March 5, 2005 John 8:47-59

 March 5, 2005                                                                                                            John 8:47-59

 

John 8:56-59 “Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; he saw it and was glad." Then the Jews said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?"  Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I AM." So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.                        

            In my youth, one of the rock bands of the day had a hit titled; “Jesus is All Right With Me.”  In fact if you knew those words you knew almost every word in the song for it repeated that line over and over again.  About 25 years later a Christian rap act, DC Talk, sampled this song, added some rap lyrics to it and made it their own.  The music in both cases was pretty good and still is worth listening to today.

            I was reminded of this song when I read the passage for today from John’s gospel.            The song always reminds me of the image of this ‘60’s rock group (I think it was Buffalo Springfield) proclaiming quite loudly for everyone to hear; “I don’t care what people say.  I don’t care what they may do. Jesus is all right!”  It portrayed an attitude toward Christ that one didn’t usually expect in an era known for turning on and dropping out.

The song reminded me that every now and then Christ shows some real attitude in Scripture. And when he shows attitude it is so obvious that even the passage of time does little to water it down to respectful levels. And it is usually happens when he is turning the accepted norms of religion on its ear.

In this passage Jesus tells several Jews who claim to believe him exactly who he is and his relationship to God the Father.  But Jesus doesn’t beat around the bush in telling them.  Instead he takes them straight back to the place where Israel learned who God was the burning bush!

Moses at the burning bush asked God for a name he could relate to Pharaoh when asked who this God was.  The answer, as we know was; “I AM WHO I AM” and a little later; “Tell them I AM has sent you.”  This was the same answer Jesus gave his listeners.  “Before Abraham was, I AM.”  Let me try to put it into context for you.  It was as if someone were to ask Jesus; “Who do you think you are God?”  And the answer was an honest and resounding; “YES!” complete with thunder and lightning bolts!

Even today, that type of talk makes one stand out in a crowd.  Usually, the next phone call is for the guys with the lovely tailored jacket with wrap around sleeves.  But in Christ’s time talking that way was a death sentence!  Yet Christ showed no fear.  He challenged the accepted norm whenever it veered from God’s ways and so should we.  

Jesus challenged the Jews, and still challenges us, to be true to our words.  He dared them to give more than lip service to the credos of their faith.  The same challenge stands before us today.  We can take a stand (even if others don’t agree with it) and live our faith as we understand it.  There is not better way for us to live.

 

Gracious Lord, grant us the courage to take a stand for you.  Let us walk our talk and always do so armed with love.  Guide us this day in the way of Christ.  Amen.

 

Contributed by Rev. Andy O’Dowd