We Are Not Alone

Today’s vocabulary has been ambushed by dreaded words: termination, foreclosure, bankruptcy. Strangling in an unrelenting economic swamp are millions of American employers and employees, families and singles, working and retireds, educated and uneducated, Christians and non-Christians. Disappointment has become the expected rather than a rarity.

Then, along comes the 2012 Olympics with 10,000 of the most skilled athletes in the world – bringing more sunshine into our lives in one moment than any scratch-off ticket could generate. We marvel at these athletes from 204 nations who have devoted themselves to perfection in their chosen sport. Each athlete has determined to exceed their best, knowing that only one wins the gold in each event.

One swimmer – Natalie Coughlin, turning just 20 in August – is the first American female athlete to win six medals in one Olympics. She reflects, “You are very much alone when you’re out there swimming, but you have so many people supporting you back home.”

No, the Olympics doesn’t pay our bills, feed our family or meet our mortgage, but the focused determination of these disciplined participants buoys us to see beyond our daily struggles.

Natalie nails it: Doing it on your own doesn’t mean doing it alone.  The writer of Hebrews concurs, describing Old Testament heroes of faith in chapter 11, followed by “therefore” in chapter 12.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” [New Living Translation]

As in the ancient Greek Games and the modern Olympics, we run as individuals, yet we are NOT ALONE. But are surrounded by a grandstand-full of heavenly heroes who have experienced what we suffer. All gold medal winners, cheering us on in this gut-wrenching side of life.

Jesus, himself, understood life’s ugly side. Shown no mercy. Being alone. End of the rope.  Yet, he is the world champion medal winner - meaning we, too, can win the Gold, if . . . “We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith . . . he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” [Hebrews 12:2, NLT] Each time we commune with Christ, we’re reminded, we are not alone.

Top of the Top

He grew up in Palestine – actually in Kerioth, a small town some 20 miles south of Jerusalem. From his earliest years he excelled in numbers, especially in financial transactions.

Simon, his father, had to be amazed at him when he suddenly left the Jewish faith he had been raised in, to follow an itinerant preacher named Jesus. This preacher was not only from a distant northern city, Nazareth, but he also bragged that he was Jehovah’s son.

Why would he leave his family and a promising career? He was at the top of the top in what he did best – money management. But the preacher saw in this young man, one who would help him establish the largest organization in world history – the church. As one of the Twelve he was above hundreds and thousands of promising achievers.

But in an instant, one of the mysteries of life occurred, an event that has been summarized by an eye-witness historian in four words, “Satan entered into him.” [John 13:27]  From that moment history changed – by one satanic-controlled man. We know the rest of the story very well.

He grew up in California – actually in San Diego – in a well-tended enclave of two-story homes. He excelled in science, especially in neuroscience. Robert, his father – a software company manager – had to be amazed at his son’s scientific advancements in college, with unlimited potential. But inner demons gnawed at the character of this promising achiever, and won. In hindsight, the chancellor of his California University said, “He was at the top of the top.”

One of the mysteries of Americans today is far from being understood or summarized. In a devilish two-month plan this acclaimed student became the Batman villain – for real – in a Colorado theater on the opening night of “The Dark Knight Rises.” From the moment the horror exploded in that packed theater history took an ugly turn. And, we only begin to learn the full story.

One story we do know is encapsulated in that itinerant preacher who truly was, and is, and forever will be Jehovah’s son. His love took a traitor’s disgusting betrayal and turned it into the greatest story ever told – the top of the top – changing vile nations and inhuman criminals like no other man. We can attest to that love and grace and power, because he changed us to be his children, and eternally with him, at the top of the top. Today we move beyond horror and anticipate splendor.

Communion on the Moon

A minor detail during the historic Apollo 11 mission that landed the first two human beings on the moon over 45 years ago – Sunday, July 20, 1969 – was an important event for Astronaut Buzz Aldrin.

Many remember Neil Armstrong’s now famous words, “One small step for man, one giantleap for mankind.” But who remembers Buzz Aldrin’s words?

