Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard
Sermon Mark 1:14-20
Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church
January 25, 2009
Listen to this sermon.
In our first reading this day from Jonah chapter three we have a truly extraordinary story. Consider these two verses. “Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's walk. And he cried out, "Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.” (Jonah 3:4-5). This story is incredible, just unbelievable. Nineveh was the capital city of the hated Assyrians; the very people who would one day destroy and enslave much of Israel. The Assyrians had their own gods and thought them to be far more powerful than the Lord, God of Israel. And yet when they heard the bad news from Jonah that they were about to be defeated they immediately believed in the Hebrew God. It would be as if the Taliban after reading or listening to this sermon suddenly threw down their weapons in Afghanistan and worshiped Jesus as the Son of God, an unbelievable, incredible event.
We would probably write this story from Jonah off as an interesting, but improbable, work of fiction but for a similar story which we find in the Book of Mark. In this story Jesus has just returned to the city of Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee near his childhood home in Nazareth to begin his ministry. Listen to the story as told by Mark.
Mark 1:14-20 14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news." 16 As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea-- for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.
We are told by Mark that Jesus’ ministry consisted of proclaiming that the kingdom of God has come near, good news to all who were oppressed under Roman occupation. And we are told that as a result of this proclamation, four men, fishermen, by trade immediately left their families and family businesses to follow this rabbi from a neighboring village. This too, like Jonah chapter 3, is an incredible and highly unlikely story. Wouldn’t Simon and Andrew and John and James have needed a little time to think about Jesus’ request? Wouldn’t they have talked with their parents, wives and children about the major change in career they were contemplating? Could any of us imagine just walking away from our jobs, or our businesses, or our homes and families to follow someone we just met? Of course not! But tradition teaches us that Peter himself, one of the fishermen, was Mark’s source for this story. Peter who had experienced the immediate transforming effects of the gospel of Jesus Christ reported to Mark what happened and Mark wrote it down for us. So we are left with an historical event where four fishermen are suddenly transformed by the power of the gospel.
The gospel, or good news of Jesus Christ is contained right here in the pages of the Bible and can suddenly transform the reader or listener into a follower of Jesus Christ. How can it be that this Book has this kind of power to change people? There are three reasons. First, the words we read in the Bible are the words of God who created us. Second, this Word of God has been faithfully preserved by the by the apostles and by the church for thousands of years. And finally, the Word of God is empowered in our listening by the Holy Spirit. Let’s look at each of these.
The words in this book are written by God. Since creation God has given us evidence of His existence and His care for His creation. Everyday we see the light of God’s creation rise in the east and set in the west. This week we saw the waters of creation pouring down from heaven. The trees in the patio area spout new growth as evidence of God’s continuing creation. God who continually reveals himself to us has revealed himself to men and women throughout history. People have seen God in the natural world, though visions and dreams, and through the goodness of other people. They began to realize that their idea of God was much more than mere opinion; rather it was based of the reality of God who has chosen to be revealed. The experiences of these people of God were written down and preserved for us to read and hear. Thus when we hear the Bible read, God is revealed to us, and this revelation can instantly transform us into followers of Jesus Christ
The followers of Jesus Christ believed with firm conviction that the words of good news he was speaking were certainly the Word of God. After Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension to heaven many of these followers continued to proclaim Jesus’ good news. They traveled around the Roman Empire proclaiming the Word of God. And they saw the transformative effects that God’s Word had on the people who heard it. These apostles left behind a church which was dedicated to the preservation and proclamation of God’s Word. The church has faithfully preserved the scripture and continues to this day to proclaim it. And many of those who hear the Word of God proclaimed in the church are transformed by it just as people have been transformed in times past. So for two thousand years the Word of God, has been preserved and proclaimed by the church with transformative effects.
But how is it that God’s Word faithfully preserved by the church has such transformational power? The only way this is possible is if we are convinced that the words we are hearing are truly God’s words. How would we know with assurance that what we read and hear in the Bible is truly God speaking to us? If we examine our own conscience we realize that we are filled with doubts. These doubts can only be overcome by faith. And it is faith the gives us assurance that these words must come from God. So for the Word of God in the Bible to transform people into followers of Jesus Christ, God must first plant seeds of faith in their hearts.
This is the work of the Holy Spirit; the same Holy Spirit that spoke though the authors of the book of the Bible. This Holy Spirit inwardly teaches us that what we hear or read in the Bible truly comes from God. This teaching creates faith in our hearts. This faith leads us to the conviction that the words of the Bible are truly the words of God. And when we are convinced that God is speaking to us we can suddenly become followers of Jesus Christ.
So when you hear or read the words of the Bible and believe in you hearts that the words truly come from God then you can be assured that the Holy Spirit is with you giving you faith. But if, as you read scripture you are not convinced, if you still have doubts then I urge you to pray that the God who created you will send His spirit upon you with the gift of faith. Then you will believe that the Bible contains the Word of God and be transformed into a follower of Jesus Christ.
And this is exactly what happened to Peter and Andrew and James and John that day two thousand years ago when Jesus walked by. The words Jesus spoke were the words of God. The four fishermen heard these words. The Holy Spirit placed faith in their hearts. The fishermen believed with full assurance that they were hearing words of God. This had a powerful transformative effect on them and they immediately became followers of Jesus Christ leaving behind their old lives and walking into new lives as disciples.
Just as Jesus called those four fishermen he is calling you. Jesus has commanded the church and me as a minister of God’s words to proclaim them to you just as Jesus proclaimed them to his disciples. That is what I am doing this morning. I am proclaiming the word of God to you. The Holy Spirit is here with us ready to enter your heart and convince you that what you are hearing is true. The Holy Spirit has come today with the gift of faith that will give you the assurances you need. And with this gift you will be transformed into followers of Jesus Christ.
