Easter: Code for Life

The Resurrection of Our Lord

April 8, 2012

Mark 16:1-8

Have you seen one of these recently?

Now, if I tell you that this funny looking bar code is a thing called a QR Code that is read by a smart phone you might have one of 3 reactions:

1) Ooh, for a smart phone, cool; I've got an app for that!

2) It's for a smart phone? Listen, my phone still has a real dial tone, with a real dial, and I definitely don't know what the heck that square code thing is.

3) It's for a smart phone, who cares!

These codes are a part of a whole new language.

A whole new way of communicating, of sharing a message, of getting the word out.

Just because it’s new doesn't mean we should just write it off - it might change how we do things.

……

Codes are forms of communication.

Some codes (like Morse code on the telegraph; or bar codes on products) are patterns of sounds, or lines, or numbers, or symbols, communicating some form of information.

Other codes set standards or principles; like codes of conduct, or building codes.

….

The cross was a code; a code of death.

In Jesus time crucifixion was a common form of execution used by the empire.  It was a way to squelch revolt; control through fear; and served as extreme example of what “rule with an iron fist” meant.

The cross was a code of death.

From Jerusalem to neighboring towns, crosses would line country roads.

Bodies were left to hang on them as incentive not to cause trouble against Rome.

It could be read no other way; it communicated its message quite clearly.

….

Another code, Jewish Burial code, prohibits anointing a body for burial during the Sabbath.  Therefore Jesus body had quickly been brought down off the cross and placed in an unused tomb.

So when the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome (some say Salome is Jesus’ aunt) bought spices so they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.”

….

On their way they are discussing among themselves who would roll the stone away.

Joseph of Aremathea and Nicodemus had laid Jesus body in the tomb; they had the help of some of Jesus followers in sealing the tomb with the stone;

But the scripture says, as they arrived at the place and looked up, for their heads had been bowed in grief, they saw the stone rolled away.

The tomb was empty. 

While it has become the central image of Easter today, for those who first saw it, it was like trying to interpret what they couldn’t imagine. 

Like when you don’t recognize someone you know well, out of context. Our eyes play tricks on us. 

What did this mean?

How were they to interpret the sign?

-          I might think in a moment of grief, this would be too much to take. 

-          What were they to think, really? Did Pilate have the body removed, had it been stolen; Jesus had already been beaten, crucified, how much more pain could they inflict.

As they entered the tomb, they see a young man in a white robe, sitting on the stone where Jesus body had been laid.

What would this mean? More anxiety, more fear; where is Jesus?

The man answered their grief; interpreting the code of the empty tomb:

You are looking for Jesus who was crucified.

He has been raised. He is not here.

Go. Tell his disciples, he is going ahead of you; just as he told you he would.

…..

Here was the new code: The empty tomb, an empty cross.

According to Mark’s Gospel – those who were the first to see this new code; didn’t know what to do with it.  

Like someone who has never used a cell phone looking at one of these QR codes, it just didn’t make sense.

Mark’s account ends with them going out – but, the text says:

“They said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.”

…………….

With the phone, the code opens its interpreter into a whole other world.

Literally.

Most of the codes are connected to a page on the World Wide Web, a whole other world, a whole other universe, cyberspace.

Scanning the QR code in your yellow (announcement) pages of your bulletin will take you to our events calendar on the web; but QR codes could also take a person to watch a video, see a message, listen to a song, the possibilities for communication are great!

If you have the phone.

………………………………………

I don’t know how people deal with death without faith.

Grief is hard. Death is real.

But this empty tomb and this empty cross are codes,

And you don’t need a phone to read them…

The scanner...is Faith.

…

If you look at the central cross in most Lutheran communities, you will notice something missing.

            The Body.

By faith we believe the reason Jesus is not there is because –

Christ Has Risen! 

The empty cross is a sign of life!

…

This sign, this New Code says:

            Death does not win.

                        Death does not have the last word over us.

The empty cross means victory, the empty tomb means life.

….

So would you live differently if you had no fear of death?

     Would you love more boldly?

          Would you work less or spend time with those you love more?

               Would you help the person who really needs it, not worrying what others think?

                    Would you love more passionately?

