Led on their Way

In mid-summer, we were reading from the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John, the Bread of Life discourse, where the concept the Body of Christ is prominent.

We know that term is used in three different ways in scripture:

--It describes Jesus walking in Israel 2,000 years ago.

--It describes Jesus in Holy Communion as the anticipation of the end.

--It describes Jesus as the Church right now gathered in worship and scattered in service.

All three points in time are within the reality of God, the Body of Christ.

When the question is put “Who do you say that I am?” many want to respond only about a Jesus safely back there in the past.

Let's have some historical details now: long flowing robes, long hair and beard, haunting, deep-set eyes perhaps... that's the Body of Christ for many... a wise teacher, a wonder-worker who was unjustly executed, back there in the dark mists of history.

What about Jesus today?

“I just can't picture Jesus in jeans and T-shirt” lots of us will say.

That may be a way to keep Jesus at arms-length, in the past, where we don't have to deal with him.

But if “Body of Christ” also means the church as it worships and serves, then we will see Jesus in jeans and T-shirt and every other kind of garb that people wear...

where God is praised, the hungry are fed, the despairing are comforted, where Good News is shared with all who will hear it.

One might think that conversation at a wedding rehearsal is just casual banter, but not always.

Friday a week ago, it turned very serious, and the question was “Is it truly Christ's body and blood in the Holy Communion or merely a symbol.”

Right there at the dinner-table I thought I might have to call upon Luther to do his speech against Zwingli at the Marburg colloquy: “IS means IS in the phrase 'This IS my Body.'”

It just goes to show that the old problems are still very much around.

We're still trying to figure out Jesus' relationship to us.

Another day a person asked me “What is heaven like?” and I gave an answer relating it to the body of Christ:

Heaven is recognizing fully the presence of the Body of Christ.

Jesus of Nazareth is the bread and wine given to us, and he also is the community of love which we share with all who will listen.

Such a heaven was, is, and will be the full community of Christ Jesus with us, his body, complete.

It is what we anticipate, but also what we experience at his Table.

Just a taste, an appetizer.

This is so much more profound than the cartoon idea of harps and puffy clouds;

so let's explore it a bit more this way:

Think of all of the times that we have attended weddings and have waited for those interminable photos to be taken.

At length, there will be a feast,

and in the meantime we share appetizers.

They are very nice, and they are part of the whole event, they assuage our craving, and they reassure us that more is coming.

Holy Communion functions in just that way as the first part of the heavenly banquet, reassuring us of its fullness, in and for the body of Christ.

Who do you say that I am?

You are the Messiah, the Christ,

whose body we know

whom we dare to love.

Yes, put your trust here,

pin your trust on this one.

Some will act as though Jesus is merely disembodied words floating around, which can easily be ignored.

But whenever and wherever the church is doing its proper job,

whenever and wherever we are anticipating God's final community

at the table, and in caring for each other,

there is Christ Jesus,

in all the body which he needs right now.

Jesus' question, “Who do you say that I am?” does not give us information about Jesus,

but confronts us with his presence now.

Look back to Jesus announcement of his intentions for us.

Look ahead as he molds us into what we will finally be.

Look around to see this body of Christ in action, walking with Jesus.

Didn't it sound ironic when we sang at the entry today:

Led on their way by this triumphant sign The hosts of God in conquering ranks combine. [LBW#377.2]

Mostly we feel glad that we can make it from day to day, let alone anything about “conquering ranks”.

But we can grant the poet some license here, because he is pointing not to our own strength, but to God's victory.

It is with profound humility,

it is with awe and fear and trembling at the responsibility entrusted to us

that we engage in the tasks set before us,

trusting that others will see Jesus, the body of Christ, in us as we...

--teach and listen,

--care for others,

--speak for those with no voice

--exercise stewardship of all that we have and are and hold in trust

--and come together for prayer and praise and thanksgiving.

We are your own living members...

[of this body of Christ.]

Faithful Lord, with me abide;

I shall follow where you guide.

. [LBW#487]

Who do you say that I am?

An historic figure safely in the past?

Or a living Lord in our midst,

giving us his body in Communion,

and then using us as his body in the world?

Thanks be to God who continues still to bless us and lead us. Amen.

Please note: The preceding sermon is provided as a resource for the thought, prayer, and meditation of the members and friends of St. Mark's. It is the residue of a verbal event, and thus it does not have academic footnotes and other details that would be expected in a written document. The writer gladly acknowledges the prior thought and work of many Christians before him.