Peacemakers – Easter 2 | Acts 2:14a, 22-32; Psalm 16; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31|

Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God.

- Matthew 5:9

Often we think that Easter ends on Easter Sunday; or when the chocolate bunnies go on sale, we feel a little bit woozy from too much chocolate, and all the children in town seem a little bouncier than usual.

But Easter Sunday is not the end - it is always the beginning... Sunday is not the last day of the week although it feels like it is, it's the first.

On Easter Sunday we gathered at sunrise to mark the beginning of a new day… to remember the beginning some 2000 years ago of a new dawn, a new understanding of the way the world was – who God was and who's we are. A new understanding made real to us in the astounding event of Jesus crucifixion and resurrection.

For the Early Christians (most of them slaves) all 7 days of the week were most probably working days. But they would meet before dawn on the first day of the week, Sunday, the day Jesus rose, to break bread and drink wine in remembrance of him[1]… especially his resurrection.

And that's why the church meets on a Sunday to this day.

* * *

Many of us get a bit stuck on Good Friday, the day on which Jesus is crucified. Good Friday is God's semi-colon in the sentence about who he is and what he is doing – a point has been made; but the sentence continues, it won't make sense without the next phrase – "Jesus rose…" and at the end of the sentence; the commanding exclamation mark of Pentecost! The power given by the Holy Spirit to go into the world and make a real difference... The command to go and do what Jesus did.

* * *

Did you take the opportunity of Lent to reflect – to spend a bit more time than usual thinking about how you would change for God? To repent – to think how the future would look different if you changed some of your old habits? To ask God if he is perhaps calling you to something new and different?

If you should change the way you do business?

The way you treat those you love and who love you?

Some of your destructive habits and attitudes?

Did you take the opportunity to listen for what God was calling you to change or do?

* * *

On Good Friday did you see how much you were loved – how God could take the worst things about you and forgive you – loving you so much that he died on the cross for you?

Did you take the opportunity to offer yourself to him, all that you are, all your sins all the things you don't like about yourself and say to him: "Thank you for what you are doing for me now."?

* * *

On Easter Sunday, were you reminded of God's victory over sin and death – of the reality of new beginnings?

Did you take the opportunity to embrace the reality of the dawn of a new day? Did you realize for a moment that that same power which raised Jesus from the dead is working in you to transform you, to give you new life?

Did you take the opportunity to begin again?

* * *

Good news is, in the Christian tradition every week is the week leading up to Easter. Every Sunday is Easter Sunday, every Friday is Good Friday.

Every moment is an opportunity to remember Christ crucified – your sins forgiven, and Christ risen – your sins overpowered. Pentecost, the Holy Spirit poured out to empower you…

* * *

Every moment presents us with all these opportunities – but do we have the courage to take them?

Do we like our old habits too much?

Or will we be the renewed people that God gives us the opportunity to be?

* * *

During the next 7 weeks leading up to Pentecost many of the readings will talk about the resurrection, about new beginnings – about the hope we have in Christ… and about the Holy Spirit as we prepare ourselves to be the people God created us to be.

I invite us to journey together as we talk about what the resurrection means for us today and what receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit means.

* * *

In John's gospel we read about how the risen Jesus appeared to the disciples on the first day of the week, Sunday, and then again a week later – at the same place…

We know – because we've read ahead, because we are sitting here today that these fearful, confused people will be the beginning of a world changing movement... something of which we today are a part; Christ followers determined to see the world changed to the way Jesus would have it.

* * *

Jesus greeting carries a lot of weight:

Peace be with you…

He uses a greeting that sounds familiar to us who live in the Cape: "Salom l^ekem"; ("Peace be upon you.")

The greeting wasn't just our familiar 'howzit' or 'hi'… it was a blessing; a good wish, it had gravity; Like a very thoughtful "God bless you."

It meant several things:

First it means that we are in community. What's mine; is essentially yours. I will help you when you struggle, if your house burns down come live in mine, if your faith is weak share in mine.

If we greet each other with shalom we are really taking responsibility for each other.

It means I want you to have peace and I will do what is in my power to make sure that you have it. It's not just an idea – like a hurried "How are you?" that we don't really want to know the answer to or give the answer to… it is a commitment to each other.

* * *

It also means that we are reconciled, it means literally that we are at peace. In the culture of Jesus day you wouldn't eat with your enemies… when you ate with someone they became your friend, your family.

When Jesus broke bread on the night before he died he said "this is my body, broken for you."

In the sacrificial system God literally ate with people… if you burnt an offering to make peace with God or give thanks to God you would eat part of it and the part that was burnt was considered to be consumed by God himself. Making a sacrifice was like sharing a meal.

When Jesus was crucified he became a sacrifice, making peace between people and God.

Peace be with you, means we are in a reconciled relationship.

