Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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*Look up for the Signals *
*Message:*
Good morning.
This is the last of our messages on the theme of How Big Is Your Book.
Tacking the big ideas of faith that appear in the Bible.
We’ve talked about the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ that transforms life and perspective.
We’ve talked about the Trinity and how God who is Father, Son and Spirit invites us into a community of pure love.
To share in, as the Apostle Peter says, the Divine nature.
And last week we talked about the Creation and how God is reconciling the world to himself so that renewal will come to humanity and the earth.
And how we’ve approached these topics is through a form of popular culture: superhero movies.
Some may have wondered why and the simplest answer is that when we want to probe things that matter, deep and important things, sometimes we need to step outside of what we’re doing, and reacting to.
So that we can see things differently, gain a new point of view.
So, sometimes by using our imaginations we can begin to see not only what is, but also what might be.
And when we do this it can be a bit confusing.
But, Jesus did this all the time.
He’s say, see that treasure chest?
That’s like the kingdom of God.
Or, see that pearl merchant, that’s like the kingdom of God.
Or see that fishing net?
That’s like the kingdom of God.
Net? treasure chest?
Merchant?
Which one is it Jesus?
All and none.
Metaphors, word pictures, are like that.
A bit vague, a bit contradictory.
Always challenging the imagination to see a different reality.
Today we want to probe what Jesus meant when he talked about the kingdom.
What is it, what does life look like in it and what are the signs that we can know we’ve found it?
So again, to get oriented, let’s imaginatively consider the human condition.
In the comic book story of Batman, people are longing for a different reality.
A world without crime, a world where it was safe to walk the streets.
But because the world wasn’t that way: the Batman is born.
And he begins to work toward the reality he believes is better.
And as the story goes, though he tries he doesn’t get it right, all of the time.
But, he does enough to gain the respect of the police commissioner.
Enough so that the commissioner sets up a Bat-signal to summon him when there’s trouble.
And that’s all very much like the kingdom of God.
People, very aware that the world is not as it should be yet living with hope and perseverance, straining toward what is better, fuller, broader, richer more complete.
People convinced that there must be more to the world than what they see.
Why? Well for some, because they’ve seen the evidence.
They’ve seen people get alone.
They’ve seen suffering met through medicine, mercy and justice.
And some, in spite of the world they see believe because they have been promised that there is more.
Because there are signs pointing to it and through it to what this reality will ultimately look like: A kingdom of peace.
The world restored where people are reconciled to each other in healthy ways.
A world where the lion sleeps with the lamb instead of eating it.
A world without war, poverty and injustice.
The world as God intends it to be.
Luke 22 tells us much about the kingdom and peace.
The scene is a room on the second floor of a building in Jerusalem.
Jesus has asked his disciples to prepare a meal that they can share together.
It is the Passover meal, a major celebration remembering escape from slavery in Egypt and the coming kingdom that God would establish for the future.
If you wish follow along beginning at verse 14.
14When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table.
15And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.
16For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
17After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you.
18For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
20In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
21But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table.
22The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed.
But woe to that man who betrays him!” 23They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.
What’s notable here is Jesus’ eagerness.
This meal matters.
He knows what is coming next and he knows that only then they will finally understand what he’s been telling them all along.
There is an alternate reality to the one they know, the kingdom of peace, is about to appear.
And they need this.
The next words that Luke records are as follows: verse 24, “A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest . . . .
“
Living the only way they know, they live with impatience, competition and misguided ambition.
Who will be greatest?
What is my role in the kingdom?
And how will that work to my personal benefit?
These questions, and motives continue to drive people today.
And the effects can be anything from a blessing to tragedy.
Jesus is eager because he knows how badly we need his kingdom.
In verses 16 and 18 he mentions quite specifically that the kingdom will appear when he eats and drinks again.
So, realizing this, Luke tells us in 24.36-44 when Jesus does, in fact eat again.
He makes special mention of it.
Luke 24.43 “and he took it and ate it in their presence.”
The kingdom has come, God has declared his peace.
Two thousand years ago the kingdom was announced and we live in the time of the kingdom today.
But the story doesn’t end there, right?
If the kingdom has come, why aren’t things better than they are?
Let’s explore that.
Another element of Batman’s story and its common with other heroes is the struggle with the mask.
Living in the world they know and understand heroes like Batman or Superman struggle with their identity.
To the extent sometimes that they become confused as to which identity is the real one.
They wear a super suit, maybe a mask.
I still can’t figure out how Clark Kent – Superman – remains unidentified, and they are afraid, afraid that someone will find out who they are.
Some of these heroes count the cost of revealing their identities in terms of safety for their families or protecting their privacy so that they can have a real life.
So some keep the mask on and by necessity, they have to be deceitful.
Living double lives they are distant and they are lonely.
Others take off the mask and lose their privacy and a great deal of their freedom.
In either case they live with tension.
The tension that we all feel: can I reveal who I am and if so to whom?
Am I free to be me?
Can I be safe in the world I live in and be honest about who I am at the same time?
We live in the tension of best intentions and mixed motives.
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