News of Loss

March 29th 2009 Fifth Sunday in Lent

Rev. Mark R. Bradshaw-Miller

“News of Loss” John 12:20-33

If you look closely at this story from John, and what came before it in the scripture, you might think we have gotten things out of order. Next week is Palm Sunday and despite that, this passage comes, chronologically after Palm Sunday. So the natural question is, or at least ought to be, why are we faced with this passage now, instead of the week after Palm Sunday? Well, the most logical answer is that the week after Palm Sunday is Easter and we have more important things on which to focus. However, there is way more to it than that.

The hour, as Jesus says, has come, it is the climax of the gospel. But what has brought it to this point? Two things have come together which make this the ‘hour.’ Only a short while before, Jesus has raised Lazarus from the dead. When this news makes its way across the desk of the religious leadership, they began devising a plan to kill Jesus. Their plans become more complicated because he has a great deal of popular support. The religious leadership is fearful of the people who have found a hope that a new day is dawning. The scheming of the religious leaders is the first part of why Jesus’ ‘hour’ has come.

On the day when Jesus enters Jerusalem there is some confusion, at least with those who celebrate his entry. The shouts of “hosanna” make it clear that many of the people are ready to anoint a new king. Given the tone of their excitement there is no doubt that many they expect him to overthrow the Roman occupation. This is a reasonable claim given the fact that on the same week Jesus is hailed as new king, the crowd also calls for his life when he does not fulfill their expectations. In our scripture this morning, Jesus makes it very clear that he will not fulfill these desires. Despite this, those who have hailed him king do not seem to grasp what he is saying. So the stage is set. When the authorities are seeking to kill him and the people are trying to make him king the outcome nearly inevitable. This is even truer because Jesus will not succumb to the wishes of either group.

In the midst of the political intrigue and the calls for populist uprisings, something amazing happens. A group of Greeks come to Andrew and ask to see Jesus. We have no previous knowledge or information about this group. We do not know their names or even if they actually get to have an audience with Jesus. But they are there celebrating Passover and want to see Jesus. No reason is given only the request. So Jesus takes their request and seeks to set the record straight. Jesus talks about losing one’s life to save it. When he does this it is more about reaffirming his identity than anything else.

By refusing to satisfy both the religious leadership and the people who want to make him an earthly king, Jesus gives insight into his identity. Jesus refuses to fit into any mold other than the one which God had designed. When the Greeks come and ask to see Jesus, he responds with a lesson in gardening. I believe what is happening here is that Jesus is saying: “If you really want to see me, then you must come face to face with a new reality.”

In other words, to see Jesus, we have to have new vision. It means that followers of Jesus, individuals and institutions, are called to live out a new reality. It is a reality, which says; “No,” to a way of life built upon self-interest or the use of power for domination. The news of our faith is that we have been called to a way of life which is about serving others. Beginning with the incarnation, God’s self revealing love is for others. And, at the very height of his popularity Jesus turns from the trappings of power and stays focused on his mission. This stance cost him his life.

The life death and resurrection of Jesus invites those who would want to follow, or to “see” him that it might indeed cost us our lives, or at least our expectation of how we will live our lives. The good news we know and are offered is about setting us free from the ways of self-interest which permeate our world. When I was in seminary a student shared their frustration over institutional policy. The concern was about how a Christian Institution could act in such a way. A professor challenged the student by saying; “Why do you assume an institution could be Christian?” The point of her challenge had to do with the reality of institutional life. The unstated goal of all institutions, churches included, is self preservation. However, Jesus calls us to be faithful even at risk of survival and too often institutions cannot and will not take this risk. As a result it is not often that institutions act in Christian ways.

It is odd news. So odd, in fact, that we must continually be reminded of its oddity and challenge. If we, like the Greek’s, really want to see Jesus, then we must be willing to let go and risk our very lives, personally and institutionally, in the service of this new way. This is what the real life of faith is all about. Amen.