* * *

Third, and this has to do with being in community: Shalom means you needn't be afraid… The early Christians were able to do the radical things they did; stand up for what was right because they had the support of a community of believers – they were never standing alone.

* * *

In the passage Jesus uses the greeting three times… twice as a greeting, and once, when he sends the disciples out into the world to remind them what he did:

"Peace be with you, as the Father has sent me, so I send you."

He then breathed on them and said to them

"Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

Jesus has made peace between God and people and he sends his disciples out to proclaim that message of peace. Reconciling people to each other and to God.

Spreading the Shalom community.

The community of the people of God.

* * *

It is the season of Easter, the season when we celebrate how Jesus died – taking our sins upon himself, and rose again, defeating the power of sin.

A season in which we prepare ourselves for the moment of Pentecost - as God empowers us to continue the ministry which Jesus began.

* * *

As we share communion I invite you to bring your sins and be reconciled to God.

* * *

As we greet each other with the peace today before we share communion… I ask you to consider what that means – as the risen Christ greets you, and gives you the power to greet each other… not just with a 'hello,' but a commitment to helping you in this life.

* * *

I believe, that when we begin to share this Easter peace with each other, and the world around us – we will begin to see the Kingdom of God in this place.

---

[1] Acts 20:7

Peter and the Resurrection | Psalm 118:1-2 and 14-24; Acts 10:34-43; John 20:1-18

I was roughly awoken by Mary Magdalene before first light on the day after the Sabbath. The first day of the week – what you call Sunday.

I had slept lightly, disturbed, afraid… our teacher had been murdered, killed, executed – however you would put it. We had followed him, learnt from him – dreamt with him for three years… Soon I am sure we would be found guilty of supporting him; we disciples were in grave danger.

Jesus had warned us that he would die… I never wanted him to say that sort of thing – when I challenged him, told him: "…these things must not happen to you", he reprimanded me sternly. He accused me of thinking like Satan – not with the mind of God.

* * *

The night after Jesus' crucifixion, the day that followed were dreamlike. My sleeping was disturbed by flashes of what could have been, the question: What should we do next?

* * *

When Mary woke me I was confused… dazed. She was more upset by the events than all of us – she had loved Jesus with a love deeper than I knew how to love.

When we had deserted Jesus, when I had denied him – the woman disciples who supported him through his ministry remained…

They witnessed Jesus crucifixion, they saw Jesus pierced, removed from the cross and buried. They reported all of these events to us, and that is why they are written in scripture even to today.

* * *

When Mary woke me she was out of breath… panicking – I thought she had probably been dreaming. But the conviction in her eyes told me something else – what she was saying, she really believed: "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him."

I was confused – angry… I was determined to find whoever had stolen Jesus body and cut off more than just their ear.

John and I ran to the tomb to see what had happened… John waited outside the tomb, but I rushed in.

I remember quite clearly what I saw – Jesus burial shroud lay there – still folded as if he had disappeared. His head covering was still rolled… as if Jesus had just vanished out of it.

* * *

Some of your modern scientists laugh at us ancient people… as if we were so gullible and stupid that we thought dead people regularly got up and walked around.

What had happened – was not what we were expecting; Jesus had risen from the dead; but somehow his body had disappeared from where it had been… I wasn't sure what to make of the evidence. It went completely against anything we had ever experienced.

Even when Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead – Lazarus still needed to be unbound from his grave clothes. It was as if Jesus had disappeared through them.

John, the other disciple who was with me came into the tomb after me and believed what had happened almost immediately. He understood that as Jesus had prophesied and the scriptures foretold he had risen.

* * *

Maybe it'll give you hope that someone slow to believe, like me could be an apostle and a disciple of Jesus… one for whom Jesus cared, and loved.

* * *

Having seen the empty tomb we went home, but Mary remained there… later she told us what had happened.

At the tomb that day she remained, upset, still weeping. She saw two angels one at the foot and the other at the head of where Jesus lay, when she asked them where Jesus was she then turned around and standing there before her was Jesus. She thought he was the gardener, but when he called her by her name, "Mary," she realized that it was him.

Jesus told us to tell her about what he said.

* * *

That evening Jesus appeared to us in the house where we were staying – the doors were locked because we were afraid, but Jesus appeared greeting us with the peace he showed us the wounds in his hands and side and told us "As the father sent me, so I send you…"

Jesus commissioned us that night, that first church that met in fear behind closed doors… to go out and carry on doing what he had done, proclaiming repentance, a change of mind and heart, and the forgiveness of sins for all peoples, all nations everywhere.

* * *

As we recalled what Jesus had said and what had happened we began to realize what God was doing in Jesus. We had had the privilege of seeing God in human form… We began to realize what Jesus' resurrection meant.

* * *

Firstly, the resurrection was God's Amen to Jesus… it affirmed who Jesus had said he was.

On the day of Pentecost I preached saying that the resurrection was clear proof that God made Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah (Acts 2:36). St Paul wrote that Jesus was declared Son of God by a might act in that he rose from the dead (Rom 1:4).

