I have endeavoured to blog during Lent alongside Mark Elcocks, a member of my congregation. Mark’s blog can be found via www.stmichaelsb32.org.uk.
I am glad Easter is here. It only makes sense if we use it as a springboard to change the world: Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Meanings in and around the Cross
The Three Hours are for me for of the most sacred times of the Christian Calendar.
1It was before Passover, and Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and to return to the Father. He had always loved his followers in this world, and he loved them to the very end. 2Even before the evening meal started, the devil had made Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, decide to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that he had come from God and would go back to God. He also knew that the Father had given him complete power. 4So during the meal Jesus got up, removed his outer garment, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5He put some water into a large bowl. Then he began washing his disciples’ feet and drying them with the towel he was wearing.
The Emperor Constantine shaped much of Christian history when he issued an edict of toleration for the Christian faith and then allowed Christianity to be embraced as a state religion. A significant part of the story occurred just prior to the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312.
According to these sources, Constantine looked up to the sun before the battle and saw a cross of light above it, and with it the Greek words “Ἐν Τούτῳ Νίκα” (“by this, win!”) Constantine commanded his troops to adorn their shields with a Christian symbol (the Chi-Rho), and thereafter they were victorious.
How different would history have been if instead of the Chi-Rho, the Emperor had seen a bowl and a towel. It is difficult to imagine the Crusaders marching on to war with shields emblazoned with a bowl and a towel.
Jesus washing of his disciples feet needs to be understood for what it is. It is a prophetic act.
Prophetic acts point always to something more than the actual action. True the act would have been treasured for
what it was by those present at the Passover meal.
The washing of the feet was also an act of humility. In Palestinian circles, the host at the meal, which Jesus was, was not the one who washed feet. It was meant to be done by a servant or a slave. Monarchs, archbishops and priests have all echoed this act of humility by washing feet.
But the act was not just an act of humility alone, no matter how impressive it was. Rather Jesus was giving the disciples a template for living.
Jesus actions seem to paint a wonderful picture in action of what Paul does with words in his letter to the Church at Philippi
5and think the same way that Christ Jesus thought: [a] 6Christ was truly God. But he did not try to remain [b] equal with God. 7Instead he gave up everything [c] and became a slave, when he became like one of us. 8Christ was humble. He obeyed God and even died on a cross. 9Then God gave Christ the highest place and honored his name above all others. 10So at the name of Jesus everyone will bow down, those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. 11And to the glory of God the Father everyone will openly agree, “Jesus Christ is Lord!”
Jesus by taking the form of a slave acts in the opposite way to most of us. Most of us—myself included– am only too willing to assert my own individual rights. Jesus, the perfect human, who deserved to be served, serves others. In this he offers not just an example of humility, but a template for human living and human growth. Jesus challenges what Rowan Williams has called our illusions of omnipotence, or to put it another way, The story of God becoming human in Jesus shows us how shallow our understanding of God is at times.
Christ Jesus, putting the towel and around his waist, and washing feet shows us how God really acts—and challenges us to do the same.
Why should we treat others as Christ does? Perhaps an answer is found in Jewish traditions at time of the birth of the early church of angels giving reverence to human beings. This reverence was offered because in each human they could see the face or image of God.
What would life be like if we saw in each human the image of God? How different would our actions be both within and outside the Church?
Our lives would be closer, I would suggest, to the pattern offered by Jesus.
Washing feet
Washing feet, touching the divine
Touching the divine, healing wounds
Healing wounds, with self-emptying love
Self-emptying love, a pattern both human and divine
Human and divine patterns offering a shape
A shape for us to love and grow
To love and grow as we wash feet
To see in each the presence of the divine
35Jesus asked his disciples, “When I sent you out without a moneybag or a travelling bag or sandals, did you need anything?” “No!” they answered. 36Jesus told them, “But now, if you have a moneybag, take it with you. Also take a travelling bag, and if you don’t have a sword, sell some of your clothes and buy one. 37Do this because the Scriptures say, `He was considered a
criminal.’ This was written about me, and it will soon come true.” 38The disciples said, “Lord, here are two swords!” “Enough of that!” Jesus replied.
