What Does An Earthquake Have to Do With It?

               Because it was Easter Sunday my attendance as a visitor at the a church I attended did not receive as much notice as it might have received on another Sunday as I was among the large group of visitors attending that morning. Because the sanctuary was full we were directed to the chapel, a lovely space filled with the morning's light and music produced by the organist and a small group of other musicians. Hymns, prayers, and a collection were completed before the sermon was delivered which was taken from Matthew 28. The minister focused on how the tomb where Christ had been laid was found empty on the Sunday morning following his crucifixion.

The point of the sermon that caught my ear had to do with the two earthquakes that the scripture records as having happened; the first just as Christ died (Matthew 27:51-4) and the second just before the women reached the tomb – which caused the stone to be removed from the entrance of the tomb (Matthew 28:2). The youngish minister who delivered this sermon made the comment that when earthquakes are mentioned in the bible they are often synonymous with some miraculous event. He also suggested that an earthquake is a metaphor for uncertainty - such as the disciples would have been feeling following the death of Christ.

In the first earthquake that occurred, when Jesus gave up his spirit (Matthew 27:50) and died it would almost seem like it was God’s putting punctuation around his son’s suffering and death. Those there at the time (the centurion and the others) are recorded as having recognized the significance of the moment and exclaimed “Surely he was the Son of God” (Matthew 27:54).  

Two things important things happened at the time of this first earthquake. The curtain of the temple was torn in two indicating that no longer would God inhabit a place made by human (Acts 17:24) and the end of the 'old' covenant that God established through Moses (Hebrews 8:7-13). The other event was that “many holy people” came out of tombs and were raised to life (Matthew 27:52). The scripture says that after the resurrection of Jesus these people “went into the holy city’ (Jerusalem) and appeared to many. Jesus is said to be the “firstborn from among the dead” (Colossians 1:18) and these people raised from the dead were surely the first to follow him.

           The second earthquake is said to have occurred when “an angel of the Lord came down from heaven” and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the tomb where Jesus was buried. The Roman guarding the tomb at the time were “afraid and shook and became like dead men”. No doubt they were fearful for their own lives-both regarding the angel and what would become of them once it was found out by the Roman authorities that they had failed their assignment (Matthew 27:62-66). The fact that the earth shook when an angel arrived on the scene is indicative of their power and yet the task of this angel was to mostly bring good news—telling the women who came to the tomb that Jesus was risen and allowing them to look into the tomb and see for themselves the place where the body of Jesus had laid. The angle then told them that they needed to go and tell the disciples that Jesus was raised from the dead (Matthew 28:6&7).

           Earthquakes can be utterly devastating in their impact as we have frequently witnessed. No matter the level of destruction, they certainly capture the attention of everyone in the vicinity and beyond. Maybe that is the point of the earthquakes in these stories too-God used them to get the attention of those present? 

Things Are Not As They (Might) Seem

Sunday I went to a church with three women friends to hear a guest speaker-who was known to two of them from a spiritual formation program they had attended. The text of the presentation was taken from Luke 23:1-49 – the time leading up to and including the crucifixion of Jesus. The speaker said after wrestling with the text for a month that she had come to conclusion this story was about Jesus assuming his kingship. This was not said to in anyway diminish the suffering and death of Christ, but rather to show how everything Jesus had taught about the kingdom of God -- he lived during these last days. She suggested there were three distinct characteristics of his kingship:

1)    Non-violence: Jesus did not defend himself nor retaliate when insulted or struck and he asked his disciples to stand-down when they were prepared to fight (Luke 22:49-52).  Likewise when Pilate asked Jesus if he was King of the Jews his only response was “Yes, it is as you say”. He displayed how the ‘greatest’ can be viewed as being the ‘least’ of all.

2)    Radical Forgiveness: In asking God to forgive those who were nailing him to the cross Jesus showed the radical forgiveness of God (Luke 23:34). God’s forgiveness is not based on a person’s worthiness. He forgives us so that we will forgive others (i.e.the Lord’s Prayer).

