FEAR CANNOT SETTLE IN THE SAME SPACE AS TRUST
Luke 24:33-43
Rev. Paul Wrightman 4/23/23
ONE DAY A BUS DRIVER WAS DRIVING ALONG HIS USUAL ROUTE
WHEN A BIG HULK OF A MAN GOT ON.
HE WAS SIX FEET EIGHT INCHES TALL, BUILT LIKE A WRESTLER,
AND HIS ARMS HUNG TO THE GROUND.
HE GLARED AT THE DRIVER AND TOLD HIM, “BIG JOHN DOESN’T PAY!”
THEN HE SAT AT THE BACK OF THE BUS.
THE DRIVER WAS FIVE FEET THREE INCHES TALL, THIN,
AND VERY MEEK, SO HE DIDN’T ARGUE WITH BIG JOHN.
BUT HE WASN’T HAPPY.
THE NEXT DAY THE SAME THING HAPPENED, AND THE NEXT.
THE BUS DRIVER BEGAN TO LOSE SLEEP OVER THE WAY
BIG JOHN WAS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF HIM.
FINALLY, HE COULD STAND IT NO LONGER.
HE SIGNED UP FOR BODYBUILDING, KARATE, JUDO,
AND SELF-ESTEEM CLASSES.
BY THE END OF THE SUMMER,
THE BUS DRIVER HAD BECOME STRONGER AND MORE CONFIDENT.
SO WHEN BIG JOHN ENTERED THE BUS AND AGAIN DECLARED,
“BIG JOHN DOESN’T PAY!” THE DRIVER FINALLY CONFRONTED HIM.
HE STOOD UP, GLARED AT BIG JOHN, AND BELLOWED,
“AND WHY NOT?”
WITH A SURPRISED LOOK ON HIS FACE,
BIG JOHN REPLIED, “BIG JOHN HAS A BUS PASS.”
WORRY HAS BEEN DEFINED AS “A SMALL TRICKLE OF FEAR
THAT MEANDERS THROUGH THE MIND UNTIL IT CUTS A CHANNEL
INTO WHICH ALL OTHER THOUGHTS ARE DRAINED.” (Anonymous)
OUR ANXIOUS BUS DRIVER
FITS THIS DESCRIPTION OF WORRY PERFECTLY.
FEELING INTIMIDATED BY BIG JOHN,
HIS WHOLE LIFE BECOMES DEFINED
BY HOW HE CAN STAND HIS GROUND.
AND WHEN THE BIG MOMENT OF STANDING HIS GROUND
FINALLY ARRIVES, HE REALIZES THAT HE HAS WASTED
MONTHS OF HIS LIFE PREPARING FOR AN EVENTUALITY
THAT EXISTED ONLY IN HIS OWN MIND – NOWHERE ELSE.
JESUS TEACHES THAT FEAR AND WORRY ARE ANTITHETICAL
TO A TRUSTING RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
HOW CAN WE TRUST GOD WHEN WE ARE CONSTANTLY
HEDGING OUR BETS AND COMING UP WITH ALTERNATIVE PLANS
JUST IN CASE GOD DOESN’T FOLLOW THROUGH
OR TAKE GOOD ENOUGH CARE OF US?
A MAJOR SECTION OF JESUS’ SERMON ON THE MOUNT –
THE SECTION FEATURING “THE BIRDS OF THE AIR
AND THE LILIES OF THE FIELD” (Matthew 7:25-33) –
IS DEVOTED TO CHALLENGING THE OVERWHELMING POWER
OF WORRY.
JESUS BEGINS THIS SECTION BY COMMANDING HIS FOLLOWERS
NOT TO INDULGE IN WORRY:
I TELL YOU, DO NOT WORRY ABOUT YOUR LIFE,
WHAT YOU WILL EAT OR WHAT YOU WILL DRINK,
OR ABOUT YOUR BODY, WHAT YOU WILL WEAR.
THROUGHOUT THE GOSPELS JESUS CONTRASTS
A LIFE OF WORRY – WHICH IS BASICALLY SELF-CENTERED,
WITH A LIFE OF TRUST – WHICH IS GOD-CENTERED.
