Maybe Today
Sermon
Sermons on the Second Readings
Series III, Cycle B
Object:
... the appointed time has grown short....
-- 1 Corinthians 7:29
Amelia Bedelia is a favorite literary children's character. This poor, dim-witted maid is a literalist. You tell her to dust the tables, and she sprinkles talc everywhere. You tell her to dress the turkey, and she gets out a little lime green pantsuit. You tell her to draw the curtains and she gets out her sketch pad.
In reading about Amelia Bedelia, you realize that we have many phrases that are confusing -- especially if you take them literally. "Happy as a clam." Are they really that happy? Or, "I'm so mad I could wring your neck," Come on, we don't mean that ... do we?
The Bible does the same thing. It also uses words, paints pictures, and employs literary devices to convey a truth oftentimes above or beyond the literal words. Now, to be sure, some truths have to be literal or historical in order for them to be true. For example, the person of Jesus is based on a real, live person who actually once walked on this earth. It has to be historically true in order to be true. In the same way, for the resurrection to be true, it has to be historically true. There are some truths that absolutely have to be grounded in fact and history in order to be true.
But there are some truths that do not have to be historical or factual to be true. For example, there is the parable of the good Samaritan where a man went from Jerusalem down to Jericho and was jumped by thieves who left him half dead. If that had never happened historically, that is, if there were no such man who made such a trip, that parable would still be true. Why? Because the truth of that story is not contingent on the historical fact of a man walking down a road but rather in the truth about helping one's neighbors. See the difference?
Another example. Jesus told his disciples that if your right hand causes you to sin, what are you to do? Cut it off. What about your eye? If your eye causes you to sin, what are you to do with it? Pluck it out. Really? If that were literally true, our church would be full of one-eyed, one-handed Christians. But instead, the truth is not contingent on the actual, literal fact. The truth is in the teaching of being constantly wary, always alert to whatever leads you down that path of temptation -- and then do all that you can to avoid it.
Same thing when Jesus says, "Take up your cross and follow me." He is not telling all Christians to be literally nailed to a cross and hung up to die. The truth of that phrase is found in the teaching of commitment and self-sacrifice, not in one being crucified.
Got it? The Bible uses many different styles of writings to convey truth. But Christians disagree, at times, as to when to take the words literally and when to seek out the truth above the literal, factual words. This is especially true about words concerning heaven and the return of Jesus. How do you picture heaven? The Bible speaks of heaven in several ways. Streets paved with gold. Is this literal or does it convey a truth of rarity and splendor? There will be wings, halos, and harps. Is this true or does that mean we will have a different existence? Jesus said it is like a mansion where he goes to prepare a place for you. Is there such a place or is Jesus comforting his scared disciples with a reassurance that when that day comes, God will take care of them ... in style?
In 1 Corinthians 7, Paul wrote about the return of Jesus. What will that look like? The Left Behind series has painted a vivid picture for its millions of readers. Will it be like that? Isaiah talks about a great banquet, a dessert table with no calories. Is that literally true or does that image convey a truth of intimacy and fellowship? Scripture also talks about being reunited with all the saints but will it be like some big summer family reunion at the lake?
In this text, Paul does not paint a picture for us. Perhaps because it is less important to describe the indescribable and more important to teach about a constant state of readiness. Paul moves beyond the pictorial language and gets very practical with sound advice about marriage, wealth, and emotions. He urges all Christians to be in a constant state of expectation because Paul expected Jesus to return in his lifetime and he lived with that expectation. The gospel authors expected Jesus to return in his lifetime and they lived with that expectation. Luther expected Jesus to return in his lifetime and he lived with that expectation. Mark Allen Powell expects Jesus to return in his lifetime and he lives today, 2,000 years after Paul's words, with that same expectation. Let me tell you about Dr. Powell.
Dr. Powell is a New Testament professor at Trinity Lutheran Seminary. He describes himself as a self-professed Jesus Freak from the 1970s. You know the type? Going to malls and stopping people asking them where they would spend eternity if they were to die that night. Thanking God for everything including getting a great parking spot downtown during lunchtime. They had all the T-shirts, jewelry, and bumper stickers with crosses, fish, and pithy sayings.
