"The Moment All Nightmares End"

Sermon Preached By Rev. Richard E. Stetler - March 27, 2005

Job 1:1-12; Acts 10:34-43

EASTER SUNDAY  

    
    This morning I thought it would be interesting to contrast the challenges of Job with the occurrences that took place during the final week of Jesus’ life.  Typically we enjoy listening to a message about eternity on Easter morning, but with the Terri Schiavo case holding our attention hostage this week, the truth of the empty tomb played no dominant role in the discussion.  We should find that curious, particularly since so many people of faith were sharing their viewpoints.   

     Terri’s circumstances have become a topic of household conversation. National polls have been taken. The three branches of the Federal Government became involved.  Talk show hosts have discussed the many themes from all angles.  Clearly we have witnessed this week a clash of values in our culture.  If anything healthy comes from this experience, it will be what has been evoked in our national consciousness. This is a topic where everyone has an opinion.    

     Where are we in our Easter faith this morning?  Do we have the trust that allows us to let go and let God?  Our faith has taught us to speak of Heaven, but where are we authentically when we find ourselves in the midst of uncertainty, particularly when life is not fair.          

     This morning’s lessons, in both the Hebrew Bible and in Luke’s Book of Acts, have a very clear message.  In spite of how miserable our circumstances appear; never give up trusting that God’s infinite cocoon of loving energy surrounds us.  When life’s changes are swift and unrelenting, God is where our life’s energy needs to remain anchored.  Without this stabilizing influence, we set ourselves adrift in a sea of uncertainty that can evoke every response imaginable.  Let us examine how this process works. 

     As we listened to verses from the first chapter of Job, we learned that God and Satan made a bet with each other.  God said, “Hey Satan, have you noticed my servant Job?” Satan responded, “Job is always going to be faithful to you.  He loves you because you have made his life very comfortable.  Job has never been tested.  Give him to me and we’ll see how faithful he remains when his life takes twists and turns in ways that I will devise.”  God said, “Very well, everything he has is now under your power and authority.”           

     As we recall the story, the tests came.  Heavenly beings stole his herd of donkeys and killed Job’s servants.  Next, a lightning bolt struck and killed his sheep and shepherds.  Next, Chaldean raiders attacked and killed his herd of camels and servants.  While Job’s children were eating a meal together, a storm swept in from the desert and killed them.  God, however, won the first round.  Job said, “I was born with nothing and I will die with nothing.  The Lord gave and now the Lord has taken away.  May God’s name be praised.”

     Next, God permitted Satan to take away Job’s health.  God also wins round two of this competition.  Job responded to his misfortune with these thoughts: “When God sends us something good, we welcome it.  How can we complain when God sends us trouble?”  Job remained clear where his identity was anchored.   

     The story goes on as Job experiences horrible reversals and many fear-creating questions from his friends.  Finally, God addressed Job directly.  God made no apology, nor offered any explanation for the challenges that God allowed Job to experience.  However, at the conclusion of the story, we read these words, “The Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before.”           

     The story of Jesus has many remarkable similarities to the experiences of Job.  Jesus began his ministry with the power to heal.  He had the skill to address thousands of people, developed a loyal following, breached the social boundaries by healing family members of Roman army officers and befriended prostitutes and tax collectors.  He was an engaging, wholesome teacher who was sought by many for his wisdom and healing powers.           

     However, there were some discernable flaws on the landscape of Jesus’ life.  There was the episode of his overturning the tables of the moneychangers in the Temple courtyard.  There were moments when his caustic and judgmental remarks evoked the anger of the Scribes and Pharisees.  (Matthews 23)   

     Following the experience on the Mt. of Transfiguration, a man approached Jesus with an epileptic son. The boy’s father told him that his disciples had failed to heal him. Jesus erupted angrily with, “How faithless and miserable you people are!  How long must I stay with you?  How long do I have to put up with you?” (Matt. 17:17)  After giving voice to his frustration, Jesus healed the boy.           

     Jesus was skilled at teaching others the importance of loving their neighbors, praying for those who persecuted them, turning the other cheek and forgiving 70 times 7.  Since the biblical record is clear that Jesus’ own behavior was not always filled with patience, forgiveness and kindness, an unanswered question loomed.  Would Jesus continue to live his message if everything to which he had given his life was taken away?   