Holy Spirit, I ask that you enter the hearts of everyone who hears my voice. Fill them with God’s love and assurance that the Word of God they have heard this day is really the words that God is speaking to them. And with this assurance I ask that you transform them into followers of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Friday, January 30, 2009
February Vision Column
From the Pastor’s Desk
Through want and hard hunger they gnaw the dry and desolate ground, they pick mallow and the leaves of bushes, and to warm themselves the roots of broom. They are driven out from society; people shout after them as after a thief. In the gullies of wadis they must live, in holes in the ground, and in the rocks. Among the bushes they bray; under the nettles they huddle together. (Job 30:3-7)
When God created the world God made certain that there was enough food for everyone. Yet today many people go hungry. It is estimated that 854 million people are hungry today. One reason for this is that three billion people live on less than $2 per day and nearly a billion live on less than a dollar. Today this food crisis is compounded by increasing costs for food. One cause is the increased demand for grain to make ethanol as a replacement for gasoline. Another is the rising standard of living in much of the world causing people throughout the world to want to eat the American diet.
Many Presbyterians respond to global hunger by fasting once a month. Fasting is a spiritual practice which allows us to be reconciled with God and with each other. Through fasting we see God more clearly and the injustices around us come into better focus. Prayer is an essential ingredient in fasting because it reminds us of our own sin and need for God forgiveness and intercession in our lives. Fasting therefore becomes a divine encounter where we experience first hand God’s love and power.
John Calvin said the following about fasting: “Whenever a controversy over religion arises which ought to be settled by either a synod or an ecclesiastical court, whenever there is a question about choosing a minister, whenever, finally, any difficult matter of great importance is to be discussed, or again when there appear the judgments of the Lord’s anger (as pestilence, war, and famine)—this is a holy ordinance and one salutary for all ages, that pastors urge the people to public fasting and extraordinary prayers.” (http://www.pcusa.org/hunger/downloads/calvin-fasting.pdf)
So I urge you to fast and pray during this global food crisis. To get started go to the Presbyterian Church USA Global Food Crisis web site www.pcusa.org/foodcrisis/index.htm.
Blessings,
Pastor Jeff
Through want and hard hunger they gnaw the dry and desolate ground, they pick mallow and the leaves of bushes, and to warm themselves the roots of broom. They are driven out from society; people shout after them as after a thief. In the gullies of wadis they must live, in holes in the ground, and in the rocks. Among the bushes they bray; under the nettles they huddle together. (Job 30:3-7)
When God created the world God made certain that there was enough food for everyone. Yet today many people go hungry. It is estimated that 854 million people are hungry today. One reason for this is that three billion people live on less than $2 per day and nearly a billion live on less than a dollar. Today this food crisis is compounded by increasing costs for food. One cause is the increased demand for grain to make ethanol as a replacement for gasoline. Another is the rising standard of living in much of the world causing people throughout the world to want to eat the American diet.
Many Presbyterians respond to global hunger by fasting once a month. Fasting is a spiritual practice which allows us to be reconciled with God and with each other. Through fasting we see God more clearly and the injustices around us come into better focus. Prayer is an essential ingredient in fasting because it reminds us of our own sin and need for God forgiveness and intercession in our lives. Fasting therefore becomes a divine encounter where we experience first hand God’s love and power.
John Calvin said the following about fasting: “Whenever a controversy over religion arises which ought to be settled by either a synod or an ecclesiastical court, whenever there is a question about choosing a minister, whenever, finally, any difficult matter of great importance is to be discussed, or again when there appear the judgments of the Lord’s anger (as pestilence, war, and famine)—this is a holy ordinance and one salutary for all ages, that pastors urge the people to public fasting and extraordinary prayers.” (http://www.pcusa.org/hunger/downloads/calvin-fasting.pdf)
So I urge you to fast and pray during this global food crisis. To get started go to the Presbyterian Church USA Global Food Crisis web site www.pcusa.org/foodcrisis/index.htm.
Blessings,
Pastor Jeff
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Sermon Ephesians 2:13-22 Breaking Down Walls
Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard
Sermon Ephesians 2:13-22 Breaking Down Walls
Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church
January 18, 2008.
Listen to this sermon.
Tomorrow is the national holiday celebrating the birthday of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Reverend King was a pastor in the 1960s who advocated the cause of civil rights for all people. He used peaceful means to bring about deep changes in America. He was motivated by the biblical call to love our neighbors as we love our selves. Remembering the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr., please pray with me. Holy Spirit we ask that you fill us this day with God’s love. Pour this love into our hearts and let it overflow in love for our neighbors. Help us to live holy lives loving our neighbors as we love ourselves. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Amen.
This biblical command to love our neighbors as we love ourselves in found in the Holiness Code of the ancients Hebrews which is preserved for us in the Book of Leviticus. Listen again to these works from Leviticus 19:18: “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD”. We are commanded by God to stop all hatred and acts of violence against our neighbor and begin to love our neighbor as God loves us.
This command to love our neighbors as God loves us is called the Golden Rule. It is basis of ethical behavior for all the world’s religions, according to Confucianism: “Try your best to treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself, and you will find that this is the shortest way to benevolence” (Mencius VII.A.4). Buddhist teachings say: “Comparing oneself to others in such terms as "Just as I am so are they, just as they are so am I," he should neither kill nor cause others to kill. (Sutta Nipata 705). A traditional African proverb says: “One going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it on himself to feel how it hurts” (Yoruba Proverb (Nigeria)). The Hindu teaching states: “One should not behave towards others in a way which is disagreeable to oneself. This is the essence of morality. All other activities are due to selfish desire.” (Mahabharata, Anusasana Parva 113.8). A proverb from Jainism says: “A man should wander about treating all creatures as he himself would be treated.” (Sutrakritanga 1.11.33). Islam says: “Not one of you is a believer until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” (Forty Hadith of an-Nawawi 13). The Jewish Talmud has this wonderful story: “A certain heathen came to Shammai and said to him, "Make me a proselyte, on condition that you teach me the whole Torah while I stand on one foot." Thereupon he repulsed him with the rod which was in his hand. When he went to Hillel, he said to him, "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor: that is the whole Torah; all the rest of it is commentary; go and learn." (Talmud, Shabbat 31a). And Jesus said: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22.36-40).
