Prayer is the golden thread
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series V, Cycle A
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Acts 1:6--14 (C); Acts 1:12--14 (RC); Acts 1:(1--7) 8--14 (E, L)
The risen Christ orders his disciples to bear witness to him, with the promise of the Holy Spirit to enable them to accomplish the same. The newborn community of faith then returns from the Mount of Olives to the place where they were staying in Jerusalem. The 11 apostles are named, together with Jesus' mother and his family. This is the last time in the New Testament where Mary is mentioned. The community devoted itself to the discipline of prayer, while it waited for the guiding and empowering presence of the Spirit. Verses 1--8 are contained in the First Lesson for Ascension. If no service was held on that festival, you might want to deal with that topic. At any rate, the text ties together Ascension, just completed, with Pentecost, which is next Sunday.
Lesson 2: 1 Peter 4:12--14; 5:6--11 (C); 1 Peter 4:13--16 (RC); 1 Peter 4:12--19 (E); 1 Peter 4:12--17; 5:6--11 (L)
Peter instructs the church not to be caught off guard by their sufferings and persecutions. To endure suffering for the sake of Christ identifies them with the Lord, in contrast to suffering which results from wrongdoing. The suffering referred to might be that which was instigated by Nero, around 64 A.D. By this time, the term Christian was already in use (v. 16). Peter encourages the church to humbly accept their persecutions and to cast all their anxieties on the Lord (vv. 6--7). The persecutions are an attack of Satan (v. 8) and are to be resisted. Comfort derives from knowing that their suffering is shared by Christians throughout the known world (v. 9) and that, after a time of suffering, God will restore and strengthen them (v. 10).
Gospel: John 17:1--11 (C, RC, E, L)
This lection is part of Jesus' high priestly prayer, toward the end of the farewell discourse begun in chapter 13. The setting is the Last Supper. In his prayer, Jesus asks the Father to glorify the Son. For John, the glory of Christ is seen in the cross, as it is viewed through the lens of the resurrection. A developed Christology is evidenced here. Jesus refers to himself as Jesus Christ, which we see nowhere else in the gospels. Jesus communicates that he has finished
188
the task that the Father assigned him, to confer eternal life on his own (v. 3) by making God's name and word known. Jesus prays that the Father will sustain the community in unity enjoyed by the Father and the Son (v. 11).
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 68:1--10, 32--35 (C) - ''Let God rise up, let his enemies be scattered ...'' (v. 1a).
Psalm 27:1, 4, 7--8 (RC) - ''The Lord is my light and my salvation ...'' (v. 1a)
Psalm 47 (E, L) - ''God has gone up with a shout ...'' (v. 5a).
Prayer Of The Day
Dear Jesus, as you have made suffering glorious by offering up your life to the Father and for the world, teach us how to offer the unavoidable suffering of our lives up to you as our sacrifice of worship. We cast all our anxieties upon your strong shoulders. Lift us up and lead us on. In Jesus' name. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Acts 1:6--14
The Upper Room. In the same room where Jesus offered his life through bread and wine, which became his body and blood, the disciples returned after his ascension and devoted themselves to prayer. They were a community of pray--ers. There is a well known and respected devotional booklet called The Upper Room. Surely, this title was inspired by this passage. We all need to go regularly to our upper room. It doesn't have to be a particular place, though that is a salutary idea. Our upper room is a space and time in our lives when we make our whole being available to God, praising the Lord and seeking his guidance.
(For other approaches on this text, see The Ascension Of Our Lord.)
Lesson 2: 1 Peter 4:12--19; 5:6--11
The pinnacle and the precipice. Few men have experienced the pinnacles and the precipices of life more than President Richard Nixon. He had an indomitable spirit. One of his favorite maxims was: ''Failure is only fatal if you give up.'' His life began in adversity; his family was so poor that the children had to pass on their shoes to the next one in line. One of his brothers had asthma and so the mother took him to Arizona, leaving the other members of the family in California. In writing to her, he referred to himself as ''your good dog.'' Because of this background, he didn't expect that life should be one continuous picnic. Defeat and adversity are as much a part of life and just as valuable, as are success and victory. Peter tells his readers, ''Don't be surprised at the fiery ordeal which comes upon you ....'' The assumption is that adversity is integral to existence and that if we share Christ's suffering, we will also share his glory. If we don't bear the cross, we can't bear the crown.