     We can imagine Satan and God having another conversation.  God says, “Hey, Satan, what do you think of my boy, Jesus?”  Satan responds, “You have enabled him to attract people with his unique abilities, e.g., healing, turning water into wine, walking on the water and bringing Lazarus back to life.  Of course, he has done well. Give him to me and I will test him.  We’ll see where he has his trust anchored. We’ll see how faithful he remains to you while hanging on a cross.” 

     Just like Job, during his last week on earth, Jesus had everything in which he had invested his energy taken away from him.  For example, he had given careful instruction to his disciples for three years, but during his last supper with them, he found them arguing over which one was the greatest. (Luke 22:24)  Had they learned nothing?

     He asked God for guidance in the garden and was greeted with silence.  He knew he had failed to convince Judas.  He found Peter and possibly others with swords in the garden where they had gone to pray.  Upon his arrest, most of his intimate disciples abandoned him.  He suffered injustice from the Sanhedrin, witnessed the manipulation of Pontius Pilate and experienced his crucifixion.  The thought visited his mind, “Where is God?  Has God given up on me?” (Mark 15:34)  His aloneness was as profound as that of Job.  

     One of the unspoken themes found in these two stories is the location where Job and Jesus had their identities anchored.  Their perception was not limited or defined by the values of this world.  Both of them had been very successful in life; both of them also were governed by the belief, “Not my will but thine be done.” Can we do that?  Is this the way our faith works? Can we get ourselves off the stage so that we can trust God even with those events that we do not understand?  

     Are we in touch with where our identities are anchored when we experience rapid changes within areas of life that have become almost sacred to us? Ask yourselves, what angers you?  What frustrates you? What circumstances are so important that they tempt you to engage in mental, verbal or physically aggressive thought-patterns and behavior?  What causes you to go there?  What are you holding on to? 

     Remember what we have experienced during recent weeks.  A prisoner broke free in a courtroom, killed the judge, the court reporter and two deputies before making his escape.  A student came to school with guns and it was Columbine High School all over again. A man came to church and killed the preacher, his son and other worshippers because of a sermon with which he disagreed.  Where did these people have their identities anchored?  Their vessels had obviously been blown by the winds of fear in the direction of their greatest nightmares.  

     We celebrate Easter because of its profound message of hope.  Jesus willingly gave up everything and trusted God’s creativity for what would follow.  Jesus said to his listeners, “Follow me.” When we follow, we are saved from being chained to a constantly changing world that one day we, too, will leave behind.    

     Job lost everything and experienced a rebirth when his world was restored well beyond what it was.  Not only was Jesus’ life restored, but also God chose one moment in time to reveal another aspect of creation – life does not end when we leave our solid forms.  We are infinite beings who never have to fear anything.  Do we understand this?  

THE CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER

     Loving, merciful God, we know how easy it is to disburse the darkness of Good Friday with the colors and joyous message of Easter morning.  We understand the wonder of celebrating the timeless truth of eternal life with worship, fellowship and family meals.  Yet, we confess that we still choose to limit your truth with our doubts.  We give meaning to the uncertainties our fears create.  Our minds enjoy thinking of life eternal, while we remain anchored to the promises this world offers.  May the insights from the empty tomb empower us to inherit the freedom and power you created us to have.  Amen.

THE PASTORAL PRAYER

     Loving God, Easter morning is such a wonderful time to recall all the occasions we have been surprised by you.  We thrill at the newborn children that come through us.  We marvel at the experimental medication that works with our form of cancer.  We are filled with gratitude when our eyes behold the splendor of a spring garden that is ablaze with colors no human artist could possibly capture with a paintbrush. 

     So many times our eyes only see the hurts and frustrations of life, blinding us to the miracles taking place in each moment.  Open our eyes that we might see, glimpses of truth you have for us. 

     Few of us are capable of experiencing the depth of joy that was known by the women who came to the tomb that morning.  They were greeted with the unexpected.  How grateful all of us are that the horrors of a Friday that was anything but “good” gave way to the sunrise of an Easter morning.   Jesus said to his disciples, “Do you believe because you have seen me?  Blessed are those who believe who have not seen.”  Help each of us to draw our courage for living from your Kingdom instead of the one we have created.  Help us to remain Easter people who have learned how to give without counting the cost to ourselves. We pray these thoughts through the spirit of Jesus, who taught his disciples to say when they pray . . .