….

Mark’s Gospel says they left and said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

But you can’t extinguish the light of Christ;

The word got out.

Maybe they received a faith upgrade; got an app for resurrection;

They read the signs again; and experienced the new life of Christ.

…

Where will Empty Cross Code lead us?  

When someone puts one of the QR codes out there, they are planning on a response; the code takes you to a website, and wants you to respond.  

Jesus too, invites us to respond…having discovered through the empty cross and the empty tomb, a message of Life – living without fear, where will our faith take us?

The Code of the Empty Cross led Paul through Macedonia preaching a radial welcome so that everyone would know God loves them.

The Code of the Empty Cross led the one they call doubting Thomas to the eastern shores of India and he gave away a king’s riches to the poor.

For the Ethiopian, the Empty Cross Code, interpreted by faith on the road, led him to be baptized and bring the Good News to northern Africa.

For Luther, living life found in the code of the empty cross, he was led to protest for the rights of children for equitable public education; in so doing, contracted the illness that would claim his life.

For Tom and Susan, they interpreted the code of the empty cross and found themselves in Tanzania, where God has led them to be a bridge between cultures and communities.

Where will the Empty Cross Code lead you?

……………………………….

Go! Jesus goes ahead of you – we have a new code of life to follow – the empty cross.

A sign of life. A code pointing us to Grace.

For you and for me.

Amen.

We Want to See Jesus

Sermon delivered March 29, 2010 for the service "Thanksgiving in March"

Holy Week, Year C

We want to see Jesus

These Greeks coming to Jerusalem – worshipers of our one God.

Perhaps they saw the procession

Heard the hosannas

Raised their branches in the air

Maybe they threw their cloaks down on the ground.

We want to see Jesus

We heard about the water turned to wine.

We met the woman who had touched his robe.

We encountered Lazarus, raised from the dead.

We want to see Jesus

We hoped he would become the King whose reign would last forever.

We have prayed he’d put an end to the violence and tyranny

We have seen, how he can move a mountain by feeding a multitude.

We want to see Jesus

And we join these Greeks seeking out this Jesus.

We long for an end to war and global terrorism

We cry out for suffering in Haiti, Chile, Darfur

We become twisted by the increasingly bitter atmosphere

That seems to be running rampant in our culture.

We want to see Jesus

And so with the Greeks we approach Phillip.

We want to see Jesus.

…………………………………………….

The response they get perhaps is not the expected one. If we learn anything about this Jesus it may be that he often does the opposite of what we expect.

Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone.

But if it dies; it bears much fruit.

Those who love their life (in this world) lose it.

Those who hate their life in this world – will gain it all.

Those who love their life in this world are those who have gotten somewhere by getting one over on someone else.

Those who have made themselves stand out by stepping over another.

Those who have seen only the toothpick in their neighbors eye despite the unseen log in their own.

Those who hate their life - in this world - are those who won't stop until all are fed.

These are those who can't stand to see that not everyone has a seat at the table.

These are those who Speak up, Speak out, and Speak with those whose voices are not heard.

These are the ones who will receive the fullness of life.

……………………………………………….

Wesley Autrey, 50yr old construction worker was waiting for the downtown local at 137^th street and Broadway in Manhatten; taking his two daughters 4 and 6 home before work.

Nearby a man collapsed, his body convulsing…stumbled to the edge and fell into the tracks between the two rails. Headlights appeared, had to think quick, he did, and he jumped.

Train brakes squealed Mr. Autrey’s heart pounded, laying on top of Cameron Hollopeter, pressing him into a space about a foot deep.

Five cars rolled over head before the train stopped, grease from the train smudged Autrey’s blue knit cap.

While Cameron had suffered a seizure, he had only bumps and bruises.

Mr. Autrey felt he hadn’t done anything spectacular, he just “saw someone who needed help, and I did it.”

…………………………………………………….

This is what God has done for us in Christ Jesus and it is who Christ has formed us to be – in his body the church.

………………………………………………………

Just as Christ died and was lifted up again, so too new life is given for all who believe – life everlasting and life abundantly.

God’s promise for us is victory over death in order that we might truly live

Our life is found as we give it away to others.

