What Did Jesus Say?, John 18:12-27

 

Rev. George Miller

March 20, 2022

John 18:12-27

 

Black History Month is over, but it’s always good to learn more, because Black History is American History.

 

Case in point, Marian Wright Edelman, a crusader for children.  She was a civil rights attorney who started the Children’s Defense Fund.

 

Marian’s parents emphasized service to others, and a strong work ethic. 

 

Her father would say “If you see a need, don’t ask why somebody doesn’t do it.  See what you can do.”   

 

He also said, “if you just follow the need, you will never lack for something to do or a real purpose in life.”

 

Marian’s parents practiced what Dad preached, starting a home for the elderly, which gave Marian more chores to do.  She only got a break when she read, so she read often.

 

Marian’s father died when she was only 14 years old, from a heart attack. 

 

Maybe, Dad should have worked less, read more, and rest from time to time.

 

Last week we focused our worship on the concept of service- Jesus took on the role of a servant, I’m called to serve, all of you have ways in which to serve.

 

Emmanuel UCC is always asking not just for your money, but your talents.  If we’re not careful, we fall into a works righteousness model in which we make people think that the only legitimate form of faith is if you constantly do and do, give and give.

 

Which is not all true.  God almighty rested, Jesus rested, and we have a commandment that says to rest.

 

So after last week’s service-heavy service, it’s good we bring the pendulum to the spiritual, intellectual aspect of faith.

 

After all, we believe in grace, amazing grace.  This means that we aren’t loved by God because of what we do; we do because we know we’re loved by God.

 

In other words, we at Emmanuel are not doing acts of service because we hope to earn God’s favor, we are empowered to do acts of service because we know that we are favored, loved, and cherished by God.

 

So, today’s service is not about what we can do, or being so busy, busy, busy that we stress out and keel over.

 

Today’s worship is simple- it goes back to the Word.  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.

 

In today’s reading we get to the part in which Jesus is arrested, the powers that be try to humiliate him.

 

The head priest asks Jesus about his teachings.  Jesus doesn’t taking the bait, or show an ounce of apology.

 

Jesus says “I have spoken openly all along; all I’ve said was said in public.  Ask those who’ve heard, they’ll tell you exactly what I have said.”

 

Jesus is such a Boss.  So strong, so sure, so aware of God’s economy, that a police officer strikes his face.

 

Jesus, when facing arrest, death, and public shame, says to the authorities “Ask those who heard what I said.”

 

Note that he does not say “Ask what miracles I did.”  He does not say “Ask about the many tasks I did.”  Nor does he say “Ask about all the folk I fed and healed.” 

 

Jesus says “Ask what I said.”

 

Again, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

 

Jesus, standing before us says “Ask those I interacted with what I said.”

 

So we shall.

 

To the Samaritan Woman at the Well.  What did Jesus say?

 

First of all, Jesus actually talked to her, a woman, an outcast of outcasts.  When any other religious leaders would have ignored her and kept silent, Jesus talked with her.

 

He didn’t talk down.  He talked with her as a peer, a person, an intelligent individual.  He said that if she asked, she too would be given Living Water.

 

To the man by the pool of Bethzatha, what did Jesus say?  Did he walk by, ignoring him?  Just throw a few coins?  Look upon him to be pitied?

 

When Jesus saw the man, he said “Do you want to be made well?”  When the man tried to make excuses, Jesus said “Stand up, take up your mat and walk.” 

 

When Jesus made it to the other side of the sea, after feeding thousands and facing the storm, what did he say?

 

“Anyone who comes to me I’ll never drive off or discard like trash.”

 

Jesus tells the powers that be to ask what he said.  If the people in power asked Martha and Mary, perhaps Martha would tell them “It wasn’t what he said, but how he listened.”

 

Maybe Mary would answer “It wasn’t what he said with his mouth, but what his tears said as he wept with me.”

 

In today’s reading, the authorities ask Jesus his teachings, and he says “Don’t ask me- ask others what I have said.”

 

Jesus says to the very ones who have made a career of striking, discarding, shaming, kicking folk out, to ask the people what he has said.

 

If the authorities had done so, if they had asked the people, perhaps what they would have heard was-

 

He talked with me when no one else would.

He instructed me to pick up my mat and walk.

 

He told me that I would never be treated like a piece of trash.

 

He spoke through his tears.

 

In other words, “He said that we are not worthless, we are not expendable, that we are people of worth.”

 

So often, we focus our faith on what Jesus does; so often we are dazzled by miracles and signs.

 

But when Jesus most needed to defend himself, he did not turn to what he did or how many tasks and chores and things he accomplished?

 

Jesus focused on what he said, what he taught, to whom he spoke.

 

What is Jesus saying to you?

 

What has Jesus said?

 

What words are you longing to hear?

 

Because when we understand the words, when we hear what’s being said, we can better understand our service and why we serve.

 

We serve not because we are trying to earn Christ love, but we serve because we are already loved.

 

How do we know we are loved?

 

Because the Word that was in the Beginning has made sure to tell us again and again, through scriptures, stories, and in our own lives, how much God cares,

 

and how much we are worth.

 

In the beginning was the Word….and the Word loves each and every one of you so very, very much.

 

For that, we can say “Amen.”