I. So like, this is a really weird passage, did anybody else notice that?

Transcription

1 For What It s Worth John 12:20-33 March 18, 2018 I. So like, this is a really weird passage, did anybody else notice that? A. A little review, it s time for the Festival of Passover and some Greek Jews wanted to see Jesus. Like they wanted to have a private audience with him or something. So. what happened? B. Well, I m not exactly sure, but I think Jesus has got so much on his mind that even after all the security measures taken to finally get these two guys to see Jesus, he doesn t even hear their introduction. C. Jesus is like just sitting there among his followers and Andrew and Philip come up to Jesus to present these two guys to Jesus and it s as if Jesus is off in another world and doesn t even hear Andrew and Philip as he takes off on this really odd prediction. Right? Did you notice that?

2 D. For me, this is a profound window into Jesus humanity. You can see how he is tortured by what he sees on the event horizon. I think Jesus is a little freaked out by what he sees is about to happen to him. Yeah, something s happening here and he s weirded out that no one else is like getting the vibe. E. Well, for what it s worth, I d like to share a song that I think, many of you know and you can join in on, that expresses just exactly what Jesus must have felt like as he prepared for his entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Oddly, it also seems to be ripped from today s headlines. 2 2

3 There's something happening here What it is ain't exactly clear There's a man with a gun over there Telling me I got to beware I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound There's battle lines being drawn Nobody's right if everybody's wrong Young people speaking their minds Getting so much resistance from behind It's time we stop, hey, what's that sound What a field-day for the heat A thousand people in the street Singing songs and carrying signs Mostly say, hooray for our side It's s time we stop, hey, what's that sound Paranoia strikes deep Into your life it will creep It starts when you're always afraid You step out of line, the man come and take you away We better stop, hey, what's that sound Stop, hey, what's that sound Stop, now, what's that sound Stop, children, what's that sound 3 II. It s just a truly bizarre scene that John sets up in this story. A. I mean, he sets up this scene where these two guys are meeting Jesus, but they never do talk to Jesus and Jesus just goes off on this rap. 3

4 B. I just think Jesus was just totally dismayed that nobody saw what was happening or they didn t want to see it. C. John reports Jesus saying, Now my soul is troubled, but to get a little more real, Jesus is saying he s like really messed up. He s like, What should I say? God don t make me do this. D. But, this is what it s all about. This is what his ministry all came down to and this is what the powers that be do to those who speak truth to lies and oppression. E. Somethings happenin here and Jesus is messed up by what he sees comin down and nobody else seems to see it. III. So why didn t all of the disciples see what was coming. A. Maybe because they were all in celebration mode. Let s party. 4 4

5 B. They re all getting ready for their big entrance in Jerusalem where there will be a thousand people in the street singing songs and carrying palms and all of them singing, Hurray for our side. C. Were they just unable to see the serious hangover that awaited them on the other side of the big party? D. Were they blind or in denial to the pain and sacrifice that lay ahead of them? Were they unable to understand that when you step out of line, the man come and take you away? IV. So, is it time we stop and look at what s going down? A. To be honest, the daily living conditions in Jesus day were a lot worse than they are for most people today. 1. They were all very poor and getting poorer, as the occupying forces of Rome redistributed money from the poor to the rich. Like today, but even worse. 5 5

6 2. Back then, people could die from the simplest of things, like a cut or a rotting tooth. 3. And let it be said that life in general was just not pleasant. B. The only way our situation may be worse is that today the powers that be really can destroy the world; either slowly through antienvironmental policies or instantly through nuclear war. V. So, on the day Jesus has his little melt down and tried to open the eyes of his disciples to what was coming, why was it that they were so blind to what was happening? Were they just not paying attention to the Spirit? So what about us? A. Are we paying attention? B. Are we woke? C. Are we in denial? D. Do we really just not understand the sacrifice that may be demanded of us? 6 6

7 E. Are we still acting as if we are living in normal times? F. Or, are we paralyzed and behaving like helpless victims of forces so much more powerful than we? VI. So, for what it s worth, WDJD. A. WDJD. What did Jesus do? 1. Jesus did not sink into denial; nor did he shirk his calling. 2. He could have hightailed it back to Galilee and gone back to carpentry and everybody would have been happy. 3. Certainly, his family would have been glad that he had finally regained his senses. 4. He could have even gone back into the backwaters of Galilee and continued to heal and preach. 5. But, he knew that such was not his calling; that was not where the Spirit was leading. 7 7

8 6. Instead he prepared to parade into Jerusalem, where he would shed light on the evil maleficence of Roman oppression and the collusion of the Temple authorities in their attempt to obstruct God s beloved community and continue in their disempowerment and impoverishment of the people. 7. Jesus knew that unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. And that was where this was all heading. 8. He was going into Jerusalem to cast out, to exorcise, the ruler on this world, not just the Priests in collusion with Rome, not merely the Roman Emperor, who had proclaimed himself to be the son of God; but to cast out the evil spirit that inspired the hateful, greedy and oppressive actions of those who would obstruct the building of God s beloved Community -- a commonwealth of love. B. That s what Jesus did. Yes, that s what Jesus did. 8 8

9 C. Now, not to put any pressure on you, but hear his words, Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. VII. For what it s worth, there s something happening here. Here! Now! How are we to follow Jesus? A. I stress the WE. It s not how will I follow Jesus or you follow Jesus, but how will we follow Jesus. B. Creating God s beloved community is a community affair it takes a village to have a village. C. With all that we have been bombarded with in the news over the past years, there is much to be done. 1. There is tremendous healing that is needed. 9 9

10 10 2. There are many who need safe and secure environments from the hatred and bigotry and even physical attacks and threats to life and liberty; threats that inspire fear that grips those who are afraid to step out of line or the man come and take them away. 3. There are so many that need to be feed, physically and spiritually. D. How will we do it all? Where will we find the courage? Just like Jesus did. Open your eyes, open you ears and follow the Spirit of Love. AMEN. 10