Jesus told Nicodemus and later the woman at the well and that he is the well spring from whom we drink and never thirst (John 3:1-8; 4:11-19).
Jesus ministers to our inner relationships before addressing our outer interpersonal relationships and definitely before property interests and what to do with our interaction in the material world.
When Hank in the TV cartoon sitcom “King on the Hill” tries to pursuade his son Bobby away from a Fad Driven Megachurch, he pulls down a box from a shelf and opens it up.
Bobby says, “My beanbag buddy? Oh, man, I can't believe I collected those things. They're so lame.”
“You didn't think so five years ago. And how about my pet rock that you liked so much? Then you got tired of it, forgot to feed it, and it died. And look at this picture of you in a Ninja Turtles costume.”
“I look like such a dork.”
“I know how you feel,” says Dad, “I never thought that London Fog jackets would go out of style, but it did. I know you think stuff you're doing now is cool, but in a few years you're going to think it's lame. And I don't want the Lord to end up in this box, too.”
“JESUS WASHES US INSIDE OUT.”
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles (Psalm 34:17).
It’s easier to get a zipper on a child’s jacket with an adult helping. But if the child keeps his or her hands on the zipper, so that the other helper can’t do anything with it, then it becomes very hard to align the zipper correctly.
If this were God trying to help you fix your zipper or correct the way you deal with relationships such as rules of cleanliness (in the case of the Pharisees), then you might react like one of my grandchildren and scream or if verbal yell “I’ve got it. . . . I can do it my self.” But wait. That could be what Jesus is saying to the Pharisees here: “You’ve got it all wrong. . . just pay attention to how you’re expressing yourself in unforgiving unloving ways.”
If I’m asking God (or God’s people to help me) and I refuse to let go of the situation, then maybe – just maybe – I’m afraid that God will blame me and be angry, especially if I have made poor decisions that got me or my church into trouble. But if we try to keep control and fail to learn from our mistakes, then we are obviously not willing to trust God to help us work through our problems.
“JESUS WASHES US INSIDE OUT.”
God is not just another product in our consumer culture,” whether it be 2000 years ago or in today’s pop-culture. The 1999 parody film “Dogma” points this out. At least 5 years before the De Vince Code craze, that film sports a great grand niece of Jesus Christ enlisted to prevent two angels from reentering Heaven by trickery. Along the way, God’s grand niece (synonymous with “very nice” – maybe) is aided by two prophets named “Jay” and “Silent Bob” (who – guess what – hardly says anything). With the help of Rufus, (a black 13th Apostle), they stop the church leaders who are promoting the new “Buddy Jesus” action toy series and foil the fallen angels plan to invade heaven.
Whew!
“Buddy Jesus” action toys aren’t too far from the “Got Jesus T-shirts” and “WWJD wrist bands” that are sold on the market like Pumpkin Patch Dolls, Beanie Babies, Ninja Turtles, Ralph Lauren clothes, the latest sports car or the best investment plan on Wall Street.
Pop Culture seems to think (not take to heart) that as long as God is all the rage (for the Pharisees it was in washing rituals) they are happy to acknowledge Him. But as soon as He goes out of style, they put him in a box like all the other fads. He ends up on the top shelf, along with other discarded fads and old traditions. And then Pop Culture Moguls may surreptitiously try to maneuver God to appear “planned” and “obsolete,” but somebody will probably pull God down and sell Him as a vintage collector’s item someday – for a hefty profit, of course?
Traditions are really just long term fads. They come and go. God lasts for ever and God expects worship and devotion for all eternity not just for an earthly lifetime or two or three or “whatever.”
If Hank and his family are seeking a new church and have tried several churches, then one of them will recommend the local megachurch as a great alternative with appealing programs. That did happen in a recent episode and Hank objected with: "If I wanted to go that route, I could just walk around the mall and think about Jesus!"
The Pharisees apparently wanted to walk around the Temple Jerusalem in stead of accepting Jesus and Him as the Messiah.
Zondervan’s video series entitled, “The Prophets and Kings of Israel” with Professor Ray Van Der Laan bears this out. Dr. Vanderlaan describes how some people near Jerusalem buried their imitation of the Temple in defiance of a royal decree that forbade any other place of worship that would function with sacrifices like Jerusalem’s Temple. Obviously, Jesus and His claim as the Messiah put Him in line as a direct threat to the assumed powers of the priest in Jerusalem.
Jesus saw the fads, the trends and the kitsch of his contemporary Jewish culture. We can do the same today.
“JESUS WASHES US INSIDE OUT.”
2 Corinthians 4:14 says, “We do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.”
Eventually, our physical attractiveness begins to wane, so that we better appreciate God’s vision of a an inner nature that is renewed every day. Looks are deceiving and those who seem to have the best clothes, perfect weight, and all their hair – they may lose their attractiveness when we watch their behavior and not only listen to their beautiful words. The plain-looking, plain-spoken people (hopefully some of these are the people called Methodists) can better reveal the beauty of what Pat Banker of Kansas calls “a God-yielded heart.”
We can join Pat in thanking God for looking at the heart instead of our ideas or on our outward appearance. Money, opportunity, plastic surgery and other ventures cannot hold back the deterioration of our property and our physical bodies surrounded by fads and traditions. In contrast, our inner person when yielded to God can continue to learn, to grow, and to serve in our eternal spiritual existence – by the saving grace and sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.
“JESUS WASHES US INSIDE OUT.”
This morning we celebrate a liturgy prepared us in simple and unassuming ways for the remembrance of the Lord’s Supper. God speaks love and mercy for all people. We sing hymns and say prayers full of compassion and hope that resonate as community, the body of Christ.
At the communion table, the glory of God is radiant on your faces. Some of you will walk alone or you will require help from others. Some will stand at the table, because it is too difficult to kneel.
Nélida Estela Sabanes of Santa Fe, Argentina calls this “the Church triumphant” at the communion table, when we see the “years of faith, hope, and joy revealed in our faith journey with the Lord of life.” Then your “lives testify to the faithfulness and love of a God who has sustained them and who promises to sustain each of us.” Amen.
(prayer) Dear Heavenly Father, help us to trust You with our problems. Enable us to let go and allow You to work in and around us. Help us to realize that our slightest inner expression from our selves is not necessary for You to bless others and ourselves. For we must trust in You only, Father, and in none other.
Thank You, heavenly Father, for looking at our individual hearts. Help each one of us to see others with Your vision and compassion so that the beauty of Christ in us will outlasts all mortal time. Help us to truly see Christ in others.
Thank You, Heavenly Father, for Your Church triumphant among us, a living witness to Your love and compassion. Thank You for sustaining the living saints among us who witness God's steadfast love and guidance. Thank You for the privilege of growing older and remaining devout and true to Your calling in Christ Jesus. In His precious name, Amen.
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