Sermons for the Month
The Seed of Love Bears a Bountiful Harvest of Transformation
DATE: April 2nd, 2006
SERVICE: Fifth Sunday In Lent
TEXT: John 12:20-33“To all of you Saints here this morning, grace and peace to you from God our Father, from His Son, Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit. AMEN
I purchased my zinnia seeds on a chilly Friday a few weeks ago. I guess the longing to experience new life got to me, and I had to have the option to encourage it close at hand. It's a temptation to plant the seeds inside now, although it's early even for that. It's not that the plants will do that much better if they get a head start - they flourish beautifully even when the seeds are put directly into the earth in late May - but there is something within me that expands as visible transformation occurs in my presence. Perhaps this is a common to humanity; we see the same phenomena in those people who are mysteriously called "the Greeks" in today's Gospel lesson. They long to experience transformation first hand, and that's why they are seeking Jesus out. Why do I say that, you might ask, since the reading does not make any reference to such a need. Well, let's consider what happened in Chapter 11 of John. Lazarus, the friend of Jesus who had died and been in the tomb for a number of days, was restored to life by Jesus. Now, you have to admit, that's a transformation worth talking about. And, that's exactly what happened. We read that the crowd who was with Jesus when he called Lazarus out of the tomb continued to testify, causing the Pharisees - the religious leaders who were threatened by Jesus - to say, "You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him." (John 12:17-19) And what better sign of that is there than a bunch of "Greeks" - probably from 10 Gentile cities near Galilee that had large Greek population - showing up to find this one who was in the business of transforming death to life. Their visit prompts Jesus to acknowledge that his hour has come, that that when he is lifted up he will draw all people - including non-Jews like these Greeks - to himself. We have no way of knowing how they responded to our Lord's words. Perhaps they went away confused; they expected to see Jesus do more death to life transformations, not to talk about his own death. What good was that? They struggle, as we have, with the way of the cross. Do you recall all that we've been focusing on during these Sunday's in Lent? We've acknowledged that the way of the cross involves losing in order to win, adopting the foolishness of God, and punching holes in the darkness so that the light of Jesus can illuminate people's lives. Now we are seeing that the way of the cross is the way of transformation. In order to help us understand Jesus uses a familiar image, "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." With these words Jesus is referring to himself; he is telling us that his death has a purpose. By dying on the cross and conquering death in the resurrection, he produces and offers us the fruit of eternal life - life lived in the presence of God, both in this life and in death. But in order for that to happen, he has to die. And, with these words, Jesus also is referring to us. If we live our lives focused on ourselves, the fruit we produce will be sparse, because our lives will be without purpose. But Jesus calls us to produce an abundant harvest by doing all those things we've been talking about for weeks now - which basically boils down to dying to self. Here's a story that makes the point told by Philip Yancey, a great theologian and author, in his book Rumors of Another World. When Jesse Jackson visited the University of Southern Mississippi he noticed a tall young man holding hand of a tiny woman - a midget. Much to his surprise he watched as the young man picked up the woman and gave her a kiss on the cheek as they parted. The president of the university had been showing Rev. Jackson around. He explained that the young man was one of their star basketball players and the woman was his sister. The young man had received multiple scholarship offers, but Southern Mississippi was the only school that offered his sister a scholarship - so that's where he went. So, Rev. Jackson stopped to comment the young man for taking care of his sister. He responded, "Those of us who God made six-eight have to look out for those who God makes three-three." (1) Maybe you identify more with the person who is three-three and needs looked after. We all are in that place at some point in our lives, so it's important that we learn how to receive graciously. But, it's also vital not to allow an on-going sense of smallness to keep us from stretching to new heights. After all, it's not a matter of acquiring what we need to be transformed and become a transformer, but of acknowledging that we already have it. Just look at this seed and consider that it has within it all that is needed to transform into a plant that is taller than I am with abundant and beautiful flowers that impact my patio, my home and my frame of mind. All that potential for fruit-bearing is inside it, and so it is for us as well. The Old Testament reading from Jeremiah so beautifully states what is the reality for us. In Jesus God has made a new covenant with us, and it is written within us, on our hearts. It is the covenant of grace through which our iniquity is forgiven and our sins are remembered no more. God has heard the Psalmist's request to create clean hearts within us and renew us with a right spirit. Did you hear that? We are renewed. We are right. We have within us the potential to bear fruit that feeds the world - spiritually, emotionally, physically - if we would just walk the way of the cross, dying to self and flourishing for the sake of Jesus and those with whom we share this planet. And so I'll end this Lenten focus on the way of the cross with this story. Remember I told you about the Pastor in Egypt whose church had the government building constructed in front of it - the church that had come to see every obstacle as a blessing? The Pastor has been there since the mid-70's and is a deeply spiritual man. We all were impressed by his wisdom, his leadership, his willingness to take risks and his commitment. To us he seemed like a "giant" in the Christian church, a man filled with confidence and faith. So, we were not prepared for his answer when one of our group members asked for what in his ministry - as he looked back on it - was he particularly thankful. Tears came to his eyes; his hands shook a bit, and he told us that he was continually overwhelmed by the fact that God could take him, imperfect human being that he is, and use him. Sometimes, he said, he prepares to preach and thinks something like this, "Lord, I'm the only one you have here right now to do this, so you'll have to take what I have and use it to your glory." I think all of our mouths dropped open, and we all cried at such humility and at how in the midst of it God had worked so powerfully. And so it is that in his life the words of Jesus in today's Gospel lesson have come to pass, "Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor." As we walk the way of the cross, aware of the seed of faith and love within us, God will honor our willingness to die to self. And, a beautiful, bountiful harvest will grow from us, as will the transformation for which we long.
(1) SermonWriter, Lent 5B, John 12:20-33, pg. 10, www.sermonwriter.com .
AMEN