The writer of the Gospel of Mark believed that God adopted
Jesus as his son at his baptism when God said, “You are my Son, the Beloved.”
[Mark 1:11] The writers of Matthew and Luke’s Gospel saw Jesus as Son of God
from conception. [Matthew 1:18-20, Luke 1:35]
And the writer of the Gospel we call John believed that Jesus was the
Divine Christ who had ever been with God and was present at Creation. Paul
started out thinking that Jesus was a pesky rabble rouser who needed to be
stopped at all costs and then, after his Damascus Road experience, he
understood Jesus in a similar way to that of the writer of John. He went on to
expand this idea further to include us all in the Divine Christ with the
explanation, “You are the one body of Christ and individually members of it.”
[1Corinthians 12:27]
This is no surprise to most of you who have known this quote
for many years but how do we understand this? Are we members of the church as
we might be members of Probus where we go along regularly to listen to a
speaker; or members of a golf club where we may play a more active part; or
members of a choir where the aim is to all sing from the one hymn sheet? Or
might Paul’s image indicate a closer relationship, one suggesting that we are
of the same substance as the Christ, that we are one with the divine nature of
The Christ as well as one with his human nature? It is important for us to know
who Christ says we are before we can answer the question of others. John’s
story of Jesus saying, “I am the vine and you are the branches,” seems to tell
us plainly that we are part of the body of Christ.
Around the world the voiceless scream of refugees asking,
“Is no one listening to me? Who do you say I am? Who do you say my family is
that you will not help us?”
Our readings for today call us to listen carefully to the
other so we can be better placed to answer their yearning question with respect
and then act according to our calling as members of the body of Christ. Wisdom
still calls to us to treat her and all others with dignity and respect. May we
humbly acknowledge who we are, respectfully acknowledge others and honour and
live in awe of the Wisdom of God.
REv Julianne Parker
(for full sermon see sermons page)
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