Readings:
Sermon:
From time to time we find ourselves having to respond to a very significant question. Somebody is waiting for our response and, in some situations, our response could change our lives for ever. Maybe it is our choice about what we will do with our lives or who we may choose to spend the rest of our lives with! On some occasions it may be about where we shall live or, maybe, it is a very important decision about our health.
In today’s Gospel reading we find a very disconcerted Peter struggling with the realities of his initially very confident decision to follow the preacher that made such a profound impact on him some while back. He had listened to his words which had changed the direction of his life and, then, with others, had decided to follow him in his preaching ministry through the Galilee region. In some deep and profound way he realised that he was, indeed, the promised Messiah who had come to set his people free again and restore the Kingdom of David. He had followed Jesus as the crowds swirled and flocked round him and, no doubt, inhaled the ecstasy created, by such wonderful experiences. Surely this is the promised one of God who had been heralded by the prophet John and would free Israel from its bondage in the Roman Empire.
When Jesus had asked him the question “ Who do you say that I am “ he had replied with great confidence, “ You are the Messiah “ and he really meant it, but what did he mean? Now Jesus was confusing him with talk about suffering and death. What on earth was he talking about? “No,” he thought, that’s not what I meant by Messiah! How can the promised one of God endure suffering and death? Peter must have suffered profound shock and I expect that he and the other disciples barely listened as Jesus outlined what was about to happen to him. Maybe, in one situation or the other, in one service or another, you have been asked the question, ‘Do you turn to Christ?’ and I expect that you have been very ready to respond affirmatively and with enthusiasm, However, did you mean to say yes and, if so, have you found yourself grappling with the question of how an Almighty God can die in great suffering upon the Cross, executed as a common criminal? Do we know what we are really assenting to when we say yes!
On numerous occasions I have been asked how I can ever begin to believe in an all- powerful God who has created us and who reigns over the universe? Time and time again I have it pointed out to me that we are surrounded by such great personal suffering and by such endless grief as people suffer in one war after the other. Then I begin to wonder about what it means to turn to Christ and should I have said yes and, in any case, does it mean anything?
Then I stop and reflect and, in the deepest possible way. As I begin to struggle with the questions of others then I begin to know that it was right for me to say,’ yes’, I turn to Christ! Why are you so certain I hear you say? The answer is to do with the profound and everlasting love of Jesus that is revealed to us every time we ponder the distinction between the power that is revealed as people and nations try to force their understanding of what is right on others and the power that is revealed in costly, self-giving love for others. This is why it is so earth shaking when we see it displayed in the picture of a crowned king hanging from the cross of execution. This is the true Kingly power that will change our world if only we are prepared to turn towards it and own it for ourselves and, yes, it is revealed in times of suffering as well as of joy and, yes, we may still suffer if we are indeed prepared to turn to Christ.
If only nation states could dare to move away from the power of earthly Kings and discover it in the vulnerability of a baby in a manger or someone prepared to love so much that in his dying moments he released the true power of the love which can save both us from ourselves and the planet from its fantasy that force is the only way that will bring us true peace.
Questions:
- What are the questions that have brought the most soul searching to you?
- What do you say when someone asks you ‘ Do you turn to Christ?’