Easter 7 5/28/06 Text: John 17:6-19 Title: Tag! You are It!
Easter 7
5/28/2006
Text: John 17:6-19
Title: Tag! You are It.
Grace, mercy, and peace to you from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
This past Thursday marked the celebration of Jesus’ ascension into heaven. If you didn’t know that last Thursday was Ascension Day you are not alone.
It is hardly ever celebrated anymore, because most Christians don’t understand the importance of Jesus’ ascension. It is in his ascension that the theology of our resurrection rests. Jesus didn’t come out of that grave just to die at a later date. He bodily ascended into heaven and because we are united by our baptism into his body we also have the assurance that our bodies will be resurrected and ascend into heaven.
As I read the story of Jesus’ ascension and the Gospel lesson for today I was reminded of the game I use to play as a child. One person would be “It” and he or she would have to tag another person who would then become “It”. They would have to tag someone until all the players were tagged and then the game was over.
Now, for those two texts to remind me of that children’s game might sound kind of silly to you, but let me explain. You see in Jesus’ ascension he was in affect tagging his disciples to carry on his mission of caring for the sick, forgiving people of their sins, and announcing to those without hope the Good News of Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension.
This passing on of Jesus’ ministry to his disciples is reinforced by the Gospel text we heard just a few minutes ago that is part of what is commonly called Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer. In the prayer Jesus uses the word given seventeen times. God gives to Jesus, and then Jesus gives to those who call themselves his disciples.
So, what is the importance of all that giving, you might be asking. Well, let’s see. Since God is the source of everything for Jesus and since Jesus gives us what the Father gives him, then it follows that the relationship between the Father and the Son, is the same relationship between Jesus and us of the faith community. That is Good News indeed.
The disciples certainly needed Jesus to pray for them, for he is getting ready to pass on his ministry to them. They were going to hear him say, “Tag! You are It”, for in just a matter of a few days they would become the people of the resurrection.
Jesus’ disciples went out into the known world and were hated for what they were doing. You see, they did not tell people what they wanted to hear, but spoke of the words and actions of Jesus Christ. Their words were words of confirmation to that which they heard and saw.
The Christian Church is to continue the game of tag today as it goes about its business of tagging those who don’t know about Jesus and his saving work. Unfortunately there are way too many churches denominations that seem to be seeking a forum which will make them popular with the world. Doctrines shift based on polls or political correctness. The teachings of the clergy shift and ebb based on popular trends and politics. Pastors watch what they say; least they offend someone.
Churches are watering down their doctrines, and giving people what they want to hear because the world hates the very words, the only words, that can truly offer life and peace. How short-sighted the people of the world are as they reject the message of God given through his Church. Pretty dumb on their part wouldn’t you say. Who in their right mind would reject life and peace and not sit at the feet of Jesus?
We are quick to condemn, but when we get over our, what we consider righteous anger, and look at our own lives, we realize that we who are to be in the world but not of the world are too many times indistinguishable from those of the world.
It is then that it dawns on us just like it did to Pogo, the cartoon character, who once said “We have met the enemy and they are us.” With that realization we are left with nothing. All we can do is cry out with the disciples, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
John’s Gospel from which our Gospel lesson comes from this morning describes this same game of tag. God sends Jesus to tag his disciples. Andrew tags his brother Peter for Jesus. Philip tags Nathanael for Jesus. It goes on and on.
John’s entire gospel can be best described as a divine game of tag, whose words are written so that the readers of the Gospel may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God and that through believing they may have life in his name. John’s Gospel leaves no doubt in one’s mind that as much as we would like to say we have something to do with our coming to faith, none of us have come to faith on our own.
We have come to faith because we have been tagged by others that have spoken of, or shown the love of God to us, and through the work of the Holy Spirit we have been brought to faith in Jesus. We who are sitting here today are the ones that have been told, just like those first disciples, “Tag! You are it! Tell others of God’s love and salvation, so that they too can go and tag someone else
Jesus did not just tag his disciples and leave them as we read in verses 11, 12, and 13 of our Gospel reading that Jesus is asking the Father to protect or as it is in the Greek, “keep” them. Generally speaking the words protect, guard, keep, and kept pretty much mean the same thing, but as I thought about the words keep and kept, I began to wonder if our reaction to being kept best describes our natural rebellion toward God and his life giving salvation. I mean we know that God has saved us from ourselves, but do we show it in our daily lives?