Now he is a professor of New Testament teaching our young pastors the truths of the New Testament. Now he knows better. Now he is educated. Now he is enlightened with the truth that rises above the mere literal words. And yet, when that perfect parking spot opens up right in front of the store during rush hour, the first words on his lips are, "Thank you, Jesus." Now, he knows that the God of the universe, the creator of all things, is not holding back cars from blocks around just so he wouldn't have to walk more than fifty feet into the grocery store. He knows that. Besides, there are probably far more people deserving of that spot than he. And yet those words well up from his heart and through his lips. "Thank you, Jesus."
Same with the second coming. "And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near" (Luke 21:27-28). He has studied the text, he understands the literary genre, he has siphoned off the truth that Luke is trying to convey. He has rationalized this kind of talk as a means by which prescientific people understood the world. It has no literal meaning for today's scientific, educated world.
And yet (and this is the good part), and yet ... every morning when Dr. Powell wakes up, he looks outside up into the sky. If it is one of those clear blue days, that's okay. But if the sky has a couple of those big, puffy clouds, his heart skips a beat and he thinks to himself, "Maybe. Maybe today. Maybe this is the day he's coming."
Do you live with that expectation, do you live with the hope that this could be the day? Which brings up a good question. Paul wrote about Jesus coming back in his lifetime. The gospel authors wrote about Jesus coming back in their lifetimes. Luther wrote about Jesus coming back in his lifetime. Were they wrong? He didn't show up. It's been 2,000 years. Were they all wrong?
Depends. Jesus did not come back during their lifetimes. That much is true. But they all lived with the expectation that he would come back during their lifetime. And for that, they were not wrong.
See the difference? We are called to live with that expectation that this could be the day. But it's tough, isn't it? How long can you stand on your tip toes, stare off the horizon and say, "Any day, soon, hold on, he's coming, I just know it," until the muscles get sore, the eyes grow dim, the voice grows weary and the heart sinks? What does it mean to live your life expecting Jesus' return?
I once read a story by Alvin Rogness, past president of Luther Seminary. When he grew up in South Dakota during the Depression, every spring men would gather in the town on hiring day looking for a farm to work on during the season. On farmer arrived late and found only one guy left standing -- a quiet guy without a whole lot to say. But when asked, the hired man said that he was a hard worker and could sleep on a windy night. With no one else to hire, the farmer brought him home.
Everything worked out fine. The farmer had no complaints. Then one night, a tremendous storm ripped across the North Dakotan plain. The wind howled and shook the farm. The farmer ran out to check on the chickens but they were all locked up on the coop. He ran to the barn to latch down the window, but they were all taken care of. He went to find the cattle, but they were all rounded up. On the way back to the house, he stopped in to check on the hired man who was asleep ... on a windy night.
The truth of the biblical teaching of the second coming of Jesus is not meant to scare you that you might be "left behind," but rather to live your life with expectation so that you are prepared at all times. Some need to make some changes, some are not ready, some can't sleep on a windy night because ... well, because they have left too many things undone and cut to many corners. But others who live with that expectation that this could be the day, see things differently.
I remember one person I visited in the hospital going through a major surgery. He was surrounded by a loving family who were sick with worry, overcome with fear, and stricken with doubt. And instead of ministering to this sick man in the bed, this man of faith was ministering to them, assuring them, "Either way the surgery goes, I'll be okay. I'll be okay."
That's being able to sleep on a windy night. That's living with expectation. Sometimes you have to walk through the valley of the shadow of death to realize that you will be okay.
Oh, I know that the Bible is filled with word pictures and images that may not be literally true -- streets of gold, angels with wings, harps, and a pearly gate. I know, I know. I'm too smart for that.
And yet, when that perfect blue sky is dotted with a single white puffy cloud I now think, "Maybe today. Maybe this is the day. I've got a grandpa I want to see again who taught me how to fish. I caught my first northern pike with him on a red and white daredevil on the Mississippi River in Red Wing, Minnesota. Maybe today. Maybe this is the day. Stir up your power, O Lord, and come. 'Cause either way, I'm ready. Either way, I'll be okay." Amen.