This passage in Luke comes at the end of the Jesus’ teaching at the Last Supper. Jesus is reminding his disciples that times are changing. He reminds them of the halcyon days of their mission in Galilee.
It was a time when the popularity of Jesus from Nazareth was on the rise, and people welcomed the disciples with their message of peace and good news about the kingdom. This is something that the disciples report back to Jesus upon their return.
17When the seventy-two [g] followers returned, they were excited and said, “Lord, even the demons obeyed when we spoke in your name!” 18Jesus told them:
I saw Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. 19I have given you the power to trample on snakes and scorpions and to defeat the power of your enemy Satan. Nothing can harm you. 20But don’t be happy because evil spirits obey you. Be happy that your names are written in heaven! (Luke 10)
Now time has changed. Jesus knows that his arrest is imminent. Whilst, I am very comfortable with Jesus knowing because of who he was (the divine son of God); he had by his actions placed himself on a collision course with both the Jewish authorities and the might of Imperial Rome.
Jesus is warning the disciples about what is to come. Jesus is about to be arrested and convicted as a criminal. Indeed Luke is specific that the charges that would be laid before Pilate are political rather than religious.
1Everyone in the council got up and led Jesus off to Pilate. 2They started accusing him and said, “We caught this man trying to get our people to riot and to stop paying taxes to the Emperor. He also claims that he is the Messiah, our king.” (Luke 23)
There is little doubt that the disciples would have been in the sights of the authorities. They would now have to fend for themselves rather than rely on the popularity of Jesus.
But is Jesus really telling them to purchase swords, or is he, like the master teacher he is, indulging in metaphor? From what we learn of the events of Jesus’ betrayal and arrest, it is unlikely that Jesus wants the disciples to follow the practice of the zealots (the political revolutionaries or freedom fighters of the day)
49When Jesus’ disciples saw what was about to happen, they asked, “Lord, should we attack them with a sword?” 50One of the disciples even struck at the high priest’s servant with his sword and cut off the servant’s right ear.
51“Enough of that!” Jesus said. Then he touched the servant’s ear and healed it. (Luke 22)
Jesus also brings the conversation with the disciples to an abrupt end. This is in all likelihood yet another example of those who followed Jesus misunderstanding what he is saying.
The Messiah who is about to be crucified is reminding those who are on his side will be identified with him—and their Jesus was about to be identified as a criminal.
I wonder at times whether Jesus might have at times have been disappointed with the disciples?
I also wonder whether at times—at this stage of their messianic adventure, without the benefit of knowing how the story would unfold whether they were disappointed with Jesus?
Jesus also seems to be telling them that they are caught up in the battle between good and evil that is being played out on a cosmic, spiritual stage.
How are we to make sense of this passage today?
The Methodist Covenant Prayer contains the following words. We might want to use them as we move forward to Maundy Thursday and beyond
‘I am no longer my own but yours.
Put me to what you will,
rank me with whom you will;
put me to doing,
put me to suffering;
let me be employed for you,
or laid aside for you,
exalted for you,
or brought low for you;
let me be full,
let me be empty,
let me have all things,
let me have nothing:
I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things
to your pleasure and disposal.’
31When the Son of Man comes in his glory with all of his angels, he will sit on his royal throne. 32The people of all nations will be brought before him, and he will separate them, as shepherds separate their sheep from their goats. 33He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34Then the king will say to those on his right, “My father has blessed you! Come and receive the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world was created. 35When I was hungry, you gave me something to eat, and when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I was a stranger, you welcomed me, 36and when I was naked, you gave me clothes to wear. When I was sick, you took care of me, and when I was in jail, you visited me.” 37Then the ones who pleased the Lord will ask, “When did we give you something to eat or drink? 38When did we welcome you as a stranger or give you clothes to wear 39or visit you while you were sick or in jail?” 40The king will answer, “Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me.” 41Then the king will say to those on his left, “Get away from me! You are under God’s curse. Go into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels! 42I was hungry, but you did not give me anything to eat, and I was thirsty, but you did not give me anything to drink. 43I was a stranger, but you did not welcome me, and I was naked, but you did not give me any clothes to wear. I was sick and in jail, but you did not take care of me.” 44Then the people will ask, “Lord, when did we fail to help you when you were hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in jail?” 45The king will say to them, “Whenever you failed to help any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you failed to do it for me.” 46Then Jesus said, “Those people will be punished forever. But the ones who pleased God will have eternal life.”