……………………

Autrey’s life has changed.

He was honored last year with a Carnegie Medal for heroism. He launched a foundation aimed at saving kids from the dangers of the streets.

…………………… not immune from brokenness, but held by graciousness.

Our lives are found in the service to others. Our lives are given through the service of others.

…………………………

You have been chosen.

Bears of light

Restorers of the breach

Oaks of righteousness

Pillars of faithfulness

You have been chosen, called, empowered, equipped, to bring salvation to the world.

In the name of Jesus.

Want to see Jesus?

Jesus is sitting across from you, next to you, right by your side.

Want to see Jesus?

I saw her bringing a plate to her mother over here.

Want to see Jesus?

I saw him holding the door for someone over here.

Want to see Jesus?

I see him smiling in the eyes of the children here tonight!

Want to see Jesus?

Jesus is here – for you and me - In you and me.

Amen.

For the Healing of the Nations

For the Healing of the Nations

The following message was delivered Sunday, November 25, 2007 as a part of a sermon series, "Forty Days of Healing"

Texts:    Isaiah 42:5-9

1 Peter 2:9-10

John 1:1-4

 

For the Healing of the Nations

 

It can be overwhelming

 

    To consider the illness of the nations.

 

If the Butterfly Effect of Chaos is true – that is – if a Buttefly flaps its wings in China, the result is a tornado in Kansas –

 

Than so too today when one nation catches the flu,

the whole world contracts a virus.

 

But today I wish to address three of the symptoms of our global community crisis.

 

Consumerism may be the most easily recognizable.

 

    A drive for more comes for some as a means to an end: More stuff brings with it a false sense of significance, security, self-worth.

 

One buys the newest and greatest gadget, car, appliance, home; only to crash on the consumer high when the need hits again for the next newest need.

 

Consumerism is driven by a market which convinces communities to want what is not needed.

 

    When Ma Bell came out with the first, home-model telephone, the phone came in one color, black. The goal of the company was for every home in America to have a phone in the kitchen. It worked, sales went through the roof.

 

But once sales dropped off, how would the phone company convince families they needed another phone – most homes had one. The solution – new colors. Red, White, Yellow. And by the time I was a kid in the 70's the phones are bright orange and green, and most homes have several phones.

 

Today, most of us have phones in our pockets right now.

 

Consumerism.

 

It may look like this:

 

In Syracuse, NY a man arrived at the Best Buy store by 7pm on Thanksgiving evening in order to be prepared for the store's opening at 5am the following morning. His need was so great. And of course he wasn't alone, he was number 35 in line.

 

But consumerism is a global problem. Visiting Tanzania in 2005 we were given many beautiful gifts carved from the gorgeous wood of an Ebony tree. The sad news is that a member of our companion congregation in Tanga, Tanzania taught us that Ebony wood is being harvested so quickly, for the desire to sell to tourists, that the tree will not be seen in the region 50 years from now. You see it takes 50 years for the sapling to mature to a point where the wood may be used. This generation has no patience, no the desire to invest in the future, but only to make the sale today. The drive of consumerism will mean the end of Ebony.

 

 

Second Symptom: Global Crisis is Nationalism

 

Not talking about pride in a homeland

    

Not talking about being Thankful for living in a free and prosperous land.

 

Nationalism is what happens when patriotism is cranked up to a new level –

no matter who the nation is.

 

Nationalism is when a government becomes arrogant and ignorant towards the needs of the poor, the children, and the elderly;

While maintaining a sense of global imperialism.

 

Nationalism is an immigrant nation becoming fearful of the immigrant.

 

Nationalism is when a dictator holds the global economy hostage through the price of a barrel of oil.

 

Nationalism, like Consumerism is contagious.

While it may begin as political policy…

It quickly spreads into personal practice.

 

 

Third Symptom in Need of Global Healing is Classism

 

Our reaction to this submission may be that this is not a problem anymore.

 

    That we are beyond such a thing as classism.

 

But today while we would say there is a shrinking middle class

It seems we have a growing intolerance of the poor, the infirmed, the incarcerated.

 

Our culture – our global culture

- is quicker to give up on those who can't help themselves

    and discard those who have not lived up to our expectations.