The foot to the fire. Fire has traditionally been a symbol of God and, by association, the judgment of God. Fire consumes the impermanent, purges that which is tainted; consequently, it purifies. The ''fiery ordeal'' (v. 1) is a metaphor for judgment, which Peter mentions later in the passage (v. 17). Ordeal by fire is part of the religious tradition of India and some of the cultures in the South Sea islands. If a person can walk unscathed over a bed of red--hot coals, he or she is regarded as possessing the spirit of the god or gods. That's probably where we get the expression of putting one's foot to the fire. The fire of undeserved adversity and pain is truly an ordeal by fire. If our focus is not on the fire or our pain, but on the Lord, it will prove that we are the Lord's and improve the quality of our faith.
Who cares? When adversity strikes, we are tempted to think that nobody really cares, including God. Peter enjoins: ''Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you'' (v. 7).
189
We forget that caring is not synonymous with sheltering. If we have children, we sometimes have to let them take their knocks. It's part of the learning and character building process. The same applies to our relationship with God.
The 11th Commandment. Years ago, a young woman asked me, ''Hey, Pastor, you know what the 11th commandment is?'' ''No,'' I responded. She retorted: ''Thou shalt not sweat it.'' Peter is saying something similar in verse seven: ''Cast all your anxieties on him ....'' There is a difference, though. Saying 'don't sweat it'' isn't very helpful. The cause of the anxiety may not be valid for someone else but it is for the sufferer. When we enjoin another to cast his anxieties on the Lord, however, we are not dismissing his concerns but merely telling him to put the burdens on the Lord's back. He cares about us and will take our concerns seriously. Peter's advice is a little like the Greyhound commercial: ''Leave the driving to us.'' God knows where you want and need to go. Put him in the driver's seat. Then relax and enjoy the ride, even when the road is rough and bumpy.
Gospel: John 17:1--11
Eternally yours. As Jesus was preparing to sign off the letter of his life, he spoke and prayed concerning eternal life in the presence of his disciples, of how life could be eternally theirs. Eternal life is more than length of days or duration of time; eternal life is more quality than quantity. Eternal life is life saturated with the awareness of God. Duration of endless time apart from God is hell. Jesus laid out the way to eternal life, to know the Father through the Son (v. 3). Knowing is more than acquaintance. It is a relationship of love, sharing and intimacy. We need to tell the world that through such a relationship with Jesus life remains eternally theirs.
The Shining. The word doxa (glory) is employed several times in this passage. God is glorified in Christ and Christ is glorified in those who belong to him. When the Bible uses this word or words closely related, it pictures a luminous presence associated with the holy. For example, the glorious presence of God was revealed to the Jews in the period of wilderness wandering through the pillar of fire. Moses reflected this same glory after his encounter with God on Mount Sinai. In this passage, glory correlates closely with obedience (v. 4). Jesus showed forth the glory of God because he was obedient unto death. Likewise, we are God's shining ones when we yield our lives in obedience to his Word and will.
Jesus is praying for you. My mother is a woman of prayer. I'm certain that she prays for me at least daily. It's wonderful to know that I'm being lifted up to the Lord continually. It's also great to know that we are on Jesus' prayer list. As our High Priest, he is offering up the names of all those who belong to him, all who were imprinted with the name of the Holy Trinity at baptism.
The union label. Jesus prays that his disciples might be one just as the Father and the Son are. Their unity would show their union label, their union with the Father and the Son label.
