Lent 4B; Numbers 21:4-9; Ephesians 2:1-10; John 3:14-21

St. Paul’s, Smithfield 03/11/2018 Jim Melnyk: “The Call”

“Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’

As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fish for people’” (Mark 1:14-17).

No, I haven’t turned to the wrong gospel lesson for today’s sermon – I know we covered those verses several weeks ago as we moved through the opening weeks of Epiphany.  However, I think we need to keep in mind the Jesus of Epiphany – the Jesus who calls us to follow – in order to understand the lessons offered us during the season of Lent. 

Today we enter into the back end of a conversation between Jesus and the Pharisee named Nicodemus.  We’ve skipped over the first part of their meeting – the part where Jesus tells Nicodemus he must be “born from above” – or what often gets translated as “born again” – in order to understand the work of God’s Holy Spirit in his life and in the life of the world.  Jesus is, in effect, issuing a call to Nicodemus, not unlike the calls he makes to his disciples – it’s an invitation to come see what Jesus is all about – and then to follow as his ministry unfolds.  And Nicodemus’ response to that call remains a mystery until the very end of John’s gospel, when we find him among those who assist in the burial of Jesus on the day Christians have come to call Good Friday.

In the Synoptic Gospels – that’s Matthew, Mark, and Luke – Jesus uses parables – stories with multiple layers of meanings – to communicate his vision for the unfolding kingdom of God. In John’s gospel, Jesus sounds like more of a theologian than a storyteller – and perhaps that’s what we should expect from the Word made flesh – the One whom many, based on John’s gospel, have called “The Cosmic Christ.”

In today’s lesson from John Jesus equates himself with the life-saving act of God spoken about in the book of Numbers.  Jesus, being lifted up on the cross, will draw all people to himself in the same way looking upon the bronze serpent in the wilderness saved those following Moses.  Jesus becomes, in effect, the incarnation of God’s love for the world – a love that comes not to condemn, but to save – a love so great that none should be lost.

In John’s gospel the more theologically-minded Jesus also offers us seven “I am” statements – and for those acquainted with Judaism, the “I am” nature of the sayings can’t be missed – this is the very language they know through Moses for the Name of God.  Throughout the gospel Jesus names himself Bread of Life, Light of the World, The Gate for the Sheep, The Good Shepherd, The Resurrection and the Life, The Way, the Truth, and the Life, and The True Vine.  Nowhere in John’s gospel does Jesus call himself names like The Avenger, The Bringer of Death, The Hidden Darkness, The Closed Door, The Gatekeeper, The Choking Weed, or The Bread for only a Few.  Though I have to say, too much of modern day Christianity comes across as God’s self-selected bearers of the truth, and personal gatekeepers of the heavenly realm.

Reading about the wide-open love of God for the world leads author Robert Roth to proclaim: “Let’s let the folks holding up the ‘John 3:16’ signs at sporting events take a brief rest while we hold up ‘John 3:17’: ‘Indeed, God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.’ God saves lives” writes Roth. “God saves souls. God saves peoples. God has not come in Christ to condemn, but to save.  In Numbers, Moses is instructed by a Lord who wants people to live. In the psalm, God’s ‘steadfast love endures forever’ (Psalm 107:1). In Ephesians, God ‘[loves] us,’ ‘[makes] us alive,’ and ‘[raises] us up’ (Ephesians 2:4-6)” (Sojourners Online, Preaching the Word, 2/11/2018).

All this leaves us, though, with some challenging passages in Scripture – notably a God who sends poisonous snakes in the desert, and people who condemn themselves for choosing not to believe in the love of God, but rather choose to walk in darkness, carrying out evil deeds.  But what we actually see in our reading from Numbers, as well as in John 3:16-17 and Ephesians, is a God who allows us the freedom to go our own way, but who never stands too far off from us. 

As Methodist Minister Jayson Byassee puts it, “Scripture doesn’t preach ‘I’m ok, you’re ok’ pablum.  It preaches that, left to our own devices, we are totally sunk” (ibid).  But, he reminds us, we are never left to our own devices.  Psalm 107 reminds us that while still in the wilderness “God sent out the word and healed them, and delivered them from destruction (v 20).”  Ephesians tells us that “By grace [we] have been saved through faith” (2:8).  Even when Jesus is nailed to the cross and left in the tomb for dead, Easter happens!  “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness will never overcome it” (John 1:5 paraphrased).  As Paul tells us today, even when we are dead in our sins – or dead to this life – God raises us up.

John’s gospel – in fact the overwhelming witness of all Scripture – reminds us that we worship a God of love – a God who is love.  And that overwhelming love of God given voice in today’s Scripture passages give us hope as we wind our ways through the season of Lent.  When we are willing to take the time – especially during Lent – to examine what our lives can look like when we’re left to our own devices, hopefully verses like John 3:16 and 3:17 give us hope.

I invite you to take a moment and open the hymnals in your pews to hymn 487 – a hymn that is taken from the poetry of the 17^th century Anglican Pastor George Herbert.  We’re not singing it this morning, but I invite you to read it out loud with me now – because long before it was put to music, the words were meant to be read aloud.  Listen to the words Herbert uses to name God – some we’ve already mentioned as coming from John’s gospel – others come from our many ancient faith communities’ experiences of God.

Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life:

Such a way, as gives us breath;

Such a truth, as ends all strife;

Such a life, as killeth death.

Come, my Light, my Feast, my Strength:

Such a light, as shows a feast;

Such a feast, as mends in length;

Such a strength, as makes his guest.

Come, my Joy, my Love, my Heart:

Such a joy, as none can move;

Such a love, as none can part;

Such a heart, as joys in love.

This is the God who calls Abram and Sarai to a new home.  This is the God who calls Israel out of slavery in Egypt, and feeds her in the desert.  This is the God who leads Israel home from exile.  This is the God who calls us to follow; and who strengthens us by giving us God’s own self for heavenly food.  We, my friends, are created by, called by, and loved by God – our Feast – our Strength – our Joy – our Heart.