The Golden Rules teaches all the people of the world that God expects us to love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves. But if this is the case why is there so much bloodshed and vengeance in the world? Why would the Palestinians fire rockets to kill their Israeli neighbors? Why would Israel drop bombs on schools and hospitals killing Palestinian children? Something more than just telling people to love their neighbors must be required. There must be some way, that the desire for blood that both sides have, can we satisfied and peace can be achieved. Everyone desires peace but the desire for vengeance is greater. Where can go to have the price of vengeance paid so that peace will take hold?
To answer these questions lets turn to the Book of Ephesians and hear what it says.
Ephesians 2:13 - 22 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. 15 He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, 16 and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. 17 So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; 18 for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, 20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21 In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.
According to the Apostle Paul there are three reasons why Jesus Christ breaks down the walls of hostility and make a new people of peace. The first reason is that the blood of Jesus on the cross satisfies the vengeful desire for blood. The second reason is that once the desire for vengeance is satisfied there is room for the transformative effect of the Holy Spirit. And the third reason is that the temple of God does not occupy a specific place on the map, but it is the spiritual unity of the people of God with Jesus Christ at the foundation. Let’s look at each of these.
First, the hostility that results from the desire of vengeance is satisfied not by the blood of your neighbor but by the blood of Jesus Christ. It is only by the blood of Jesus that the warring factions in Israel and Palestine can satisfy their desire for blood. The desire for vengeance, the desire to right the wrong of innocent death, can be satisfied only in the death of Jesus on the cross. Though Jesus’ death the deaths of all the innocent victims of all the violence of the last sixty years on both sides have been honored. This allows both the Israelis and the Palestinians to set aside their spirit of anger and hatred and come to a lasting peace.
Second, through Jesus the spirit of vengeance which has filled the hearts of both Israelis and Palestinians is replaced with the Holy Spirit of God. This has the transforming effect of creating one humanity out of two peoples who were at each other throats. This comes about because the Holy Spirit gives the warring factions access to God, the Father, they all worship. In the Spirit, Palestinians cease being Palestinians, Israelis cease being Israelis, and they all become children of God.
At root in the Palestinian conflict is the desire for land and the belief that God has given the land to them and the God can be found on that land. Israelis rightly remember that God promised the land to their ancestor Abraham and his descendants. They claim ownership of the land as a biblical right. The Palestinians see their struggle for land as part of the struggle that the Prophet Mohammed had with Jews who resisted God’s message. This is combined with the deep rage they experience because of the suffering they have endured for sixty years. Thus both sides see ownership of the land as their God given right and are willing to fight to the death to preserve that right, because for both the Palestinians and the Israelis the right to the land is tied to right to be in the presence of God.
And this brings us to the third and final reason that only Jesus Christ can break down the walls between Palestinian and Israeli. In Jesus Christ we see that God is no longer tied to the land. God is no longer to be worshipped only in a temple in Jerusalem. Rather, Jesus Christ has constructed a new temple made up of all of God’s children whose desire for vengeance has been satisfied by Christ’s blood and now, filled with the Holy Spirit are being transformed into the children of God. The land is now no longer important. What is important is the new temple made up of God’s people.
Only in Jesus Christ can the desire for blood vengeance be satisfied, for the warring parties to be transformed by the Spirit into the people of God, and the new people of God built into a new temple not on the land but in the hearts of all the believers. So the solution to the violence and hatred in the Middle East rests with us, the followers of Jesus Christ. We need to proclaim that the violence in the land of Jesus must stop because the price of peace has been paid by Christ on the cross. We need to proclaim the transformative power of God’s Holy Spirit to transform the heart of the people from hearts that hate their neighbors into hearts that love their neighbors. And we need to proclaim that in Jesus Christ God can be found not in land or in a temple but in the people of God.
Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace, we pray for peace in the land where you once lived. Help those who desire vengeance for past hurts realize that the price has been paid by your blood on the cross. Send your Holy Spirit to transform the warring factions into God’s people. And build them and us into God’s holy temple. Amen.
Sermon Ephesians 2:13-22 Breaking Down Walls
Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church
January 18, 2008.
Listen to this sermon.
Tomorrow is the national holiday celebrating the birthday of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Reverend King was a pastor in the 1960s who advocated the cause of civil rights for all people. He used peaceful means to bring about deep changes in America. He was motivated by the biblical call to love our neighbors as we love our selves. Remembering the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr., please pray with me. Holy Spirit we ask that you fill us this day with God’s love. Pour this love into our hearts and let it overflow in love for our neighbors. Help us to live holy lives loving our neighbors as we love ourselves. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Amen.
This biblical command to love our neighbors as we love ourselves in found in the Holiness Code of the ancients Hebrews which is preserved for us in the Book of Leviticus. Listen again to these works from Leviticus 19:18: “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD”. We are commanded by God to stop all hatred and acts of violence against our neighbor and begin to love our neighbor as God loves us.
This command to love our neighbors as God loves us is called the Golden Rule. It is basis of ethical behavior for all the world’s religions, according to Confucianism: “Try your best to treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself, and you will find that this is the shortest way to benevolence” (Mencius VII.A.4). Buddhist teachings say: “Comparing oneself to others in such terms as "Just as I am so are they, just as they are so am I," he should neither kill nor cause others to kill. (Sutta Nipata 705). A traditional African proverb says: “One going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it on himself to feel how it hurts” (Yoruba Proverb (Nigeria)). The Hindu teaching states: “One should not behave towards others in a way which is disagreeable to oneself. This is the essence of morality. All other activities are due to selfish desire.” (Mahabharata, Anusasana Parva 113.8). A proverb from Jainism says: “A man should wander about treating all creatures as he himself would be treated.” (Sutrakritanga 1.11.33). Islam says: “Not one of you is a believer until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” (Forty Hadith of an-Nawawi 13). The Jewish Talmud has this wonderful story: “A certain heathen came to Shammai and said to him, "Make me a proselyte, on condition that you teach me the whole Torah while I stand on one foot." Thereupon he repulsed him with the rod which was in his hand. When he went to Hillel, he said to him, "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor: that is the whole Torah; all the rest of it is commentary; go and learn." (Talmud, Shabbat 31a). And Jesus said: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22.36-40).