PREACHING APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: Acts 1:6--14
Sermon Title: The Upper Room
Sermon Angle: The followers of the Lord returned to the upper room following the ascension of the Lord. There, they devoted themselves to prayer. The upper room is that special place of prayer that each Christian must find. More than that, the church is the upper room community, which is strengthened and knit together through common worship of the glorified Christ.
Outline:
1. The upper room - the place where Christ offered his body and blood
2. The upper room - the place of safety and security
3. The upper room - the place where the risen Christ appeared
4. The upper room - the prayer powerhouse of the fledgling church
5. Spend time daily in the upper room
190
Billy Sunday, formerly a baseball player for the Chicago Cubs, received the call to become an evangelist. In the early part of this century, he held spellbound great throngs of people with his simple gospel message. It was Sunday's practice to pray for the leaders of a community, where he was about to have a campaign. At one point, he wrote to the mayor of Columbus, Ohio, and asked for the names of those whom he should be praying for. The mayor sent Billy a copy of the phone book.
My daughter got a card in the mail informing her that her pastor was praying for her that day. She belongs to a very large and speedily growing congregation, where the pastor knows very few of his parishioners. How can pastors effectively pray for their flocks if they don't know their parishioners? Jesus knew his disciples as he poured out his soul in ardent prayer in the upper room. It's comforting to know that Jesus is praying for us, for all those whose names are recorded in the Lamb's Book Of Life.
Lesson 2: 1 Peter 4:12--14; 5:6--11
Sermon Title: The Rock Proclaims Glory In Suffering
Sermon Angle: The glory and power of God was ultimately revealed through Jesus' suffering and death. Peter maintains that as we share Christ's sufferings, we should glorify and praise God. Such suffering indicates we belong to the Lord and that we shall also share Christ's glory, when it is revealed in his second coming. To see glory in suffering necessitates seeing beyond the immediate pain to one's ultimate gain. It is difficult for American Christians to conceive how they might have to suffer for the sake of Christ. It needs to be pointed out how our culture is increasingly hostile toward traditional Christian values, as it relates to sexuality, family and economics.
Outline:
Introduction: Our text was written to a persecuted church, to enable them to hang in there. Peter reminds the flock that it is good and glorious to suffer for the sake of Christ. In American culture, Christians are not overtly persecuted but our culture is increasingly in conflict with our values. (Give examples.) Peter proclaims glory in suffering for Christ; how can this be?
1. Glory and honor are not easily obtained but come to those who are willing to pay the price of suffering and pain
2. Such suffering purifies and proves our faith (makes it durable) (v. 12)
3. If we share Christ's struggles, we will also share his victory (v. 13)
4. Suffering for Christ shows that God's Spirit rests upon us (v. 14)
Sermon Title: The Fiery Ordeal
Sermon Angle: Peter refers to the persecutions, which the church was undergoing, as the ''fiery ordeal'' (v. 12). Fire is a metaphor for God's judgment. Sodom and Gomorrah were deemed so sinful that they were destroyed by fire; only Lot and his family survived. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego survived the fiery furnace of judgment because of their faith in God (Daniel 3). Peter predicts that the world will be destroyed through fire (2 Peter 3:7--12). Fire is a fitting metaphor for the judgment of God because it not only destroys but transforms and purifies, which is God's ultimate aim. Our English word ''purify'' derives from the primary Greek word in the New Testament for fire. Paul maintains that the endeavors of our lifetime will be tested ''as by fire'' (1 Corinthians 3:12--15).
Outline:
1. Fire is a biblical symbol and metaphor for God's presence
2. Fire also symbolizes judgment (v. 12)
3. The early Christians had to suffer the judgment of the world and so must we
4. Only God's judgment really matters
5. The aim of God's judgment is to purify
191
Gospel: John 17:1--11
Sermon Title: The Glow Of Glory
Sermon Angle: Just prior to his crucifixion, Jesus is praying that the Father would glorify the Son so that the Son might glorify the Father (v. 1). The word ''glory'' refers to the luminous and awesome presence of the Holy, such as was manifested by Moses on top of Mount Sinai. This luminous glory was shown by Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. For John, the glory of Jesus is revealed on the cross. The suffering and death of Jesus are glorious because they show forth the glory of God's saving love. Christians demonstrate God's glory in their suffering for the gospel, according to our Second Lesson.