 

In the U.S. Families living in poverty struggle to break free from higher costs of living than more affluent communities.

 

Poor neighborhoods endure higher food prices, diminished educational opportunities, and reduced community resources.

 

In India the Caste system is no longer legal. But practices of classism continue.

 

A Dalit - the name given to the outcast – is identified as soon as they step on a bus. They can not even afford shoes. And so, easily identified, they will not find a seat available, and may be harassed by unwelcome neighbors.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

And so what are we to say about all of this?

 

    What is our response, as the people of God?

 

        Where do we stand? Where do you stand?

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We read in Genesis that God made a promise to Abraham.

 

    Do you know what that promise was?

 

That Abraham would be the Ancestor of Many Nations

 

– Abraham means = Ancestor to the Multitudes [Genesis 17]

 

So we see that God's promise was not a promise to one nation – but to all nations.

 

What is that Promise?

 

That the God who is the source of Light, the Creator of Life is with us graciously giving us all we need.

 

The Promise is that Christ; the Light of the World has come to us, to all the nations, and is now in us.

 

Hear this again from Isaiah

 

Thus says God, the Lord,

who created the heavens and stretched them out,

who spread out the earth and what comes from it,

who gives breath to the people upon it

and spirit to those who walk in it:

⁶     I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness,

I have taken you by the hand and kept you;

I have given you as a covenant to the people,

a light to the nations,

⁷     to open the eyes that are blind,

to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,

from the prison those who sit in darkness.

 

 

From this passage we experience who God is, who we are, and our role in the healing of the world.

 

We who believe – we are recipients of the Light – inheritors of Gracious Life!

 

And now we are called to carry the light – to bring forth the kingdom of God.

 

 

The Light brings healing as we are claimed CHILDREN of God.

 

As sons and daughters of our gracious God,

our view of the economy is different.

 

    We do have enough, we are worthy, and we are significant.

 

A parent will teach a child when they have enough. It happens this time of year every time a child sees a commercial for a new toy and mom or dad or a grandparent says, "You don't need that toy, you have enough."

 

 

In experiencing God's grace through a relationship with God, we learn we have enough too.

 

We don't need to consume to satisfy; we are okay with who we are.

 

Because God cares for us and God gifts each of us;

we all have something to share.

 

As sons and daughters of the source of life

we are transformed from consumers, to stewards.

 

The Light brings healing

because we are called to be CITIZENS of the Kingdom of God

 

Now as Citizens of the Kingdom of God we can see that we are more than Americans or Mexicans, Russians or Chinese, French or Liberian;

we are siblings in one family.

 

In 1 Peter we see The Light of Christ unites us into one people, one holy nation.

So we see now that as the light has gone out to all nations,

In the light of Christ we become one people, one race, one body.

 

Because of the light we can see across borders

and are called to find just solutions and policies

which treat others as fellow citizens in the Kingdom of God.

 

Healing happens through us, by the light when this view intersects our politics.

 

    Healing happens through us when this view influences our policies.

 

 

Finally, the Light brings healing because in the Light

ALL are welcome, ALL are invited, All gifts are valued.

 

To teach about Tanzania we've sometimes shown a panoramic map of the World at Night. If you can imagine this map in your mind you might see what you expect to see. Showing the lights of the world, you can see the developed nations clearly. The Northeast regions of the US and around Los Angeles are two of the brightest spots on the map. Western Europe is bright, parts of China…

 

Africa is noticeably dark.

 

When we landed at Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania you couldn't see lights on the ground as you can flying into Philadelphia. As you get closer, the only light is a dim orange glow of charcoal fires on the road sides.

 

It might fool you.

 

For the continent is bright. The faith is strong. The church in Africa is growing faster than any other place in the world. The light of the World is present.

 

If we were to take a "Light of Christ" photograph of the world, Africa would be the brightest light on the map! Thanks be to God!

 

The Light is Bright – And its' glow brings healing to those who see it.

 

There is Healing for the Nations – The Light of Christ is in the world

– The Kingdom of God is Here

 

In you, in me, The Promise of God, for the Healing of the Nations.

 

Amen.