Glory’s Interventions
Jeremiah 31:31-35; Psalm 119:9-16; Hebrews 5:5-10; John 12:19-33
Rev. Tiare L. Mathison, Pastor, Soul-Tender, Content Provider
It was the day after.
There had been a big hullabaloo in the morning, cloaks thrown down, branches torn off, Palm Trees to wave, children run and shout, all the folk who had come for the festival out in the streets, “Hosanna! Blessed is The One who comes in God’s Name - the King of Israel!”
The day before this, He raised Lazarus from the dead, no wonder people were shouting. They couldn’t stop talking about this sign! Suddenly, it seemed like they just might get a Messiah worthy of the name. If He could raise someone from the dead, imagine the power!!! One who would overthrow the oppressors and save them from the tramping boots of empire, matched in lockstep to squelch any rebellion that might arise during Passover. 200,000 people in the city, you never know who might get hurt. Even their own religious leaders said to one another, “You see, you can do nothing. Look, the whole world has gone after Him.” Their plot to kill Him and Lazarus thwarted by the crowd’s adulation. A better time will come in the next few days, empire’s power and religious jealousy and betrayal entwined.
He comes riding on a donkey, to fulfill an ancient Scripture story: “Look, Your King is coming sitting on a donkey’s colt!” Zechariah’s prophesy finally complete after 400 years. No chariots of fire, no fierce legion of soldiers leading the way, no ruler perched atop a robust stallion. Rather, a simple man from Galilee, a small band of women and men walking beside Him, unsure of all that has taken place and afraid of what might happen once they get into the heart of the city. “The hour has come,” He says. What time is it? The Greeks ask to see Him. Now, when I am lifted up. Glory’s Interventions
His last public words challenge the domination of cosmos - the system arrayed AGAINST everything that is of God. The myth of redemptive violence, that is, a primary belief that the way to bring order to chaos is through defeating ‘the other’ by use of force, strengthened by habits of domination that keep everyone in their place. “When I am lifted up, I will draw all people to myself.” He declares His way of death via crucifixion, the ignoble penalty for criminals and outcasts of the day. They can’t see it yet, these disciples and the Greeks and the Gentiles and the Samaritans, and the women, and the lame, the blind, the poor. It is too hard to acknowledge that God’s love is REVEALED in the tortuous cross, provision made for movement from darkness to light, death to life, earth to heaven, here to eternity. His death will expose the demonic ‘rulers of our day’ for what they are - capricious power mongers who demand ultimate loyalty. His blood shed is the force that will throw off the system that demands conformity to their false belief in alienation from God, from neighbor and from self. His life is lived as the primary Yes to God, the life of one who has the law written on one’s heart, His wholeness a witness to the power of redemption.
In this demystifying process, the challenge is laid out: lose your life, lose your lousy, messed up demonic view of yourself. Believe that you are created, in the Image of God, for generosity in mercy and justice, not shamed into your ‘slot’ within the system. Let that one die in the beautiful light of the cross. He doesn’t offer up a glamorous or prosperous life but one committed to suffering on behalf of others. It is a disciplined life focused on empathy. Standing with, beside, bearing witness to another’s pain and sorrow. And another’s joy and celebration. This gift of life offers eyes to see the true awfulness of the dehumanizing structures AND empowers to move toward the other in deep engagement. It is not so much an individual story of overcoming sin, at least in this gospel, as it is gaining power to stand together against the superhuman forces that grab hold of peoples lives, and argues, their way is the only way. Stay in your place, guard what you have, lull yourself with more things, or use a substance to keep you passive. Don’t raise a cry on anyone’s behalf or you will be put down.
Glory’s Interventions
The mission is explained one more time. Glory is not might. It is laying down one’s life on the cross to be lifted up as the Savior who conquers the grave. “I have come for this very thing,” He says. Even as the violence gets very close and His soul IS ‘troubled’ on the night before His arrest, He does not abandon His vocation, His Yes.
In the ancient history of humanity, there was a deep and abiding No to God’s gracious invitation of Yes to life. In the wisdom and mystery of God, He, the Precious Son, is sent as the first movement of a fulfillment of the covenant. A humble act of total self-emptying, His hour is complete in a love that surrenders to human existence. The forces of evil are all arrayed: religious, political, cultural, economic, every structure poised to pound the nails. For they know this One. They recognize they are in a pitched battle with the great God of the Universe. No king lays down his life for his people! What a ridiculous and unbelievable thing. His very humanity is at stake for the new Yes meets the Divine Yes never to be revoked. Unless the seed falls to the ground... Death precedes life.
The shadow of the cross hovers over Him as He stands His ground on behalf of the whole world. He asks us not to look away, rather, to look with wide-open eyes at the cross and its revelation of systematic evil that surrounds us and invades our lives. He asks us to be absolutely diligent and forthcoming in our examination of our practices and habits of thinking. He wants us to raise our conscious awareness of the lack of equity and inclusion and not let it slide away because we are tired. His love for us is complete and demanding. Obedience is a long-haul effort, one in which we come together every week to encourage one another. It is a setting of the will for the common good rather than solely self-interest. We have been saved by His shed blood. Now is our chance to offer our grateful praise and thanksgiving by casting off the powers and principalities and hold on. For resurrection is coming...Glory’s Interventions. Amen
I know it’s hard to look up and see Glory after the week we have lived. First I offer the names of the people killed in Atlanta and the. A video clip that my colleague, Pastor Charlene Han Campbell from First Pres Berkeley created for her congregation.
Say their names and then introduce video clip.
The authorities have identified those killed in the attacks as Soon Chung Park, 74; Hyun Jung Grant, 51; Suncha Kim, 69; Yong Ae Yue, 63; Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33; Xiaojie Tan, 49; Daoyou Feng, 44; and Paul Andre Michels, 54. Elcias R. Hernandez-Ortiz, 30, was seriously injured.