Many visible testimonies to the resurrection of Christ can be seen. The stone rolled away, the empty tomb, and one of the most intriguing, the abandoned grave clothes. John 20:6-7 tells us that when Peter and John ran to investigate the empty tomb they "saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the face-cloth that had been around his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself." As though he had just stepped out of them the linen cloths were just lying there. The head cloth, carefully folded or rolled up, was some distance away.
On the Internet today you will find that some are saying that this folded face-cloth, in some versions a towel, or a handkerchief, or in the old King James, a "napkin," points to a Jewish custom. If the Master leaves a meal unfinished and just wads up his napkin and throws it down, it means he is finished and the servant can clean up the table. But if he carefully folds it and lays it on the table, and goes away, it says to his servant, "I am not finished -- I will be back." Could this be what the folded head cloth meant? Perhaps, although research indicates that there is no proof that this was actually a Jewish custom and we might question the idea that a dinner napkin was used as a grave head cloth.
This much seems certain, however, that the abandoned grave cloths and the carefully folded head cloth say that the body was not stolen by a fast-moving body snatcher. Rather, they point to the calm, unhurried exit by one who had no further need of them.
But there is another visible testimony to the resurrection that outweighs all others -- the weekly gathering of disciples to commune with their living Lord. If Jesus was really still in the tomb, and had never shown himself to his disciples, there is no way that a few followers could resurrection their fellowship. In no way could they fool themselves, or pull off the greatest hoax ever seen. They knew in their hearts, deep down, that he was alive and they were willing to do whatever it took to meet with him weekly at his table. The very existence of the church is a result of the resurrection and its most powerful witness.
At the Lord's Table then, we proclaim not only the Lord's death but also his resurrection. It is the resurrection that created our community of faith and hope. As Peter put it in 1 Peter 1:3, "We (as the church and as individuals) have been born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
STAND BY YOUR LORD -- Table topic #3
Loyalty, or to use a somewhat old fashioned word, faithfulness, is in short supply today. Whether its marriage partners (as in the latest scandal in New York), employees, employers, or church members, many people are quick to bail out if things don't go right for them. Look out for number one is the creed of modern culture. Loyalty is OK, but its not a primary value for a lot of people. As long as the football team is winning the stands will be full, but let hard times set in and fans will leave in droves.
That's why Jesus' words to his disciples in Luke 22 at the Last Supper are so important. The twelve disciples gave him a lot of trouble -- don't we all? After identifying the bread with his body and the wine with his blood, Jesus spoke openly at the table of one who would betray him and scolded them for seeking prestige and power in the kingdom, holding up his own example of being a servant. In spite of these problems he went on to say to them:
You have stood by me in my trials; and just as my Father has granted me a kingdom, I grant that you may eat and drink at my table ... and sit on thrones ruling the twelve tribes of Israel. Luke 22:28-30.
To eat at his table and share in his rule are great promises and they are given in spite of their jealous quarreling, their selfish ambitions, and their lack of complete understanding. The promises are given simply because they were faithful. Above all, Jesus needs our loyalty. And, as the text indicates, he rewards it.
Similar promises are given to the church in Revelation 3:20-21. Here, in this letter to the Laodicean church, we see pictured a church that is very much like the American church today -- rich materially but blind to its poverty, full of deeds, but lukewarm in its passion for Christ. Still, the risen Lord offers a place at his table and a seat on his throne as he says,
Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with me. He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame and sat down with my father on his throne.
He expects our faithfulness, not our perfection; our loyalty, not our lip service. By virtue of the fact that we gather each Lord's Day to commune with him he could well be saying to us: you have stood by me in my trials and now I grant that you may eat and drink at my table and sit with me on my throne.
That's why Jesus' words to his disciples in Luke 22 at the Last Supper are so important. The twelve disciples gave him a lot of trouble -- don't we all? After identifying the bread with his body and the wine with his blood, Jesus spoke openly at the table of one who would betray him and scolded them for seeking prestige and power in the kingdom, holding up his own example of being a servant. In spite of these problems he went on to say to them:
You have stood by me in my trials; and just as my Father has granted me a kingdom, I grant that you may eat and drink at my table ... and sit on thrones ruling the twelve tribes of Israel. Luke 22:28-30.