WE CAN FIND A KIND OF IRONIC COMFORT IN THE FACT
THAT JESUS’ ORIGINAL DISCIPLES FOUND IT NO EASIER
TO TRUST GOD THAN WE DO.
THROUGHOUT JESUS’ MINISTRY, THE ORIGINAL DISCIPLES
ARE CONSTANTLY FREAKING OUT
AND HAVING TO HAVE JESUS BAIL THEM OUT
OF THE LATEST IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION
THEY HAVE GOTTEN THEMSELVES INTO.
TRUE TO FORM, THEY DO THIS EVEN AFTER JESUS’ RESURRECTION,
GOD’S ULTIMATE STATEMENT TO THEM AND TO THE ENTIRE WORLD
THAT GOD IS A GOD OF FORGIVENESS, NOT REVENGE,
A GOD OF LOVE, NOT FEAR, A GOD OF LIFE, NOT DEATH.
RAISING JESUS – AND IN THIS AWESOME ACT RAISING
EVERYTHING THAT JESUS STOOD FOR --
IS GOD’S ULTIMATE STATEMENT THAT GOD CAN BE TRUSTED.
ACCORDING TO LUKE, A NUMBER OF WOMEN
AND THE APOSTLE PETER
HAD ALREADY SEEN JESUS BY EASTER EVENING.
THE WOMEN REPORT JESUS’ RESURRECTION TO THE MALE DISCIPLES,
WHO IMMEDIATELY WRITE OFF THEIR TESTIMONY
AS HYSTERICAL NONSENSE (see Luke 24:11).
ON THE FIRST EASTER EVENING JESUS APPEARS
TO HIS MALE DISCIPLES, MINUS THOMAS.
BUT THE SIGHT OF JESUS, INSTEAD
OF SPARKING JOY AND CELEBRATION,
TRIGGERS REVULSION AND TERROR
AND SCARY THOUGHTS OF GHOSTS.
SEEING THEIR RAW FEAR,
JESUS ASKS ONE OF HIS MOST INCISIVE QUESTIONS:
WHY ARE YOU FRIGHTENED,
AND WHY DO DOUBTS ARISE IN YOUR HEARTS? (Luke 24:38)
JESUS ASKS THIS QUESTION NOT ONLY TO HIS ORIGINAL DISCIPLES,
BUT TO ALL THE DISCIPLES WHO SEEK TO FOLLOW HIM
THROUGHOUT THE AGES, VERY MUCH INCLUDING YOU AND ME:
WHY ARE WE SO FRIGHTENED?
WHY ARE WE SO FILLED WITH DOUBTS?
WE NEED TO NOTE HERE THAT WHEN JESUS TALKS ABOUT DOUBT,
HE TALKS ABOUT IT IN TWO DISTINCT, ALMOST CONTRADICTORY,
WAYS:
IN THE FIRST WAY, JESUS SEES DOUBT AS THE POSITIVE REALITY
OF ASKING QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS ABOUT INJUSTICE
AND INEQUALITY, LACK OF COMPASSION,
RAMPANT SELFISHNESS, AND THE MEANING OF SUFFERING.
DOUBT IN THIS FIRST SENSE LEADS TO FURTHER KNOWLEDGE
AND BRINGS ONE CLOSER TO TRUTH.
IN THE SECOND WAY, JESUS SEES DOUBT AS A DESTRUCTIVE REALITY
THAT QUESTIONS GOD’S TRUSTWORTHINESS
EVEN AFTER GOD HAS MADE IT PERFECTLY CLEAR
THAT GOD IS ABSOLUTELY TRUSTWORTHY.
IN OUR SCRIPTURE READING FOR TODAY,
JESUS IS REFERRING TO DOUBT IN THIS SECOND,
DESTRUCTIVE SENSE.
AFTER ALL, HE IS STANDING THERE RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIS DISCIPLES.
