I know some things about God. Time doesn't seem to be an issue as things take place on the scale of billions of years and also nanos of seconds. Distance as well no mind. Messages from millennia ago arrive everyday. Think of those people today realizing things you have long known. First heart breaks will never heal until they do. Love is the one thing in the universe that God creates new. All of your problems come from old things. It is hard to even think about the perspective of God, but we are invited to try I think during lent.
To try to reflect on this little we know. 1 Corinthians 13:12a Amplified Bible 12 For now [in this time of imperfection] we see in a mirror dimly [a blurred reflection, a riddle, an enigma],
We are invited to do many things. Many are the fin backs Melville to me was talking about. I read this thick book thicker than anything I had ever read. Reading it I actually wear as a badge of courage. Few things I do. Something so thick and intricate to come out the end with something so simple. Chapter after chapter of this craft. These fin backs, whalers would chase and lose much of their time. They looked from a far that it would be something of value and only a chase would tell.
You would give chase too for that is what they did. More times than not there is no satisfaction no value. If you don't chase you will never gain, many are the fin backs. Those from afar that look of value. Great literature is this complexity that delivers simplicity. Here in the middle of Mark we find the heart of our simple religion that delivers eternal complexity. And people think Christianity is something normal. I believe religion is stranger than religion fiction.
People creating new complexity to deliver the simplicity of Jesus miss the point. It isn't really important who wins, but that we all do. Good news. It isn't really important who serves, but that we all do. Good times. It isn't really important the music, but that we all sing. My Grandfather put it this way: There are no bad instincts, just as there are no bad notes on a piano; there are only bad players, who make discord out of notes meant for harmony.
We read today Mark 8:31-38 from the amplified bible:
31 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must [of necessity] suffer many things and be rejected [as the Messiah] by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and must be put to death, and after three days rise [from death to life]. 32 He was stating the matter plainly [not holding anything back]. Then Peter took Him aside and began to reprimand Him. 33 But turning around [with His back to Peter] and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan; for your mind is not set on God’s will or His values and purposes, but on what pleases man.”
31 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must [of necessity] suffer many things and be rejected [as the Messiah] by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and must be put to death, and after three days rise [from death to life]. 32 He was stating the matter plainly [not holding anything back]. Then Peter took Him aside and began to reprimand Him. 33 But turning around [with His back to Peter] and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan; for your mind is not set on God’s will or His values and purposes, but on what pleases man.”
Ok so we find ourselves here in the eighth of sixteen chapters of Mark. We have talked several times how Mark likes to get to the point and leave plenty out that he doesn't think is as important. Jesus picked up Peter back in chapter one so these guys didn't just meet, but boy does Jesus shock them here.
I can't say I know what Peter felt but I've had something of a similar or inspired by experience. I was working as a dishwasher for several years. My first real job I guess you would say. In the dish line you knew you were paid the least and everyone treated you that way. Not in a hateful way but more like junior high. I exaggerate a bit because the best kitchen crew people start on the dish line. A proving ground of sorts.
Well, we got to know each other as members of the lower caste. Our arms had to keep moving because we were always slammed, but it didn't take much more effort to keep our mouths moving. There were quiet moments as well. I would arrive early to mop the floor. It was something of a meditation which I actually enjoyed. To this day boy I can mop a floor, hah, but it was that moment when the guy in the bad suit came tracking in the first mud of the day that things would start south.
In reality he was making five or six dollars more an hour than me. I was young and didn't see the value in what I was doing. I thought I was going somewhere. Peter thought he was going somewhere.
So we got to know each other well on the dish line. I remember a native American who would go out and work a second eight hours in Thompson and somehow still never get ahead. Sun burned as the day is long. These were the people who first told me about food pantries. They talked how you could always go in and you would be surprised what good you would find. As similar as each nights work was the conversation never was.
I got to know a young, well I was young, Pentecostal dude. We had long conversations about the bible. Not all the time, but often. Surely could have filled eight chapters or so. Thought we were all friends. I had never really been out in the world on my own. I was just there learning. I didn't know much, but I knew many things. One day I guess I said the wrong thing, with no hesitation, which to this day I still remember he said get behind me Satan. I was slowed down which I rarely find myself.
This happening to me at the time was already more interesting than what we were talking about. We'd been through some things. Maybe not trench warfare that Marko is now learning about, but through some things. I didn't have a response. I had heard that before I guess. What struck me was it was from a friend. Must have stopped Peter for a second too.
I am not trying to compare these situations in any real way. These two surely friends were working to change the world. We were only working to change the dish room. If we didn't show up nothing would run. I don't really remember many things I have written, but one sticks with me: The universe is a restaurant under management from below. We were certainly the most important because we were the most likely to walk out. Job wasn't great. Peter might have felt that way. Lucky for us he never walked out, well without coming back.
34 Jesus called the crowd together with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and [a]take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].
34 Jesus called the crowd together with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and [a]take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].