To eat at his table and share in his rule are great promises and they are given in spite of their jealous quarreling, their selfish ambitions, and their lack of complete understanding. The promises are given simply because they were faithful. Above all, Jesus needs our loyalty. And, as the text indicates, he rewards it.
Similar promises are given to the church in Revelation 3:20-21. Here, in this letter to the Laodicean church, we see pictured a church that is very much like the American church today -- rich materially but blind to its poverty, full of deeds, but lukewarm in its passion for Christ. Still, the risen Lord offers a place at his table and a seat on his throne as he says,
Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with me. He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame and sat down with my father on his throne.
He expects our faithfulness, not our perfection; our loyalty, not our lip service. By virtue of the fact that we gather each Lord's Day to commune with him he could well be saying to us: you have stood by me in my trials and now I grant that you may eat and drink at my table and sit with me on my throne.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
LORDS OR SERVANTS? -- Table Talk #2
The words of institution are often used to introduce the Lord's Supper but they are usually severed from their context. In Luke 22 they come to us in the context of other important words from Jesus. Here is Luke's account in 22:14-20, 24-27:
When the hour had come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. Then he said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." Then he took a cup, and gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me." Likewise he also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for you." ... Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. And he said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors. But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the one who serves."
Most of Jesus' teaching focused on the kingdom of God -- its nature and purpose. The disciples were interested because they, like most Jews, longed for the restoration of the kingdom to Israel. They saw in Jesus a Messiah who could free them from Roman oppression and lead them to the glory and power of the kingdom. Then, one day, Jesus began telling them that he must go to Jerusalem and be killed. The Gospel writers make it clear that the twelve, prior to the resurrection, never understood this. A crucified Messiah did not fit their kingdom expectations.
These two subjects, the kingdom and his death, came together in Jesus' table talk at the Passover meal when he instituted the Lord's Supper. First, he said that he was eager to eat this Passover with them before he suffered because he would not eat it again until the kingdom came. Then he took the bread and cup and spoke of his body given for them and the new covenant in his blood.
Again, they completely missed the point. He had hardly finished speaking before a debate broke out among them. Thinking only of the coming kingdom and their place in it they began to argue, not for the first time, about which of them was the greatest. And again, he reminded them that "the leader is like one who serves ... and I am among you as one who serves."
We know that in the world of politics even the greatest leaders spend much of their time and resources on getting re-elected. Position, status, power, and authority are all that matter. But, Jesus points out, it is not that way in God's kingdom. The only way up is down. The only way to lead is to serve. The only way to greatness is through lowly servitude.
Is Jesus speaking to us in his table talk at the Passover meal? Is he speaking to us at the communion table, wanting us to forsake our status seeking, our lordly ambitions, and like him become a servant of all? Is he asking us to make that kind of sacrifice? There was a cross in his future. Is there a cross in ours? If we take him seriously, there may be, for did he not say, "If any want to become my disciples let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me" (Matthew 16:24 nrsv; also Lk 14:27; Mk 8:34).
When the hour had come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. Then he said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." Then he took a cup, and gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me." Likewise he also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for you." ... Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. And he said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors. But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the one who serves."
Most of Jesus' teaching focused on the kingdom of God -- its nature and purpose. The disciples were interested because they, like most Jews, longed for the restoration of the kingdom to Israel. They saw in Jesus a Messiah who could free them from Roman oppression and lead them to the glory and power of the kingdom. Then, one day, Jesus began telling them that he must go to Jerusalem and be killed. The Gospel writers make it clear that the twelve, prior to the resurrection, never understood this. A crucified Messiah did not fit their kingdom expectations.