-- 1 Corinthians 7:29
Amelia Bedelia is a favorite literary children's character. This poor, dim-witted maid is a literalist. You tell her to dust the tables, and she sprinkles talc everywhere. You tell her to dress the turkey, and she gets out a little lime green pantsuit. You tell her to draw the curtains and she gets out her sketch pad.
In reading about Amelia Bedelia, you realize that we have many phrases that are confusing -- especially if you take them literally. "Happy as a clam." Are they really that happy? Or, "I'm so mad I could wring your neck," Come on, we don't mean that ... do we?
The Bible does the same thing. It also uses words, paints pictures, and employs literary devices to convey a truth oftentimes above or beyond the literal words. Now, to be sure, some truths have to be literal or historical in order for them to be true. For example, the person of Jesus is based on a real, live person who actually once walked on this earth. It has to be historically true in order to be true. In the same way, for the resurrection to be true, it has to be historically true. There are some truths that absolutely have to be grounded in fact and history in order to be true.
But there are some truths that do not have to be historical or factual to be true. For example, there is the parable of the good Samaritan where a man went from Jerusalem down to Jericho and was jumped by thieves who left him half dead. If that had never happened historically, that is, if there were no such man who made such a trip, that parable would still be true. Why? Because the truth of that story is not contingent on the historical fact of a man walking down a road but rather in the truth about helping one's neighbors. See the difference?
Another example. Jesus told his disciples that if your right hand causes you to sin, what are you to do? Cut it off. What about your eye? If your eye causes you to sin, what are you to do with it? Pluck it out. Really? If that were literally true, our church would be full of one-eyed, one-handed Christians. But instead, the truth is not contingent on the actual, literal fact. The truth is in the teaching of being constantly wary, always alert to whatever leads you down that path of temptation -- and then do all that you can to avoid it.
Same thing when Jesus says, "Take up your cross and follow me." He is not telling all Christians to be literally nailed to a cross and hung up to die. The truth of that phrase is found in the teaching of commitment and self-sacrifice, not in one being crucified.
Got it? The Bible uses many different styles of writings to convey truth. But Christians disagree, at times, as to when to take the words literally and when to seek out the truth above the literal, factual words. This is especially true about words concerning heaven and the return of Jesus. How do you picture heaven? The Bible speaks of heaven in several ways. Streets paved with gold. Is this literal or does it convey a truth of rarity and splendor? There will be wings, halos, and harps. Is this true or does that mean we will have a different existence? Jesus said it is like a mansion where he goes to prepare a place for you. Is there such a place or is Jesus comforting his scared disciples with a reassurance that when that day comes, God will take care of them ... in style?
In 1 Corinthians 7, Paul wrote about the return of Jesus. What will that look like? The Left Behind series has painted a vivid picture for its millions of readers. Will it be like that? Isaiah talks about a great banquet, a dessert table with no calories. Is that literally true or does that image convey a truth of intimacy and fellowship? Scripture also talks about being reunited with all the saints but will it be like some big summer family reunion at the lake?
In this text, Paul does not paint a picture for us. Perhaps because it is less important to describe the indescribable and more important to teach about a constant state of readiness. Paul moves beyond the pictorial language and gets very practical with sound advice about marriage, wealth, and emotions. He urges all Christians to be in a constant state of expectation because Paul expected Jesus to return in his lifetime and he lived with that expectation. The gospel authors expected Jesus to return in his lifetime and they lived with that expectation. Luther expected Jesus to return in his lifetime and he lived with that expectation. Mark Allen Powell expects Jesus to return in his lifetime and he lives today, 2,000 years after Paul's words, with that same expectation. Let me tell you about Dr. Powell.
Dr. Powell is a New Testament professor at Trinity Lutheran Seminary. He describes himself as a self-professed Jesus Freak from the 1970s. You know the type? Going to malls and stopping people asking them where they would spend eternity if they were to die that night. Thanking God for everything including getting a great parking spot downtown during lunchtime. They had all the T-shirts, jewelry, and bumper stickers with crosses, fish, and pithy sayings.
