Pentecost 13A – NL Creeds 2
August 27, 2023
Our Savior’s, Faribault, MN
John 1.1-5, 9-14, 16-18; 1 Corinthians 1.18-25
Ron was a faithful member of a congregation I served. He was almost always in worship and involved deeply in its life. When Ron passed away, I met with his son to plan the funeral service, as I always do. I was surprised when Ron’s son asked me not to include the promise of the resurrection in my funeral sermon. He explained that Ron really didn’t believe in the resurrection, but instead followed the teachings of Jesus in how he lived his life, which by all accounts, was one of integrity, kindness, and grace.
Today we reflect on the Second Article of the Creed, the one having to do with Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity, and I know that Ron isn’t the only inhabitant of our church who puts less stress on Jesus’ resurrection. That’s interesting given that perhaps you’ve noticed as I did a few years ago that there is something missing from the creed:
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
Did you notice that there is no mention of Jesus’ ministry or teachings? There is nothing about his command to follow him or to go his way. The Creed goes from birth to death to resurrection to ascension and finally to consummation.
Luther, in his explanation to the Second Article does something similarly:
I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from all eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, freed me and delivered me from sin, death, and the power of the devil, not will silver and gold, but with his holy and precious blood and innocent suffering and death, in order that I might be his, live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, even as he is risen from the dead and lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true.
Now, we know that Jesus’ ministry of preaching, teaching, and healing are important, and that Jesus does indeed call us to follow his way, the way of the kingdom, to love God and neighbor. What the creeds strive to do is to emphasize that Jesus is far more than a good teacher or role model. In echoes of the creation story in Genesis, John’s Gospel emphasizes that Jesus was present from before there was any beginning, that all things were made through him. In essence, John claims, Jesus, too, is God.
Now, even that claim isn’t much different from mythologies of other cultures where gods often take human form. That is, until we get to the foolishness of that same God willingly dying on a cross for our sakes. In essence, the Apostle Paul says that if you want to know what God is like, look to Jesus. And if you want to know what Jesus is like, look to the cross, which sounds like utter foolishness. We are a broken people, and Jesus takes the brokenness upon himself and in doing so sets us free.
We Christians are an odd bunch. We foolishly believe there is more than the broken and dead things of this world, that death and brokenness are not the last words, nor are they the most important words. We believe that in death and brokenness we see life and healing, just as we did with Theone’s celebration of life this past week. We believe, some from the outside might say foolishly, that God will work through the brokenness and pain we have experienced as a congregation to bring new and abundant life.
It is in that assurance and promise from God through Jesus Christ that frees us to live foolishly. Because of what Jesus Christ has done for us, picking us up when we stumble, dusting us off, and sending us on our way, that we can dare to live. In doing so, we are able to walk as children of light, bringing hope and healing to a hurting world. Jesus Christ is more than a good person, so much more, and through that “more-ness” we are more as well. We are more because we foolishly believe. This is most certainly true. Amen.
