What Would He Have to Write?

What Would He Have to Write?

A sermon delivered by Rev. Peter T. Atkinson

September 30, 2018

at Bethany Presbyterian Church, Zuni, Virginia

Romans 8: 1, 31-39

John 8: 1-11

Let us pray,

Help us to see despite our eyes

Help us to think outside of our minds

Help us to be more than our lives

For your eyes show the way

Your mind knows the truth

Your being is the life.

Amen.

Last week, we spent some time looking at the idea of what it would mean to be In Christ, and found that what Paul is describing cannot be contained in just one preposition, just one directional, situational, or relational word, like in, or through, or about 11 other terms he describes the notion with. And we allowed ourselves to think about how such wonders could be communicated to people now, even the most questioning of folks, who have mostly made their minds up already, just upon hearing even the name Jesus, whose preconceived notions are a product of simplified and narrow understandings that develop over time because they are of course true, but also easier than the fullness of what could be. So in other words we left with things pretty abstract. Today I want to do the opposite, and thanks to the choir, and Debbie’s picking of the anthem, we have a story to run alongside our passage in Romans. We have the story of Jesus saving an adulterous from stoning by merely writing something mysterious in the dust.

So this morning I want to use that story from John’s gospel parallel with what Paul has to say in chapter 8 of Romans. If you look at the bulletin you’ll see the Romans selections start with the first verse, and then it jumps ahead to later in chapter 8. I want to read it separated, with the Gospel passage in the middle. So let’s start. . . Romans 8: 1, for those of you hear last week, this should be familiar,

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

There it is, no condemnation. . . we focused on In Christ Jesus last week, and this morning I want to focus on “condemnation” because you will hear that very word in this Gospel story, so let’s go now to John 8: 2-11

At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. ³ The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group ⁴ and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. ⁵ In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” ⁶ They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.⁷ When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” ⁸ Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

⁹ At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.¹⁰ Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

¹¹ “No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

This story is somewhat familiar I think, it is a major moment in Jesus’ ministry, central to our understanding of Jesus and his unique way of being there for those who are downtrodden, marginalized, and on the outs with the norms and judgements of society. He stands up for her, says he who is without sin to cast, and no one casts a stone, actually they all depart. Jesus writes on the ground and they all depart. There are some details that jumped out at me anew this time. . .

I noticed that they kept questioning, and yet he silently wrote in the dirt,. . . that he writes, then stands. . . says the cast the first stone line. . . it is as if he ignores their questions, their agenda, their badgering, them completely. . .

I noticed how it says. . . they each left. . . one at a time. . .the oldest first. . . interesting detail right, why the oldest first?

And then I noticed something that stood out this week more than other weeks, and that is that it says “They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. . .”

Some things never change right. . . using a woman for political reasons. . . taking advantage of a moment to discredit someone’s work, unable to challenge the message you attack the messenger.

The sin of adultery is used to attack Jesus, they don’t care about adultery do they, no they care about using this woman to attack Jesus. . .

Debbie and I considered switching this morning’s music and message to last week, but thought against it. . . now I know why we were led like that, how much more powerful is our insight into this, this week than it would have been last week.

Think about the position that the Pharisees put Jesus in. . . if Jesus offers grace to the woman, they are ready to pounce, they are ready to pounce and say, what do you not care about adultery, do you not care about the Law, do you not care about our traditions? There may be someone in the crowd their whose life was torn apart by adultery in their own home. . . their wife or husband cheated, their mother or father broke vows. . . their homes, their families broken, ruined. . . they might grab Jesus, what are you doing, how can you not condemn this woman? Do you not care about adultery? Do you not care that homes are broken? They may grab him in the elevator, crying, screaming, wailing, are you saying that my experience doesn’t matter, are you saying that my life being torn apart doesn’t matter, are you saying that my experience isn’t valid, my pain, my tragedy, this happened to me too. . . maybe there is a whole movement of people, victims of adultery, coming out of the woodwork, me too, this happened to me too, and we will not be silenced! I demand justice, and I hold it here in my hand in this stone!

And the Pharisees who set up this situation just wait and watch, and know that they have him. . .

And if he condemns her. . . then he validates this witch hunt, this kangaroo court, this mob justice. . . Disgusting. . . and it is just as disgusting when this type of thing happens today.

And the shame of it all is that adultery is a problem, it is

Class Ten Commandments discussion – laws logical

It’s a bad thing and it affects people, it breaks down society in ways that are truly real, all encompassing, and intergenerational. . . it just doesn’t affect now, it affects years from now.

But again that isn’t what the Pharisees care about. . .