The Golden Rules teaches all the people of the world that God expects us to love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves. But if this is the case why is there so much bloodshed and vengeance in the world? Why would the Palestinians fire rockets to kill their Israeli neighbors? Why would Israel drop bombs on schools and hospitals killing Palestinian children? Something more than just telling people to love their neighbors must be required. There must be some way, that the desire for blood that both sides have, can we satisfied and peace can be achieved. Everyone desires peace but the desire for vengeance is greater. Where can go to have the price of vengeance paid so that peace will take hold?
To answer these questions lets turn to the Book of Ephesians and hear what it says.
Ephesians 2:13 - 22 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. 15 He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, 16 and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. 17 So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; 18 for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, 20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21 In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.
According to the Apostle Paul there are three reasons why Jesus Christ breaks down the walls of hostility and make a new people of peace. The first reason is that the blood of Jesus on the cross satisfies the vengeful desire for blood. The second reason is that once the desire for vengeance is satisfied there is room for the transformative effect of the Holy Spirit. And the third reason is that the temple of God does not occupy a specific place on the map, but it is the spiritual unity of the people of God with Jesus Christ at the foundation. Let’s look at each of these.
First, the hostility that results from the desire of vengeance is satisfied not by the blood of your neighbor but by the blood of Jesus Christ. It is only by the blood of Jesus that the warring factions in Israel and Palestine can satisfy their desire for blood. The desire for vengeance, the desire to right the wrong of innocent death, can be satisfied only in the death of Jesus on the cross. Though Jesus’ death the deaths of all the innocent victims of all the violence of the last sixty years on both sides have been honored. This allows both the Israelis and the Palestinians to set aside their spirit of anger and hatred and come to a lasting peace.
Second, through Jesus the spirit of vengeance which has filled the hearts of both Israelis and Palestinians is replaced with the Holy Spirit of God. This has the transforming effect of creating one humanity out of two peoples who were at each other throats. This comes about because the Holy Spirit gives the warring factions access to God, the Father, they all worship. In the Spirit, Palestinians cease being Palestinians, Israelis cease being Israelis, and they all become children of God.
At root in the Palestinian conflict is the desire for land and the belief that God has given the land to them and the God can be found on that land. Israelis rightly remember that God promised the land to their ancestor Abraham and his descendants. They claim ownership of the land as a biblical right. The Palestinians see their struggle for land as part of the struggle that the Prophet Mohammed had with Jews who resisted God’s message. This is combined with the deep rage they experience because of the suffering they have endured for sixty years. Thus both sides see ownership of the land as their God given right and are willing to fight to the death to preserve that right, because for both the Palestinians and the Israelis the right to the land is tied to right to be in the presence of God.
And this brings us to the third and final reason that only Jesus Christ can break down the walls between Palestinian and Israeli. In Jesus Christ we see that God is no longer tied to the land. God is no longer to be worshipped only in a temple in Jerusalem. Rather, Jesus Christ has constructed a new temple made up of all of God’s children whose desire for vengeance has been satisfied by Christ’s blood and now, filled with the Holy Spirit are being transformed into the children of God. The land is now no longer important. What is important is the new temple made up of God’s people.
Only in Jesus Christ can the desire for blood vengeance be satisfied, for the warring parties to be transformed by the Spirit into the people of God, and the new people of God built into a new temple not on the land but in the hearts of all the believers. So the solution to the violence and hatred in the Middle East rests with us, the followers of Jesus Christ. We need to proclaim that the violence in the land of Jesus must stop because the price of peace has been paid by Christ on the cross. We need to proclaim the transformative power of God’s Holy Spirit to transform the heart of the people from hearts that hate their neighbors into hearts that love their neighbors. And we need to proclaim that in Jesus Christ God can be found not in land or in a temple but in the people of God.
Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace, we pray for peace in the land where you once lived. Help those who desire vengeance for past hurts realize that the price has been paid by your blood on the cross. Send your Holy Spirit to transform the warring factions into God’s people. And build them and us into God’s holy temple. Amen.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Sermon Mark 1:4-11 The Spirit Descends
Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard
Sermon Mark 1:4-11 The Spirit Descends
Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church
January 11, 2009
This is a very exciting week for our church. We received a grant from the Self Development of People program of the Presbyterian Church USA. Dirk Lowther is now administering the project, Toni Mackenzie is setting up the financial system, and homeless people from our community are being trained to sew LED lights on reflective safety vests. This makes the vest far more effective because they will go beyond being reflective to actually glowing with light. I have already spoken with the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council, the LA Police Department and the LA Mayor’s office and everyone is really excited about this project. Next week we will take the group and some modified vests to the presbytery meeting to show them how we are using the grant. This is a very exciting time for us, and I want to thank you for support our ministry to the poor in Eagle Rock.
Will you pray with me? Lord Jesus we thank you for all that you are doing in this church. We thank and praise you for the growth of the church, our Christian Education and ESL classes, our evening service and dinner, and for all the energy that you are providing to the church. We praise you in the highest. Amen.
Mark 1:4-11 4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." 9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11 And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."
Shortly after arriving in California I decided to spend one afternoon in Hollywood. While growing up in the east I often dreamed about being in Hollywood with all the movie stars and celebrities. It seemed like a magical placed. So I got in my car in Pasadena and drove south on the 110 looking for the 101. I got on the 101 and after driving for a few minutes realized that none of the exits said anything about Hollywood. I kept drive assuming that Hollywood would soon appear and saw that I was driving south. It occurred to me that maybe I was going the wrong way. So I had to turn around, but I didn’t know how. I took the next exit, found myself on another freeway, and was completely confused and lost. I ended up in a place called Long Beach which I now know is far away from Hollywood.
