Rev. Jonathan Rumburg

“The Jesus Obstacles”

I Peter 2:19-25

Introduction

I hope you were able to find some time this week to get outside and enjoy winter, spring, summer, and fall.  Gotta love this time of year when it’s not unheard of to run your furnace in the morning and your air conditioning in the afternoon.

Still though, this time of year is always highly anticipated because we are ready to put the cold grayness of winter behind us and move into the bright warm days of spring and summer.

One of the demarcations that spring has arrived—along with the Easter season of course—is the running of the Boston Marathon, which was held this past Monday.

Evan Chebet took first in the overall men’s division, just ten seconds ahead of favorite Gabriel Geay.  Hellen Obiri won the women’s division twelve seconds ahead of Amane Beriso.  Susannah Scaroni of the United States won the women’s wheelchair division while Marcel Hug won the men’s wheelchair division setting a new course record of one hour, seventeen minutes, and six seconds.  And Hansi Rigney and Tyson Park were the oldest woman and oldest man who ran the Boston Marathon this year—both at the age of 81.

Over 30,000 participants from over 100 countries competed in the 127th Boston Marathon on a cool and rainy Monday, running the 26.2-mile route that weaves from Hopkinton to Boylston Street—and among those runners were two of my long time Camp Christian friends—twin brothers Josh and Zach Baird.

Now we all know exercise is good and important.  Whether you are doing marathons, triathlons, 5K’s, races like the Tough Mudder and Spartan Beast; whether you are looking to get out and do the Metro Parks Spring Hiking Spree; or whether you are just aiming to get outside and walk your neighborhood a little, all of them, while good, come with obstacles that can hinder or even halt participating in them.

The Boston Marathon has been happening for 127 years, but it wasn’t until 1972 that women were allowed to run this prestigious race.  Tough Mudders and Spartan Beasts are actual obstacle course races.  Just getting out and taking a walk can have challenging obstacles to overcome for some of us—be them physical or we simply can’t find the time or energy.

Bottom line, getting out, going, doing, overcoming obstacles of all manners is really hard.  And for some, simply surviving such events seems like a worthy goal for anyone who lines up at the start.  To do so, you need to train your body and your mind, and it always helps to have a few friends to encourage and cheer you on.

For many of us, we might just forgo these endurance obstacles and simply sit on the sidelines, or sidewalk, or couch—knowing that if we attempted such endeavors, we’d probably quit halfway through.  But we all know what it feels like to overcome obstacles and challenges—breaking through barriers that once seemed impossible.  And I’m not just talking about marathons and hikes.

We all just came through a season of obstacles during Lent and Holy Week—and we know what it was like to get to Easter morning.  As people of faith we know what is required to overcome challenges and break through barriers.

The Jesus follower is always being asked to endure through challenges of being a Jesus follower.  There are always obstacles that get in the way— misunderstandings, doubt, betrayal, fleeing, even death.  But these are just the real-world obstacles that get in the way.  There are also other obstacles that get in our way—ones I like to call… Jesus Obstacles.

Move 1

Today’s Epistle is another Jesus follower encouraging us to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.  Pretty standard instructions.  But you do have to hand it to Peter for telling it like it is…“Do right” Peter says, “for to this you have been called.”  Again, pretty standard.  But then he throws us in the deep end, telling us, for doing right, for following in Jesus’ footsteps, we’re gonna suffer!  Thanks Peter.  BUT Wait!  In our suffering we will have God’s approval!!

So whose ready to go follow Jesus?!

*******

          Several weeks back, during Lent, I talked about how I think those who find the Bible boring haven’t read the Bible because if they had, they would know the Bible is filled with all manner of wild and crazy stories.  And I love to tell people about those stories and show them how the Bible is misunderstood and that the stories are about how we find hope, peace, joy, love, and new life—all the wonderful blessings we want and need.  But then pops up texts like todays from Peter—showing that those who have trouble with the Bible might just have a point.  Do right.  Yes!  Follow in Jesus’ footsteps.  Will do!  Endure unjust pain while suffering.  I’m sorry, what was that?

These are “Jesus Obstacles.”  And for many of us, potential beatings and suffering is enough to want to forgo the race, and simply sit on the sidelines knowing that if we attempt such endeavors, we’d probably quit halfway through.  But it’s not because Jesus is an obstacle, rather it’s his ways—these footsteps we are supposed to follow in.  Mercy, compassion, forgiveness, grace—these ways are so completely counter to the prevailing culture that they become obstacles.  It’s easier to condemn than be merciful.  It’s easier to ignore than to be compassionate.  It’s easier to hold a grudge than to forgive.  It’s easier to offer rejection than grace.

And then, add in, not only are the normative ways of today’s culture easier, but the Jesus Obstacles are compounded because when we overcome them, and offer the good we are supposed to give, they make us appear weak in the eyes of others.  We are seen as pushovers, as those who can, and maybe deserve to be taken advantage of.  These are the Jesus Obstacles.  And they can be harder to endure than any marathon.

So whose ready to follow Jesus?!