3)    Radical Compassion: Jesus showed us God’s love by how he engaged (spoke to, healed, ate with, etc.) people from all walks of life (lepers, beggars, sinners, Samaritans, etc.) and he did so without considering their status and how associating with them might reflect on him. His compassion continued even as he was on the cross – uniting his mother and the disciple John as ‘mother and son’ (John 19:26 & 27).

I now see this as Christ’s coronation so to speak. Normally coronations are regal, elegant, exuberant sorts of affairs that follow specific procedural etiquette. This was anything but that. These are examples of how things are often not as they seem at least from a worldly perspective. Consider a few more aspects of this time in Jesus’ life;

•         Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, often called his “triumphant entry” was in reality a humble event. He rode in on the back of a donkey while people along the way “spread their cloaks on the road”. His disciples sang “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord” and the Pharisees protested. Jesus’ responded that the “stones would cry out” if the people were silenced (Luke 19:28-40) -- indicating that all of creation would recognize him as king.
•         During the Last Supper he sought to prepare his disciples for what was about to happen (Luke 22:15-2). He described how the disciples would serve in the kingdom (Luke 22:26-30).  However, very soon they would realize this was not going to be the sort of earthly kingdom they might have imagined or hoped for.
•         Jesus is ‘tried’ and found ‘guilty’ and sentenced to die on the cross – a death reserved for criminals. Leading up to his crucifixion, a “purple” or an “elegant robe” and a crown of thorns are placed on him – mocking his kingship (Mark 15:17; Luke 23:11). Later he is stripped and his clothes are divided up by casting lots (Luke 23:34) and he is nailed to the cross.

In the future, there will be no mistaking Christ as king -his return will be announced with trumpets (I Thessalonians 4:16) and he will be seen coming on clouds of the sky with power and great glory (Matthew 24:30). The elect (followers of his who have been waiting for his return both the living and the dead) will be gathered from the “four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other” (Matthew 24:31). And Jesus will sit on the throne in “heavenly glory” and separate (judge) all the nations-separating the sheep from the goats – the sheep will be invited to enter the kingdom prepared (Matthew 25:31-34). At this time, Jesus will be recognized as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords-and things will be as they seem.

Relationships - What Does It Take?

           Last Saturday I drove past a church that had an interesting statement on their sign and I took that to be the title of the sermon for the following day. I decided to go to church there last Sunday. Once I arrived I found out the youth (middle and high school students) would be leading the worship and that it had nothing to do with what was on their sign. For half a second after I learned this I was tempted to leave and go to the church across the street—but I decided that this was where I was and my mission was to listen.

In actuality-the youth did a nice job. The concept they used was that of a “yard sale” and as a box ‘from the attic’ was unpacked throughout the service each object removed (a photo album, tools, etc.) was used to make a point about relationships, specifically – relationships within the church. Everyone on the stage played a part in the service—the music, readings, prayers, serving of the Lord’s Supper or in speaking.  Each person who spoke told a story from their own life that had to do with relationships and they asked the congregation to consider how they could improve or increase their relationships with each other. 

Once upon a time churches and faith communities played a much larger role in the social fabric of our society than they do today. Now church can be a place to go or an activity to attend rather than where one can forge a sense of community and be nurtured by the other members of the community. Simplistically, if one shows up for worship and leaves immediately afterwards when it is over this is rather like going through a drive-thru to get something to eat. In contrast, if one gets involved and engaged with the church – it is more like a family style meal that requires significant time, effort and care-in its preparation, but also in its consumption and enjoyment - since everyone would agree a home cooked meal will always be better than fast food. The same can be said of relationships.  A simple thing I have tried to do in my life and taught my children too-is ‘be the friend you want’- if you want a trustworthy friend-be trustworthy yourself, if you want a friend who is thoughtful and considerate-be so yourself. It is the ‘do onto others as you want done onto yourself’ approach to making and keeping friends. I believe this is the best strategy for developing the community of relationships one desires. 

