Today…my complaint is bitter…
Oh, that I knew where I might find him,
That I might come even to his dwelling!
I would lay my case before him,
And fill my mouth with arguments.
I would learn what he would answer me,
And understand what he would say to me.
Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power?
No; but he would give heed to me.
… but he would give heed to me. [From the 23rd chapter of Job]
A week ago – after an absence of several years – I returned as a volunteer with the Kairos Prison Ministry – to Tucker Prison. Over a period of four days twenty-four inmates participated in a spiritual retreat similar to Cursillio. Each of us was assigned to one group, one table, one “family.” Oddly enough the “family” I was assigned to the family of “Luke.”
So, over the course of several days, we got to know each other pretty well.
One of the inmates in our group was a black man, a young man in his early twenties.
He shared recent experience, there in prison.
He had “messed up.” He had committed an infraction of the prison rules. It was serious enough to send him to the “Hole.” A small bare space, no windows, no talking, no one else visible except a guard bringing him food. Alone.
There was a Bible, a Gideon Bible.
With nothing on his hands but time he began reading. He said he read the Book of Job. Maybe he read much more, maybe many other books of the Bible. Yet Job was the one he remembered. Job is the one who touched him. He felt a special kinship with Job.
Why would that be?
One of our alternate readings this morning is a section from the 23rd chapter of Job. I began this message to you this morning with a reading from some of it.
Maybe it offers a hint.
Maybe there are times that so much “stuff” is going on in the world that we just want to know why. There is so much absurdity, so much stupidity, so much incompetence, so much evil….is there really a God? And would a God let all this “stuff” go on? I would sure like to talk to him about all that is going on.
“…my complaint is bitter…Oh, that I knew where I might find him…”
“…I would lay my case before him…I would learn what he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me…”
“Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power?
…No, but he would give heed to me.”
That’s all. That He is. That he acknowledges me – so that I can know that He is – He exists, and, so that at the end of the day in some way everything will be all right.
Our reading from Hebrews tells us something about the nature of our God.
“…we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God…For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.”
One of Jesus’ “tests” occurs in Mark’s Gospel.
Jesus and his disciples are in the midst of getting ready to leave from where they are – “setting out on a journey.” A man rushes up to Jesus, kneels before him, and asks him one of those deep questions that can’t be answered in a minute. The man begins with a patronizing, “Good Teacher…” Jesus in his response lists some of the commandments that would be known to all. The man quickly responds, “Teacher I have kept all of these since my youth…”
At this Mark’s gospel tell us that Jesus looking at him, loved him…” affirming the Hebrews’ writer, that we have in fact a high priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses – including rudely interrupting when we are anxious to start on an important journey.
But looking at the man and looking into his heart Jesus knows what the man should do – and the man walks away sadly, unwilling to make the sacrifice – to give up all and follow Jesus.
Jesus then shares with his disciples how difficult it for one who loves his wealth to give it up – easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. This startles the disciplines who quickly ask, “Who can be saved?”
“For men and women this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”
At this the chief worrywart – Peter – exclaims, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.”
This story, this parable – has been known over the years as the story of the “rich young ruler.” Maybe even Peter has a touch of the “rich young ruler.” Maybe it causes us to think about the “works versus faith” argument. The rich young ruler has done all the requisite “works” – yet he hasn’t done enough, something is missing. And now Jesus says, “sell what you own, and give the money to the poor…then come follow me.” But Jesus asks him to show his love, his love for his fellow men, for Jesus. But would he be willing to give up all he had to follow Jesus? No.
Maybe he would understand “grace” as sort of a business transaction – I do all the right things – attend church, support the church financially and in other ways. I try to be nice. And at life’s end I have an all-expenses paid trip to Heaven. I give something, I get something in return.
But maybe grace is more like a marriage or a close relationship or a deep friendship.
Say I love someone.
And if I am blessed – someone loves me back, in return.
We go through life together, we support each other, we sacrifice for each other – we have great joys together – and maybe even we go through great sorrows together.
And, yes, if circumstances should happen to require it, I hope, I think, I would give up everything for that one I love as I believe would the one who loves me.
I visited a museum one time that had rebuilt an ancient temple in one of its large rooms. Tall impressive stones, imposing – which spoke of an ancient deity now largely forgotten. “Quite impressive.” I said to myself as I left the empty room, passing quickly to the next.
God – our God – the real God – is not like that ancient deity in that ancient temple.
Our God is real, our God speaks to us, even in these days.
I think our God was speaking to followers of His, friends of His – from different Christian denominations – to go into a prison and share the Good News of Him there.
Further I think God was speaking to the young inmate who sensed the reality of God reading the Book of Job in the Gideon Bible in the hole.
He is here as well. Speaking to the members of this congregation in the spoken word, in the worship of Him in its services, in the music in His service, in its services to the community through Clothes Closet, Veterans Dinners….
Who was the author of Hebrews? We do not know. Some commentaries suggest it was probably written before 70 A.D. Some have suggested a woman author. Regardless this great Christian writer has blessed Christians down through the ages with words which speak of God’s love for us. It would be fitting to close this message with his prayer for us with which he closes Hebrews:
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.
Amen.
Richard Robertson