Mission Control in Houston had scheduled a quiet time for the 2-man crew to rest after the lunar module landed to prepare for their extra-vehicular activities on the moon’s surface. During these hours Aldrin carried out his own plan. With a wafer of bread and a small amount of wine from a sealed plastic container, he privately celebrated the Lord’s Supper – on the moon.

From a handwritten 3x5 card, Aldrin repeated the words of Jesus, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, and I in him, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me.” Astronaut Aldrin then partook of the wafer and the wine . . . paused for a moment, and then offered a private prayer for the task at hand and the opportunity he had been given. Neil Armstrong, the only human witness, watched respectfully.

Reflecting on his communion observance on the moon, Aldrin explained, “I could think of no better way to acknowledge the enormity of the Apollo 11 experience than by giving thanks to God.”

Jesus also, on the night that he was betrayed by Judas, could think of no better way for humans on earth (and earth’s moon) to regularly acknowledge the enormity of his eternally - purposed death – instructing his followers to “proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

Buzz Aldrin read, “Whoever remains in me . . .” This observance is part of “remaining” in Christ – through the bread and cup – participating in the body and blood of Christ.

The Brightest Day

It happened again this week.

On June 21st nearly every year I remind my wife of a fact I learned in grade school, and every year she impolitely interrupts me as I start my spiel, “Oh, don’t bother me with that nonsense again.”

Your teachers probably informed you too that June 20-21 has the most daylight hours of the year – the first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere - 12 hours of daylight at the equator and 24 at the North Pole. Thus my dismal comment every June 21st, “Every day for the rest of the year will progressively have less daylight.”

By now it has become a corny joke – to my delight and her disgust.

Leap back in time with me to Jerusalem on the Friday before Passover, AD 30.  On that day at Jerusalem’s latitude, they would normally have 12.6 hours of daylight. Imagine the response of a Roman guard’s wife if her husband, while leaving for Golgotha duty that morning, would quip, “Well, buttercup, today we’ll have 3 hours less daylight than normal.”

I believe she would mutter, “Oh, don’t bother me with that nonsense.”

But that’s exactly what happened. Instead of 12.6 hours of daylight, there were only 9.6.

Contrary to baseless explanations of a solar or lunar eclipse, heavy cloud cover or a dust storm, it was caused by the Father’s powerful expression of great sorrow – “from the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.” [Matthew 27:45]  That’s high noon to 3:00 pm – three hours when the day normally is the brightest.

Suddenly breaking his silence, “About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice . . .

‘My God, my God, why have your forsaken me?’” [Matthew 27:46] Though we can’t fathom the eternal relationship of the heavenly Father with his only Son, we know now that this moment was the central event in the history of the world, when the Creator of the universe – a loving Father - allowed his sinless Son to pay for all the rottenness of all humanity.

The darkest day literally became the brightest day – remembered by eternally grateful

Christ followers since that day, in the bread and cup which symbolize his body and blood.

It's Not All About Me

Rick Warren, in his “anti-self-help” best seller, The Purpose Driven Life, opens the first of 40 chapters, “It’s not all about you.” A bold statemen in our culture where personal fulfillment, satisfaction and recognition reign quite pompously.

If I’m not happy, I’ll take my toys and go home. Later, take my bat and stalk off. Later, take my half of the furniture and live with mom and dad. This pathetic pity party shows up at work, in the neighborhood, at church, and in social settings. My way or the highway.

During the month Meghan Vogel keeps coming to my mind. At Ohio’s Division III girls state track meet, Meghan was running dead last in the 3200-meter race when about 20 meters from the finish Arden McMath collapsed in front of her. Instead of running past her, Meghan lifted Arden and literally carried her staggering body  – making sure to keep her fallen competitor ahead at the finish line. A standing ovation erupted at the stadium.

Meghan’s unselfish act has been noted as one of the greatest displays of sportsmanship in recent history. Not GET at any cost, but GIVE at all costs.

We hear of just enough random acts of kindness to avoid resigning that our culture is completely jaded with SELF. But sometimes we ache for more episodes of selflessness.

We love stories like Meghan’s. And the Luke 10 Bible story when Jesus told about a Samaritan, now called the good Samaritan. A solo traveler fell among thieves that left him half dead. Only the Samaritan, ranked at the cultural bottom by Jews, lifted the fallen traveler off the roadway and personally ushered him to safety and healing.

