First Lutheran Church
May 10, 2020 + The Fifth Sunday of Easter + Acts 7:55-60
We begin our worship this morning in our beautiful courtyard! Here, all the beautiful plants and vines, and the flowing fountain, remind us of “Gospel Promises!” From the 15th chapter of John we are reminded, “I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me, and I in them, bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.” “Abide in me, as I abide in you!” Here, next to our Fountain we are reminded of the waters of baptism. We are reminded that in these waters we have been raised to new life, and we are reminded that it is in these waters, in the waters of baptism, we are joined together! St. Paul writes in his letter to the Ephesians, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.” We gather together today in the truth of these promises!
Acts 7:55-60
55Filled with the Holy Spirit, (Stephen) gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56“Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 57But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. 58Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died.
“Body Language”
Pastor Greg Ronning
I want to begin today with “The Apostle’s Creed.” We’ve said it hundreds and hundreds of times. So many times, that it has become a fixture in our faith, it shapes our faith, and it defines our faith. Many of us know it by heart. So, if I begin the second article, I would not be surprised if you all joined me …
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
So it is, that I am wondering if you noticed something different about today’s reading from The Book of Acts? In Acts 7:56, the author describes the heavenly throne scene, the heavenly throne scene in the midst of the martyrdom of Stephen, this way … “Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
Did you notice it? Every time we say the Apostles Creed, we describe the heavenly throne in this way, with these words, “On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, (and) he is ‘seated’ at the right hand of the Father, …” But note in this moment, in today’s reading, Christ is not “seated” at the right hand, but rather he is “standing!” I find this to be very significant, and I find it to be very meaningful.
Stephen had just been arrested for blasphemy, and just as they did to Jesus, people came forward and made false claims and provided trumped up charges against him. A man named Saul, a man who one day would become the Apostle Paul, but at this point the very different man named Saul, was leading the assault on the followers of Jesus. It was Saul who at the end of Stephen’s trial approved his sentence to be stoned to death. Saul would go on from this event to ravage the church, entering into homes, and dragging both men and women off to prison. Saul is described later in the book of acts as, breathing threats and murder against the disciples, and any others who belong to “The Way.” Saul was persecuting these Christians.
So back to today’s reading, in this moment when Stephen is being killed by the religious authorities, led by Saul, I find it very significant and meaningful that Jesus is not “seated” at the right hand of the God, but rather that Jesus is “standing” at the right hand of God, that Jesus is perhaps leaning into the action, that Jesus is caught up and involved, that Stephen is not alone in this moment, that Jesus is “there” with Stephen.
Several early interpreters commented on the fact that Stephen sees Christ standing, rather than sitting, at the right hand of God. The early church leader Ambrose observed: “Jesus stood as a helpmate; he stood as if anxious to help Stephen, his athlete, in the struggle. He stood as though ready to crown his martyr.” Elsewhere Ambrose adds: “He ‘sit’s as Judge of the quick and the dead; he ‘stands’ as his people’s Advocate.”
Communication happens in many ways. In fact, scientists who study these things tell us that the impact of the message, (or the understanding of a message), relies heavily on body language, first; and the tone of voice, second. 55% of a message is heard and understood in the body language that accompanies the words. 38% of a message is communicated through the tone. And only 7% of a message is communicated with the actual words. Only 7%! “Words” can be tricky. They can't always be taken at face value, they must be interpreted. They must be understood in their context, they cannot stand alone! However, body language is usually very clear and to the point, and body language can help us understand the words.
For example, if I am over at your house, and we are sitting around visiting, and I say, “I really need to get going.” And if I say that while sitting back in a very relaxed position, - what am I really saying? Am I really going anywhere, anytime soon? Probably not, that’s not what my body is saying. However, if I say I really need to get going, and while I say it, I am sitting anxiously on the edge of my seat. That probably means I am about to leave. Conversely if I am visiting with you, and you ask me how long I can stay, and I reply, “I’ve got lots of time,” but as I say that I am anxiously sitting on the edge of my seat, you probably are going to get the impression that I don’t have time, and that I want, or need, to go!
Body language helps us understand what is really being communicated. To understand a message, to understand a word, we need to process the body language, the tone of voice, and the words.
Today’s reading from the book of Acts blesses us with such “body language.” Do you want to know how Jesus really feels about Stephen, remember that Jesus is not “seated” at the right hand, but rather he is “standing up!” Jesus loves Stephen.
So it is that I imagine that if we had a “picture” of the heavenly throne today, you will once again not find Jesus seated at the right hand of God, but instead “depicted” as standing up, leaning in, and encouraging us as we battle with an historic pandemic. That image reflects the reality that Christ is not really seated in heaven watching over things from a distance, (he wasn’t when Stephen was getting stoned, and he is not today in the midst of our struggles;) but rather that Christ is present “in, with, and through” each of us together as the church, and deep inside each of us in the mystery of the faith. God is pictured standing up because God is present! Let that image seep into your heart and your mind.
And finally, one more body language story from the Gospels, one more image to remind you of God’s love. The image that accompanies these words, the image of God’s arms opened up wide on the cross, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”
May the body language of the gospel become the foundation of our faith, may it shape our faith, may it define our faith, and may it inspire our faith, even now. Amen.
Thanks for your Offerings!
In today’s appointed Gospel we are blessed with words of hope for difficult times. From the 14th Chapter of the of St. John’s Gospel …
(Jesus said to the disciples) 1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4And you know the way to the place where I am going.” 5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:1-7)
In the midst of these difficult and trying times we give thanks that God has indeed provided us a place to dwell, a place to dwell safely, a place where we can dwell to ensure that others remain safe and healthy, and a place in each other’s hearts, in the body of Christ, in the very presence of God. From “this place” we pray for the church, the world, and all who are in need.
Today’s pre-recorded worship service ends, where our true service begins! I am standing in the midst of The Caring Hands Pantry. It is well stocked and ready to go. Thanks to your “in kind “donations, donations from our many church partners in this ministry, generous gifts from our patrons, and your continued financial support of this ministry.
Many people are asking these days, “When are churches going to open up again?” The truth is, at First Lutheran, and in many other churches, we never did close down! We have adapted our Sunday morning worship services to online formats, but we have not closed down! Our ministry continues in new and creative ways, and from this place, where on Wednesday mornings we are still feeding our neighbors in need. So, let us give thanks to God for the many ways that we are still open, for the many resources we are still blessed to share, for the opportunity to abide in service, to love one another as Christ has loved us!