Epiphany 3 year A Sermon
Hello…good people…of Wanaka… my name is Moshe But you can call me Sabah…
which means grandfather in Hebrew…
Seems like everyone is younger than I am these days …so you can call me Sabah too.
I live in 1st century Alexandria in Egypt…the Jewish diaspora…If you were here last week… you will have met my grandson Amos
Seems like everyone is younger than I am these days …so you can call me Sabah too.
I live in 1st century Alexandria in Egypt…the Jewish diaspora…If you were here last week… you will have met my grandson Amos
…such an excitable boy is my Amos…wants to learn everything… question everything…show off his vast knowledge of sacred scripture and he’s not even eleven
Lately…I’ve been reading him stories from a new scroll that’s turned up…it’s the life story of the rabbi Jesus of Nazareth…it’s teaching has split our synagogue…and some people now follow this rabbi Jesus…
even though he’s been dead for forty years.
Lately…I’ve been reading him stories from a new scroll that’s turned up…it’s the life story of the rabbi Jesus of Nazareth…it’s teaching has split our synagogue…and some people now follow this rabbi Jesus…
even though he’s been dead for forty years.
They say he was God’s promised Messiah…
who was to bring about God’s kingdom on earth…
they insist he rose from the dead…
and still teaches and strengthens them by his Spirit…
who was to bring about God’s kingdom on earth…
they insist he rose from the dead…
and still teaches and strengthens them by his Spirit…
they believe God’s covenant faithfulness was renewed through this Jesus… and that his teaching was for the salvation of the whole world…
and that’s why they’ve been kicked out of the synagogue…for saying everyone’s a child of God…
and should be part of us now…even pagans…
even gentiles
and that’s why they’ve been kicked out of the synagogue…for saying everyone’s a child of God…
and should be part of us now…even pagans…
even gentiles
You know I really shouldn’t be reading this
banned story to the boys…but since the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Roman’s…
it’s like a darkness has covered our people…
a fear that God has abandoned us…
and the story of this rabbi Jesus… is so full of hope …and fulfilled prophesy…and like all our children…
my grandson needs hope…
To tell you the truth…I’m a little worried for Amos …such big dreams from such a small boy…
he wants to be a great rabbi one day…
with disciples following him around…
doing what he does…spreading his yoke…
teaching what he teaches…
but I try to tell him…for this he must be chosen by a great rabbi…to follow in his footsteps…
and he’ll have to be among the most gifted…the very top …most perfect students…the cream of the crop
For now he’s only ten year’s old and doing well…
but by fourteen or fifteen…only the best of the best of the best…will still be studying. And some just won’t make the grade…they have no choice but to leave synagogue school…to work in the family business.
And there’s more I worry about…
even if Amos is still achieving at fifteen
there’s no certainty a great rabbi will choose him…
to become his tal-mi-dim… his disciple...
You see my friends in our Jewish way…
for my grandson Amos to be chosen as a great rabbi’s disciple… he’ll have to be more than a student who knows the scriptures by heart and their various interpretations…Amos will have to impress a great rabbi he can do everything the rabbi does…
and teach everything he teaches to others…
banned story to the boys…but since the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Roman’s…
it’s like a darkness has covered our people…
a fear that God has abandoned us…
and the story of this rabbi Jesus… is so full of hope …and fulfilled prophesy…and like all our children…
my grandson needs hope…
To tell you the truth…I’m a little worried for Amos …such big dreams from such a small boy…
he wants to be a great rabbi one day…
with disciples following him around…
doing what he does…spreading his yoke…
teaching what he teaches…
but I try to tell him…for this he must be chosen by a great rabbi…to follow in his footsteps…
and he’ll have to be among the most gifted…the very top …most perfect students…the cream of the crop
For now he’s only ten year’s old and doing well…
but by fourteen or fifteen…only the best of the best of the best…will still be studying. And some just won’t make the grade…they have no choice but to leave synagogue school…to work in the family business.
And there’s more I worry about…
even if Amos is still achieving at fifteen
there’s no certainty a great rabbi will choose him…
to become his tal-mi-dim… his disciple...
You see my friends in our Jewish way…
for my grandson Amos to be chosen as a great rabbi’s disciple… he’ll have to be more than a student who knows the scriptures by heart and their various interpretations…Amos will have to impress a great rabbi he can do everything the rabbi does…
and teach everything he teaches to others…
But still Amos dreams of hearing that special invitation when a great rabbi decides…you’ve got just what it takes to be his disciple…Amos dreams of the words ‘come follow me’. He dreams of leaving his father
and mother…and yes… even me…
to follow his great teacher where ever he goes.
and mother…and yes… even me…
to follow his great teacher where ever he goes.
And you know something…the truth is I worry my grandson won’t be smart enough…clever enough…impressive enough…I’m anxious he’ll wind up disappointed…
and making lamps in the family workshop…
I know he loves God and the scriptures…
and I’m sure he’s a good enough student…
but good enough won’t be enough
in the eyes of a great rabbi…
And here I am reading him an illegal story…
at least this rabbi Jesus… knew the sacred scriptures…
and how to use them…in a tight situation…like the one in the wilderness with the devil…
A good example for my Amos…
and making lamps in the family workshop…
I know he loves God and the scriptures…
and I’m sure he’s a good enough student…
but good enough won’t be enough
in the eyes of a great rabbi…
And here I am reading him an illegal story…
at least this rabbi Jesus… knew the sacred scriptures…
and how to use them…in a tight situation…like the one in the wilderness with the devil…
A good example for my Amos…
‘Sabah? Who are you talking to?
