Faith stories

Acts 5:27-32; Revelation 1:4-8; John 20:19-31

After eight months, I hope you have figured out that telling our own faith stories is important to me. I tell some of my stories, and I have heard some of your stories. In May, we’ll have a 2-part workshop on telling stories. So, it makes sense today to look at how the authors of our readings tell their stories.

We’ll start with the Gospel, since it has the earliest stories. John tells the story of Jesus differently than the other Gospel writers do, because he has a different focus. John’s Gospel begins with the acknowledgement that Jesus is one with God the Father, and his death on the cross is intentionally tied to the sacrificial death of the Passover lambs.

… The stories of Jesus’ resurrection appearances in John Chapter 20 involve several people. First, Mary Magdalene is at the tomb, weeping when she encounters a gardener, who is really Jesus. She runs to tell Peter and another disciple – whom I believe is Lazarus. They don’t believe at first, until they look in the empty tomb.

Later that evening, Jesus appears to a number of disciples, and I assume some women, in the Upper Room. Jesus says, “Shalom. Peace be with you.” And they all rejoice, meaning they are filled to overflowing with joy. I imagine them jumping up and down like they have just won the Showcase Showdown on The Price Is Right.

Thomas missed this gathering, and he’s disappointed he wasn’t there, and he’s jealous that the others have seen the risen Jesus and he hasn’t. He’s so upset, he refuses to believe them. It’s like he’s from Missouri, the Show Me state. We have traditionally called him ‘Doubting Thomas’ but this is unfair, especially when we notice his reaction when Jesus appears the next week. He simply needs to see the Risen Jesus and he falls to his knees to worship him. “My Lord and My God!” Of all the disciples, only Thomas speaks the truth – that Jesus is God.

… Luke continues his story of Jesus in the book of Acts. By this time in the story, the disciples are telling anyone who will listen about Jesus. We know they are making an impact because they have been arrested and told to stop. But they respond, “We have no choice but to speak up. We choose to obey God, and not human authority.” This is not the last time the disciples will get arrested, of course. In the end, most of them die because of their witnessing to Jesus as the risen Son of God.

… The book of Revelation is written by John of Patmos 60 or so years after Jesus died. By now, there are enough believers that they are having an impact on the community. They are refusing to participate in Caesar’s economy. In essence they are boycotting meat because it is sacrificed in honor of Caesar instead of Jesus the Son of God. The believers are arrested, tried quickly, and often sent to the lions in the arena.

By now, there are many churches in many cities, and they have lost the first passion of their founding in the midst of persecutions. John has a vision, a revelation, telling him how the churches can regain their enthusiasm and faith in Jesus. The Angel says to him, “Write this message,” and John takes up quill and parchment and writes what he sees and hears.

… Today, we have access to the faith stories of the earliest believers because they told them to someone else, who told to someone else, and eventually Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and John of Patmos and Paul and others wrote them down; and still others gathered them together into what we call the New Testament.

… This week, we have all been telling the faith story of Pope Francis. I found this little story touching. … Pope Francis’ favorite painting was Caravaggio’s “Calling of St. Matthew,” which hangs in a chapel near where he would stay in Rome before he became pope. The painting depicts Matthew, third from left, in a black velvet hat. Jesus is in the doorway, pointing at Matthew. Based on his expression, Matthew seems to question his appointment, as he points to his own chest in disbelief. “It is the gesture of Matthew that strikes me,” Francis said shortly after his elevation to the papacy. “This is what I said when they asked me if I would accept my election as pontiff.”

… We all have faith stories. Telling our faith stories helps understand who Jesus is for us, who God is for us. This is the question that Bishop Rimbo asked me when we first met after I was assigned to the Southeast Michigan Synod after seminary. He told me he asked that of every new pastor in the synod.

My answer was something like this: Jesus is God with skin on, God incarnated. He came to earth as a human so that he could tell us how much God loves us. He did that in words we can understand and in actions we can imitate: love God, love your neighbor. That is still my answer, 23 years later, though I have refined it to say, Love God. Love your neighbors, all your neighbors.

When we know who Jesus is, when we know our faith stories, we can more easily relate to others and help them know Jesus, too. And they may decide they want to join us in doing what we do here in Jesus’ name.

… This week, I hope you will ponder your faith life. Who taught you about Jesus? When have you encountered Jesus? When has a Bible story been like your own story? Who is Jesus for you? Amen