| February 24, 2008
You are Welcome to Reflect on this Message
Holy Week is instructive for a lot of reasons, not the least being all the mistakes people made. Among them are Peter’s sad denials. Judas’ cruel betrayal. The crowd’s choice. Pilate’s decision. People fail many times. But they don’t become failures till they blame somebody else. The words of Claudia Procula, Pontius Pilate’s wife, frame our text for the 3rd Sunday of Lent. It’s about something that ought to be familiar to all of us: the avoidance of responsibility.
She had a scary dream that was about to turn into an awful nightmare. Her counsel, whether in favor of Christ or protection of her husband, nevertheless was wise: “Have nothing to do with that righteous man!” What a relief it would’ve been for Pilate, for her, for all Jerusalem...if they didn't have to make a decision one way or the other about Jesus! Because nobody wanted "nothing to do with Jesus," more than Pilate. Caught in a crack, he tried to "wash his hands." "See to it yourselves." Accepting Christ was preposterous. Crucifying him was distasteful. But responsibility isn’t something that can be washed away with soap and water.
So. A Roman procurator stood face to face with a Galilean carpenter, confronted by an issue he couldn't dodge. For or against--that he could choose. But what his wife begged of him, that was a luxury in which Pilate had no choice. Neither do we. Their plight is understandable. Side-stepping difficult issues is a no-brainer. Because decision-making is some of the toughest business there is. So none may scoff at this couple–trying to retreat into neutrality. What a lotus-land that is, to be neither for nor against, just stay non-commital.
With life’s most important issues, there’s no room for mugwumps. Jesus said, "The one who’s not with me is against me." And that forever defeats any Pilate, trying to wash his hands of bloody decisions. Take our personal habits for example. We all have to decide the kind of person we’re going to be. You’ve got to choose between sobriety or drunkenness; whether you’ll be in control of your life or a pot-head. Are you gonna be somebody who’s word is good or play the field? Will you be somebody who believes in serving others, or just self-centered? You can avoid making up your mind, but not your life. Because something bigger than us forces us to choose the kind of life we have: "Sow an act, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. Sow a character, reap a destiny." Yeah you can wash your hands with disinfectant, but you still have to choose the kind of person you are.
See it in our political campaign, over the thorny issue of immigration. The border states are espousing isolationism. What a nuisance, to deal with the complexities of crossing borders. What a relief to American citizens if it would just go away! Why can’t they just stay where they are. We’re outa room here. Set up a blockade, or a 30' wall. Somebody’s had a fearful dream: "Have nothing to do with those foreign nations." They can’t even speak English.
When Jesus "steadfastly set his face to go up to Jerusalem," we think of what it meant for Jesus. But what did it mean for Jerusalem? What a strain his presence put on the holy city. There's something incendiary about him, which kicks up a ruckus everywhere he goes; and forces people to be for or against him, till like the inhabitants of Gadara, we try to get Jesus "to depart from of our coasts."
We prefer neutrality in our religious life. From the difficult requirements our faith forces upon us, many would gladly flee. That's why so few people go to church anymore. Who wants to face demands? I mean, "go the second mile," "forgive 70 x 7," or "turn the other cheek?" Who in this day and time is looking for a place that asks them to give away 1/10th of their paycheck to the church? "Love your enemies?" I mean, come on! Everybody knows enemies are to be destroyed. Have we forgotten what the Psalmist said? "Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? Or run from Thy presence? If I ascend to heaven, Thou art there! If I make my bed in hell, Thou art there!" Something told Claudia Procula they better, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man!"
There are other world-changers who have forced decisions upon us, like Jesus, in religion. Or Copernicus, then later Galileo in science. For centuries the church bounced him around like a hot-potato, because he proved the church wrong. In those pre-separation of church and state days, you make the Church look bad at your own peril. Their discovery was severly resisted by the church. Then as time went on, they just ignored the inconvenient truth. Truth is nasty like that. The helio-centric theory upset the prevailing Ptolemaic world-view, and it changed human society irrevocably. Eventually in 1992 the Church joined the modern era and removed its wrong-headed censorship of the Copernican theory. But now they’ve built “creationism museums,” to explain the inconvenient evidence of the existence of dinosaurs millions of years ago. There’s always something.
The fact of evolution is a threat to some people’s faith, so they’re attempting to legislate a poor theology and a poorer science by teaching both. You can't have it both ways. Which is it going to be? Evolution or creationism? There is no neutrality. And Pilate's wife warned: "Don't go messing with Jesus." People try that with God, too. Agnostic, is the weasel-word. I hear it all the time: "I believe in God, but I don't go to church." "Don’t like the organized thing." Talk about having it both ways! Saying one thing and living another never yet got anything worthwhile done and never will.
