REVELATIONS OF THE DEAD PALM/PASSION SUNDAY ISAIAH 50.4-9A; PHIL. 2.5-11; MATTHEW 26; 27.11-66 Rev. Tiare L. Mathison, Pastor & Soul-Tender The Prologue
What I ask of you this Lenten Season is to examen your life in light of the great question, Jesus asks: Who do you say that I am?. How will you improve your baptism, as one of the catechisms suggests. Where will you make space for the Holy to be present in a wholly different way. Will you let the light of glory shine even amidst your suffering? Can you let God in? It is His right to demand an entrance, yet He always seems to do it by invitation, through the gracious life of Jesus. The only thing that will heal our disfigured will is love, the right kind. Restraint. One answer to the great question. But it might not hurt for us to push ourselves a little deeper into our faith, asking the Holy Spirit to come alive in us one more time, so we can be born again. BELIEVE: ANOTHER ANSWER TO THE GREAT QUESTION And we know this. This is not a do-it-yourself project for Pinterest or Instagram, rather it is a do it together project of grace. We build the scaffolding of community through our prayers, worship, laughter, tears, music, even softball. This is the good news of the gospel, In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. The Liberating King has set us free from our bondage to the snake and all his shame, and sets our feet on solid ground. A FAITHFUL VOCABULARY Provision, abundance, restoration, comfort, courage, verdant, present, gratitude, grace, mercy, trusting, But what if we learned to think ‘we’ rather than ‘me’? If you look to the communities on the continent of Africa, they already know this. Just ask Melody or Allen. And what if, every relationship you have, WPC, family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, everyone, is God’s provision for you? We have all we need, with each other. There is no want in community. There is always plenty, abundance, generosity, reciprocity, giving. So, it goes like this: The Lord is OUR Shepherd, we shall not want He makes us lie down in green pastures, He leads us beside still waters, He restores our souls.
DO YOU BELIEVE THIS? DO YOU BELIEVE DRY BONES CAN LIVE AGAIN? Do you believe that even if you die, you will live, forever? Stop for a moment. You are Martha. How will you answer? (Pause) Martha, in faith, replies, “Yes, Lord. I believe you are the Messiah, the Son of God, The One coming into the world.” "Can these bones live?" Ezekiel goes on the graveyard tour, in silence mind you, and then the provocative ? "Can these bones live?" No marrow, no animating blood, no breath, no Ruah, spirit, only death. Not a singular body, rather the nation of Israel. Will we ever be able to hope again? It is this deep need for deliverances, believers cling to--bones, breath, hope. Early Christians insist there could be no resurrection without a body.
Revelations of the Dead. At birth, a rising star. At death, an earthquake. The last taunt, “save yourself, if You are the Son of God, come down from the cross! He trusts in God, let God save Him!” As the sky shades dark, rumbled thunder, God’s Empire grieves, He hangs there, breathes His last. The temple cloth tears, the cosmos reels, the guards speak, “Truly this man is God’s Son.” The Last Answer to the Great ?: Who Do You Say That I Am? Revelations of the Dead.