If Jesus hadn't risen from the dead we would have thought of him as merely a great teacher – a good man. The resurrection let us know that Jesus played a central role in God's plan.

Jesus life was 'the life of God personally lived out among ordinary mortals.'[1] Jesus radically revitalized our understanding of who God was.

* * *

Second, the resurrection gave us renewed life… through the death and resurrection of Jesus we were actually transformed as people… the world in which we lived was changed, our hearts were changed.

First, we knew that we were forgiven because of the sacrifice Jesus had made… the sacrifice he made nullified all of the temple sacrifices we needed to make to be reconciled to God… Jesus had made a new covenant with us.

Not only that but because God had taken the worst humanity could do in killing his son and defeated it, we knew that with Christ we too could defeat whatever evil was within us… because he had been victorious and he was with us.

Paul spoke about our being crucified and raised from death with Christ – in Galatians 2:20 he wrote: "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me." After the resurrection, by the power of the Holy Spirit we were able to live more and more like Christ – doing what he called us to do when he said "As the Father sent me, so I am sending you."

If Jesus hadn't risen the crucifixion would have just been an interesting prophetic event in which a great prophet showed us how much God loved us – enough to die.

Because Jesus rose again, and lived within us we knew that that love was not just an idea, but a life changing reality.

* * *

Finally – the resurrection gave us a new future hope.

Jesus spoke about us having 'eternal life.' We knew that this kind of life was the partly the fullness of life that we experienced in living with Jesus, that we experienced in living in close relationship with God… but it also meant that there was more to life than just this physical one.

We knew that our life in relationship with God would not end… Jesus rising again assured us that there was life beyond the grave, a life in which suffering, death and oppression are gone for ever – defeated by Jesus, and replaced by the new ways of God's Kingdom.

* * *

By raising Jesus from the dead God showed us that Jesus was truly God's son, the Messiah through whom God made himself known to us.

By raising Jesus from the dead God overcame the powers of hell and death and destruction, taking the worst we could do and defeating it. We could live, in Christ, having died and been raised up with him a victorious life – one where we defeated sin.

By raising Jesus from the dead God gave us the hope that there was more to life than just this – there was life beyond the grave, fullness of life – in relationship with God.

* * *

Jesus, in his resurrection changed the hearts and minds of us fearful disciples gathered together behind locked doors.

We soon became people empowered to unleash the power of God's Kingdom on earth… as frail and fallible as we were.

I invite you to read about some of the things that happened in the Acts of the Apostles as with Jesus we began to turn the world upside down… and bring God's Kingdom to earth, and I challenge you to live as people who believe in the resurrection of Christ, and work to bring the Kingdom in this place.

Amen.

---

[1] Drane, JW. 2000. Introducing the New Testament. Oxford: Lion Publishing. Much information from here on is drawn from this book, pg 109 on

Peter’s Good Friday | Psalm 22; Hebrews 10:16-25; John 18:1-19:42

On Palm Sunday I spoke from Simon Peter the apostle's perspective… of course I can't say what he really thought and did and saw. But by trying to imagine what it was like for those who were there, using the background information I have I find imagining oneself into the situation that first Easter quite helpful for understanding what happened and what it all meant for those who were there.

If you want a copy of Palm Sunday's message – there are a couple by the door; you can look at the church's website, or ask me and I'll try to get it to you in whatever way you would like me to.

* * *

I'm Simon Peter, one of Jesus' disciples… I was one of the first to follow him; I was there the week of his crucifixion – I was one of the founders of the early church…

* * *

Last week I told you how the week of Jesus' crucifixion began… Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

No one would have taken him seriously – the Romans with their horses and machines of war – their crucifixes – on which they thought nothing of crucifying hundreds of people in one day.

They had the power to quickly squash any upstart. Jesus – preaching peace – on a donkey was no threat to them.

Jesus entry into Jerusalem was quite festive… He was making a point – like an Old Testament prophet; acting out a prophecy in order to make its message stick.

The people responded well to Jesus' picture of a Davidic King – they rejoiced in the hope of Messiah coming as the prophet Zechariah had foretold.

* * *

Whisperings could be heard throughout Jerusalem: "Who is this person – he is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth."

* * *

When Jesus came to the temple the festive mood of the day changed… he was angered by what he saw.

The sacrificial system upset Jesus – the commercialism of it, as if you could buy God's love with a few coins exchanged for an animal and the animal sacrificed. In Jerusalem around the time of Passover it was as if there was a Spring sale on God – people haggling over the price of God's grace.

(Many people misunderstand Jesus' actions – the money changers working in the court of the gentiles, a very large area around the temple, were just doing their job.)

But like the prophets who went before him – Jesus showed people that God wasn't after burnt offerings and cash offerings… What God wanted was changed hearts.

