Betrayal.
The Passover, a chaotic, obligatory and festive experience in Jerusalem began.
Prayer in the Garden, after. A desperate need for support in the dreading of inevitable.
The arrest. Betrayal complete.
The shameful perp walk and display, intrigue and mob judgment.
And again.
The denial of one who was thought to be solid.
The anguished solution for the betrayer.
Indecision in political pressure at the top, and one bad decision after another.
Mocking and torture.
State-sanctioned, church colluded murder of another innocent under empire's oppression.
"By a perversion of justice He was taken away." Isa 53:8
But this was different.
"Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon Thee? Alas, my treason, Jesus hath undone Thee.
'Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied Thee. I crucified Thee."
Darkness.
Abandonment.
Death. Real death. Tragic and brutal.
Atonement, signified by the symbol of the separation of God in the Holy of Holies from the people, being torn apart.
Ah, there it is. Finally hope from the horror. Meaning in the midst of unjust and tragic loss.
"MY SIN, O the bliss of that glorious thought - my sin, not in part, but the whole IS NAILED TO THE CROSS and I BEAR IT NO MORE! Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, O my Soul!"
Redemption.
Victory out of death. Through death.
The meaning of this death is clear in Matthew's Gospel.
It is very different from the thousands of others executed by empire.
It is a triumph over evil, both political and ecclesiastical, social and spiritual.
Jesus took our death to its death on the Cross, the lynching tree.
"Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death,
is your sting?" I Corinthians 15:54, 55 (from Isa.25:7, 8, Hosea 13:14)
A temporary burial is hastily arranged.
The final remembrance is yet to come.
We sit. Shiva BEFORE the actual burial.
Huddled together, feeling the loss, waiting for closure.
"Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our diseases;
yet we accounted Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.
But He was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities;
upon Him was the punishment that made us whole, and by His bruises we are healed...
He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so He did not open His mouth." Isa. 53:4-7
The true victory is in the sacrifice, the death itself, given out of Agape Love. It is Grace upon Grace.
A whirlwind, not asked for or wanted, but one that changed our lives forever.
That's how life with God is.
The tragic still happens, even unjust tragedy.
And we feel loss.
But we are not alone in it. Emmanuel - God is with us IN IT.
And even in the tragic we find Atonement with God and our Redemption.
So that, even though we must go through the loss, we are lifted by the sacrifice made by God,
on the Cross, for us.
To be Jesus' disciples means following Jesus, even or especially to the Cross.
"If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life (apart from God) will lose it (life with God), and those who lose their life (apart from God) for my sake will find it (life with God). For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life (with God)? Or what will they give in return for their life (with God)?" Matthew 16:24-26
The sacrifice has been made. The Passover lamb has been offered and by His blood we are saved.
We are delivered from our bondage to sin and death, through His death.
"It is well with my soul."
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, March 29, 2020
Sunday, March 22, 2020
Unbound
John 11:1-45 is the lectionary text for next Sunday, March 29th.
I find this passage to be powerful, and not in the ways that others often do.
Yes, the miraculous resurrection of Lazarus by Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life, is wonderous.
I find meaning in the unbinding.
I am a hospice chaplain and bereavement coordinator.
I am periodically confronted by folk who seem to think that Christians should not weep or grieve because of their faith in the resurrection.
I always remind them that Jesus wept, even stating that He knew he would raise Lazarus.
Jesus was in despair and wept.
He wept because of their weeping.
He wept because He felt the loss of someone He loved.
Grieving is loving. It is the hard part of loving. We only grieve if we love. So, Jesus loved and Jesus wept. We love, and we weep. Even knowing of the resurrection, we weep.
Jesus was unbound from fear of those who opposed Him trying to kill Him.
Jesus had just escaped being arrested or stoned to death.
His disciples were keenly aware of the danger to Him now.
But because Jesus heard of Lazarus' plight, out of love, Jesus risked His own life to attend him.
Jesus was unbound from fear to act in love.
Dr. King said that it is always the right time to do the right thing.
I believe that is true.
Jesus was unbound from the suppression of His grief.
Jesus was distressed at the grief of loved ones and the loss of one He loved.
He wept because He felt loss.
He wept because He felt compassion.
He wept because He loved.
Jesus wept.
Lazarus was unbound from death.
He came out of the tomb at Jesus' command.
He was alive and in no need of burial clothes, so Jesus unbound him from those.