STILL LETTING THEIR FEAR CALL THE SHOTS,
WHEN THE DISCIPLES SEE JESUS THEY DON’T SEE JESUS
BUT THEIR FEAR, FEAR WHICH TAKES THE FORM
OF THINKING THEY’RE SEEING A GHOST.
CHOOSING FEAR OVER TRUST
WHEN THERE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH EVIDENCE
TO CHOOSE TRUST OVER FEAR
IS WHAT JESUS IS CHALLENGING IN TODAY’S TEXT.
FORTUNATELY FOR THE ORIGINAL DISCIPLES,
AND FORTUNATELY FOR US, JESUS IS INFINITELY PATIENT,
AND CONTINUES TO OFFER MORE EVIDENCE – INVITING THEM
TO TOUCH HIM AND THEN TAKING A PIECE OF FISH AND EATING IT –
UNTIL THEY – AND WE – FINALLY GET IT:
JESUS AND HIS MESSAGE ARE ALIVE AND WELL
AND IMPERVIOUS TO DEATH – HIS, AND BY IMPLICATION, OURS.
ONE OF THE MOST MOVING AFFIRMATIONS OF GOD’S PRESENCE
OCCURS AT THE END OF CHAPTER 40
OF THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH.
CHAPTER 40 IS THE BEGINNING OF THAT PART OF ISAIAH
THAT JESUS PERSONBALLY IDENTIFIED WITH MOST STRONGLY.
I STILL REMEMBER, OFTEN WITH GOOSEBUMPS,
THIS TEXT BEING QUOTED BY OLYMPIC RUNNER
ERIC LIDDELL IN THE MOVIE CHARIOTS OF FIRE:
WHY DO YOU SAY, O JACOB, AND SPEAK, O ISRAEL,
“MY WAY IS HIDDEN FROM THE LORD,
AND MY RIGHT IS DISREGARDED BY MY GOD?”
HAVE YOU NOT KNOWN, HAVE YOU NOT HEARD?
THE LORD IS THE EVERLASTING GOD,
THE CREATOR OF THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.
HE DOES NOT FAINT OR GROW WEARY;
HIS UNDERSTANDING IS UNSEARCHABLE.
HE GIVES POWER TO THE FAINT, AND STRENGTHENS THE POWERLESS.
EVEN YOUTHS WILL FAINT AND BE WEARY,
AND THE YOUNG WILL FALL EXHAUSTED;
BUT THOSE WHO WAIT FOR THE LORD
SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH,
THEY SHALL MOUNT UP WITH WINGS LIKE EAGLES,
THEY SHALL RUN AND NOT BE WEARY,
THEY SHALL WALK AND NOT FAINT. (Isaiah 40:27-31)
IN ISAIH 40, WE ARE TOLD THAT BY WAITING ON THE LORD
WE WILL MOUNT UP ON WINGS LIKE EAGLES.
EAGLES ARE MAJESTIC BIRDS WITH REMARKABLE VISION.
SCIENTISTS BELIEVE THEIR VISION MAY BE EIGHT TIMES SHARPER
THAN THAT OF HUMANS.
BUT MOST OF ALL, EAGLES ARE BUILT FOR FLYING.
THEY HAVE INCREDIBLE SPEED, ABLE TO FLY
AT SIXTY OR EIGHTY AND EVEN ONE HUNDRED MILES AN HOUR.
THEY CAN DO ROLLS AND LOOPS LIKE AN AIRPLANE DOING TRICKS.
THEIR WINGSPAN EXTENDS TO NEARLY EIGHT FEET.
BUT EAGLES DO NOT FLY LIKE SPARROWS OR ROBINS.
MOST BIRDS FLY THROUGH THE AIR BY FLAPPING THEIR WINGS,
BUT EAGLES CANNOT FLAP VERY LONG.
THEY’RE BUILT FOR SOARING,
AND THUS THEY CAN GO MUCH FURTHER ON LITTLE ENERGY.
GOD CREATED OUR PLANET TO HAVE INVISIBLE COLUMNS OF HOT AIR
CALLED THERMALS RISING UP FROM THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH.