Move 2

The fascinating thing, however, is that the early church grew exponentially in spite of these obstacles.  They thrived in this adversity.  And it wasn’t because of excellent preaching or attractive worship—things we value today—but because of their willingness to stand true to their call for mercy, compassion, forgiveness, and grace—even if it meant suffering amid persecution.

New Testament scholar Larry Hurtado writes, “Early Christians didn’t honor the Roman gods upon whom the empire depended.  And failure to honor Roman gods, while claiming a crucified man raised from the dead was king, was not only foolish but downright dangerous.  Next, in the Roman world, religious texts were read only by religious authorities, and then, read only to an elite few.  Christians, however, read to men and women of different social classes, all gathered together as equals.  It was common practice for the early church to challenge social behaviors of the Roman world.  For example, Romans enjoyed the bloody gladiator arena, but Christians refused to consent themselves to such entertainment—that is until they were forced to be fodder for the arena gladiators.”

What resulted then, was when the Roman world came up against these Christian communities, they saw them as obstacles to be removed rather than an opportunity to listen and understand.  And this is something of the case today—although conversely.

When the Christian world comes up against non-believer communities, we often see them as obstacles to be removed rather than an opportunity to listen, understand, and then be listened to as well.

And this is when we have to strive to overcome a Jesus Obstacle.  Jesus was tempted, as we are, to follow the path of least resistant social norms, but he didn’t, “he committed no sin.”  Jesus always offered mercy, compassion, forgiveness, and grace.  He did not use violence, even when abused physically and verbally.  In fact, in the midst of such abuse, he only uttered forgiveness.  That’s a lesson we would do well to learn in a time when our culture shifts more and more to retaliation, immediate cancelation, and snap judgements.

All of which, incidentally, when done by the Church, become obstacles to Jesus.

Move 3

In a world that is increasingly hostile and divisive, it takes faith, willingness, and even guts to want to endure the Jesus Obstacles.  It is easy to quit, to forgo the obstacles and stand on the sidelines.  Peter, however, reminds us that to be Jesus followers means following Jesus and that yes, at times that will mean having to endure suffering.

And he said this because like a marathon runner, an endurance athlete, or even someone who is simply trying to be a bit healthier, Peter knows the suffering, overcoming the challenges, breaking through what seemed impossible, persevering beyond the obstacles…is worth it.  And here’s how we know…

Those Roman non-believers observing the early Jesus followers maintain their faith and their virtue in the face of terrible suffering, were perplexed and awe struck, and wanted to know why and how they did it—how they kept their faith while suffering because of their faith.  This display of faith and endurance actually engendered Roman citizens to become moved and inspired by to these Christians who they came to see as having a greater kingdom in mind and who didn’t play by the usual Roman rules—rules which left people ultimately empty.

And for the followers of Jesus, for Peter, this was the real finish line for the Christian life— the goal to which every follower of Jesus should aspire.  Earlier in verse twelve, Peter says, “Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that, though they malign you as evildoers, they may see your honorable deeds and glorify God when he comes.”

Conclusion

Following in Jesus’ footsteps, living counter to our culture, and enduring through suffering is the call of the Jesus follower.  And when we do this we become living proof that there is reason, cause, and purpose in facing obstacles—Jesus obstacles or cultural obstacles.  We become living proof that forgiveness, righteousness, returning to our shepherd when lost does in fact come to those who follow Jesus and his ways.

It’s all a challenge.  It may seem impossible.  But we cannot sit on the sidelines thinking we can’t endure or that we can’t make a difference because that becomes an obstacle for others.  And it’s far better, and far more faithful, to strive to overcome the Jesus Obstacles than be an obstacle to Jesus.  Amen.

Pastoral Prayer, April 23, 2023

Good and merciful God, you just led us through Lent and Holy Week, through betrayal and crucifixion, through even death.  Challenges were overcome, barriers broken, the impossible became possible.  And these obstacles were overcome by following in the footsteps of Jesus, emulating his ways, obstacles in and of themselves at times.  Yet still, we made it to Easter, and became witness to the dawning of new life in Christ.  How grateful we are for this gift, for this blessing.  Your gifts are deep and wide and unfathomable.  The gift of unconditional love, exemplified by a cruel cross and an empty tomb, is a gift we cannot fully understand and can only partially appropriate in our lives.

Yet, it draws us to serve both you and one another; it calls us to live selflessly rather than selfishly; it motivates us to live for your kingdom rather than for the kingdoms of this earth.

You have given us much, and we are sobered by the responsibility to share your message of hope, peace, joy and love to a world in need.  But we must admit, we often feel small and incapable of doing anything that would change the world, of enduring through all it would take to live for your kingdom.  So remind us, frequently, that we would do well to remember it was in Jesus’ weakest moments when he was the strongest at serving and saving.

Surround us then with your Spirit O God, so that we may overcome all obstacles and bear witness to those who do not know you, those who are unable to see and feel your presence in their midst, to full awareness of the blessed gift of your Son and his unconditional love.

Hear now the prayers of our hearts as we lift offer them to you in this time of Holy Silence.

All this we pray in the name of our risen Savior, Jesus the Christ, who taught us to pray saying, “Our …”