Like the prophet Micah in 6:8:

"What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Our prophets sometimes blessed and often denounced the sacrificial system – sacrifices made with the right attitude, the right heart – were considered acceptable… But it was so easy for people to slip into a religion of convenience rather than conviction.

* * *

I must admit – I was quite surprised at Jesus actions; but I knew he was positively allergic to hypocrisy – people making sacrifices without changing their hearts, "bearing fruit worthy of repentance" as John the Baptist had instructed.

* * *

During the week leading up to his crucifixion Jesus acted and spoke like a bold prophet. We knew that God was with him in what he said… God underlined Jesus' teaching with signs and miracles.

* * *

One of the parables Jesus told was about a man who leased out his vineyard to tenants. When he sent his slaves to collect the rent – the tenants seized them, beating one, killing another and stoning another… He sent more slaves and they were met with the same response.

Later the owner sent his own son… but the tenants killed the son too.

The story sounded like the story of our nation, a people who for many years had murdered and tortured the prophets who spoke the message from God that we did not want to hear.

Later on Jesus lamented over Jerusalem… "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!"

* * *

Jesus knew that as he spoke God's ever unpopular judgment on those who claimed his authority would be stoning and death.

The Pharisees and chief priests knew that Jesus was speaking against them, challenging them.

All of Jesus challenges to the system proved too much for those in power. They wanted to put a stop to this fearless prophet – who said the things that people were thinking, but were afraid to say for fear of being rejected – put to death – accused of blasphemy. They plotted to get rid of him, to kill him…

In spite of the danger Jesus continued to say what God had laid on his heart – he continued to challenge the Pharisees and the Scribes launching into long scathing speeches about their hypocrisy.

* * *

Jesus warned us time and again that following him was going to get dangerous... we had to learn to imitate him and he was living dangerously. He knew about the plots to kill him; he said to us: "You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified." Yet he continued to do what God called him to do.

* * *

On the night before Jesus was crucified we disciples shared our last meal with him… Eating together was important for us, it took time, it was intimate, it showed acceptance and love. With Jesus we had eaten in some strange houses – we had met people with whom we wouldn't even have spoken – let alone eaten.

Jesus constantly reached out to all sorts of people.

The last meal we shared together was a Passover meal – a meal in which we Jews celebrated God's deliverance of his people from slavery in Egypt.

* * *

While we were eating he broke bread and gave it to us saying: "Take, eat; this is my body

He took a cup of wine – gave thanks for it and said "Drink from it all of you – this is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins…"

* * *

At the time we didn't really understand what he was talking about the prophet Jeremiah had spoken about making a new covenant with his people… He said that a day was coming when all people would see God and know him, that he would forgive their unrighteousness and remember their sins no more.

We understood more clearly only after all the events.

* * *

In our sacrificial system – put simply when people fell out with God and needed forgiveness they would share a meal with him; offering up a sacrifice – burning some of the meat or grain and sometimes eating part of it.

It was like breaking bread together… For us eating together meant making peace with each other.

* * *

When Jesus fed us and said: "This is my body…" he was talking about how his death would be a sacrifice… When we ate bread with him we were to remember his death – which replaced the whole sacrificial system – we were eating with God being reconciled to God.

* * *

We went to the Mount of Olives that evening – but Judas betrayed Jesus and the temple guard came to arrest him… I drew my sword ready for a battle – but Jesus surrendered.

They were quite afraid (the temple guard) if they had arrested Jesus during the day there would have been outrage from the crowd.

* * *

I was afraid. From there I kept my distance from Jesus… these were powerful people and they were out to kill him – they would think nothing of killing his followers.

They took him to the high priest to stand trial… the high priests knew that if they sentenced Jesus to death themselves they would lose all of what credibility they had left with the people. They pushed him on to Pontius Pilate – hoping Pilate would have him killed for treason.

This way they could brand Jesus as a treasonous political criminal and not a religious prophet.

Jesus had spoken about how Jerusalem rejected God's prophets.

* * *

Pilate reluctantly decided to crucify Jesus on political grounds in an attempt to keep peace… Jesus surrendered to his fate and was humiliated and crucified as he had predicted. The sign on the cross above him read: "The King of the Jews."

After Jesus was certified as dead he was buried in a tomb.

* * *

It was only later that it began to dawn on us who we had eaten with, who we had kept company with in his journey on earth. We realised that God had made himself known in human form.

* * *

Jesus had criticised the sacrificial system – but as God in human form he literally became a sacrifice for us… showing that it was God reaching out to us to show his love.

The writer of the letter to the Hebrews explains how Jesus death replaces the sacrificial system… how because of Jesus we can now enter directly into God's presence – assured of his love and his forgiveness of our sins…

Heb 10:19 We have, then, my brothers and sisters, complete freedom to go into the Most Holy Place by means of the death of Jesus. 20He opened for us a new way, a living way, through the curtain—that is, through his own body. 21We have a great priest in charge of the house of God. 22So let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, with hearts that have been purified from a guilty conscience and with bodies washed with clean water. 23Let us hold on firmly to the hope we profess, because we can trust God to keep his promise.

