November 25 Sermon 2012       

What is Truth?  Jesus said I am the Way, The Truth, and the Life.

We are told that Jesus is the ruler of the kings of the earth in Revelation, an enthroned descendant of King David in the Psalm reading, the anointed  of God in 2 Samuel.  But in John’s passion story, he is far from lifted up and glorified.

A prisoner, he nonetheless goes toe-to-toe with Pilate, a colonial bureaucrat of the Roman Empire, and refuses to be trapped into calling himself king:

“You say that I am a king….I came into the world, to testify to the truth”; John 18:37.  May Truth Reign.                                                               

Old Testament  2 Samuel 23:1-72

First Samuel begins with Hannah’s prayer and Second Samuel come toward its close with David’s prayerful reflection on his reign.  Moses gave some important last words along with Elijah, Jesus, Stephen, Peter, Andrew and others.  People attend to last words.

In this book the Lord makes a covenant with David, promising him an everlasting throne (V.7).  Yet, though a strong ideal of kingship persists throughout the history of monarchy, the majority of the rulers from Israel and Judah fail to live up to this model.

This Sunday marks the occasion of the last words we speak before the new Church Year is upon us.

John’s gospel speaks much in the last quarter of the book of Jesus’ parting words to his disciples. They were anxious and did not want him to leave.  They did not want to hear all that he and to say about his parting, but Jesus explained,

“I have said these things to you while I am still with you.  But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you.” (John 14:25-).

At funerals we hear these words: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid”

Jesus was giving to them the assurance of God’s continued presence and the promise that even in parting we are gathered up together in to the peace of God.

The wisdom of David in the twilight of his rule is that he knows the source of his power and he knows the character of God’s justice.

In a world where abuses of power, violence and war so often go to the drumbeat of religious overtones and undertones, David’s song invites us to find our way out of violence and injustice with a song we should know by heart.

Psalm 132

David uplifts the covenant he had with God.  In the North American church, this expression of covenant, of mutual commitment between God and God’s people, could be difficult for churchgoers to relate to.  Young people in America have witnessed broken promise after broken promise, They have seen the covenant of marriage dissolve as their parents or friends divorce.  They have seen the pledge of elected leaders to serve the common good dissolve as political leaders make promises and then get caught lying.  Civic engagement is waning, marriage rates are declining, and people change jobs or are transferred every few years.

In this psalm, the writer demonstrates beautifully the inseparability of God’s covenant and our relationship with God.  For those wary of commitment, the psalmist’s attention to such interdependence could provide an important word about the deepening of relationship with God that can happen within mutual commitment.

Commitment required within covenant is important. Psalm 132 reminds us that covenant is essential for faith to grow and be sustained.  We expect God to listen, remember, and respond to God’s people.  God expects us to be obedient, and therefore faithful to the God of Israel.

Epistle- Revelation 1:4b-8

In this reading of Revelation- the Christian community is reminded both of the origin of its identity and its ultimate hope for the future.

“The empire that threatens the heart of Christianity today with commercialism, self-indulgence, and increasing isolation is as deadly as the Roman Empire was when John was writing. Many are dying for thirst for words of “grace and peace” from the eternal one.

The good news we hear are that Christ is “the firstborn of the dead”, and the sovereignty of Christ – that he is the ruler of the kings of the earth. We hear the good news of Salvation – Christ “loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom” (v5-6)

John paints a picture of a victorious, cloud-riding Messiah. The return of Christ will be one of judgment and power. Christ will be revealed to everyone:  “Every eye will see him, even those who pierced him.”

Today’s passage from Revelation invites us to reflect more deeply on just what we expect of Christ’s return.

Echoing God’s first appearance to Moses, John uses  “I Am” language to conclude this passage.  “ I am the Alpha and the Omega.  Indeed, God is our beginning and our ending.  “In life and in death we belong to God.

Gospel  Reading ( Please Stand if Able) John 18:33-37

Let us reflect a little about why Jesus is standing in front of Pilate. This was the last week of Jesus life. It began with the triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday when the masses would have crowned him king. But their concept of kingship was quite different from the kind of king Jesus came to be.

Their history permeated with hopes and dreams of a messiah who would bring them political salvation.  They wanted a king who would deliver them from the political tyranny of Rome and restore the nation to the splendor and glory their forebears had known in the days of King David.

Jesus had many characteristics that led them to believe he was the long – awaited savior.  But he was  a king of a different domain, and they could never quite grasp why he could not be who they wanted him to be.

The power and influence of Jesus had become a serious threat to the religious leaders because they feared that he would upset the delicate balance of power that existed between the Jews and the Romans who occupied their country.  This fear led to the arrest, trial, and execution of Jesus.         Thus the trial of Jesus before Pilate.

The Jewish Leaders take Jesus  to Pilate, but they will not enter lest they defile themselves and be unable to eat the Passover.  Pilate wants nothing to do with what he considers a religious matter, but the religious establishment maneuvers Pilate into taking jurisdiction.  The religious leaders  shift from the accusation of blasphemy to a charge of treason. Pilate summons Jesus to his quarters to question him.

The church proclaims that Jesus is king and his kingdom is coming.  But many still ask, “Who is Jesus” and “Where is his kingdom.

The text is called “the trial before Pilate.” It might better be called “Pilate on trial” for Pilate knows that Jesus sholud not be on trial.   He asked the Jews: What accusation do you bring against this man?

Pilate does not consider Jesus a threat to his rule.  Pilate considers himself the most powerful, most in control person in Jerusalem.  He is the local representative of the greatest world power of that time.”

He brags about the position and the power he possesses, saying “ do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?”

It is interesting to see that one of the most powerful men backed by Rome in this situation  was standing face to face with God. IT reminds me of Satan standing face to face with God declaring his own pride at wanting to overthrow Gods throne.

Jesus Kingdom is not earthly bound. Jesus and his followers belong to the Truth.  Pilate understands earthly kingship and kings.  Jesus redefines king and kingship.  It hinges around the belief in him who came in to the world to testify to the truth.:  Proclaiming the truth, being the truth, and even belonging to the truth are what make Jesus a King.  His kingdom – his nation- is not defined by earthly terms. 

Pilate finds nothing wrong with Jesus. He tries to turn him back over to the religious leaders. Pilate delights in presenting Jesus to the Jews as “your King”. The Jews cry out We have no king but the emperor.

Pilate tried to offer Barrabas to them but they cried louder: Crucify Him!  Crucify Him.!   

Perhaps Pilate thought he was putting a pitiful , radical Jew out of his misery, but instead he turned history upside down and crowned a new kind of king, who is King of kings forever and ever, world without end.      

Prayer: Lord your prophecies say you are coming in the clouds for every eye to see. Help us to focus on that reality and hope. Keep our hearts true. Remind us of your love and your truth. Help us to remember the price that you paid for our salvation. Forgive us for our elevated pride in thinking that we can do it our way. Remind us that we can repent and turn from our wicked ways and when we repent you are faithful and just to forgive us and accept us back into your kingdom for ever more.  Amen.