Sermon Notes for November 26,

November 26, 2006
“What have you done?”
John 18:33-37

1. It may seem strange on this last Sunday in November to be reading scripture about the confrontation between Pilate and Jesus which is usually something we usually expect to hear about during Lent or Easter.

This is because, according to the lectionary, this is Christ the King Sunday.

And it is, according to assigned readings -- the last Sunday after Pentecost which is traditionally the end of the Church year. Which means that next Sunday, we start over with the Season of Advent, followed by Epiphany, Lent, Easter and the Pentecost, again.

At one time, centuries ago, all the major seasonal holidays were based on the Christian church calendar. Although, many of them, as we know, were originally taken over from the pagans, such as Halloween (All Saints Day) and Christmas (literally – Christ mass) which came from pre-Christian winter festivals. These festivals … or feast days … were especially useful in keeping people’s faith alive and reminding them of the reality that God’s kingdom was in their midst and to celebrated regularly.

However, nowadays, it is confusing at times in America to know what exactly is specifically Christian and what is political or cultural in our annual celebrations and what role the church should play in modern times.

2. For instance, some of you may have seen the History Channel’s excellent portrayal of the Pilgrims voyage to America (which is now the basis for our celebration of Thanksgiving). For, in the beginning, it was not, at that time, conceived of as a “religious” holiday – but rather as a harvest festival with certain religious overtones. Thanksgiving is not, really, a universal Christian holiday. For we need to remember that it is only celebrated in the United States – not by Christians in other parts of the world.

The Pilgrims also did not believe in celebrating Christmas. This is hard to believe – but, as we know, the Bible does not specify what time of year Jesus was born. As a result, the Pilgrims, who took the Bible to be the sole basis for religious faith – were against Christmas and all the partying, drinking, and eating that went with it in England.

In the movie, which I watched, they actually got into trouble for disseminating tracts against Christmas – which did not please King James – the King of England. He wanted them to stop. Eventually, because of persecution for their contradictory beliefs, they left England for Holland and eventually, after a harrowing journey across the Atlantic, they managed to set up a colony in New England. And, as the movie showed so powerfully, it was a situation filled with tragedy, courage, and stubborn religious faith – not unlike the story of Exodus in the Bible. All told, over 50 of the 100 or so Pilgrims (men, women, and children) died during the first year -- largely from lack of proper food. Ironically, as we all know, it was the Wampanoag Indians who eventually befriended them and probably saved their lives.

3. The gradual adoption, by many Protestant churches of lectionary and the consequent re-emphasis on the celebration of the church year – was really designed to try to re-establish the Church as the dominant influence on our Christian life. This is because, in a nation where there is a separation between church and state the church is often caught up, on the one hand, in honoring secular holidays such as Labor Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Thanksgiving … while, on the other hand, the culture takes over specifically Christian celebrations such as Christmas by commercializing them beyond all reason.

Sometimes, the Puritan side of me thinks that maybe the Pilgrims had it right. Maybe, I wonder, what it would be like to have a moratorium on Christmas for a few years and let everyone calm down and get some perspective on what is really supposed to be celebrated. But, it will never work. And besides, if we got rid of Santa Claus, all the children would revolt. Besides, it was already tried by the Puritans in America for about 200 years – and, in the end, it just didn’t work. I guess the Catholic Church (and the Church of England) just knew better because, after all, December is, otherwise, a cold and gloomy season and what better time to celebrate Christ’s birth and bring some hope and good cheer into the world. Right?

And actually, as the movie showed, the Puritans weren’t always serious all the time and on the first Thanksgiving they all ate and drank and partied with the Indians for at least three days. And because the water was so bad, even the little children had beer to drink. Pretty amazing! That must have really been quite a time back in 1621.

4. Well, as I wrote, in my December newsletter article -- “Life is certainly a Mixed Bag! -- at times.”

And so we are probably never going to have a complete separation of church and state ever in the world. Although, some groups, such as Amish and various Mennonite groups do attempt to set themselves apart from modern life … in ways very similar to some of the early American colonists.

And, there is, in fact, right here in this area, a fairly large group of Russian Orthodox “Old Believers” up around Erskine. Did you know that?