---

²² 10.22: Lv 8.30; Ez 36.25

Palm Sunday | Psalm 118:1-2 & 19-29; Matthew 21:1-11

I'm Simon Peter, you might have read about me in the gospels – I'm one of those people who followed Rabbi Jesus; one of his disciples.

If you haven't read about me you might have heard about me; all the jokes about getting to heaven:  "A mini bus taxi driver and a minister went to heaven and St Peter (moi) showed the taxi driver to a big comfortable room and the minister to a miserable cell in the basement.  When the minister asked "Why?" – I replied: "People prayed during the taxi drivers services; they just slept through yours."

*  *  *

The jokes are a bit backwards though.  Typical of us Christ followers to expect so little of Jesus, as if all he cared about was people getting into heaven…  Jesus was about much more than that – he spoke of changing the world.  He looked forward to the establishment of the Kingdom of Heaven – a world run according to God's values.

*  *  *

When Jesus spoke about giving me keys I was a bit confused myself… In hindsight think he was actually talking about how we disciples would be able to change the world; unlocking God's power on earth as we worked in partnership with him.  I think you also have the keys.

*  *  *

I'm getting distracted – like your minister, I could talk all day. 

*  *  *

I'm here because you're about to celebrate Holy Week… I was there, I messed up, I thought I'd give you an eye witness account.

I'll take you back to the beginning and bring you up to Palm Sunday.

*  *  *

When I first met Jesus I was a fisherman, head of a small team – I even had my own boat.

We were overtaxed; taxed to put the boat on the water – taxed for catching fish, taxed for selling fish, taxed for transporting fish to market…  If you didn't pay the tax they would claim your boat as your own and then rent it out to you.

It was as if we were trudging around in the dark.  Our rulers didn't see us as people – they just saw us as a source of income for building huge palaces and temples to strange gods.

*  *  *

When Jesus called us, we eagerly followed… but we did check him out a bit first, as Luke suggests. 

What convinced me was his suggestion that we throw the net out… I didn't want to – the fish weren't co-operating that day.  He wasn't a fisherman, what did he know? 

But, when we listened to him we caught enough fish to feed the whole village… I fell on my knees, confessed my sins… I guess you could say I was converted by this Holy Man who knew somehow where God hid his fish.

(The gospel writers don't tell you this, but by the time the fish were caught it was afternoon the greedy tax collectors were delivering their tributes.  That day we all ate for free, none of those fish had Caesar's name on them – if you know what I mean. 

That was a Kingdom of God moment.

*  *  *

Jesus was the kind of person you could follow.  He dreamed of the Kingdom of Heaven, he lived for it.  We saw what it was all about as we followed him:  Healing the sick, feeding huge crowds, making oppressed and depressed people feel human for a change.

It was as if he was pulling people out of the darkness into the light.  You know, like fish – they swim around in the chaos under water, little black shadows – afraid.  We pull them up to the light… for a moment you see all the colours and beauty of what they are...

Jesus had a way with words… he said that if we discipled ourselves to him, if we followed him and learnt from him we would fish for people, not fish.  I liked the idea.

Jesus made people feel like they weren't in the dark anymore… we called him: "The way, the truth and the light."  His teachings, life and action gave us hope. 

They made us believe that God's Kingdom dream was actually a possibility… God was actually there in him, with us, eating with us, crying with us… celebrating with us.

*  *  *

The beginning of following Jesus was exciting.  I liked the big idea – the Kingdom of Heaven; unlocking God's power on earth.  It sounded quite easy.  But we soon began to taste the difficulty.

You have no idea how many people are sick until you go to a clinic and stand in the cue.  I can't stand it; sick people, sweating, smelly, infectious, waiting to be healed.  We didn't have Detol or anti-bacterial spray… Excuse the analogy but Jesus attracted sick people like horses attract flies…

They would come in crowds, pressing up against us – hot and smelly… Jesus had time for all of them, even when we began to lose patience.  I don't know how he managed.

*  *  *

As a Rabbi the law he taught was far more difficult than what other rabbis taught.  It wasn't just keeping rules.  He taught us to love, he taught us to pray, he taught us to serve – even to the point of death.

*  *  *

Although it was difficult following him, it was extremely exciting, like a great big wedding banquet.  There was always the sense that something really big was happening and we were part of it. 

Once when the Pharisees and Sadducees asked Jesus why we, his disciples didn't fast, he said:  "The wedding guests cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them can they?"

It was exciting, I thought it was going to last forever… I thought we were going to change the world.  But Jesus began hinting that he wasn't going to be with us forever… he said that his disciples could mourn rather, when the bridegroom departed.

