THE WORD 4 ev 1

Today’s Reading is Mark 7 (click here for link)

Last night I was at Epiphany’s Missouri City campus teaching confirmation again for the first time since the Christmas break. The kids are studying the 2nd Article of the Apostles Creed: “[I believe] in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord…”

The confirmation kids were asking great questions, but then I noticed something… the answers aren’t always so easy. We believe some rather fantastic stuff. We believe in a Savior who is 100% God and 100% man; we believe in a Savior who died for the sins of every man, woman, and child—one for billions; we believe that his body and blood are even now, still present each time we eat the bread and wine; we believe that even though this Supper is served on literally thousands of altars around the world each Sunday, there is always enough of Jesus body and blood to go around; we believe that even though Jesus ascended into heaven, he presently dwells there with his human body; we believe that this very physical Jesus will one day descend and raise up all the dead—even those who are nothing but dust and ashes now—and give them back their physical body; we believe that all of us then will live eternally with God.

It is rare that in an adult Bible class there is anyone as brave as those confirmation students--brave enough to ask directly about such things. Adults don’t like to appear ignorant. And so too often they pretend. We shake our heads and acknowledge the seemingly fantastic and absurd tenets of our faith. We may believe but perhaps we are afraid to understand.

But not confirmation kids! They question everything!

This morning, in our text the Pharisees question Jesus. Of course, these are not innocent questions, it is meant to be a trap. They want to know why the disciples don’t follow the most basic ritual observances of Jewish law, such as washing of hands before eating.

Obviously, they are wrongheaded and have nothing but evil intentions, but ironically, the Pharisees are not so far from the truth in their insistence on the need for washing. Truth is, we are all in need of washing—thorough, thorough washing. However, not just our hands need a cleaning but our very lives. No matter who we are and no matter what we have done, there is baggage that we all carry around with us—dirty baggage. We need to be clean. Scripture is clear that this can happen in only one way: Baptism through the life giving Word of Jesus.

Scripture speaks of this in many and various poetic ways: Revelations 7:14 says we must wash our robes and make them white in the blood of the lamb; 1 Corinthians 6:11 says that unless we are washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus…; Hebrews 10:22 says that our hearts must be sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water; Acts 22:16 proclaims “Arise” and “be baptized;” Ephesians 5: 26 that we have been made holy by washing of water by the word; and Psalms 51:7 reports that we must be purged with hyssop and made whiter than snow.

Perhaps such language seems at times too abstract or philosophical in the ears of the average adult in adult Bible class. Yes, we believe it and nod our heads acceptingly, but are we afraid to probe too deeply that which we don’t always understand.

The tenets of our faith are not absurd at all, they are fantastic. You have been saved through baptism into the life of Jesus. His life means life for you. His peace means peace for you. The reality of “God with us” in Jesus Christ means amazing things will happen to you. Don’t stifle the questions. Engage the confirmation student in your life and see if you can answer his questions.

Peace,
Pastor Aaron