Are We Seeking To Live In A Season Of Wisdom As Evangelists and Apostles?
Good Morning Friends,
The Bible says that we are all to be of one body, even though we serve different functions in that body. We affirm this in the breaking of bread where the one loaf is distributed to the believers, each a part, yet confessing that the body of Christ is one and whole. And if we serve as this called out assembly of God, in unity, it will seem that we are therefor to share in Christ’s priesthood as ministers and as Apostles much like Paul beyond the walls of earthly facilities. Here Jesus’ brokenness, our brokenness in the face of disaster and evil is, in the mystery of it all, the means of our unity in the body of believers we call the church. We all collectively are to be the Temple of the Holy Spirit. Friends, we must be disciples and servants but in unity there is something more. And so, in contemplation of today’s lectionary I ask: Are We Seeking To Live In A Season Of Wisdom As Evangelists and Apostles?
Scripture: Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name, including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:1-7 (NRSV)
When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation. The queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here! The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here!
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Luke 11:29-32 (NRSV)
When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, (fame due to the name of the Lord), she came to test him with hard questions. She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels bearing spices, and very much gold, and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind. Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king that he could not explain to her. When the queen of Sheba had observed all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, their clothing, his valets, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her. So she said to the king, “The report was true that I heard in my own land of your accomplishments and of your wisdom, but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. Not even half had been told me; your wisdom and prosperity far surpass the report that I had heard.
1 Kings 10:1-7 (NRSV)
Message: Of course, Nineveh was known for its fish. And today we see stylized fish as a symbol of the Christian faith on bumper stickers that may go back to today’s text, but then, Jesus was a fisher of men so it may have to do with his preaching for people to repent. Jesus may have meant many things in referencing the sign of Jonah but the most likely is what follows. Luke and Matthew, in a similar passage, were undoubtedly thinking in retrospect having known of the resurrection Gospel message. But the context of the sign of Jonah utterance was in response to the Pharisees. They remained unconvinced of Jesus’ claims about Himself, despite His having just cured a demon-possessed man who was both blind and mute. And that was an amazing miracle. Still, shortly after the Pharisees accused Jesus of driving out demons by the power of Satan, they said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. Now at the time this could have been interpreted as the character of the person Jonah and his name which means dove, a symbol of peace or it could have meant, the wrath of God which Jonah predicted for the Ninevites, or possibly the image of a fish vomiting Jonah on the beach. But Jesus elaborated his answer in a way to provide the Pharisees with more than evidence that he was indeed the Messiah but the promise of a miraculous proof that He was much more. So, the phrase sign of Jonah here was used I think as a metaphor for the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Yes, it tracks back to the three days in the belly of the fish but also the three partial days between the resurrection and the crucifixion. But you probably already knew that. The thing is that the Ninevites believed Jonah even when he performed no great miracles. So, Jesus, the Word made flesh, is paralleling the story of Jonah, and making it clear to the Pharisees that they are culpable for their unbelief but that they would be given one final sign…but they would have to wait for the greatest miracle of all…the defeat of Satan and the death and resurrection of Christ. When we seek God’s promises with our own power and in our own flesh, we will always fail and only disappointment and despair will remain. Jesus did miracles as signs for those who already had the eyes of faith but refused to use supernatural works in order to convince unbelievers. He left that work for the Holy Spirit. The beauty is that Jesus uses the power of love that does not force. He condemned those who demanded a forceful sign in the heavens. But Jesus did do miracles expected of the Messiah that could easily be argued as evidence of an outward indication of the inner purpose of God being offered to us though Jesus for those with the eyes of faith to see. Friends, we know what is right to do in most situations, we do not need a sign, we just need to do what God has told us to do from the beginning. We do not have to blame someone else or ask for God’s wrath to destroy who we consider our rivals. We as the Ninevites need repenting and mercy and reconciliation. Friends, we are to love even the lost. Christians are to bless the world. This is the sign of Christ’s love. This is the promise that can only be fulfilled by God so stop struggling and love the gift of peace being offered.
And So, today’s passages of scripture present the truth that it is the condition of the hearers’ heart, and not the speaker’s ability or stage, that matter most in the conversion of believers. Jesus was doing all kinds of signs in his ministry that indicated he was the Messiah, He turned water into wine, He created food when he fed the five thousand, he healed lepers and the blind and yet He said He would do no sign. And I think Jesus said that because no matter what He did the earthly religious power base still would not believe. The story of His life and how the power hungry ultimately sought to murder Jesus bears that out. People saw signs, they just did not want anything to do with Jesus, unless He fit what they wanted. Jesus is saying that the problem is not with me, but you. He illustrates those two ways. First with Jonah. You see, Jonah was an uncaring, worthless preacher. He ran from the call of God, He preached one message and one message only. He preached a harsh judgmental message. He did not give away money or have a great music program to build up the emotions of the crowds, he showed no compassion for the people he was sent to minister to, he did not try to win them with love, he did not give bikes away or candy or school back packs or shoes if they would only somehow join him. His message was harsh, rough, and delivered in an uncaring way, and yet the whole city state of Nineveh repented. To show you how bad and uncaring he was the scriptures say He got mad when they were not destroyed. And Jesus says that the men of that generation will condemn the current generation, because they repented at the preaching of a terrible preacher, and you got the best one there has ever been, and you are not repenting. Friends, it is not about the messenger, God’s word is like a seed that can flourish anywhere the soil will receive it. Next the scripture goes on to talk about the queen of Sheba and how Jesus is greater than Solomon. Whereas Solomon brought water to the city, Jesus brought living water. Solomon built with stone and brick that were destroyed but Jesus builds with living stones hewn from the rocks and foundation of our faith that will never decay. Sheba found out that Solomon was more than she heard and so too Jesus exceeds all any of His disciples could ever say about Him.
Pray that when we are perplexed as to whether to move to action or to wait, we pray for discernment believing God loves us and that we too are to love even without a sign. Pray the Holy Spirit evokes more wonder in our hearts than any marvel of human work. Pray we realize that Jesus is eternal and united as one with the Father. Pray we are more interested in the King than the Kingdom. Pray we realize that our actions cannot earn salvation. Pray God use us to bring unity. Pray the Holy Spirit inspire us to follow God in a unity that honors Jesus. Pray we realize that if we seek Christ to lead our life God will provide an answer that honors the plan of salvation. Pray therefor
that we see the signs of warning and of wisdom as expressions of God’s love. Pray we realize that just as Jonah was sent as an emissary of peace to Nineveh, so too Jesus was sent as an emissary of peace to the whole world. Pray we are obedient hearers of the Word made flesh in our hearts and that this reality is manifested in our hands. Pray we repent. Pray we believe. Pray we are a sign of peace and love so others might believe.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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