*  *  *

Jesus began to speak more obviously about how he was going to die.  I didn't like it – I didn't want to hear it.  John the Baptist a similarly charismatic prophet was beheaded – Herod obviously didn't like the idea of God's Kingdom.

Once, Jesus asked us who we thought he was… he asked: "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, others Jeremiah, but who do you say I am?"

I had been thinking it, some of us had wondered about it, but didn't want to say it; but at that moment I answered:  "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."  I was convinced that he was God's anointed one… the one who would set us free from our oppression who would restore Israel to its former glory!

It felt so good – faithless buffoon that I often was to get something right.  Jesus blessed me:  "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah!  For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven!" 

That's when he said he would give me the keys of the Kingdom of heaven, and he called me the rock on which he would build his church.

*  *  *

Exciting! But from then on Jesus began to show us that he had to go to Jerusalem and suffer at the hands of our religious leaders, be killed and on the third day be raised up, alive!

I didn't understand what he was talking about.  I'm a practical kind of person – yes I had seen the miraculous, the power with which Jesus worked…  I imagined us using these powers to take Jerusalem, establish the Kingdom Jesus had been talking about.

I took him aside, protesting:  "Impossible, Master!  That can never be!"

Having just been praised his response to me crushed me.  He called me "Satan."

That was difficult to hear.

He told me I was setting my mind on human things not divine things, and if I wanted to follow him – I'd have to deny myself, take up a cross and follow him.

He said that to save my life I would have to give it up, only then would I find it.

I wanted to save everyone, using power, wealth and strength.  Jesus taught us rather that the love that changes the world was made real in sacrificing yourself. 

*  *  *

Later I realized, when Jesus told us about his trial in the desert with the devil, that the ways of power and strength which I chose – were not God's ways.  They were the devil's.  Jesus deliberately chose the way of gentleness – not power.

That must be why he chose a fool like me to be his disciple.

It turns out that my failures made me just the right kind of fool to make God's love known, just the kind of rock on which to build a community that lives on grace.

*  *  *

Jesus did things quite differently, mocking the powers – proclaiming God's gentleness.

And this brings me to the spectacle of Palm Sunday.  Jesus wasn't the impressive victory seeking kind of person, I was – I wanted power and strength… (When they came to arrest Jesus I pulled out my sword and cut off the high priest's servant's ear… Jesus surrendering, healed it.)  I wanted to fight.

*  *  *

I call it the spectacle of Palm Sunday because Jesus was not a showman – he performed miracles and healings and taught.  But he seldom drew attention to himself…

But now, in the manner of an Old Testament prophet Jesus put on a ridiculous show…  He called for a donkey on which to ride into the city.  He was making a point fulfilling the strange prophecy of Zechariah 9:9…  What kind of King would ride a donkey, not even a donkey, a colt – the foal of a donkey.

King's ride mules if they come in peach – horses if they're trying to intimidate someone, showing off their power… but no self respecting King would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey when the Romans had horses, soldiers, armour and crosses on which to hang rebels.

*  *  *

Needless to say when Jesus rode in, the crowds went wild.  It was a chance to mock the powers that be by honouring this foolish looking king.  Few people even knew who he was (we didn't have TV or You magazine).  No Roman king would have received the welcome Jesus received; large crowds joined in, giving Jesus a royal and spontaneous welcome – waving palm branches and shouting slogans about Jesus Jewishness:  "Hosanna to the Son of David."

Jerusalem was a tinderbox at Passover… imagine an oppressed nation celebrating God's delivering them from oppression.

Jesus might as well have thumbed his nose at the Romans.  The city was in turmoil.  People wanted to know who this man was… you could hear the whispers in the market place: "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee…"

Little did we know that this was the beginning of Jesus' coronation.  We were witnessing the dawn of a new kind of Kingdom.

2008-03-15 | Memorial Service for Connie Mail | 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Cheryl asked that we read from 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 in honour and memory of her mother Connie. 

The reading is fantastically appropriate - Paul's letters are seldom written to individuals; they are written to communities and from the little I know about Connie, one thing I am certain of, is that community meant a lot to her.

Until a couple of weeks before her death, although she struggled to communicate, and was obviously uncomfortable – she insisted on being brought to church, to be with the community she loved.  Snow, rain or shine (Cheryl said that it seemed that God favoured her: One rainy day it ceased when it came time to make the transfer from car to wheelchair to church.)  

She had the community rallying around her to get her to church and home.  And I don't think she would very easily have taken "No" for an answer.

Once here she made sure to be a blessing to us, grabbing one's hand and saying: "You've made my day", saying it a couple of times – just to make sure you knew that she valued you and what you did for her.

*  *  *

St Paul writes to a community divided, divided by all sorts of things; Theological or doctrinal division, sexual immorality, legal disputes, marriage, idolatry; even something about hairstyles…

The church he writes to has become a place in which the binding force of love is conspicuously absent. 