People think this is a great sin of religion. Give up your interest. The devil believes in you or so he will tell you. We often assume there is something wrong with our interest. Is someone banging on the keys the piano's fault. Is the piano poorly designed. Not that your interest is wrong just that it is doomed, but you don't have to be.
This is the why of religion. It is simple. You can follow yourself as far as you wish and no where. Your not going where you think you are. We can't all be first, but we can all be last.
35 For whoever wishes to save his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], but whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake and the gospel’s will save it [from the consequences of sin and separation from God]. 36 For what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world [with all its pleasures], and forfeit his soul? 37 For what will a man give in exchange for his soul and eternal life [in God’s kingdom]? 38 For whoever is ashamed [here and now] of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
Go with your interest, your will, and you will reap your reward. Go with God's interest and you will reap God's reward, which involves more service. We have a ways to go yet here in Mark. This more than anything Lent reminds us we have a ways to go yet here. Spring around the corner and Easter and joy, but also we have ahead what the disciples didn't want to hear.
Can hardly blame them. The greatest story ever told is also the strangest. Simple good news about an abundant future and this equal present with the grace of god available for everyone.
What I think Mark in the heart of his Gospel is telling us: we are not going where we think we are. He is giving fair warning. We kind of go in circles. Yes it is about me and you, but it is also about them and all them. Fear of God you would think might do the trick, but in the end it really doesn't get you far. It has taken all the love of God to get us this far.
Do you have a better explanation? I would like to hear it
Religion has reformed itself and reformed itself. From the Nicene Creed to Vatican II and even today as our Methodist church devolves into something new. We were very optimistic about the future we called ourselves united.
31 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must [of necessity] suffer many things
We come back here to our spirituality and seek answers each for ourselves.
32 He was stating the matter plainly [not holding anything back]. Then Peter took Him aside and began to reprimand Him.
We know what Peter's response was a rebuke, an official one. He put Jesus on notice. This small thing. Most of the things in Mark are small. In the center. Most of the things in Mark are not in the center. I do not know what is meant. I wonder why of necessity. I can believe of necessity. I know of necessity.
The conversation I like to have is below. There is so much more in science than will ever be dreamed of in science fiction. So much better so much more reliable so much more amazing so much more efficient. Or not.
One funny story before we go somewhere. Photosynthesis is today a very inefficient process. Wasn't always so. Photosynthesis began on earth when there wasn't much oxygen around. Made so much that it doesn't work so well. Funny Oxygen gets in the way now so much around. People now working to make photosynthesis more efficient. Doing things better can make things harder. I think we can forgive Peter for thinking it might be easier when he met the messiah. Human interest I don't think Jesus is telling us is so wrong as much as a dead end.
37 For what will a man give in exchange for his soul and eternal life [in God’s kingdom]?
This right here in one sentence in the middle of Mark is more expansive than every new age thought. And also inclusive. Not important who wins, but that we all do. In the next chapter we all know a big show is coming. God says it straight, "Listen to him." In God's love their is a below and above. The conversation flows on all these levels. Religion likes to put itself apart. It often has much to defend. Spirituality the acts of individual people following God will take the most people home possible.
I know some things about God. The scope is ridiculous. Much more than I would have done. We can detect gravity waves now and people debate if they are black holes crashing or Boson stars. Boson stars.
We follow a man who walked a flat earth. In describing Christianity to people of other religions I find it difficult to describe the hard part. In a real sense I think of mistakes I have made and forgiveness I have received. I'm sure I could have gotten some more forgiveness. That is the easy part in my final story here today.
Again from my Grandfather something of a summation:
God Provided thy way in Jesus Christ the perfect one. -The new testament in the teachings and life of Jesus sets forth a clear plan of salvation. First the realization of our need for God. Second our desire to live a righteous life. Then the submissions of our will to God's will, and finally growing in grace thru the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The Bible shows us a God who is continually reaching down to man in love and compassion to lift man up. And when man responds to God's love and places his hand in God's hand God lifts him up to higher ground, but the bible teaches that we must open the door.
"Behold I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (rev 3:20)
The hard part is telling people yeah this is what I believe. I follow this example that was set in this man's life two thousand years ago. They didn't have computers, heck they didn't really know much. I know some things. I follow this guy. It isn't because of the reward though. It is the selling point I guess. The eternal life. I follow because it is the way. And when I am human like Peter I thank God for another blessing and ask if I may have another. In a real sense this is where Mark starts in the middle and we will work our way out yet.
Let Us Pray
God above, we are here in the middle of Mark with Peter. Forgive us our interest in doing things our way. Help us to see you in places we don't look. Lead us to places we don't go. Love us till days we no longer count. Help us to leave behind what was helpless and hopeless and destined for nothing. Help us to see solution in your son Jesus Christ. Help us to show the expansive and inclusive story of your creation and love. Be with Us always we ask in the name of your son Jesus Christ. Amen
Benediction
Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the
Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God.
Arise and go in the awareness that all things
are ours through the gift of God. Amen
Nottingham UMC 2/28/2021
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