Sermon by the Reverend Ernestein Flemister
Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday, April 5, 2009
From the Epistle for the day (Philippians 2:5-11):
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death--
even death on a cross.
In today’s reading from the Liturgy of the Palms, Jesus enters Jerusalem in triumph with the crowds cheering him and saying,
Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!
Soon thereafter, the situation changes dramatically. Jesus is betrayed by Judas, arrested and interrogated by the chief priests, elders and scribes. Mark 14.55-64 describes his time with them and points out their intent and purpose for him.
Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death; but they found none. For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?” But he was silent and did not answer.
After the witnesses bungled the job, the high priest has to jump in. He asks Jesus, “Are you the Messiah, the son of the blessed one?”
Jesus finally gives him what he wants, saying, “I am; You will see the son of man seated at the right hand of the power,” and “Coming with the clouds of heaven.”
The high priest is delighted; he tears his clothes and says, “Why do we still need witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy! What is your decision?”
All of them condemn him as deserving death.
Now comes more drama and intrigue. They have the evidence they want from Jesus, but they cannot accomplish their nefarious desires on their own. They want Jesus crucified, but they don’t want to get their hands dirty. So they turn to the governor for help. They send Jesus to Pilate to do the dirty work for them.
Today’s Gospel reading (Mark 15:1-15:47) begins at the point when Jesus is brought to Pilate for questioning and condemnation.
The passion narrative indicates to us that Pilate is aware of the games that the chief priest, elders and scribes are playing. He knows that he is being manipulated. He, however, thinks to outsmart them by playing their game; he goes back and forth with the crowd and finally allows the crowd to determine Jesus’ fate. They make the choice for him or at least that is what he wants us to believe.
But what is striking about this narrative is Jesus’ role. In this passage, Jesus says twelve words. At the beginning of his time with Pilate when he is asked if he is king of the Jews, he says, “You say so.” and towards the end when he is on the cross, he cries out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” His silence, however, speaks volumes.
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death--
even death on a cross.
Jesus willingly submits himself to God’s purpose.
Paul tells us that though he was in the form of God, he did not use his position as something to be exploited. Paul uses the word morphe to make clear to us the mindset of Jesus. Jesus was not playing at being God; he was equal to God. So the transition from God to human slave becomes more powerful and meaningful for us; he goes from the highest position of power--a God--to the lowest--a slave.
He did not use it to get out of God’s purpose for him. Instead, he emptied himself--he got rid of his own desires and ambitions--and allowed the will and purpose of God to fill and rule his life. He exchanged his Godly form and took on human form--a slave. He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death. Not just any death; but the shameful, ignominious death on the cross.
This blows me away. It amazes me, and it humbles me.
God’s love for us is revealed through Jesus’ act of surrender, obedience and self-emptying. What is--what should be--our response to God’s love?
Paul in his letter to the Philippians exhorts them to let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus. Paul exhortation and challenge is also for us. Our response to God’s amazing love and Jesus’ obedience is to live with the mind of Christ.
In order to do that we have to know and understand the mind of Christ. To do that we need to move from the realm of intellectual knowledge to an intimacy that only comes from being in relationship with Christ Jesus. We have to know Christ not only on an intellectual level but at the gut level. We have to get down in the dirt and mess of life with Christ. We have to go through the storm, anger, hurt, despair and death with the certainty that Christ is always present with us. We have to be real and practice our faith. To know Christ is to follow his example.
What does that look like? How do we live with the mind of Christ? At the Hip Hop Service yesterday, we had a conversation about what it means to live with the mind of Christ. Some felt that responding in love to those who were unfriendly or unkind to us exhibited the mind of Christ. One young man said praying daily for wisdom helps us to have the mind of Christ. Another said living in God’s word by reading the Bible and attending church helped us to live with the mind of Christ. All good responses.
What is our response at Grace? How do we exhibit the mind of Christ? How do we live and support relationships that encourage the community to live with the mind of Christ at Grace?
Here are some of my suggestions; this is not an exhaustive list, more can be added.
- We can pray for each other.
- We can honor, respect and affirm each other and our differences.
- We can speak truthfully and honestly with each other.
- We can listen with an open mind to ideas that may be different than our own to problem solve.
- We can avoid hidden agendas.
- We can seek the good of the community.
Christ disregarded his status as God. He emptied himself. He willingly allowed himself to become human and a slave and he was obedient to God’s plan for his life.
Can we join together to live cruciform lives in the manner of Christ--vulnerable, exposed and open to the will and desires of God? Can we accept Paul’s challenge and live with the mind of Christ here at Grace?
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death--
even death on a cross.
Amen.