From time to time we find ourselves going in the wrong direction. Despite all of our preparation and planning we find ourselves in places we never intended to visit. We work hard to find just the right partner, get married with the hope of a lifelong relationship and then find ourselves divorced and lonely again. Or maybe we are in school with the promise of a bring future, but after months of partying our grades are slipping and we can’t shake the bad habits we have acquired. Or maybe we are in a beautiful new home with the job of our dreams, but our company downsizes and the bank forces us out of the house and into the car. We think we are on the way to the Promised Land and somehow we end up in the wilderness.
This is what happened in our gospel lesson from Mark. The people of God who had lived in the Promised Land for hundreds of years were passing through the Jordan River to reenter the wilderness. After God’s people had followed Moses for forty years in the wilderness Joshua led the people though the waters of the Jordan into the Promised Land. But in the time of John the Baptist people were returning though the Jordan to the wilderness. They were going the wrong way.
Whenever we are going the wrong way, doing those thing God does not want us to do, or not doing those things God insists on, we need to stop, change direction and go the other way. The people of God in the first century who were headed to John in the wilderness needed to stop, change direction and go back. This process of stopping, changing direction and going the other way is called “repentance”. God is calling on us to stop our sinful behavior, change direction and return to him.
Repentance always starts with confession. When we confess we truthfully admit to ourselves and to God that we have fallen short of God’s expectation. This is why we find ourselves on the way to the wilderness. Confession is what allows us to stop and change direction. It signifies our awareness that a problem exists and permits us to make the necessary changes. We realize that we are not living the lives God created us to live. This realization is necessary if we are to make real changes in our lives. So I invite you to confess your sins to God and ask for help in stopping, changing the direction of your life and returning to the Promised Land.
Whenever God hears our confession God responds with three gifts: forgiveness, direction and empowerment. Let’s look at each of these.
First, God provides us with the gift of forgiveness. God hears our confession and pardons us releasing us from deserved punishment, guilt and shame. All of our offences are purged from our history. All of our debts are paid in full. Whatever we are running from is removed and this allows us to return to where we were created to be, in the Promised Land.
The second gift that God provides is direction. In ancient times God provided Joshua who led the people though the waters of the Jordan River into the Promised Land. For us a new Joshua, or in Hebrew yeshua, or in English Jesus, has come to meet us where we are, in the wilderness, and lead us through the waters of baptism to the Promise Land. By following Jesus we know where we should go so we can repent: stop, change direction, and go to where we are suppose to go. We follow Jesus by following his example of living a sinless life and obeying his teaching to love God and to love our neighbors. When we do these things Jesus becomes the Lord of our lives. We decide to follow Jesus wherever he might lead us. And Jesus leads us though the waters of baptism to new life.
And the third gift that God provides us is empowerment. Without this gift our hope of repentance to new life would evaporate. Without empowerment how could we ever end addictions or reconcile relationships. Left alone we will continue to stumble in the wilderness of sin. But with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit we are enabled to follow Jesus through the waters of baptism to new life of obedience to God in the Promised Land.
So this is what baptism is all about. It starts with a confession that we have fallen short of the expectations of God. This allows us to receive from God the gift of forgiveness which allows us to turn away from sin and head to new life. In baptism we realize that we need to follow Jesus to that new life, and that following Jesus requires a public declaration that Jesus is our Lord and savior. Once we make this declaration we then pass through the baptismal waters where we die to our old sinful lives and are resurrected to new life in Jesus Christ. And when we emerge from the baptismal waters we are empowered by the Hold Spirit who descends upon us to help us to live the lives of obedience that we were created to live.
So if you find yourself in the wilderness going the wrong way I urge you to stop, turn around and go the other way. Do this by confessing your sins to God who will forgive you and allow you to return to the Promised Land. Jesus will lead the way. And the Holy Spirit will empower you to make the changes that need to be made in your behavior. If you have not been baptized I urge you to do it. I will help you prepare for baptism in the New Members Class that begins today at 3PM. If you have been baptized then I urge you to remember you baptisms and the other baptisms you have seen, confess your sins, follow Jesus, and accepted the empowerment to new life from the Holy Spirit.
Dear Jesus, we have confessed our sins this day and are ready to repent. Lead us in the way of God and empower us with your Holy Spirit to lead the lives we were created to life. We pray all of this in your faithful name. Amen.
Sermon Mark 1:4-11 The Spirit Descends
Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church
January 11, 2009
This is a very exciting week for our church. We received a grant from the Self Development of People program of the Presbyterian Church USA. Dirk Lowther is now administering the project, Toni Mackenzie is setting up the financial system, and homeless people from our community are being trained to sew LED lights on reflective safety vests. This makes the vest far more effective because they will go beyond being reflective to actually glowing with light. I have already spoken with the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council, the LA Police Department and the LA Mayor’s office and everyone is really excited about this project. Next week we will take the group and some modified vests to the presbytery meeting to show them how we are using the grant. This is a very exciting time for us, and I want to thank you for support our ministry to the poor in Eagle Rock.
Will you pray with me? Lord Jesus we thank you for all that you are doing in this church. We thank and praise you for the growth of the church, our Christian Education and ESL classes, our evening service and dinner, and for all the energy that you are providing to the church. We praise you in the highest. Amen.
Mark 1:4-11 4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." 9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11 And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."
Shortly after arriving in California I decided to spend one afternoon in Hollywood. While growing up in the east I often dreamed about being in Hollywood with all the movie stars and celebrities. It seemed like a magical placed. So I got in my car in Pasadena and drove south on the 110 looking for the 101. I got on the 101 and after driving for a few minutes realized that none of the exits said anything about Hollywood. I kept drive assuming that Hollywood would soon appear and saw that I was driving south. It occurred to me that maybe I was going the wrong way. So I had to turn around, but I didn’t know how. I took the next exit, found myself on another freeway, and was completely confused and lost. I ended up in a place called Long Beach which I now know is far away from Hollywood.
From time to time we find ourselves going in the wrong direction. Despite all of our preparation and planning we find ourselves in places we never intended to visit. We work hard to find just the right partner, get married with the hope of a lifelong relationship and then find ourselves divorced and lonely again. Or maybe we are in school with the promise of a bring future, but after months of partying our grades are slipping and we can’t shake the bad habits we have acquired. Or maybe we are in a beautiful new home with the job of our dreams, but our company downsizes and the bank forces us out of the house and into the car. We think we are on the way to the Promised Land and somehow we end up in the wilderness.
