A Fourth Way
Can be listended to here.
Gate Pa –
Passion Sunday 2016
Readings:
Hebrew Scripture: Isaiah 43: 16-21
Psalm: 126
Epistle: Philippians
3: 4b-14
Gospel: John
12: 1-8
What I want to say:
·
when we
are truly found by love then our only response it to repent (not other way
around)
·
when
that happens we are radically changed, and invited to live out of that love
rather than our own effort
What I want to happen:
People to reflect on/pray about – do I live in response to
being found by love, or struggle to earn that love?
The Sermon
1. Introduction:
the story we just heard is
such a great story
has so many layers to it
to explore those layers
I want to use story we heard
last week
- Wendy helped us explore
the unfinished story Two Lost Sons
remarkable story
I think it is a story holds at its
heart all that Jesus was on about.
want a summary of Jesus good
news
this is it.
who and why did Jesus tell
this story?
-> ask
·
to
Pharisees and scribes
·
getting antsy about how Jesus seemed
to be accepting and honouring tax collectors and sinners by eating with them.
hold that for minute
over last few weeks using
Brian McLaren's idea that we all see world through one of number of lenses or
world views
·
rivalry
·
compliance
·
meaningless mechanism
both sons
more importantly people
listening to story
all see world and God
through one of these
rivalry and compliance
let you decide which
both sons in story felt
entitled
neither understood who they
truly were
both are beloved sons
despite all that both of them did
beloved sons
2. Beloved Sons
sonship not something to be
attained
something to be lived
everyone who listened to story
also struggles with this
Pharisee and scribes thought they
sons because obedience to law
they too thought entitled
because of obedience
get really cheesed when groups
people shown no inclination to follow law as they do
being treated with honour and
blessing by Jesus
told that they are beloved
children of God
those groups are not entitled
to that honour
so Jesus tells this story
sadly we usually miss this
point.
we think sonship is earned
through repentance - compliance
tell the story in light of
that
say younger son repented and asked his fathers
forgiveness
doesn't
comes up cunning plan return
as servant - no repentance in that plan
Father sees him far off
runs to him
embraces him
at that moment he was found
found by father's love
he realised
who truly was – beloved son
realises not worthy
not entitled
then
repents of all that stopped him knowing that
or living that out
We left other son still locked into seeing self as entitled
because of his service
still thinking he had done enough to earn his place as
son
unwilling to see anyone else as beloved son
not even his brother
so too Pharisees and scribes
feel
entitled through obedience
unwilling
to see anyone else as beloved
3. Worldviews
all this takes us back to world views and gospels
One son let go of how he saw the world
put on new glasses
saw himself as beloved
not because of anything he had done
just was
in doing so he looses control of his destiny
life is now a response to being loved
that changes everything
this is the fourth world view
fourth set lenses that
McLaren talks about
world view or lens of love
this is heart of what Jesus is on about
heart of gospel
we are beloved
not through own actions
but because God's
generosity
we,
like all those heard this story
invited to see
selves, God, world through this lens
this worldview
invited to live it out
to live in response this love freely given
this extravagant life changing life giving love
so what does look like when see world and God and self in this way?
brings us to todays story.
4. Mary
Gospel story this morning is also about someone found by love
extraordinary
story.
this story appears in some form in all 4 gospels
not many that do that
ln all of the stories Mary is
someone who defies expectations
Luke
version Mary sits with the men as disciple
while sister Martha fulfils her role
John’s story different
from the other three
some similar elements
few differences
setting
just raised Lazarus
led
to high priests deciding enough is enough
deciding
Jesus must die
Jesus
goes back out to wilderness until Passover
now on his way back into Jerusalem
next day is Palm Sunday,
part important role in setting scene
for Jesus’ arrest and execution
smell death
hangs over this story
Lazarus death and
raising
threat
of Jesus death
threat
Lazarus's second death
Mary's
response is bold and unexpected
anoints Jesus's feet with very expensive oil
wipes
with her hair
in dong so
assumes role
servant
uses perfume and
not water
treats him as
husband or brother
she has been found
by love
understands that
she is beloved child of God
lives that out
actions fill house
fragrance of life
while
also preparing Jesus for death that awaits
Judas
in contrast
still
earning his way in
uses
poor to show how virtuous he is
5. Being found by love
Mary was found by Love
but being
found by love is dangerous thing
Mary responds to that love by breaking a whole lot of social
taboos
offering
that love back to the one who found her.
Act of deep compassion which Jesus recognises.
when we are found by love we are no longer in control
we don’t take the initiative
God does
we respond
to God
When we are found by love
we invited
to remember who we are
that
we are God’s beloved
and invited to consider all that
prevents us knowing that we are beloved
all that prevent us living that out
all
that prevents us from seeing all others as god's beloved
all
that leads us to act like Judas and the Pharisees
treating
them as somehow less
leads us inevitably to let go whole lot predetermined ideas
about
who is God
who we are
in God
what means
live Godly life
at most
extreme – become like Paul and Mary
people who shed religious and social constrictions
instead embrace loving freedom comes being Beloved.
stop trying to do everything in own strength
stop needing to have all answers
stop needing to be in control
become willing to simply respond to God
look for God
at work
join in work
reminding all that they are beloved
Comments