These two subjects, the kingdom and his death, came together in Jesus' table talk at the Passover meal when he instituted the Lord's Supper. First, he said that he was eager to eat this Passover with them before he suffered because he would not eat it again until the kingdom came. Then he took the bread and cup and spoke of his body given for them and the new covenant in his blood.
Again, they completely missed the point. He had hardly finished speaking before a debate broke out among them. Thinking only of the coming kingdom and their place in it they began to argue, not for the first time, about which of them was the greatest. And again, he reminded them that "the leader is like one who serves ... and I am among you as one who serves."
We know that in the world of politics even the greatest leaders spend much of their time and resources on getting re-elected. Position, status, power, and authority are all that matter. But, Jesus points out, it is not that way in God's kingdom. The only way up is down. The only way to lead is to serve. The only way to greatness is through lowly servitude.
Is Jesus speaking to us in his table talk at the Passover meal? Is he speaking to us at the communion table, wanting us to forsake our status seeking, our lordly ambitions, and like him become a servant of all? Is he asking us to make that kind of sacrifice? There was a cross in his future. Is there a cross in ours? If we take him seriously, there may be, for did he not say, "If any want to become my disciples let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me" (Matthew 16:24 nrsv; also Lk 14:27; Mk 8:34).
Monday, March 17, 2008
JESUS KNOWS OUR FAILURES -- Table Talk 1
Every Sunday at communion time we hear the Words of Institution but in Luke's Gospel, compared to the other Gospels and Paul, Jesus had much more to say. His table talk that Passover evening, according to Luke, included both challenging and puzzling words. Luke 22:19-23 says
Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "this is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!" Then they began to ask one another which one of them it could be who would do this.
I find these words puzzling because Judas, who was sitting right there, had already made arrangements to betray Jesus and Jesus knew it. Why didn't Jesus just name him? Instead, he made all of them wonder which one of them could do this.
Jesus knew, of course, how they would respond when the test came. Peter would deny him three times and all of the others would flee. Jesus knew that it was not Judas only who would leave that covenant meal and go out to abandon the sacred loyalty involved in that meal. They were all capable of fracturing the sacred trust and forsaking the loyalty that they pledged in eating the bread and drinking the cup with Jesus. Jesus knew that they were all capable of this and that is why he did not simply name Judas as the culprit -- it was something all of them faced.
And so do we. We will face many tests when we leave this table and go back to life in the world. We will be tested on how we handle this world's wealth -- will we serve God or mammon? He taught us to love unconditionally -- will we allow hatred, or prejudice, or hurt feelings to crowd out that love? He taught us to seek first the Kingdom of God -- will we seek first the fulfillment of our own desires?
Jesus knows the answer about us as well as he knew it about Peter, Judas and the others. He knows that we too will often fail him. We can join in Paul's confession in Romans 7, "I do what I don't want to do and I don't do what I want to do."
Yes, he knows our failures but still he loves us. It is precisely because we fail that we need to meet him here again each Lord's Day and hear him say, "this is my body given for you ... my blood shed for the forgiveness of sins." The Lord's Supper is our great ritual of renewal, our act of re commitment. It is our chance, one again, to express our loyalty and receive his forgiveness and thus experience renewal.
Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "this is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!" Then they began to ask one another which one of them it could be who would do this.
I find these words puzzling because Judas, who was sitting right there, had already made arrangements to betray Jesus and Jesus knew it. Why didn't Jesus just name him? Instead, he made all of them wonder which one of them could do this.
Jesus knew, of course, how they would respond when the test came. Peter would deny him three times and all of the others would flee. Jesus knew that it was not Judas only who would leave that covenant meal and go out to abandon the sacred loyalty involved in that meal. They were all capable of fracturing the sacred trust and forsaking the loyalty that they pledged in eating the bread and drinking the cup with Jesus. Jesus knew that they were all capable of this and that is why he did not simply name Judas as the culprit -- it was something all of them faced.
And so do we. We will face many tests when we leave this table and go back to life in the world. We will be tested on how we handle this world's wealth -- will we serve God or mammon? He taught us to love unconditionally -- will we allow hatred, or prejudice, or hurt feelings to crowd out that love? He taught us to seek first the Kingdom of God -- will we seek first the fulfillment of our own desires?
