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February 22, 2008

Lenten Message, February 22, 2008

Greetings friends and family,

This Lenten season, our main source is the Gospel of John. John’s gospel is written later than the other three gospels and has a much different presentation style. Think of any great historical figure. When you look for a book about their life, is there just one to choose from? No, there are several. Each author offers a different aspect or way of looking at the main character. Jesus is similarly a complex character—not someone who will be captured easily by one book. And so John gets his chance to tell the story of this rabbi, this rebel, this God among Man.

One motif that runs through the Gospel of John is that of witness and trial. John is making the case for Jesus through the testimony of various persons who have interacted with him and been transformed. Throughout Lent, we will hear from various “Witnesses for the Defense” as we have entitled it. We recall that during Holy Week, and specifically on Good Friday, Jesus is put on trial. He goes before the Jewish Council and the Roman Governor. There is false testimony presented and persons who want to “wash their hands of this matter”, but we do not hear from anyone testifying on Jesus’ behalf.

Last Sunday, we heard from Nicodemus—the Pharisee. Kathy Verschoor did a nice job interpreting Nicodemus for us. Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night. He is attracted by Jesus’ miraculous deeds. But Jesus informs Nicodemus that he must look beyond his deeds to the Spirit that is undergirding the work and life of Jesus.

Darkness overshadows their time together. Darkness symbolized both Nicodemus’ desire to not be seen by his peers and also his spiritual condition—he was in the dark. He could look at Jesus and see the works but he could not open himself just yet to receive the Spirit of healing and light. The way of life that he had known his whole life was being called into question. He was being asked to expand beyond the letter of the law and step into a life of the Spirit. Not easy.

We might think that if we found a new, better way to live, of course we’d take it. But that’s not necessarily true. If we experience darkness in our life over a period of time, it becomes comfortable for us—familiar. And to be asked to come out into the light is a frightening invitation indeed. To leave the familiar for the unknown is not done nonchalantly. It is usually done because we realize that the darkness is killing us and that if we remain here we will never truly live.

Darkness can come in many forms. Addiction, Abuse, Depression and Anger are some common blankets of darkness. Jesus invites us, as he invited Nicodemus to come out of the darkness and into God’s loving, compassionate, truth-telling light. You may read the balance of this sermon on our website, www.irvingparkumc.com

This week our witness will be the Samaritan woman at the well. She has a story to tell. I hope you’ll come Sunday to hear her testimony about how Jesus changed her life.

Peace in Christ,
Pastor Vickie

Posted by vickie at February 22, 2008 03:01 PM