This is what happened in our gospel lesson from Mark. The people of God who had lived in the Promised Land for hundreds of years were passing through the Jordan River to reenter the wilderness. After God’s people had followed Moses for forty years in the wilderness Joshua led the people though the waters of the Jordan into the Promised Land. But in the time of John the Baptist people were returning though the Jordan to the wilderness. They were going the wrong way.
Whenever we are going the wrong way, doing those thing God does not want us to do, or not doing those things God insists on, we need to stop, change direction and go the other way. The people of God in the first century who were headed to John in the wilderness needed to stop, change direction and go back. This process of stopping, changing direction and going the other way is called “repentance”. God is calling on us to stop our sinful behavior, change direction and return to him.
Repentance always starts with confession. When we confess we truthfully admit to ourselves and to God that we have fallen short of God’s expectation. This is why we find ourselves on the way to the wilderness. Confession is what allows us to stop and change direction. It signifies our awareness that a problem exists and permits us to make the necessary changes. We realize that we are not living the lives God created us to live. This realization is necessary if we are to make real changes in our lives. So I invite you to confess your sins to God and ask for help in stopping, changing the direction of your life and returning to the Promised Land.
Whenever God hears our confession God responds with three gifts: forgiveness, direction and empowerment. Let’s look at each of these.
First, God provides us with the gift of forgiveness. God hears our confession and pardons us releasing us from deserved punishment, guilt and shame. All of our offences are purged from our history. All of our debts are paid in full. Whatever we are running from is removed and this allows us to return to where we were created to be, in the Promised Land.
The second gift that God provides is direction. In ancient times God provided Joshua who led the people though the waters of the Jordan River into the Promised Land. For us a new Joshua, or in Hebrew yeshua, or in English Jesus, has come to meet us where we are, in the wilderness, and lead us through the waters of baptism to the Promise Land. By following Jesus we know where we should go so we can repent: stop, change direction, and go to where we are suppose to go. We follow Jesus by following his example of living a sinless life and obeying his teaching to love God and to love our neighbors. When we do these things Jesus becomes the Lord of our lives. We decide to follow Jesus wherever he might lead us. And Jesus leads us though the waters of baptism to new life.
And the third gift that God provides us is empowerment. Without this gift our hope of repentance to new life would evaporate. Without empowerment how could we ever end addictions or reconcile relationships. Left alone we will continue to stumble in the wilderness of sin. But with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit we are enabled to follow Jesus through the waters of baptism to new life of obedience to God in the Promised Land.
So this is what baptism is all about. It starts with a confession that we have fallen short of the expectations of God. This allows us to receive from God the gift of forgiveness which allows us to turn away from sin and head to new life. In baptism we realize that we need to follow Jesus to that new life, and that following Jesus requires a public declaration that Jesus is our Lord and savior. Once we make this declaration we then pass through the baptismal waters where we die to our old sinful lives and are resurrected to new life in Jesus Christ. And when we emerge from the baptismal waters we are empowered by the Hold Spirit who descends upon us to help us to live the lives of obedience that we were created to live.
So if you find yourself in the wilderness going the wrong way I urge you to stop, turn around and go the other way. Do this by confessing your sins to God who will forgive you and allow you to return to the Promised Land. Jesus will lead the way. And the Holy Spirit will empower you to make the changes that need to be made in your behavior. If you have not been baptized I urge you to do it. I will help you prepare for baptism in the New Members Class that begins today at 3PM. If you have been baptized then I urge you to remember you baptisms and the other baptisms you have seen, confess your sins, follow Jesus, and accepted the empowerment to new life from the Holy Spirit.
Dear Jesus, we have confessed our sins this day and are ready to repent. Lead us in the way of God and empower us with your Holy Spirit to lead the lives we were created to life. We pray all of this in your faithful name. Amen.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
January Vision Column
From the Pastor’s Desk
Again he began to teach beside the sea. Such a very large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the sea and sat there, while the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. He began to teach them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched; and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.” And he said, “Let anyone with ears to hear listen!” (Mark 4:1-9)
This month Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church is planting some seeds. These seeds are in the form of an $8000 grant from the Self Development of People program of the Presbyterian Church USA. You may remember that we contribute to this program every year on Palm Sunday in the One Great Hour of Sharing.
This grant will be used to start a new business that will be operated by the poor and homeless in our community who attend our Sunday evening worship service. Under the direction of Dirk Lowther a business is being started that will employ the homeless on the streets of Eagle Rock to manufacture lighted safety vest. They will take the bright orange or green safety vests that you see people wearing when working outside at night. The idea is to improve these vests by sowing LED lights to them. This will make them more than just reflective. They will literally glow!
Our hope is that the poor and homeless in the community will take advantage of this program to learn marketable skills and behavior and earn some money from hard work rather than a handout. They will learn have to manufacture and sell something that is really needed and thus find a way to work themselves out of poverty.
All of this was made possible by you who have contributed to the One Great Hour of Sharing and support this church’s ministry to the poor of the community. Now, if you know of anyone who works, walks or bikes outside at night please let then know that a lighted safety vest is available. Just see Dirk for details. Help us to nurture the seeds we have planted.
Blessings,
Pastor Jeff
Again he began to teach beside the sea. Such a very large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the sea and sat there, while the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. He began to teach them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched; and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.” And he said, “Let anyone with ears to hear listen!” (Mark 4:1-9)
This month Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church is planting some seeds. These seeds are in the form of an $8000 grant from the Self Development of People program of the Presbyterian Church USA. You may remember that we contribute to this program every year on Palm Sunday in the One Great Hour of Sharing.
This grant will be used to start a new business that will be operated by the poor and homeless in our community who attend our Sunday evening worship service. Under the direction of Dirk Lowther a business is being started that will employ the homeless on the streets of Eagle Rock to manufacture lighted safety vest. They will take the bright orange or green safety vests that you see people wearing when working outside at night. The idea is to improve these vests by sowing LED lights to them. This will make them more than just reflective. They will literally glow!
