Damariscotta Baptist Church

 

 

If our world wasn’t unsettled enough with the months of separation, social distancing and then learning how to return to “normal,” this week we were tossed into another whirlwind of social distinguishing. We are thrown back in time with the incomprehensible act of a white policeman, choosing to take the life of a black man. The hornet’s nest of bigotry and hierarchy has exploded. It’s not like this is the first time such things have happened. The Bible has many stories of injustices and history has even more. It just seems that at some point we would learn. 

This side of heaven, it won’t happen that all humans will be treated equally. But when heaven came down, and walked among us, that was exactly what happened. At the time Jesus walked on earth, he was a member of a chosen race. 

A group of people, known as Jews, who, because God had set them apart, they felt they were better than some. Not only that, there was a political battle going on between the Romans. Even within their own religion the leaders argued with each other. Sadducees and Pharisees were often seen putting the other down in order to look better. Yet, when Jesus came along, the human barriers were not upheld. He sat and talked with a Samaritan woman. A Pharisee comes to visit him in the night so as not to be discovered. Not only did he talk with tax collectors, he took his disciples to their homes and had dinner with them. He even asked one of them to become one of his disciples. 

We are to look to Jesus as our example, and when we do, we come to the realization that he was sort of a radical, non-conformist. Or at least, in comparison to the religious right of his day, it seemed that way. Jesus kept reminding people that he came to earth to heal the sick. He came to bring us life. 

He knows the mess we are in and better yet, knows what needs to be done to make it right. His mission was the verse most Christians know by heart, John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. However, more importantly today we need to keep reading John’s letter and also memorize verse 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Do we deserve condemnation? Yes. But the creator of the universe doesn’t choose to exercise the right to use it. Neither should we. God loves the world, enough to die for each and every person, He created. When God looks at a person He does not see race, gender, color, amount of money in their bank account, or the amount of times they have been to church. When God looks at a person He sees someone He created in His image. Genesis 1:26 God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature…”

And He sees how we are not living the way He would like us to live. He understands our mess, He hung out and lived among us, remember. He endured the cross to save us from our sins. So that we may have life, not condemnation. 

Together, as the body of Christ, we need to not only believe what God says in His word, we need to make sure we put it into action. Let us be like Christ and love, not condemn. Let us treat everyone as God’s creation, in His image. And let us remember, that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, that is why we need a savior. 

Today we remember the Lord’s Supper today with heavy hearts for those who have been unfairly treated. We lift up the bread, the body of Christ and we remember that His body was broken, for God so loved the world that all people could be brought back into the family of God. Take the bread, eat, remember, give thanks.

We humbly remember the blood that was shed, for our sins, for all sins, from the life of a perfect sacrifice. Thank you God, we give you thanks and praise you for your mercy on us. Help us to pass mercy on to all people. Take, drink, remember, and give thanks. 

God, you brought us together as your body, with Christ as the head. Help us to stay united, in your love, in your mercy and by your grace. And may we reach out your love, mercy and grace to everyone that comes our way, regardless. 

Let’s pray.