The first resurrection was given by Jesus to someone else, not for Himself.
Lazarus would die again, to be sure. He is not walking among us today.
But the truth and hope of resurrection unbound him from sin and its fruit, death.
How about you?
Do you see the possibility of being unbound from your fear?
Can you see yourself understanding the realities of danger, but moving through them to
fulfill your destinies in life?
Can you see yourself knowing that it could go very badly, but still carrying on with what
you know is the right thing to do?
Can you be unbound from your fear by following Jesus, in order to follow Jesus?
Do you suppress your grief, believing that you should not feel the loss, or do you see the
need to honestly, genuinely express your love in grief?
Even knowing of the resurrection, can you fully express your love in loss?
Do you believe that you are unbound from death itself?
Do you believe that Jesus went to the Cross to take your sin to its death, in order to give you
His resurrection?
Do you know that sin no longer binds you, because Grace abounds?
Do you know the love of God in this?
Do you see God's Grace in it?
Does it make you grateful, and more gracious and loving yourself?
Jesus cries, "COME OUT!"
Come out from under those things that oppress, suppress and bind you.
Jesus declares, "UNBIND HIM/HER, AND LET HER/HIM GO!"
Be freed from those things that would hold you down, back or out.
Let go of your fear, any suppression of who you truly are!
Be unbound from the fruit of your sinfulness and even death itself!
We are meant to be unbound.
We are meant to be boundless!
We are meant to abound with steadfast love!
Pastor Jamie
I find this passage to be powerful, and not in the ways that others often do.
Yes, the miraculous resurrection of Lazarus by Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life, is wonderous.
I find meaning in the unbinding.
I am a hospice chaplain and bereavement coordinator.
I am periodically confronted by folk who seem to think that Christians should not weep or grieve because of their faith in the resurrection.
I always remind them that Jesus wept, even stating that He knew he would raise Lazarus.
Jesus was in despair and wept.
He wept because of their weeping.
He wept because He felt the loss of someone He loved.
Grieving is loving. It is the hard part of loving. We only grieve if we love. So, Jesus loved and Jesus wept. We love, and we weep. Even knowing of the resurrection, we weep.
Jesus was unbound from fear of those who opposed Him trying to kill Him.
Jesus had just escaped being arrested or stoned to death.
His disciples were keenly aware of the danger to Him now.
But because Jesus heard of Lazarus' plight, out of love, Jesus risked His own life to attend him.
Jesus was unbound from fear to act in love.
Dr. King said that it is always the right time to do the right thing.
I believe that is true.
Jesus was unbound from the suppression of His grief.
Jesus was distressed at the grief of loved ones and the loss of one He loved.
He wept because He felt loss.
He wept because He felt compassion.
He wept because He loved.
Jesus wept.
Lazarus was unbound from death.
He came out of the tomb at Jesus' command.
He was alive and in no need of burial clothes, so Jesus unbound him from those.
The first resurrection was given by Jesus to someone else, not for Himself.
Lazarus would die again, to be sure. He is not walking among us today.
But the truth and hope of resurrection unbound him from sin and its fruit, death.
How about you?
Do you see the possibility of being unbound from your fear?
Can you see yourself understanding the realities of danger, but moving through them to
fulfill your destinies in life?
Can you see yourself knowing that it could go very badly, but still carrying on with what
you know is the right thing to do?
Can you be unbound from your fear by following Jesus, in order to follow Jesus?
Do you suppress your grief, believing that you should not feel the loss, or do you see the
need to honestly, genuinely express your love in grief?
Even knowing of the resurrection, can you fully express your love in loss?
Do you believe that you are unbound from death itself?
Do you believe that Jesus went to the Cross to take your sin to its death, in order to give you
His resurrection?
Do you know that sin no longer binds you, because Grace abounds?
Do you know the love of God in this?
Do you see God's Grace in it?
Does it make you grateful, and more gracious and loving yourself?
Jesus cries, "COME OUT!"
Come out from under those things that oppress, suppress and bind you.
Jesus declares, "UNBIND HIM/HER, AND LET HER/HIM GO!"
Be freed from those things that would hold you down, back or out.
Let go of your fear, any suppression of who you truly are!
Be unbound from the fruit of your sinfulness and even death itself!
We are meant to be unbound.
We are meant to be boundless!
We are meant to abound with steadfast love!