Our hope is that the poor and homeless in the community will take advantage of this program to learn marketable skills and behavior and earn some money from hard work rather than a handout. They will learn have to manufacture and sell something that is really needed and thus find a way to work themselves out of poverty.
All of this was made possible by you who have contributed to the One Great Hour of Sharing and support this church’s ministry to the poor of the community. Now, if you know of anyone who works, walks or bikes outside at night please let then know that a lighted safety vest is available. Just see Dirk for details. Help us to nurture the seeds we have planted.
Blessings,
Pastor Jeff
Sermon: Isaiah 60:1-6, John 1:1-18 The Light Shines
Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard
Sermon: Isaiah 60:1-6, John 1:1-18 The Light Shines
Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church
January 4, 2009
Today is the eleventh day of Christmas. Christmas is a season of twelve days beginning on December 25 when we remember and celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Here in the United States we like to get the jump on Christmas by starting the celebrations before it comes. Then Christmas arrives and suddenly the celebrations are over. We then forget about Christ for a week and focus our attention on New Years Eve Parties, parades and Bowl games. We do have a dim recollection of our previous celebrations of Christmas in a curious song called the “Twelve Days of Christmas.” But for much of the world Christmas just starts on December 25th and continues for twelve days to the great feast of Epiphany on January 6. So with “eleven pipers piping” echoing our ears let us continue our celebration of Christmas and prepare for the great feast of Epiphany.
Will pray with me? Lord Jesus Christ we celebrate your birth on Christmas and the coming of God’s glory through you on the Feast of Epiphany. We believe that you are God because though you God’s glory shines to the world. Bring us from darkness into the light of God’s glory. Amen.
John 1:1-18 NRS John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified to him and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.'") 16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known.
When the Jews arrived back in Jerusalem after their Babylonian captivity they saw a terrible sight. Their once beautiful city was in ruins. What amounted to government was horribly corrupt. The beautiful temple of God erected by Solomon had been burned to the ground. The preacher who wrote the last few chapters of Isaiah assembled his people and gave them a message of hope that the glory of God would one day return to Jerusalem. One day the paying of tribute to the Assyrians, the Babylonians and now the Persian would end and other countries would bring gifts to Mount Zion. One day their children would return from being dispersed all over the world. This was a vision of great hope for a generation that had walked in darkness for so long. This hope was that one day the light of the glory of God would pierce though the darkness. One day …
We all know darkness. It is a familiar friend. It is where we hide from are fears. Recently a man who lived on the streets here in Eagle Rock died. For several years Mark had walked in darkness. After his son died a few years age the light of Mark’s life seemed to be extinguished and Mark lived in the shadows of homelessness and alcoholism overwhelmed by the darkness until one day when too many pills and too much vodka finally put Mark’s darkness to an end. What can we say to people who have lost all hope of living in the light and are consumed by the darkness?
The opening of John gives hope to all who walk in the darkness. This hope is in the form of a gift that empowers us to be children of God. This gift comes from God and is transmitted to those living in darkness by John the Baptist and others who witnessed Jesus Christ. What they saw and what gives us great hope is the light of the Glory of God that pierces through the darkness of our lives. And the source of this light is Jesus, from whom emanates the glory of God because Jesus is God.
Whenever we are in a dark room our pupils dilate. So when the light comes on we have trouble seeing. Gradually our seeing improves and we are given the choice either to believe what we see or not. This is what happens when Christ comes into our lives. At first our eyes have to adjust to the light. Gradually we see Jesus clearly and begin to realize that we are seeing God. We realize that this is the light of God’s glory coming out of Jesus and bringing us out of our darkness into new light. Once we see clearly that it is in Jesus Christ that glory of God fills our lives we are given a choice to believe that Jesus is God or not.
If we choose not to believe that Jesus is God then we return to the darkness of Jesus’ death on the cross. But if we make the other choice, if we choose to believe that Jesus is God then Jesus’ death becomes for us not a return to darkness, but rebirth in the glorious light of God. The choice to believe that Jesus is God is a leap of faith. To make that leap we have to trust that what Jesus says is true; that God chose to live on this planet as a human being. So that’s the choice we have. To hold back and stay in the darkness of unbelief, or take a bold step into the light and believe that Jesus and God are one.
If we step into the light and truly believe then we are empowered by God for great things. We become God’s own children, able, like John to point to the light of the glory of God in Jesus Christ. Accepting the light means the responsibility of sharing the light, reflecting the light to others who still walk in darkness. This is our mission as Christians to be people of the light who shine the light of Christ wherever darkness remains. This is the purpose of evangelism, to bring people from darkness to the light of the glory of God in Jesus Christ. So when you talk to your friends and neighbors about your faith tell them your story of coming from darkness to light though your belief in Jesus Christ.
There is a church just down the street in the old Eagle Rock YMCA. It is called Victory Outreach. For 35 years this church has gone into the streets of North East LA to find people in darkness. They go to the most dangerous places to meet the most hardened gang members. The message they bring is light of God in Jesus Christ. To gang members living in darkness the light of Christ is offered as a choice. And for those who make the choice to accept the light and believe in Jesus Christ the darkness is pushed out and they experience rebirth as the children of God. Most of the members of Victory Outreach are former gang member who were once in darkness but though the work of faithful Christians have experienced that transforming effects of being in the light.
And that is what this church is doing. People who have been living in the darkness of poverty, homelessness and despair are coming into the light of Jesus Christ. Their eyes are slowly adjusting to brightness of the light. And many of them are beginning to believe that what they see is true, that the light this church points them to is none other than the glory of God. And our hope is that the people of Eagle Rock will embrace the light and choose to believe that what they see in Jesus is glory of God manifest on earth.
In a few moments we will gather around this table and eat this bread and drink from this cup. These are signs of the light that is coming into your lives. As you eat the bread and drink from the cup our eyes will need time to adjust to the light but eventually we will see the glory of God in body and blood of Jesus Christ. If you choose not to believe this you will return to your chairs in darkness and the light you have glimpsed will fade. But if you choose to believe that the glory of God is present in the broken body and spilled blood of Jesus then you will remain in the light and beginning today you will be empowered as the children of God.