EAGLES FIND THESE THERMALS, FLY INTO THE INVISIBLE CURRENTS,
STRETCH OUT THEIR WINGS,
AND ARE LIFTED HIGHER AND HIGHER INTO THE SKY
AS THOUGH ASCENDING ON AN ELEVATOR.
THEY MAY RISE AS HIGH AS FOURTEEN THOUSAND FEET,
SO HIGH THEY CANNOT BE SEEN WITH THE NAKED HUMAN EYE
FROM EARTH.
WHEN THEY REACH THOSE HEIGHTS,
THEY EMERGE FROM THE UPDRAFT, WINGS STILL SPREAD,
AND THEY SOAR THIS WAY AND THAT, DOWNWARDS AND SIDEWAYS,
TRAVELING FOR MILES WITH VERY LITTLE EXERTION
OF STRENGTH AND ENERGY.
ISAIAH SEEMS TO BE TELLING US THAT GOD IS INVISIBLE,
BUT LIKE THE INVISIBLE UPLIFTING THERMAL CURRENTS
OF THIS PLANET, GOD IS PRESENT.
WHEN WE SEARCH GOD OUT, CLAIM GOD’S PROMISES,
AND TRUST IN GOD, SPREADING OUT OUR WINGS OF FAITH,
WE ARE CAUGHT UP TO A HIGHER PLANE.
WE MOUNT UP WITH WINGS LIKE EAGLES.
WE CAN RUN AND NOT GROW WEARY.
WE CAN WALK AND NOT FAINT.
THE STRENGTH WE NEED FOR JOYFUL, DARING LIVING
COMES NOT FROM FLAPPING OUR WINGS
LIKE SPARROWS IN DISTRESS,
BUT FROM TRUSTING IN GOD AND ABIDING IN JESUS CHRIST.
TWO OPPOSING REALITIES CANNOT OCCUPY THE SAME SPACE.
LOVE AND HATE, TRUTH AND LIES, FAITH AND FEAR,
TRUST AND DOUBT, CANNOT OCCUPY THE SAME SPACE.
FOR ONE TO THRIVE, THE OTHER MUST BE ADDRESSED.
LET US CONSIDER FEAR.
FEAR IS THE ENEMY OF FAITH.
FEAR PROMPTED ADAM TO HIDE IN THE GARDEN,
PUSHED PETER TO DENY JESUS,
AND INCITED THE MALE DISCIPLES TO STAND THERE IN UNBELIEF
AS THE RESURRECTED JESUS STOOD BEFORE THEM,
JUST AS HE HAD PROMISED.
FEAR PROMPTS PEOPLE TO DISCRIMINATE, EMBRACE INTOLERANCE,
HIDE IN SEGREGATED COMMUNITIES, AND DISCARD THE FACT
THAT WE ARE ALL, WITHOUT EXCEPTION,
CREATED IN THE IMAGO DEI, THE IMAGE OF GOD.
FEAR BUILDS WALLS, SILENCES TRUTH, QUENCHES LOVE,
AND MISLEADS PEOPLE INTO LIVING IN THE DESERT OF LIFE
WITHOUT EVER STEPPING INTO THE PROMISED LAND.
WHEN WE KNOW WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST,
WHEN WE UNDERSTAND WHAT WE HAVE –
A SPIRIT OF POWER, LOVE, AND SOUND MIND –
THEN WE CAN CHALLENGE FEAR AND UNBELIEF
AND PROCLAIM THE FOLLOWING:
FOR EVERY PHARAOH THERE WILL BE A MOSES,
FOR EVERY GOLIATH THERE WILL BE A DAVID,
FOR EVERY NEBUCHADNEZZAR THERE WILL BE A DANIEL,
FOR EVERY HAMAN THERE WILL BE AN ESTHER.
FOR EVERY EVIL THAT RISES UP AGAINST US
THERE IS A MIGHTIER GOD WHO RISES UP FOR US!
JESUS SAYS SOMETHING PRETTY AMAZING
IN TODAY’S SCRIPTURE LESSON: HE SAYS TOUCH ME.
