- From the Jewish Scriptures: 2 Samuel 23:1-7
- Psalm 132 (VU p. 855)
- From the Writings of the Early Church: Revelation 1:4b-8
- From the Gospel: John 18:33-38a
THe Hymns will be:
- 710 Shall We Gather at the River
- 268 Bring Many Names
- 356 Seek Ye First
- 27 Tomorrow Christ is Coming
The Sermon Title is The Kingdom of Truth.
Early Thoughts:
One of my favourite parts of the passion story falls in this reading from John. WHat better contrast between the way of Jesus and the way of the world than to have this exchange between Pilate and Jesus. Really though, my favourite version is the way Andrew Lloyd Webber put it in Jesus Christ Superstar:
Pilate: Then you are a king?
Jesus: It's you who say I am. I speak of truth, and find that I am damned.
Pilate: But what is truth? Is truth a changing law? We all have truths, are mine the same as yours?
What is truth anyway?
One of the issues that has come up a number of times in the 2 weeks of discussion on WonderCafe is the question of truth. SOme people within the Christian church hold that there is an absolute truth, manifested in Jesus the CHrist. Others of us find that most of the so-called absolute truths are somewhat subjective and arbitrary.
THe issue of truth is important. ANd I do believe that there are some truths which transcend all of our bickering and squabbling. I see those truths as the ones which last, which stand the test of time. At one point it was a "Truth" that the world was flat. AT one point it was a "truth" that colour made a difference in the worth of a person. Those truths don't stand up. BUt truths like "you should love your neighbour" or "God calls us to care for each other" tend to be more long-lasting.
The other thing about real truths is that our understanding of them can change with time. 230 years ago the founders of a nation wrote "These truths we hold to be self-evident, that all men are created equal". Well in the intervening years the interpretation of all men has changed greatly. The truth is still there, it is just understood more fully.
That is how I see it happening with the Kingdom of Truth, GOd's Kingdom. There is truth that goes beyond our definitions and boundaries. AS we grow closer to an understanding of God's truths we grow closer to that time when "thy kingdom come, thy will be done" is more than just a phrase we pray together each week. That will be the time when it is a description of life here and now.
--Gord
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