And Jesus doesn’t give them the answer they are looking for, he doesn’t say things all alright instead he draws in the dirt and says one thing. . . not to throw stones if we have sin. . .

This is the most powerful writing I’ve done on this idea. . . from the Good Friday Service I’ve put together. . . think of this. . .

He told us not to throw stones unless

We had no sin, but he had no sin,

And so we hanged him instead,

Whipped, and bloody, there he hangs,

Right there on that cross:

Holy hands, Holy feet, thorny crown,

All complete, and yet He forgives us,

Even so He forgives us,

And still He forgives us,

Here is a basket of stones.

Who shall be first? Who shall be last?

Take one, each one is jagged, broken,

Just like you are, none is perfect,

No smooth edges, so grab hold of yourself,

And throw it, do the job and destroy perfection,

He makes us look bad, like fools,

Take one, any one, throw it.

Look he's made it easy,

He turns His back,

He's closed His eyes

Throw it now!

No?
Coward.

How can we ever

pick up a stone again, then?

Father, do you still forgive us when we do?

Its hard to throw a stone with that in mind isn’t it. . . but there is also the dirt, the writing, and it doesn’t say what he wrote. . .

What could it have been?

“I know”

“She’s one of God’s Children”

“I love you”

“There is more to this than just law”

Starts naming names. . . listing sins. . . think back to Psalm 130. . . if you lord were to record sins, if you were to mark iniquities, who could stand? Who could stand?

Perhaps he writes Psalm 130 out

Does he write the name of the man involved. . . right there is always two participants in an adultery, where is he?

Is it someone powerful? Someone everyone depends on?

Or is it magical. . . does he write something, and everyone sees it differently?

They all see into their own personal guilt, their own personal fall out

Their own dirt?

I wrote this a few years ago when wrestling with the story for another sermon

What did he write on the ground with his finger,

When he bent down and wrote there in the dust?

Did those assembled, ready to throw their stones,

Feel his gentle scratching in the dirt on their hearts?

Their guilt felt something strange deep inside,

Though his finger just barely scratched the surface.

They didn't like it, whatever it was, the itch he scratched,

Because they got out of there, quick, but she stayed.

I guess her soul was already laid bare in public,

So she could take a little scratching and then go on.

Is there freedom in being laid bare?

Scarlet Letter. . . Pearl . . . Rev Dimmesdale

And they all disappear, one by one. . . why do the old leave first?

Are they the most guilty?

Have they seen enough to realize this is all a sham?

Do they have the perspective to realize how corrupt they are first?

How much their battle is absurd?

Do the young just hold on because they feel the world turns on winning?

What insight does Paul give us?

¹ What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us,who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? ³³ Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who then is the one who condemns?No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶ As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”^[j]

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

What if Jesus started writing John 3 16 in the dirt?

What if he simply wrote, yes even you. . . how would we take that?

What does this say to us. . .

WE hold on, we fight everybattle, we get righteous, indignant, angry, we hold on tightly, we fight back. . . we let the ends justify the means. . . I mean, they do it right, why shouldn’t we?

We escalate the battle, and fight, fight, fight, because being right is important. . . but is it more important?

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,

will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

IN

IN

A sermon delivered by Rev. Peter T. Atkinson

September 23, 2018

at Bethany Presbyterian Church, Zuni, Virginia

Romans 8: 1-17

Psalm 130

Let us pray,

Help us to see despite our eyes

Help us to think outside of our minds

Help us to be more than our lives

For your eyes show the way

Your mind knows the truth

Your being is the life.

Amen.

I want to start this morning, where we will, as promised take a look at Romans 8, with the Old Testament. There are many great Psalms, but this I believe is my favorite. I’ve always been drawn to the Pit, writings. I believe the Pit metaphor is important for us because I believe our character is often not defined on our best days but on our worst, not when the sun is shining, but when the rain is falling, not when the world is at our feet, but when the sky seems to be falling, when the wind is blowing, when the earthquake shakes the foundations of our lives, when the fire is burning, when all is turmoil, that is when I wonder, can we hear that still small voice, can we rise above, can we fully rely on God. We often hear the psalmist crying out from the Pit, we can picture in our minds the prayer of Jonah in the Belly of the fish, we can think of the penitent David, humbled by his Sin with Bathsheba, on his knees asking for forgiveness he knows he does not deserve, and cannot earn, but somehow it is that steadfast love of the God he serves that shows up, every time, from our knees we call, from the belly of the fish, we cry, yea even from the valley of the shadow of death we seek him, and everytime we find him there. So this Psalm 130 is one of my favorite, because this is the voice of someone who has struggled with their faith, not just a newly fledged, pliable soul, who has let the wind blow them away, but one in the whirlwind finding someway to hang on. Listen to Psalm 130. . .