OK so who's neutral about their job? Who's neutral about sports? Or terrorism or nationalism? Who's neutral about their family? Try that one on for size. Everybody has a god! We’re born worshipers. We all live on a stage before some audience. It’s good to know who that is. Paul knew it, which is why he spoke to the Athenians about "an unknown god." In case somebody got left out. "Men of Athens, I perceive that you of all people are most religious." We can’t not be irreligious. Anything you can’t laugh about. That’s your god.
You can spend your life trying to make a living, but I see a whole lot of people with money who haven’t learned how to live. They end up miserable and take their life. I'm talking about idolatry! Most folks don’t bother to worship ... in a church. But what do you think goes on at Gillette Stadium on Sunday afternoons? “Oh that’s just a game.” In most of the important things we know we can't be neutral. When it comes to Jesus of Nazareth, if only we could dodge him. A lot of people have tried to "have nothing to do with him,"--but they can't. "You’re either with me or against me," he said.
There are lots of things about which we can be neutral. This theory or that ritual or denomination...which shopping mall you go to. What difference do things like that make? On some things there are many options. But when it comes to Jesus Christ, we’re either for or against. "Have nothing to do with that righteous man." So Pilate tried. And for centuries after he tried to pass the buck, the grim words that curse his memory have been repeated by millions in the Christian Creed: "Crucified under Pontius Pilate." My soul! What a decision he made when he tried not to decide!
Everybody who met Jesus in the New Testament, one way or another, had to decide. Mary said, "Let it be to me according to thy word." His disciples "left their nets to follow him," thinking they’d end up sitting on the right or left hand in glory. But the rich young ruler said "no, and went away sorrowful." He had to live with that decision the rest of his days. I’d think mighty hard before I said “no” to God. It’s a momentous decision.
Every time you come to church and hear the gospel preached, you have a decision to make. For or against? Zacchaeus of Jericho climbed up a sycamore tree. After Jesus singled him out, he had dinner with the sinner, but it left Zachaeus with an ethical choice. Would he or would he not make restitution for his greed and clean up his life? He did, 4-fold.
The Pharisees had plenty of religious purity, but despised the Samaritans. Would they give up their racial prejudice? Would the woman at the well give up her water jar-life? Or accept the "living water" of Christ. Would Nicodemus hang onto his Hebrew heritage or be “born all over again.” And Pilate's wife, frantically beseeching her fidgety husband, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man." These and many others faced in Jesus the most critical decision of their lives. Will they or won't they? Some chose yes. Most said no. But all had to live with the consequences. Old Pilate thought he was sitting in judgment upon Jesus. So it appeared. But in reality, Jesus was sitting in judgment upon Pilate. Ah those unavoidable forced decisions.
My sympathies go out to our voting electorate. Extremely difficult decisions are waiting on whoever wins. What kind of person would even attempt to deal with the complexity facing them next January? The pressure is going to be tremendous. I hear people say they don’t like any of the options. So they made a decision. “I’m just not gonna vote.” And that’s the most fatal decision of all!
We have just so much time, you and I to make the world a better place, instead of a better place for ourselves in the world. But the city of Jerusalem made a choice 2000 years ago: Barabbas over Jesus! A nationalistic terrorist over the softer, gentler Messiah. A hardened convict over the compassionate Son of God! No wonder Jesus prayed, "Forgive them, for they haven’t a clue!" I wonder, if they had known, would it have been any different? Nah, “knowing” isn’t the issue. Thinking we can “not decide” is. The valley of decision is a lonely place. Jesus had to walk it by himself. We too have to "walk our lonesome valleys,” but thank God “we don't walk it by ourselves,” God sent his son to walk it with us.
Prayer: (2/24/08) Lord Christ, on that day of destiny, when the religious and political authorities strutted around, you seemed more like a King than a criminal; even the cross became a throne. While everyone else was beside themselves, only one managed himself. When the cheers became jeers, and ‘hosannah’s turned to "Crucify," you forgave them. But on the 3rd day we could see in both Thy dying and rising, the life-giving grace of God...who never runs out of grace or life. Praise be to God!
Because of our pride we blame our failures on others and take sole credit for our achievements. Show us in this worship how wrong we are on both counts. We thank Thee for time in its progression, the seasons in their march, the stars in their courses; and for Thy life within us, binding us to one another and to Thee.
For signs in unlikely places that Thou art on the premises, believing in us more than we believe in ourselves, grant us what we need to be more like Jesus: an open mind, a forgiving spirit, indifference to wealth, a humbler estimate of self, a clearer vision of Thy will, and courage to do the right that we know.
Challenge us and comfort us O God, for we need both direction and consolation. So we gather in worship today, with our faith that "nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God we meet in Christ Jesus." For that we give Thee thanks. May it be our joy and uppermost intention to trust in Thee, work for Thee, so we may become like Thee. Amen. Back |
