Notes From Jon

Tonight, for the second year in a row, I was asked to play “Jesus” in a Bible School program at a local church.  They use Group Publishing’s “Holy Land Experience,” and all week long they build up to meeting this wonderful Jesus person – so, during their closing worship on the final night, “Jesus” makes his appearance (hope I didn’t ruin the surprise for any of you).

I walked down the aisle of the church in costume, talking to each of the children and blessing them, then I asked them to go out and tell everyone what they’ve learned during the week.  Quick, simple… but very effective.  I told one of the adults afterward, “The way you guys build up to Jesus’ appearance all week long, you could have practically anyone walk down the aisle in a robe and they’d be enthralled.”

I’m sure you’d hear many well-justified jokes about someone asking ME to play Jesus – most of them would come from me.  And it didn’t help the folks at Thrift’s Chapel that I was bald this year… we had to add an extra piece of costume to make up for that.

And there’s more irony.  Because Jesus’ appearance is such a secret, and they don’t want the kids to see the actor ahead of time, I have to park in the grass behind the church and come in quietly.  “Behold, I stand at the back door and sneak in…”

Joking aside, tonight’s experience was very moving for me, because I really got to see the view from Jesus’ sandals.  Those kids had been looking forward to meeting Jesus all week, and when I “interrupted” their gathering in the middle of a song, you could have heard a pin drop.  All the adults had one of those knowing looks, like when someone comes into the party dressed up as Santa Claus.  But not the children.  It was touching to see them looking up at me – some smiling, some awestruck, some afraid, some staring in wonder…

They all wanted to reach out and touch me, and when one little boy reached out with his left hand, I realized he was missing the end of his right arm.  My heart ached to have the power of Jesus for just one moment, to make his body whole.

I thought, “What must it have been like for Jesus, to go from place to place, meeting new people every day?  Most of them wanted something from him – a healing, a miracle, a loaf of bread, some new tidbit of wisdom, the spark for a rebellion… The list was never-ending.  They pressed on him in such crowds that at times he had to go out into a boat to talk to them (or just to get away to the other side of the lake), corner himself in a house, or let his disciples clear the way through crowded streets so he could get from one place to another.  Everyone wanted something from Jesus, and his compassion drove him to try to meet those needs as often as he could – even when it drove him to exhaustion.

How refreshing it must have been, then, when the children wanted to come to Jesus.  They had no agenda – they only knew that Jesus loved them and listened to them patiently.  They didn’t look at him with impatience or skepticism – simply joy and wonder.  They didn’t crowd up against him to get what they wanted – but to get to know this wonderful man who knelt down to talk to them, who laughed with them and hugged them.

Now I imagine, as his disciples pushed the children away, because there were so many more “pressing” needs, Jesus’ voice calls out angrily and almost desperately: “Let them come, and don’t keep them away!”

No wonder he said we had to become like children to enter the Kingdom.

We found this card on a gas station pump in Richmond about a month ago.  I was kind of speechless then, and I still am not sure what to say.  I will say this – this is only one side of the Jesus I know, and it certainly doesn’t seem like the tactic he used in his preaching.  I suppose (i.e, HOPE) their efforts are well-meaning…

Side 1 - WWJD?

Side 2 - "Things aren't looking too good for you friend."

Album Cover: Before the Throne by Sojourn Music

Shea Gilbert, a friend of ours, stumbled on an interesting song I decided to check out.  I love it – the tune has a simple, hymn-like quality, and the lyrics express what (in my opinion) should be Christians’ proper prayer and concern for our nation (ourselves included).  It’s certainly not the “strong” position we’re used to hearing as Americans: it exhibits weakness, expresses doubts about our own motives and actions, it’s repentant and thoughtful…

It’s published by Sojurn Music, and it makes me want to hear some more of their music.  The lyrics are below, and you can find an mp3 recording here.

Falling down upon our knees,
Sharing now in common shame,
We have sought security,
Not the cross that bears Your name.
Fences guard our hearts and homes –
Comfort sings a siren tune.
We’re a valley of dry bones;
Lead us back to life in You.

Lord we fall upon our knees,
We have shunned the weak and poor,
Worshiped beauty, courted kings
And the things their gold affords,
Prayed for those we’d like to know –
Favor sings a siren tune.
We’ve become a talent show;
Lead us back to life in You.

You have caused the blind to see,
We have blinded him again
With our man-made laws and creeds,
Eager, ready to condemn.
Now we plead before Your throne –
Power sings a siren tune.
We’ve been throwing heavy stones;
Lead us back to life in You.

We’re a valley of dry bones
Lead us back to life in You.
We’ve become a talent show
Lead us back to life in You.
We’ve been throwing heavy stones
Lead us back to life in You.

I’ve decided to do something kind of crazy, I think… I’m going to preach through Romans.  Those of you who use the lectionary know that the RCL is moving through Romans in this year’s Ordinary time, and I’ve got a late start.  Plus, I’m interested in some of the parts that the RCL doesn’t touch.  So I started off last Sunday with chapter 1.

The following doesn’t read the same as it came out in the sermon – this is basically an expanded commentary on the text.  I’d love to hear your thoughts…

——————-

Through the Book of Romans
(Hopping, Skipping and Jumping)

When & Why

Paul likely wrote this letter near the end of his third missionary journey, during his long stay in Corinth.  Paul had never been to Rome, even though he had hoped to for many years.  His work in the East had kept him so busy that he had not made it to Italy yet.  But now he considers his work in Asia Minor to be complete, so he hopes to stop by Rome on his way to Spain – which at that time was the Western edge of the civilized world.  It’s almost as if Paul was working to spread the Gospel to the “corners” of the earth. So Paul hoped the church in Rome would be a kind of headquarters for his mission work in the West.

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