Now he is a professor of New Testament teaching our young pastors the truths of the New Testament. Now he knows better. Now he is educated. Now he is enlightened with the truth that rises above the mere literal words. And yet, when that perfect parking spot opens up right in front of the store during rush hour, the first words on his lips are, "Thank you, Jesus." Now, he knows that the God of the universe, the creator of all things, is not holding back cars from blocks around just so he wouldn't have to walk more than fifty feet into the grocery store. He knows that. Besides, there are probably far more people deserving of that spot than he. And yet those words well up from his heart and through his lips. "Thank you, Jesus."
Same with the second coming. "And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near" (Luke 21:27-28). He has studied the text, he understands the literary genre, he has siphoned off the truth that Luke is trying to convey. He has rationalized this kind of talk as a means by which prescientific people understood the world. It has no literal meaning for today's scientific, educated world.
And yet (and this is the good part), and yet ... every morning when Dr. Powell wakes up, he looks outside up into the sky. If it is one of those clear blue days, that's okay. But if the sky has a couple of those big, puffy clouds, his heart skips a beat and he thinks to himself, "Maybe. Maybe today. Maybe this is the day he's coming."
Do you live with that expectation, do you live with the hope that this could be the day? Which brings up a good question. Paul wrote about Jesus coming back in his lifetime. The gospel authors wrote about Jesus coming back in their lifetimes. Luther wrote about Jesus coming back in his lifetime. Were they wrong? He didn't show up. It's been 2,000 years. Were they all wrong?
Depends. Jesus did not come back during their lifetimes. That much is true. But they all lived with the expectation that he would come back during their lifetime. And for that, they were not wrong.
See the difference? We are called to live with that expectation that this could be the day. But it's tough, isn't it? How long can you stand on your tip toes, stare off the horizon and say, "Any day, soon, hold on, he's coming, I just know it," until the muscles get sore, the eyes grow dim, the voice grows weary and the heart sinks? What does it mean to live your life expecting Jesus' return?
I once read a story by Alvin Rogness, past president of Luther Seminary. When he grew up in South Dakota during the Depression, every spring men would gather in the town on hiring day looking for a farm to work on during the season. On farmer arrived late and found only one guy left standing -- a quiet guy without a whole lot to say. But when asked, the hired man said that he was a hard worker and could sleep on a windy night. With no one else to hire, the farmer brought him home.
Everything worked out fine. The farmer had no complaints. Then one night, a tremendous storm ripped across the North Dakotan plain. The wind howled and shook the farm. The farmer ran out to check on the chickens but they were all locked up on the coop. He ran to the barn to latch down the window, but they were all taken care of. He went to find the cattle, but they were all rounded up. On the way back to the house, he stopped in to check on the hired man who was asleep ... on a windy night.
The truth of the biblical teaching of the second coming of Jesus is not meant to scare you that you might be "left behind," but rather to live your life with expectation so that you are prepared at all times. Some need to make some changes, some are not ready, some can't sleep on a windy night because ... well, because they have left too many things undone and cut to many corners. But others who live with that expectation that this could be the day, see things differently.
I remember one person I visited in the hospital going through a major surgery. He was surrounded by a loving family who were sick with worry, overcome with fear, and stricken with doubt. And instead of ministering to this sick man in the bed, this man of faith was ministering to them, assuring them, "Either way the surgery goes, I'll be okay. I'll be okay."
That's being able to sleep on a windy night. That's living with expectation. Sometimes you have to walk through the valley of the shadow of death to realize that you will be okay.
Oh, I know that the Bible is filled with word pictures and images that may not be literally true -- streets of gold, angels with wings, harps, and a pearly gate. I know, I know. I'm too smart for that.
And yet, when that perfect blue sky is dotted with a single white puffy cloud I now think, "Maybe today. Maybe this is the day. I've got a grandpa I want to see again who taught me how to fish. I caught my first northern pike with him on a red and white daredevil on the Mississippi River in Red Wing, Minnesota. Maybe today. Maybe this is the day. Stir up your power, O Lord, and come. 'Cause either way, I'm ready. Either way, I'll be okay." Amen.
