Proper 19 - Year C

Welcome Statement

1 Corinthians 1:18 NIV

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Today is Holy Cross Sunday, in the UMC tradition, we take this day in our liturgical calendar to celebrate the saving power of what occured on the Cross. The Cross itself is not this religious or sacred artifact, but a symbol of what the Word, Logos, was put into by being embodied as man, and then subsequently seemingly destroyed by human eyes. The Cross, is only a symbol of positive power simply because of who reclaimed it. The cross, originally a symbol of fear and despair, became a symbol of hope, and redemption. This to the outsider seems foolishness, but when we look from a Christian perspective, we realize the strength in weakness, as our egos are crucified so that Christ might enter our hearts. To help put this reclamation idea in perspective, we are going to visit a well known story about the bronze serpent staff, a story about the time we typically recall in Deuteronomy where Moses was leading the people out of Egypt, and was in the desert for 40 years. In this story, we have a staff that is made to heal the people from the punishment they received for showing a lack of faith towards God. This punishment wasn’t directly induced by God, but was simply a consequence of self-condemnation, the same way we condemn ourselves when we reduce the cross to a symbol of foolishness.

Old Testament Reading - Numbers 21:4-9

Numbers 21:4–9 NRSV

From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. The people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food.” Then the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord to take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.” So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.

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Old Testament Point #1

Serpent symbol in Genesis of Trickery and evil - Symbol of death

Bronze - Strongest metal of that time period

Judgement & Sin

New Testament Reading - John 3:13-17

John 3:13–17 NRSV

No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “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. “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

New Testament Point #1

Jesus Directly points the similarities of the cross and Serpent

The Cross and the Serpent mean nothing positive on their own, but only by that which descended into incarnation, Jesus Christ, do they bear meaning. Why is Jesus for example the Morningstar? But Jesus also describes Satan as the morning star? Because one is the reclaimed symbol, the true Morningstar, and the other is a false idol.

What if We stopped looking at the distractions of news, stopped worrying about tomorrows problems, and focused on the Cross?

Why do we wear this around us? Why are they symbols of hope?

do we trust Jesus? Based on behavior, it seems like that is a big no

Matthew 5:43–45 NRSV

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.

Leviticus 19:33–34 NKJV

‘And if a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him. The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

Matthew 6:34 NRSV

“So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

Colossians 3:13 NRSV

Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

New Testament Point #2

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New Testament Point #3

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Closing Statement

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Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, adfs asdfa

Amen.

Doxology / Benediction / Closing

May you Have a Blessed Sunday, and rest of your Week! Amen!