There are a number of observations that deserve to be made when responding to this passage.
13As I continued to watch the vision that night, I saw what looked like a son of man [f] coming with the clouds of heaven, and he was presented to the Eternal God. [g] 14He was crowned king and given power and glory, so that all people of every nation and race would serve him. He will rule for ever, and his kingdom is eternal, never to be destroyed. (7:13-14)
8The rulers of this world didn’t know anything about this wisdom. If they had known about it, they would not have nailed the glorious Lord to a cross (1 Corinthians 2: 8)
– hungry are fed
– thirsty are given something to drink
– people are visited
The righteous appear surprised that such things are being rewarded.
What does such a story have to say to our 21st Century culture?
In a world of glamour, celebrity culture and instant success, it might point out that simple acts of charity ore items of lasting value. To a church, where education, numerical increases, and charismatic acts (whether personality or the miraculous) can bring particular rewards, acts of charity which cannot so easily be counterfeited are the real hallmarks of the kingdom of God. Acts of genuine charity flow out of a contrite heart, which decides to have the same humility that Jesus himself showed.
5and think the same way that Christ Jesus thought: [a] 6Christ was truly God. But he did not try to remain [b] equal with God. 7Instead he gave up everything [c] and became a slave, when he became like one of us. 8Christ was humble. He obeyed God and even died on a cross. 9Then God gave Christ the highest place and honoured his name above all others. 10So at the name of Jesus everyone will bow down, those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. 11And to the glory of God the Father everyone will openly agree, “Jesus Christ is Lord!” (Philippians 2: 5-11)
Nevertheless, we still need to return to the thorny issue of judgement, and for 21st Century people, the idea of someone sitting in judgement seems beyond the pale. What are we judged for in Matthew’s passage? Judgement is executed because we have failed to see God in others. For when we do not visit, feed and provide shelter, we fail to recognise that each one of us is made in the image of God. Such a failure is a chilling thought and the only response is silence and sorrow.
Mark 11
12When Jesus and his disciples left Bethany the next morning, he was hungry. 13From a distance Jesus saw a fig tree covered with leaves, and he went to see if there were any figs on the tree. But there were not any, because it wasn’t the season for figs. 14So Jesus said to the tree, “Never again will anyone eat fruit from this tree!” The disciples heard him say this.
15After Jesus and his disciples reached Jerusalem, he went into the temple and began chasing out everyone who was selling and buying. He turned over the tables of the moneychangers and the benches of those who were selling doves. 16Jesus would not let anyone carry things through the temple. 17Then he taught the people and said, “The Scriptures say, `My house should be called a place of worship for all nations.’ But you have made it a place where robbers hide!”
18The chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses heard what Jesus said, and they started looking for a way to kill him. They were afraid of him, because the crowds were completely amazed at his teaching. 19That evening, Jesus and the disciples went outside the city.
20As the disciples walked past the fig tree the next morning, they noticed that it was completely dried up, roots and all. 21Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree. Then Peter said, “Teacher, look! The tree you put a curse on has dried up.”
22Jesus told his disciples:
Have faith in God! 23If you have faith in God and don’t doubt, you can tell this mountain to get up and jump into the sea, and it will. 24Everything you ask for in prayer will be yours, if you only have faith.
25-26Whenever you stand up to pray, you must forgive what others have done to you. Then your Father in heaven will forgive your sins.