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, March 15, 2020
Light of Life
"As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
"Lo, I am with you to the end of the age."
John 9:1-41 is the lectionary text for next Sunday, March 22.
Blindness must be horrible in many ways. It robs one of seeing light, looking upon the beauty of people and the world, avoiding danger and navigating the world easily. I am in awe of folk who do not only survive blindness effectively, but thrive in productive and fulfilling lives for themselves and others in their lives. They are truly inspiring folk!
That said, it is an unloving tendency to blame a person for their own plight. It is equally unloving to search for some reason why those in their lives, particularly their parents, must have "sinned" to invite this as some horrible consequence. It is equally unloving of God to believe that God pushes buttons or pulls strings to "punish" someone directly with such an affliction, particularly unloving of any who claim to follow Jesus in the New Covenant of Agape Love and Grace.
They didn't know better in the 1st Century. People of the New Covenant know better, or at least should know better, unless they have resisted Jesus' New Covenant of Agape and Grace to hold on to some religious practice around purity and holiness, merit or self-righteousness, a practice that I believe is not faithful to God in Jesus. But they are still out there.
"Do not judge." Do not judge because it is not our job. God is judge. Jesus is judge. We are not, and cannot be faithful and assign blame or spiritual consequence without overstepping our limitations, for we are contributors to and subject to the same, imperfect world in which we all must suffer consequences of the imperfection. Looking for blame is to assume that we should look for blame, rather than be compassionate neighbors. Blaming the victims of illness, unfortunate conditions or the devastating conditions we have created in the world such as poverty, marginalization, injustice, inequitable systems, bigotry and intolerance is not faithful to God or Neighbor. Shunning, shaming or ostracizing folk and disenfranchising or marginalizing them because they are different, ill or victims of systemic injustice says more about us than it does about them or the God we claim to follow. It is our sin. It is our blindness to faithfulness in Jesus.
Jesus shed LIGHT on this. Jesus restores to wholeness, completeness and well-being in love. Jesus reconciles peoples and restores community. Jesus shuts down the darkness of judging, marginalization, disenfranchisement, discrimination, intolerance and any notion of self-righteousness or superiority with the LIGHT of the Good News. Jesus' Good News calls us to live Agape Love and Grace, instead of merit based judgment, any false sense of self-righteousness and false notions of superiority that are expressions of darkness. Jesus' Good News calls us to reconcile and restore community, rather than divide and exclude, marginalize and disenfranchise folk.
My prayer, for this part of God's Kingdom, here and now, is that I/we will in the end say,
"One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see."
Pastor Jamie
"Lo, I am with you to the end of the age."
John 9:1-41 is the lectionary text for next Sunday, March 22.
Blindness must be horrible in many ways. It robs one of seeing light, looking upon the beauty of people and the world, avoiding danger and navigating the world easily. I am in awe of folk who do not only survive blindness effectively, but thrive in productive and fulfilling lives for themselves and others in their lives. They are truly inspiring folk!
That said, it is an unloving tendency to blame a person for their own plight. It is equally unloving to search for some reason why those in their lives, particularly their parents, must have "sinned" to invite this as some horrible consequence. It is equally unloving of God to believe that God pushes buttons or pulls strings to "punish" someone directly with such an affliction, particularly unloving of any who claim to follow Jesus in the New Covenant of Agape Love and Grace.
They didn't know better in the 1st Century. People of the New Covenant know better, or at least should know better, unless they have resisted Jesus' New Covenant of Agape and Grace to hold on to some religious practice around purity and holiness, merit or self-righteousness, a practice that I believe is not faithful to God in Jesus. But they are still out there.
"Do not judge." Do not judge because it is not our job. God is judge. Jesus is judge. We are not, and cannot be faithful and assign blame or spiritual consequence without overstepping our limitations, for we are contributors to and subject to the same, imperfect world in which we all must suffer consequences of the imperfection. Looking for blame is to assume that we should look for blame, rather than be compassionate neighbors. Blaming the victims of illness, unfortunate conditions or the devastating conditions we have created in the world such as poverty, marginalization, injustice, inequitable systems, bigotry and intolerance is not faithful to God or Neighbor. Shunning, shaming or ostracizing folk and disenfranchising or marginalizing them because they are different, ill or victims of systemic injustice says more about us than it does about them or the God we claim to follow. It is our sin. It is our blindness to faithfulness in Jesus.