Outline:
1. Jesus prayed that the Father would glorify the Son (v. 1)
2. The glory of God is seen more clearly in the cross of Jesus (The glow of God's glory is seen not in pomp and power but in sacrificial love.)
3. Christ's glory is revealed in his obedience, which led to suffering (v. 4)
4. We reveal God's glory in being willing to suffer in obedience to the Gospel
5. Some day we will live in the light of God's eternal glory (vv. 10--11)
In the Old Testament, the meaning of the Hebrew word for glory (kabod) means literally to ''be heavy in weight.'' A person who receives glory is one who carries a considerable weight of importance. To give glory and praise is to acknowledge the weight that the person carries in the community. We sometimes say of a powerful person: ''He's a heavyweight'' or look at him throw his weight around.'' On the scale of importance, God carries the greatest weight of authority and honor. That's why he deserves our honor and praise. Christ reveals a God not only glorious in power (though he doesn't simply throw his weight around) but also glorious in goodness and love.
In October of 1983, a crazed zealot steered a truckload of dynamite into the United States Marine compound, killing over 200 American soldiers. A few saw the face of the terrorist attacker as he gunned his truck toward the mark. They reported that he wore a smile on his face. There he was on a mission of destruction and death, and his face was lit with a smile. Is this the expression of a demented mind? Perhaps. It could also be the face of one who believed supremely in the rightness of his cause. He assuredly believed that he was about to enter the gates of Paradise. The smile reflected the glow of misguided glory.
The Apostle Paul also witnessed the smile of glory. It was on the face of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. As Stephen was being stoned, he looked up and was transfixed by the glow of glory (Acts 7:55). Paul observed that glory and was eventually transformed by it.
192
Lesson 1: Acts 1:6--14 (C); Acts 1:12--14 (RC); Acts 1:(1--7) 8--14 (E, L)
The risen Christ orders his disciples to bear witness to him, with the promise of the Holy Spirit to enable them to accomplish the same. The newborn community of faith then returns from the Mount of Olives to the place where they were staying in Jerusalem. The 11 apostles are named, together with Jesus' mother and his family. This is the last time in the New Testament where Mary is mentioned. The community devoted itself to the discipline of prayer, while it waited for the guiding and empowering presence of the Spirit. Verses 1--8 are contained in the First Lesson for Ascension. If no service was held on that festival, you might want to deal with that topic. At any rate, the text ties together Ascension, just completed, with Pentecost, which is next Sunday.
Lesson 2: 1 Peter 4:12--14; 5:6--11 (C); 1 Peter 4:13--16 (RC); 1 Peter 4:12--19 (E); 1 Peter 4:12--17; 5:6--11 (L)
Peter instructs the church not to be caught off guard by their sufferings and persecutions. To endure suffering for the sake of Christ identifies them with the Lord, in contrast to suffering which results from wrongdoing. The suffering referred to might be that which was instigated by Nero, around 64 A.D. By this time, the term Christian was already in use (v. 16). Peter encourages the church to humbly accept their persecutions and to cast all their anxieties on the Lord (vv. 6--7). The persecutions are an attack of Satan (v. 8) and are to be resisted. Comfort derives from knowing that their suffering is shared by Christians throughout the known world (v. 9) and that, after a time of suffering, God will restore and strengthen them (v. 10).
Gospel: John 17:1--11 (C, RC, E, L)
This lection is part of Jesus' high priestly prayer, toward the end of the farewell discourse begun in chapter 13. The setting is the Last Supper. In his prayer, Jesus asks the Father to glorify the Son. For John, the glory of Christ is seen in the cross, as it is viewed through the lens of the resurrection. A developed Christology is evidenced here. Jesus refers to himself as Jesus Christ, which we see nowhere else in the gospels. Jesus communicates that he has finished
188
the task that the Father assigned him, to confer eternal life on his own (v. 3) by making God's name and word known. Jesus prays that the Father will sustain the community in unity enjoyed by the Father and the Son (v. 11).