In reality, this is the life story of Jesus: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” [John 10:10] In his final hours, “Not my will but yours be done.” [Luke 22:42]   At every communion setting we restate in our grateful observance: His death was all about ME, but the new life he gives us, it’s all about HIM.

That's Not Who I Am

When my neighbor Ed met a new neighbor, he asked her name. “Debbie,” she responded. Remembering her name would be easy because he knew another friend, Debbie. Later, recalling her name was the same as a friend, he called out, “Hi Phyliss.” Wouldn’t you know, Phyllis was the name of another friend? Debbie was not Phyllis. Oops.

Guess I’ve done worse. Like coming behind my wife at church one Sunday, and whispering in her ear, “Where are we going to sit, honey?” When “my wife” turned around . . . oops, she was not my wife, but a woman the same height as my wife and wearing a matching coat. For some reason she didn’t respond favorably to my blundering “honey” advances. Not Honey.

For 3½ years Jesus had to repeatedly counter, “That’s not who I am.”

From Herod’s prison John the Baptist asked, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” Predicting that Jesus would inflict wrath and judgment, John was stunned with the news that Jesus was healing sick and forgiving sinners.

When Jesus returned to Nazareth, his homies asked, “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?”

Amazed neighbors could not fathom that the carpenter’s kid who had helped repair their roof was now a renowned miracle worker.

Jesus asked his disciples about public perception, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” Their responses resembled a Gallup Poll: John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or a revered prophet of Israel. Sorry, wrong answers.

Even a few hours before his death, the identity mystery resurfaced – this time with Pilate, the Roman governor, asking, “Are you the king of the Jews?” I detect Jesus’ slight annoyance as Pilate reveals his shaky political status, “Yes, it is as you say.” Sounds a little like a teen-ager’s passive, “Whatever.”

After Jesus’ resurrection, Philip, the disciple, added a final blow when he requested,

“Lord, show us the Father.” BAM. “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time?”

The Corinthian Christians had fallen into grim habits. Their Lord’s Supper time was vulgarized by insensitivity, inebriation and division – with little thought of remembering

Christ’s death. Paul warned, “For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.” [1 Corinthians 11:29] 

The communion meal must constantly “recognize the body of the Lord,” – the body that was crucified, the blood that was shed. This meal is not an all-you-can-eat pig out. Not just bread and juice. Not a cute Sunday church ritual. Jesus counters: That’s not who I am.

 

Christ's BHAG

Only once, in Chicago, have I personally heard Jim Collins - the author of four best-selling business books – but I distinctly recall his main thesis and the Q&A session that followed. His observations impressed me as real-world scholarly, yet simply explained.

One of Collins’ quirky, but memorable, laws: To build anything great and enduring you need a BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) that is tangible, energizing, highly focused and that people can understand immediately.

Much of Collins’ business counsel reflects biblical insights. Take BHAG for instance.

Jesus came to earth with one goal – tangible and focused - but usually misunderstood at first how it would be achieved. Misunderstanding was far from new. Noah didn’t connect ark-building with sin-cleansing. Abraham didn’t connect son-sacrificing with fathering a great nation. And, Jews didn’t connect a baby in a hay rack with a king on a throne.

However, before his birth an angel of God announced, “He will save his people from their sins,” and near the end of his ministry, Jesus confirmed that he had come to “save the lost.” That was his one and only focused goal – not restocking wedding wine, feeding hungry masses, healing sick or defying gravity at the Sea of Galilee.

Big, Hairy, Audacious? Obviously, this isn’t a biblical description, but in human terms it expresses the immensity of God’s love and Christ’s sacrificial gift. Once understood, a dozen were energized. Then 120. Then 3,000, and eventually millions have chosen to confess, “It’s not about me, but all about him – who loved me so much he willingly gave his life so we can be totally pardoned from sin and live with him eternally.”

Great and Enduring? What institution in the world is greater and more enduring than Jesus’ church? Charlatans have messed with it and Militias have tried to trash it, but centuries of internal and external attack have failed to erase it.

That, my friends, is a divine BHAG - that we celebrate every time we share in the bread and cup honoring Jesus.