Destined For Greatness
Posted on May 18, 2014 by David Whetter
Grace and peace to you from God our Creator, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, who abides in which of us. Amen
You know, when I first began preparing for this this sermon, which was actually over a month ago, I did not plan to talk about our story from Acts today, because I really don’t like it, especially when we combine it with our Gospel text which is filled with words of comfort from Jesus. This story about Stephen places a dark and gloomy shadow over this joyous season of Easter, doesn’t it? I mean, Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, has been witnessing to Jesus and has been living his life imitating Jesus and instead of being praised for doing wonderful things, he is stoned to death by an angry lynch mob for doing what Jesus challenged his followers to do. So, as I was working through my themes for each Sunday for the Season of Easter, my plan was not to address this story. But, that changed at our monthly text study a couple of weeks ago, when a good friend of mine, whom many of you know, Pr. Donna Simon from St. Mark Hope and Peace, said as we began to talk about the texts for today, “Well, whatever we do, we certainly cannot ignore the story of Stephen, can we?” To which I thought, very quietly, “Dang, I guess I’ll have to talk about this awful story!” I hate it when other people are right and I have to change my plans.
In many ways, this story of the stoning of Stephen is all about how easy it is to miss Jesus’ presence in our lives, just like the story we read a couple of weeks about how Cleopas and the other disciple failed to see Jesus in their midst. Stephen was imitating Jesus. He was trying to point out to those there that day that Jesus was present, but instead of seeing Jesus, this angry crowd saw a “blasphemer” and so they killed Stephen, who even to the bitter end imitated his Lord, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them (Acts 7:60).
As Pr. Donna’s words kept playing through my head this week, “Well, whatever we do, we certainly cannot ignore the story of Stephen, can we?” I came to two very important conclusions about this story. First, imitating Jesus, and being willing to publically profess my faith, can, and will be very dangerous, even to the point of death. Oh, today, I may not need worry about being literally stoned to death, but the world still finds ways to “kill” those who fight for justice, especially when justice comes at the expense of the rich and powerful. And secondly, followers of Jesus’ shouldn’t be surprised when the world turns on them because Jesus warned us. He told his disciples straight up that working to bring about God mission, God’s justice in this broken world will be dangerous and often times it will cost you your life, but he told his followers, do not fear.
Which brings us to our Gospel text, which is filled with incredible words of comfort and hope, for Jesus’ followers. My guess is many of you are familiar with this Gospel text from funerals, in fact, in my experience this text is the one most often requested by family members. Many of you have heard me preach about this text at funeral and memorial services many times. When I read this text, the image that often comes to mind is a huge, southern plantation style mansion. I imagine Jesus standing on the front porch waiting for our departed loved ones, welcoming them with open arms, no words being spoken, but then as he embraces them, he escorts them to a room in which they will always be in the presence of the Father. Beautiful, isn’t it?
But if truth be told, even though this is the image I have, I know this “big house” Jesus speaks of is not a mansion like that at all. No, this dwelling place Jesus speaks of that he goes to prepare is not a physical place, but instead, Jesus is using this language as a metaphor for being in an the intimate presence of God. The promise and comfort Jesus offered his followers before he died, and you and I today, is that no matter how bad things get, no matter how ugly this world can be, know that even though it may seem like God is far from us, God, our Father, has room in his house, that is his relationship, for all of us. Stephen knew that, and so, as he is being murdered, Stephen can find it in his heart to pray and to ask God to forgive those who kill him, because he knows, God is with him.
Which bring me to what I find to be one of the most incredible verses in all of scripture. After challenging his followers to not be afraid of what might happen to them in this world and offering those words of comfort that he will prepare a place for each of us in the presence of the Father, Jesus says, “Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father (John 14:12).
As Jesus offered words of comfort and hope to his followers, he proclaimed that those who would follow in his ways, those who would believe in him, those who seek to be like Jesus, those who seek justice win this broken world will accomplish greater things than Jesus himself did on this earth.
Jesus healed the sick. Jesus gave sight to those who were blind. Jesus raised people from the dead. Jesus fed thousands with virtually nothing and, yet, he says to us, for those who believe in him, in his ways, that is the ways of the Father, those people, are destined to do great things.
For those who believe in Jesus, greatness is their destiny. Oh, it will be hard to do these things. In fact, in doing them, we might be ridiculed and/or persecuted, but don’t worry Jesus said, their will always be a place for you in my Father’s, our Father’s, presence.
This is a broken world we live in, and, yet, Jesus says, you and I can do great things. In these words of comfort and hope, Jesus challenges us today to not be complacent with the way things are. He is challenging us today, to go out into this world and do great things. It won’t be easy. Things won’t change overnight, but we can do great things, if we do not fear the world and we remember that through Jesus, we can, and will do great things.
Poverty is a reality, but today, Jesus challenges us to do something to change that. Currently, many of us are working with our Pantry Pack Program and Children’s Memorial to help put food on the tables of those who are hungry, but maybe its time we also begin to work against those issues and systems that cause poverty, too. Jesus stood up for the poor, the oppressed, the widow, and all who could not speak for themselves and he did bring about change. Today we, too, are called to go and do likewise.
So as you go out from this house today, know that in God’s house, you always have a room. Go out from here knowing that you re empowered to change the world and do great things. As you go about your lives this week, look for Christ and see where he is calling you to do great things, for you are destined for greatness. Amen