Jesus shed LIGHT on this. Jesus restores to wholeness, completeness and well-being in love. Jesus reconciles peoples and restores community. Jesus shuts down the darkness of judging, marginalization, disenfranchisement, discrimination, intolerance and any notion of self-righteousness or superiority with the LIGHT of the Good News. Jesus' Good News calls us to live Agape Love and Grace, instead of merit based judgment, any false sense of self-righteousness and false notions of superiority that are expressions of darkness. Jesus' Good News calls us to reconcile and restore community, rather than divide and exclude, marginalize and disenfranchise folk.
My prayer, for this part of God's Kingdom, here and now, is that I/we will in the end say,
"One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see."
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, March 8, 2020
killing me softly with his song
John 4:5-42 is the lectionary text for next Sunday
First it was Roberta Flack, then the Fugees. For our little home church group in Atlanta, it was the hymn of the day when we explored Jesus' encounter with the woman at the well. While my wife and I were thinking Roberta, our younger worshipers only knew this from the Fugees. We all identified with her.
The Samaritan woman was alone at the well with a Rabbi. She was there alone, perhaps because she was marginalized by others in the community. Jesus was there alone, tired. This went against social mores for both religiously regulated cultures.
Jesus demanded, claiming superiority. She teased, siting his lack of the necessary equipment and reliance on her. Jesus promised something greater than mere water, even water from Jacob's well. She bit.
Then Jesus pried. Jesus established that He knew her situation. Note that Jesus simply stated the facts, without judgment and for the purpose of opening her mind and heart to His message to her. She shared what she knew their differences. Jesus stated their common ground - worship in Spirit and in truth, eliminating any differences, whether faith-based or of gender.
She shared her faith in Messiah. Jesus revealed Himself as Messiah.
It is interesting that the disciples were not so open to an encounter with her, or to Jesus having one with her. (Embedded social and theological norms run deep.)
As Jesus was giving His disciples a lesson on sowing and reaping, and how the season is here for harvest, the woman was evangelizing in the town with Samaritans. Many believed a woman's witness and believed in Jesus, and many others came to encounter Jesus and asked Him to stay with them. They then dismissed her witness, because they themselves had encountered Jesus.
1. Misogyny and religious intolerance ran deep.
2. Those who followed Jesus did not get what Jesus' example was meant to teach them.
3. Jesus included the disenfranchised and marginalized.
4. Those included by Jesus, having encountered Him, brought people to the faith.
5. Misogyny and religious intolerance still run deep.
We do not always value those who God values.
This is a consistent lesson offered by the Jesus of the Gospels, and one that we are still seemingly slow to learn.
Jesus reached across to bridge divides, and touched hearts, minds and lives. We often, even or
especially in the name of Jesus, create divides and build walls.
If we could learn the value of others beyond superficial differences like gender, faith practice or heritage, race, culture and social standing, we might encounter one another in Spirit and truth and worship together on that level.
If we could learn to bridge the divides, we could live together and grow together in love.
Shalom for all is built when it is valued for all.
Shalom is lived by all, or by none. If we want the completeness, wholeness and well-being for ourselves, we must also value that for others who are different from ourselves.
Pastor Jamie
First it was Roberta Flack, then the Fugees. For our little home church group in Atlanta, it was the hymn of the day when we explored Jesus' encounter with the woman at the well. While my wife and I were thinking Roberta, our younger worshipers only knew this from the Fugees. We all identified with her.
The Samaritan woman was alone at the well with a Rabbi. She was there alone, perhaps because she was marginalized by others in the community. Jesus was there alone, tired. This went against social mores for both religiously regulated cultures.
Jesus demanded, claiming superiority. She teased, siting his lack of the necessary equipment and reliance on her. Jesus promised something greater than mere water, even water from Jacob's well. She bit.
Then Jesus pried. Jesus established that He knew her situation. Note that Jesus simply stated the facts, without judgment and for the purpose of opening her mind and heart to His message to her. She shared what she knew their differences. Jesus stated their common ground - worship in Spirit and in truth, eliminating any differences, whether faith-based or of gender.
She shared her faith in Messiah. Jesus revealed Himself as Messiah.
It is interesting that the disciples were not so open to an encounter with her, or to Jesus having one with her. (Embedded social and theological norms run deep.)