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 68:1--10, 32--35 (C) - ''Let God rise up, let his enemies be scattered ...'' (v. 1a).
Psalm 27:1, 4, 7--8 (RC) - ''The Lord is my light and my salvation ...'' (v. 1a)
Psalm 47 (E, L) - ''God has gone up with a shout ...'' (v. 5a).
Prayer Of The Day
Dear Jesus, as you have made suffering glorious by offering up your life to the Father and for the world, teach us how to offer the unavoidable suffering of our lives up to you as our sacrifice of worship. We cast all our anxieties upon your strong shoulders. Lift us up and lead us on. In Jesus' name. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Acts 1:6--14
The Upper Room. In the same room where Jesus offered his life through bread and wine, which became his body and blood, the disciples returned after his ascension and devoted themselves to prayer. They were a community of pray--ers. There is a well known and respected devotional booklet called The Upper Room. Surely, this title was inspired by this passage. We all need to go regularly to our upper room. It doesn't have to be a particular place, though that is a salutary idea. Our upper room is a space and time in our lives when we make our whole being available to God, praising the Lord and seeking his guidance.
(For other approaches on this text, see The Ascension Of Our Lord.)
Lesson 2: 1 Peter 4:12--19; 5:6--11
The pinnacle and the precipice. Few men have experienced the pinnacles and the precipices of life more than President Richard Nixon. He had an indomitable spirit. One of his favorite maxims was: ''Failure is only fatal if you give up.'' His life began in adversity; his family was so poor that the children had to pass on their shoes to the next one in line. One of his brothers had asthma and so the mother took him to Arizona, leaving the other members of the family in California. In writing to her, he referred to himself as ''your good dog.'' Because of this background, he didn't expect that life should be one continuous picnic. Defeat and adversity are as much a part of life and just as valuable, as are success and victory. Peter tells his readers, ''Don't be surprised at the fiery ordeal which comes upon you ....'' The assumption is that adversity is integral to existence and that if we share Christ's suffering, we will also share his glory. If we don't bear the cross, we can't bear the crown.
The foot to the fire. Fire has traditionally been a symbol of God and, by association, the judgment of God. Fire consumes the impermanent, purges that which is tainted; consequently, it purifies. The ''fiery ordeal'' (v. 1) is a metaphor for judgment, which Peter mentions later in the passage (v. 17). Ordeal by fire is part of the religious tradition of India and some of the cultures in the South Sea islands. If a person can walk unscathed over a bed of red--hot coals, he or she is regarded as possessing the spirit of the god or gods. That's probably where we get the expression of putting one's foot to the fire. The fire of undeserved adversity and pain is truly an ordeal by fire. If our focus is not on the fire or our pain, but on the Lord, it will prove that we are the Lord's and improve the quality of our faith.
Who cares? When adversity strikes, we are tempted to think that nobody really cares, including God. Peter enjoins: ''Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you'' (v. 7).
189
We forget that caring is not synonymous with sheltering. If we have children, we sometimes have to let them take their knocks. It's part of the learning and character building process. The same applies to our relationship with God.
The 11th Commandment. Years ago, a young woman asked me, ''Hey, Pastor, you know what the 11th commandment is?'' ''No,'' I responded. She retorted: ''Thou shalt not sweat it.'' Peter is saying something similar in verse seven: ''Cast all your anxieties on him ....'' There is a difference, though. Saying 'don't sweat it'' isn't very helpful. The cause of the anxiety may not be valid for someone else but it is for the sufferer. When we enjoin another to cast his anxieties on the Lord, however, we are not dismissing his concerns but merely telling him to put the burdens on the Lord's back. He cares about us and will take our concerns seriously. Peter's advice is a little like the Greyhound commercial: ''Leave the driving to us.'' God knows where you want and need to go. Put him in the driver's seat. Then relax and enjoy the ride, even when the road is rough and bumpy.
