|
Sept 14th, 2008 – Holy Cross Day (Red)
Readings: Numbers 21:4-9; Psalms 98:1-6; 1 Corinthians 1:18-24; John 3:13-17;
Preface of Holy Week
An older couple had a son, who was still living at home. The parents were a little worried, as the son was still unable to decide about his future career. They decided to do a small test. They took a 10 dollar bill, a Bible, and a bottle of whiskey, and put them on the front hall table, and hid, pretending they were not home.
The father's plan was: "If our son takes the money, he will be a businessman, if he takes the Bible, he will be a priest, but if he takes the bottle of whiskey, I'm afraid our son will be a drunkard."
So, the parents waited nervously, hiding in the nearby closet. Peeping through the keyhole they saw their son arrive. The son saw the note they had left. Then, he took the 10-dollar bill, looked at it against the light, and slid it in his pocket. After that, he took the Bible, flicked through it, and took it.
Then, he grabbed the bottle, opened it and took a whiff, to get assured of the quality. Then he left for his room, carrying all three items. The father slapped his forehead, and said: HONEY! Our son is going to be a politician."
Who has election fever? Anyone? The next two months will be an unprecedented media barrage pertaining to the upcoming elections: For the past 2 years or so we’ve been forced to follow the race for leaders of the Republican & Democrat parties south of the border – now we get to watch over the next few months Barrack Obama take on John McCain for the presidency of the United States of America. Not to be outdone, our own national leader has called for an election on October 14th – so Canadian newsfeeds will bombard us with ‘Green Plans’, ‘carbon taxes’, ‘diesel tax cuts’, alternative energies, and promises that under new leadership the federal agenda will be set at the ‘dinner table’ rather than the ‘boardroom table.’ Fascinating isn’t it?
And finally let’s not forget that our diocese is facing its own election in a few weeks as we will be selecting a new bishop to lead us. I can’t think of a time where this many interesting and relevant elections are to occur in such a short span in my life. It certainly leaves one with much to think about and difficult decisions to make. In particular it ought to make us think about what kind of a leader we need, as a church, and as a country. John Maxwell says that “leadership is influence – nothing more, nothing less.” A leader is someone who people are willing to follow – someone who inspires, convinces, and exemplifies character, commitment and courage. A good leader has the ability to bring people from one place to another, even if people are kicking and screaming the whole way!
Moses was a good leader. His followers were the people of Israel. While the ideal of freedom appealed to this enslaved group, they had no idea of the cost. Wandering in the desert was miserable to them, as it would be to most of us. Our reading this morning highlights one of the many instances where God’s people complained about their circumstance – they hated the food, they didn’t have enough water. God then sends snakes among them (perhaps to remind them they didn’t have it so bad after all!) and many of them are bitten and die. They admit their sin and plead for help – Moses is told to make a bronze serpent and place it on a pole and lift it up – when the people would look at it they are healed.
For some reason Jesus chose this story to explain to Nicodemus (the Pharisee) the means by which the Son of God would save the world. “And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” (John 3:15) God’s people, in fact all of creation, are called to look upon the crucified Christ, raised up on two cross-beams, nailed secure, beaten, bloody – and find healing. Christ’s crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension mark the in-breaking of God’s healing power released throughout the cosmos. In the Old Testament we see God’s power breaking out into the lives of specific people, in particular times and places, for specific purposes. But now the power of God is revealed in its fullness through Christ.
Paul says, “For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Cor 1:18). I don’t think we can fully understand how foolish, how horrific the image of the cross would have been for New Testament people. Paul says it was a ‘stumbling block’ to the Jews – this was an honour-shame culture, to be dishonoured brought one down the societal ladder. It was a culture that stressed modesty. It was a religion that promised a Messiah to overthrow its oppressors. The cross was a criminal’s death – the most shameful way to die as victims were beaten and stripped naked before being put on display for family and friends to see. And the idea that the Messiah would allow himself to be executed by Israel’s oppressors only added to the absurdity of the notion that Israel’s Saviour could be this crucified Jesus. For the Greeks (or Gentiles) it was utter foolishness that Christians should worship this uneducated Jew who managed to get himself killed by the Romans. They venerated philosophers who taught that enlightenment came through intellectual contemplation – this cross business was just too messy, too primitive, too earthy for them.
I was trying to think of a modern image that could convey even to a small degree the horror the image of the cross would have evoked for first century hearers. The closest thing I could think of is the Nazi swastika. In our day we have come to associate this image with the evils of the Holocaust, of death and violence brought about by a fascist dictator. Can you imagine what would happen if one of our political candidates decided to use the swastika as their campaign logo? Or imagine if they used the term ‘Third Reich” in their party platform? I think we all know what would happen – we would be horrified, careers would be over, and rightly so. In some cases simply logging onto pro-nazi websites is enough to bring one under federal investigation – simply to associate with these images of evil is enough to get one in trouble with the authorities.
The cross had similar effect in its day. Yet now we see crosses on churches, around people’s necks – I noticed this week at the General hospital the brickwork on the front of the building that makes an image of the cross standout (a wonderful tribute to the enduring power of the cross, not easily taken down by secular authorities now running the hospital). What could transform this symbol of death into the symbol of life and hope we know the cross as today?
Only the power of God. Only Jesus Christ – ‘the power of God the wisdom of God.’
God sent his Son into the world to save it – salvation came through the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The sins of the whole world needed to be dealt with. A fallen human being had no authority to solve the problem, but a divine being in human form could. Through this great act of self-surrender Christ wore our sins on the cross, nailed to his person. By this act the power of God is revealed as the power of love, self-sacrifice, and justice. This flies in the face of human culture which honours those who successfully grasp for power through money or political achievement. “The figure of the Crucified invalidates all thought which takes success for its standard.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer).
God has the power to transform the image of the cross from an image of: humiliation to glory; from shame to honour; from suffering to healing; from weakness to power; from death to life. And if God can use an image of death to bring about our salvation, think of the transformation he would work in our own lives should we make space in our lives for him to do so.
He can take our weakness and turn it to strength, he can heal our guilt, bring us healing, strength and life. Paul says it is to those who are ‘being saved’ that the cross is the power of God – our salvation is an ongoing process, one in which God is gently moulding and shaping us to look more like the crucified and glorious One, Jesus Christ. On this day of the Holy Cross we are invited to ponder once again the image of the cross – but let us do so not simply out of religious duty, but with hearts that yearn for God to transform us and change us. And may the wisdom of God as revealed through his Son Jesus Christ so inform us in the difficult decisions we are to make in the days ahead. May we look for, and pray for, leaders who imitate the love, commitment, and wisdom of Jesus Christ.
“All heaven is interested in the cross of Christ, all hell is terribly afraid of it, while men are the only beings who more or less ignore its meaning.” (Oswald Chambers).
|
|