Psalm 130

¹ Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;
²     Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
    to my cry for mercy.

³ If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
    Lord, who could stand?
⁴ But with you there is forgiveness,
    so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

⁵ I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
    and in his word I put my hope.
⁶ I wait for the Lord
    more than watchmen wait for the morning,
    more than watchmen wait for the morning.

⁷ Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
    for with the Lord is unfailing love
    and with him is full redemption.
⁸ He himself will redeem Israel
    from all their sins.

Discuss this psalm

The depths         

I cry

Hear my voice

Ears attentive

Cries for mercy

Record of sins – who could stand

Forgiveness

Reverence,

Serve you – look at how forgiveness keeps the relationship going forward

Wait – whole being waits

Hope

I wait for the Lord, more than watchmen wait for the morning

Watchmen wait for the morning – the end of the watch, time ticks slow in that last hour of duty

One time I waited up all night wondering when the night would end, and it wouldn’t end, and it wouldn’t end, and I waited, and I waited, and right when I though the answer would never come, it dawned on me. . . .

And then it is repeated

Israel – put your hope – spread to other

Unfailing love, full redemption,

He himself, personal, will redeem Israel

from all their sins

Look at this statement, look at this promise, look at this hope, and remember where it comes from, out of the depths is the cry. . .

Now let’s enter into Romans 8. . . if you are in the depths listen to the waves that this still small voice makes resounding in your longing ears. . .

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ² because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you^] free from the law of sin and death. ³ For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,^[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.^[c]And so he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

⁵ Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. ⁶ The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. ⁸ Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

⁹ You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life^[d] because of righteousness. ¹¹ And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of^[e] his Spirit who lives in you.

¹² Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

¹⁴ For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.¹⁵ The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.^[f] And by him we cry, “Abba,^[g] Father.” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. ¹⁷ Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

I know I took a much longer piece of this out for this morning, and I do want to go through it piece by piece because I think that is truly the only way to really get at my question for today, because it is certainly central to this text, and this text is certainly central to our faith.

That is simply, what does it mean to be “In” Christ?

Now I know there is an easy Sunday School definition, and to be honest it’s probably enough, to give us the peace we are after,

To be “In Christ” is to know Christ, to believe in Christ, to put your faith in Christ, and therefore to be saved from condemnation, from death, from all the sin that our flesh is heir to. . .

And of course this is the root of it, but I want to go a little deeper

Because this notion of being “In” Christ is an interesting way of putting it, and by it I mean the conclusion that we all jump to when talking about Jesus. . . but today I want us to not jump so fast, but rather to be watchers of the morning, patiently waiting, and wading through the steps, through the waters, through those depths first. . .

In Christ, has always puzzled me. . . those who are in Christ. . .

Taking it literal, which is always our demand, but rarely our practice when it comes to the Bible, unless its simple, if its difficult we prefer the figurative,

It’s like give it to me Concrete. . . and then you do. . . and people then prefer the abstract. . .

Students- Muhammad – The edges – its amazing when you are really concrete people accuse you of being abstract. . . because its so harsh

Faith doesn’t change metaphysics. . . it either is or it isn’t . . .

But that has gone a little afar from the mark. . .

How would you take In Christ literally?

It would have to be physically dwelling with in him . . . right? How would that work?

Ok, or maybe still a little literal, but starting to enter the world of abstraction . . . in Christ’s club, group, family? There is something there. . .

But it would also make more sense to us, and we often say it. . . that we have Christ in us, in our hearts, on our minds, in our souls. . .

Or sometimes we are connected and grafted together. . . like the true vine. . .

But here we have in Christ. . .

Sometimes we have faith “In Christ” that make sense to us. . .

But when we talk about faith sometimes you hear it, believe “on” him

AS if you are laying your faith on. . . not in. . . interesting right, what that difference might just be

But perhaps we are splittling hairs a little too thin. . . its ok though we can eject at anytime, and refer back to our easy definition

Let’s follow Paul’s words, because actually what we find, is that it seem Paul refers to the same idea, this idea of “IN” Christ in a bunch of different ways. . . let’s see if they are synonymous with each other? Won’t we:

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 

That’s our starting point, but look where he goes next. . .

² because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you^] free from the law of sin and death. 

We’ve gone from “In” and now we are talking about “Through”

So IN Christ means the Law of the Spirit. . . gives life. . . set free from sin and death

Sounds much the same right, so “in” and “through” and “law of the Spirit” all give life

³ For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,^[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.^[c]And so he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

So look here, about this “In” business – righteous requirement, sacrifice language. . . living according to the Spirit instead of the Flesh. . .