We know what God tells us to do is good for us, but even as we recognize the value of God’s commands we firmly believe that they also constrict our freedom. And besides that if we made a really serious attempt at obeying God, people would think we were just plain weird.
Living a life as God want us to live it, is just plain weird to those who are not of the faith. That is why Jesus is praying for us and all those that call him their Savior. He knows that when you live your life as a follower of his you are going to be thought of as being weird by those who don’t know Christ and his saving work.
If you are underage and don’t drink, do drugs, or have premarital sex, you are going to be called weird If you don’t go out and party on Saturday night because you want to be able to go to church on Sunday morning you are going to be called weird. If you don’t shop-lift or steal or vandalize other's property you are going to be called weird. If you love and forgive those who have wronged you, you will be called weird. If you don’t go along with the crowd you will be called weird. If you pray to God before making major life decisions you will be called weird. If you tell others about Jesus and invite them to church you will be called weird.
I could go on and on, but I am sure that by now you realize that once you have been tagged you will be considered weird by those of the world, who truly don’t know Christ. There is no doubt, being a Christian in today’s world is just plain weird.
That is why our Gospel reading for today assures us that Jesus prayer is for us. We can’t do it by ourselves. We don’t want to be weird. We need his help. And we will get it, for God the Father gives his Son what he asks for, and Jesus asks the Father to help us.
We do have help. We can withstand the world’s temptations, we can play the game of Divine Tag, but too many times we don’t want to. We want to be of the world. We may want to stay in our own "safe" areas, rather than to be sent into the world. We may want to keep our individual identities, rather than wanting the unity that becomes our witness to the world. We may want all those things, but we have no choice if we are truly going to call ourselves Christians, for God has touched us in our baptism and said, “Tag! You are it!” “Now go out and be my heart, my voice, my hands, and my feet on earth. You are not alone for I have sent the Holy Spirit to you while I am gone. “
Please join me in prayer. Almighty God, Heavenly Father, you have sent us your Son, the Word made flesh. He has given to us the words of eternal life. He has died, rose from the grave and then ascended into heaven that we might have forgiveness and life in His name. We humbly ask you to help us have the courage to share your words of comfort and salvation to whoever you put in our lives this coming week. Amen
5/28/2006
Text: John 17:6-19
Title: Tag! You are It.
Grace, mercy, and peace to you from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
This past Thursday marked the celebration of Jesus’ ascension into heaven. If you didn’t know that last Thursday was Ascension Day you are not alone.
It is hardly ever celebrated anymore, because most Christians don’t understand the importance of Jesus’ ascension. It is in his ascension that the theology of our resurrection rests. Jesus didn’t come out of that grave just to die at a later date. He bodily ascended into heaven and because we are united by our baptism into his body we also have the assurance that our bodies will be resurrected and ascend into heaven.
As I read the story of Jesus’ ascension and the Gospel lesson for today I was reminded of the game I use to play as a child. One person would be “It” and he or she would have to tag another person who would then become “It”. They would have to tag someone until all the players were tagged and then the game was over.
Now, for those two texts to remind me of that children’s game might sound kind of silly to you, but let me explain. You see in Jesus’ ascension he was in affect tagging his disciples to carry on his mission of caring for the sick, forgiving people of their sins, and announcing to those without hope the Good News of Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension.
This passing on of Jesus’ ministry to his disciples is reinforced by the Gospel text we heard just a few minutes ago that is part of what is commonly called Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer. In the prayer Jesus uses the word given seventeen times. God gives to Jesus, and then Jesus gives to those who call themselves his disciples.
So, what is the importance of all that giving, you might be asking. Well, let’s see. Since God is the source of everything for Jesus and since Jesus gives us what the Father gives him, then it follows that the relationship between the Father and the Son, is the same relationship between Jesus and us of the faith community. That is Good News indeed.
The disciples certainly needed Jesus to pray for them, for he is getting ready to pass on his ministry to them. They were going to hear him say, “Tag! You are It”, for in just a matter of a few days they would become the people of the resurrection.
Jesus’ disciples went out into the known world and were hated for what they were doing. You see, they did not tell people what they wanted to hear, but spoke of the words and actions of Jesus Christ. Their words were words of confirmation to that which they heard and saw.
