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Rev. Kim Wright
Sermon
July 26, 2015
John 6:1-12
WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?
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Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Wesley United Church
244 First Avenue North
Welland, ON L3C 1Y8
905-735-5912
Web: wesleyunitedchurch.org
Who do you say I am? Jesus’ straight forward question to Peter and to
every disciple since. As we stretch our legs on the chaise lounge of summer,
this may be a good time to reflect on just who Jesus is for us.
Be honest because the answer will either impact your life as you reaffirm a lifelong, active, relationship with Jesus or it will allow you to demote him
to a place where you carry all the power.
Where to start? How about at the beginning. There are those who say
that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary in a
stable in Bethlehem, their only visitors being shepherds and kings. Others say
there is no historical account from the Romans of ever having conducted a
consensus at that time, and even if there were, Joseph headed to Bethlehem,
his town of origin, and there’s a pretty good chance he had relatives there with
whom they stayed.
Also, it was Jewish tradition to pronounce that every first born male
child was declared a child of God.
****
Some say Jesus went to the temple every at Passover with his parents
and all were astounded by the way he could debate with the elders while still a
child himself. Some say that Jesus grew up in a town so small that there was no
synagogue there, no centre for learning, and therefore, he was probably illiterate like everyone else in village. There is no way he could have read the scriptures so he must have had a pretty good memory.
****
There’s nothing said in the scriptures of what Jesus was doing from this
time until he began his ministry. Since we hear no more of Joseph, the head of
the family, it is assumed that he had died. So some say
hat Jesus put on his father’s apron and became a carpenter. Some say
there is no account anywhere in the scriptures that ever said he was a carpenter.
Some say, that during this time Jesus travelled and ended up in northern
India where he studied in a Buddhist monastery. The are historical accounts
showing that there was an Armenian in one of the temples during this time.
Some say this is where Jesus became enlightened and gained the spiritual power he did.
***
Some say when Jesus was baptized in the River Jordan by John,
Jesus was actually joining John’s movement, in essence became a disciple of
John’s. Some say everyone there saw a dove and heard the voice of God declaring, “You are my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”
*****
Some say that for the next three years Jesus was accepted as a great
teacher, prophet, and miracle worker. But there were all kinds of people running around in those days who declared themselves Messiahs and dazzled the
crowds with sleight of hand.
But here is one that is interesting. Some say Jesus was an Essene. The
Essenes where a monastic group of people who lived secretive lives in the
caves in the wilderness, the same place the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. They
were believed to be not only spiritually enlightened but they had advanced
knowledge of medicine and the sciences. The Essenes infiltrated the villages
and towns in disguise adding and healing people as they could.
Maybe that’s why Jesus was quoted as often saying “Go and tell no one
what I have done. Your faith has made you well.” Maybe Jesus was more public than the other Essenes but this may have been the source of his ability to
heal.
Some say, it was his intimate connection with God that allowed the
power of God to flow through him and heal battered souls.
***
You know the rest of the story. Some say he rose from the dead! Some
say the disciples stole the body for fear that the authorities would desecrate
the tomb. Some say that, with their advanced understanding of medicine, the
Essenes knew that the water and blood flowed from his side as an indication
that he was not truly dead, went and rescued him and nursed him back to
health.
Essenes were known to wear pure while robes sewn in all one piece.
Some say this is what Mary and the soldiers saw at the tomb reflecting in the
new light of morning.
So who is he? This is exactly what the disciples were struggling with in
that mountain as they helped feed the 5 thousand. Obviously, Jesus is a man
with great power. But understand that, in that non-scientific age of mythology
and legend, this was nothing new.
Look at all the comparisons that John makes with Moses in this story.
Moses leads people to the wilderness. Jesus leads 5,000 people to a desolate
place. Moses goes up a mountain. Jesus goes up a mountain. Moses provides
the people with manna. Jesus provides them with fish and bread. Moses leads
them to a promised land. Jesus, provides for these people in poverty and offers
them the promised land of community and caring for them.
Little wonder they called him Moses resurrected. Yea, even
greater than Moses as a prophet and miracle worker. And still today there are
those who say Jesus was an enlightened spiritual person, a great teacher, even
a prophet of wisdom. And that is who they would say Jesus is.
But John doesn’t end his story there. He ends it with the disciples seeing
Jesus walk on water. Whoa! This just put Jesus on a whole new level. Moses
raised a staff and God parted the Red Sea for him.
But nobody, nobody has ever walked themselves upon the water.
Jesus became more than a prophet to the disciples that day, leading Peter,
when asked by Jesus who he was, to say, “You are the Christ. The very son of
God!”
****
Who do you saw he is? Who do we say Jesus is in our churches?
Here’s a thought. It’s not an accusation, just something for us to ponder. Is it
possible that through all the years of good intentioned work, we have forgotten who we declare Jesus to be? Once a year we open our annual meetings by
declaring “In the name of Jesus Christ, who is the King and head of this
church…”. But I wonder if the stranger who walks through our doors ever
hears this good news? They hear about the choir they hear about Sunday
School. They certainly hear about our fundraisers. They hear about procedure
and by-laws. They might even hear about our mission work. But where is the
Good news declared openly? “Well, they will see it in our good works!”
That’s all well and good, and I mean that, it is all well and good. But isn’t
that paramount to saying Jesus taught us really well. That we believe in Jesus’
prophet vision of a world where everyone is fed with food and dignity and the
world is at peace? Jesus prophet and teacher?
What about the good news? That God made us and knows us. That we
are a forgiven people who are granted the gift of starting new lives. That Jesus
voluntarily experienced suffering on the cross and knows our pain. That Jesus
was raised to new life by the miracle of God’s unconditional love and death
was defeated. That God has reached out for us. That Grace is a gift for
all. That Jesus’ Spirit is within us, and that we matter to God and we are
never, ever, left alone.
Who is saying that this is who Jesus is? Hopefully, we are. But
where is this so openly declared in our church that people hear it?
Who do you say that I am. Who are we saying Jesus is?