People are constantly looking for reasons not to love each other, rather than for reasons to love each other.

I don't know why we do it – I guess we've learned to be lazy… We look for excuses not to love people, because when you love people – you have to make sacrifices for them, you have to be patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, humble, polite, generous… a whole lot of things that anyone with any experience in life knows are difficult to do.

*  *  *

The lack of love problem is not unique to Christian communities like the one at Corinth (to whom Paul writes); it is universal:  You will find it in government, in business, in neighbourhoods, bridge clubs, book clubs, golf clubs, vineyards, old age homes, hospitals, monasteries, churches, Bible study groups… and on and on and on…

Because loving others is just too costly.

*  *  *

In Jesus Christ, the true cost of love is made known to us.  Tomorrow is Palm Sunday, the week ahead is Holy Week, on Friday, we remember Christ's crucifixion.

According to John's gospel (15:12b-13) Jesus commands his disciples:

"…love one another as I have loved you.  No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends…"

His command anticipates the way in which he will die… making known God's scandalous love to all people on the cross.  These are words of mercy reminding us that we are loved by God.

Reminding us that because of the cross of Christ and his resurrection we can be assured of God's grace and love for Connie, and even for ourselves if we choose to accept it.

But they are also words of challenge, Jesus tells us humans to love one another as he has loved us… sacrificially; putting our lives second for Jesus' sake.

*  *  *

I believe that the kind of love Jesus speaks about, the kind of love which Paul speaks about in 1 Corinthians 13 is exactly what each of us were created for.  We were created in the image of God in order to give and receive love.

Connie was created for that love, you were created for that love, I was created for that love… and until we learn to give and receive that kind of love we will always feel a bit like we're not ourselves.

We'll always feel a bit like we're not being the people we were created to be or experiencing the life we were created to live.

Like wearing a shirt that's not cut the right shape, or maybe is a little too small; we'll feel like we're not at home.

*  *  *

The final verses of 1 Corinthians 13 offer us immense hope.

Few of us, although we desperately want and need to be loved and to love perfectly, ever experience that kind of love.  We grasp it maybe for a moment here and there…

In this life few of us could love Connie perfectly; although I am sure many came as close as they could, and just like you and I, I am sure she was frustrated by not being able to love others perfectly…

But in verse 12 Paul writes; speaking of loving and being loved:

"Now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face.  Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known."

*  *  *

Today Connie knows the perfect love for which she was created… our feeble attempts at love are overcome by the perfect love of Christ… with whom (in a sense) she is now truly home.

You who were touched by her life – and who touched her life; take something of that love away from here with you.  Perhaps its in the way you tend your garden and allow others to enjoy it's beauty, maybe in the way you cook and allow others to experience your generosity… maybe its in the fact that you let people know, in all sincerity and without hypocrisy, expecting nothing in return that they have made your day.

Lent 5 - Growing up - the process of change (Chocolat) | Psalm 130; Exekiel 37:1-14; Romans 8:1-11; John 11:1-45

Growing up – The process of change

Growing up is a bit of a nuisance –

Most of us – I think would prefer not to have grown up.

When you were small you could scream and shout and get your own way and people would let you get away with it because you didn't really understand what you were doing; you weren't responsible for your actions.

At some point, when you wised up to the fact that people bowed to your every whim, you probably started to take advantage; and your parents or care givers picked up on that and started to teach you responsibility.

Throwing food on the floor was naughty.

Biting people was unacceptable.

You weren't allowed to just grab the things that amused you.

*  *  *

Later on in life – being a grown up means paying the bills, it means looking after kids…  It means in a word – being responsible.

*  *  *

Taking responsibility

We quite easily take responsibility for the obvious elements of our lives, paying bills, setting aside something for retirement – checking our tyre pressure, driving at the speed limit, stopping at stop streets…

We make sure that our houses don't leak and the light bulbs get changed.

Some of us even take responsibility for our health.

Although we take responsibility for these things… (We'd be in serious trouble if we didn't).

It's much easier to stop taking responsibility for the less obvious things in our lives.  Our relationships with our family and friends… no one forces us to take responsibility for those.

Our relationship with our spouse or children or brothers and sisters…

We notice too late when those relationships haven't been maintained properly – there's no traffic cop who'll give us a ticket, no lawyer who will write a letter of demand, no dripping water from the ceiling to remind us of the fact that we are responsible.

Growing up means taking responsibility for all of these things…

When we're children we are not responsible for many of our actions – but when we become adults we are held accountable…

*  *  *

Our transformation

We've been talking about repentance – the fact that it is a process of transformation, of change.

We've been talking about it for the last four weeks… preparing through the season of lent, for Easter. 

We spoke about giving up, giving up our old habits of thought - learning to think differently and to see things differently. 

We spoke about being born again so that we can give out, becoming a new person, part of God's family – born into this world to be a blessing, to realise God's love. 