Old Believers, I have learned, are a part of the Russian Orthodox Church that still celebrate the liturgical rites as they existed prior to the reforms of Patriarch Nikon (like in the camera) in the seventeenth century. Old Believers now exist in many different countries around the world, but their goal remains the same: to preserve the Old Rite of the Russian Orthodox Church.
According to one account, Old Believers struggle to preserve traditions dating to medieval times. They cling to strict rules: No meat on Wednesdays or Fridays. Peasant-style clothing must be worn with a belt. Followers cannot eat off the same dishes as non-believers, so, when they are away from home, some Old Believers eat out only at fast-food restaurants where meals come in disposable containers.
Old Believers also celebrate Christmas according to the Russian Orthodox religious calendar, which runs two weeks behind the Gregorian calendar used in the West.

5. Though most Americans decorate for Christmas, Old Believers do the opposite: All ornaments, such as religious icons, are taken down and the house is cleaned and made as bare as possible before the holiday. In addition, all members must fast for periods of time and abstain from alcohol leading up to Christmas. They celebrate the holiday with an all-night mass ending with a festive breakfast and a return of the decorations.

I learned about this group from Rev. Lois Ball who serves the United Methodist Churches in Fosston and Erskine. And one Saturday, I drove up there and actually had a bowl of borscht at Elena’s Russian deli in beautiful downtown Erskine! And sure enough, they spoke Russian and several young people who were in the restaurant wore very traditional Russian peasant clothes with tall leather boots. For a moment, it looked like a scene out of Dr. Zhivago.

According to one report, there are over 10,000 Old Believers in Oregon which has the largest concentration of members of their faith in the United States. Many were apparently directed to the state by charities that helped Christians migrate from communist countries during the Cold War.


6. A mixed bag indeed! So many people, so many ways of understanding and worshipping God and Jesus Christ – all within the Christian world.

And it was all started by one man – Jesus. Who, in the minds and hearts of his followers was the Messiah -- the Christ – the incarnation of God? Or, as John’s Gospel puts it - “The word of God – who became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.”

And this man, Jesus, was also to say, in the words of John’s Gospel … “my Kingdom is not of this world.” A powerful statement which would overturn all established ideas … and set Jesus above all earthly rulers to this very day.

That is the message of Christ the King Sunday as is set before us the famous story of Jesus encounter with Pilate.

Now, it is must be understood that this dialogue is for the most part a piece of inspired writing. For, although the Gospel is attributed to John – Jesus’ disciple … it was likely written some 60 years after the event. Further, there is no evidence that the disciples were even present at Pilate’s headquarters. For, as the Gospels tell us, they had dispersed, fearing for their very lives.

7. Rather, it is more likely that this account is derived from stories and verbal history – as it circulated in the Christian community. After all they had no videos or tape recorders of what Jesus really said or did. It is all oral history … later written down by believers who sought to tell the story for future generations.
And, yet by all accounts, it is one of the most profound spiritual writings we have in the world today. For, unlike the other Gospels, which tend to more or less, report the facts, John’s Gospel goes much deeper … and reveals not only the events, but also provides insight into the spiritual depths of Jesus, himself, and those he encountered.

This kind of interior dialogue sometimes seems strange to us today – especially in our rationalistic and materialistic modern world where many people have a hard time believing or understanding that there even is an unseen spiritual world all around us.

As a result, today, we tend to have this split between those who only believe only in the historical reality of Jesus the man. In other words, those who are only interested, like the famous detective Jack Webb in Dragnet, “in the facts.” “Just the facts, mam!”

And then there are those who are mistakenly caught up in same the modern idea of truth as being limited to facts, who want to believe the entire Bible is a “fact” – and therefore literally true in every detail Whereas, the real truth, as in all things spiritual, lies beneath the surface.

8. This understanding, which is beginning to be realized again is that according to early Christian teachers, such as Gregory of Nyssa, is that there are really three dimensions to Bible teaching:
a. One is its historical or literal meaning
b. Two is its moral or ethical meaning
c. And the third is its spiritual meaning

So, since we are mostly familiar with the first two … let us take a look at the spiritual dimension from the viewpoint of Jesus and Pilate’s encounter.

Nothing seems to bring out this misunderstanding or confusion about the spiritual world than this conversation (or interrogation) as John describes it in the Scripture for today.

Notice what is happening … notice how Pilate and Jesus seem to be talking about two different realities. Listen, again to the dialogue:

“Are you the king of the Jews?"
“Is that your own idea, or did others talk to you about me?"

Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?"

Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."

"You are a king, then!"

"You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."

"What is truth?" Pilate asked.

With this he went out again to the Jews and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him.

9. Quite clearly, we can see that Pilate is a man of this world -- a military man and a practical man. He only wants the facts.