Gospel: John 17:1--11
Eternally yours. As Jesus was preparing to sign off the letter of his life, he spoke and prayed concerning eternal life in the presence of his disciples, of how life could be eternally theirs. Eternal life is more than length of days or duration of time; eternal life is more quality than quantity. Eternal life is life saturated with the awareness of God. Duration of endless time apart from God is hell. Jesus laid out the way to eternal life, to know the Father through the Son (v. 3). Knowing is more than acquaintance. It is a relationship of love, sharing and intimacy. We need to tell the world that through such a relationship with Jesus life remains eternally theirs.
The Shining. The word doxa (glory) is employed several times in this passage. God is glorified in Christ and Christ is glorified in those who belong to him. When the Bible uses this word or words closely related, it pictures a luminous presence associated with the holy. For example, the glorious presence of God was revealed to the Jews in the period of wilderness wandering through the pillar of fire. Moses reflected this same glory after his encounter with God on Mount Sinai. In this passage, glory correlates closely with obedience (v. 4). Jesus showed forth the glory of God because he was obedient unto death. Likewise, we are God's shining ones when we yield our lives in obedience to his Word and will.
Jesus is praying for you. My mother is a woman of prayer. I'm certain that she prays for me at least daily. It's wonderful to know that I'm being lifted up to the Lord continually. It's also great to know that we are on Jesus' prayer list. As our High Priest, he is offering up the names of all those who belong to him, all who were imprinted with the name of the Holy Trinity at baptism.
The union label. Jesus prays that his disciples might be one just as the Father and the Son are. Their unity would show their union label, their union with the Father and the Son label.
PREACHING APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: Acts 1:6--14
Sermon Title: The Upper Room
Sermon Angle: The followers of the Lord returned to the upper room following the ascension of the Lord. There, they devoted themselves to prayer. The upper room is that special place of prayer that each Christian must find. More than that, the church is the upper room community, which is strengthened and knit together through common worship of the glorified Christ.
Outline:
1. The upper room - the place where Christ offered his body and blood
2. The upper room - the place of safety and security
3. The upper room - the place where the risen Christ appeared
4. The upper room - the prayer powerhouse of the fledgling church
5. Spend time daily in the upper room
190
Billy Sunday, formerly a baseball player for the Chicago Cubs, received the call to become an evangelist. In the early part of this century, he held spellbound great throngs of people with his simple gospel message. It was Sunday's practice to pray for the leaders of a community, where he was about to have a campaign. At one point, he wrote to the mayor of Columbus, Ohio, and asked for the names of those whom he should be praying for. The mayor sent Billy a copy of the phone book.
My daughter got a card in the mail informing her that her pastor was praying for her that day. She belongs to a very large and speedily growing congregation, where the pastor knows very few of his parishioners. How can pastors effectively pray for their flocks if they don't know their parishioners? Jesus knew his disciples as he poured out his soul in ardent prayer in the upper room. It's comforting to know that Jesus is praying for us, for all those whose names are recorded in the Lamb's Book Of Life.
Lesson 2: 1 Peter 4:12--14; 5:6--11
Sermon Title: The Rock Proclaims Glory In Suffering
Sermon Angle: The glory and power of God was ultimately revealed through Jesus' suffering and death. Peter maintains that as we share Christ's sufferings, we should glorify and praise God. Such suffering indicates we belong to the Lord and that we shall also share Christ's glory, when it is revealed in his second coming. To see glory in suffering necessitates seeing beyond the immediate pain to one's ultimate gain. It is difficult for American Christians to conceive how they might have to suffer for the sake of Christ. It needs to be pointed out how our culture is increasingly hostile toward traditional Christian values, as it relates to sexuality, family and economics.