We spoke about the possibility of change – how Jesus sees potential in the most unlikely of us and enables us through his love to become the people we are called to be.

Last week we looked at getting real – the power of acceptance… how when we learn to bring our whole selves to God; to know that God accepts us 'warts and all' – we begin to be powerfully transformed by his grace and love. 

We also realise that when we love and accept others for who they are and where they are – without even wanting to change them – somehow, love transforms them – and they are enabled to become the people God created them to be.

We've spoken about some of the wonderful truths of our relationship with God.  About the possibility of being transformed by God – following Paul's instruction in Romans 12:2 – "…be transformed by the renewing of your minds."

But it's not just something that happens to us as we stand by and wait.  Yes God works in us, changing us from the inside… our whole identity is transformed when we are loved by the creator of the universe…

But each of us has the freedom to choose to be transformed. 

Romans 8

In Romans chapter 8 Paul sets out some pointers towards being transformed by God.  In the letter he explains how the whole nature of our reality is changed because of who Jesus is and what Jesus does… Romans 8 is just a snippet.

What God has done:

He begins in 8:1 with what God has done…

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

Paul has just been speaking (in the previous chapters) about the battle which constantly wages within us – a battle between Spirit and flesh.  We want to do good – but we do evil.

Here in 8:1 – he tells us that – in spite of all our sin, there is no longer any condemnation.  Our past is forgiven.

Because of Christ.

There is no condemnation – as sinful as we are, we are loved by God and not condemned.

*  *  *

Not only is there no condemnation but in verse 2 Paul tells us that we are set free from the "law of sin and of death."

The rules we used to live by have changed…  We used to sin, go against God's will – we just couldn't help it, we were locked in a kind of addictive pattern…  But now, with what Jesus has done, all of that is fundamentally changed.

Because of Christ we can now be people of the Spirit, not of the flesh.

Our response

Although, as Paul has explained to us, this new attitude and way of life is possible, it is not automatic.  Our way of life is our choice – growing up spiritually means taking responsibility.

In verses 5-8 Paul explains the choice between living in the flesh – and by the spirit.

To him the choice is plain… he puts it bluntly in verse 6:

"To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace."

The choice, according to Paul is between death on the one hand – and life and peace on the other.

As long as we choose to only live for the flesh we will be only half alive… When we choose to live in the Spirit we will have what Jesus calls life in all it's fullness – "real life."

What we should do:

We've been talking about 'being transformed,' the act of repenting – changing our minds and our actions.

Now I wish transformation was as easy as those strange belts you put on your tummy and you end up looking like Ken or Barbie…  But it isn't, it involves some effort on our own part.

*  *  *

When Jesus speaks to Nicodemus about being born again (we spoke about this a few weeks ago) he refers to ritual and spiritual rebirth…  Water – referring to the ritual of Baptism, and Spirit – referring to God's life giving spirit working within us.

An action and God's Spirit.  When Jesus calls Lazarus to life – out of the tomb.. he says Lazarus, "Get up."  Lazarus does the getting up – Jesus does the calling.

*  *  *

How can we participate in God's transformation of us as we learn to live in the Spirit – and not in the flesh, as Paul puts it.

In Christian tradition we speak of the 'means of grace.'  Actions and practices ordained by God in scripture that help us to be transformed into Christ likeness…

For some of us these actions might have become meaningless rituals… on their own they have no power at all.  But when we participate in them, asking God to transform us, wanting to be transformed – we will begin to see ourselves changed.

*  *  *

Firstly (and most importantly) Prayer; Not just words, but prayer with intent… prayer that pours our hearts out to God and asks and allows God to transform us.  Jesus assures us that these prayers will be answered… (Ask and you will receive…)

Second, searching the scriptures – not just ritual reading late at night before we go to bed… as if looking at the words of the Bible will somehow magically transform us.  But searching – looking for Jesus in them, learning about who God is and what God is like, revealed in Christ – so that we might become more like him.  John 5 39, Jesus tells people: "The scriptures testify on my behalf…"

Third, participating in the Lord's supper… Communion is a learning and teaching event for us in which the reality of Christ's life and death are brought home physically as we eat and drink in remembrance of him – as he has commanded us to do.

*  *  *

These are the main means of grace, the main ways in which God works in us to transform us… they are not effective as rituals; they are effective when we participate in them asking God to transform us.

Wesley commends these to us and some more:

Fasting; Christian Community (accountability to each other); Doing Good; Visiting the Sick & the Imprisoned, Feeding & Clothing those in need.

All of these are actions that we can participate in – that help us to be transformed by God.

*  *  *

Our transformation is largely dependent on our growing up… growing up means taking responsibility for ourselves, especially for our spiritual lives.  It's not a passive activity.

When – on purpose, taking responsibility we participate in God's transformation of us we will be transformed.

When we are transformed we will begin to truly see the Kingdom of God in this place.