In summation, perhaps the following verses could serve as a formula for relating to others (Have the mindset of Christ + Love One Another = Godly Relationships):

Philippians 2:5-9: “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”

John 13:34 & 35: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

"In God We Trust"

This past weekend I was traveling and did not get to attend church. But as I headed home on Sunday afternoon I happened to get behind a semi-truck that had “In God we Trust” on the back-close to the company name. I started thinking about this statement and how popular it is in our culture and then about the issue of ‘trust’ and trusting God. 

The definition most associated with the word ‘trust’ would probably be the following:

a: assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something

b: one in which confidence is placed

(See: Trust defined)

What “In God We Trust”- means to me is that I can bank on God- count on him to come through because he has a character I can rely on; he is able, strong and true. Scripture is replete with verses about being able to trust God, here are a few:

Isaiah 26:4:  “Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal”.

Psalm 91:2: “I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

Psalm 62:8: “Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”

Trust is an important element in all relationships and human interactions.To build trust with another takes time and often requires starting with small matters before trusting another with more personal matters or those with serious consequences if handled poorly. A trust broken is a difficult thing to mend and a trust betrayed may be fatal to a relationship.

Jesus developed some very close relationships with his apostles – most particularly Peter, James and John. We might assume that Jesus “trusted” these three and the other disciples and yet we know that Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve betrayed him. Jesus was not naive about the nature of a person, the scripture says that “Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person” (John 2:24 & 25).

Entrust defined means:

1:  to confer a trust on; especially:  to deliver something in trust to

2:  to commit to another with confidence

(See: entrust defined)

Jesus both trusted and entrusted himself to his Father. Jesus’ prayer in John 17:1-5 is a testimony to this fact. 

Ultimately as a believer both trusting in God and entrusting our lives to God are necessary - both of these require faith- bringing to mind the verse: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). This could almost be re-written to say: ‘and without trust it is impossible to entrust oneself to God. And faith is rewarded by seeking, trusting and entrusting in God.’

God is Patient (thankfully)

This past Sunday I attended my own church in the morning and a friend’s church in the evening. Interestingly while the sermon focus was totally different at each church, Luke 13:1-9 was a scripture cited/read in both services and therefore, it would seem that the ‘message’ God wanted me to hear. This blog instead of being about the differences between the two churches (worship styles, backgrounds or sermons) is about this text. At my church the scripture above was referenced in the context of ‘producing fruit and at my friend’s church it was mentioned in the sense that thirst we have can only be fulfill by God. 

Luke 13:1-4: There were some present at that time that told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? Or the eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?”

Had I been one of those present at the time Jesus spoke this, I might have thought that he could read my mind-meaning I probably would have assumed that those who experienced these circumstances were in some way at fault and therefore deserving of assumed divine judgment.  However, Jesus challenges this sort of thinking when he asks the question about who is ‘more guilty’- which in another con(text) might have been Jesus saying ‘if any of you are without sin-be the first to cast the stone’ (John 8:7). I can only imagine that those hearing him this day, were not prepared for what he said next:

Luke 13:5: “I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

Jesus told them all too plainly that they were at risk of “perishing” unless they repented. I do not take this to mean that Jesus was saying that the former experienced such tragedies as they had because they did not repent-but rather that unless his listeners repented (turned from) their sin, there could be no ‘right’ relationship between themselves and God. This is in keeping with what John the Baptist initially preached and Jesus continued (Matthew 3:2, & 4:17; Mark 1:15). Next Jesus told them a parable.

Luke 13: 6-9: Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any.  So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ “ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it.  If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ ”

One commentary I read said that the barren fig-tree is" the symbol of a fruitless profession of godliness"; and the delay represents “the forbearance “of God in allowing more time for repentance. This fits with my understanding of God, consider the following verses:

I Timothy 3b & 4: “…God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth.”

II Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Thankfully God is patient! Once we repent-let us not waste any time in drawing near to him and ‘producing fruit in keeping with repentance’ (Matthew 3:8). This is what I heard this past Sunday as I 'listened'. Amen!