RIGHT IN THE MIDST OF THEIR FEAR AND DESTRUCTIVE DOUBT,
JESUS INVITES THE DISCIPLES TO TOUCH HIM.
IN A WORLD FULL OF SUFFERING, INJUSTICE, BIGOTRY, DISCORD, WAR, HATRED, AND FEAR, THERE EXISTS GOOD NEWS:
WE CAN STILL TOUCH GOD.
WE CAN TOUCH GOD WITH OUR TRUST IN GOD
AND OUR LOVE TOWARD OUR NEIGHBORS.
WE CAN TOUCH GOD BY WELCOMING THE STRANGER,
FEEDING THE HUNGRY, CLOTHING THOSE IN NEED,
GIVING SHELTER TO THOSE LACKING SHELTER,
AND BEING LIGHT IN THE MIDST OF DARKNESS.
WE CAN TOUCH GOD BY DOING JUSTICE, LOVING MERCY,
AND WALKING HUMBLY.
WE CAN TOUCH GOD BY CARING FOR OUR SUFFERING PLANET.
WE CAN TOUCH GOD BY ABIDING IN THE PERSON
AND TEACHINGS OF JESUS.
IN JOHN’S GOSPEL, JESUS CHALLENGES HIS DISCIPLES:
ABIDE IN ME AS I ABIDE IN YOU.
JUST AS THE BRANCH CANNOT BEAR FRUIT BY ITSELF
UNLESS IT ABIDES IN THE VINE,
NEITHER CAN YOU UNLESS YOU ABIDE IN ME.
I AM THE VINE, YOU ARE THE BRANCHES.
THOSE WHO ABIDE IN ME AND I IN THEM BEAR MUCH FRUIT,
BECAUSE APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING.
(John 15:4-5)
IN HIS BOOK A TURTLE ON A FENCEPOST,
ALLAN EMERY TELLS OF ACCOMPANYING KEN HANSEN
TO VISIT A HOSPITALIZED EMPLOYEE.
THE PATIENT LAY VERY STILL, HIS EYES CONVEYING ANGUISH.
HIS OPERATION HAD TAKEN EIGHT HOURS
AND THE ONLY THING CERTAIN ABOUT HIS RECOVERY
WAS THAT IT WOULD BE LONG.
“ALEX,” KEN SAID QUIETLY,
“YOU KNOW I HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF SERIOUS OPERATIONS.
I KNOW THE PAIN OF TRYING TO TALK.
I THINK I KNOW WHAT QUESTIONS YOU’RE ASKING.
THERE ARE TWO VERSES I WANT TO GIVE YOU –
GENESIS 42:36 AND ROMANS 8:28.
WE HAVE THE OPTION OF THESE TWO ATTITUDES.”
HANSEN TURNED TO THE PASSAGES, READ THEM,
PRAYED, AND LEFT.
THE YOUNG MAN, ALEC BALC, TOOK THE MESSAGE TO HEART.
HE EXPERIENCED FULL RECOVERY.
EVERY DAY WE CHOOSE ONE OF THESE TWO ATTITUDES
AMID LIFE’S DIFFICULTIES –
TO BE BEAT-UP, OR TO BE UP-BEAT.
WE CAN CHOOSE TO SAY WITH JACOB IN GENESIS 42:36 –
ALL THESE THINGS ARE AGAINST ME.
OR WE CAN SAY WITH ST. PAUL IN ROMANS 8:28 –
ALL THESE THINGS ARE WORKING TOGETHER FOR GOOD
TO THOSE WHO LOVE THE LORD. . .
THE CHOICE IS ONE THAT JESUS REFUSES TO MAKE FOR US,
BECAUSE THAT WOULD TAKE AWAY OUR FREE WILL.
BUT JESUS IS PRAYING FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US,
THAT WE WILL REFUSE TO LET OUR LIVES
BE DEFINED BY FEAR,
AND CHOOSE TO LET OUR LIVES BE DEFINED
BY NOTHING LESS THAN GOD,
NOTHING LESS THAN GOD’S GOODNESS, HEALING,
COMPASSION, AND LOVE.
AMEN.