Heh heh…no one my grandson…allow an old man his ruminations…I didn’t see you come in…
sometimes you can be quiet as a cat!
Are you ready to hear what happens after Jesus’
testing in the wilderness…
sometimes you can be quiet as a cat!
Are you ready to hear what happens after Jesus’
testing in the wilderness…
now why can’t you be quiet like a cat while I’m reading
Now when Jesus heard his cousin John was arrested
he made his way back to Galilee…but he didn’t stay in Nazareth where his mother lived…he made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali.
he made his way back to Galilee…but he didn’t stay in Nazareth where his mother lived…he made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali.
Again ‘so what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
slide words
slide words
Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles
…the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death… light has dawned.
From that time Jesus began to proclaim,
From that time Jesus began to proclaim,
"Repent, turn back to God…
for the kingdom of heaven has come near."
for the kingdom of heaven has come near."
One day as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee,
he saw two brothers, Simon, who’s called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea…
for they were fishermen.
he saw two brothers, Simon, who’s called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea…
for they were fishermen.
And Jesus said to them,
"Come follow me…
and I’ll make you fish for people."
and I’ll make you fish for people."
Hang on a minute grandpa…my Amos interrupts…
what did Jesus just say to them…Come follow me?
That’s what I read…Amos…that’s what it says
right here…
what did Jesus just say to them…Come follow me?
That’s what I read…Amos…that’s what it says
right here…
But grandpa…it sounds like he’s calling these fishermen to be his talmidim…his disciples...and that can’t be right
Well my grandson that’s what the story says…
and it also says immediately they left their nets and followed him…and two other brothers too…James and John…who were mending nets in a boat with their father Zebedee
and it also says immediately they left their nets and followed him…and two other brothers too…James and John…who were mending nets in a boat with their father Zebedee
and they just got up and left their father…a
nd followed Jesus.
Grandpa… Amos asks me…
have you ever heard of a rabbi who calls ordinary people off the lake… to follow him?
nd followed Jesus.
Grandpa… Amos asks me…
have you ever heard of a rabbi who calls ordinary people off the lake… to follow him?
No my grandson…I have not heard of such a thing…
but this writer…this story teller they call Matthew says …that’s exactly what Jesus did…
but this writer…this story teller they call Matthew says …that’s exactly what Jesus did…
And from that time on…Matthew says…
Jesus went throughout Galilee,,,teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom…curing every disease and every sickness among the people. [pause]
Jesus went throughout Galilee,,,teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom…curing every disease and every sickness among the people. [pause]
Grandpa… Amos says softly…as I roll up the scroll…
Grandpa…I think I could be a disciple of the rabbi Jesus of Nazareth…I could be his talmidi.
Grandpa…I think I could be a disciple of the rabbi Jesus of Nazareth…I could be his talmidi.
But Amos my grandson who I love…
you haven’t even heard the rest of the story yet…
you don’t even know what his yoke is…and without this
you can’t know what it would mean to follow Jesus…
[pause]
But we’re not cuddled up with grandpa…
in first century Alexandria…
in the dark years after the fall of Jerusalem...
We’re living beside another lake at the ends of the earth…and some of us are wondering if we’ll ever be called… whether we’ll ever be good enough…
And we’ve heard whole the story haven’t we…
we know how it ends…we know what following Jesus meant for Peter and Andrew and James and John…
what he sent them out to do…and what happened to them in the end…don’t we? Well maybe we need to be reminded sometimes.
But what about us…what does it mean for us…
when we discover in the gospel stories…you don’t have to be the cream of the crop… best of the best…
to be called by Jesus…
when we discover in the gospel stories…you don’t have to be the cream of the crop… best of the best…
to be called by Jesus…
What does that mean for us…when we’ve given up on being needed…think we’re not necessary for the kingdom… not clever enough…or brave enough…
or past our used-by date
or past our used-by date
Like young Amos…what can we 21st century Wanakarians learn… from the kind of people Jesus chose as his disciples? Imperfect people… quarrelling and jealous people… passionate and faithful one minute and betraying him the next…
people who can’t understand what he’s talking about half the time… who make mistakes and get it wrong… yet people he trusted to carry on his work…to go to the ends of the earth… to make more disciples.
As we follow Matthew’s story this year… we’ll see just how frustrated Jesus gets with his first disciples. Not because they’re incompetent…but because he knows their potential…he knows
they can do what he does and more… and he says so.
people who can’t understand what he’s talking about half the time… who make mistakes and get it wrong… yet people he trusted to carry on his work…to go to the ends of the earth… to make more disciples.
As we follow Matthew’s story this year… we’ll see just how frustrated Jesus gets with his first disciples. Not because they’re incompetent…but because he knows their potential…he knows
they can do what he does and more… and he says so.
And we’ll discover that what aggravates Jesus…
isn’t their failures…it’s their potential. They just don’t realize what they’re capable of.[i]
And here we are… at the ends of the earth…
most of us have taught since childhood…
to believe in Jesus…
but have we been told… he believes in us?
have we ever stayed quiet long enough…
to hear his invitation…
‘Come follow me.’ I believe in you.
isn’t their failures…it’s their potential. They just don’t realize what they’re capable of.[i]
And here we are… at the ends of the earth…
most of us have taught since childhood…
to believe in Jesus…
but have we been told… he believes in us?
have we ever stayed quiet long enough…
to hear his invitation…
‘Come follow me.’ I believe in you.
[i] Rob Bell, Velvet Elvis, Repainting the Christian Faith, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005. Some of my inspiration for this sermon comes from this book.