As Jesus was giving His disciples a lesson on sowing and reaping, and how the season is here for harvest, the woman was evangelizing in the town with Samaritans. Many believed a woman's witness and believed in Jesus, and many others came to encounter Jesus and asked Him to stay with them. They then dismissed her witness, because they themselves had encountered Jesus.
1. Misogyny and religious intolerance ran deep.
2. Those who followed Jesus did not get what Jesus' example was meant to teach them.
3. Jesus included the disenfranchised and marginalized.
4. Those included by Jesus, having encountered Him, brought people to the faith.
5. Misogyny and religious intolerance still run deep.
We do not always value those who God values.
This is a consistent lesson offered by the Jesus of the Gospels, and one that we are still seemingly slow to learn.
Jesus reached across to bridge divides, and touched hearts, minds and lives. We often, even or
especially in the name of Jesus, create divides and build walls.
If we could learn the value of others beyond superficial differences like gender, faith practice or heritage, race, culture and social standing, we might encounter one another in Spirit and truth and worship together on that level.
If we could learn to bridge the divides, we could live together and grow together in love.
Shalom for all is built when it is valued for all.
Shalom is lived by all, or by none. If we want the completeness, wholeness and well-being for ourselves, we must also value that for others who are different from ourselves.
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, March 1, 2020
Being Born From Above
John 3:1-17 is the Lectionary Gospel text for next Sunday...
Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin. It is astounding that a Pharisee of that time and place came to Jesus. According to the Gospels, the Temple Cult leaders of the time were very much in collusion with empire (Rome). They had corrupted the faith for their own gain under the oppressive occupation of empire. Jesus addressed and confronted this often, as we have witness in the Gospels.
What Jesus told Nicodemus was astounding.
You cannot SEE the Kingdom of God without being BORN FROM ABOVE.
It is about the Spirit and not the flesh. It is about being connected with God and not the world.
It is about GRACE (3:16,17) and not merit, self-righteousness or earned salvation (empire values).
It is about living Agape Love and not out of Greed, Hatred, lust for Power or desire for Status.
Nicodemus did not at first get it, much like many of us.
I was ordained (ELCA) in 1986.
I was Born From Above after ten years of ministry, in 1996.
It took me four years to leave that form of ministry so that I might live my faith.
It was not like Moses' Theophany of Exodus 3.
It was not by some fantastical experience of wonder.
It happened gradually, as I really studied the Gospels.
It changed me, how I saw Jesus and His teachings, and how I saw the world.
It changed me, and how I saw ministry.
Moses became the Agitator of Empire, and Liberator of God's people.
It was a bit like Jacob wrestling with God (Genesis 32).
I had to wrestle with what God wanted, over what I wanted and my embedded beliefs.
I had to wrestle with God and learned that God always wins (even cheats to win).
I was changed in how I looked at my mission in life, and not just ministry.
I was changed in how I approached the world and the children of God as sisters and brothers.
Jacob became Israel.
It was maybe a little like Saul and his epiphany (Acts 9).
I was blinded by the intensity of light in the Gospels, having been accustomed to the darkness
of life under empire and its twisting of the Word.
It took some time and help for me to see past the darkness and hear Jesus' voice in my life.
It changed how I looked at religion.
It opened my eyes and heart to Grace and Agape Love, and the need to live it with others.
It drives me to this day, to the mission of the Gospel of Jesus -
witnessing to what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled as God's Will for us.
It has changed my whole life.
Saul became Paul.
Nicodemus did not turn around completely.
He did defend the rule of law pertaining to Jesus (John 7:50), and showed some compassion for Him after His death (19:39).
He remained in his position and did not immediately leave it to follow Jesus.
He had sought out Jesus and Jesus taught him about God's Kingdom and how we must see it.
Jesus taught him about Grace in Agape Love.
Jesus went on to teach him (verses 18-21) that those who believe in Jesus and His Way are not
condemned but those who do not are already condemned because they cannot see it.
People who choose the darkness of empire over the light of the Kingdom are already condemned.
That truth is not in the lectionary text.
We must be born from above.
We must gaze upon Jesus (like the serpent in the wilderness on the pole- Numbers 21), to be healed of empire's
poison in our lives.
Just as the poison of sin (greed, hatred, lust for power, desire for status - empire values) has
threatened us, so to be delivered we must look at its antidote in the Agape Love and Grace of
Jesus.