“Are You the King of the Jews?” he asks.
YES – OR NO?

Just the facts.

And that is reality with which most people see the world most of the time. Materialistically and factually and often, when it comes to the Bible -- literally.
What is missing is the ability to go deeper … and to understand that there is a deeper spiritual reality which transcends the physical world which cannot be reduced to mere facts.

This is why Jesus cannot answer Pilate directly, for Pilate cannot understand, with his everyday mindset, who Jesus really is because Pilate is not in touch with his own spiritual reality.

10. And so, as the conversation continues, the table is gradually turned on Pilate – largely because he doesn’t understand where Jesus is coming from.

This is unnerving to Pilate … for he is in over his head and he begins to feel that he is the one who is being questioned. It is as if, without saying it, Jesus is saying to Pilate, “You don’t get it … do you? That is why I can’t explain who I am. For I am not a political ruler, I have no army, only followers. But we are not planning on taking over the world by physical force as you and Caesar have done. We plan to take over the world by spiritual means and without violence. My Kingdom will come through the power of God’s spirit not with armies and legions. Regardless of what you do to me … it will not matter – for God is at work here and cannot be defeated.”

To put it more directly, according to the Methodist commentary Jesus makes three points:

a. God’s kingdom is not of this world
b. He came into the world to testify to God’s truth
c. Those persons who are capable of understanding God’s truth will become part of the Kingdom of God

To which, Pilate gives his famous reply, “What is truth?”

11. Now then, we must understand that this is a clash of spiritual realities. It is a confrontation between the material world of reality … in which we live and eat and sleep and make our living … and another even more powerful reality which is the world of the Spirit … which through God’s grace can also live and take life within us which we call the Kingdom of God. If and when this spiritual reality becomes a part of our lives we will never be exactly the same. Oh yes, we will still live and have our daily life in this world … and, in fact, on the outside, not much may seem to change. In fact, our friends and neighbors may not even see much of a difference. Life may, indeed, go on much as before.

But, now, we will belong to two realities - one of this world and other of the world of God’s spirit … living within us and working to transform us from the inside out.
Which is why, as a church, we are called to be attuned to this spiritual reality which surrounds us … and dwells within us – even though we are not always aware of it all the time.

12. Now what I was originally going to talk about this morning was about drugs … that’s right drugs. Both good and bad drugs. Because, more than ever we live in a drug society. People take drugs for medical reasons … this is generally good and also many people take drugs to alter their minds and emotions … and this is not good. But more and more chemical substances are replacing or altering in certain ways … intentionally or otherwise … the spiritual realities in which we live.
Now, speaking of drugs, as we all know, Karl Marx critically accused religion of being the “opiate of the masses” and then he went on to replace religion with politics and economics which were ironically, in the form of communism, just another opiate. So, while he was wrong, in part, he was also right. In short, almost anything we create, it seems, can become an opiate, a drug, an addiction. For, we must realize today that for many, politics and religion are still opiates. We need only witness the powerful fanaticism which mixing these two powerful realities can create. Today, in fact, many people are easily swept up into a frenzy of hatred and paranoia and are even willing to die for causes which they believe will bring them salvation.

13. But, that will have to wait until next Sunday, when I will talk about Timothy Leary and LSD and lot of other things. Just a little commercial to get you come back next week … like on the evening news. Okay?
For now, let us realize … we live in a world which is hungry for answers and yet the truth evades us much of the time.

Most of the time, the answers we seek are in the things we can see, touch, smell, eat, vote for, drive around in, wear, or manufacture. Human things which we hope will make us beautiful, happy, popular, materially prosperous, and all the rest.
When all the while the true reality of God’s love is all around us -- in the beauty of nature, in the sound of music, in the caring of other people, in the silence of a heartfelt prayer at the end of a long day.

No, God’s kingdom is not some drug we take, some quick fix, some panacea or self-help positive thinking approach to salvation.

14. Jesus words are carefully chosen. It is not situation which allows for a quick Yes or No answer; for he is speaking of the great mystery of God’s presence -- where words cannot fully describe something so profound, so awesome.
And perhaps this is why there are so many different responses to Jesus and the Christian life from the Puritans to the Catholic to the Protestants to the Orthodox believers and the Amish and Mennonites and much more.

And this is because no one of us … no single group of people can ever fully comprehend or fully express the greatness of God and his revelation in Jesus Christ.
All we can do is find our own way … and live faithfully … always asking in the words of Jesus, “let thy kingdom come, and thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.”
Let us pray …