Lord Jesus we asked that the glory of God be in this sacrament today. Help us to see you as God in the bread and the wine. Bring us into the light of God’s glory. And empower us as God’s children. Amen.
Sermon: Isaiah 60:1-6, John 1:1-18 The Light Shines
Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church
January 4, 2009
Today is the eleventh day of Christmas. Christmas is a season of twelve days beginning on December 25 when we remember and celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Here in the United States we like to get the jump on Christmas by starting the celebrations before it comes. Then Christmas arrives and suddenly the celebrations are over. We then forget about Christ for a week and focus our attention on New Years Eve Parties, parades and Bowl games. We do have a dim recollection of our previous celebrations of Christmas in a curious song called the “Twelve Days of Christmas.” But for much of the world Christmas just starts on December 25th and continues for twelve days to the great feast of Epiphany on January 6. So with “eleven pipers piping” echoing our ears let us continue our celebration of Christmas and prepare for the great feast of Epiphany.
Will pray with me? Lord Jesus Christ we celebrate your birth on Christmas and the coming of God’s glory through you on the Feast of Epiphany. We believe that you are God because though you God’s glory shines to the world. Bring us from darkness into the light of God’s glory. Amen.
John 1:1-18 NRS John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified to him and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.'") 16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known.
When the Jews arrived back in Jerusalem after their Babylonian captivity they saw a terrible sight. Their once beautiful city was in ruins. What amounted to government was horribly corrupt. The beautiful temple of God erected by Solomon had been burned to the ground. The preacher who wrote the last few chapters of Isaiah assembled his people and gave them a message of hope that the glory of God would one day return to Jerusalem. One day the paying of tribute to the Assyrians, the Babylonians and now the Persian would end and other countries would bring gifts to Mount Zion. One day their children would return from being dispersed all over the world. This was a vision of great hope for a generation that had walked in darkness for so long. This hope was that one day the light of the glory of God would pierce though the darkness. One day …
We all know darkness. It is a familiar friend. It is where we hide from are fears. Recently a man who lived on the streets here in Eagle Rock died. For several years Mark had walked in darkness. After his son died a few years age the light of Mark’s life seemed to be extinguished and Mark lived in the shadows of homelessness and alcoholism overwhelmed by the darkness until one day when too many pills and too much vodka finally put Mark’s darkness to an end. What can we say to people who have lost all hope of living in the light and are consumed by the darkness?
The opening of John gives hope to all who walk in the darkness. This hope is in the form of a gift that empowers us to be children of God. This gift comes from God and is transmitted to those living in darkness by John the Baptist and others who witnessed Jesus Christ. What they saw and what gives us great hope is the light of the Glory of God that pierces through the darkness of our lives. And the source of this light is Jesus, from whom emanates the glory of God because Jesus is God.
Whenever we are in a dark room our pupils dilate. So when the light comes on we have trouble seeing. Gradually our seeing improves and we are given the choice either to believe what we see or not. This is what happens when Christ comes into our lives. At first our eyes have to adjust to the light. Gradually we see Jesus clearly and begin to realize that we are seeing God. We realize that this is the light of God’s glory coming out of Jesus and bringing us out of our darkness into new light. Once we see clearly that it is in Jesus Christ that glory of God fills our lives we are given a choice to believe that Jesus is God or not.
If we choose not to believe that Jesus is God then we return to the darkness of Jesus’ death on the cross. But if we make the other choice, if we choose to believe that Jesus is God then Jesus’ death becomes for us not a return to darkness, but rebirth in the glorious light of God. The choice to believe that Jesus is God is a leap of faith. To make that leap we have to trust that what Jesus says is true; that God chose to live on this planet as a human being. So that’s the choice we have. To hold back and stay in the darkness of unbelief, or take a bold step into the light and believe that Jesus and God are one.
If we step into the light and truly believe then we are empowered by God for great things. We become God’s own children, able, like John to point to the light of the glory of God in Jesus Christ. Accepting the light means the responsibility of sharing the light, reflecting the light to others who still walk in darkness. This is our mission as Christians to be people of the light who shine the light of Christ wherever darkness remains. This is the purpose of evangelism, to bring people from darkness to the light of the glory of God in Jesus Christ. So when you talk to your friends and neighbors about your faith tell them your story of coming from darkness to light though your belief in Jesus Christ.
There is a church just down the street in the old Eagle Rock YMCA. It is called Victory Outreach. For 35 years this church has gone into the streets of North East LA to find people in darkness. They go to the most dangerous places to meet the most hardened gang members. The message they bring is light of God in Jesus Christ. To gang members living in darkness the light of Christ is offered as a choice. And for those who make the choice to accept the light and believe in Jesus Christ the darkness is pushed out and they experience rebirth as the children of God. Most of the members of Victory Outreach are former gang member who were once in darkness but though the work of faithful Christians have experienced that transforming effects of being in the light.
And that is what this church is doing. People who have been living in the darkness of poverty, homelessness and despair are coming into the light of Jesus Christ. Their eyes are slowly adjusting to brightness of the light. And many of them are beginning to believe that what they see is true, that the light this church points them to is none other than the glory of God. And our hope is that the people of Eagle Rock will embrace the light and choose to believe that what they see in Jesus is glory of God manifest on earth.
In a few moments we will gather around this table and eat this bread and drink from this cup. These are signs of the light that is coming into your lives. As you eat the bread and drink from the cup our eyes will need time to adjust to the light but eventually we will see the glory of God in body and blood of Jesus Christ. If you choose not to believe this you will return to your chairs in darkness and the light you have glimpsed will fade. But if you choose to believe that the glory of God is present in the broken body and spilled blood of Jesus then you will remain in the light and beginning today you will be empowered as the children of God.
Lord Jesus we asked that the glory of God be in this sacrament today. Help us to see you as God in the bread and the wine. Bring us into the light of God’s glory. And empower us as God’s children. Amen.
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