The Christian Church is to continue the game of tag today as it goes about its business of tagging those who don’t know about Jesus and his saving work. Unfortunately there are way too many churches denominations that seem to be seeking a forum which will make them popular with the world. Doctrines shift based on polls or political correctness. The teachings of the clergy shift and ebb based on popular trends and politics. Pastors watch what they say; least they offend someone.
Churches are watering down their doctrines, and giving people what they want to hear because the world hates the very words, the only words, that can truly offer life and peace. How short-sighted the people of the world are as they reject the message of God given through his Church. Pretty dumb on their part wouldn’t you say. Who in their right mind would reject life and peace and not sit at the feet of Jesus?
We are quick to condemn, but when we get over our, what we consider righteous anger, and look at our own lives, we realize that we who are to be in the world but not of the world are too many times indistinguishable from those of the world.
It is then that it dawns on us just like it did to Pogo, the cartoon character, who once said “We have met the enemy and they are us.” With that realization we are left with nothing. All we can do is cry out with the disciples, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
John’s Gospel from which our Gospel lesson comes from this morning describes this same game of tag. God sends Jesus to tag his disciples. Andrew tags his brother Peter for Jesus. Philip tags Nathanael for Jesus. It goes on and on.
John’s entire gospel can be best described as a divine game of tag, whose words are written so that the readers of the Gospel may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God and that through believing they may have life in his name. John’s Gospel leaves no doubt in one’s mind that as much as we would like to say we have something to do with our coming to faith, none of us have come to faith on our own.
We have come to faith because we have been tagged by others that have spoken of, or shown the love of God to us, and through the work of the Holy Spirit we have been brought to faith in Jesus. We who are sitting here today are the ones that have been told, just like those first disciples, “Tag! You are it! Tell others of God’s love and salvation, so that they too can go and tag someone else
Jesus did not just tag his disciples and leave them as we read in verses 11, 12, and 13 of our Gospel reading that Jesus is asking the Father to protect or as it is in the Greek, “keep” them. Generally speaking the words protect, guard, keep, and kept pretty much mean the same thing, but as I thought about the words keep and kept, I began to wonder if our reaction to being kept best describes our natural rebellion toward God and his life giving salvation. I mean we know that God has saved us from ourselves, but do we show it in our daily lives?
We know what God tells us to do is good for us, but even as we recognize the value of God’s commands we firmly believe that they also constrict our freedom. And besides that if we made a really serious attempt at obeying God, people would think we were just plain weird.
Living a life as God want us to live it, is just plain weird to those who are not of the faith. That is why Jesus is praying for us and all those that call him their Savior. He knows that when you live your life as a follower of his you are going to be thought of as being weird by those who don’t know Christ and his saving work.
If you are underage and don’t drink, do drugs, or have premarital sex, you are going to be called weird If you don’t go out and party on Saturday night because you want to be able to go to church on Sunday morning you are going to be called weird. If you don’t shop-lift or steal or vandalize other's property you are going to be called weird. If you love and forgive those who have wronged you, you will be called weird. If you don’t go along with the crowd you will be called weird. If you pray to God before making major life decisions you will be called weird. If you tell others about Jesus and invite them to church you will be called weird.
I could go on and on, but I am sure that by now you realize that once you have been tagged you will be considered weird by those of the world, who truly don’t know Christ. There is no doubt, being a Christian in today’s world is just plain weird.
That is why our Gospel reading for today assures us that Jesus prayer is for us. We can’t do it by ourselves. We don’t want to be weird. We need his help. And we will get it, for God the Father gives his Son what he asks for, and Jesus asks the Father to help us.
We do have help. We can withstand the world’s temptations, we can play the game of Divine Tag, but too many times we don’t want to. We want to be of the world. We may want to stay in our own "safe" areas, rather than to be sent into the world. We may want to keep our individual identities, rather than wanting the unity that becomes our witness to the world. We may want all those things, but we have no choice if we are truly going to call ourselves Christians, for God has touched us in our baptism and said, “Tag! You are it!” “Now go out and be my heart, my voice, my hands, and my feet on earth. You are not alone for I have sent the Holy Spirit to you while I am gone. “
Please join me in prayer. Almighty God, Heavenly Father, you have sent us your Son, the Word made flesh. He has given to us the words of eternal life. He has died, rose from the grave and then ascended into heaven that we might have forgiveness and life in His name. We humbly ask you to help us have the courage to share your words of comfort and salvation to whoever you put in our lives this coming week. Amen
posted by Pastor Rhoads | 6:59 PM
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