Jesus’ cursing of the fig tree is peculiar when read on its own. It is shocking when read in the context of Jesus’ own time and related to the action that Jesus is reported to have taken in the Temple.
Indeed, we might think of Jesus as being slightly churlish: a fig tree does not produce fruit out of season. However there are indications of Jewish Proverbs, dating from around the time of Jesus, that talk of fig trees bearing fruit in the presence of the Messiah. some biblical scholars have made the connection with Jeremiah 8: 11-13, where
Israel’s God compares the people of Israel to a fig tree as well as to a vineyard.
For Mark’s Gospel, the cursing of the fig tree is connected inextricably with the action in the Temple. What is Jesus doing then in the Temple?
Many preachers have demonstrated that Jesus is railing against the excesses of the Temple
Jesus and his earliest followers were not unique in being critical of the Temple, including certain of the Pharisees and those who wrote the writings found near the Dead Sea.
But what if Jesus was not just offering a critique, but pronouncing judgement on the Temple. Such an idea is not that far-fetched. Jesus turns over the money changer’s tables, therefore no monies can be exchanged into Temple currency, and thus no animals could be bought for sacrifice. Little wonder then the chief priests want to take action against Jesus.
The use of symbols and actions were well understood by both prophets and people alike. The Old Testament is littered with examples of prophets doing things that point to something else: the potter in Jeremiah; Ezekiel laying on his side, and Isaiah’s nakedness of just three.
What is Jesus then symbolising?
The fig tree did not blossom in the messianic age, and therefore was judged.
The people of God who had been called to be a light to all, and chose not to be appear also to be judged.
Jesus was not though an ordinary revolutionary. His values demanded—and still-demand that the values of the world are stood on its head.
This is no where clearer seen than in his comments to his disciples when they discover the fig tree has withered.
25-26Whenever you stand up to pray, you must forgive what others have done to you. Then your Father in heaven will forgive your sins.
‘The person who broke the mould’ is how one scholar has described Jesus.
Jesus at one and the same time brings judgement and forgiveness.
What is it that God needs to judge in this church, in our lives and in the life our nation?
Mothering Sunday or Mother’s Day is a Day of Refreshment during the Lenten fast.
I have to admit that the service at St Michael and All Angels Church this morning was fantastic. You can read more about the Church at http://www.achurchnearyou.com/bartley-green-st-michael-all-angels/ or at www.stmichaelsb32.org.uk.
Microwaves, Rainbows and Brownies, prayer stations, faith badges. It is very easy to do fantastic ‘one-offs’; nurturing discipleship that is authentic and consistent is much harder.
it should have been move away from the PC rather than PCC… but there you go, any priest can dream….
I have to confess that I do get the Church Times. I always read the situations vacants column, even when not looking for another post. I sometimes, but rarely, read other parts, but hardly ever the back page interview.
The edition on 1st April 2011 caught my eye. It was not a foolstide joke. The interviewee comments about how dogs are her spiritual directors. They do not, she says, send you away with a scripture, but they are loyal, attentive listeners and live in the present.
Certainly sometimes walking my dogs around the rezza (reservoir) or through the Country Park just before or after 6am is one of my closest moments with the divine during the day. It is not just that the two hounds cause me to go at a slower pace – what’s the hurry when there is a different smell or if wee-mail needs to be placed on a lamp post or a strategic blade of grass for another dog to reply to. When they are running, they do want God created them for – how can I not worship when I see that?
The interviewee also says that dogs live in the present. That is true – and that is a challenge. I do not often live in the moment. I think Jesus lived in the moment. For a man on a mission, he had time.
Why have I not said who was being interviewed. The paper is by the kettle in the kitchen. If I moved away from the PCC. I would find something else to do, as the demands of time force me out of the moment.
Lurcher
 | Phil Groom on Holy Saturday |
 | Elaine Evans on Cancelled: dealing with being… |
 | Alison Le Cornu on The enemy |
| Alison Le Cornu on I am afraid |
 | 1urcher on An Evangelical Apology |
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