2007년 11월 11일 Hospitality Sunday 연합예배 설교

Sermon by Rev. Neil Johnston

Reading from Haggai 1:15-2:9 ; Luke 20:34-38

Sometimes there seems to be a mysterious and direct link between the world wide Church readings from the Bible on a particular Sunday and our own local situation. On this Sunday when we cannot help but see the demolition of the Church Manse as we come to church we read this reading from Haggai where it says:

Haggai 2:3

“Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory?

How does it look to you now? Is it not in your sight as nothing?”

“Yet now, take courage.

I will fill this house with splendour says the lord.

The later splendour of this house shall be greater than the former.”

The reading refers of course to the temple in Jerusalem, but we too could well ask the question:

Who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now?

Then of course to read that the later splendour of this house shall be greater than the former is exactly what we plan, to redesign this site in a more splendid way.

Of course ancient texts which refer to a specific historical situation cannot be transposed so easily in the modern world, but nevertheless, this reading from Haggai does seem to set before us an ancient challenge ? the redesigning and rebuilding in an even more beautiful way.

But leaving buildings out of the equation what are our readings this morning saying about the future. In the New Testament Jesus is asked about relationships after death with a trick question: Whose husband will she be, she who has been married seven times.

This hypothetical question might have even more force for our generation, since we are now all living longer, and have more stages of life than any previous generation.

But the same answer of Jesus remains full of hidden meaning and power.

Which stage of our life would we want reproduced in heaven?

Childhood? Youth? Retirement?

Jesus answer is twofold.

Firstly, life in this age and life in the age to come is so different that the question confuses two categories which are totally distinct. Therefore the question is inappropriate.

In this age the fact of death makes marriage and the perpetuation of life essential. We all die, but life goes on, and other people go on living.

But in the age to come there is no death, but those who attain to the resurrection are like God’s children. They live forever.

We should notice how far this is from the notion of the immortal soul, an idea from Greek thought that has intruded itself in Christian doctrine, but not taught by Jesus.

Immortality is based on a doctrine of human nature that denies death;

Resurrection is based on a doctrine of God which says even though we die, God gives life to the dead. Death has no victory over us. Our death and how we die becomes part of who we are. Death in this thinking is a completion not an ending.

The Sadducees asked Jesus a trick question. They already knew what their answer was. They considered this life as all there was to life.

But their question allows Jesus to say something which is invaluable for us.

He says: God gives life to the dead. In the thinking of Jesus:

Expectation of life and the recognition of death are immediately bound up together in something greater called love.

It is only in the things that we really love that we can be hurt, and hurt badly.

It is only in love that we suffer and recognise the deadliness of death. While at the same time the love of Jesus overcomes the sting of death. His death serves to enlarge not diminish his death.

And so although we do not understand fully what Jesus means, we do understand that resurrection is a not a mere return to life as it were, but rather a conquest of the deadliness of death, and a beginning of the fulfilment of the promised life.

God gives life to the dead.

Whatever else this means, it means we live with a great hope for the future. God is our hope.

Not only can we be confident that our buildings will be redesigned, but also in the future we need not fear the deadliness of death.

The God of hope is most powerfully present at times of hopelessness.

The poet in Lamentations concedes:

“Gone is my glory, and all that I had hope for from the Lord.” Lam 3:18

But in that very moment of loss, that poet remembers and says:

“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,

His mercies never come to an end;

They are new every morning;

Great is your faithfulness.

‘the Lord is my portion,’ says my soul,

‘therefore I will hope in him’” Lam 3:21-24