Mark 8:27-38
Much of modern America does not know what to make of Christianity.
There is a regular diet of surprising and even disturbing actions from various Christians within the community of the faithful.
Perhaps the strangest to us are the snake handlers. What I might consider to be a rather obscure verse: “Those who believe: ... will pick up snakes in their hands... it will not hurt them” has become, for these Christians in Appalachia, a way to test their faith. Sadly, two of the leading snake handler preachers, a father and son, both died because of their faith.
And then there are the Christians who so believe in the healing power of God that they refuse modern medicine for their children. In fact, one young lady, Maria Walton, believes her parents should be prosecuted. As an infant, they refused a simple medical treatment that would have healed a hole in her heart. But now, as a twenty-something, she faces the rest of her life on a respirator.
But it’s not just what we might consider obscure sections of the Christian faith that’s problematic. The Bible’s account of miracles, angels, and ancient floods confounds the modern world’s increasing problem with seeing beyond that which you can measure, taste, and touch. And so, it has led much of the world to believe that Christianity as a whole is an increasingly irrelevant holdover of a superstitious, pre-scientific world.
The critique of educated modern society’s avoidance comes from a surprising source: Kenneth Minogue, a world-famous scholar from the London School of Economics who was himself a skeptic. But, as he wrote, “[I am] impressed by the grandeur and complexity of Christian intellectuality. He was sad that contemporary culture is embarrassed when the subject of Jesus and distinctive Christianity comes up.”
He wrote, "The result is cultural deprivation: We have blocked off religious questions altogether, because they are empirically unanswerable... we have a culture which very largely carries on without seriously considering ultimates.”
Counter to the trends in our culture, you and I find ourselves at Brick Presbyterian Church this morning. And I believe it’s because we share a desire to engage with ultimate questions, and we have found something here that shines a light within our hearts and on the dark corners of the world.
It’s not that we think we’ve got all the answers, but we do believe that there is somebody who illuminates the path. And what we believe about this someone matters. Long ago, Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do people say that I am? Who do you say that I am?”
Brick has a profound opportunity to seek to answer this central question of Christianity in such a way that many who have turned away from organized religion will feel drawn to struggle with us to answer ultimate questions.
Do we seek a narrow, strict, and exclusivist definition, or do we draw from the breadth of scripture? Some sectors of Christianity hold on to the passage from John’s gospel: “Unless you are born again you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven” as the sole standard to determine whether or not someone has faith and trust in Jesus. But such an action vastly oversimplifies an infinitely complex God.
Fortunately, as a congregation, you are as wide as the world out there.
A few weeks ago, we sent out an email to the congregation asking you to answer, “Who is Jesus?”
Here are some of your answers:
Embodiment of God's eternal love.
Jesus is the Son of God, the Word incarnate and is uniquely bonded with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.
Questionable as to being the Son of God.
A model of courage.
The third Jesus, the radical, mystical teacher who taught His followers how to change the world... revealing a spiritual guide of profound depth and inspiration that speaks to anyone who believes in the importance of peace and love.
Like a best friend from childhood, someone you would fully trust with yourself and your children.
My Lord and Savior.
Jesus is the light of the world.
It is this final answer (that Jesus used to describe Himself) that I believe will most enable us to live into our calling as a congregation, to become a spiritual home for all Since we are already a congregation filled with widely diverse opinions, yet united, God has prepared us to receive people and to welcome them from many different perspectives.
For the rest of the sermon, then, we will explore Jesus’ self-understanding as the light of the world.
He is the light that illumines truth.
He is the light that shines in the darkness.
He is the true light that enlightens everyone.
He is the light that illumines truth
Jesus embodies truth and wisdom. In his time, Jesus was called Rabbi, which means teacher. He brought insight into the nature of God and the nature of humanity. Today, there are many around the world of vastly different faiths who recognize Jesus’ deep wisdom. They find inspiration from His teachings about the nature of God’s love, His call to humility and service. They easily recognize that He not only talked the talk but walked the walk. For those of many different doctrines, the wisdom of Jesus can be a source of strength for our journey in this world.
He is the light that shines in the darkness
John tells us that people love the darkness rather than the light. We know that there is a penchant for humanity to oppress and subjugate. But as Isaiah proclaimed, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.”
While telling us not to judge others, He also showed how to hold people accountable. India had long experienced the darkness of subjugation, but the light of Christ’s truth inspired Gandhi to lead a path for liberation and justice for the people of India. Rather than freedom found through violence, Gandhi learned from Jesus’ path of nonviolent resistance. In turn, great preacher Dr. Martin Luther King learned from Gandhi’s application of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. He saw clearly that Jesus shines the light in the darkness, but does so as the Prince of Peace, and so Martin Luther King and others applied His principles to help bring justice and freedom for people of African descent in this country. Many in our country are both tired of division yet desperately want a world filled with more justice and equality. Jesus shows us how to walk that difficult path.
He is the light that is the true light that enlightens everyone
George Fox founded the Quakers on this beautiful phrase from John’s Gospel: “The true light that enlightens everyone.”
Fox described Jesus’ presence as an inward light that is in each of us. This is one of the most amazing and hopeful aspects of the Christian faith—we don’t think it’s just true believers that exude the presence of God, but that everyone, no matter who they are, has that light inside of them.
And just as surprising, we believe that light shines the brightest when people find themselves in the shadowiest corners of our world.
I remember one December, as a pastor in Magnolia, Arkansas, we had a woman in need come to the church. It was her electric bill she wanted paid—$98. She was behind on her gas as well, but being cold was not the problem; without electricity, there would be no Christmas lights. That was the one vestige of Christmas they could hold onto, with the children’s father having spent all their money on gambling and then leaving them.
Unfortunately, the church had spent all our money helping others that year. There would be no lights for her babies. As she walked out, I said, “If anything comes up, I will call you.”
I didn't believe anything would, but I guess it helped cover the silence. I slumped in my chair, morose and dejected. I wondered how, especially at this time of year, the world could be so cruel.
Soon after she left, the phone rang. A parishioner wanted to come by and talk. Glad for the distraction, I said it was a good time. A few minutes later, he showed, grasped my hand enthusiastically, and said, “I just wanted to know if anyone you know needs any help.” Then he turned around and left before I could say more.
As I brought my hand away, I realized there was something in it: a Benjamin, a $100 bill, and those children got their lights. I got to meet those children, and when I looked into their eyes, I could see the light of joy in them—that light that enlightens everyone was blazing forth inside of them. But I saw it even more powerfully in the eyes of a thankful mother.That man’s name was Jim Arnold, and he gave that hundred dollars to the church because the light of Christ had made a difference in his life—the light of Jesus’ love, the light of Jesus’ forgiveness, and the light of Jesus' hope. He gave that money to the church because he wanted others to bask in the light as well.
“Who is Jesus?” A question I believe is as critically important as it has ever been for our world. For He is the light that will help people see the truth about themselves and about God; He is the light that will transform the dark places of this world into places of peace and justice; He is the light that shines in everyone’s heart, in which we discover the most beautiful shining light of the presence of God. Amen.
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