Luther said that the Gospel in a nutshell is John 3:16.
It is our hope, that we believe in Jesus' Way as children of God, thus be born from above to SEE the
Kingdom of God values of Agape Love and Grace, and then live them in our lives as Jesus taught,
commanded and modeled for us to do.
If we do not do that, humanity is lost.
That is not God's intention. God has given us Grace in Agape Love through Jesus that we might
be delivered from the sin, destruction and death of empire. And that we might change the world.
If we can get past our embedded theologies which are elided with empire values, we may SEE it.
If we can commit our lives to Jesus and Jesus' Way, we may live it, which is our hope.
If we live it, we may help change the world around us, which is its hope.
Pastor Jamie
Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin. It is astounding that a Pharisee of that time and place came to Jesus. According to the Gospels, the Temple Cult leaders of the time were very much in collusion with empire (Rome). They had corrupted the faith for their own gain under the oppressive occupation of empire. Jesus addressed and confronted this often, as we have witness in the Gospels.
What Jesus told Nicodemus was astounding.
You cannot SEE the Kingdom of God without being BORN FROM ABOVE.
It is about the Spirit and not the flesh. It is about being connected with God and not the world.
It is about GRACE (3:16,17) and not merit, self-righteousness or earned salvation (empire values).
It is about living Agape Love and not out of Greed, Hatred, lust for Power or desire for Status.
Nicodemus did not at first get it, much like many of us.
I was ordained (ELCA) in 1986.
I was Born From Above after ten years of ministry, in 1996.
It took me four years to leave that form of ministry so that I might live my faith.
It was not like Moses' Theophany of Exodus 3.
It was not by some fantastical experience of wonder.
It happened gradually, as I really studied the Gospels.
It changed me, how I saw Jesus and His teachings, and how I saw the world.
It changed me, and how I saw ministry.
Moses became the Agitator of Empire, and Liberator of God's people.
It was a bit like Jacob wrestling with God (Genesis 32).
I had to wrestle with what God wanted, over what I wanted and my embedded beliefs.
I had to wrestle with God and learned that God always wins (even cheats to win).
I was changed in how I looked at my mission in life, and not just ministry.
I was changed in how I approached the world and the children of God as sisters and brothers.
Jacob became Israel.
It was maybe a little like Saul and his epiphany (Acts 9).
I was blinded by the intensity of light in the Gospels, having been accustomed to the darkness
of life under empire and its twisting of the Word.
It took some time and help for me to see past the darkness and hear Jesus' voice in my life.
It changed how I looked at religion.
It opened my eyes and heart to Grace and Agape Love, and the need to live it with others.
It drives me to this day, to the mission of the Gospel of Jesus -
witnessing to what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled as God's Will for us.
It has changed my whole life.
Saul became Paul.
Nicodemus did not turn around completely.
He did defend the rule of law pertaining to Jesus (John 7:50), and showed some compassion for Him after His death (19:39).
He remained in his position and did not immediately leave it to follow Jesus.
He had sought out Jesus and Jesus taught him about God's Kingdom and how we must see it.
Jesus taught him about Grace in Agape Love.
Jesus went on to teach him (verses 18-21) that those who believe in Jesus and His Way are not
condemned but those who do not are already condemned because they cannot see it.
People who choose the darkness of empire over the light of the Kingdom are already condemned.
That truth is not in the lectionary text.
We must be born from above.
We must gaze upon Jesus (like the serpent in the wilderness on the pole- Numbers 21), to be healed of empire's
poison in our lives.
Just as the poison of sin (greed, hatred, lust for power, desire for status - empire values) has
threatened us, so to be delivered we must look at its antidote in the Agape Love and Grace of
Jesus.
Luther said that the Gospel in a nutshell is John 3:16.
It is our hope, that we believe in Jesus' Way as children of God, thus be born from above to SEE the
Kingdom of God values of Agape Love and Grace, and then live them in our lives as Jesus taught,
commanded and modeled for us to do.
If we do not do that, humanity is lost.
That is not God's intention. God has given us Grace in Agape Love through Jesus that we might
be delivered from the sin, destruction and death of empire. And that we might change the world.
If we can get past our embedded theologies which are elided with empire values, we may SEE it.
If we can commit our lives to Jesus and Jesus' Way, we may live it, which is our hope.
If we live it, we may help change the world around us, which is its hope.
Pastor Jamie
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