The Gospel
“Remember that Jesus, the Christ, a descendant of David, was raised from death. This is the Gospel I preach;....” — 2 Timothy 2:8-9a
There is a classic and challenging question sometimes, even often, posed to those of us who live in the early Twenty-first Century. (Slight pause.) Do you believe in miracles? (Slight pause.)
Miracles? How could we believe in miracles? After all, we live in an age labeled not as the Modern Age or even the Post Modern Age. The label I recently heard applied to our era is the Post-Post Modern Age. And, needless to say, we are so with it, so knowledgeable that, in this Post-Post Modern Age, miracles cannot possibly happen— right?
In fact, just a couple of months ago, someone asked me if I believed in miracles. Sure, I believe in miracles. I believe miracles happen everyday. Open heart surgery— that’s a miracle— right?
Why, you can even have a conversation with someone half way around the world over a device which has no visible connection to anything, no wires. That’s a miracle— right?
Something in my car can pinpoint me within a matter of feet at the exact location on this planet, tell me how fast I’m traveling, predict the time at which I am likely to arrive at a specific destination or even send out an emergency signal if it senses I have been in an accident. That’s a miracle— right? (Slight pause.)
Or are these things more like magic than miracles? And what is the difference between magic and a miracle? Is there a difference? (Slight pause.)
First, I want to suggest none of the things I just mentioned are miracles. We might call these things modern wonders and we might think they seem like magic.
But we need to realize everything on that list fits the first definition of magic. And the first definition of magic, however amazing it seems, is this: magic can always be explained.
Second, I want to suggest there are real miracles. But they are not what many people label as miracles. Here are a few: the birth of a child. That’s a miracle— right?
The fact that, if you pay attention, you can hear that same newborn baby, at about six week old but often younger than that, giggle. Who told that baby a joke and what was the punch line which provided laughter? And why did we not hear the punch line or get the joke. A baby who giggles early on... that’s a miracle— right?
Here’s another miracle— that we are capable of loving another person so deeply the only thing needed to convey the depth of that emotion is a look or a nod— at which point your knees get weak. Yeah, that’s a miracle.
The fact that a true friend will stand with you in a time of crisis, no questions asked. (Slight pause.) These are miracles— all of them. (Slight pause.)
The Gospel reading today contains a story many name as a miracle. (Quote:) “As Jesus was entering a village, ten people with leprosy approached. Keeping their distance, they raised their voices, called out, saying, ‘Jesus, Rabbi, have pity on us!’ Jesus saw them and said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ As they were going, they were healed.”
Now, here’s an obvious question: is that encounter a miracle or is it magic? And, if it is a miracle, what makes it a miracle and, if it is a miracle, what is the difference between a miracle and magic?
Please remember, the word ‘magic’ means you can explain it. And, in fact, many in the modern era— or is it the post-post modern era?— many in the modern era do try to explain the so called miracle incidents in the Scriptures in terms of how they could have happened.
But I would suggest explaining these events by offering some scientific or rational possibility as a catalyst is a hollow project. Equally, I would suggest explaining these events by insisting the literalness of the action must be accepted on face value is also a hollow project.
Both these approaches miss the point. The classic questions ‘Did it happen?’ or ‘Did it not happen?’ and explanations of either of those stands are attempts to deny there is any meaning beyond the event.
And I want to suggest it is the meaning of miracles is which matters. Why? Unless there is meaning beyond the event, transcending the event, the event being described as a miracle is not a miracle and cannot ever be defined as a miracle. (Pause.)
And these words are from the work known as Second Timothy: “Remember that Jesus, the Christ, a descendant of David, was raised from death. This is the Gospel I preach;....” (Pause.)
Perhaps if we looked at the word ‘Gospel’ found in this passage from Second Timothy, it could help us with the word miracle. So, what does the word Gospel mean?
Clearly the writer of Second Timothy is intent on preaching whatever it is this writer is defining as Gospel. So, let’s ask the obvious question: does Gospel refer to the four documents we currently name as Gospels? Probably not.
Given when we think Second Timothy was written, not long after the death of the Apostle Paul, it seems unlikely the writer of Second Timothy had access to any of the documents we now label as Gospels. They may not have even been written yet.
Hence, there must be some other meaning associated by the early church with this word ‘Gospel.’ But it’s clear the word ‘Gospel’ in this context obviously does not mean the four works we commonly call ‘Gospels.’
So, how does the writer use the word ‘Gospel?’ (Slight pause.) This seems clear: Jesus is named as a descendant of David. So, a connection to the Hebrew tradition appears to be central to this meaning of Gospel. Then we have a proclamation that Jesus is raised from death. This also seems central. (Slight pause.)
Now, I hope this is not a shock to you, but that’s it. That’s the Gospel here. Just these two connected statements: Jesus, a descendant of David, is raised from death. (Slight pause.)
Yes, there is a lot more to say. In fact, there is much more elaboration demanded by this simple explanation. But, when it comes to what the writer of Second Timothy is addressing in this passage, that’s it. That’s the Gospel being preached— all of it— descendant of David, raised from death.
And, even though there is much more to be said, this Gospel, this proclamation that Jesus descended from David and is raised from death can be summed up by naming the meaning behind these words, the meaning behind the action, the meaning behind the incident being described. What is that meaning? God offers us the deep relationship called covenant love.
Indeed, the fact that Jesus descended from David and is raised from death says this and only this: in Christ God affirms covenant love. That is the meaning behind the words, the action, the incident— if you would— of the nativity, the life, the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus. That is the Gospel, or as some describe it: the Good News. In Christ the covenant love God offers is affirmed as real. (Slight pause.)
And so, what is the Gospel? What are miracles? (Slight pause.) When Jesus tells those who have leprosy to go see the priests, the event is not central. The fact that God offers covenant love is central.
Therefore, yes, miracles are about babies being born and giggling. And therefore, yes, miracles are about deeply loving another person. And therefore, yes, miracles are about friends who stand with us.
Why? These are about relationships. And the miracle called the Gospel is about relationship.
The miracle called the Gospel is about the affirmation in Christ of the relationship of God with humanity. The miracle called the Gospel is about the relationship we commonly label as the covenant love of God. Amen.
10/10/2010
United Church of Christ, First Congregational, Norwich, NY
ENDPIECE: It is the practice of the Pastor to speak after the Closing Hymn, but before the Benediction. This, then, is an précis of what the pastor said before the blessing: “As was mentioned earlier in the service, today is 10/10/10 and during the service we hit 10:10 a.m. also. That’s interesting but it’s foolishness. It means nothing. The covenant love God offers means everything.”
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