Jesus knows the answer about us as well as he knew it about Peter, Judas and the others. He knows that we too will often fail him. We can join in Paul's confession in Romans 7, "I do what I don't want to do and I don't do what I want to do."
Yes, he knows our failures but still he loves us. It is precisely because we fail that we need to meet him here again each Lord's Day and hear him say, "this is my body given for you ... my blood shed for the forgiveness of sins." The Lord's Supper is our great ritual of renewal, our act of re commitment. It is our chance, one again, to express our loyalty and receive his forgiveness and thus experience renewal.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
The Table of Compassionate Giving
The story in John 6:1-15 of feeding 5,000 must have spoken to deep needs among early Christians because it is the only miracle recorded in all four Gospels. In it Jesus, out in a wilderness, far from homes and sources of food, blessed five loaves and two fish and fed a huge crowd of hungry, needy people.
When Jesus told the disciples to feed them, they looked at the five loaves and two fish and asked, "What are these for so many people?" The need was so great and their resources were so few that they felt overwhelmed. Similar words are spoken in many places today. The countless numbers of hungry, homeless and desperate people in this world overwhelms us. How can my small offering meet such a vast need?
Often, non Christians also, simply out of human compassion, are moved to feed the hungry. Earl Woods, father of Tiger Woods, told of watching a documentary about a famine in Ethiopia. Tiger, who was 4, saw the distended bellies and the inability of the children to even swat flies off their faces. Tiger disappeared into his bedroom and came back with his gold coin collection. "Daddy, can we give this to help those little kids?" Woods said, "I accepted it, and sent the cash equivalent to a doctor friend who was serving in Ethiopia. tiger doesn't know it, but I still have those gold coins. One day, when the time is right, I'll give them back to him and recall that moment which brought tears to my eyes."
We too feel the call as human beings to help our fellow human beings. But our motivation as Christians is even greater. We believe in a God who gave his only son. We believe in a Jesus who saw the hungry crowds and had compassion on them. We believe in a Christ who gave his life for others. As Paul said, when some in the Corinthian church were questioning his sacrificial service, "the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if one died for all, then all died; and he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again" (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).
Yes, we give because we are human, but also because "the love of Christ compels us" -- the Christ who can bless our meager offering and use it to feed the world. He set the supreme example and we honor it each Sunday as we meet him at the table of compassionate giving.
When Jesus told the disciples to feed them, they looked at the five loaves and two fish and asked, "What are these for so many people?" The need was so great and their resources were so few that they felt overwhelmed. Similar words are spoken in many places today. The countless numbers of hungry, homeless and desperate people in this world overwhelms us. How can my small offering meet such a vast need?
Often, non Christians also, simply out of human compassion, are moved to feed the hungry. Earl Woods, father of Tiger Woods, told of watching a documentary about a famine in Ethiopia. Tiger, who was 4, saw the distended bellies and the inability of the children to even swat flies off their faces. Tiger disappeared into his bedroom and came back with his gold coin collection. "Daddy, can we give this to help those little kids?" Woods said, "I accepted it, and sent the cash equivalent to a doctor friend who was serving in Ethiopia. tiger doesn't know it, but I still have those gold coins. One day, when the time is right, I'll give them back to him and recall that moment which brought tears to my eyes."
We too feel the call as human beings to help our fellow human beings. But our motivation as Christians is even greater. We believe in a God who gave his only son. We believe in a Jesus who saw the hungry crowds and had compassion on them. We believe in a Christ who gave his life for others. As Paul said, when some in the Corinthian church were questioning his sacrificial service, "the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if one died for all, then all died; and he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again" (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).
Yes, we give because we are human, but also because "the love of Christ compels us" -- the Christ who can bless our meager offering and use it to feed the world. He set the supreme example and we honor it each Sunday as we meet him at the table of compassionate giving.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)