Outline:
Introduction: Our text was written to a persecuted church, to enable them to hang in there. Peter reminds the flock that it is good and glorious to suffer for the sake of Christ. In American culture, Christians are not overtly persecuted but our culture is increasingly in conflict with our values. (Give examples.) Peter proclaims glory in suffering for Christ; how can this be?
1. Glory and honor are not easily obtained but come to those who are willing to pay the price of suffering and pain
2. Such suffering purifies and proves our faith (makes it durable) (v. 12)
3. If we share Christ's struggles, we will also share his victory (v. 13)
4. Suffering for Christ shows that God's Spirit rests upon us (v. 14)
Sermon Title: The Fiery Ordeal
Sermon Angle: Peter refers to the persecutions, which the church was undergoing, as the ''fiery ordeal'' (v. 12). Fire is a metaphor for God's judgment. Sodom and Gomorrah were deemed so sinful that they were destroyed by fire; only Lot and his family survived. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego survived the fiery furnace of judgment because of their faith in God (Daniel 3). Peter predicts that the world will be destroyed through fire (2 Peter 3:7--12). Fire is a fitting metaphor for the judgment of God because it not only destroys but transforms and purifies, which is God's ultimate aim. Our English word ''purify'' derives from the primary Greek word in the New Testament for fire. Paul maintains that the endeavors of our lifetime will be tested ''as by fire'' (1 Corinthians 3:12--15).
Outline:
1. Fire is a biblical symbol and metaphor for God's presence
2. Fire also symbolizes judgment (v. 12)
3. The early Christians had to suffer the judgment of the world and so must we
4. Only God's judgment really matters
5. The aim of God's judgment is to purify
191
Gospel: John 17:1--11
Sermon Title: The Glow Of Glory
Sermon Angle: Just prior to his crucifixion, Jesus is praying that the Father would glorify the Son so that the Son might glorify the Father (v. 1). The word ''glory'' refers to the luminous and awesome presence of the Holy, such as was manifested by Moses on top of Mount Sinai. This luminous glory was shown by Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. For John, the glory of Jesus is revealed on the cross. The suffering and death of Jesus are glorious because they show forth the glory of God's saving love. Christians demonstrate God's glory in their suffering for the gospel, according to our Second Lesson.
Outline:
1. Jesus prayed that the Father would glorify the Son (v. 1)
2. The glory of God is seen more clearly in the cross of Jesus (The glow of God's glory is seen not in pomp and power but in sacrificial love.)
3. Christ's glory is revealed in his obedience, which led to suffering (v. 4)
4. We reveal God's glory in being willing to suffer in obedience to the Gospel
5. Some day we will live in the light of God's eternal glory (vv. 10--11)
In the Old Testament, the meaning of the Hebrew word for glory (kabod) means literally to ''be heavy in weight.'' A person who receives glory is one who carries a considerable weight of importance. To give glory and praise is to acknowledge the weight that the person carries in the community. We sometimes say of a powerful person: ''He's a heavyweight'' or look at him throw his weight around.'' On the scale of importance, God carries the greatest weight of authority and honor. That's why he deserves our honor and praise. Christ reveals a God not only glorious in power (though he doesn't simply throw his weight around) but also glorious in goodness and love.
In October of 1983, a crazed zealot steered a truckload of dynamite into the United States Marine compound, killing over 200 American soldiers. A few saw the face of the terrorist attacker as he gunned his truck toward the mark. They reported that he wore a smile on his face. There he was on a mission of destruction and death, and his face was lit with a smile. Is this the expression of a demented mind? Perhaps. It could also be the face of one who believed supremely in the rightness of his cause. He assuredly believed that he was about to enter the gates of Paradise. The smile reflected the glow of misguided glory.
The Apostle Paul also witnessed the smile of glory. It was on the face of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. As Stephen was being stoned, he looked up and was transfixed by the glow of glory (Acts 7:55). Paul observed that glory and was eventually transformed by it.
192