⁵ Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

So being in Christ has something to do with where your mind is set. . . . in this case On the spirit rather than the flesh . . .

Look at what the mind can do here, if it is “IN Christ”

 ⁶ The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 

Huck Finn is my expert here let’s look at how he sees it

After supper she got out her book and learned me about Moses and the Bulrushers, and I was in a sweat to find out all about him; but by and by she let it out that Moses had been dead a considerable long time; so then I didn't care no more about him, because I don't take no stock in dead people.

Now she had got a start, and she went on and told me all about the good place. She said all a body would have to do there was to go around all day long with a harp and sing, forever and ever. So I didn't think much of it. But I never said so. I asked her if she reckoned Tom Sawyer would go there, and she said not by a considerable sight. I was glad about that, because I wanted him and me to be together. 

Miss Watson she took me in the closet and prayed, but nothing come of it. She told me to pray every day, and whatever I asked for I would get it. But it warn't so. I tried it. Once I got a fish-line, but no hooks. It warn't any good to me without hooks. I tried for the hooks three or four times, but somehow I couldn't make it work. By and by, one day, I asked Miss Watson to try for me, but she said I was a fool. She never told me why, and I couldn't make it out no way. 

And Miss Watson says he needs to pray for Spiritual things. . .

⁸ Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

What what Huck think about this realm business.. . .

But it is more “IN” language right. . . “in the realm” but not of flesh, but of spirit

⁹ You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 

Uh Oh. . . now we get the can’t—if you are not in the realm --- but in the realm of the spirit,  then Spirit of God lives in you. . . now we’ve got God in us. . .

But if you don’t then no “having” the Spirit of Christ, and no belonging to Christ. . .

Listen at all these different relational terms Paul is using . . . do you have a tally going “In, Through, Spirit, Flesh, dwelling in the Realm, in us, having, belonging. . wish I could tell you it gets easier.

¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life^[d] because of righteousness.

Because before it was God in us, now it’s Christ, now He’s got Christ in us and we in him. . . I’m supposed to be confused. . . but for some reason I’m not, what about you. . . maybe I’m like the watcher and something has dawned on me. . .

 ¹¹ And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of^[e] his Spirit who lives in you.

Life to our mortal bodies. . . Spirit living in us. . . I think we’ve got the full trinity now don’t we, God, Christ, Spirit. . . all living in us. . . and we with them. . . we might have a problem with that literally, and concretely, but here in the figurative and in the abstract. . . we’re feeling pretty good. . . .

But Paul’s gonna get us back on that concrete wagon. . . lest we float around in heaven too long playing harps. . .

¹² Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh, ^you will die; 

Living according to the flesh equals death --- is that back to the condemnation?

but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

Whew back safe again – just have to put to death the misdeeds of the body. .

¹⁴ For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

Look at this new relational language – Led by Spirit of God – are the children of God

¹⁵ The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; 

Slaves live in fear --- wow fear is on the wrong side of this fence --- and its linked to slavery. . . hmmm really fear. . . ever been a slave to fear? Ever had fear make you do things that probably aren’t in line with being “in Christ”

rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.^[f] 

But look at the opposite of slave and fear --- adoption to sonship!

And by him we cry, “Abba,^[g] Father.” 

Now we can cry out to the Father, daddy, just like Christ does. . . and another relational word in the list. . . this time By. . . any body got the list at full, maybe we’ll run it down again at the end. . more to come

¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 

The spirit testifies with our spirit. . . whoa, what does that look like. . . speaks with, for, truthful, putting on the stand,? Witness?

¹⁷ Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Finally, here  “Heirs” of God and with Christ. . . sharing sufferings and glory, whew

Let’s run down the list like we said we would. . .

In Christ is paired with and linked to – In, Through, Spirit, flesh, dwelling in the realm, God in us, Having, Belonging, Christ in you, subject to, Spirit living in, led by the spirit, children of God, Live not in fear, adoption, sonship, crying Abba, by Christ, Testifies with, God’s children, heirs, coheirs, sharing in suffering and glory.

IN Christ, through Christ, dwelling in Christs Realm, Having Christ, Belonging to Christ, Having Christ in You, Subject to Christ, Led by Christ, Testify with Christ, Heirs with Christ, Sharing with Christ Suffering and Glory

That is Beautiful. . . powerful. . . life changing. . . boy am I glad I didn’t just jump through it. . . so much more deep. . . than the easy exit Jump

What if Miss Watson would have told Huck that. . . instead of using the Sunday School Jargon. . . invited him in, rather than thinking he’s too dumb to know no better